Episode 91: When Black superheroes are derivative characters

It's great when Spider-Man or Captain America is Black — while their story is being told. But what happens to that character when the powers upstairs want to reintroduce the classic, more established white character? Has enough been done to let the Sam Wilsons and Miles Moraleses of the world stand on their own without getting lost in the shuffle?

We came to that discussion through reading comics, of course! Will took on Fantastic Four: Life Story, Captain America: Symbol of Truth vol 1: Homeland, Captain Marvel vol 8: The Trials, and Miles Morales vol 8: Empire of the Spider. Steve handled the Warren Ellis-lead relaunch of three X-Men titles, dubbed Counter-X, with Generation X vol 1 #63-66, X-Force vol 1 #102-105, and X-Man #63-66. And we both continued our journey in the Dreaming with Sandman #29-31.