Is the black superhero finally getting some love?

Twenty years of the “new wave” of black film has given us -- finally -- a decent list of black superheroes on the big screen. There is the woefully underrated Meteor Man, X-men’s Storm, Blade, the foolish Blankman played by Damon Wayans, the obscure Steel played by Shaquille O’Neal, Frozone from “The Incredibles,” Morpheus and Niobe from “The Matrix” and maybe the Jedi knight Mace Windu from “Star Wars.” In 2008, we can add to this list a drunken, dysfunctional dude named Hancock.

Whether actor Will Smith or director Peter Berg intended it or not, their movie, "Hancock," bears the burden (and microscope) of all our heroes on the screen. Some questions are easy and obvious. Why does Hancock have to be a drunk? Why can’t he find a black woman superhero mate (Whoa, wouldn’t THAT be a novelty!)? Why can’t he be bigger than life and have more grace and wisdom than a mere mortal?

But some answers are also easy. Looking just at this summer, for example, it is obvious that the days of the noble superhero are over. With the obnoxious but high-powered "Iron Man" still drawing raves and the aloof millionaire Bruce Wayne about to join us again as “The Dark Knight,” it is obvious that we movie-goers like our superheroes with flaws and shortcomings. As a matter a fact, we seem to insist that they have mortal vulnerability just to make things interesting.

We certainly get out share of foibles with Hancock, who has chosen Los Angeles as his place to fight crime. The problem is that most of the time, he is inebriated and, in the process of fighting crime, he seems to create more problems than he solves. During one of these fiascos, he saves the life of a public relations specialist named Ray (Jason Bateman), who recognizes that the rude and crude Hancock needs some image improvement and a stint in superhero charm school.

The collaboration between Hancock and Ray yields twists in the plot that both keep our attention and reinforce Smith’s position as a mega movie star who is expected to transcend Hollywood and real-life signs and boundaries of race. To wit: The criminals and villains are not all people of color. Hancock does not glorify either criminals or the police/prison-industrial complex. The superhero gets to wear a cool suit. He gets to put on some cool shades. He confronts his demons and vulnerabilities -- and does his best his kick the bad guy’s butt.

If, like me, you are a Will Smith fan, you will be more likely to both appreciate his performance and much of what is offered here in a larger-than-life style that includes high-speed highway chases, high-speed superhero flights through the Los Angeles skyline and one mega showdown between Hancock and another superhero. Smith shows his continued versatility as an artist who can do more than swagger or be funny. So, at moments, he is able to offer us something touching that feels filled with heart and not just special effects -- as in the sterile new actioner, “Wanted.”

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Esther Iverem is founder of SeeingBlack.com and author of "We Gotta Have It: Twenty Years of Seeing Black at the Movies, 1986-2006."

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