(Not So) Funny Books: Native Americans in Comic Books

SynopsisNative American characters have been

misrepresented in many genre and media formsHow do we evaluate the level of stereotypes

used?Universal standard to determine stereotype?Character eval is subjective, at bestBroad categories to help make determinations

about potential misrepresentation.Explore these criteria and examples that conform

–fully or in part – or resist such stereotypes.

OverviewEarly love of Comics / pop cultureAcademic credentialsCultural AffinityVarious StereotypesComic UtopiaFor more “411”…Q&A

Love of ComicsWhy comics?Farmboys need

comics, too…

BA Native American Studies, OU

BA Film Studies, OUMFA 3D Modeling,

AAU (popular media)

Academic credentials

Cultural AffinityIndigenous - CaddoParticipation / AppointmentsBusiness Goals

Why Use Criteria?Comics medium is far-rangingHas many similarities in other mediaStereotypes various/numerous, specific need

to break into categoriesOffers a way to form personal opinion, used

as a foundation

Stedman Source TextShadows of the

Indian: Stereotypes in American

Outlines stereotypes in many media forms

Provides specific questions to ask

Stedman Criteria1. Is the vocabulary demeaning?2. Do the Indians Talk Like Tonto?3. Do the Indians Belong to the Feather-

Bonnet Tribe?4. Are Comic Interludes Built Upon

Firewater and Stupidity?5. Are the Indians Portrayed as an Extinct

Species?6. Are the Indians either Noble or Savage?7. Is the Tone Patronizing?8. Is Indian Humanness Recognized?

Is the vocabulary demeaning?Are terms such as redskin,

savage, squaw, brave used?

Many “normal” people find these terms acceptable.

Negative associated with such terms

Sometimes used to demo villainy

Problem? Using such descriptions severely limit Indigenous portrayal.

Specific supporting examples.White IndianRedskinOlder comicsAny comic with

Tonto…

Opposing ExamplesX-Men, New Mutants, X-Force(new) Lone Ranger & TontoChickasaw AdventuresPeace Party

Do the Indians Talk Like Tonto?Tonto-talk limits

Indigenous charactersMakes them appear

less intelligent than Anglo characters

Stedman:“The old-time Indian

talk is wrong, dead wrong. Someday even writers for the popular media will realize that fact. Someday.”

Specific examples.TontoRed Ryder’s Little BeaverBig Chief Wahoo

Opposing ExamplesScoutForgeDani MoonstarPortal

Do the Indians Belong to the Feather-Bonnet Tribe?

Indigenous = cultural diversity. Pop culture media adopted a

Pan-Indian look. Mass media “fostered the idea

that Indians have one ethnic, national, and linguistic identity…all Indians look, think, and talk alike.”

Indigenous people are more diverse from than we are similar.

May share some cultural similarities; no two tribal nations are exactly the same.

Comic books readers may think we all dress alike.

Popular media insists that we should look “Indian” enough.

Specific examples.TurokAmerican EagleWhite IndianRed RyderChief Man-of-BatsOn and on…

Opposing ExamplesStreet WolfForgePortalDani Moonstar (recently)Warpath (recently)

Are Comic Interludes Built Upon Firewater and Stupidity?

Portrays Indigenous people as drunkards, stupid, or just stupid drunks.

Stedman: “he is either the drunken fool or the sober dolt.”

Similar to “jungle” comics - restless natives waiting for a white savior.

Examples: Red Ryder’s Little Beaver and The Lone Ranger’s Tonto.

Specific examples.Chief Man-of-

BatsDisney Comics

Opposing ExamplesX-Men, New Mutants,

X-ForceStreet WolfShaman’s TearsShaman / Talisman

Are the Indians Portrayed as an Extinct Species?

One of the biggest problems in all media.

Existing only in the past exclusively is a recurrent theme.

Also found in many ‘info’ books, that focus on the traditional aspects, leaving out modern-day.

Problem? Indigenous people exist in modern times / continuance is one of our most valuable commodities.

Specific examples.TurokPow Wow SmithTontoRed WolfBrowser and Sequoia…and on.

Opposing ExamplesKagi: The RavenStreet WolfX-Men, New Mutants,

X-ForceDawnstar

Are the Indians either Noble or Savage?Dichotomy has pervaded

for several years“An Indian too good to be

true or too bad to be believed? Suspect shallow research and narrow viewpoint -- especially if those feather bonnets are in view.”

Comic books do this less frequently than in past

Problem: Makes character seem ill-developed when they are either too noble or savage

Specific examples.TontoIndian WarriorsWhite IndianStraight ArrowMany early comic books

Opposing ExamplesThe ButcherStreet WolfPow Wow Smith

Is the Tone Patronizing?Similar to derogatory

terms, yet more subtleProblem: patronizing

tone can be just as harmful as overtly negative imagery.

Specific examples.ScalphunterDisney Comics PresentsJohnny Cloud

Opposing ExamplesStreet WolfScoutTurok: Dinosaur Hunter

Is Indian Humanness Recognized?“In sum, are [Indigenous

people] seen in something resembling full dimension?”

a.k.a., “humanity”One of the most important

elements of the criteriaA recurring problem in

comic booksMain focus for this book Indigenous people are

human and real.Problem: Indigenous must

be seen as “real” people and not just caricatures

Specific examples.Almost every comic book with Native

American characters

Opposing ExamplesShaman’s TearsScoutMuktuk WolfsbreathTomahawk (Vertigo)Darkness CallsLone Ranger & Tonto

(Topps)EchoX-Men, New Mutants, X-

Force…and more

Various StereotypesWhite Indians & Wannabes“Half-breed”Sidekicks and Helper MonkeysMystical ShamanExpert Tracker / Hunters / Sharpshooters /

etc.Extinction FactorPerpetual WarriorsFemale characters as Sexpots

Comic Utopia: What Can Be Done?Personal Goals

Native driven mediaFuture Needs

More creative control (complete)

Call to actionGet involved

For more “411”… Comics themselves Cornell Pewewardy: American Indian Stereotypes in the World of

Children Raymond William Stedman: Shadows of the Indian William Savage, Jr.: Commies, Cowboys, and Jungle Queens Bradford Wright: Comic Book Nation Jacqueline Kilpatrick: Celluloid Indian Overstreet The DC and Marvel Encyclopedias The Web

Blue Corn Comics The Grand Comic Book Data Base Michigan State University Libraries – Comic Art Collection, Special Collections

Division The Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe eBay Wikipedia Comic Book Resources (CBR) Marvel Universe: the Official Marvel Wiki

Q&AGo for it.