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DC Comicshas confirmed thatBlack Mantais " the only prominent DC character who has ever explicitly been identified as autistic in the cartoon strip " – make it clean that the publishing house is invest to including neurodivergent characters in its stories , but also that they have a longsighted means to go to be more inclusive .
In DC ’s latest edition of?Ask The Question – DC Comics ’ on-line platform where fan resign questions answer by the editorial squad – one result play up howDC still has advance to make in formally and efficaciously integrating autistic eccentric into its universe . This is especially true for the often underrepresented autistic biotic community in comic account book , with Black Manta being cited as one of the few canonically autistic characters in the newspaper publisher ’s broad roster of heroes and villain .
harmonise to Alex Jaffe , who place as being “ on the spectrum ” himself , the number of autistic DC characters can be number on one hand — and even then , DC does n’t quite get it proper .
DC Has Tried To Address Its Lack Of Autistic Characters – Unfortunately, The Effort Is Only Just Brginning
In reply to DC fan Zac , who baffle the question , Alex Jaffe write :
Hi , Zac . Thanks for being a lector . As a soul on the autism spectrum myself as well , I ’ll be receptive and candid with you here : there really are n’t very many canonically identifiable DC graphic symbol with autism . DC still has a slew of oeuvre to do in neurodivergent representation . Abby Holland ( Swamp Thing ’s wife ) , Alix Harrower ( The Bulleteer ) and Guy Gardner have all worked in educational activity for children with special needs , but have no identified neurodivergences themselves . Amistad , the young son of Rocket , was explicitly identified as autistic in time of year four of the Young Justice recreate serial , but never in the comics . The only salient DC fictional character who has ever explicitly been identified as autistic in the comic is actually Black Manta . Unfortunately , the stories which draw near this subject at all do so with a particularly callous insensitiveness . DC strives for greater inclusion with every year , but this is an field where there ’s still way for a lot of improvement .
As Jaffe note , unfortunately , DC ’s depiction of Black Manta ’s autism falls poor of the thoughtful handling that buff have come to bear . DC ’s handling of Black Manta ’s autism has been , to put it gently , less than acceptable , which Jaffe readily admits to . While DC ’s introduction of Black Manta ’s autism inAquaman(2020 ) # 54 was one of the other crusade to take autistic representation into the DC macrocosm , and commendable in that respect , the news report ’s depicting of Black Mantawas essentially debatable .
Black Manta may be one of the best villains of all time , but he just unwrap the saddest part of being an unintimidating C - List Villain .
The narrative of that outcome at once linked Black Manta ’s autism to hisobsession with Aquaman and his villainous path , implying , or at least not refuting , some mode of connection between autism and criminality . Even more concerning was Aquaman ’s attack to " cure " Black Manta of his autism , set up it as a job to be fixed , rather than a part of who he is . In both cases , this portrayal perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misrepresents the autistic community – making the character ’s diagnosis a bit of a miscellaneous blessing , if that .
Black Manta Is A Step Toward Greater Inclusion In The DCU, But The Publisher Needs To Take The Next Step
Center & Celebrate The Character’s Autism
There ’s still time for DC Comics to improve its portrayal of autism and tone up its connection with the autistic community , creating a positive outcome for everyone – perhaps originate with Black Manta .
In other words , fans should n’t castigate the newspaper publisher for how it is failed , but neither should they be self-complacent with the way it has only begun to address create a more inclusive DC Universe . Despite DC Comics ' somewhat special endeavor , the world is increasingly embrace autistic characters . There ’s still metre forDC Comicsto ameliorate its characterization of autism and strengthen its connection with the autistic residential area , create a positive outcome for everyone – perhapsstarting withBlack Manta , who merit a more nuanced takemoving forrard .
Source:?Ask The Question
