I’m a big fan of Orson Scott Card, and I usually enjoy reading his “Uncle Orson Reviews Everything” column over at Hatrack River. But the latest column had a bit that annoyed me:

Without ever actually planning to, I have somehow got myself involved in writing comic books, and having comic books made from my novels and short stories.

And it’s fun.

At the same time, it’s not like comic books are a noble part of our culture. They’re kind of … how shall I say … retro.

If you doubt me, check out http://youtube.com/watch?v=pB7DlcDto4Y. The video is funny. But the message is oh so sad.

Don’t tell me the need for affirmative action is over.

First of all, the YouTube video in question isn’t saying anything about race in modern superhero comics — the guy’s complaining about the black superheroes of his youth. That was before Steel, Bishop, Cyborg, Blur, Patriot (from Young Avengers), Cloak, Charcoal, Bumblebee, the new Firestorm, Mr. Terrific, the kid who’s got Johnny Thunder’s lightning bolt now, Rage, Night Thrasher, Spawn, John Stewart (one of the Green Lanterns), XS, and one of my favorite superheroes, Captain Marvel (or whatever she’s calling herself now — Monica Rambeau). So, off the top of my head, there’s 17 black superheroes (none of whom have “Black” in their names, note).

Secondly, I suspect the “affirmative action” thing is a joke, but Card has some screwy political views here and there, so maybe it’s not. I wouldn’t put it past him to support a policy that a.) undermines the attempts of any member of a minority of a workplace to get any respect (because it fosters the impression that they got the job only because of their race) and b.) undermines the attempts of minority parents to tell their kids that they’re capable of achieving anything (since it tells them that there’s no way they’re good enough to get that job without assistance from the government).

One could argue that there is still quite a bit of room for comics to have more black superheroes, but the situation is not nearly as bad as it was in the time period that the video is talking about, and it certainly isn’t so bad that we need a famous author implying that we need Superhero Affirmative Action to introduce new black superheroes just to have more black superheroes.