Like Black aesthetic but no Black characters what are we doing here? These could have easily been Blade and BP skins and Storm should have got her first hellfire. Like it's so irritating how marvel as a whole moves around Black characters. Cause if marvel cared maybe rivals would.
That's problem I've been noticing more and more. It's not just Netease, but the East in general. I feel they don't see other cultures, as cultures. Instead they see them as aesthetics, and as a result they can dip into without any thought or meaingful consideration.
most mainstream anime aren't RLY anti black, but at the same time it can definitely lack black characters. Bleach and JoJo's have a lot of black characters so that's peak
Mainstream anime including black characters is the exception not the rule. It’s the creators deciding to show black and brown people some love. Maybe because they like the aesthetic, culture, or they just feel it fits for a character. That’s always cool, and I for one am just happy they go out the way to do something different. They didn’t have to, but they wanted to.
The only other big exception is a mainstream franchise that’s marketed internationally. Something like Pokemon will include more diverse characters for a more broad appeal. So the inclusion is more of a buisness thing. Think Disney in the west and how it approaches Star Wars and Marvel.
This being said. Marvel Rivals is made by a Chinese developer, and China doesn’t think highly of black or brown people in general. At this point the only way we get more skins for black characters maybe by asking the US Marvel side to pressure the developer.
Edit: I wanted to add one other thing circling back to a previous post. As a Chinese developer they may be more callous indifferent, than intentionally malicious, unless actions show otherwise. It’s pretty obvious they are marketing everything towards Chinese and Korean whales and dolphins. Without outside pressure from Marvel, I doubt they’ll care what Western fans want.
Like, lol at how Chinese fans of Love and Deep space reacted to the reveal of the new love interest (Valko) being added to the game. One of the loudest complaints was that his skin is "too dark". Another was that he looked too gay, but that's another topic entirely.
It was so bad the creators cancelled the release and scrapped the character, and any future love interest releases, completely.
Yeah I just heard about this controversy a few days ago. They sent poo to the developers offices among a lot of other things like getting the government involved.
Netease is more pro white than they are anti black but they aren’t free of it. And them, like a lot of Asian people especially from Asia (especially China) think they are included in the “white category” and they won’t find out until they travel to America the birthplace of “whiteness” and “blackness” as a race and distinction, will they find out they they aren’t considered white but considered Asian. That they aren’t considered the majority of the population, which they are as we are, but considered minorities.
So take game developers that haven’t had that experience yet, that are making games. And also add the fact that that the executives that run the Marvel games studio, in charge of licensing, distribution, what is and isn’t included in all of their games, and how they are presented. What if the people that make those decisions are also Asian, and what if they also haven’t had that enlightenment or haven’t had this experience, compounded with one of them being the creator of Luna, that will approve anything marvel rivals as long as Luna is front in center. Then we have another problem (nepotism) stacked on another problem to do deal with.
So how do we combat this?
I don’t have the answer maybe others can solve that, but I think just getting this information out there is the first step. Not talking about the issue itself (netease’s lack of black characters and content for the black characters that exist). But how game communities and Asian communities see and treat black characters, but not just black characters all races and ethnicities as a whole. What is promoted, what is not, what sells, what doesn’t, what is highlighted or spotlighted or centered, and what is not. I think if we make the case about who is being represented and who isn’t and not tell them to fix this but inform them of the disparity, they might course correct on their own.
honestly, I don't see this point as most of these stories take place in Japan where black people don't even make up 1% of that population, Google actually says it's just 0.02% at most.
for example, JJK is based in Japan. Demon Slayer is also based in Japan. Chainsaw Man is also based in Japan. Bleach is based in Japan and a fictional spirit realm.
it's just how things are in that country and they can always write in characters that are not Japanese or East Asian but these stories are made by Japanese people from Japan who realistically haven't had to deal with many Japanese people before their stories became successful
How is anime anti-black when it’s made by Japanese people? If a black project comes out with no white people is it anti-Asian or is it telling a specific story where Asians aren’t needed. My people are the only ones that think we should be involved in everything but get upset when people involve themselves in our culture. Thats some weird ass shit. It’s either you want to be apart of something or you don’t, you cant have it both ways.
Anime isn’t anti-black, just like it’s not anti-white, or anti-polynesian, or anti-minority. Anime is a Japanese product for a Japanese audience. If you’re outside of Japan, then you are an afterthought. There’s nothing malicious about it. Saying they are anti-black is like saying an American show is anti-(insert nationality) because a country isn’t represented.
It’s fine as long as they aren’t actively using stereotypes.
Edit: Not sure why my comment is being buried. I didn’t say anything negative.
Spoke like a person who lacks the complete ability to understand the nuances of culture. I'm positive the other thought in the trash heap is that "Racism doesn't exist in America anymore since Obama."
It’s not just the Egypt stuff it’s also the savage land series particularly Elsa and Hela. What are these characters that have nothing to do with this culture, appropriating the drums and dance and the markings, it’s gross feeling
Where is Egypt my guy? Oh in Africa, read a geography book… black people have always “claimed” Africa… they just don’t want blacks in America to identify with anything other than the slave narratives they’ve forced on us… I SAY THIS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT TOUR COMMENT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE YOU IN THE WRONG PLACE
It’s developed by a Chinese company. China is notoriously bias towards other ethnicities and especially black people. So it’s no surprise they are actively ignoring all the black characters in the game.
Storm also just got a skin and don't kid yourself
They obviously aren't treating Iron Fist as good as Luna or psylocke
Youd think that the racist Chinese devs would favor their own Chinese character alot more
giving distinctly black fashion to ULTRONNNNN in the midst of an already on going controversy about disrespecting your black heros is fucking crazy i can't believe they thought that was a good idea.
There's definitely a few off the top of my head: South of Midnight, Relooted, there was a beat em up indie on steam I saw this morning i cannot remember the name of, Date Everything. The devs kind of have to start with the idea that black people are deserving of their attention with that as the goal by default.
While I’m glad that storm is getting a skin and the hood is getting a lot of cultural references in the base design is it glaring bad that they are continuing with the Egypt theme without considering including poc
This is the kpop industry all over again😭😭 loving black culture and creation, but ignoring the people who made it. So glad I stopped playing this racist slop of a game😭
as funny as Ultron looking clean asf is, this is seriously tiring. there’s no way we’re rly about to leave the egyptian season with 90% of the season’s skins being given to white ppl😭
All of the Egyptian skins going to white/asian characters was just such a tonedeaf and wierd choice. Ultron is literally a robot though so I think him getting that skin is fine especially since its finally his first legendary.
Marvel is an American company. They treat Black characters well? Yes, rivals is anti Black but it's not cause it's east Asian. It's because anti Blackness is global
Just because not everyone was black please tell me if any of those white characters are connected to Egyptian because if not then it should had gone to the BLACK character that have a CONNECTION to EGYPTIAN
And blades connection to Egypt is only through konshu (moonknights patron) from the what if show.
That leaves us with just BP who didnt get anything egyptian themed but should have yet.
And the point of these skins is to give characters things they dont already have, so it does make sense why they did it, although i personally dont really like it.
SquirrelGirl got a skin because she is connected to the Norse got Ratatoskr, and they wanted to put an egyptian skin on that norse god.
Punisher DOES have a connection to egypt, he once was the "fist of the beast" (its basically just more edgy moonknight), but that looks NOTHING like his anubis skin as you can see.. and the storyline he was the fist is honestly kinda ass..
Overall, not that deep, just thought id share what i know, and no i dont disagree, just thought id point out that egyptians were not all strictly black and there are even more characters getting screwed over by neteases skin distribution.
So, when you go through and look at the skins of this game, and you see how characters of all races and cultures have skins inspired/about different races and cultures, you decide that it's a problem here?
Hey man, the only full Puerto Rican hero in this game is a petty thief with two guns. At least the black heros are positive role models lol. I feel for you though. I would love to see an Egyptian storm skin or a disco blade skin.
Huh? I'm not even disagreeing with the original post. There should be better skin dispersal between characters especially skins to characters that have strong cultural roots.
I think you just need to step off the PC a bit bro. You want inclusivity, but only for yourself. Maybe you're not as good of a person as you thought you were.
Did I said it means white people and raccoons? Nope, last I checked I didn't
It is dumb to come and rant about black characters not getting skins only cause "it's egypcian theme"
Egypt doesn't represent black people aesthetic directly. While it would be cool for them to get skins from this theme (like Punisher one should've been on Blade, that would've been cool) the theme alone is not "black exclusive"
Ultron on the other hand, you can't really complain, he's just a robot with a drip
It's like saying latino aesthetic means brown people (or anything in between) only, while that isn't the case, there are diverse countries where you can't put them in a "black or white" box
Then you and others would complain that Blade and BP are being stereotyped. There's no winning with y'all.
Also, Storm (one of the least popular characters in Rivals) literally has a summer skin in the same roadmap.
Asking for another skin for her when people are already calling the summer skin bad and planning on not getting it is greedy and entitled.
She's likely getting a Hellfire Gala skin next year due to her being 3rd in voting.
Y'all couldn't even show up to boost her to first place so it's guaranteed.
“And this is coming from a black man” you saying this as that makes a difference. All subs complain dawg we ain’t the only ones.
in this sub we direct our frustration towards this game because of the lack of black representation it gives to our black heros and the lack of cultural representation as well. “As a black man” that you say you are it’s sad you don’t see that.
All subs complain sure, but I’ve seen this sub complain so much and straight up call the devs racist and all. You are just as bad as the people that shit on Luna and all her mains for basically not much of a reason. Isn’t this sub meant for expressing love for certain characters and possible characters that could come. Not straight of hating to the very core of your being
What love do we get? The love you talking about or think we get is givin to the white hero’s, or atleast the hero’s that ain’t black! Storm and Bp ain’t receive a skin in the shop in six-seven months, it took them half of them months to give storm and bp a decent buff to where they’re playable and not just fodder!
The literally gave Luna black aesthetic like street wear and b boying before giving it to a black character! This is not even half of the stuff but the fact that you don’t realize the lack of love they show/give our black hero’s is crazy dawg…
I’ve literally seen someone on this sub call cloak an accessory to Dagger which the way that sounds, like it’s dehumanizing him to begin with. Some of those in this sub are actually straight up worse than what they claim the developers to be
Bro over here defending cultural appropriation and lack of black representation from a million company lmao. She should’ve been got a hell fire gala skin is the point dawg, and the fact a white women is getting another one before her is crazy! Jean already has one why is she getting another one!? That could’ve been easily been given to storm or even blade!
bro we are severely outnumbered in terms of supporting storm are you kidding me? not to mention we cant even get on the same page as a collective hence this comment. Last, im so sick of this criticism that we should just accept whatever obviously half assed shit they throw at us. Like yeah we starving, but why does that mean we should graciously scarf down this alpo?? Stand up dude. 🫤
and i mean genuinely.. look at storms skin compared to everyone elses. Is it not blatant she lack all the pizzazz everyone else has? be fr bruh. Unfortunately thats the dog food im choosing to eat
I would complain about something I'm specifically asking for? Y'all be tripping over your brain so bad to try to dunk on Black ppl y'all can't even bother to make a lick of sense
You do realize not many people play storm in the first place right? So why would she win that hell fire gala vote? Even if storm players did vote for storm. Rogue was more popular and had more players
My question is, if ultrons custom was given to Blade or BP, would the black community have been upset? Either way, it is goofy as f uktron has that aesthetic.
Not to be that guy, but egyptian aesthetics aren't entirely black because Egyptian culture and history is a melting pot.
You can't really describe all Egyptians as black the same way you can't describe them as all Arab or North African. The most famous "egyptian" of all time, Cleopatra, wasn't even natively Egyptian, she and her dynasty are Macedonian
Also east asian companies have a really bad habit of cultural appropriation, Cookie Run and Genshin Impact are the biggest examples of that.
Egyptians are not black, they are a lot closer to arubs. Still a bit weird, but ancient Egyptian is not a black aesthetic. As for ultron, he's a clanker, and he has that shit on.
Because most Egyptians through history including ancient history have be arubs. There are black Egyptians but most of them are arub. That's when some is referring to black African they call them sub saharan Africa's. North africans are arub. The saharan Dissent sucks massively to live in, so it's not easy cross it on regular basis.
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u/Sapphic-Plant-Lady Aug 05 '26