Representation and Health 101: MR. TERRIFIC Michael Holt

It’s time for another Representation and Health Black History Spectacular! For this installment, I want to highlight a character I’ve thought was rather remarkable since I first read about him.

He’s a gifted researcher and the third smartest man in the world, his aptitude for technology and science being a major cornerstone of his heroism. Michael Holt, aka Mr. Terrific, is one of my favorite Black heroes and he helps to elucidate some interesting ideas regarding Black superheroes.

MisterTerrific_02

My first exposure to Mr. Terrific was in the Infinite Crisis story, in which he helped Batman take down Brother Eye due to his being functionally invisible to technological systems. He first appeared in 1997 in Spectre #54. After losing his wife, who was pregnant with their child, he found himself close to suicide before the Spectre helped him create a new lease on life.

Since facing this tragedy, Michael proved himself quite the hero, eventually joining the Justice Society of America and becoming leader of the team. After the events of Flashpoint, Michael briefly starred in his own series, the eponymous Mr. Terrific, which took him on adventures through space and science. Though cancelled with issue #8, his solo series was quite the read and would have likely lead to some interesting stories. Michael found his way to Earth 2, continuing his adventures on this parallel world.

Mr-Terrific-Michael-Holt-1

Like many marginalized characters, Michael captures some interesting narratives. For one, he is the third smartest man in the world, apparently gaining over a dozen Ph.D.’s and a multitude of other degrees. To have a Black man as nearly the pinnacle of intelligence is monumental.

When you consider the history of intelligence and aptitude testing and its racist roots, that a Black man could make so many achievements flies in the face of testing theory that sought to subjugate people of color. Michael proves that the nature of intelligence is not bound by identity, though it’s important to mention that resources are an important determinant in what we consider ‘intelligence’ (but this is not the time or place to discuss the pitfalls of modern intelligence testing and theory, though I’m more than willing to talk on Twitter).

mr_terrific_michael_holt

Yet, this ‘third smartest man in the world’ is also a point of contention for me. Guess who typically gets to be considered the smartest people? White people. It’s a bit of a slap in the face to say Michael is not second, but THIRD smartest man. It almost feels as though we can’t set up a Black man to hold the pinnacle of anything, let alone intelligence. Such a sentiment has been mirrored throughout history, as Black people who excelled were not treated well, at some points even by White people or Black people. Such decisions should be questioned in media, as they are nearly backhanded compliments telling us, “You can be prominent, but not TOO prominent.”

My issues with Michael’s narrative aside, I appreciate and enjoy reading him as a character. His role in Infinite Crisis was integral, and I loved his solo series. A Black man interested and excelling in science is another method of defying how we typically see Black skills. Far too often, Black men are seen as successful athletes and not much else.

MrTerrific002

We do not get to see ourselves in scientists and researchers. For Michael to have such things as part of his history and character is important in changing representations of Blackness that are narrow and that do not challenge the status quo.

We have some prominent Black scientist in the public eye like Neil DeGrasse Tyson — though I’m still salty about Pluto’s demotion — which are helpful for getting young Black boys engaged in science. Yet, like comic book characters, these men like Tyson are unfortunately rare. Michael could be a character who helps young Black people, especially Black boys, consider a future in science they may not have known before.

Sometimes, until you see someone like you doing something you’ve dreamed of, it can be difficult to imagine you doing the same thing. Yet, if fictional Black men like Finn from Star Wars are any example, being able to spot yourself in a piece of media can be the game changer you need to develop the confidence to tackle something the world says you can’t.

1

So often, Black men are seen as present or future criminals. People look at us with a contempt we truly do not deserve. Such attitudes also end up impacting our education. Considering the low proportion of Black men obtaining Bachelors degrees, we need to create some kind of systemic change that shows us that we can be more than athletes or criminals, that our fates do not have to fit those two trajectories. I appreciate Michael’s role in science because he does some truly extraordinary things, but he also I respected by his team and the superhero community at large. Black boys deserve to see themselves in Michael, and largely because he is one of the few examples we have in media.

What are your feelings on Michael Holt, Mr. Terrific? What valuable narratives does he bring to the larger DC universe and comics as a whole? Let me know on Twitter at @80Grey and dive into some more Representation and Health articles here on Comicosity!

4282863-4004653451-Miste

Authors

Related posts

Top