Since 1897, comic books have predominantly featured white protagonists and focused on white stories. Think about the most popular superhero movies of the past 20 years: Only very recently have we begun to see BIPOC characters in leading roles, portrayed in positive and nuanced ways.

Historically, Indigenous comic book characters were often stereotyped as villains or dangerous “savages”, animalistic and violent people that the white main characters had to defeat or escape. Indigenous women were oversexualized, Indigenous culture was mysticized, and there were few, if any, Indigenous writers or artists in the comic book industry.

To make things worse, comic book and “nerd” culture’s gatekeepers are often white, male and sometimes openly racist. White fans will obsess over stories about misfits with bizarre powers and somehow still find it difficult to “relate” to the experiences of Indigenous people. This is a huge loss for the community, as there is so much potential for great storytelling and art from Indigenous perspectives.

As more Indigenous comic book writers and artists have the opportunity to tell their own stories, the genre has become more inclusive, and while there’s still a long way to go, it’s encouraging to see the support that Indigenous comic book characters have been receiving.

A big part of making sure we get more amazing Indigenous stories in the future is to support the ones we have today, from both mainstream publishers and independent creators. So whether you’re looking for a new costume for Comic-Con, or your next read, here are 6 Indigenous comic book characters you need to know about:

Mirage/Danielle Moonstar - Northern Cheyenne

Mirage, aka Danielle Moonstar, is a mutant from Marvel Comics with the power to create visions of people’s greatest fears, including her own. She is one of the leaders of the New Mutants, was briefly a part of X-Force, and even became a teacher at Professor X’s School for Gifted Youngsters at one point. She is smart, bold and a natural leader, uses a bow and arrow in battle, and can create a telepathic connection with most mammals and birds.

In addition to the Marvel comics, she appears in the 2020 superhero horror film The New Mutants, and is portrayed as a queer woman.

Recommended reading: New Mutants (2009-2012)

Raven (Earth One) - Navajo

Teen Titans: Earth One is a modernized re-imagining of DC Comics’ Teen Titan series. The graphic novel series takes place in New Mexico and features Raven as a young Indigenous girl, who uses her powers to team up with and help the other Teen Titans. Her powers include astral projection, flight, telekinesis and teleportation. The series reached No. 5 on The New York Times' Hardcover Graphic Books Best Seller List, and received positive reviews as a fresh overhaul of the Titans series.

Recommended reading: Teen Titans: Earth One, #1 & #2

Echo/Maya Lopez - Cheyenne

Echo, aka Maya Lopez, is a deaf superhero from Marvel Comics with the power to perfectly copy other’s movements, to the extent of becoming a martial artist, concert-level pianist, acrobat and ballerina just by observing other people for a few minutes. She is the adopted daughter of Kingpin, took the mantle of Ronin briefly, and is the current host of the Phoenix Force, an omnipotent, cosmic being with the power to create and destroy anything and everything.

She appeared in the Disney+ series Hawkeye (2021) as a villain played by the Menominee, Mohican and deaf actor Alaqua Cox. She is shown reading lips and communicating with American Sign Language. She is getting her own spin-off series, which is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in mid-2023.

Recommended reading: Phoenix Song: Echo (2021)

Alice Sixkiller - Cherokee

When Alice Sixkiller’s sister is murdered, she embarks on a mysterious journey of revenge. Published by Native Realities Press, this comic book is described as “Alice in Wonderland meets Kill Bill set in Cherokee Country” and addresses topics such as identity, blood memory and violence against Native women, as well as mental illness: Alice is schizophrenic.

The Earthdivers - Inupiat, Seminole, Lakota & Blackfeet

This comic book from IDW Publishing was released very recently (October 5th), and has maybe the best premise of all time. In a climate-change ravaged, apocalyptic future, 4 Indigenous survivors discover a cave that allows one person at a time to travel in time. They decide that in order to save the world, they need to go back and kill Christopher Columbus on his ship, the Santa Maria, before he can reach the New World.

While most of the focus is on Tad, the person time traveling, each character gets a voice in the story. There’s only one book out so far, and it’s already been sold to 20th Century Television, so a TV series might be in the nearish future!