Alex Yarde (AY): How long have you been Cosplaying?
Jonathan Belle (JB): I have been wearing the Superman Suit since october 2017.
AY: How did you become “The Seattle Superman”? What has the reception been like?
JB: I wanted to move to Seattle exactly for this reason. So when I got here i thought of a hashtag I can use that is easily rememberable. And I came up with #seattleSuperman. There really isn’t a big reception haha. because nobody really knows who I am. Yet.
AY: As I started researching for this interview, I found you’ve been the muse of quite a few photographers. Why do you think that is?
JB: I think it is because I am not afraid to do things differently. And these days it takes being different to stand out more. At least thats what I think anyways.
AY: Why Superman? What does Superman mean to you? What resonates for you with this iconic character?
JB: I love Superman because of his ideals and beliefs. The belief to treat people innocent until proven guilty, and not the other way around. It never really has been about the powers, but more so about how he is always striving to be a better person.
AY: As I had mentioned to you before, my son has an encyclopedic knowledge of the DC Multiverse which is why he was so excited by your photo thinking you were Earth-23 Superman, who’s a black man & also POTUS. Would you like to see a Black mainstream representation of Superman one day? What statement would that make?
JB: I would love to see that (be the change haha). I think the statement it would make is that everyone can be super. And to let go of a traditional way of thinking, to understand that we are who we choose to be.
AY: Has there been any negative push back against your Cosplaying Superman? Do you think Cosplayers of Color face a tougher challenge in Geekdoms? Do you see yourself as a trailblazer?
JB: Yes, there has been negative push back. I try not to focus on it though. I think POC Cosplayers facing a tougher challenge in geekdom is kinda subjective. I can understand in a macro sense it would be hard. But if you are doing something that you genuinely enjoy then it shouldn’t matter that there is even a “challenge”. On the other side to that, if you are trying to get noticed. It just means you have to work hard.
AY: On 4/18 Action Comics 1000 comes out. What’s your favorite Superman story?
JB: My favorite story so far is Superman: Grounded. It tells the story of Superman walking around the united states trying to connect with people on a more human level.
AY: Why do you think Superman and his “S” endures as a nearly universal symbol of hope?
JB: Because the symbol, just like hope, crosses all human boundaries: age, race, class, gender, ethnicity, and religious, political, or any other thing we might label.
AY: What do you think about the representation of People of Color in Pop Culture Media?
JB: I think people choose to be represented based on money. If every POC decided tomorrow they would no longer take stereotypical roles, regardless of the amount of money, then we would start seeing changes on the way we are represented.
AY: Has anyone from DC or Warner Bros. reached out to you about your take on Superman? Would you like them too?
JB: No. And yeah that would be dope.
AY: What do you wish to achieve through your adoption of “Seattle Superman” as persona?
JB: The goal is to inspire people. If someone sees me doing something that I love, I would like to inspire someone to try doing what they love.
AY: When and where will you be appearing next?
JB: I honestly don’t know haha. Kinda taking this day by day.
AY: What messages to do have for kids of color out there inspired by your Cosplay and want to start cosplaying themselves?
JB: I would say that they should not care what other people think about them. And that they can be and do whatever they put their minds to.
AY: In closing, there anything you’d like your fans to know about why you do this? What’s the best way for individuals or organizations to contact you? (Other than your super-hearing?)
JB: I do this because I want to follow my truth of why I was put on this earth. To inspire people. I have always been this way, but because of how I look, sometimes I get written off without a chance. Incorporating the Superman suit is a platform and a doorway into who I am as a person. If you feel the same way about being overlooked, I would like to say “find your platform”. You can contact me through www.jonathanbelleofficial.com
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Photo Credit: Jonathan Belle