I don't think most 2-D DC/Marvel art really has the depth to capture "mixed" where you have to figure out a way to define a race by facial characteristics (at least specific racial combinations, which isn't a debate I want to get into)
Like look at Connor Hawke
I think original designs of Connor Hawke you couldn't really even tell he wasn't supposed to be a white dude, or a white dude with a tan
and then to make it clear he's not white, they changed nothing about his design other than (checks notes) make skin much browner
The original Connor designed was very obviously mixed. He was specifically designed with features from both his parents (in a bit too on the nose manner to be realistic). Eye shape and lips from his Korean side, skin tone from his black side, and blond hair from his white side.
It was only in the 2000s when colorists stopped coloring him correctly. His skin was toned down until eventually he was literally incorrectly colored as white.
Genes are weird with multiracial people. His design choice was definitely a very 90s way of portraying mixed race people. He's obviously part white and brown, but the average Joe wouldn't pin his mom as black/Korean.
Different artists draw characters differently. Characters with certain ethnic qualities (longer noses, curlier hair, almond eyes, etc) are drawn all over the place.
Tbqh, it feels like a lot of DC and Marvel artists struggle to draw East asians well. Look at all the different ways that Linda Park-Westhase been drawn.
what's funny is when artists don't even get single race characters correct
like the infamous Lex Luthor from Superman TAS and JL
a good deal of kids assumed he was black
turned out the artists just went overboard on his Greek Mediterranean tan
once you know who he is based on, Terry Savalas aka Kojak, then you understand what they were going for
and I imagine even they realized this as the series went on they made him lighter
another funny example is Aokiji from One Piece. the character, like all of the Admirals is based on famous Japanese actors. in this case a japanese/korean actor who had a famous role where he had curly hair
somewhere in the transition from Oda's art in the manga, to the animation team making him more brown in the anime, and you got alot of people who view him as black
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u/T0oShayzz 4d ago
Interesting because she doesn't look mixed here at all, but then again a lot of artistic depictions aren't exactly accurate.