It's certainly been an interesting week for fans of Marvel Comics' character Spider-Man. Ever since USA Today revealed that Marvel's recently-deceased Ultimate version of Peter Parker was being replaced as Spider-Man by a half-African-American, half-Latino teenager named Miles Morales, the internet has been bombarded with racist comments (such as here and here) decrying the move.
However, Colbert didn't clarify that the Ultimate Peter Parker, not the regular version, died in Ultimate Spider-Man #160, remarking, "In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Ultimate Fallout (#4), Peter Parker is killed...presumably while appearing in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."
After media footage discussing the replacement character of Miles Morales was shown, Colbert played up his faux-neoconservative TV persona, adding, "Half black? Half Hispanic? What sort of origin story does he have? Is he a black guy bitten by a radioactive Hispanic...or a Hispanic bitten by a radioactive black guy? It doesn't make any sense. Plus, half Hispanic, really? He's coming here to steal our superhero jobs? It's bad enough we have an illegal immigrant flying around claiming to represent The American Way. Go back to Krypton, Kal-El!"
He then continued, "And this sets a terrible precedent for superhero diversity. What's next, a Chinese Hulk? Don't make me Asian...You wouldn't like me when I'm Asian." "Next thing you know, they'll give us a gay Batman," he added, putting up a picture of George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell from the poorly-received film Batman and Robin. "Okay, a gayer Batman."
If you're interested in checking out the full clip from last night's show, you can view it below...