Blaxploitation meets superheroics as science and street smarts fight bigotry in 1977 Los Angeles.
ABAR, THE FIRST BLACK SUPERMAN
He asked for Equality, he witnessed injustice. He knew Wisdom ... he got Revenge!
Upon moving into a bigoted neighborhood, the scientist father of a persecuted black family gives a superpower elixir to a tough bodyguard, who thus becomes a superpowered crimefighter.
Abar, the First Black Superman is a 1977 American action, drama, and science fiction film directed by Frank Packard about a black scientist who gives a superpower serum to a militant bodyguard to protect his family from racist neighbors.
Synopsis
When Dr. Kincade's family is greeted with threats and vandalism, Black Front or Unity leader John Abar (Toblar Mayo) steps in to protect them from the swelling tide of intolerance. Thanks to Abar, Dr. Kincade is able to resume his research into a serum designed to make ordinary men invincible. Later, when racial tensions turn deadly, Dr. Kincade uses the serum on Abar and creates a black superman whose might and mental abilities strike fear into the hearts of intolerant racists everywhere.
- Director
- Frank Packard
- Writers
- James Smalley, J. Walter Smith
- Release
- 1977
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Action, Drama, Science Fiction
- Also Known As
- In Your Face
Why Cult
A rare blend of blaxploitation grit and comic book heroics, this film transforms a militant into a superpowered defender.
Watch as Dr. Kincade's experimental elixir turns a bodyguard into a symbol of resistance, complete with fantastic mental abilities.
Set against a backdrop of racism and neighborhood hostility, the film channels era-specific anxieties into action-packed drama.
Themes & Keywords
Questions from the Vault
What is Abar, the First Black Superman about? +
Abar, the First Black Superman is a 1977 American action, drama, and science fiction film about a black scientist who gives a superpower serum to a militant bodyguard to protect his family from racist neighbors.
When was Abar, the First Black Superman released? +
Abar, the First Black Superman was released in 1977.
Who directed Abar, the First Black Superman? +
Abar, the First Black Superman was directed by Frank Packard.
How long is Abar, the First Black Superman? +
Abar, the First Black Superman has a runtime of 102 minutes.
What genre is Abar, the First Black Superman? +
Abar, the First Black Superman is an action, drama, and science fiction film.
Collection Spotlight
Getaways End Badly
Hot rubber, hard steel, and bad decisions collide fast—these chases don’t slow down, they fold fenders, snap axles, and leave engines bleeding oil.
Explore Collection →
