Stereotyping in Comics

Admittedly, stereotyping in modern comics is not something that I had felt as exposed to in comparison to stereotyping in other entertainment industries.  Small issues would come up when I would read certain superhero comics like Ultimate Spiderman for instance when I noticed a good portion of the thugs and robbers he would beat down were usually black or non-white.  Even with those occasional glimpses of stereotyping I still feel like comics weren't ever popular enough to really have a retrospect into the way artists represented certain races. This could be due to the choices I've made in what comics I've decided to read, but I usually don't try to gravitate towards comics that delve heavily into stereotypes.  In another light it could be due to the recent politically correct movement in the entertainment industry that has tried to clean up the negative stereotyping. Most of my recent exposure when it comes to traditional/direct stereotyping are older comics like Little Nemo with the characteristics of Flip and other seemingly African-dressed tribesmen.  One stereotypical trope that has been ingrained is the white savior complex, that is definitely a theme you'll find amongst many of the older comics back in the pulp fiction days. I felt like I saw plenty of stereotyping in the Underground phase, but that's when every social taboo or 'forbidden fruits' of social discussion began pouring out.  The majority of those comics were usually looking at the stereotyping of race and culture in a satirical tone like Ron Crumb's Mr. Whiteman.  I definitely do not believe stereotyping is a necessary strategy, there are quality written characters from comics who don't rely on stereotypes.  I'd feel different if instead of seeing cultures be simplified and not looked at in depth were highlighted for their differences and given a voice.  That's something that's happened now with the imprint that Maus and Persepolis have had on the comic story, where genuine care is taken by the writers to explain a culture and it's history.