Color in Comics

The New Sorcerer Supreme

2009-07-06T00:27:00.000-07:00

Marvel is continuing is road to diversity. Doctor Strange's replacement as master of all things mystic in the Marvel universe is none other than D lister Brother Voodoo.

Just some random 4th!

2009-07-04T06:33:00.001-07:00

I love this guy...he is so talented!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!!

2009-07-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

Comics Style!!!!!!

Sex in the Marvel city

2009-07-01T00:52:00.000-07:00

Marvel has put out some really interesting projects lately in their further attempt to shake up the status quo of their universe but I have to admit this one I did not see coming.

"Marvel Divas" follow four D list female heroes from different walks of the Marvel Universe. Patsy Walker (Hellcat) and Monica Rambeau (Currently no code name) both former Avengers have formed a out of costume friendship with former Spider Man girlfriend Felicia Hardy (Black Cat) and former New Warrior Angelica Jones (Firestar)*.

While I have only read the preview it came off as one of those internal windows tot he super world that happens between the big battles that we don't get to see. The things that put the human in Super Human.

And though I am not a huge fan of "Sex in the City" which this book has clearly taken part of it's inspiration from, there is a self depreciating humor that exist in this book which I will enjoy.

*V I know she was an Avenger but she never really fit there hence the NW reference.

We read them and make them!

2009-06-29T01:12:00.000-07:00

Oliver Coipel is Black French and a Marvel comics exclusive artist. In 226 he was named a "Young Gun" in Wizard magazine and is currently the artist on Thor.

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

I had to dust two years of dust off this page because of this!

2009-06-23T17:49:00.001-07:00

They thought it was over and done with, but racial ignorance and proof that the election of Barack Obama means that we have entered a “post racial” society is a myth continue to raise their head in the most unlikely of places. My four color fantasy place, the land of comic books.

Dwayne McDuffie is a writer, director, producer and personal hero of mine. He is living my dream as a comic book writer. He was also the co-founder of the Milestone comic book company which focused on original characters who were largely characters of color. One of his characters was even picked up for a Kids WB cartoon series “Static Shock”.

For the last two years Dwayne has been the writer of one of DC comics flagship book Justice League of America. The JLA is the group that on the average of twice a month save the world, the universe, even sometimes the whole of creation. Most of your DC A listers including but not limited to Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern (all of whom either have movies out or in the making). Justice League has been interpreted into a not picked up live action Tv show, and several cartoons including Super Friends. All of this to say that in the world of comic geeks and DC the Justice League is a big deal and DC does not just pick a name out of a hat at random to write there big time books.

So on one of the comics sights Newsarama, Dwayne posted a preview of his upcoming final issue. Some of the comments made left me speechless.

“…how many blacks did McDuffie manage to sneak onto the team this time–five? (I bet DC editorial gave him the same order as Burger King in that lawsuit–to “lighten things up around here.”)”

“Why don’t they call this the “Minority League”? ”

“I don’t think anyone will support an original black “mainstream” character. I know I won’t.”

"Couldn't they get Static, Black Lightning, or one of his daughters instead of Dr. Light on the cover of BET League of America? Ha!"

And my personal favorite…….

“Maybe they should establish a separate league for all the negro superheroes. I’m not saying kick them ALL off. One would be okay. (Doesn’t Hollywood have some kind of law that says every movie has to have at least one black in it?) I just think they’re going overboard with all this diversity stuff. I mean, how many comics do minorities read anyway?”

Yeah that last one bothers me more than any of the other comments ( and that whole All Negro superhero comment comes close I mean really NEGRO??????)

It is very difficlult for me to understand that when one of the most popular comic book properties right now is the X-Men franchise, a continuing story about a group of people that have spent the entire lives being discriminated against for no reason other than they were born different that this kind of ignorant and racism can raise it’s head.

So for the record all you sheet wearing geeks, much like anything else geekdom comes in all colors and creeds. Yes minorities read and yes they read comics. And yes we like to see people like ourselves in those books.

Oh and no there is no “rule” that you must include one black in a movie, blacks, browns, yellows, pinks, etc are all part of this country and all have stories to tell. It is not like there is not a need after all, most of the incarnations of the JLA have been a little all white.

Justice League of McDuffie

2007-09-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

The difference between a good writer and a good black writer!

Last week saw the release of Dwayne McDuffie’s first Justice League of America issue from DC comics. Well almost the first issue, technically this is a one shot issue called “Justice League of America: Wedding Special”. Now I don’t work in the comics field yet so I am sure there is a perfectly good reason why Dwayne’s first issue is not a real issue but a one shot. Anyway anyone who watched Justice League unlimited on Cartoon Network will fall right into step with this book, and why shouldn’t they? Dwayne was a writer, editor and producer for the popular and high rated show so there is a very familiar feel to the tone of the book.

Ok here are some of my problems with the book. First it’s called the “Wedding Special” because for those of you who don’t follow DC comics, we are all in preparation for the nuptials of Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) and Black Canary (Dinah Lance), but there is no wedding. Now if it had been called “Justice League bachelor Party” that might have been more on point. My other problem with the stand alone one shot is that the story gets continued in “Justice League of America” #13 which is actually Dwayne’s first issue. Ok enough griping about that, now for the good….

Too answer the question in the title about the difference about a good writer and a good black writer is that the good black writer is by no means at all ever afraid or ashamed to point out some little piece of ethnic tisity. (Yes I made up a word)! When it was first announced that Dwayne was going to take over writing chores from Brad Meltzer one of the first things he said he was going to do was bring in Green Lantern John Stewart. Well that does happen in this issue and it is done is such a small but creative truthful way. I won’t spoil it here but I will say rare is the writer that can call John Stewart the “Black Lantern” and not have me writing him an angry letter. Another bright spot continues to be Dwayne’s handling of the Batman. Now in my opinion Batman is not an easy character to write for being a human surrounded by demi-gods and holding his own if not being a bit better. Dwayne manages to make the Bat strong and vulnerable all in the same book. On the opposite end he has also managed to capture the true essence of the Joker.

I would suggest anyone who enjoyed and appreciated JLU on television pick up this book. I am giving this book 4 out of 5 afro pics. It would have gotten 5 if there had been an actually wedding! I think we can expect some REALLY great things from D.M.

Stay tuned!

The Second Sister of Saturday Morning

2007-09-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Back in simpler times when Saturday mornings really meant something. Her present was our future and teamed with her two partners they made a formidable fighting force. The first lady of Saturday morning royalty, Princess Ariel from Thundarr the Barbarian.

“The year: 1994. From out of space comes a runaway planet, hurtling between the Earth and the Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction! Man's civilization is cast in ruin!
Two thousand years later, Earth is reborn...
A strange new world rises from the old: a world of savagery, super science, and sorcery. But one man bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his companions Ookla the Mok and Princess Ariel, he pits his strength, his courage, and his fabulous Sunsword against the forces of evil.
He is Thundarr, the Barbarian!”

In this setting, Thundarr, a muscular warrior, and his companions Princess Ariel (who was a formidable sorceress) and the Wookiee-like Ookla the Mok battled evil wizards who combined magical spells with technologies from the pre-catastrophe world. Further Star Wars influences can be seen in Thundarr's weapon of choice, the "Sun Sword", which projects a blade-like beam of energy when activated, and can be deactivated so that it is only a hilt. The Sun Sword is magically linked to Thundarr and as such, only he can use it.

There is not a lot of info out there about the show in general or Ariel in particular so I will have to whoop out my bag of geekdom and go from memory. First of all Ariel (like so many of our sisters thru out time) was the glue that held the group together. She was strong and confident, a nurturer to the innocent and a formidable opponent to any enemy. Of the three she was the only one who could actually read and she was a sorceress, which you don’t find may dummies doing. She was often seen creating energy bolts, bridges or my favorite bubbles and was only rendered helpless when her hands were bound. What I really loved about the character and the show was that unlike most shows with a female lead who’s main job it is to be captured and rescued, Ariel was captured and rescued just as much as Ookla and Thundarr. It was often hinted at in the show that she a relation to one of the villains but to my memory this was never proven.

The show and characters was created by Steve Gerber who also created Howard the Duck

FYI the first African American cartoon female was Christy Cross, who along with her husband Chris Cross (how cute…not!) made up the dynamic duo of Superstretch and Microwoman. They appeared as a segment of Tarzan and the Super 7 back in 1979. 1 Year before Thundarr hit the scene.

Welcome to Color in Comics

2007-09-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

Greetings and welcome to my new blog Color “n” Comics. For the last twenty five years I have been an avid comic book reader and aspire to become a writer. While I have always enjoyed comics I have always felt that we ,as a people, have continued to get the short end of the stick. This blog will explore and educate about the contributions we as a people have made to the comic, sci fi , pop culture world! I hope you enjoy the ride and reading it as much as I enjoy posting it!