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Tonya
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Tonya
Post Number: 5385
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 - 10:03 pm: | 
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Published: 04.28.2007
'Other Heroes': blacks in comics
Work depicted in exhibit shows another world
By Kathy Hanrahan
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON, Miss. — Comic books have become hot again, thanks to the successes of NBC's "Heroes," the Spider-Man films and the revived Superman and Batman franchises.
A new exhibit at Jackson State University offers a glimpse into another world of the comics, a much different one than the Gotham Cities of imaginary heroes and villains.
The exhibition, "Other Heroes: African-American Comics, Creators, Characters and Archetypes," focuses on topics such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina and racial stereotypes.
"The show really wants to focus on racial representations through that particular medium," said John Jennings, co- curator of the exhibit, which runs through the end of June at the historically black university. He curated the exhibit with comic-book partner Damien Duffy. Jennings said he is talking to other universities about having the exhibit tour.
Some images have been taken out of the comic setting, enlarged and mounted on gallery walls in the university's art building. More than 50 artists contributed to the exhibit, including some selections by Denys Cowan, artist for "Hardware," which depicts a man who turns high-tech vigilante to stop his employer, who has links to organized crime and drugs.
"I think people are going to be surprised at the mastery of the storytelling," said Jennings, who describes the works as anti-mainstream and trying to break misconceptions.
"It is how we see ourselves as African-Americans through the medium and also how others see the 'idea of blackness' through that medium. I think it is really the first time a show has really tried to capture that," he said.
Jennings, 36, who taught previously at Jackson State, is now an assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lealan Swanson, associate professor of art at Jackson State, said her students have been amazed by the presentation. Swanson predicts some will start creating their own graphic novels.
"These comics aren't just for entertainment and just pumped-up bodies or just physically superheroes. They are a way to tell stories and give morals," Swanson said.
Dan Yezbick, who teaches media arts at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash., noted the increase of courses in the art of comic books. He established the first undergraduate surveys of American comic art at the University of Illinois and Peninsula College.
While the most well known black comic strip, "The Boondocks," has gained national attention as part of Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" lineup, Yezbick said that black characters and black creators are still marginalized.
"Most of the mainstream stuff is still big white men in tights or some overly sexed heroines in skimpy outfits," he said.
Jennings has worked with Duffy on various comics, including "Day 8" based on a poem by fellow Jackson State alum Deborah Grison. The poem, "No Ark," is about a New Orleans man who decided to ride out Hurricane Katrina in his home. The collaboration shows the man, Mr. Jenkins, spending days on his roof, nearing death.
"Day 8" is vying for several awards at the second annual Glyph Comic Awards honoring the best in black comics and creators. The awards will be handed out at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention at Temple University in Philadelphia May 18-19.
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http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/180436 |
Crystal
Regular Poster
Username: Crystal
Post Number: 318
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 03:41 pm: |
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I understand that Eric Jerome Dickey has written a comic book on the Storm character from X-Men. Anyone seen it? Is it any good? |
Troy
Veteran Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 622
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 09:52 pm: |
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This thread reminded me of an interesting video Cartoonist Jerry Craft created regarding Black comic book characters -- check it out http://authors.aalbc.com/jerry.htm
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Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 2187
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 01:01 am: |
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mmmk |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 2188
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 01:02 am: |
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Troy
Veteran Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 624
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 08:11 am: |
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I remember seeing this comic in the store as a kid and getting excited. I was thinking man a black super hero!
Luke Cage was from Harlem and I never considered that this character was reenforcing negative stereo types, Black men in jail etc.
I still that this comic in my basement as well as the 20 or so that came out. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4304
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 03:47 pm: |
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Why didn't they have a panel on ABM?
Why wasn't ABM there?
When is the New ABM comic coming out? |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 05:59 am: |
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"When is the New ABM comic coming out?"
Just did...........
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Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2017
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 09:38 am: |
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LOL! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 8526
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 03:17 pm: |
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ROTFLOL. Who needs Spiderman when we got roach man! |
White
First Time Poster
Username: White
Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 04:41 pm: |
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There's an increasing number of black characters in comics, and positive portrayals of black characters in comics. Part of that has to do with the number of black creators involved in mainstream, and independent comics, but it's yet to reach any kind of critical mass, and I doubt it ever will. If you're interested in reading more about the history of black characters in comics, check this site out: http://blacksuperhero.com/
I understand that Eric Jerome Dickey has written a comic book on the Storm character from X-Men. Anyone seen it? Is it any good?
You can see a preview of that story here. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 9019
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 09:28 pm: |
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Couldn't you come up with a better screen name than "White?" LMAO. |
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