Comics, Magazines, and Books from Diamond Distributors for May 9, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR181843    5 WORLDS GN VOL 02 COBALT PRINCE    $12.99
MAR181844    5 WORLDS HC GN VOL 02 COBALT PRINCE    $20.99
MAR182074    AJIN GN VOL 11 DEMI HUMAN    $12.95
MAR181782    AKISSI TALES OF MISCHIEF GN    $14.95
MAR181182    B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #261    $6.99
FEB181031    BACKWAYS #5    $3.99
MAR181073    BETROTHED #3    $3.99
MAR181156    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR A VAUGHN    $3.99
MAR181157    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR B ANWAR    $3.99
MAR181158    BETTY AND VERONICA VIXENS #6 CVR C CABRERA    $3.99
MAY171199    CALEXIT #3 (MR)    $3.99
NOV171866    CAPTAIN HARLOCK DIMENSIONAL VOYAGE GN VOL 03    $12.99
MAR181763    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #10    $3.99
MAR181762    CATALYST PRIME ACCELL TP VOL 02    $14.99
MAR181765    CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #7    $3.99
MAR181200    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #4 (OF 6) CVR A VAZQUEZ    $3.99
MAR181201    CHARISMAGIC VOL 03 #4 (OF 6) CVR B RANDOLPH    $3.99
MAR181966    COMIC BOOK STORY OF BASEBALL GN    $18.99
JAN181808    DALSTON MONSTERZZ GN    $19.95
JAN181614    DF INCREDIBLE HULK #714 GREG PAK SGN ED    $29.99
FEB181511    DF WEAPON H #1 GREG PAK SGN ED    $29.99
MAR181635    DISNEY MASTERS HC VOL 01 SCARPA MICKEY MOUSE DELTA DIMENSION    $29.99
NOV171917    DOCTOR WHO 11TH SAPLING HC VOL 03 BRANCHES    $22.99
MAR181753    ENCHANTED CHEST HC    $17.99
JAN181091    FEMFORCE #182    $9.95
MAR181751    GAME FOR ADVENTURE YR GN VOL 03 CHAVO THE INVISIBLE    $6.99
MAR181760    GHOST MONEY #10 (OF 10) (MR)    $3.99
NOV171216    GOLD DIGGER #252    $3.99
MAR181736    HAPPINESS GN VOL 07    $12.99
MAR181564    HELL HIGH GN (MR)    $15.00
MAR181907    HOLLISTON FRIENDSHIP IS TRAGIC GN    $5.99
MAR181622    JELLY VAMPIRE GN VOL 01    $19.99
FEB181306    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED IVORY ADULT (MR)    $39.99
NOV171873    LORD MARKSMAN & VANADIS GN VOL 06    $12.99
FEB180955    LOVE AND AARDVARKS #1 (OF 1)    $4.00
NOV171874    MAGICAL GIRL SITE GN VOL 05 (MR)    $12.99
MAR181781    MEAN GIRLS CLUB PINK DAWN HC GN    $20.95
MAR181572    MUSHROOM FAN CLUB HC    $17.95
DEC171719    MY BOYFRIEND IS A BEAR GN    $19.99
DEC171706    OUT OF NOTHING GN    $22.99
JAN181664    REAL DEAL #8 (MR)    $8.00
MAR181785    RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO GN VOL 08 MANGA    $11.95
MAR181917    ROBOTECH #9 CVR A EDWARDS    $3.99
MAR181918    ROBOTECH #9 CVR B ACTION FIGURE VAR    $3.99
MAR181919    ROBOTECH #9 CVR C QUIJADA    $3.99
FEB181081    ROCHELLE VOL 2 #1 (OF 3)    $3.99
MAR181650    ROCK STEADY GN BRILLIANT ADVICE MY BIPOLAR LIFE FORNEY    $19.99
MAR181075    ROUGH RIDERS RIDE OR DIE #4 (MR)    $3.99
MAR181943    SEA OF THIEVES #3 (OF 4) CVR A ZANFARDINO    $3.99
MAR181944    SEA OF THIEVES #3 (OF 4) CVR B GAME    $3.99
MAR181940    SEASON OF THE SNAKE #2    $6.99
MAR181379    SMASH GN VOL 01 TRIAL BY FIRE    $11.99
MAR181377    SMASH GN VOL 02 FEARLESS    $11.99
MAR181378    SMASH HC GN VOL 02 FEARLESS    $18.99
JAN181861    SMOKETOWN #7    $3.99
MAR181229    SPONGEBOB COMICS #80    $3.99
MAR182186    STAR WARS BLOCK HC    $16.99
MAR181934    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR A LEON (RES)    $5.99
MAR181935    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR B TV SHOW (RES)    $5.99
MAR181936    SUPERMANSION #2 (OF 2) CVR C HEBB (RES)    $5.99
MAR181742    SWEETNESS & LIGHTNING GN VOL 10    $12.99
JAN181157    THE THREE STOOGES TP VOL 02    $19.99
FEB181775    TO LOVE RU GN VOL 07-08 (MR)    $19.99
MAR181623    VERONA GN VOL 01    $24.99
MAR181921    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR A NAKAYAMA (RES)    $3.99
MAR181922    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR B SVENDSON (RES)    $3.99
MAR181923    WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #1 (OF 4) CVR C MAGILL (RES)    $3.99
FEB181914    WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR HC DLX ED    $49.99
JAN181650    ZAGOR THE ORIGINS GN    $23.99

MAGAZINES
JAN182187    HOBBY JAPAN APR 2018    $20.00
DEC172099    MEGAMI MAR 2018    $20.00
DEC172098    NEWTYPE MAR 2018    $20.00
MAR182212    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #67 NEWSSTAND ED    $9.99
MAR182213    STAR TREK MAGAZINE #67 PX ED    $9.99
FEB181079    STEAMPUNK GLAMOUR GAZETTE #1    $3.99

BOOKS
FEB182103    ANIME IMPACT MOVIES SHOWS CHANGED WORLD JAPANESE ANIMATION (    $27.99
MAR182164    BATMAN HAS A PLAN READ TO READ HC    $17.99
MAR182170    DOCTOR WHO WHO OLOGY REGENERATED ED OFFIC MISCELLANY HC    $19.99
NOV171884    GRIMGAR OF FANTASY & ASH LIGHT NOVEL VOL 05    $13.99
MAR182153    HOLLYWOOD BEACH BEAUTIES 1930-1970 HC    $30.00
MAR182191    I AM GANDHI GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY SC    $8.99
FEB181836    INFINITE STARS SF ANTHOLOGY SC    $19.95
MAR182158    LOIS LANE TRIPLE THREAT YA SC NOVEL    $9.95
MAR182190    PHOEBE & HER UNICORN BOARD BOOK TODAY ILL BE A UNICORN    $7.99
MAR181952    RIG MMPB    $14.95
MAR182154    SERAPH PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLAN AMATO HC (MR)    $40.00
MAR182162    SUPERGIRL YA NOVEL VOL 02 CURSE OF ANCIENTS    $13.99
MAR181904    UNFINISHED SC 3 POEMS    $10.00
FEB182089    WORLD OF READING THESE ARE THE AVENGERS SC    $4.99

Review: BLACK [AF]: America's Sweetheart

BLACK [AF]: AMERICA'S SWEETHEART
BLACKMASK STUDIO – @blackmaskstudio @BLACKsuprppowrs

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kwanza Osajyefo – @kwanzer
DESIGNER: Tim Smith 3
ART: Jennifer Johnson
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Sho Murase
ISBN: 978-1-62875-191-8; paperback (Tuesday, February 13, 2018)
Diamond Distributors code: SEP171271 (in comic book shops Wednesday, January 31, 2018)
80pp, Color, $9.99 U.S.

T/Teen

Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart is a 2018, full-color, original graphic novel.  It is set in the world of Black (now known as Black [AF]), the 2016-2017 six-issue miniseries created by writer Kwanza Osajyefo and artist-designer Tim Smith 3.  In the world of Black, only Black people have super-powers.  Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart is written by Osajyefo; drawn and colored by Jennifer Johnson; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.

Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart introduces Eli Franklin, a 15-year-old African-American girl adopted into a white family that lives on a ranch in Helena, Montana.  When she is a small child, Eli discovers that she has abilities that other people, including other children, do not have.  After he discovers Eli's powers, her father, a high-ranking government and White House official, tries to keep Eli's power secret.

However, once Eli becomes a public figure, her father manages Eli as a superhero, named “Good Girl,” who does good things to help people.  Good Girl is effectively a public relations stunt to tamper the fear of white people.  White people are angry because only black people have super-powers, and, in their fear, believe that all black people have or will have powers.  Eli is happy to do her part to make people less fearful, but someone with a connection to Eli's mysterious past is determined to put an end to Eli's mission.  The story also features a guest appearance by “X” of the original Black miniseries.

In a world that fears and hates them, what if only black people had super-powers?  That is a bold and crazy premise; that is a bold and crazy and ballsy premise from a group of African-America comic book creators, especially when one considers that much of the American comic book marketplace caters to older white males.  The six-issue Black miniseries was refreshingly confrontational, and it was unapologetic in its political and social themes and commentary that came from an African-America and Black American perspective.

Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart is less confrontational, but absolutely does not shy away from the original comic's politics.  It is just a bit clever about the way those politics are presented.  It is beautifully drawn and colored in a clean style that is similar to the graphics used in kids' graphic novels.  However, the fear-of-a-black-planet theme resonates throughout this original graphic novel (OGN).  White people in America are still afraid of super-powered black people, but the focus of Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart is Eli Franklin's quest to find her place in a society that fears her.  The story is not as much about a search for identity, which is what her adversary wants – to make Eli understand who and what she really is or who and what she was meant to be.

Eli's quest is played out in a massive, battle of super-powers that takes up about half this OGN's story, but that battle allows Osajyefo space to play out messages and themes involving the oppression of African-Americans and Black people, in general, by a society that wants to simultaneously enslave them and to exploit their powers and abilities.  What he means is white people making black people chattel slaves again – using black slave labor for the white oppressor's gain.

So, on the surface, Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart is about a teenage Black superhero, the first black person to put on a costume and use her powers as if she were a comic book superhero.  It is a superhero graphic novel for teenagers.  Just beneath the surface, however, Black [AF]: America's Sweetheart returns to the themes and motifs of the Black miniseries.  It is like hiding medicine inside candy in order the trick the kid into taking the medicine he or she needs.  Bravo, Mr. Osajyefo and Ms. Johnson.  We are ready for a second spoonful of medicine.

9 out of 10

blacksuperpowers.com

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You'


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for April 25, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

FEB181625    AHO GIRL (CLUELESS GIRL) GN VOL 06    $12.99
FEB181034    ANIMOSITY HC VOL 01 YEAR ONE (MR)    $39.99
FEB181115    ARCHIE #30 CVR A MOK    $3.99
FEB181116    ARCHIE #30 CVR B GORHAM    $3.99
FEB181117    ARCHIE #30 CVR C JARRELL    $3.99
FEB181130    ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #288    $6.99
JAN182081    AS MISS BEELZEBUB LIKES GN VOL 01    $13.00
FEB181628    ATTACK ON TITAN SEASON ONE BOX SET PART 01 (MR)    $43.96
FEB181025    BABYTEETH #10 (MR)    $3.99
FEB181629    BATTLE ANGEL ALITA MARS CHRONICLE GN VOL 02    $10.99
FEB181304    BELLADONNA ANNUAL 2017 ASSAULT CVR (MR)    $9.99
FEB181302    BELLADONNA ANNUAL 2017 ASSAULT NUDE CVR (MR)    $9.99
FEB181299    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #1 LUCIOUS (MR)    $9.99
FEB181300    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #1 LUCIOUS NUDE (MR)    $9.99
FEB181303    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #1 VIP CENTURY SET (MR)    $139.99
MAR181340    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #2 REPOSE WRAP (MR)    $9.99
MAR181341    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #2 REPOSE WRAP NUDE (MR)    $9.99
FEB181301    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #2 VINTAGE FURIES NUDE (MR)    $9.99
MAR181337    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #3 IMPALED (MR)    $9.99
MAR181338    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #3 IMPALED NUDE (MR)    $9.99
JAN181392    BELLADONNA FIRE FURY #4 FIFTY SHADES NUDE (MR)    $89.99
FEB181125    BEST OF ARCHIE AMERICANA TP VOL 02 SILVER AGE    $9.99
FEB181474    BITCOIN COMIC HANDBOOK    $5.99
FEB181179    BLACK AF WIDOWS & ORPHANS #1 (MR)    $3.99
FEB181824    BLOODBORNE #3 (OF 4) CVR A KOWALSKI (MR)    $3.99
FEB181825    BLOODBORNE #3 (OF 4) CVR B GAME VAR (MR)    $3.99
FEB181319    BONE CODA BEHIND THE SCENES BUNDLE    $14.95
JAN181189    CALL OF THE SUICIDE FOREST #3 (OF 5) (MR)    $3.99
FEB181650    CATALYST PRIME INCIDENTALS #8    $3.99
FEB181653    CATALYST PRIME KINO #5    $3.99
FEB181661    CATSTRONAUTS YR GN VOL 01 MISSION MOON    $7.99
DEC171091    CAVEWOMAN BATTLE ANKHAS BROOD #2 (OF 2) CVR A MASSEY (MR)    $3.99
JAN182035    CULT CLASSIC RETURN TO WHISPER #2 (OF 5) CVR A    $3.99
JAN182036    CULT CLASSIC RETURN TO WHISPER #2 (OF 5) CVR B    $3.99
DEC171725    DAMNED TP VOL 02 ILL GOTTEN (MR)    $19.99
AUG171265    DAN THE UNHARMABLE TP VOL 01 SP ED (MR)    $5.99
AUG171266    DAN THE UNHARMABLE TP VOL 02 SP ED (MR)    $5.99
DEC171717    DEAD OF WINTER GN GOOD GOOD DOG (MR)    $14.99
DEC171718    DEAD WEIGHT MURDER AT CAMP BLOOM GN    $19.99
FEB181919    DEEP ROOTS #1 CVR A (MR)    $3.99
FEB181920    DEEP ROOTS #1 CVR B RODRIGUES VAR (MR)    $3.99
JUN171666    DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RENEW YOUR VOWS #8 CONWAY SGN    $59.99
DEC171548    DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VENOM INC ALPHA #1 ROMITA SGN    $196.20
MAY171564    DF DARK DAYS THE FORGE #1 WILLIAMS SGN    $29.99
MAR171766    DF HARLEY QUINN #1 MIDTOWN COMICS B&W DODSON EXC    $39.99
MAR181589    DF METAL BATS OUT OF HELL #1 SILVER SGN VAN SCIVER    $149.99
AUG171261    DISENCHANTED TP VOL 01 SP ED (MR)    $5.99
SEP171976    DOCTOR WHO 11TH TP VOL 01 AFTER LIFE    $16.99
DEC171007    DOLLFACE #14 CVR A MENDOZA (MR)    $4.99
DEC171008    DOLLFACE #14 CVR B MENDOZA REAL GIRL TATTERED & TORN (MR)    $4.99
DEC171009    DOLLFACE #14 CVR C GRANSAULL PIN UP (MR)    $4.99
DEC171010    DOLLFACE #14 CVR D GRANSAULL PIN UP TATTERED & TORN (MR)    $4.99
DEC171011    DOLLFACE #14 CVR E MENDOZA REAL GIRL (MR)    $4.99
DEC171012    DOLLFACE #14 CVR F MENDOZA RISQUE (MR)    $4.99
FEB181816    FACTORY #2 (MR)    $4.99
FEB181731    FASHION IN ACTION    $20.00
FEB181041    FEAR DIARIES    $1.99
FEB181808    FOREVER FREE #1 CVR A KURTH (MR)    $5.99
FEB181809    FOREVER FREE #1 CVR B MARVANO (MR)    $5.99
JAN181755    FRUIT NINJA FRENZY FORCE #1 CVR A MOKHTAR VAR    $4.99
JAN181756    FRUIT NINJA FRENZY FORCE #1 CVR B BLANK SKETCH COVER VAR    $4.99
OCT172048    GRIMM FAIRY TALES LEGACY TP VOL 01    $29.99
JAN181874    HATSUNE MIKU EVERYDAY VOCALOID PARADISE GN VOL 03    $14.99
MAR181344    HELLINA SCYTHE #1 FIFTY SHADES OF RIO SET (MR)    $149.99
FEB181094    HIDDEN BLOOD (MR)    $3.99
JAN182087    HONOR STUDENT AT MAGIC HIGH SCHOOL GN VOL 08    $13.00
FEB181305    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED FAUNA ADULT (MR)    $39.99
FEB181307    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED TUNDRA ADULT (MR)    $39.99
FEB181308    JUNGLE FANTASY ANNUAL 2017 BEAUTIFIED VIXENS ADULT (MR)    $39.99
FEB181309    JUNGLE FANTASY SURVIVORS BAG SET ALPHA (SET OF 6 BOOKS) (MR)    $26.99
JAN182090    KINIRO MOSAIC GN VOL 06    $17.00
FEB181652    KINO TP VOL 01 ESCAPE FROM THE ABYSS    $14.99
FEB181336    LADY DEATH UNHOLY RUIN #1 (MR)    $4.99
FEB181338    LADY DEATH UNHOLY RUIN #1 EBAS PREMIUM FOIL VAR (MR)    $25.00
FEB181337    LADY DEATH UNHOLY RUIN #1 MOMENTO MORI VAR (MR)    $4.99
FEB181339    LADY DEATH UNHOLY RUIN #1 NAUGHTY VAR (MR)    $40.00
MAR181339    LOOKERS #0 ROYAL BLUE LEATHER CVR (MR)    $49.99
FEB181311    LOOKERS #0-4 BAG SET (SET OF 5 BOOKS) (MR)    $23.99
NOV171406    LOOKERS EMBER #6 FIFTY SHADES HOMAGE NUDE (MR)    $89.99
FEB181760    LORD MARKSMAN & VANADIS GN VOL 07    $12.99
JAN181879    MADE IN ABYSS GN VOL 02    $13.99
JAN182093    MAGICAL GIRL RAISING PROJECT GN VOL 02    $13.00
NOV171875    MAGICAL GIRL SPECIAL OPS ASUKA GN VOL 02 (MR)    $12.99
DEC171515    MALEFIC #6 (OF 8)    $4.99
MAR182078    MALIKA WARRIOR QUEEN GN VOL 02 PART TWO    $14.99
FEB181877    MEGA MAN MASTERMIX #2 CVR A ARIGA    $7.99
FEB181878    MEGA MAN MASTERMIX #2 CVR B SOMMARIVA    $7.99
JAN182091    MONTHLY GIRLS NOZAKI KUN GN VOL 09    $13.00
FEB181104    MYTHICAL CREATURES    $9.95
FEB181767    NAMELESS ASTERISM GN VOL 02    $12.99
FEB181556    NOW #3 (MR)    $9.99
JAN182095    OF THE RED LIGHT & AYAKASHI GN VOL 10    $13.00
FEB181640    PACIFIC RIM AFTERMATH #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
FEB181779    PLEASE DESTROY MY ENEMIES FULL COLOR ED GN    $9.99
FEB181798    PRISONER #1 CVR A ALLRED    $3.99
FEB181799    PRISONER #1 CVR B PHOTO    $3.99
FEB181800    PRISONER #1 CVR C KIRBY ALLRED    $3.99
FEB181801    PRISONER #1 CVR D LORIMER    $3.99
FEB181802    PRISONER #1 CVR E MCCREA    $3.99
FEB181803    PRISONER #1 CVR F ALLRED B&W    $3.99
OCT171940    REACTOR #3 (OF 4)    $3.99
FEB181697    RICK & MORTY #37 CVR A    $3.99
FEB181698    RICK & MORTY #37 CVR B VASQUEZ VAR    $3.99
FEB182018    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #4 (OF 6) CVR A DAVILA    $3.99
FEB182019    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #4 (OF 6) CVR B MILLER    $3.99
FEB182020    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #4 (OF 6) CVR C ANACLETO    $3.99
FEB182021    ROBYN HOOD THE CURSE #4 (OF 6) CVR D WHITE    $3.99
FEB181040    SCRIMSHAW #5 (MR)    $1.50
FEB188496    SHADOWMAN (2018) #1 2ND PTG    $3.99
FEB181885    SHADOWMAN (2018) #2 CVR A ZONJIC    $3.99
FEB181886    SHADOWMAN (2018) #2 CVR B GUEDES    $3.99
FEB181887    SHADOWMAN (2018) #2 CVR C BLANK COVER    $3.99
FEB181732    SHARKASAURUS    $19.99
FEB181144    SHRUGGED VOL 3 #3 (OF 6) CVR A RISSO    $3.99
FEB181145    SHRUGGED VOL 3 #3 (OF 6) CVR B GUNNELL    $3.99
JAN181862    SOLAR FLARE: SEASON TWO #6    $3.99
DEC171933    SONGS FOR THE DEAD #2 (OF 4) CVR A FOWLER    $3.99
DEC171934    SONGS FOR THE DEAD #2 (OF 4) CVR B ROBLES    $3.99
FEB181043    SONITUS #2 (OF 3) (MR)    $1.50
FEB181745    STABBITY BUNNY #4 (MR)    $3.99
FEB181924    STALAG X HC (MR)    $29.99
JAN181205    STEAM WARS CHRONICLES VOL 02    $9.99
FEB180960    STRANGERS IN PARADISE XXV #3    $3.99
DEC171726    STUMPTOWN TP VOL 02 CASE OF BABY VELVET CASE (MR)    $19.99
FEB181005    SUBSPECIES #2 CVR A LOGAN (MR)    $3.99
FEB181006    SUBSPECIES #2 CVR B SMITH (MR)    $3.99
FEB181095    TALES OF ROGUES #4 (OF 6)    $3.99
FEB181044    THE XII #2 (OF 5) (MR)    $1.50
FEB181639    TO YOUR ETERNITY GN VOL 04    $12.99
JAN181207    TRUMP PUTIN ON THE HITS    $9.99
FEB181147    UBER INVASION #1 FALL OF BOSTON (MR)    $5.99
FEB181148    UBER INVASION #2 HOMAGE (MR)    $5.99
FEB181149    UBER INVASION #4 ACTIVATION EDITION (MR)    $9.99
NOV171185    UNDERDOG #3 CVR A GREGORY MAIN    $3.99
NOV171186    UNDERDOG #3 CVR B CLASSIC ACTION    $3.99
NOV171187    UNDERDOG #3 CVR C GORILLA GRIN    $3.99
FEB181729    US JUDGE DREDD COMP CASE FILES TP VOL 15 (S&S ED)    $25.00
FEB181045    WICKED RIGHTEOUS #5 (OF 6) (MR)    $1.50
JAN181305    WILDS #2 CVR A PHIL SEVY (MR)    $3.99
JAN181306    WILDS #2 CVR B NATASHA ALTERICI (MR)    $3.99
FEB181930    WITCHCRAFT WORKS GN VOL 11    $12.95
FEB181890    X-O MANOWAR (2017) #14 CVR A ANDREWS    $3.99
FEB181891    X-O MANOWAR (2017) #14 CVR B ALLEN    $3.99
JAN182094    YOUTH ROMANTIC COMEDY WRONG EXPECTED GN VOL 08    $13.00

MAGAZINES
FEB182123    COMICS REVUE PRESENTS APR 2018    $19.95
FEB182130    THE CREEPS #14 (MR)    $5.95

BOOKS
MAR182185    100 THINGS STAR WARS FANS SHOULD KNOW DO BEFORE THEY DIE SC    $16.95
FEB181834    ALIEN MMPB COLD FORGE    $7.99
FEB181833    ANNO DRACULA MMPB DRACULA CHA CHA CHA    $8.99
FEB182106    BACK TO THE FUTURE POP CLASSIC ILLUS STORYBOOK HC    $18.99
FEB182049    DC COMICS VARIANT COVERS COMP VISUAL HISTORY    $45.00
FEB182811    POKEMON ULTIMATE SKETCH CHALLENGE SC    $12.99
MAR182160    READING LESSONS IN SEEING AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL GNS SC    $30.00
FEB181835    SPAWN OF LILITH MMPB    $7.99
FEB182779    WARHAMMER 40K CORAX PROSE NOVEL SC    $9.99

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Review: BLACK #6

BLACK No. 6
BLACKMASK STUDIO

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kwanza Osajyefo
DESIGNER: Tim Smith 3
ART: Jamal Igle
INKS: Robin Riggs
TONES: Derwin Roberson
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Khary Randolph
44pp, B&W and some Color, $3.99 U.S. (July 2017)

“Chapter Six”

Black was a comic book miniseries created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3.  This comic book was first introduced to the public as a Kickstarter project seeking to earn $29,999, but ultimately earned almost $100,000.  Black is set in a world where only Black people have super-powers.

Black was written by Osajyefo; drawn by Jamal Igle (pencils) and Robin Riggs (inks); toned by Derwin Roberson and Sarah Stern; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  Khary Randolph was the series cover artist.

Black opened with Officer Ellen Waters of the New York Police Department (NYPD) recounting a shocking incident.  She witnessed three young Black teenagers mistakenly identified as three perpetrators of an armed robbery.  All three were subsequently shot to death in a hail of bullets fired by White police officers.  Officer Waters also witnessed one of the three teens, Kareem Jenkins, get up from his injuries as if he were never harmed.  What Waters did not realize was that the truth behind Jenkins miraculous survival was even more mind-blowing.  He had super-powers – called Quarks.

Black #6 opens at “Negromuerte,” the research facility that is also a prison.  Here, Black people with super-powers are imprisoned so that they can be the subjects of experimentation designed to replicate their powers.  Recently imprisoned there, Kareem has discovered that his cellmate is the Black super-powered terrorist, “O,” who is determined to kill Negromeurte's director and lead scientist, Theodore Mann.  Now, it is Mann vs. “O,” with Kareem caught in the middle.

As I wrote in my review of Black #1, I remember the Kickstarter campaign for Black, and I was impressed by what the team behind it presented to the public.  I stated that I was shocked by how successful the campaign was, as it reached its campaign goal in a short time before going on to raise about three times that goal.

That Kickstarter campaign assured the Black would indeed become a full-fledged comic book project.  Since Black #6 was published last year, the series has been optioned for film and a sequel miniseries and an original graphic novel set in that world were announced (with the graphic novel recently being published and reportedly being sold out).

Black #1 was awkward and a bit ungainly, but it was hard to deny the boldness and audacity of its concept.  Black #6 is, of course, more polished.  Jamal Igle's compositions are solid and his graphic storytelling pops off the page.  Robin Riggs' inks on Igle pencil's give the art a solidity and firmness the art seemed to lack in that first issue.  The tones (basically coloring for black and white illustrations) by Derwin Roberson are superb and bring beauty and strength to Igle and Riggs illustrations.  Yes, Dave Sharpe's lettering is... sharp and conveys power to the story.

I think that the thing I most enjoy about Kwanza Osajyefo's storytelling is simply that it exists.  It takes backbone and balls of steel to both create a comic book that says only black people have super-powers, and then to release it to a market that serves an aging white male fan-base.  And this is a base that often bristles when presented with black comic book characters that do not “know their place” in fictional comic book worlds like the Marvel and DC Comics universes.

I like that Osajyefo brings diversity and variety to the way his characters speak.  I like that Osajyefo ultimately lets Kareem Jenkins be a really free black man.  I like that there will be more from the world of Black.  It is too Black and too proud to be a one-time thing.

9 out of 10

[This comic book includes a preview of the comic book, Calexit, from Black Mask Studio.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------------------------

Comics, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 14, 2018

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

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Review: BLACK #1

BLACK No. 1
BLACKMASK STUDIO

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Kwanza Osajyefo
DESIGNER: Tim Smith 3
ART: Jamal Igle with Steven Walker
INKS: Jamal Igle; Robin Riggs
TONES: Sarah Stern
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Khary Randolph
VARIANT COVER: Ashley A. Woods
2-Color, $3.99 U.S.

“Chapter One”

Black is a new comic book miniseries created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3.  This comic book was introduced to the public as a Kickstarter project seeking to earn $29,999, but ultimately earned almost $100,000.  Black is set in a world where only Black people have super-powers.

Black is written by Osajyefo and is drawn by Jamal Igle (pencils) and Robin Riggs (inks); toned by Sarah Stern; and lettered by Dave Sharpe.  Khary Randolph is the cover artist, and Steve Walker assists Igle on the interior art.

Black #1 opens with Officer Ellen Waters of the New York Police Department (NYPD) recounting a shocking incident.  She witnessed three young Black teenagers mistakenly misidentified as three perpetrators of an armed robbery.  They are subsequently shot down in a hail of bullets by White police officers.  Officer Waters witnesses one of the three, Kareem Jenkins, get up from his injuries as if he were never harmed.  What Waters does not realize is that the truth behind Jenkins miraculous survival is even more mind-blowing.

I remember the Kickstarter campaign for Black, and I was impressed by what the team behind it presented to the public.  I was shocked by how successful it was, as it reached its campaign goal in a short time before going on to raise about three times that goal.  Although I was impressed, I forgot about the campaign.  I only remembered after seeing a listing for Black #1 as a new release on the website for comic book distributor, Diamond Distributors.  I was fortunate enough to receive a PDF copy of Black #1 for review.

I have often thought about what it would be like to create a comic book set in a world in which only Black people had super-powers.  I am glad that Kwanza Osajyefo (the former editor of DC Comics' “webcomics” imprint, ZUDA) and Tim Smith 3 (who has worked for Marvel, DC Comics, and Archie Comics, among others) had the gall or the balls to create just such a comic book.

For some readers, the idea of a world in which only Black people have super-powers may be controversial or perhaps, a bridge-too-far, but for nearly three decades, the fictional worlds of American superhero comic books only imagined White men and a few White women with super-powers.  There were even pets and inanimate objects with super-powers before comic book characters of color gained powers.  Black's central conceit alone makes Black #1 a riveting, gripping read.

The other thing that makes this first issue so thrilling, without spoiling it, is that the focus is on the hunt for Kareem Jenkins.  Osajyefo pounds out a script that drags the readers along and makes them think that they are also imperiled.  Jamal Igle's quicksilver compositions visualize the story in lurid detail, especially in the sequence that goes from the explosive hail of bullets to the heart-stopping resurrection-like rise of Kareem.

Black, of course, is timely.  That is both fortunate and unfortunate.  The last decade in the United States has been troubling.  It began with the persecution and prosecution of the Black male teenagers known as the “Jena 6” and continues with the latest killings of unarmed Black males or shootings of Black males in general by law enforcement officials and armed White vigilantes.  Activism concerning justice and equality for African-Americans has exploded, with people of all skin colors and ethnicities joining the activism and protests.  That is fortunate.  It is unfortunate that young Black teenagers have had to die to force a movement that should have not slumbered to awaken again.

Still, out of these dark times, we may have, in Black, one of the few American comic books in a long time that means something important beyond the market and the medium.  Black #1 is not perfect, as some of it (so far) relies on a few tired tropes of superhero and science fiction storytelling.  Still, the first issue of Black is a great start.

A-
8 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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