Damian Duffy, John Jennings, and their collaborators have produced a magnificent piece of book art that you should know, and if you have even a spark of curiosity about comic art, you should own it or have ready access. I am writing this post as a paean/review of Black Comix Returns, published 2018 by the Lion Forge, LLC. I had access to this title courtesy of #Netgalley.
The few frequent readers of this blog may know I am not one to pull punches or withhold my disapproving pen. In this case, there is nothing but praise, hearty praise at that. I came across this book as a reviewer on the Netgalley platform and am writing this simply in exchange for having had access to this title and to signal boost this book. My stamp of approval is such that halfway into to reading it online, I knew I had to have a copy of my own. Fortunately, this oversize, full color book is very affordable because the organizers held a Kickstarter campaign to assist in covering costs. However, don’t wait in getting your copy because this is the kind of book that will only increase in value when it is sold out.
On to the book itself: it is a broad survey of African American comic talent ranging from recent self published breakouts to established syndicated strips. The book is a follow up to the 2010 Black Comix: African American Independent Comics, Art and Culture. Each artist has a two page display that includes a biographical entry and several images. From sweet superheroes like Jamar Nichols’ Leon to sleek steampunk figures created by the Gibbs Sisters, there is a panorama of artwork to explore. The spectrum of comic characters, from movie inspired superheroes to pin up style beauties, and styles of artwork--sketch, full color, fairy tale, movie poster...in trying to write this review I simply revert to turning the pages slowly and soaking in the colors and stories. But despite my inability to resist the joyful distractions of these pages, I would be remiss in telling you that it also includes artists that tackle history in comic form, like Joel Christian Gill, and artists like Keith Knight that address current social issues one box and panel at a time.
The richness of images and artist information is supported by essays about the industry, taking to task the consumers and the mainstream media. Joseph Illidge shares what it is like for an artist of color to break in and hold space in a media world that values sameness and financial security. Enrique Carrion takes the measure of comics as an art style like hip-hop and a place of identity. Comic artist Brandon Thomas offers the challenge to readers to support this art--to support it in the most meaningful way, which is to buy it. So where do you buy comic art? There is a helpful section labeled “Conventional Wisdom” that describes the locations and scope of what are called Comic Cons across the country. You might have heard about the massive San Diego ComicCon, but in addition to events like the Black Comix Art Festival in San Francisco and Onyxcon in Atlanta there are also specialized book fairs and small press events around the country where you can buy comics, books, and artwork. Thomas’ essay addressing the basics of supporting diverse artists applies to library collections. You can’t have a truly diverse collection if you don’t buy those materials, and if your library has “policies” about not buying materials that don’t arrive pre-catalogued or that can only be purchased from a specific distributor...well, guess what? You are going to have to work a little harder to get these meaningful materials into your collections and into the hands of readers who seek representation.
I would also like to praise the book designers for the beauty of this book. To pack so much content into one book and make it a seamless reading experience must have been a tremendous task. The harmony of the layout, fonts, and borders make an excellent package. The heavy, coated pages rest inside sturdy covers with a sewn binding, and to add an additional flourish, a purple ribbon bookmark.
Start with acquiring this book. The ISBN is 1942367376 and you know what to do, get it from your favorite independent bookseller or ask your favorite librarian to get it for your local library.
Happy Reading!
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