We Don't Need Another Hero (the exodus from the superhero genre)

People are wondering why is Manga kicking comics in the butt. Is it the stories? Is it the art? Is it the pricing? What is it? I don't know. What I do know is that whenever my mind gets to spinning and my noodle starts baking, I can come up with some pretty interesting or questionable thoughts. Take for instance tonight, why the world is Tina Turner's song "We don't need Another Hero" downloading into my jukebox for what I call a brain. I mean you know, I prefer a little Eddie Hazel, a little Rolling Stones, some Led Zeppelin but no. My mind has other plans. I mean this isn't a flashback to the mid 80s. If it is, can a brother get some Men at Work, Peter Gabriel, a little Yes maybe. Now don't get me wrong, I like Tina Turner but I'm a throwback to Nutbush City Limits if I'm messing with Tina.

Anyway, it did get me to thinking about Marvel and DC. These companies have been around a long time. For generations, the big two have dominated the comics scene. It wasn't always like this but after war comics became passe, characters like Batman and Spiderman became the rage. Fast forward a few generations and superheroes have become pop culture royalty. Yet, like anything that becomes cool, it slowly becomes uncool. Now don't get me wrong. I'm buying comics weekly many of which are superhero titles but I am starting to see the change in my buying. I have science fiction, horror and true crime stuff. While I am happy to see Black Superheroes getting some shine; I am currently right now considering walking away from the big two for a next calendar year. Yes. I know. That means walking away from the new Black Panther run, and whatever other Marvel and DC books that may come out. Why am I considering leaving the big two? I could tell you that I have a noble plan to support independent Black creators and independent companies and that would be correct.

... my ego is attached to this. Like Kanye I am just the first to admit it. Comic book collecting is addictive. Collecting Marvel and DC books is also very expensive. I'm at a point when I just want to not fool with them because they keep raising prices and like my fellow collectors we keep falling for it and keep buying it. I gotta stop this. This crap reminds of being at a diner 2:30 in the morning half drunk looking pathetically into eyes my buddy while he tells me "we gotta stop this Rich" but no. A day or two later we back in the same club, hitting up the same diner, sitting the same booth and saying same crap. "We gotta stop this Rich" So now I'm reaching into my bag of "we doing something different and I can show you better than I can tell you". Will I really miss DC and Marvel? Probably for a minute but in a little time, the comics will be an after thought. That after thought being "you cant miss what you don't have" [sure, Rich tell yourself anything] Of course that only works when the alternative is satisfying. Therein, lies the rub. After reading hugh amounts of comics from Marvel and DC, I have come to realize that hey "we dont need another hero" Sure I want original characters and Marvel and DC are always dragging their feet. So maybe I take my reading talents to Scout, or Boom! Studios, or Black Sands Entertainment, or Konkret, or Millenium Comics, even Image. Maybe Tina has a point.

Maybe we dont need another hero. Yet, I would be crazy to think that other superheroes from independent creators are not intriguing. Maybe I will rock a Darkstorm shirt instead my faded out Black Panther night shirt. Maybe its just a passing thought. I cannot say for sure but what I do know is that the volume on my jukebox is set at mininum volume. To tell you the truth though, my hand is on the dial trying to turn it up. Could I permanently walk away from DC and Marvel? Not even sure I want to but this experiment for a year is growing legs. Why? Bad stories. Bad writing. Bad prices. All the things Manga isn't. Yep, I'm starting get that feeling. "Shoot! Turn that Tina Up!"

When the Anticipation Leads to Frustration

Sighs. When a new Black comic book comes out, we usually are excited for it. We are stoked for the art and the story. We wonder to ourselves; will this be a hit? New comic book day comes around on a Tuesday or Wednesday and we grab our shiny nickels and dimes getting ready for the come up. We look at the fresh copies on the shelf and if you are like me, you go after those around the middle or back. [We dont like a gang of fingerprints on our precious] We get cover A,B, and C, just because. We make small talk with the guy at the counter and grab our bags to make our way to the confines of the Black Cave. We. Are. Ready. Its. Go. Time.

You crack open the book and begin to teleport to another dimension in time and space. You brace yourself because you are getting ready to have your mind blown. The art is fire. Oh my goodness, (bruh, I need this on a shirt). So then as the words download into your cerebral cortex you experience a mild sensation. Almost lukewarm but you are not too bothered because its gotta get better right? Right? Then some 13 to 14 pages later, the mild sensation turns into pile of meh. Meh for the uninitiated is the thought you have towards something that you could basically do with out. Kind of like the plastic bags you get from the grocery store that wind up under your kitchen sink. The writing is meh. Meaning that you did not really get a bang for your four dollars and ninety nine cents plus tax. Don't forget that twenty dollar one in twenty five variant that you had to have. Yes,you have been duped. I say you been had. You been runamock. You been led astrayed. All the excitement you had now has been banished to speculation purgatory. Yes, your anticipation has been reduced to a hope that somebody options, some celebrity gets a role on tv show or a movie. Now that comic goodness you been running your mouth about in these internet skreets takes on a new role. Long box life. It sits and sits and sits and every now and then you pull it out to try to get a whiff of that excitement you once had before you bought it. Yet instead, you get slow emitted pungent gas. Reminds you of that green chili burrito you bought from the roach coach at your job. It never fails to deliver. Yet, like all farts that have to be released. I just want to let this go. Yet, I cannot. Why because I am seeing it too much. You know you are in trouble when the story about the story is more compelling than the story itself. This happens way too much for comfort. Get it together because anticipation that leads to frustration creates a new situation. -Richard J Wright

Delta Dogs: A Comic Book worth Checking For

Delta Dogs. I want you to remember the name. Delta Dogs by Millennial Comics, is a comic book title, created and written by Vonnell Young. Mark and Marvin Marvida handle the art and color work. Delta Dogs is the story of a family of cousins who were on their way to a family reunion only to be sidetracked by an encounter with an alien being. This encounter causes them to develop superpowers. I do not want to give the story away because it is a fascinating story that should be experienced firsthand. The story in short, is a coming of age tale about a group of young Black men who must navigate through life with superpowers and potential threat of being exposed. They face difficulties in mastering their powers as well trying to develop their confidence through it all. These characters are relateable and have distinct personalities. The age range of these characters are from ages 11 to 17.

Vonnell Young has put together a group of characters that you can invest in. Delta Dogs current run has 18 issues. This is almost unheard of for an independent comic book title. It a book that you can get digitally and physically as well. All the Delta Dogs issues are action packed and book is definitely a page turner. As an independent book, Delta Dogs is professionally done but it does have an underground feel to it. I want you guys to know however is that book gets better and better with each issue. You can tell that Vonnell Young really desired to make Delta Dogs better with each issue. The first couple of issues in the run had some editing challenges but definitely improved soon afterwards. Millennial Comics worked hard to improve and you will certainly notice. Delta Dogs starts off fast and in fact you might say too fast but it comes to a cruising altitude where the story starts to really take shape and you begin the process of understanding the story and the characters themselves. In short, this book is worth your time and money. If you are looking for Black love in the form of Black family love, this is the book for you. The cousins are like natural cousins, they argue, they fight but at the end of the day; they have each other's back. What makes Delta Dogs a good buy is the fact that the story even though its up to 18 issues has room to grow. Some of the cousins you will get to know right off the bat and others are still layered to where you will want to know more about them. Too often we are told that we need our own stories told by our own people. Millennial Comics is Black owned and Delta Dogs is created by a Black creative. So do yourself a favor, go to Millennial Comics website www.millennialcomic.com order a couple of books or just be 10 toes down and buy the whole run, either way you will be glad you did! - Richard J Wright

When the Melanated Makes Excuses for Mediocrity

Ranting up ahead. This right here might piss off some people. Honestly, I hope that it does. In this space we talk shop about Black comics and Black characters in particular but before I go there, I need to go here. In life, one may do a number of things. Among those things, you have the opportunity to be below average, average, or above average. Make no mistake about it, the truth about people is this, we are what are because of what we do. If we do not push ourselves to be more than average, then we get the fruit of that mindset. Garbage in, garbage out. No deposit, no return. You get out, what you put in. Whatsoever man soweth, that shall he also reap. There are no hook ups. There are no short cuts. The reality of this generation in which we live in, seems not to understand that. At least from where it sit, that seems to be the case. What is mind boggling for me today is the excuses people come up with for why someone is below average or average at best. Today's modern women are told to not settle. (which beckons the question "what is settling? have they settle for average or below average guys?) Trouble with that mindset is that far too often those women are average or below average themselves. How we see things often cloud our vision. So what happens? Well, we just ignore red flags and place rose colored glasses on our faces. We promote "body positivity" and everybody gets a trophy no matter how little or impactful you were on the field. So today in the climate of "me too" "political correctness" we languish. Today's mumble rap is a clear indicator that skill is an afterthought. Who would have thought that a genre of music that gave us Rakim and KRS-One would degenerate to a point where average rhymers like Drake (he isn't a mumble rapper but he shines because he isn't one) are considered gods.

In he case of comics, specifically Black comic books and Black characters, I encounter many different artists and creators who want to promote and sell their wares. The trouble starts when you can clearly tell the artwork is less than stellar. Writing is another animal all by itself but it too takes skill. Let me start with artwork. Now to be honest, the starving artist has to compete with the 3 big houses, Marvel, DC, and Image among others. It might be considered unfair but hey you chose this field. Work with it! The big companies can afford to hire the best talent. You might be just another guy with a dream. However, if you are patient, work on your craft, push the limits of your self percieved talent then you may get a shot. You have to believe in yourself first and be your first fan before you win others to your movement. Do not let ego get in the away. Study the greats. Marcus Williams. Afua Richardson, Billy Graham. Denys Cowan. Khyry Randolph just to name a few. Observe their techniques. When they give advice. Listen. I don't care if you think you are the Black Alex Ross. You can and should always desire to improve.

As far as writing goes. Its the same thing except with writing you want to engage your audience with your story. Give the audience what they want but just not how they want it. Make sure your writing is fluid. In other words make sure that it flows from panel to panel. Rigidity and lack of connectivity can kill a book before given a chance. Again. Study the greats. Christopher Priest. Duane McDuffie. David Walker. My point about studying the greats is that you don't want to study the mediocre. You want to study cats who have mastered the art and add your flavor. Be open to constructive criticism and do not be afraid to be challenged by those who you admire. Don't sacrifice your story and art for an agenda or an idea. I don't care how noble or passionate you might be about it. It does not serve you. You serve it but you do not make it the center of what you are doing. Good story always has ideas and concepts floating in the backgrounds but it never shapes the story. I want to see cats win, so push yourselves to excellence. When you think about it, pushing yourself to excellence will in turn get you to not only "better" avenue, you will come across "good" street and even make your way to "great"boulevard. Before I get out of here, I want to you understand something. I am that cat you want to talk about your book. I'm that cat that will promote your stuff if I believe in it. I will spend my dough if its good. Im not the "buy Black man we gotta support each other matter what guy" Haaaalleee naw. I want dope art and dope stories. I am not into mediocrity, especially when it concerns the melanated. - Richard J Wright

Black Unity... Seldom Seen and Seldom Heard

The head space I am in is interesting. Like my favorite rapper Scarface once rapped in a song called "Sleeping with my Nikes On", "...everybody waiting on a cake, I'm waiting on a break". These last few weeks have been interesting needless to say. I saw some dope stuff happen and I saw sucka ish happen. All of which revolve around a complicated word unity. Or to be really honest a mind boggling ideal called Black Unity. There is nothing we cannot do when we are unified. The trouble though is finding like minded people who are willing to surrender personal agendas and checking egos at the door. Since this is supposed to be a Black comic book blog, I guess I had better talk about some Black characters and Black unity. First of all, it is not something we see all the time. We do not see Black characters together often. Usually its one or two, maybe three at the most. Most often, they are not unified around the liberation of their people. Its usually something alien or a wizard involved. You wont see Black characters together in a comic book fighting for justice. It just doesn't happen. Lets be honest and keep it a stack; its not something you might not ever see on a mainstream level. The only way you see a Black team come together is in a YouTube video or a facebook post. "Create a dope super Black team" "Create a dope Black X-Men team" Will you ever see that Black superhero team in a book? Probably not. Oh sure, Coates' Black Panther run did put out the Blackest cover in the history Marvel. The Black Panther #24 is historic in that regard.

Does it give you hope? Perhaps. Yet, the reality of the matter is this. Mainstream comic companies like Marvel and DC have historically always kept Melinated beings to a maximum of 2, maybe 3 when they are feeling wavy. Yet, putting them on the same team. Rare. The only real exception has been the Ultimates. The Ultimates had Black Panther, Blue Marvel, and Spectrum on the team along with Captain Marvel and America Chavez. This team was very powerful and not around that long for that reason. Some think that many Black Superheroes skill sets make them too powerful and they would not do well together because being able to beat the breaks off everyone just isn't fun for the fanboys. It is way past time for an all Black Team. Not a (People of Color) team. NO. I want to see an all Black Team. No token white characters, no other ethnic groups that don't recognize the struggle until a few of them get touched up by white supremacy. Nope. Until that minor miracle happens. I will go the indy route. Starting with The Almighty Street Team by Street Team Studios for example. Nobody is rushing to send their books into CGC or CBCS. Yet, they check the boxes. Well for me they check the best box. Black.

Delta Dogs by Millenial Comics is another. So the truth is out there, its just not at your local comic shop. Maybe I am asking to much from the big two.

However, I cannot help but feel that with the roster of Black superheroes at Marvel and DC. This isnt being unrealistic or a far reach. DC has put out some good Black comic book content a little while now but I need to see more. Shoot, as far as I'm concerned they playing catch up. Perhaps creating new heroes and new universes to cheer is the key. Part of me as an old head wants the old to become new. Yet like Slim Charles had to tell Bodie "...the thing about the old days, is that they the old days". Maybe I'm just hoping one day to hold a comic book that features an all Black team reading to put in work. A nigga could hope for nothing less. Until then, I'm rock with this Almighty Street Team and day dream about Black Unity in life and comics. Seldom Seen and Seldom Heard. - Richard J Wright

The Soul of a Black Collector

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?" Mark 8:36 The Black comic book reader space contains a lot of different kinds of Black folk. No one is the same. Which to be honest, is a good thing. However, there are somethings that are common among any type of folk regardless of their background, lifestyle, political or economic perspective. Some cats are going to read this and find nothing redeemable about it because we all think one way or another that we are right in whatever we do. You might want to know why I posted the bible scripture Mark 8:36. So glad you ask. Simply put, no one thinks or believes that in whatever they are doing, it will not cost them their soul. In this particular case, I am not talking about a theological context. You see the soul, which is made up of the mind, will, and emotions is the part of you that all negotiation, justification, frustration, and all around bad understanding and wack decision making takes place. As a Black collector, you are challenged in this area whether you know it or not.

All comic book characters are based upon the human experience. Period. I don't care if its a Asgardian god, a demon who likes to rhyme, or a blind cat in a red suit protecting Hell's Kitchen. They are all based upon the human experience. That experience is challenged day to day. We may like to geek out and bug on a story that seemingly means nothing to you or me personally. However, I dare you to look closer. People want to just check out some cool art and read a cool story. Nowadays, people dont even care for the story. Its about the cover art and for them that is all that matters. Nothing wrong with it but deeper dives compel us to examine whats in front of us and make the determination as whether what is front of me worth investing in emotionally. Can I trust this? Can I find value in it? Perhaps this is a conversation for white folks. After all, some of them are very upset about the direction comics are going in; there heroes are being reduced to caricatures and they are no longer deified. How dare writers make Captain America a shell of his 1941 self. Shucks I wish Captain America would go hard after nazis in 2021. Yet, that is too much like right or is it left? LOL After all conservatives tend to think that comics are a leftist tool.

Now when it comes to us, I'm talking about Black folk like you and me, who are the heroes you see today that need defending? Our complaints honestly don't even register if you let some tell it. The new Static run is getting mixed reviews. Some do not believe it was necessary to change his origin story. Some however, felt it helps readers today identify with the character. Those of us who are old as dirt perhaps was wanting to see Static be the Static we knew 30 years ago. However, I am convinced that in order for the readers embrace this version of Static he might need a little tweak here and there. Personally, its a wait and see thing. Sure, I think we all were expecting more. In essence, lets keep a stack... We are paranoid. We almost have buy the books regardless of how wack we might think it is because we are afraid it will get cancelled. We are holding our breath and losing our soul in the process because of the ill concieved notion that Black comics do not sell well.

Regie Simmons of Regie Collects just recently did a video about Milestone Media and in that video he cites data that states that Milestone sold 10 million copies. Read that again. Nah. Let me type it again. 10 million comics. Were all those comics bought by Black collectors? No. Which speaks to another issue but we might speak on that at a later date. Suffice to say that DC's distribution machine which to be honest was very limited and honestly that probably was on purpose. Think about it, I can not recall seeing ads for Milestone comics in regular DC titles. Which brings me to reason for this piece. Are we willing to sell our souls for Black faces on the covers of comic books? Are we discerning for good content or does it even matter? Should I really buy Green Lantern even though I do not like Green Lantern books. Should I buy Shadowman even though I do not really like horror comics? Should I just read comics for free on pirated sites and not worry myself about supporting Black artists? Here's a doozy. Should I even collect books about Black characters written by white writers? Do I lose street cred if I do that? Do I even know the Black artists and creatives in the comic book industry? Do you even care? Do you care about golden age comics and their disturbing depictions of Black people? Or am I ashamed to even look at it? Do you care about the historical significance of books? Not you wheel house? I get it. Its just something to consider regarding your soul as a black collector.

Expecting the Unexpected: Why Your Demands for Diversity Make Sense but is More about Cents.

Diversity. Diversity. Diversity. "We need diversity" "We need to see ourselves in comics" "Representation matters". [Insert wack comic book with lots of diversity] Wayment. "I did not ask for this!???" "Who is this writer?" "Am I being pranked?" "Who gave this SJW the keys to Marvel and DC kingdoms?" Questions. Questions. Questions. Now chances are, you have either made one of those statements or asked one or perhaps all of those questions. Which is why expecting the unexpected is just a 10 pound knapsack. All the while you are trying to shove 20 pounds of diversity into said 10 pound knapsack. Now, understand something. I am for diversity when it is done right. Everything that is passing for diversity these days isn't. Maybe this is just uncharted water and we are just making it all up while we sail along.

Nah. If I know anything about capitalism, I know that nothing just happens. I also know that diversity takes a back seat to the long term agenda. You see the truth of the matter is comics are changing. You can hear people lament and whine about "western" comics on YouTube. You can hear all sorts of "diverse" voices talking about SJW agendas, writers with no real talent masking as moles in the comic book community. Yes, there is a reason while Manga and Anime dominate today. However, it isn't because they are better alternatives. IMHO Truthfully, the big two are looking past the past and into the future. The demographics that made them a fortune, will not be the same demographics that will make them a fortune in the future. Many voices in the community think that the SJW stuff is a ship passing in the night, while others know and see that comics have and will continue to change because America for starters is changing. The thought is "no one is buying this" is folly because long boxes in hundreds of comic shops are filled with millions of comics "no one bought". For example, comics with Black characters. For the longest you could go a random shop and finds gold mines in dollar bins. Just recently in a shop in El Paso, I bought a Adam Legend of the Blue Marvel #4 for one dollar in good to fine condition.

That same book on Ebay and shops goes for more than 60 dollars. How did this book find itself in that dollar bin? No one cared. There was no demand for a book coveted by Black collectors in a city with a predominately Mexican and White demographic. Its no different in many cities across of America. White readers see comics with Black faces and decide to not buy. The attitude is no different when it comes to some of the diversity today. It might not sell now, but the thought at the end of the day is that it will eventually. DC and Marvel are businesses who make money. They do not lose money. Diversity is one of those "cost of doing business" things. Why because, even if people have agendas attached to their offerings; The truth of the matter is people want to see themselves. Nothing wrong with that at all. For the purists its sacrilege. The day of catering to white males only is over as far as comics go. So as I close this out, here is a question. Whats the solution for Black collectors and fans? Go and dig in those long boxes in these comic shops. Chances are you will come across a comic book that someone looked at and said "I aint buying this". Their view of "trash" is now your "treasure". There is a reason many comic books that have Black characters, particularly superheroes at times were completely covered. You could not see their faces or their hands. The fear was that the White consumer would not buy the books. That fear historically has been one of truth. You don't believe me? Google Lobo and Dell Comics for one such story. Anyway. It is what it is. In this month of June, the culture is celebrating Pride month. DC and Marvel put out books with diverse characters who are apart of the LGBTQ community. In the comic shops I have been to, I have seen displays of stacks of books. It makes you think, "no one is buying that" and it will disappear into long box purgatory. Where some kid one day may just happen upon it and buy a book or two and smile because they got it for a few cents on the dollar.