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.

So you mad, son?

So, it looks like melinated batman is going to be around a little while. ...and yeah, folks is pissed. Listen, I get the sentiment. You want original characters. Why wont DC use the characters that they just let languish on the shelf? This is tokenism. We do not want this. I have heard it all and let me be honest. I probably said all of that and then some. In fact, just check out the last blog. It is what it is. Why does DC want to do more Black Batman? I don't know. But you know what? I'm gonna buy it. I'm gonna read it. I'm gonna collect it. Why? Because its there. I'm going to read my old Batman too. Shoot. I am a fan of the Bat. Who am I kidding? Here is the thing though. I can walk and chew gum at the same time, so if the I am Batman is right there next to Detective Comics or Tynion IV's Batman. I'm not going to set the internet on fire. I'm not going to be a complete troll towards the Bruce Wayne fanboys. Nah. Me? I'm grinning like the Joker.

In a perfect world we would have a Black Lightning book. We would have a Green Lantern book... Wayment, we do; my bad. We would have a Nubia book. You get my drift. Now I do understand that people are not feeling melanated Batman. Whether the issue is writing or just looking at all that melanin suck the pasty whiteness away. I feel ya.

I know I know. Don't worry. After some Black folk lose interest it will wind up in the dollar bins right behind the future state books. Then you can exhale and go on your favorite comic book website and celebrate the banishment of the Blackest Blicky Black Black Batman, but until then... well, 'Neto tell 'em son!

An open letter to J.J. Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates

(for maximimum enjoyment, amusement, effectiveness of said letter may i suggest cueing up Jimi Hendrix's "Red House") Dear JJ and Ta-Ta (I hope you dont mind if I call you Ta-Ta, I would like to call you Tay-Tay but that might be too informal) lol.

So fellas the word is in the skreets yall doing a Black Superman movie. So when I heard the news I was like cool. What we doing? Calvin Ellis? Val-Zod? Sunshine Superman? Wayment? I know you niggas aint doing Muhammed X? Shoot mayne its about to be crackin up in here. But when I heard that yall was just doing a Black Kal-El movie I was like.

So me and few hunnid thousand blerds just began to spaz. We was like "we didn't ask for this". Now don't get me wrong, I know we always asking the gubment for stuff like justice, freedom and equality, a stimmy here and there, healthcare and anything that would piss off a white conservative and a few bootlicks. The point is we did not want a milk dud Superman. As me and fellow blerds began to read the riot act there was a few "detractors" that said well there is a character named Kal-El and he actually exist on Earth D. Basically he was a character that showed up in February (Black History month, aint that just like a token) 1999 in Legends of the DC Universe Crisis on Infinite Earths (DC Database Fandom). Oh yeah he dies in that same issue too. Well they had to keep that trope alive.

So that's whats hot fellas? Yall going to do a story about a one hit wonder? Come on guys, you probably didn't know there was a Kal-El. Nope. Yall just said to yourselves, we doing a Black Clark Kent. I'm not going to pretend to know what this movie yall doing is going to be about. So I will reserve judgment in regards to that. But let's face it. JJ you are connected to the worst Star Wars trilogy made and Ta-Ta you mailed it in at the end of the Black Panther run. And Captain America... lets just say there's few pale faces that are happy to have you gone from their beloved comic book hero. I know you cats are capable of doing this movie, my thoughts are though; "just because you can do it, doesn't mean you have to" I'm just saying. So while you are in production, in the writers room, geeking out thinking you are going to land a joke or a dope quote that will be used for memes and inspirational posters to motivate a slew of salesmen and their wack products, just remember "WE DIDNT ASK FOR THIS". The shade toward Cavill is too real and like it or not, fair or unfair you bammas are going to have to live with it. JJ, the fact that they are even letting you do this is amazing. I thought you would have faded into the sunset with your millions and sip champagne on a yacht and eat food on tiny plates in European coffee houses waxing poetic about the Star Wars franchise you nearly killed. Ta-Ta you my brother, at least you can write books in the social science space. We could use another Obama book I think... Either way fellas, good luck with getting any of us to take the both of you serious. You can add symphony music, dope hip hop music great CGI, etc etc... After all you can paint a turd, polish a turd, its still a turd. (i know, gross but you get the point) Good luck fellas. See you at the bottom half the rotten tomatoes review list. -Richard J Wright

Reform Lamar, Reform

Marvel and DC have had the lion share of comic book revenue for decades. In those decades, we have seen some Black superheroes. Some would say not enough though. It is true that Marvel and DC do have many Black characters in their respective universes. However, their exposure has been the problem. In recent years, we can say we are seeing more Black characters now than ever before. However, it is sparingly needless to say. Many Black comic book collectors make the complaint that we are not buying the books and that ultimately is the real problem. Case in point according to Diamondcomics.com Black Panther #8 in Jan 2019 was ranked at dead last in looking at the top 100 books. This was also the same month Naomi #1 came out and that was ranked #89. Its no secret that these books containing Black characters do not always sell. Which beckons the thought. Why? Is it financial? Interest? Lack of marketing?

Listen, this isn't a new question. In fact, this article from deviantart.com speaks to the heart of the issue. My objective here is to not dispute the reality or the facts. However, DC and Marvel are not the only games in town. There are a lot of independent companies that are creating comic books with Black characters. People are starting to not just buy Marvel and DC. In fact, the indies are taking up a lot space in comic shops today. According to an article on Black Enterprise, the big two share nearly 60 percent of comic book sales. Writers and artists are also now seeing the benefits of doing independent books. Just wait until somebody gets the superhero universe genre cracking at an independent. With the success of Invincible on Amazon Prime. The writing is on the wall. You don't think Black books sell? Just talk to Larry Stroman and Todd Johnson who created the comic Tribe. The first issue sold over a million copies. This was an Image Comics title. Still don't think they sell? Talk to the creators of Brotherman who started selling books at the Black Expo. There are Black creators today who are 100 percent independent and they are creating good content. They just need the exposure and through this forum and others like Black Comic Lords and Black Superheroes Forever on Facebook and Instagram. Change is coming, its a slow train but its coming. Just ask Lamar.Check out these articles "https://www.deviantart.com/black-comic-makers/journal/Why-Black-Comics-don-t-Sell-219324141" https://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/237?articleID=226526"> -Richard J Wright