Showing posts with label Afua Richardson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Afua Richardson. Show all posts

Friday, August 31, 2018

I Reads You Juniors August 2018 - Update #67

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From BleedingCool:  Axel Alonzo is apparently died to ex-Marvel Comics publisher, Bill Jemas's new comic book company.

MEMORIAM - From BleedingCool: Truly a comic book legend, comics creator Marie Severin has died at the age of 89.  She was known for her association with Marvel Comics, especially its bullpen, but she also worked for legendary EC Comics.  Severin was the younger sister of the late comic book artist, John Severin.

From SmallPressExpo:  The 2018 SPX Ignatz Award nominations have been announced.

From BleedingCool:  See preview art from "Uncanny X-Men #1 and #2."

From TheVerge:  All your "DC Universe" streaming service updates.

From Kotaku: Momoko Sakura, One Of Japan's Most Famous Manga Creators, Has Died

From BleedingCool:  An article about a screenplay that was reverse-engineered into a comic book.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #175 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #175 in French.

From Newsarama:  Marvel Comics's CONAN THE BARBARIAN first creative team has been announced - writer Jason Aaron, artist Mahmud Asrar, and colorist Matthew Wilson.  Marvel's "Conan the Barbarian" will debut January 2019.

IN MEMORIAM - From Newsarama:  Beloved comic book artist, Russ Heath, died at the age of 91, Friday, August 24, 2018.  Heath worked for Marvel Comics and its predecessor, Timely Comics, where he got his first comics job in 1947.  Heath also drew for DC Comics and EC Comics.  He contributed to the "Playboy" strip, "Little Annie Fanny."  Legendary pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein, based two of his paintings on Heath's art.

From CBR:  Jeff Lemire and Bill Sienkiewicz lambast "Comicsgate" after some its followers attack Marsha Cooke, the widow of comics writer-artist, Darwyn Cooke, online.

From THR:  A comic book event, "The Best Defense," will reunite the original line-up of Marvel Comics' "The Defenders."

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics will publish a "prelude" comic book to next year's "Captain Marvel" movie, and the comic book will be canon to the Marvel Cinematic universe.

From BleedingCool:  Roy Thomas, who created the comic book Red Sonja, will tell her origin story in Dynamite Entertainment's miniseries, "Red Sonja: The Ballad of the Red Goddess."

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's website separating from Facebook and Google.

From BleedingCool:  Comic book writer and comic book historian, Gerard Jones, has been sentenced to six years in jail in California on child pornography charges.

From WeGotThisCovered:  Marvel Comics reveals X-Men superstar, Wolverine's new costume.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #174 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #174 in French.

From CNET:  HBO has order a TV series "based" on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' much-abused graphic novel, "Watchmen."

From BBCNews:  100 Women: The artist redrawing "sexist" comic book covers.

From Kotaku:  The "Gintama" manga is reportedly ending after the next five chapters.

From ANN:  There is a new North American manga publisher, "Denpa."

From ComicBook:  "The Ghost in the Shell" manga box set nears an all-time low price.

From BleedingCool:  Popular writer Warren Ellis is making one "convention" appearance this  year, and he won't sign any books while there.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel to kill of "Old Man Logan" in 12-issue series, "Dead Man Logan."

From BleedingCool:  According to Joss Whedon, 20th Century Fox is ending Dark Horse Comics' license to produce "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" comic books.

From IdahoStatesman:  An article about comic book stores staying "relevant" via diversification of the products they sell.

From Polygon:  Dreaming big: How Neil Gaiman and a team of fantasy writers are expanding The Sandman Universe

From BleedingCool:  A Wichita Falls, Texas man has confessed to stealing $100,000 in comic books.

From Deadline:  "Prodigy" is the title of the second comic book franchise to be launched by Mark Millar since he joined Netflix.

From BleedingCool:  Most DC Comics titles will include a preview of the three-issue Batman/Hellblazer comic, "Batman: Damned," which will appear under the "Black Label" imprint (in ships September 19, 2018).

From Tumblr:  How Stan Sakai of "Usagi Jojimbo" builds a cover, from preliminary to finished cover.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic JohnnyBullet episode #173 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic JohnnyBullet episode #173 in French.

From HarveyAwards:  The nominees for the "Harvey Awards 2018," honoring the best in comics published in America have been announced.

From ANN:  The "Harvey Awards" have announced a "Best Manga" category for the 2018 edition of its awards.

----------------------------
From ANN:  Readers at the Anime News Network choose the best "boys' love" manga for beginners.

From Newsarama:  Joivan Wade ("The First Purge") will play Cyborg in DC Universe's "Doom Patrol" series.

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse to adapt more Neil Gaiman short stories into comics form.

From CBR:  Stan Lee, 95-year-old, will reportedly no longer participate in public autograph signings.

From CBR:  Maybe a reboot for Marvel Comics recent title, "Marvel 2-in-One."

From ANN:  SuBLime Manga, the Boys' Love manga imprint of VIZ Media, announces two new titles for both print and digital release, "Love in Limbo" and "Candy Color Paradox."

From BleedingCool:  This month, a number of Marvel Comics titles will have a four-page tribute to the late Steve Ditko.  The recently deceased comic book writer-artist is largely responsible for introducing a number of characters and graphical elements to Marvel, including co-creating Spider-Man and Doctor Stange.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomics Johnny Bullet episode #172 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomics Johnny Bullet episode #172 in French.

From CBSNews:  July 31st, 2018 was the fiftieth anniversary of the July 31st, 1968 first appearance of Franklin, the first African-American/Black character to appear in Charles Schultz's "Peanuts" newspaper comics strip.

From Newsarama:  Here are the covers for the second month of Wal-Mart exclusive DC Comics titles (Superman, Batman, Justice League, and Teen Titans).

From Asahi:  In Japan, manga artist, Ken Akamatsu, and mid-sized publisher, Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, Ltd., are initiating a project to make out-of-print and the hard-to-find books available so anyone can read them for free online.

From BostonGlobe:  Highlighting the unseen (African-American) artists behind comic books - Rob Stull.

From CBR:  Writer Scott Snyder has confirmed that he will work on the current "Justice League" comic book for at least 50 issues.

From BleedingCool:  In the upcoming "Absolute Authority Vol. 2," scenes and sequences that were edited in the original comic book releases will be restored - except for the President Bush stuff...

From Previews:  Netflix's adaptation of Archie Comics' "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" arrives on October 2018 - for the first of two 10-episode seaons.

From Star2:  Why isn’t Blade more popular, even after 45 years & a movie trilogy?

From AJC:  "The Atlanta Journal Constitution" offers a profile of comic book artist Afua Richardson, who recently won an Eisner Award.

From THR:  Marvel Comics announces new reprint collections of "Conan the Barbarian" comic books.  Marvel once again has the license to produce Conan comic books and will do so beginning in early 2019.

From ANN:  Akira Amano, creator of the "Reborn!" manga, is creating a one-shot hockey manga for the August 6th issue of "Weekly Shonen Jump."

From Asahi:  The small Japanese town of Hokuei enjoys being a tourist spot thanks to being the home town of manga creator, Gosho Aoyama, the creator of the "Detective Conan" manga, known in the U.S. as "Case Closed."

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics has announced that it will not publish the "Shazam Monster Society of Evil Deluxe Edition Hardcover," a reprint of a classic and significant run of Captain Marvel/Shazam comic books from the early 1940s.  There are apparently concerns over the racists depictions of Black and Asian people.

From THR: Writer Jeff Lemire on Moving From Image Comics' "Descender" to "Ascender."

------------------------
OCTOBER 2018 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  AfterShock Comics for October 2018
From BleedingCool:  Caliber Press for October 2018
From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for October 2018
From Newsarama:  DC Comics for October 2018
From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for October 2018.
From Newsarama:  Image Comics for October 2018
From CBR:  Marvel Comics for October 2018.
From Newsarama:  Rebellion for October 2018
From Newsarama:  Scout Comics for October 2018
From Newsarama:  Valiant Entertaiment solicitations for October 2018.

NOVEMBER 2018 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:
From Newsarama:  BOOM! Studios for November 2018
From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for November 2018
From BleedingCool:  Lion Forge solicitations for November 2018
From BleedingCool:  Rebellion 2000AD for November 2018
From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for November 2018


Wednesday, February 28, 2018

I Reads You Juniors February 2018 - Update #65

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet webcomic episode #154 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet webcomic esisode #154 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Wendy and Richard Pini talk about the final quest of "Elfquest."

From StarWars:  StarWars.com interviews writer Tom Veitch and cover artist Dave Dorman about the landmark Star Wars comic book miniseries, "Dark Empire" (Dark Horse Comics).

BLACK PANTHER - From CommercialAppeal:  Weathersbee: Memphis kids love the 'Black Panther' movie. Will they love the comic, too?

From CBR:  A trailer has debuted for the live-action film based on Tite Kubo's manga, "Bleach."

From SFGate:  The manga of Naoki Urasawa ("20th Century Boys," "Master Keaton") are on exhibit in Paris

From EWBlog:  Marvel's latest relaunch initiative/scam will send Black Panther into space.

From BleedingCool:  Writer David F. Walker and artist Chris Samnee are leaving Marvel Comics.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics is leaving the Diamond Previews Catalog and getting their own separate "DC Previews," which is similar to Marvel Comics' separate "Marvel Previews."

From BleedingCool:  Release dates for DCInk and DCZoom titles have been locked down, beginning with the October 2018 release of a new "DC Super Hero Girls" graphic novel.

From TheGuardian:  "Marvel comics' Fresh Start looks like a return to old cliches" by David Barnett

From SupermanHomepage:  DC Comics may be cancelling the titles, "Supergirl" and "Super Sons"

From CBR:  Marvel Comics Solicitations for May 2018

From BleedingCool:  Marvel offers "A Fresh Start."

From BleedingCool:  There are more DC Comics/Hanna-Barbera crossovers on the way, including one featuring Dynomutt and the Super-Sons.

From BleedingCool:  Dan DiDio confirms that venerable MAD Magazine will re-launch with a new #1 issue.

From BleedingCool:  [The great] Carlos Pacheco may draw an "Avengers" comic book that features Avengers from the 1970s.

From BleedingCool:  May 2018 solicitation for Devil's Due/1st Comics

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #154 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #154 in French.

From JapanToday:  Manga creators association says pirate sites could bring about collapse of Japanese culture

From BleedingCool:  Writer Rodney Barnes will unite with a still unknown superstar artist to produce a Lando Calrissian miniseries that ties into the film, "Solo: A Star Wars Story."

From CNN:  Keita Sagaki reproduces classic paintings using hundreds of tiny manga characters.

From ComicBook:  Dan Jurgens and the team of Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason say good-bye to their respective runs on Superman in one-shots that will be published this coming May.

From BleedingCool:  Chris Claremont will write a story for "X-Men: Wedding Special #1."

From BleedingCool:  AfterShock Comics to publish a new work from writer Garth Ennis and artist Goran Sudzuka, "A Walk Through Hell."

From ComicsReporter:  Talent Relations Department At DC Sends Out Social Media Guidelines - the text as sent to TCR.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics issues social media and press guidelines to comics creators.
From BleedingCool:  In the wake of DC's new social media and press guidelines to its comics creators, a reaction from some of the creators.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics Sending “Brian Michael Bendis is Coming” Promo Posters to Comic Stores

From BleedingCool:  Black Geeks and Black Girl Nerds Combine for Universal FanCon in Baltimore in April.

BLACK PANTHER - From BleedingCool:   Black Panther is topping Amazon's comics sales.

From PublishersWeekly:  Comics retailers hope to rebound in 2018.

From Complex:  DC Comics' "New Super-Man" becomes "New Super-Man and The JLC" (Justice League of China) with issue #20.

From TheAVClub:  A preview of "New Super-Man and The JLC #1"

From BleedingCool:  The Top 100 Most-Ordered Comics and Graphic Novels by Comic Stores in January 2018.

BLACK PANTHER - From Philly:  The African American Museum in Philadelphia has "Black Pulp," an exhibit of comic book art that shatters stereotypes about Black people, including some art from "Black Panther" comics.

From CBLDF:  There will be an exhibit of the original art that Nate Powell produced from the graphic novel trilogy, March (Top Shelf), which chronicles the life of Civil Rights legend, Congressman John Lewis.  Entitled "The Art of MARCH: A Civil Rights Masterpiece" will exhibit at the Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators (New York City), February 28 – June 30, 2018.

From TheStage:  Naoko Urasawa has brought to stage in London his manga, Pluto.  Here is a review of it.

From BleedingCool:  450 people sign a letter asking for the New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller List Back.

From TheVerge:  Joss Whedon's beloved sci-fi TV series, "Firefly," is coming back in a series of novels.

From NextShark:  Chinese pirates reportedly cost Japan billions of dollars per year in illegally translating manga.

From ComicBook:  One Punch manga artist, Yusuke Murata, is working on a manga based on the beloved film franchise, "Back to the Future."  He offers a preview illustrations from the manga.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel will bring Darkhawk back in a new miniseries related to "Infinity Countdown."

From THR:  Venerable British comics magazines, "2000 AD," announces an all-female creators issue for the summer, "2000 AD Sci-Fi Special."

From Quartz:  Japan is hunting illegal video game and manga translators.

From Forbes:  This is the feature article which announced Brian Michael Bendis' Superman plans, beginning with a six-issue miniseries and then Bendis' takeover of "Superman" and "Action Comics."

From Geek:  A look at the history of computer art in comics, starting with First Comics' "Shatter" by artist Mike Saenz and writer Peter B. Gillis.

From Newsarama:  Bill Sienkiewicz will be the variant cover artist on "The Walking Dead," apparently for 2018.

From PasteMagazine:  "Long Before He Reached the Big Screen, the Black Panther Ruled" by Michael Burgin.

From HypeBeast:  Yusuke Murata, the illustrator of the "One-Punch Man" manga will produce a "Back to the Future" manga.

From Heavy:  Did you know that there was a monthly online manga based on the movie "Cloverfield."

From GoFundMe:  Charlton Neo Comics needs help.

From CreatorsforCreators:  The 2018 submissions for a $30,000 grant are open.

From BleedingCool:  Artist Lee Weeks will join Tom King on the ongoing Batman comic book sometime after issue #45.

From NYTimes:  DC Comics joins forces with Young Adult authors.

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics unveils details about its new young reader imprints, DC Zoom and DC Ink.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #153 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #153 in French.

From PreviewsWorld:  BOOM! Studios has announced "Planet of the Apes: Visionaries."  This new original graphic novel that will adapt the first screenplay for the original "Planet of the Apes" film into comics.  Rod Serling, the creator of "The Twilight Zone," wrote the first draft of the "Planet of the Apes" screenplay, but his first draft was drastically altered by the time of filming.

From BleedingCool:  See the Black Panther and Wonder Woman parody T-shirts.

From ICv2:  Marvel Co comics will publish a six-issue comic book adaptation of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," with issue #1 debuting May 2nd, 2018.

From Kotaku:  See the warehouse where unwanted manga is turned into toilet paper.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis is apparently taking over as writer of DC Comics titles, "Superman" and "Action Comics."

From BleedingCool:  Just draw, Ethan Van Sciver.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis' "Jinxworld" library of graphic novels and trade paperbacks is moving to Bendis' new home, DC Comics.

From NPR:  Four years ago, NPR had some of its favorite comics artists illustrate some of the poems of revered African-American poet, Langston Hughes.  Today, we look back at Afua Richardson's take on Hughes' poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers."

From JapanToday:  As many as 4,000 homeless people may be finding shelter at 24-hour internet and manga cafes in Tokyo on any given weekday, according to the first survey on the issued by the Tokyo metropolitan government.


Saturday, August 5, 2017

Review: BLACK PANTHER: World of Wakanda #1

BLACK PANTHER: WORLD OF WAKANDA No. 1 (2017)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Roxane Gay (with Ta-Nehisi Coates consultant)
ART: Alitha E. Martinez
COLORS: Rachel Rosenberg
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
MISC. ART: Brian Stelfreeze
COVER: Afua Richardson
VARIANT COVER: Brian Stelfreeze; John Tyler Christopher; Natacha Bustos; Khoi Pham with Frank D'Armata; Skottie Young; Alitha E. Martinez with Rachelle Rosenberg
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (January 2017)

Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Rated “T”

“Dawn of the Midnight Angels” Part 1

A sure sign that Marvel Comics is already preparing for the February 2018 release of the Black Panther film from Marvel Studios is that Marvel doesn't think that one Black Panther comic book is enough.  We already have writer Ta-Nehisi Coates' ambitious Black Panther 12-issue series.

Now, we get Black Panther: World of Wakanda, which will explore Wakanda, the African kingdom which Black Panther/T'Challa rules.  The writer of World of Wakanda's main story is author and feminist, Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist).  The story is drawn by Alitha E. Martinez, who was part of the original art team of the Marvel Knight imprint's Black Panther Volume 2 (1998), which was written by Christopher Priest.  Rachel Rosenberg colors, and Joe Sabino letters.

Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1 (“Dawn of the Midnight Angels” Part 1) focuses on the “Dora Milaje” (“Adored Ones”), the female personal bodyguards of Black Panther and the royal family.  We see the first meeting between Captain Aneka and Ayo, the young woman who would become her lover and partner in revolution.

I would describe this opening chapter of “Dawn of the Midnight Angels” as not great, but good.  The characters and the character drama is intriguing, but the Sub-Mariner part of it bores me.  I think writer Roxane Gay is on to something with the dynamics between the leads.  The art by Alitha E. Martinez is a mixed bag – good storytelling but average quality on the composition.  That aside, I highly recommend this title to Black Panther fans.

“The People for the People”

STORY: Yona Harvey and Ta-Nehisi Coates
ART: Afua Richardson
COLORS: Tamra Bonvillain
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino

“The People for the People” is an origin story featuring another female character who is a thorn in Black Panther's side.  That would be Zenzi, leader of The People, the group currently trying to topple the Wakandan monarchy.  Written by Yona Harvey and Ta-Nehisi Coates, the story attempts to dispel some of the mystery around Zenzi, and this first chapter definitely makes her a character worth discovering.  The art by rising star Afua Richardson personifies how her stylish graphics and compositions add zest and energy and intrigue into the stories Richardson draws.  Encore

A-

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


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

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



Monday, March 13, 2017

DC Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 15, 2017

DC COMICS

JAN170228    ALL STAR BATMAN #8    $4.99
JAN170229    ALL STAR BATMAN #8 CAMUNCOLI VAR ED    $4.99
JAN170230    ALL STAR BATMAN #8 FRANCAVILLA VAR ED    $4.99
JAN170233    AQUAMAN #19    $2.99
JAN170234    AQUAMAN #19 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170239    BATMAN #19    $2.99
JAN170240    BATMAN #19 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC160379    BATMAN EGO AND OTHER TAILS DLX ED HC    $39.99
JAN170246    BATWOMAN #1    $2.99
JAN170248    BATWOMAN #1 BLANK VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170247    BATWOMAN #1 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170367    CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #6 (MR)    $3.99
JAN170368    CAVE CARSON HAS A CYBERNETIC EYE #6 VAR ED (MR)    $3.99
JAN170347    DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #24    $3.99
JAN170267    GREEN ARROW #19    $2.99
JAN170268    GREEN ARROW #19 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170271    GREEN LANTERNS #19    $2.99
JAN170272    GREEN LANTERNS #19 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170279    HARLEY QUINN #16    $2.99
JAN170280    HARLEY QUINN #16 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170354    HE MAN THUNDERCATS #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN170362    INJUSTICE GROUND ZERO #8    $2.99
DEC160413    JACK OF FABLES DELUXE HC BOOK 01 (RES) (MR)    $39.99
DEC160385    JSA THE GOLDEN AGE DELUXE ED HC (RES)    $34.99
JAN170287    JUSTICE LEAGUE #17    $2.99
JAN170288    JUSTICE LEAGUE #17 VAR ED    $2.99
DEC160377    JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA POWER & GLORY HC    $29.99
AUG160369    LEGENDS OF TOMORROW HAWKGIRL AF    $28.00
JAN170417    LUCIFER #16 (MR)    $3.99
JAN170295    NIGHTWING #17    $2.99
JAN170296    NIGHTWING #17 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170358    ODYSSEY OF THE AMAZONS #3 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN170366    SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU #79    $2.99
JAN170305    SUPER SONS #2    $2.99
JAN170306    SUPER SONS #2 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170224    SUPERMAN #19    $2.99
JAN170225    SUPERMAN #19 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170312    TITANS #9 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170314    TRINITY #7    $2.99
JAN170315    TRINITY #7 VAR ED    $2.99
JAN170320    WILD STORM #2    $3.99
JAN170322    WILD STORM #2 JIM LEE VAR ED    $3.99
JAN170321    WILD STORM #2 RICHARDSON VAR ED    $3.99

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Review: GENIUS #1

GENIUS No. 1
IMAGE COMICS/Top Cow – @ImageComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITERS: Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman
ART/COLORS: Afua Richardson
LETTERS: Troy Peteri
COVER: Afua Richardson
VARIANT COVER: Afua Richardson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2014)

Rated M / Mature

Genius was a weekly miniseries originally published by Image/Top Cow in 2014.  It was written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman; drawn and colored by Afua Richardson; and lettered by Troy Peteri.  Genius focuses on a young woman who leads her community against an oppressive police force.  In 2008, Genius was also a winner of Top Cow’s “Pilot Season,” the annual event in which a reader vote decides which one-shots deserve to be transformed into longer comic book projects.

Genius #1 presents a kind of near-future scenario.  It is set in South Central Los Angeles where the African-American community is in revolt against the Los Angeles Police Department.  Shockingly, the leader of this revolt is 17-year-old Destiny Ajaye, who has a talent for military strategy and is a tactical genius.  Destiny has united the separate gangs of her neighborhood and community against a common foe, the oppressive police force.  Meanwhile, an agent of law enforcement, Reginald Grey, is looking for “Suspect Zero,” the unknown figure he believes to be the leader of this revolt.

I had heard of Top Cow's “Pilot Season,” but mostly ignored it.  I assumed that whatever Top Cow said it was – evidently a talent search of some kind – I thought that it was ultimately rigged.  I only started looking for Genius when I started looking for comic books drawn by Afua Richardson, a young African-American female comic book artist who has been getting some buzz over the last year.

What do I think of Genius?  Well, it is like nothing I have ever read.  It seems like a small press comic book simply because it does not seem like something Image would publish.  After all, I don't think any comic book publisher controlled, owned, and operated (let's face it) by white people would publish Genius, yet Top Cow did.

Genius, with its eclectic layouts, peculiar graphic design, and out-of-the-ordinary compositions, looks like a comic book someone would have to self-publish using a print-on-demand printer.  I am not saying this as criticism.  By the very nature of its story, Genius should be rebellious and against the grain.  It is after all about something that we need to face in the real world (and, for the most part, we do not).  Genius's original date of publication was timely and fortuitous.

When Genius was arriving on comic book shop shelves, America was in turmoil because unarmed African-American teenager, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.  The leadership of the Ferguson Police Department and the city's political class was doing everything it could to cover-up the killing and also to squelch protests against the police.  Later, the actions of the police department would lead many observers to believe that the cops deliberately sabotaged their investigation of the shooting in order to protect the cop that killed Mike Brown.

In this atmosphere, Genius was timely and relevant and remains so.  One could see it as prophetic, or as merely metaphorical.  One day, we might see this comic book as the vanguard of a revolution.  Genius's concept could be the idealized version, a realization, if you will, of something that needs to happen now or will happen in the immediate future of the United States.  I wish that Genius also becomes an attack against the white status quo in American comic books.  You should read this.


A-

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.

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