20 Black Comic Makers On The Rise, Part 1
But many of the best-known black characters in comics are the work of white writers and artists, at a time when the industry did not offer many opportunities for black writers and artists. The Following generation of black heroes will come from black designers who can tell their own stories and come up with their own unique creations. From traditional superheroes with a twist to ordinary people trying to survive in an apocalyptic sci-fi world, these dark comic book makers do it all. Check out the first part of our list below:
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1
Erika Alexander
’90s sitcom fans may know Erika Alexander as Maxine Shaw Living Single or Pam Tucker from The Cosby Show, but the actress is also a comic book writer. With its series Concrete park, she builds a dystopian world around exiled earthlings left to defend themselves against each other. With the help of artist Tony Puryear, the visuals are just as alive as the story. In honor of Black History Month, a first issue e-book is available for free. Hang yours here.
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2
Mildred Louis
Who doesn’t love a series of magical girls? While sailor moon Focused on middle school and high school students, Mildred Louis takes readers to the wonderful world of college in her webcomic Agents of the kingdom. He follows five girls who not only have to worry about their grades, but also defend the world. We interviewed Louis on his series and Kickstarter campaign in progress. Check it out here.
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3
Paul Louise-Julie
Paul Louise-Julie has shaped a world full of adventure with his series, The pack. As a screenwriter and comic artist, Louise-Julie provides detailed imagery as well as intriguing dialogue with the werewolf series. His next popular project, Yohance, has also attracted a lot of buzz. ComicsAlliance also interviewed Louise-Julie on her series. Read the interview here and get a first look at Yohance here.
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4
Greg burnham
Greg Burnham is a demi-duo for an upcoming series, The heirs of Tuskegee. With several children’s books to his credit such as Broken glass and Grandfather’s shoes, Burnham will provide the script for the next series inspired by the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. ComicsAlliance also interviewed the creators, who have just completed their Kickstarter campaign which raised their goal more than seven times to $ 74,000. With this amount, they will also be able to move forward with the creation of an animated pilot. Needless to say, we are excited.
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5
Marcus williams
Like the other half of the above The heirs of Tuskegee duo, Marcus Williams’ art style immediately draws viewers in, and we are delighted to see him realize his vision of teenagers fighting to save the world inside giant robots! In an interview with ComicsAlliance, Williams said he wanted to allow young black children to “see themselves in powerful character roles.” Williams’ work can also be seen in the comic book series. Hero cats, Super natural, and DMC. Watch the interview here.
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6
Anthony piper
Imagine the Justice League, but trill. Anthony Piper’s new series, Trill League, follows Trill Robin as he parodies “traditional base characters” with an added twist. It also “combines superheroes, anime, and hip-hop culture,” according to Piper. Not only is the concept intriguing, it’s one of the few times that reimagining an existing character feels innovative. Follow the series and grab a copy of the first issue here.
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7
Juliana “Jewels” Smith
“What is a superhero for a revolutionary? Reads the slogan from Juliana’s “Jewels” Smith series, Hafrocentric. The comic book creator’s project follows “self-proclaimed black feminist” Naima Pepper as she navigates life and laments gentrification. Alongside Ronald Nelson (illustrator) and Mike Hampton (colourist / letter), Smith’s series is both realistic and authentic. Discover in preview the first three volumes here.
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8
Robert garrett
Robert Garrett got to work with his series Ajala for a few years. With N. Steven Harris, Garrett created the comic book that follows Ajala Storm, a teenage girl who fights crime in Harlem. The current series won the Glyph Comics Award for Best Female Character. Continue with here.
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9
David Pinckney
Fight like a girl is badass. The series created by David Pinckney follows a young black woman named Amarosa. The heroine volunteers to risk her life by fighting through nine trials of tribulation in order to make a wish come true. For Amarosa, she hopes she can save her terminally ill brother. With Fight like a girl, Pinckney creates a classic story with a lot of heart. Take volume 1 of the series here.
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ten
Shauna J. Grant
Princess Love Pon is as adorable a story as it sounds. Created by Shauna J. Grant, the webcomic follows Lia Sagamore who transforms into a magical warrior after meeting an enchanted bunny. But besides defending the world, Sagamore has to go through his last year of high school and maybe a first kiss. Needless to say, Grant creates an exciting journey for readers of all ages. The series is also available for free reading here.
