TV actor participates in production for Black-owned comics company
Shadow and Act announced an upcoming GN from Godhood Comics, an African-American owned publisher that's producing a spy thriller tale called The Brotherhood, developed by actor Woody McClain, and the contributors involved also include at least 2 artists who'd worked on the Milestone imprint at DC three decades ago:
While we're on the subject, Fox-9 spoke with the owner of Mind's Eye in Minnesota, whom I'd spoken about 2 years ago, who's one of the few African-American managers of a specialty store in the USA, and has been running his business for at least 5 years:
The series is created by McClain and co-written by McClain and Dorado Quick, who made their name with the DC Comics Milestone Initiative. Nicholas Maye, producer of Oscar-winning short film Two Distant Strangers, and Godhood Comics founder, publisher and writer Tyler F. Martin are editing. Illustrabox Studio provides the comic’s artwork.It's certainly a positive premise, with the only complaint I have being that it looks, at least on the surface, like the kind of comic made to look like a movie, and as author Sean Howe once argued, that's an ill-advised way to go. A comic should be written and illustrated to fit it's own medium. Otherwise, it comes off looking more like what Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR did - a project intended to serve as a springboard for moviemaking. And in an era where Hollywood's collapsing in quality, we could honestly do with less influence coming from them. And lest I forget, I sure hope this story isn't built on the kind of PC that's brought down much of modern entertainment. Otherwise, it's definitely a failure then.
The Brotherhood is billed as a spy thriller; according to the description, the story follows “a young man who accidentally finds himself inducted into a secret organization of Black men who have had a hand in protecting and prospering Black Americans for generations.” The series described as a story that’s “The Kingsman meets James Bond” and will debut later this year.
While we're on the subject, Fox-9 spoke with the owner of Mind's Eye in Minnesota, whom I'd spoken about 2 years ago, who's one of the few African-American managers of a specialty store in the USA, and has been running his business for at least 5 years:
Five years ago, a Burnsville man stepped out on faith to fulfill a childhood dream. Today, Eric Childs is the only Black-owned comic book retailer in the state and one of a few in the country. [...]I just hope he realizes the only way to truly make that possible is by concentrating on developing independent titles, because where the Big Two are headed makes this impossible. If more retailers would move away from too much reliance on their products, we'd be getting somewhere.
From superheroes to villains and worlds galaxies away, Childs said while a lot of comic book fans are adults, he sees an opportunity to attract younger readers. "With comic books, the visual narrative alongside the text, allows any reader at any level to jump in and engage," said Childs.
The power of literacy can transcend boundaries, and for Childs, they also reveal what's possible. "To inspire and put as much positive, energy, focus into the world that I can, with every life that I’m able to touch when they come in here and allow people the opportunity to dream," he said.
Labels: history, indie publishers, sales
