The 99 Gets Animated

Last year I shared some information with you about the Islamic superheroes known as the 99. This year I have an update. Apparently it is well on it's way to become an animated series. The rather long clip below shows some of the 99 in action and even provides a history/origin for the 99 stones that grant the new users their power. Take a look and tell me what you think and don't forget to download your free copy of the 1st issue of the comic. Enjoy!

Afrodisiac

I got an email from Brian Maruca about his upcoming Graphic Novel called Afrodisiac. From what I can tell it's the story of a Blacksploitation Afro wearing superhero who's only real power is his awesome coolness and of course his way with the ladies. Here's the blurb: 'Inspired by the blaxploitation films of the 1970s and classic superhero comics, the Afrodisiac collects art and comics starring the original super badass and featuring cool cars, sexy women, scary monsters, self-righteous superheroes, corrupt cops, aliens, Dracula, Richard Nixon.' Now check out the teaser trailer:

Great stuff right? I wonder where they got the music from. You can check out some more work from the artist, Jim Rugg, including some art from the book in this Flickr feed and this one. You might also be aware of some of their previous work called Street Angel (Paperback) which got great reviews. You can find out more about Street Angel here. Anyway, the Afrodisiac Graphic Novel won't be available until December but while you're waiting you can check out the preview and don't forget to get your Afrodisiac Holloween mask just in time for the holidays. Soul Power Baby!

John Smith: A Respectable Black Sidekick

Balbo, the Boy Magician was a comic book character that first appeared back in 1942. He had no super powers whatsoever but was an accomplished stage magician that used skilled slight of hand to perform his feats. The stories took place in a world without real magic and were skeptical towards anyone seeming to display it. Balbo and his friends would frequently observe seeming impossible feats that, after investigation, proved to be merely some sort of stage illusion.

What really made this comic noteworthy for me was his Black adult sidekick John Smith. Contrary to most depictions of Black characters of that time, John was well dressed, articulate, and intelligent. He was always calm, cool, and thoughtful and was of great help to Balbo. He was no stereotype.

The adventures of Balbo, the Boy Magician did not deal with any political issues. Topics of discrimination and Civil Rights never came up in the comic. The fact that John Smith was Black was simply that. It does go to show that even back in the 1940's it was possible to portray a Black man positively in comics. It's too bad most examples of that era, with few exceptions, showed Black men as fools.