Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors

Curated by Adrienne Resha
Designed by Jennie Davy
Installed in Swem Library at William & Mary, February – March 2022

Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors exhibit on display in the Swem Library lobby at William & Mary close shot glass case open
Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors
Icon #31, All-Negro Comics #1, and "Lion Man" in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors Icon #31 Dwayne McDuffie (writer), Mark Bright, Romeo Tanghal, and Jason Scott Jones (artists) 1995 In their continuing adventures, Icon (Augustus Freeman IV) and his sidekick Rocket (Raquel Ervin) travel to a more advanced planet. On their way, Rocket observes that the jobs there are all “about telling other people what you know. Or learning new stuff to tell.” Icon responds, “Correct. And most of us agree that these are the noblest endeavors a sentient being can turn his attention to.” All-Negro Comics #1 Orrin C. Evans (editor) 1947 Like many comic books published at the time, All-Negro Comics #1 was an anthology, including several genre stories. Unlike those other comics, this issue exclusively featured the work of Black artists. It includes the first and only appearance of the first African American superhero: Lion Man. The “American-born, college educated” scientist-superhero based in Africa predates Marvel’s Black Panther and DC’s Green Lantern John Stewart.
Icon #31 and All-Negro Comics #1
"Another Milestone" in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors In journalist and editor Orrin Cromwell Evans’s introduction to All-Negro Comics #1, he writes, “Dear Readers: This is the first issue of All-Negro Comics, jam-packed with fast action, African adventure, good clean humor and fantasy… This publication is another milestone in the splendid history of Negro journalism.” Although the first and only issue, the comic is also a milestone in the history of American popular media made by Black writers, artists, and editors.
“‘Another Milestone'”
"Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors" in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors You might know Marvel and DC’s first Black and African American superheroes, Black Panther and John Stewart respectively, but did you know that neither was the first to appear in comic books? Nearly twenty years before T’Challa debuted in the pages of Fantastic Four #52 (which, along with Green Lantern #87, will be on display in “On and Off the Page: Representations of Black People in American Comic Books” later this year), Lion Man appeared in All-Negro Comics #1. Nearly five decades after Lion Man, Milestone Media brought even more Black superheroes to comics, some of whom you can see here.
“Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors”
Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool #1 in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool #1 Dwayne McDuffie (writer), John Paul Leon and Melissa Edwards (artists) 2001 Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool #1 was published a year after its titular character began starring in Kids’ WB’s Static Stock (2000-2004). The show made Virgil Hawkins the first African American superhero to headline an animated series. In this issue, the comics version of the character adopts the costume worn by the one on television. Appearing in it on the last page, Hawkins says, “--the name’s: Static! If you don’t start none, there won’t be none!”
Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool #1
Blood Syndicate #1 and #6 in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors Blood Syndicate #1 Dwayne McDuffie and Ivan Velez, Jr. (writers), Trevor von Eeden, Andrew Peppy, and Janet Jackson (artists) 1993 Unlike superhero groups like the Justice League or Avengers, whose series often emphasize the power of teamwork, members of Blood Syndicate – Third Rail, Brickhouse, DMZ, Tech-9, Wise Son, Fade, Holocaust, Flashback, and Masquerade – neither like one another nor like working together. Blood Syndicate #6 Ivan Velez, Jr. (writer), ChrisCross, John Lowe, and Michelle Wrightson (artists) 1993 By the sixth issue, the composition of the team had changed, with Dogg and Boogieman joining its roster, and the series came to more closely resemble typical superhero comic books with the introduction of a supervillain: Demon Fox.
Blood Syndicate #1 and #6
Hardware #1 in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors Hardware #1 Dwayne McDuffie (writer), Denys Cowan, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Noelle Giddings (artists) 1993 Hardware #1 was the first comic ever published by Milestone Media. In the issue, subtitled “Angry Black Man,” Curtis Metcalf goes from boy genius to genius inventor before being betrayed by his older white male mentor. That betrayal inspires the creation of the Hardware costume and persona, which Metcalf uses to fight against corruption.
Hardware #1
"Milestone Media" in Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors In 1993, African American writers and artists Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek T. Dingle founded Milestone Media to address the underrepresentation of marginalized people in mainstream comics. The company introduced new superheroes of color first to comic books, then animation. Milestone’s superheroes were neither Black characters taking up roles previously occupied by white ones nor sidekicks. They were each given their own origin story, costume, and superpowers by creators who imbued them with authenticity.
“Milestone Media”
"Milestones: Superhero Comics by Black Writers, Artists, and Editors" Credits: Curation: Adrienne Resha, Ph.D. Candidate in American Studies and 2021-2022 Special Collections Exhibit Apprentice Design: Jennie Davy, Exhibits Manager exhibit background modified from freepik.com Fabrication and installation: Adrienne Resha and Jennie Davy
Credits
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