wktf
02-22-2005, 01:59 PM
This ran today in my local paper, The Kansas City Star.
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Posted on Tue, Feb. 22, 2005
African superhero returns to protect his nation, its people
By JENEÉ OSTERHELDT
The Kansas City Star
“One of the things I love about the Black Panther is he doesn't fight the power. He is the power.”
— Reginald Hudlin, Black Panther writer
The first major black comic book superhero leaped on the scene the year after Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Montgomery, Ala.
Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the Black Panther was not only a black man, he was a rich African king from a powerful country, searching for his father's killer, an American hunter.
The Black Panther first appeared as a rival in Fantastic Four No. 52 in 1966, and the hero went on to take part in the Avengers and had a few runs in his own Panther series.
The Black Panther is back on shelves this month, in a series now written by director Reginald Hudlin and illustrated by John Romita Jr. Hudlin says the fact that Marvel is reintroducing the superhero during Black History Month is intentional.
“We definitely wanted people to think about it in a historical context,” says Hudlin, 43.
Before the Black Panther, many black characters in comics were buffoonish sidekicks, and Black Panther was a breath of fresh air, he says.
“Since his first debut, Black Panther was the Sidney Poitier of superheroes,” says Hudlin, a longtime Black Panther fan and avid comic book collector. “He was strong, classy and smart. He's really a role model, not just for black readers but all readers.”
Perhaps that's why the comic book is flying off shelves across the country, including a few in Kansas City. The first issue came out Feb. 2 and sold out in Frank Mangiaracina's B-Bop Comics, Game & Anime and his Comic Cavern within six days.
Nostalgia and great art play roles in its success, he says.
“The Black Panther has always been a quality comic,” Mangiaracina says. “It's always been critically acclaimed, but he has never been popular or a moneymaker. People don't think of him often, but when they see him on the shelves, it's like seeing an old friend. They're glad to see him.”
Traditionally people have said black comics don't sell well, but Hudlin thinks this time around Black Panther is going to have the popularity to match the acclaim.
“A lot of superheroes didn't catch on right away; look at X-Men and Daredevil. When I look at a character like the Black Panther, he is really right for today's times,” Hudlin says. “People are into powerful, rich characters, whether it's Donald Trump or P. Diddy. These are guys who make things happen their way.
“One of the things I love about the Black Panther is he doesn't fight the power,” Hudlin says. “He is the power.”
The Black Panther is a regal character who relies on his intellect and technology, and his costume is not just for show, says Joe Quesada, editor in chief of Marvel comics.
In Black Panther's country, they worship the Panther God, and his costume is actually ceremonial garb, he says. And unlike other superheroes, Quesada says, Black Panther's powers don't come from a tragic event, his powers are inherited.
Another inspiration for Hudlin in writing the new series is to instill a sense of pride in Africa.
“Everyone else has a great relationship to their motherland,” Hudlin says. “Italian-Americans love Italy; Jewish people love Israel; and the same thing with Korean and Japanese people. But African-Americans are disconnected from where we are from. It's a wonderful continent, and we can't better ourselves until we change our relationship to our heritage.”
Black Panther, also known as T'Challa, is king of Wakanda, a fictional independent African country that is technologically advanced, a resource of the valuable fossil fuel “vibranian,” and it's a superpower.
“From a historical point of view, there were African tribes with metal alloys when people in Britain were living in caves, so what if Africa kept that head start?” Hudlin asks.
It's this thinking that has Hudlin starting the new Black Panther series in Wakanda so readers can gain an insight to the culture and understand who the Black Panther is.
“To see a black man in charge, running a Utopia, a country that is ecologically sound and spiritually grounded, shows how things can be good,” Hudlin says.
“It's especially important when you are talking about Africa. People think about Africa and they think about flies, rape, drought and the AIDS epidemic. But there is another side to Africa, and it's a part of our heritage that we all need to see.”
To reach Jeneé Osterheldt, features reporter, call (816) 234-4380 or e-mail josterheldt@kcstar.com.
________________________________________
More black superheroes
• Luke Cage, hero for hire, was Marvel's first black superhero to headline his own comic, Hero for Hire No. 1, 1972.
• Green Lantern (John Stewart), Green Lantern of space sector 2814, first appeared in Green Lantern No. 87, 1972.
• Blade the vampire hunter first appeared in the Tomb of Dracula No. 10, 1973.
• Storm, former African goddess who can control the weather, made her first appearance in Giant-Size X-Men No. 1, 1975.
• Cyborg, crime fighter, first appeared in DC Comics Presents No. 26, 1980.
• Bishop, former mutant police officer, first appeared in Uncanny X-Men No. 282, 1991.
• Spawn, former soldier reborn as a creature from hell, headlined his own independent comic in 1992, and sold 1.7 million copies, making it the best-selling independent comic book to date.
Sources: www.marvel.com, www.dccomics.com, www.spawn.com and www.blacksuperhero.com
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Posted on Tue, Feb. 22, 2005
African superhero returns to protect his nation, its people
By JENEÉ OSTERHELDT
The Kansas City Star
“One of the things I love about the Black Panther is he doesn't fight the power. He is the power.”
— Reginald Hudlin, Black Panther writer
The first major black comic book superhero leaped on the scene the year after Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Montgomery, Ala.
Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the Black Panther was not only a black man, he was a rich African king from a powerful country, searching for his father's killer, an American hunter.
The Black Panther first appeared as a rival in Fantastic Four No. 52 in 1966, and the hero went on to take part in the Avengers and had a few runs in his own Panther series.
The Black Panther is back on shelves this month, in a series now written by director Reginald Hudlin and illustrated by John Romita Jr. Hudlin says the fact that Marvel is reintroducing the superhero during Black History Month is intentional.
“We definitely wanted people to think about it in a historical context,” says Hudlin, 43.
Before the Black Panther, many black characters in comics were buffoonish sidekicks, and Black Panther was a breath of fresh air, he says.
“Since his first debut, Black Panther was the Sidney Poitier of superheroes,” says Hudlin, a longtime Black Panther fan and avid comic book collector. “He was strong, classy and smart. He's really a role model, not just for black readers but all readers.”
Perhaps that's why the comic book is flying off shelves across the country, including a few in Kansas City. The first issue came out Feb. 2 and sold out in Frank Mangiaracina's B-Bop Comics, Game & Anime and his Comic Cavern within six days.
Nostalgia and great art play roles in its success, he says.
“The Black Panther has always been a quality comic,” Mangiaracina says. “It's always been critically acclaimed, but he has never been popular or a moneymaker. People don't think of him often, but when they see him on the shelves, it's like seeing an old friend. They're glad to see him.”
Traditionally people have said black comics don't sell well, but Hudlin thinks this time around Black Panther is going to have the popularity to match the acclaim.
“A lot of superheroes didn't catch on right away; look at X-Men and Daredevil. When I look at a character like the Black Panther, he is really right for today's times,” Hudlin says. “People are into powerful, rich characters, whether it's Donald Trump or P. Diddy. These are guys who make things happen their way.
“One of the things I love about the Black Panther is he doesn't fight the power,” Hudlin says. “He is the power.”
The Black Panther is a regal character who relies on his intellect and technology, and his costume is not just for show, says Joe Quesada, editor in chief of Marvel comics.
In Black Panther's country, they worship the Panther God, and his costume is actually ceremonial garb, he says. And unlike other superheroes, Quesada says, Black Panther's powers don't come from a tragic event, his powers are inherited.
Another inspiration for Hudlin in writing the new series is to instill a sense of pride in Africa.
“Everyone else has a great relationship to their motherland,” Hudlin says. “Italian-Americans love Italy; Jewish people love Israel; and the same thing with Korean and Japanese people. But African-Americans are disconnected from where we are from. It's a wonderful continent, and we can't better ourselves until we change our relationship to our heritage.”
Black Panther, also known as T'Challa, is king of Wakanda, a fictional independent African country that is technologically advanced, a resource of the valuable fossil fuel “vibranian,” and it's a superpower.
“From a historical point of view, there were African tribes with metal alloys when people in Britain were living in caves, so what if Africa kept that head start?” Hudlin asks.
It's this thinking that has Hudlin starting the new Black Panther series in Wakanda so readers can gain an insight to the culture and understand who the Black Panther is.
“To see a black man in charge, running a Utopia, a country that is ecologically sound and spiritually grounded, shows how things can be good,” Hudlin says.
“It's especially important when you are talking about Africa. People think about Africa and they think about flies, rape, drought and the AIDS epidemic. But there is another side to Africa, and it's a part of our heritage that we all need to see.”
To reach Jeneé Osterheldt, features reporter, call (816) 234-4380 or e-mail josterheldt@kcstar.com.
________________________________________
More black superheroes
• Luke Cage, hero for hire, was Marvel's first black superhero to headline his own comic, Hero for Hire No. 1, 1972.
• Green Lantern (John Stewart), Green Lantern of space sector 2814, first appeared in Green Lantern No. 87, 1972.
• Blade the vampire hunter first appeared in the Tomb of Dracula No. 10, 1973.
• Storm, former African goddess who can control the weather, made her first appearance in Giant-Size X-Men No. 1, 1975.
• Cyborg, crime fighter, first appeared in DC Comics Presents No. 26, 1980.
• Bishop, former mutant police officer, first appeared in Uncanny X-Men No. 282, 1991.
• Spawn, former soldier reborn as a creature from hell, headlined his own independent comic in 1992, and sold 1.7 million copies, making it the best-selling independent comic book to date.
Sources: www.marvel.com, www.dccomics.com, www.spawn.com and www.blacksuperhero.com