I list Kirby in the titile three times here because he’s listed three times in the credits. He’s the writer, artist, and he’s apparently his own editor.  Here’s the summary:

 Black Panther has somehow hooked up with a little person named Mister Little who is a collector of rare antiquities in search of King Solomon’s Frog. They find it in the cold grasp of the corpse of Alfred Freely, another collector. Panther is soon confronted with Freely’s killer, an unnamed knight from the past with a golden sword. Panther makes short work of him and has him running out the window. He does not give chase. Mr. Little explains that the Frog is actually a time machine that transports beings from different times and places to wherever the frog is. They board Mr. Little’s flying machine and almost immediately are pursued by soldiers of an unknown army. Mr. Little blows the crap out of their aircraft with a couple of well aimed missiles. Mr Little goes on about the history of the Frog. Apparently it is responsible for the story of Alladin’s lamp as well as the Loch Ness Monster. Just then more soldiers show up with jetpacks. Mr Little throws his rig into supersonic speed and leaves those cats in his vapors. So they make it to his hideout. Mr Little’s story is that the frog is dangerous and shoud be returned to King Solomon’s tomb. Waiting for them in the hideout are more soldiers who immediately shoot Mr. Little in the stomache. They can’t seem to get a bead on Black Panther so their boss finally reveals herself. It’s Princess Zanda, another collector who covets the frog. She seems to have better aim and is able to blast the Panther with a nerve gun. She tries to get Panther to join her but he won’t so one of her men shoots at him and hits the Frog. This action activates the time machine mechanism which brings forth a weird looking being named Hatch 22.

All hail King Kirby. He’s at his best here. His story probably wouldn’t get over in todays market due to its contrived nature, but that says more about the constraints and expectations of modern comic book fans than it does about Kirby. He uses some brilliant tactics to get the story told.

African Americans have had two iconic father figures presented to us over the years via pixelated images, James Evans and Cliff Huxtable. They were two ends of the disciplinary spectrum. James Senior would lay the smack down at the slightest provocation. Shoot, I even remember the episode where he took the belt to somebody else’s child. Somehow the writers and John Amos presentation of the character were able to convey to the audience that there was something noble and good and loving under that smoldering exterior. And then he died. Kinda reminds me of my Pops.

 I had a tough dad who would whoop at the drop of a dime. He would make me get the belt or if we were outside the nearest branch would do. The worst part is if we weren’t at home he would use the belt he wore which had metal studs in it. Nowadays (and maybe even then) his disciplinary tactics would be considered abuse. In a way the whoopins ended bittersweetly. When I was ten my father started getting very sick from cancer and at age twelve he passed away. During that year and a half period I homeschooled and looked after my Dad while my mom was at worked. I really got to know the man behind the belt. He shared an incredible life story with me (a book I fully intend to write one day). I think death’s door helped him open himself up to me in ways only the father I am now could truly understand. For God’s sake he told me he loved me on three different occasions!

I know now that I absorbed him, the strict expectations but also the love and the openness that I probably never would have been exposed to had the circumstances been different. Because of these dual influences I have self-imposed rules regarding spanking.

1) Never spank out of anger. Timeouts work, but moreso for me than the child. They give me time to collect my thoughts and cool off.

2) Always spank with an open hand on the butt. You will feel every lick and it won’t leave a mark, at least not where most people would see it. If they’re too big for this they’re too big to big spanked. Find what truly motivates them and deprive them of it.

3) Explain clearly and concisely what the spanking is for. There should be no ambiguity or confusion. In fact have the child repeat the charges.

I have four children, all good bright kids. I spank the younger two for any of three basic reasons:

A) When they do something that endangers their person (i.e. mess with a light socket). This is the main reason I advocate spanking. Children need to associate certain behaviour with a negative result before that child develops a pattern of performing said behaviour. I’d much rather field a child’s temporary resentment than visit them in the hospital or God forbid the cemetery.

B) Theft. The worst spankings I’ve given have been for this offense. But, it only took once per child to drive the point home. I remember the one I recieved for taking money out of my mother’s purse. It was so effective that to this day if I discover something in my shopping cart that didn’t get rung up I go back into the store and demand to pay for it, often to the dismay of the cashier. Driving home an ethic of shunning unlawful gain at a young age is so vital to our young people it’s worth the pain you must inflict.

C) Disrespecting my wife. This is more applicable to the boys than the girls but needed for both. I allow a lot more attitude directed at me than I do at her. I may not always be around. Whether I’m just out of the house or my life ends prematurely I want to know that the men I raise will treat women with respect and dignity.                                                                                                                                                                    …….
That’s it. For everything else I find the fear of a whoopin works just as good, if not better, than the whoopin itself. The two older ones no longer get spanked. But (and here’s the key) I’ve put in the work with them so that being told I’m proud of them rather than disappointed in them is all the disciplinary action that typically needs to be taken. I tell them I love them every day. It’s a much more rewarding parental method. And I learned the bulk of it from Bill Cosby. Thank God for Cliff Huxtable.

Deac

I’m not the biggest fan of the humor of Cedric the Entertainer. His movies are buffoonish and his stand-up act is equal parts crass and sophomoric. However, he did introduce a phrase and concept in his routine from The Original Kings of Comedy that has stuck with me since I first saw the DVD. This concept of which I write is that of The Grown Ass Man. There are two primary groups who are typically very mindful of this concept: 

Males 16-25 who’ve recently moved out and are out to prove they are Grown Ass Men and fathers trying to show their 16-25 year old sons, still living at home that they indeed are not Grown Ass Men.

While these are two compelling groups (both of which I have much experience being a part of) there’s a third small but vocal group I’d like to address at this time:

Men who play with action figures who try to convince their wives and mothers they are still Grown Ass Men.

There are three possible answers when the question comes up as to whether a guy who plays with action figures is indeed a Grown Ass Man (there may be more possible answers but roll with me on this).

• Yes—This dude is grown and should be allowed to pursue his passion. He’s got his life together and his priorities are clearly defined and understood. He pays his bills on time (for the most part), takes care of his kids, and stands up for himself when the situation calls for such a gesture. So what if his office looks like a booth at Comic-Con. As you might have guessed a certain blogger that you all know and love considers himself a prominent representative of this demographic.

•  No— This is your basic punk. He either lives at home or is being supported by something other than a legitimate occupation (i.e. wife, trust fund, life partner, weed stash…etc). This guy is often obsessive-compulsive about his action figures, rarely extricating them from the original packaging. He’s the know-it-all online who loses all notions of decorum and is liable to say anything due to relative anonymity. He’ll also assume this role at Cons or among friends (if he has any) where he’s the proverbial one-eyed man in the land of the blind. Under no circumstances will he show any heart in the presence of a true Grown Ass Man.

• Maybe— This covers the grey area. It often depends on the circumstances or outside factors. These “maybe” cats are for the most part Grown Ass Men who were caught slippin’, that is, brother’s who get so into their pasttime that they lose sight of what’s really important. As we get into the scenarios you’ll see what I mean.

Keep in mind, the reason this discussion is necessary is because wives, mothers, and girlfriends of geeks the world over often have a warped sense of what constitutes an official Grown Ass Man. Let this blog entry serve as a handy tool to straighten these lasses out.

Here we go. Is a dude a Grown Ass Man if:

1) A dude comes home after a hard day at work and heads to the garage to rearrange his collection?

Yes he is. Let him blow off some steam in a non-destructive way. In fact, why not bring him a beer while he’s out there?

2) A dude skips work to be the first one in line at WalMart to get that varient Boba Fett figure with the blue helmet?

No. Man up, Bruh. Don’t put your livelihood on the line for your hobby. Besides, you might need that day off for something real, like a sick child.

3)  A dude brings action figures to the job and tastefuly arranges them in various fighting positions in his cubicle or office?

Maybe: There are some very important questions a man in this scenario should ask himself. Are the figures fully poseable? How many points of articulation do they have? Seriously (as serious as a subject like this can be, that is) we all know what the particular culture in our work environment is. In some places a guy with action figures might be the most conservative in the company (I actually used to be that guy). The bottom line is … don’t let an action figure be the reason you don’t get that promotion. After all, your boss might not read this blog.

4)  A dude spends a large portion of his disposable income at KayBee, E-Bay, and the Hobby Lobby?

Yes: There’s a reason it’s called “disposable” income. Men need to have spending money as much as women and children. It should be budgeted and guilt free.  There are a lot worse things men can spend their money on than heroic toys.

5) A dude spends his mortgage payment at Comic-Con?

No: Out of the question. This guy has lost all sense. The primary finances should be squared away every month (which includes a sensible savings) before a dime is spent on anything with a a laser gun or kung fu grip.

6)  A dude returns the present his wife gave him in exchange for some 12 inch classics he’s had his eye on?

Maybe: I think the variable here is the wife and her intentions. If she truly bought him something she thought he would like then Bruh should bite the bullet and humor his woman. If,  however she’s trying to remake him in her image and buying him items she would like at the expense of what she knows he really wants….On second thought, let that one go too. It’s a battle you just can’t win.

7)    A Dude does not allow his kids to mess with his action figures despite them technically having the label of  “toys”.

Yes: A man has a right to his own property. There is a collectible aspect to action figures that requires them to be maintained in good condition. Children do not always recognize this aspect. I learned this early on when the former Mrs. Deacon allowed TJ (then 2 years old) to ride roughshod on my entire Pirates of Dark Water collection. To this day we have been unable to locate Niddlers left wing, and Renn’s half sword is history as well. Suffice to say the current Mrs Deacon has not repeated this egregious error.

8 ) A dude tinker’s with his collection while his child needs help with his/her homework?

No: This statement should really go without saying, but being a parent is a full time job. Unnecesarily neglecting your children for any reason is not only foolish, it could be dangerous. I’ve seen too many Law and Order episodes where the parent ends up getting severely dealt with by the kid who didn’t get any attention and turns to murder and mayhem. Your action figures aren’t going to protect you from little Ray Ray on a rampage.

9)  A dude buys his kids action figures and then takes them back from them when he sees they’re not taking care of the precious plastic?

Maybe: Now this one’s real tough. Maybe my opinion is skewed by the fact that I’ve lived through this scenario. But just seeing that eighteen inch Galactus just lodged into the toybox between the tangled up Slinky and the mixed glob of Play-Doh was too much for a man to handle, even a Grown Ass Man. I mean the least the little ingrate could have done was place him gently next to the Etch-A-Sketch on the dresser by the bed where he could get proper lighting and the metallic purple of his costume wouldn’ chip or fade. This is the world devourer we’re speaking about here. So I did the only thing a true Grown Ass Man could do and still retain his status as a Grown Ass Man. I gave my son ten dollars and two packs of Pokemon cards and brought poor Galen home to daddy. It was a fair exchange.

He now stands atop the hightest bookshelf looking down at his domain as well as the actions of a Grown Ass Man.

Deac

Reading old comics. My susbscriptions of new comics haven’t started rolling in yet, but I have boxes of unread oldies and ten time as many I’d like to read again. Look for the reviews section to blow up like Coast City.                                                             

Watching DVDs. Yes some are bootlegs of new movies. I don’t buy them but they somehow come into my possession. Does it make a difference that I would honestly go see the movie if I were healthy enough? It’s a matter of conscience, which brings me to…

Studying the Bible. I’ve been meaning to get into the book of Revelation for a while now. I haven’t studied it in years. I’m interested to see if any current events are connected to the foretellings it contains.

Oh and the Lakers’ preseason started yesterday….

And Heroes is in full swing and intriguing once again…

And if I mention Heroes I gotta bring up Journeyman…

And will the addition of Supergirl be enough to save Smallvi…

Anyway. Stay tuned for the exploration of these exciting subjects and much, much, more.

Deac

The sign above says it all; I really don’t need to say anything else. But, of course, I will.

I cannot say enough about what groups like The Antidote Trust could mean for the future of Independant Comic Books. The reason I can’t say enough is because, to my knowledge there are no other groups quite like this one. We could point to Image and say the germ of the idea for independant creators to come together and pool their resources while retaining the rights and creative control over their products was planted in the early nineties. Yeah, we could say that, but it’d be misleading. Each of those guys had made a name for themselves at the big two. They weren’t self made like the Antidote Trust crew. They honed their considerable talent while working on the most popular characters during a boom period for the medium. How could they not have been successful (actually, IMO in the long term they weren’t successful, but that’s another rant for another day). And they had another thing going for them. They were all, with the exception of Jim Lee and my Filipino brother Whilce Portacio, caucasian.

But persistence and diversity aren’t the only things that make The Antidote Trust the answer to the myriad questions of those dissatisfied with the Image model. For one it’s populated by a group of grown men (and women) with boyhood (and girlhood) enthusiasm concerned with promoting the medium (that being independant comic books and their by-products) more than themselves. What a rare quality in a group of creators. Somewhere each member has gained an insight the Image guys never discovered….as the group prospers, I succeed.  That’s not to say they don’t each have their own individual streams for their creations. How else could they truly call themselves independant. But, in the tradition of the great super hero teams of yesteryear they come together when it makes sense and they always have each other’s backs.

Hmmm…ya know instead of comparing them to Image let’s compare them to that great shouldabeen team…The Brotherhood.

Let’s see now…keep in mind I can only make the comparisons with members I’ve actually met.

Robert Roach —Let’s go with Icon. His wisdom about the industry is truly beyond his years. He’s a cat other cats look up to and step aside for. He’s made himself available for all the Rockets of the Trust to benefit from his guidance.

Andre Owns—Okay, this is easy, Green Lantern. The dude’s imagination is as limitless as the cosmos his characters indwell. His soldierlike adherence to the group is commendable. And let’s face it he seems to have a thing for the color green as evidenced by his feature character Francisco The SuperGreen.

Korby Marks— Don’t you dare piss off the Black Panther of Independant Comics. With aspirations of building an entertainment empire this brother is in a whole ‘nother Wakanda. He’s focused and fearless and as talented as they come. Quite frankly, I’m glad he’s a good guy. BTW, he even has his own version of the Dora Milaje. Check it out.

Mike Sales— He’s a writer, he’s an artist and he’s publisher of quality Comics, so of course he’s Triathlon (Mike actually wears many more hats than those but Multiple Man didn’t quite fit the analogy). To be good at so many facets of the business and still be a team player is a super power all by itself.

Sterling Ashby—The word I’d use to describe him within the context of our limited time together is noble. That is he exhibited a quiet confidence and demeanor that was refreshing in the midst of the haukers and squawkers of Comic-Con. In producing Historically Accurate Action Figures of Persons of Color, this brother does an important work. Just as the Falcon can see through the eyes of birds in the vicinity he’s in, Sterling seems to have the power to see through the windows of time itself, and with his creations…he gives us a glimpse. (note: I didn’t get an individual pic of Spencer at the Con. He’s the tall smoothe brotha with glasses in the back of the group photo)

Hannibal Tabu—Some might say this brother struggles with the dark side but that would be innaccurate. He has clearly taken over hell and rules it with a passion (did he really say he didn’t care if the KKK endorsed him as long as they spelled his name right). But, like his counterpart Spawn he doesn’t let the fact that he’s a demon of the highest order get in the way of his loyalty to his peeps. His writing is supernatural and his very presence brings legitimacy to any team. Suffice it to say I like the hell out of the dude.

So that’s The Antidote Trust  as you’ve never imagined them before. I haven’t met all of the individuals involved but I hope to very soon. I believe in what they’re doing and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that their goals as a group fit so well with our goals here at Africomics. Who knows the team may be in need of a Bishop in the near future.

Deac

Q) Hey Deac, what about Storm and Pulsar? Are you sexist or something.

A) No way. While at the con I almost met the very lovely Lakota Souix, but she was so captivated by Mr. Marks she didn’t even notice me trying to introduce myself. I wandered away and ran into these two worthy candidates for the team.

Michael Vick 

One of the most dynamic players in the NFL has been brought up on charges of running a dog fighting rimg. Some of the details that have surfaced from this case are particularly heinous. Electrocutions, drowning, Vick’s participation since his days at Virginia Tech all point to some serious flaws in this young man’s life. At the very least he’s guilty of bad decisions and choosing to associate with folks (some in his own family) who have no interest in being loyal to him. The NFL will survive this scenario, but it’s definitely a stain.

 Barry Bonds

It looks like in the wake of the Balco scandal and with his personal trainer, Greg Anderson, still in the clink for refusing to testify, Barry Bonds will indeed be indicted for lying to the grand jury about his use of steroids. Ironically, at this point he is only two homeruns away from the all-time record held by Hank Aaron. Hammerin’ Hank is nonplussed to say the least about the accomplishment and has already stated he will not be there to witness Barry break his record. So Major League Basball is now on the verge of having its arguably most hallowed record held by someone who artificially enhanced his body. That would be like Icon joining the Negro Baseball League on his arrival to earth. Is anyone beyond the 415 and 408 area codes even remotely excited about this momentous occasion? There goes the luster of baseball.

Tim Donaghy

Tim who? Oh, you’ll get to know the name very quickly. He’s a referee in the NBA that is being investigated for betting on and “fixing” games he officiated. It turns out litle Timmy has a gambling problem. Once the mafia got a whiff of this particular vice they approached him and the rest is…well the rest may be the end of the game as we know it. We’ve always known that the refs have a tremendous effect on the outcome of basketball games. Up until now most of us just assumed the mistakes were due to incompetence rather than malicious intent. Nope, in this case the conspiracy theorists were right. The ref was on the take. Can we ever look at the game of basketball again without this aspect clouding our enjoyment?

And then there’s the heartbreaker….. Chris Benoit.

When you think of the phrase double murder/suicide this is the guy that now comes to mind. He was a user and destributer of steroids and other prescribed drugs. He regularly shot up his young son with an unknown substance. I doubt very seriously if we’ll ever know the details of precisely what went down in that Georgia estate over the course of a three day weekend, but one startling conclusion remains: Chris Benoit was not the good guy many people percieved him to be.

In fact none of these cats were who we first thought they were. Are the true heroes gone from sports and sports entertainment? Were they ever really there in the first place, or has this age of information we’re living in just shed light on the fact that these larger than life figures are sometimes lowlifes. Thank God we still have the Derek Fishers of the world who put family and team above personal gain. But are they too few? I’ve always been of the opinion that parents should be the primary role models in their children’s lives. That way kids get to see up close and personal that despite the humanity of the individual and the foibles that go with it the true essence of their hero is someone who truly cares and sacrifices for them.

Deac

Well, ya’ll might not know it, but that’s my joint right there. Poitier played Tibbs with such dignity in contrast to the various illiterate rednecks he comes into contact with. I think Rod Steiger was just as good as Potier in that movie, though. He actually had the meatier part if you think about it. His character (who also had a coolness about him) is the one whose heart really changes over the course of the film. Have you ever noticed in the very last scene of that film the Chief is carrying Virgil Tibbs’ bag for him? Brilliant.

 So then the movie that comes on right after that is Crimson Tide. (Although I have no idea why this film would even be considered as material for StarzMystery. I mean it’s high drama at it’s best but not really a mystery in the classic sense. But, I digress.) If you haven’t seen this peach of a movie, it has Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington as Captain and First Mate of a nuclear submarine respectively. Hackman is in favor of starting a nuclear war and Denzel wants to wait a while and think about it and there you have it… underwater hijinks ensue. See it, you’ll love it.

 After digesting the second flick I started thinking about how these movies really portray the two aspects of racism our country has been struggling with since its pre-beginning. ITHOTN represents the overt racism. It’s oppressive, it’s in your face, it’s confrontational, and in large part it’s unrepentant. ITHOTN dealt with the ugly ignorant side of racism older folks on both sides of the melanin spectrum remember just too well. This type of Racism still exists today, but because of the Poitiers, and the Cosbys, and the Powells of the world, it’s been swept into a corner  and in most places it’s been replaced by a much more insidious type of racism. This is the militaristic “don’t ask don’t tell” version of racism.

 That’s where Crimson Tidecomes in. Make no mistake about it, this movie is about race. Don’t let anyone tell you different. I’ve heard the whiney arguements:

The race of the characters is never mentioned in the movie.

Then there’s the old:

The movie is virtually colorblind. Denzel’s character could have just as easily been played by Tom Cruise.

To which I say bullpucky. The racial tension is overwhelming in this flick. Just peep the scene where the senior officers ralley around the Captain and forcibly take the Sub back from Denzel and the men loyal to him. His first real glance amid this ruckus is at Westergard (you know him better as Joey from Roc), the only other black officer, who simply lowers his eyes in shame. Keep in mind these two had not been shown to even acknowledge each other previously in the film. So if this movie doesnAnd don’t tell me the discussion about the color of Lipizzaner Stallions was only about horses. The only people who don’t see the racial themes in this movie are crazy people and white people (interestingly enough crazy white people do see the connection…hmmm). It’s there, and to deny it reminds one that there are people in our great nation who claim racism no longer exists at all.

These people need to see both of these movies back to back like I did this morning and compare the physical and emotional  slaps both respectable black men must endure. Maybe they’ll start to understand that racism is still alive and well in the good old U S of A if you just look a little beneath the surface.

 Deac

Q) But Deac you said this blog would be have something to do with the field of comic books.

A) Well, would you believe that Denzel’s character in Crimson Tide is a comic book fan? He actually settles a dispute about who was the better artist on Silver Surfer, Jack Kirby, or Moebius. Denzel went with Kirby…I concur.

p.s. Tom Cruise couldn’t hold Denzel’s acting jock.

The jewel in the crown of this magnificent website is the message board, aptly titled Herotalk. There you will have a chance to dialogue with some of the top independant creators of any color or creed. You will also gain insight into what the creators and fans of Black characters think and care about on a wide variety of issues. Most of the books sold on this site were at least partially created by folks who are regulars of Herotalk. That site is directly responsible for some amazing collaborations including the one that brought this website to fruition. Under a couple of different pseudonyms I’ve personally been a contributing member there for several years now. I have learned a great deal about the comic biz and life in general from my interactions on Herotalk.

So head on over there, join up, read the opinions. Check out the exhibits and realize how much you never knew about the plethora of black characters that have been produced. Take the time to meet the creators (most of them don’t bite hard). Then hurry back here to buy their comics and tell me what you think. So, whether you are a creator looking to research and/or network, or just a fan of the genre there’s a place for you at the museum and on the board. See ya there.

Deac

 p.s. I realise that the majority of people reading this post are already very well aware of the museum and the drinking establishment that is its message board. For you guys, just stick around here and buy something.

So we all know about the guy on the right (dead as he may be at the moment) but, who in the Blue Hell is that Shmuck standing next to the boyscout since it’s certainly not The Falcon. Welllll…. in a nutshell:

I’m a Christian, a Husband, a Father, a Comic Book Collector, a Businessman, a Laker Fan, a Wrestling Fan,  a Sunday School teacher, a Lover of all Things Good and Right. To sum it all up, I’m  just Deac and I intend for this blog to draw upon portions of all of the above areas of my life with an emphasis on Heroes of Color in popular fiction and their creators.

My intention is to keep you coming back to this site through sheer brilliance and a scathing wit. Should that not occur I’ll resort to begging and grovelling without conscience. Feel free to agree or disagree with me as you see fit and post accordingly.

Two things though. Let’s keep it clean and respectful as I promise to do the same. With that being said…let the games begin.

Deac

 p.s. Don’t forget to buy something while you’re here.