Best Book with a Brother on the Cover, August 1 — Herc Brown #0
Posted by: Jon Haehnle on July 31, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Reading the accompanying press release (pasted below) for this book raises some interesting questions:
· Are comic fans (as the creator puts forth in the press release pasted below) for the most really part color blind?
· And can an assumedly white creator who apparently decides somewhat arbitrarily to make his lead character black really do justice to said character?
I mean, to be so surprised that black fans (whom he properly refers to as “African-Americans”) would be so gratified to pick up a postcard for a comic with a black protagonist — I just think you’re kind of out of touch.
But in the end the proof is in the pudding, not the PR. And I did find this little preview book fun enough. Let’s give it a B- to go along with the coveted BBWABOTC “award”.
From VLE’s Press Release:
Herc Brown #0 is VLE Comics’ first full-color offering, featuring Hercules Brown, the son of the Greek god Zeus and a beautiful African-American blues singer. In order to maintain his birthright as an Olympian demi-god, he must prove himself worthy despite a penchant for making friends on the wrong side of the law. Wes Craig, whose art most recently received intense praise in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre comic book, handles the art with his brother, Drew Craig.
Issue #0 is a special introduction to the character priced at 99 cents. The tale sets everything up, with Herc learning that his real father is none other than the Greek god Zeus. This is also VLE’s first African-American character.
“We didn’t really set out to create an African-American character for the sake of appealing to any particular audience,” said Steve Antczak, VLE Comics CEO and the creator/writer of Herc Brown. “Actually, I think comics fans are for the most part color blind when it comes to the characters they love. However, I will say that at New York Comic Con we got a lot of unexpected praise from African-Americans who stopped by our table, when they saw our Herc Brown postcard. Not only did it surprise me that anyone would notice, it surprised me just how gratifying their reactions were.”
2 Responses to "Best Book with a Brother on the Cover, August 1 — Herc Brown #0"
1 | Steve Antczak
Just wanted to say thanks for the kind words about Herc Brown #0. As far as me being out of touch…well, I do work from home and almost never go out…and we don’t have cable…so, I’d say that’s a valid assessment! But I do try. Also, as far as being “color blind” when it comes to comic characters, I was just going from my own experience…it never mattered to me growing up reading comics in the ’70s & ’80s that a comic character was white or black or male or female. I just liked cool characters with interesting powers and solid stories. As for being white and writing an African American character, well, I am also male and write female characters sometimes. A writer should never limit himself or herself. Never.
