Trade Review #9 --Black Mask Studios Part 1

When I heard Black Mask Studios was another one of the publishers who was giving money back to your local LCS with purchases, I knew I would support them since they would get me somthing to read and help my LCS.  I picked up four books from Black Mask, and by random luck of the draw, my first experience was with...

Godkiller Vol 1 (Black Mask)
By: Matt Pizzolo and Anna Wieszczyk

Godkiller begins with two simple words, "Non Servian."  And then...an explosion.  We learn that someone named Starkiller blew up a large part of a city, and then seconds later, we are in a brothel.  In this brothel we learn two major elements of the storyline.  First, there is a large discrepancy between people who live on the inner vs outer rings of the city.  And one ring is trying to harvest blood and organs too and from the other.  That explains why you may see several characters who are stitched together.  

Additionally there are several characters with some sort of powers that may be derived from a connection to the ether.  As we continue to learn more about Tommy, one of our non brothel-working leads, his blood may derive from a mythical bloodline, which explains why he is being hunted while on the search for a heart for his dying sister. The final panel with how I think the conflict will rise makes me want to go out and order this right away.

The art in this book is gritty.  The dark color palette really sets the mood for the events that take place.  The work on each inch of the human body is exquisite.  Especially as we move from person to person they are drawn in such a jarring fashion.  The more broken the individual, the physically rougher the sketch and the coloring is, and it's fantastic.  If you like mature titles with dark themes, this book is work the investment, and I want volume two NOW!

Pick It Up Here!

Black Vol 1.
​By: Kwanza Osajyefo, Tim Smith 3, Jamal Igle, Khary Randolph, Robin Riggs, Derwin Roberson, David Sharpe

As I started perusing the Black Mask website, this was the first book that really started speaking to me. As a white male, teaching in a school with a large black population when we get to discussions of race, it can sometimes be challenging.  Its a hard discussion no matter what composition of folks you have in a classroom, but when you are trying to discuss something like Black Lives Matter as a pertinent social movement in a classroom where several students are loudly defending "All Lives Matter." It gets difficult, and uncomfortable. 

My firm footing in this discussion can be summed up the best by Ice T and Body Count:

Discussions of race are also difficult for me, but it comes from some of the trappings of white privilege.  I philosophically approach discussions of race and oppression through a lens of intersectionality, at times with heavy marxist leanings.  However, I acknowledge that my lens may not be the most successful at times because I have not experienced racism.  In the end, I very much do acknowledge oppressive systems and structures, and fight along side my students, peers, and friends in communities of color to help smash that shit down.

Why is everything I just wrote pertinent to discussions of Black?  Because at its core, it deals not only with questions of blackness.  But, it also deals with questions as to whether or not it should become public knowledge that some black folks since the 15th century have been able to possess some sort of superpower, due to quarks (which I get) and other elements of quantum physics (which go way over my head).

The opening pages begin with a tale we are hearing all too often, the officer involved shooting.  However, this one had a different ending.  Kareem (who eventually identifies as X) is shot 12 times for running from the cops because he was falsely accused of a robbery.  Presumed dead, he is instantly jolted back to life in the back of an ambulance and flees through a combination of newfound speed and strength.  As he tries to figure out what just happened to him, Juncture discovers him, and lets him rest and then tests the limits of his abilities.

But then it goes deeper.  Detective Waters (who was late on the call when Kareem was shot) now dedicates her career to figure out what role Kareem may have in other events that slowly shake out.  Additionally, we discover that Kareem is also being hunted by Mann who runs a massive corporation, experimenting on black folks to figure out how to replicate the unique quarks and give abilities to white folks.  Lastly, there is another black faction lead by O who are far more outwardly millitant in dealing with their white oppressors.

This book takes so many twists and turns, I could not put it down.  I had to ignore my children (thank god no one was crying) for about 45 minutes because I was that hooked.  I can't wait to check out Black AF and any other books in this series, because I think the whole creative team really put out something provocative for discussion, and I think it is everyone's duty to understand.

I will also note, this may be a book I try to retroactively purchase all of the singles from because the covers are just stunning.  From a young black male in a hoodie to lynchings, to a game of donkey kong featuring: Trump, the KKK, a cop, and what looks like the late Justice Scalia.  Each of these covers set as a perfect instance of thought provocation for the coming pages of that issue.  In one word, this is fantastic!

Seriously, go purchase black here!