This is what I call: "When Good Characters Go BLACK!!!" (Like Grover from the Percy Jackson books, Lafayette & Tara with "True Blood," John Stewart - Green Lantern headlining the Justice League cartoon.)
DC Comics is about to introduce a new
Aqualad to the world of comic books and television. (The original Aqualad, who used to hang with Aquaman, is now a character called Tempest.) A new animated series called
"Young Justice" has been created, using the characters of Superboy, Speedy (really Arrowette), Ms. Martin (I love you!), Robin, Kid Flash (or is he Impulse?) and Aqualad!!!! (Where the hell is Wonder Girl?) If you don't know, all of the characters of Young Justice are really the sidekicks of the big, major heroes like Superman, Green Arrow, Martin Manhunter, Batman, Flash and Aquaman. What's most exciting is that Aqualad is black!!! Yea!!! It's about time.
I think it's DC's responsibility to start consciously putting out some long lasting decent black characters. Their track record isn't too great with keeping characters alive. Especially, people of color. Apparently, the "new Atom," the microscopic superhero was reinvented as an Asian man. Sounds ground breaking, right? Well, apparently, he wasn't popular enough and --- now he's dead. Ray Palmer, the original has returned. (DC is
really brutal in the Killing Heroes Department.) So, hopefully, this new Aqualad will stay around and make comic book history.
Rob Kirby's "Curbside" comic strip was one of those strips I loved instantly. (Along with David Kelly's "Steven.") I loved his style. I loved his stories. He's a helluva writer. I loved the fact he had black gay characters who actually wanted to be with one another. And, he has a smashing sense of humor. I had the pleasure of finally meeting Rob after loving his work for so many years, because of Juicy Mother and Boy Trouble 2: Born To Trouble. I had a story in Boy Trouble called "Click - Download." It was alllllll about my adventures in porn. (Collecting and stealing, not starring.) Plus, it was the first time I ever did a story in full color. Rob completed his run with Curbside, took a break and is now back at the drawing board, putting out an anthology of comics entitled "Three." It looks like three queer cartoonist get their turn, each issue, at telling different stories. First up is Eric Orner and Joey Alison Sayers. On top of "Three," Rob has even re-vamped and re-launched his website, re-titled: Rob Kirby Comics. "Three" is also available for pre-order. Support the queer comic arts!!!
"Rob Kirby's all-new, all-color, all-queer comics anthology promises to be at least as much fun as a barrel of monkeys, if not even more so! So join Rob, Eric "Ethan Green" Orner and Joey Alison "Thingpart" Sayers for issue #1, coming your way soon!"
