The first issue of Black and I like it a lot. There is supposedly a lot of faux-controversy about this comic which is pretty funny. Too many people complaining about how racist this is and supposedly how there is bad symbolism, or people cashing in which is absurd. To clear things up, the only part of this comic that is racist in any way is in the very beginning where three racist cops shoot black kids. That's it! There is no other racism in this comic. I read somewhere one person's claim that every single white person in the comic is depicted in only an evil way which is definitely not true. That kind of bias and dishonesty is ridiculous. The degree to which so many people do not like this comic shows just how backwards and racist this country is. If a comic writer has a problem with racism, that doesn't make them a racist. If a comic book writer wants to bring up racist issues, that does not make them racist. Weird to explain just basic things but when it comes to racists, people who want to turn a blind eye to racism, or even more absurdly claim that people who bring up racist issues are being racist. I've already heard too many bad strawman arguments about this comic that are really just empty and nothing but people who want to continue turning a blind eye to racism. I am amazed at the amount of ignorance about this comic. People who are giving it very low ratings but to feel like they are not racist, complain about how it's because of the writing not being that good or that they don't like the artwork but it seems pretty weak. You can say that about any comic really with how little dialogue there is or about any style of art but when people rate it at like a 2 or 4 out of 10 it makes you wonder why they actually have a problem with the comic.
Now to the actual comic. I really like how it blends realistic issues like racist cops along with fantastical elements of the super hero genre. It does this very well and the fantastical elements are pretty funny. The person who shows up out of nowhere to help the main character who just got shot, he is sitting in a chair that just popped up along with him. I found that very amusing for some reason and it kind of sets the tone for the super hero element of it in a way really well. Another thing that is interesting with bringing up realistic racist issues up in a comic book is that with the sequential art form. With how racist people can be and completely out of nowhere someone can find themselves in a whole lot of trouble in just the tiniest of moments, just driving their car, walking down the street, etc. and with how happens all the freaking time, in just a few frames this can be executed very well, which the artists have done with this comic. It's interesting how a lot of other realistic scenes can't be summed up in such a small amount of space but racist situations are literally that ridiculous and in just the shortest amount of time.
Another thing that I like about the comic is that there is an actual reason for why there is so much aggression and murdering that is always going on with how racists treat black people. Only black people somehow are able to gain super powers and no one is completely sure why. Reminds me a little of the movie Unbreakable in which a character has tragic accidents happening to find people who are incapable of getting injured in any way. And this makes a whole lot more sense than the reality of the situation in which racists mistreat and kill blacks because they are so afraid of them or want to treat them like they are beneath them. I really like how there is this kind of reason in the comic for why there are these kinds of tensions. And how some people are treated like they are beneath others, it creates an interesting dynamic and idea that is interesting to explore.
In just one issue so many things going on with the comic and the cast of characters is set up so well. And I really like the artwork with this issue. Jamal Igle did a great job. And it's interesting that it's done with only black, white, and grey colors.
The only thing I didn't like about the comic was a comment by the main character Kareem Jenkins describing a woman as fine or whatever. Seemed completely unnecessary and weird to have him objectifying someone in that kind of way. Hopefully the character doesn't keep that kind of shitty attitude.
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