Can someone lay down a solid explanation for the sad state of artistic hustle surrounding Black characters in Comics? Especially in the superhero weight class. Is there a publishing house rule at Marvel and DC that explicitly states, “any and all Comics with Black characters in the forefront should get a busted-assed artist assigned to them“?!?

Many Black characters in Comics artistically have no flavor or presence; it’s the 90’s all over again. Aside from John Paul Leon masterfully laying down lead to paper on Static, the prominent Blacks in Comics had no solid artists breathing life into them. Why isn’t the A-list talent getting tasked with providing the necessary artistic hustle for the big-house Black characters? Do Marvel and DC hate Black people so much they have to assign us the Z-list brand artist?

With cats like Leinil Yu, and JR JR, there is hope. I recognize myself in their Black faces. That’s a crucial element to any story. When I look at a Black character, I need to be able to recognize myself to some degree. I can’t get down and appreciate a Michael Turner spin on John Stewart, when he looks like Bruce Wayne in Blackface. On the flipside, I can subscribe to an interpretation of Firestorm by Khary Randolph, or Steel if Jock was pencilling. I’m not on board with Jamal Igle — all his characters lack presence, and often feel short.

Personally, I’d like to invest my hard earned dividends in Comics featuring Black characters, crafted in a way that portrays them as recognizeably Black. Black Comics characters need the best artists laying them out, period. The Kirby era of same face Comics are dead. I’m working on putting my money where my mouth is. Stay tuned. Marvel and DC should clue up and start putting more clueful artists on the Comics featuring Black characters that truly represent Black people. Bahlactus has spoken.

This week’s Milestone comic is Icon #6, the continuation of the throwdown between Icon and the Blood Syndicate. This issue throws Rocket into the mix, as she comes to Icon’s “rescue” by taking on the Syndicate. There is a step-by-step formula that the typical super-hero team follows, and Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright utilize it in this issue:

Step 1- Heroes meet

Step 2- Heroes fight

Step 3- Heroes talk

Step 4- Heroes leave with a newfound respect for each other.

Steps 1 & 2 happen immediately as Rocket takes on the Syndicate. They are impressed with her powers and her bravado, and she holds her own against their toughest members. Icon halts their fight by displaying a heretofore-unknown power, some kind of “light fist”, and tells the syndicate that they can fight or they discuss their differences like men. He takes things right to Step 3 at this point, as he wants to get back to his original purpose in seeking out the Syndicate, to get the truth behind the Big Bang.

Before getting down to brass tacks with Wise Son, he takes DMZ aside. The silent member of the Syndicate seems taken aback by this confrontation, especially when Icon speaks some sort of alien language to him. Icon recognized DMZ in the last issue, and this is expanded on in this scene. Icon tells DMZ that he is stranded too, and that perhaps they should pool their efforts. DMZ appears shocked at first (kudos to Bright for conveying this with a full-face mask on DMZ) and agrees with Icon, then flies off. This conversation leaves the Syndicate, Rocket, and the readers with just one question, “what was that all about?” McDuffie leaves the answers for another issue, as Icon gets back to business.

Icon and the Syndicate get deep into Step 3, as they discuss their differing philosophies in regards to justice for the people behind the Big Bang. Icon believes that Truth leads to true justice, and that if people stand and fight to reveal the truth that injustice will never stand. Icon reveals a little bit of his background, admitting that he is a lot older than he seems as he uses historical events of the last two hundred years to illustrate his point. The Syndicate believes that justice doesn’t exist for people like them and that they must always fight to keep what is theirs- their turf. It is here that Rocket, as she once did with Icon, plays the role of the eye opener. She takes this confrontation right to Step 4, as she challenges Wise son with the following question/statement: “You already GOT your turf. You ran the cops off, all the other gangs, the dopers. Paris Island is YOURS. SO what are you going to do with it?”

Step 4 is now reached between the two groups, as Wise Son realizes that Dakota’s dynamic duo has given him something to think about. The heroes have their newfound respect, and all the team-up bases have been covered. We will see the fruits of this confrontation from the Syndicate’s view grow in their own book, but our resident heroes have their own opinions. Icon realizes that he leaves the gang with no more answers than when he started his search, but feels he and Rocket may have accomplished a greater good (by challenging the Syndicate’s M.O.) and vows to continue his investigation into the Big-Bang.

Rocket also realizes that she has seen and heard a lot in this confrontation that she does not understand. What she is positive about is that she knows next to nothing about her partner Icon, and wants to know the truth behind his origins. The issue ends with Rocket demanding the truth, and Icon promising to tell her everything….. next issue of course!

Despite the fact that this issue was very formulaic, it was nonetheless an entertaining read. I liked the interaction between the characters, and it looks like Icon really gave the Syndicate something to think about. I really look forward to seeing the connection with DMZ get fleshed out, and also want to see Rocket’s reaction to Icon’s origins. While the reader has already seen some details, his arrival on Earth for one, I think there may be quite a bit more to our hero’s story. Knowing Dwayne McDuffie’s penchant for surprises, there may be some interesting tidbits in the next issue.

Those revelations will wait for another column though, as next week we cover the next issue of STATIC! Until then, MAKE MINE MILESTONE!