There are two reasons this issue, featuring the first appearance of The Falcon, is worth a top 5 addition to my Dark Stars collection — Captain America is trapped in the body of the Red Skull!!! Second (and most important) is the coming of the Falcon. This is a two-part opener, and I expect to hit you with another Falcon issue later this week. Also, all next week is Falcon Week!!! — what is the true mystery behind the Falcon? Get down with me next week and find out. Bahlactus has spoken.

Nobody can do the hoodoo like Brother Voodoo!!! Jericho Drumm as Brother Voodoo is the story of a man who comes home and is forced to claim his birthright. The mystic tales of the voodoo priest begins with death and resurrection. The Strange Tales of Brother Voodoo challenges the logic and academic belief system of Drumm as the scholarly-type brutha and transforms him into a mystical peoples champion.

What I really dig about this type of hero story is the fact that you don’t get to choose to be a hero — it chooses you. Once you embrace it and keep it tight, your whole scenario takes shape as if you were born to it. When a characters character comes to the forefront in a compelling way, you can’t help but get down with it. Brother Voodoo has that edge, and I challenge you to stare into the eyes of a man who has lived twice. Bahlactus has spoken.

It took a hot minute to scoop this up at a reasonable price point, but, I had to get down with Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 AND #53. A great deal about my love for Comics begins with this cat (no pun intended) — I wasn’t able to get down with these issues when I was younger, but, it’s worth the stretch to parse out my hard earned dividends for these 1st appearances that are building up my Dark Stars collection.

More than most of the other Black characters I’ve added to my collection, Black Panther is a character you can truly get down with..and look up to. The depiction of a strong Black male, intelligent, and a born leader makes for a solid role model. Definitely pleased to have this issue in the mix. Get down with it if you dare. Bahlactus has spoken.

After a cameo in Tomb of Dracula #1, we’re able to get down with a proper first appearance of Blade in this issue. I definitely dig this cat more than todays daywalker. How tight is it that a Black man can run around, just killin’ vampires and the first time we truly see him, he goes head up with Dracula himself! For what this issue cost to include in my Dark Stars collection, there could have been more…this is not a Blade origin issue.