Reading Recommendations: Black Comics

Hello readers! In light of Black History Month I thought I would share my own recommendations of books to read throughout this month (and all year long). The following books spotlighted this time are comics written and/or illustrated Black creators. I hope you enjoy these picks!

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Adorned by Chi

Adorned by Chi tells the tale of Adaeze, a painfully shy Nigerian college student who discovers she has Goddess-like powers and must, reluctantly, lead a team of young warriors to defeat an apocalyptic monster that threatens to destroy humanity.

This first issue sets up an interesting magical girl-esque story about a college student that must save the world. It gave me lots of Sailor Moon vibes and most importantly it showcases diversity! The character designs are fun and I like that there are magic elements in a contemporary story. Though reading Adaeze’s story she is a character I can root for. Aye puts her unique spin on this shojo-style story.

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Quincredible

Invulnerability is a pretty useless superpower if you’ve only got a one-hundred pound frame to back it up. That’s what Quinton West’s life became when he went from small guy who got beat up to small guy who can’t get hurt after the meteor shower dubbed “The Event” gifted him the power of invulnerability but no other powers to compliment it.  But there’s more to Quin than meets the eye, and after some encouragement from his new mentor—a local New Orleans–based superhero named Glow—Quin realizes that he can use his quirky hobby of creating Rube Goldberg devices to outsmart the opposition. But being a hero paints a target on your back, and Quin’s got to risk it all to join the ranks of the superheroes he looks up to. It’s a good thing he can take a punch.

For the most part, this story is grounded for a superhero tale. Quinn is a teenager who’s nerdy, trying to fit in, has a good heart, and wants to make a change. He’s tired of seeing the world’s divisiveness around him, and I appreciated the social commentary of real-world issues tied into the story. The story is relatable and touches on socioeconomic disparities, race, crime, and more. It can be heavy at points, but I felt like Barnes balances the story out as there as many action scenes, quiet moments of reflection, and witty side quips. What I liked most about Quinn as a character was his confidence, willingness to make a difference, and close relationship with his parents. His parents inspired him to pursue his passion of using his powers and helps him on his journey to figure out his purpose. 

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Harriet Tubman : Demon Slayer

When slave owners can’t stop the powerful ninja warrior Harriet Tubman, they enlist the help of vampires, demons, witches & werewolves to stop her. Harriet Tubman must lead a family of runaways to freedom while battling an army of darkness.

What an awesome supernatural take on history’s legendary ladies! It’s gritty, dark, and deals with the reckoning of America’s racial pasty all while adding exciting fantasy elements in the story. Tubman is a force not to be messed with and is a bad-ass taking down vampires without a second thought. The story is action-packed, moves fast and includes an engaging story. The enemies are menacing and I appreciated the heightened aura of suspense to add to the reading experience.

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Nubia: Real One

Nubia has always been a little bit…different. As a baby she showcased Amazonian-like strength by pushing over a tree to rescue her neighbor’s cat. But despite her having similar abilities, the world has no problem telling her that she’s no Wonder Woman. And even if she were, they wouldn’t want her. Every time she comes to the rescue, she’s reminded of how people see her: as a threat. Her moms do their best to keep her safe, but Nubia can’t deny the fire within her, even if she’s a little awkward about it sometimes. Even if it means people assume the worst.

When Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia will risk it all–her safety, her home, and her crush on that cute kid in English class–to become the hero society tells her she isn’t.

Nubia is a superhero story with Black Girl Magic flair! It’s not only a story about supernatural powers, but also a coming-of-age tale. Nubia has lived such a sheltered life because she has to keep her powers a secret, but seeing others in danger makes her want to use her powers for good. I enjoyed the story as a whole and didn’t want it to end. I appreciated how it discusses themes of race, equality, inclusion, and growing up. The characters are fun and vibrant which is reflected in the art style and color palette of the comic. Nubia is a story that reminds us to fight for what we believe in!

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Ode to Keisha

Ode to Keisha is an autobiographical comic about friendship, racism, and identity. In this 18-page comic, Jamila recounts her Kindergarten friendship with Keisha, and why this bond was fundamental in shaping her concept of sisterhood. Trinidad’s beautiful black and white illustrations tenderly convey how racism and shared culture impacted the budding friendship between these two 5-year old Black girls living in The Netherlands.

Ode To Keisha is a short monochromatic autobiographical that is very powerful. It’s a meaningful story of friendship, shared identity, and racism. I as a black woman (and many other readers of color) saw a bit of my younger self in this story. I love how the story discusses how impactful sisterhood is as well as shared culture. People bond over common experiences and Jamila find solace in her friend Keisha. Though their situation was isolating it made their bond even stronger. It’s friendships such as these that help shape our lives and relationships with each other. I think that having the illustrations and lack of color for the comic only made the story more impactful.

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Wash Day Diaries 

Wash Day Diaries tells the story of four best friends—Kim, Tanisha, Davene, and Cookie—through five connected short story comics that follow these young women through the ups and downs of their daily lives in the Bronx.

The book takes its title from the wash day experience shared by Black women everywhere of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of washing, conditioning, and nourishing their hair. Each short story uses hair routines as a window into these four characters’ everyday lives and how they care for each other.

If you ever need to read a graphic novel that will wrap you in a warm hug, I recommend this graphic novel. This story is a testament to Black girl magic, sisterhood, and the power of friendship. Readers navigate through the girls’ lives and everyday obstacles they face and how their bond of friendship is tested through these events. The artwork was so stunning and I love how the vibrant colors made the story leap off the page. In between the girls’ narratives, the author weaves in commentary on sexism, discrimination, grappling with mental health, and romance. Though short I felt connected to these girls from the representation on page and their overall personalities.

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That concludes my Black Comic reading recommendations! What manga/graphic novels do you recommend or enjoy? Comment your recommendations below.