Graphic Classics Volume 22: African-American Classics [Paperback]

Series designer, editor and publisher Tom Pomplun and co-conceiver of this project Lance Tooks co-edit this impressive 22nd volume in the of adaptations of short stories and poems. It stands as both a celebration of the gifted wordsmiths from America's heritage, female as well as male, and the current flourishing of black comics creators including welcome women artists Leilani Hickerson, Arie Monroe and cover illustrator Afua Richardson. Assigned to texts that entirely suit their specific visual vocabulary, all the artists respond with some of their finest work here, notably Tooks' striking stylisations, and Kyle Baker, Randy DuBurke, Trevor Von Eeden, Kevin J. Taylor in a rare non-explicit commission, Jeremy Love of Bayou fame, and the vintage cartoon riffs of Milton Knight. Recovering these writings, mostly unfamiliar to me and I suspect to many, and bringing them to graphic life makes their wit and power vital and accessible to new modern readers. This may well be about the most important, eye-opening, mind-expanding compendium in Pomplun's whole Graphic Classics series to date.

I learned about this publication from In These Times Magazine and ordered it immediately. It is a set of fascinating graphic interpretations of African-American short stories.

"African-American Classics" is a big departure for Tom Pomplun's "Graphic Classics" series. Before, all the books in the series focused on an individual author or a particular genre, such as Science Fiction Classics and Gothic Classics. This is the first volume that has focused on a particular race. And not just in the subject matter; all of the contributing artists are black as well.

Honestly, at first I wasn't quite sure what to make of this. I look to "Graphic Classics" for entertainment, not political or social commentary. And by focusing on a particular group like this, it seemed that the goal must somehow be political. Otherwise why make it?

But my concerns were unfounded. "African-American Classics" is entertaining. Very much so. I don't know how he does it, but once again Tom Pomplun (this time in partnership with Lance Tooks) mined the past for some wonderful stories that were hiding somewhere in obscurity just waiting to be re-discovered. I always say that my favorite part of the "Graphic Classics" anthology-type releases is getting to read authors I have never heard of, or have heard of in passing but am only familiar with their single "famous" work. "African-American Classics" was almost entirely unknown material to me. Aside from Langston Hughes and W.E.B. De Bois, I had never heard of any of the twenty-three writers and poets presented here.

Unlike other "Graphic Classics" releases, "African-American Classics" focuses heavily on poetry and very short stories. There is too much content here to give my usual story-by-story rundown. So instead here are a few that I found particularly impressive:

"On Being Crazy" - 1907() By W.E.B. De Bois, adapted by Tom Pomplun and illustrated by Kyle Baker. A clever little piece that focuses on the true reason a black man might enter a diner; because he is hungry. I loved the verbal interplay between the black gentleman and the ignorant people he encounters. "By god you shant marry my sister!" "But I don't want to marry her ... I already have a wife." Kyle Baker's art was a great match for this. It was also interesting because--due to the very nature of comics--I have been enjoying Kyle Baker's art for decades and it never occurred to me that he was black.

"Lex Talionis" (1922) by Robert W. Bagnall, adapted by Christopher Priest, illustrated by Jim Webb. This was a brilliant horror short that could have come straight from "Weird Tales" or "The Twilight Zone." A sad story of a man gifted with every talent but the wrong skin color, and how a lesser man brought him down, and how he got his "lex talionis," his "eye-for-an-eye revenge." Jim Webb's illustrations here are not really outstanding; they do they job without a lot of flair or style; but the story is powerful enough to drive the point home.

"The Goophered Grapevine" (1899) by Charles W. Chesnutt, adapted by Alex Simmons, illustrated by Shepherd Hendrix. I always love a good folktale of magic, and that is exactly what this is. Chesnutt's tale of Aunt Peggy the witch who "goophers" the master's grapevines is just delicious. Hendrix's art is simple, but works well with the story and adds a nice charm.

"Shalmanezer" by Frances E. W. Harper, adapted and illustrated by Lance Tooks. OK, so I love Lance Tooks works for Graphic Classics. His style, heavy on theatricality, bold lines, and crisp style, can turn any tale into a stand-out work. To be honest, "Shalmanezer" was a pretty heavy-handed allegory on the nature of happiness coming from Peace, and not from Pleasure, Wealth, or Fame. In anyone else's hands this might have been too much, but Lance Tooks made it monumental.

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