Black #1
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Black #1

Writer: Kwanza Osajyefo Artist: Jamal Igle Publisher: Black Mask Studios Release Date: October 5, 2016 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 10 User Reviews: 13
7.2Critic Rating
6.5User Rating

IT'S HERE! The comic that blazed through Kickstarter during Black History Month 2016.
In a world that already hates and fears them - what if only Black people had superpowers. After miraculously surviving being gunned down by police, a young man learns that he is part of the biggest lie in history. Now he must decide whether it's safer to keep it a secret or if the truth will set him free.

  • 9.5
    The Broken Infinite - Frank Rodriguez Oct 11, 2016

    BLACK # 1 makes some bold statements while giving readers a wild ride for an opening story. There's action, intrigue, mystery and suspense as Osajyefo and company create a world that scarily mirrors reality. And this team does a wonderful job of showing us more than telling us the issues going on within the pages of the book. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Graphic Policy - Brett Aug 19, 2016

    The comic delivers on its promise of a politically and socially infused comic that also features superpowers. The first issue is a whirlwind that brings you into the journey in the way a good story should. It's a ride full of emotion that evokes today's social ills and problems. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Big Comic Page - Chris Bennett Oct 4, 2016

    This isn't going to be a book for everyone, but there's a statement to be made here, and it's an important one. Black people, and other non-white races are criminally underrepresented in today's comic industry, both on the page and behind the scenes. It's becoming more and more apparent that something has to change, and this book is definitely another step in the right direction. Rich in real life drama and racial tension, it manages to handle itself in a way that may seem forced to some, but very necessary to others. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comicosity - Allen Thomas Oct 5, 2016

    I think Black #1 has a lot to work with, and I really can see it going somewhere. Yet, it has a little bit further to go to capitalize on its theme, premise, characters, and our current social narrative. Not all stories have to be explicitly political, but Black presents a situation where thats almost necessary. I hope we get to see more of that in the future. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Graphic Policy - SHAY REVOLVER Oct 4, 2016

    Overall Black was a good read that can only expand on a smart, interesting premise and story. I look forward to seeing Black‘s world expand and finding out what Kareem does with his powers, what his new “family” wants him to fo with his powers and, what the government wants to do with the people who have the super powered multiquarks. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Outright Geekery - Leroy Dee Oct 1, 2016

    VerdictOverall it feels like two stories that fits together like oil and vinegar. Taking both on their own, however, they're very captivating stories. You're dealing with a controversial topic of not only police brutality, but one officer speaking against it (which I can't recall ANY officer doing as such). As for the sci-fi portion of the story it does a great job of setting up a world that I actually want to see explored. I'll even go out on the limb and say the concept is brilliant, since the sky is the limit on the kind of stories that can be told in this universe. Definite recommend. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Bounding Into Comics - John F. Trent Sep 7, 2016

    Black #1 is good and has a strong political message. I look forward to reading more issues in the series. It seems to be in some ways derivative of other comic books and media; but manages to make it interesting by commenting on race relations between police and African Americans. It falters a little bit with the art since it lacks an indie vibe and style. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Graphic Policy - Ryan C. (trashfilmguru) Oct 11, 2016

    It's got a legitimately killer premise and highly competent art, but not much else. I'm game to give it another issue or two, I suppose, but can't really recommend it as something worth your own $3.99, dear reader. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Pop Culture Uncovered - Harry C. Oct 5, 2016

    The problem is that it's so derivative of other stories told that it's hard to see how it will set itself apart from everything else that's already out there. This book has a very big chance to fall into a trap of being a Blaxploitation kind of a book as well if the story doesn't separate itself from the pack. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Comic Crusaders - Robert Anderegg Aug 22, 2016

    I am not sure whether this comic is being produced to unite people or divide them, but the internet outrage seems to point toward the latter, and that's a real shame. By solidifying the "us versus them" argument, I think the writer is more aligned with Magneto than Professor X, if you know what I mean. The comic is a very interesting concept that raises many questions about our society, but there are plenty of ways this could be improved, in my opinion. Read Full Review

  • 10
    olliequeen Aug 7, 2018

    Look if you're a racist you won't like this book. If you live under some magical delusion that America is a place where everyone is treated equally than you probably won't like it. If you live in the real world you will see the book using superpowers to address the truth about our country. People that say the writing is bad are just racist. Both the writing and the art are excellent.

  • 10
    Wolf Warner Oct 5, 2016

    We need it!!

  • 8.0
    CrossTheSolo Oct 7, 2016

    I was very excited about this series when I first heard about it, but I also didn't want to set my expectations to high for the first issue. #1 was what I expected it to be, meaning that it would be of a slow pace and a lot of the plot and characters being ambiguously depicted in different panels of the comic. On a good note, I liked the beginning of the story and how it parallels a current issue in America with a fictional story. I'm excited to see where it goes and my interest is piqued enough for me to by the next couple of issues to see how the story develops.

  • 7.0
    Gizmo Oct 9, 2016

    It's an awesome concept, but I'm not sure I'm sold on the direction it looks like it's going, too early to tell. The dialog could be tightened up a bit, but I like the grayscale artwork with the exception of the page where our hero falls off the building, the panels are stacked in a way where he hits the ground before he's done falling, so that didn't work right.

  • 5.0
    SLowban Oct 7, 2016

    It seemed like a cool concept but with the bad writing and mediocre art it just doesn't cut it.

    It pushes on the racial topic and makes it seem like black people are innocent and the white man is out to kill them. The main bad guy is a rich white man.

    I have a try but the first issue just didn't do it for me. I may watch it for a few issues and see if it gets better but if the writing stays as bad as it was it won't go anywhere good.

  • 4.0
    Cosmic Ray Oct 5, 2016

    Total amateur writing. Art was okay. Pass.

  • 3.0
    The-MJP Jul 30, 2018

    i hate white people: the comic

    um, i'd just like to say my uncles a highway patrol man, he's never shot anybody, f*ck you and your Spiteful Bigoty, Kwanza

  • 3.0
    TheMatteo0 Oct 12, 2016

    The premise was interesting, the execution was... fairly poor. The new 'superhero' introduced was pretty much a one-dimensional stereotype, only very thinly padded out with any depth; and really coming off as markedly unintelligent at points, which really was a shame to see. The whole premise of him joining this 'team' was far off the mark; rather than a focus on personal tension and characterisation, the whole concept is seemingly swallowed up by what only seems like a rip-off of the X-Men or a similar such idea - except the misunderstood people are here all Black. Talking of which, and going back to ignorant stereotyping - guess what his reason for changing his mind to join this team is. Nope, it's not to help save lives, or to search for more

  • 9.5
    lizzy99 Oct 8, 2016

  • 9.0
    clevelandspur Nov 17, 2016

  • 7.5
    Josecab79 Dec 17, 2018

  • 7.0
    Pantheon36 May 27, 2017

  • 1.0
    darkfire369 Oct 7, 2016

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