BLACK SUPER HERO UNIVERSES
Superhero Universes That Make DC And Marvel Look Basic
Jason Wilkins – August 7, 2017
THE DAKOTAVERSE
Milestone Comics debuted in 1993, founded by a collective of African-American comics creators who wished to increase the profile of minorities in the medium. Centered in the fictional city of Dakota, Milestone’s universe was populated with a refreshing mix of heroes from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Although perhaps best known for the creation of the teen hero Static, the Dakotaverse, as it came to be known, also featured powerful mystery men such as Hardware, Icon and the Blood Syndicate.
Plotlines tended to be grounded in the here-and-now, featuring stories that dealt with a wide range of social issues, including white-washing, racism and gang violence. Despite initial success, the Dakotaverse ended up as one of many failed independent superhero universe born in the ‘90s.
Far ahead of its time, the Dakotaverse remains an important step in the representation of visible minorities in comics, a trend Marvel and DC are only now embracing.
Black Publishers Launch Superbattle For Comic Book Heroes
Shelia M. Poole – April 18,1993 • Chicago Tribune
ANIA, an association of four black publishers-Atlanta’s Dark Zulu Lies Comics Inc., Africa Rising in San Jose, Calif., UP Comics in Greensboro, N.C., and Afro Centric Comic Books in New York-will attempt to tap more of that market by offering its books to retailers, such as comic book shops, and eventually on newsstands
Catalyst Prime Creators Explain Why This Superhero Universe is Unique
St Louis, Missouri-based publisher Lion Forge Comics launched the start of a shared superhero universe known as “Catalyst Prime” this past May with a Free Comic Book Day one-shot issue co-written by Christopher Priest and senior editor Joe Illidge (known to CBR readers as the writer of “The Mission” column), with art from Marco Turini and Jessica Kholine.
Local comics creator seeks funds for new universe centered on superheroes of color
Tyler Dague – August 24, 2016 • Pittsburgh City Paper
“I want to produce positive role models.”
David Chaucer La Forest
Name five black superheroes from Marvel or DC Comics. It’s pretty difficult for those not steeped in comic-book lore. David Chaucer La Forest wants to change that. He has founded Asani Entertainment to focus on a new superhero universe, inclusive of all but examined through the lens of characters of color.
Asani’s first goal is to publish a graphic novel called Origins of the Asaniverse. The venture hosts a Kickstarter launch party at the August Wilson Center on Aug. 25. The party, which will feature a costume contest and a presentation by La Forest, is aimed at raising at least 30 percent of the $45,000 needed for the first novel.
A businessman, writer and military veteran, La Forest grew up in St. Clair Village, a Pittsburgh housing project completely razed by 2010. Surrounded by crime and poverty, La Forest found his escape in pop culture and, especially, comic books. While studying at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, he experienced an epiphany through an unlikely source.
La Forest, 51, saw the 1984 TV movie The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins, a Walter Mitty-esque story about an African-American boy, played by Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman, and his elaborate fantasies of heroism. All of the heroes he aspired to in the movie were white.
After studying film at Pitt and serving in the military, La Forest decided to devote his resources to creating a new superhero community that reflected American diversity. “I want to produce positive role models,” says La Forest. “Now that we have proved we can go ‘Pow!’ and ‘Bang!’ and do CGI, can we use superheroes to show how we can be more human, talking about real issues affecting real people?”
Pending the success of the crowdfunding campaign and Origins of the Asaniverse, La Forest intends to expand into a series of fantasy, science-fiction and horror graphic novels, each with its own characters. He hopes to branch into film and TV and even compete with giants Marvel and DC.
“When you have 80-year histories, you also have 80 years of baggage,” La Forest says. “We try to create new characters that resonate with today’s audiences and reflect today’s mores.”
If the Kickstarter reaches its funding goal, he expects to release Origins of the Asaniverse by the year’s end.
