Black Mask Studios 2016
Written by Kwanza Osajyefo
Illustrated by Jamal Igle
Art Assists by Steven Walker
Inked by Robin Riggs
Tones by Patricia Daguisan & TS3
Lettered by Dave Sharpe
Kareem is on the run from Juncture and his team, stumbling through the bowels of The Project. Will his quest to find the truth about a world where only black people have superpowers be more than he bargained for?
While i’m thoroughly enjoying this series I do have a little problem. If I used half the words in this i’d be labeled a racist or inappropriate and while I get why it’s a huge double standard. I’m not a fan of the “N” word even when used among themselves in my mind I get taking it from a negative to a positive and owning it but seeing these words as often throughout and saying these are words you cannot use but we can bothers me. The prolific use of “street language” or the “black accent” again feels like another way of saying we’re separate and have no desire to part of the larger world community. Words are powerful and while the story itself is strong and sends a message is it one that you fully intend to send from all angles?
Karrem is one of the best character creations i’ve seen in quite some time. Powerful and insecure and struggling to find his way and get the honest answers to his questions. He’s a great role model for EVERYONE and he continues to shine here.
I will say I do like how “the man” is portrayed here. The Project isn’t being honest and those that have been recruited haven’t been questioning what’s happening they seem to blindly follow and that’s not Kareem’s way. So are the prisoners those who are deemed too dangerous to be free or is there a mix of those who also won’t get with the program like Kareem? Either way I like the portrayal of the characters here. We get some incredibly solid characterisation from everyone we encounter from major player to guest shot.
Love the interior artwork here Jamal is doing. The use of page layouts with their angles, perspective and attention to detail is pretty amazing. Jamal infuses so much emotion into the faces and facial expressions of these characters and you can see that range beautifully here. His use of both the city and the Project as characters is something he does so well and that many others don’t think to do.
I do like the fact that both factions after Kareem think he’s both dangerous and the key to their success but we have no clear reason why. That we are learning this alongside him is fantastic to me and the more we see him use his powers and discover himself the more my fascination with him grows.
Edgy, interesting and a great take on the action, almost spy, thriller.