Black Images in the Comics

Adult/High School--Noble savage, Uncle Tom, Mammy--these are just three of the stereotypical images of African Americans that Stromberg examines in this insightful book. The author tends to allow the artwork to speak for itself; his commentary primarily provides historical and cultural context and, in general, does not set out to impart a specific agenda. A single illustration appears opposite commentary that provides editorial context. The images are drawn primarily from the daily strips of newspapers, although a few notable exceptions like the X-Men and R. Crumb´s Angelfood McSpade come from comic books. The collection opens with an unsigned political cartoon from 19th-century England that displays some of the horrendous treatment black slaves endured. It moves along chronologically to icons from the 1930s like Otto Messmer´s Felix the Cat to contemporary strips like Aaron McGruder´s The Boondocks. Lesser-known works from around the world are also included. Stromberg is startlingly objective in his comments on the images and their cultural significance. Only a handful of artists cause him to step outside this editorial objectivity and praise them for their work. These few include Charles Schulz (Peanuts) and Berkeley Breathed (Bloom County, The Outland), who, in the author´s perspective, ignored the stereotype and created strong, memorable characters that happened to be black. The book presents a unique look at the evolution of comics, but it also proves comics to be an effective and sobering lens for viewing the history of racism toward blacks.