REVIEW: Black AF: America's Sweetheart

In the world of Black Mask Studio“s “Black”“ only Black people have superhuman abilities. It“s an intriguing organizing principle for a superhero universe, one that deconstructs a wide range of sci-fi and superhero comics“ themes on race and racism. Before the arrival of “Black”“ and now “Black AF: America“s Sweetheart,”“ the most enduring popular treatment of/on race in comics thrived amongst the X-Men books. Genetic mutation has long been a metaphor for racial difference, but metaphors and analogies have limitations. Penned by Kwanza Osajyefo and drawn by Jennifer Johnson, “Black AF: America“s Sweetheart”“ centers the issue of race along the traditional coordinates of Black vs. White with some stunning results on the traditional superhero comic form. No racial metaphors or analogies needed.

Eli Franklin, the young protagonist of the series, is adopted, at a young age, by a white family in Helena Montana. As the world becomes aware of the fact that super-humanity is exclusive to Black people, Eli also becomes aware of her own abilities. She is super strong, invulnerable, and she can fly. Although this might seem over done in comics, her superhuman powers echoing those of Superman makes sense in many ways for the overall themes of the series. Plus it“s really cool to see a Black girl character reinvigorate the tired tropes of white male heroics.

Eli accepts the moniker “Good Girl”“ as she begins her career as a superhero. She“s a pop cultural hit initially, but her poll numbers and national likability begin to fade as American fear and racism take hold of a world where superhuman abilities become just another layer of our racial complex. The annoying superhero name, Eli“s patriotic mentality and costume; and even her racial naivete are all important fodder for the larger more interesting story that Osajyefo and Johnson are telling.

Eli doesn“t remain “America“s Sweetheart”“ even for this particular story arc. She can“t ”“ she“s a Black girl and no matter what she does, even in this fantasy world, her identity over-determines her fate. The “AF”“ in the title means exactly what you think it means and this books lives up to its name by looking American racism squarely in the face ”“ without blinking. That said, great story and amazing art are weighed down at times by unforced typos or editorial misses.

Jennifer Johnson“s artwork is crisp and stunning in some of the most epic battle scenes of the book. These scenes pit Good Girl against her older sister. Saying much more about this confrontation will spoil the read, but if the clichÃ©“s of the first half of the book ”“ name, superpowers, costume, racial naivete, etc ”“ sound discouraging, take solace in the fact that they are merely the setup for much larger and more important issues that “Black AF”“ will hopefully take up in the future ”“ our future and its own. 4/5

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Kwanza Osajyefo (A) Jennifer Johnson (CA) Sho Murase
Publisher: Black Mask Studios