The Spectre Goes Black: Buy this Comic

Eric Battle, fellow Philadelphian, comic book geek and Negro, has been given the job of a lifetime: drawing one of DC Comics’ central characters in a modern redesign. That character is The Spectre, and it’s one that has been central to the mythology of the DC Comics storyline over the years. It’s a huge break for him; when you do a book for a central character, all the fans see it, many of them buy it, and it’s the key to fame and fortune in this niche industry. The title is called Tales of the Unexpected, and will run eight issues.

The Spectre is also one of many recent re-imaginings in which the character is converted from a white male into something else (in this case a black one). It’s a long overdue attempt by the comics industry to catch up with the multiculturalization of American media and mythology over the last 30 years. I’m planning on putting together a lecture on the subject, and will put parts of that up here. For now, check out a pdf sample of Eric’s Spectre.