It was nice to have a change of scenery and return to the D’urville District of Pointe Blanc. It’s a standard Blaxploitation trope for the hero to visit a group of Black revolutionaries, and usually they are practicing martial arts. However, if Rashid’s words seem to contradict the action being displayed, that’s intentional, because Rashid’s organization will be a major factor in the next story arc, and we won’t be certain if they are everything they appear to be. Meanwhile, Rashid will be able to provide something Pastor needs to effect his revenge on the remaining members of the Thrill-Seekers.
By the way, I had a lot of fun drawing Rashid’s dashiki. It was nice to draw a new article of clothing, particularly one with so much interesting detail.
- JEP
wow, it is good to be back in the city. the last time i remember it is when Pastor was giving flying lessons….LOL i wanna dashiki…i’d rock a turtleneck under it. the detailing is good. and why did brutha’s always wanna learn martial arts?!
I like your use of language in this strip: White cats, People’s Fist, brother, etc. It sets a nice tone for the characters.
Mr. Man-
I might just use that “flying lessons” line later on. Y’know, in my original sketch, Rashid was wearing a long sleeve shirt underneath the dashiki, but for some reason, I left it out of the inks. Although I had the basic set-up for this strip planned for a while, it wasn’t until I listened to the commentary track on the Black Dynamite DVD where Michael Jai White mentioned the recurring visual of revolutionaries practicing karate, that I decided to add the panel with the guys doing the basic katas. There was even a line I had to take out for space considerations where the instructor says, “Bring that elbow in, Brother Charles,” as a reference to one of the more lurid, and infamous, Blaxploitation films Welcome Home, Brother Charles aka Soul Vengeance.
- JEP
Guess Who-
Y’know, even when I’m not completely happy with the art, I usually end up liking the dialogue. Not to say I didn’t like the art in this one, but it was just an observation.
- JEP
The page with the “flying lesson” is by far my favourite one yet… I love that panel. SPLAT went that Suckah.
I blame the whole Brothers practicing Karate craze on Enter the Dragon and the then Kung Fu craze at the local grindhouses.
Once Jim Kelly appeared on screen, the ‘Fro and Gi made us all run off to our local Tae Kwon Do dojo for some righteous Butt Kicking lessons.
Also a lot of Brothers were coming home from Nam with more than a little familiarity with the martial arts and it just took off from there.
Ahhhhh, the 70’s–crazy times. And a very nice artistic touch, Jay
Jay, I just read the strips all the way through from the beginning. Absolutely amazing! When I grow up, I want to be Pastor.
EXCELLENT work on the first panel; perspective is the bane to many comic artists, but it’s done wonderfully here!
really like the last panel. snappy dressing there. snappy dressing.
Mr. Patton-
Actually that makes perfect sense, particularly martial arts being introduced by returning vets. When I was creating the strip, I heard about a form of martial arts that had its origins among Black prison inmates called “52 Blocks.” I thought about Pastor using that style, but it would have required some kind of prison background, which I was attempting to avoid.
Thanks for the insight, Mr. Patton. It’s always good to hear from you.
- JEP
Charlie C.-
I thought you were?!
- JEP
Enjoying the ride and speaking of which, you gotta work a train ride in, as that seems to be a favorite place for baddies, in helicopters with M-16’s to hang precariously out of, and great fight scenes on top of, approaching tunnels, racing along side to get on board, valuable shipment, runaway trains, a la Death Journey, Silver Streak, Train Ride To Hollywood, Bond, etc.
Seems like trains had planes beat for possibilities in the 70’s.