Greetings Dieselfunkateers! Decades ago I embarked on the mission to produce a character that would embody the spirit of adventure, fun, and drama. Well actually, I’ve always tried to do that with every character I do. I grew up looking at Superman, Batman, Buck Rogers, Star Wars. As a child of the 60s-70s I had my heroes that allowed me to wonder. But I oftentimes wondered what those of my parents generation and earlier had as lighthouses of valor? Did they have a Flash Gordon or a Rocketman? Sadly, the answer was NO. Representation of people of color was systemically depicted in the most stereotypical fashion; if at all. When it came to genre’s such as Science Fiction and Action Adventure, there was literally no representation at all; with only obscure exceptions. Black and Brown boys and girls, let alone men and women, could not see themselves in outer space. Upon the arrival of the 1960-70s things would begin to slowly change. There was Lt. Uhura and Lando Calrissian. But they often seemed alone…literally the only black people in space. In the remote chance they were present, they would die at the hands of the alien or monster…just before the credits rolled or our comic came to an end. More regressive was the depiction of female characters in an over-sexualized state. This is and still remains rampant in comics. In a crazed yet equal way, the mysogyny of female characters are not bound by color or ethnicity. Nothing more sobering and insidious than seeing our earth mother heroine wearing a thong. There would be no escape for us.
But…Perhaps it didn’t have to be that way?
Matty’s Rocket is designed to go beyond such limitations while acknowledging our past history. No doubt this story is designed specifically for women of color but the universality of the themes aspire to connect with everyone.
BIG NEWS coming up shortly. Stand by!