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.
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.
Greetings Dieselfunkateers! A very quick update on the upcoming release of MATTY’S ROCKET 3: UNEXPECTED GUESTS. Work is closing out on the story and I must say, I feel it’s my best work yet.
EXTRA EXTRA!! Matty’s Rocket issues 1 and 2 will be REISSUED very shortly with BRAND NEW CONTENT. Amongst that content I am introducing:
CAPTAIN BATTLE.
Take a bit of Sam Battle, the First Black New York Police Department Officer
Greetings Dieselfunkateers! Well I guess the Cat is Out the BAG. The Dieselfunk Crew will be taking the DIESELFUNK SHOW to the FIRST Annual SOUTH BY SOUTH LAWN at the WHITEHOUSE. Jim and I look forward to doing our GLOGGING THING. We are so thankful to have been nominated and selected for such an honor.
Ohhhh, just the possibility of drawing the President or First Lady…Ohhhh…No PRESSURE:-)
BLACKJACK RAPID READS! Greetings Dieselfunkateers! This is a wonderful Birthday Gift. I’ve been grinding full time the last few months and have barely had a moment to think too much of the projects I’ve completed because i’m feverishly on to the next. When I made my transition back into the comic industry a few years ago I had no idea that Alexander Simmons’ creation, BLACKJACK “aka Arron Day’, would have such a profound effect on my personal and professional career. Beyond the graphic novel I illustrated, ‘Blackjack: There Came A Dark Hunter’, I’ve done tons of individual and sequential pieces on this wonderful character.
Coming out this fall are 4 books by Alexander Simmons and Chris Ryan within the Blackjack Adventures world I had the privilege of creating the cover art for. While I ain’t James Bama or John Berkey, I certainly am giving it my best shot!
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