Amplify Black Voices: GoComics cartoonists
AMU’s affiliate site GoComics is home to hundreds of comics. The list below are strips from Black cartoonists and currently available on GoComics. Some of the strips are in reruns and some are producing new content.
If you’ve ever struggled to turn your cell phone off, thought cookies were just a delicious snack and tried in vain to talk to a human customer service rep, Charles Boyce has created a strip for you. Compu-toon reminds us that technological innovations haven’t necessarily made our lives any easier — maybe just more funny.
Poorcraft is the essential guide to practical frugality! Whether you’re new to independent living, a recent college graduate or downshifting to a simpler lifestyle, Poorcraft can help you with everything from finding a home to finding a hobby, dinner to debt relief, education to entertainment.
When Wee Pals was first created, bringing Black characters to the comics’ pages was by no means an easy task. In 1965, only five major newspapers published the strip. It was not until 1968 — and the tragic assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. — that Wee Pals achieved nationwide acceptance. Within three months of King’s death, the strip was appearing in over 100 newspapers nationwide.
Little Fried Chicken and Sushi by Khalid Birdsong
When Karl moves to Japan with his family and finds a magical raccoon spirit, fitting into a new life becomes even more challenging. Join the adventure as we discover that living in Japan ain’t easy but it sure can be fun!
Nate Creekmore’s Maintaining looks at the oddities of life through the eyes of an interracial teenager. The cast includes Marcus, the hero of the strip, and a biracial high school student who is not quite sure of himself or the world. Marcus is trying to make sense out of the craziness around him. Anton, his best friend, is a bit of a cynic but still too young to be jaded.
Watch Your Head by Cory Thomas
Watch Your Head chronicles the lives of six students attending Oliver Otis University. The strip is told largely through the eyes of Cory, a freshman who is academically brilliant and socially awkward, especially with girls. His first friend at Otis U. is Omar, a recluse who some suspect is tied umbilically to his computer. Quincy, Omar’s friend (and therefore Cory’s friend by default), seems primarily to be studying women and fun and rarely has a serious moment. Kevin is a foreigner times two, one of the few whites on the predominantly black campus, and Canadian to boot. Robin is the object of Cory’s crush, the woman who leaves him befuddled and tongue-tied. Jason is Cory’s roommate and polar opposite.
Meet Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks: Huey and Riley Freeman, Jazmine DuBois and Huey’s best friend, Caesar. This comic strip reflects the racial diversity and complexity of our world. Combining Huey’s childish antics with contemporary political and social satire, the strip explores the terrain where dashikis and Brand Nubian CDs meet The Gap and Hanson.
Darrin Bell’s Candorville is an insightful look at family, community and race through the eyes of Lemont Brown, a young black writer. Bell pulls no punches and delves into even the most controversial of issues. The wit and humor of the strip will draw you in.
Rudy Park by Darrin Bell and Theron Heir
Rudy Park is the barista at the House of Java, where everybody not only knows your name but is all up in your grill. Rudy, a dot-com casualty whose paycheck never recovered, is addicted to high-tech gadgetry. While caffeine-fueled House of Java customers vie for the “Who Can Annoy Rudy the Most” crown, Rudy’s boss — the always-do-well-but-ne’er-do-good owner of House of Java — always wins.
The Knight Life by Keith Knight
A deft blend of goofy humor and political insight, The Knight Life is a hilariously twisted view of life through the eyes and pen of its creator, community-activist and multi- award-winning cartoonist Keith Knight.
A snapshot of current events drawn by cartoonist Keith Knight, tackling the political and social issues impacting communities of color.
The K Chronicles is a weekly, semi-autobiographical comic strip based on the life of cartoonist/rapper/ne’er-do-well Keith Knight. Fresh, sharp, topical and edgy, the strip offers a strange and hilariously twisted view of the world through the eyes and pen of your average, African-American male. The K Chronicles threatens to bring the funny back to the funny pages.
JumpStart, Heart of the City and Crabgrass are also available on GoComics. They were featured in a previous post about Syndication.