When I google "first black comic strip character", I get... The first major Black character in the comics was in Cartoonist Lee Falk's adventure comic strip Mandrake the Magician, which featured the African supporting character Lothar from its 1934 debut on.
I think Sambo deserves some recognition as one of the early OG. He got over on those bullies more then he didn't and he was featured in a lot of Newspapers to boot.
I wonder where Google sent you that offered up an answer as patently idiotic as that.
Lothar in Mandrake was far, far, far from being the first black characters in comics. What Lothar might be able to claim is to be the first black character in comics running in white-run newspapers that was not portrayed primarily as a negative stereotype.
Although running around in a leopard skin, wearing a fez and speaking broken English make even that a highly questionable claim.
A lot of these websites share data as I've read the same about Lothar in at least three sites. I've been trying to get more info on Sambo as I'm trying to piece together a collection, Some of his early pages appeared in Indianapolis Centennial The Detroit News Tribune San Francisco Chronicle Syracuse Herald Indianapolis Sunday Star The Sunday Star (DC) Galveston Daily News Tacoma Sunday Ledger The Boston Sunday Post
There's so little information on these early comic strips. Don't know why the Golden Age of comics gets all the glory while neglecting all the beautiful full page work done before it. I'm glad to have found your website.
I thought your book was bought but was mistaken. Do I have to buy from Amazon or can I buy directly from you? Contact me at rwlisiura@yahoo.com, not gmail.
When I google "first black comic strip character", I get...
ReplyDeleteThe first major Black character in the comics was in Cartoonist Lee Falk's adventure comic strip Mandrake the Magician, which featured the African supporting character Lothar from its 1934 debut on.
I think Sambo deserves some recognition as one of the early OG. He got over on those bullies more then he didn't and he was featured in a lot of Newspapers to boot.
I wonder where Google sent you that offered up an answer as patently idiotic as that.
ReplyDeleteLothar in Mandrake was far, far, far from being the first black characters in comics. What Lothar might be able to claim is to be the first black character in comics running in white-run newspapers that was not portrayed primarily as a negative stereotype.
Although running around in a leopard skin, wearing a fez and speaking broken English make even that a highly questionable claim.
A lot of these websites share data as I've read the same about Lothar in at least three sites. I've been trying to get more info on Sambo as I'm trying to piece together a collection, Some of his early pages appeared in
ReplyDeleteIndianapolis Centennial
The Detroit News Tribune
San Francisco Chronicle
Syracuse Herald
Indianapolis Sunday Star
The Sunday Star (DC)
Galveston Daily News
Tacoma Sunday Ledger
The Boston Sunday Post
There's so little information on these early comic strips. Don't know why the Golden Age of comics gets all the glory while neglecting all the beautiful full page work done before it. I'm glad to have found your website.
Well, you could get my book ...
ReplyDeleteIt's on order. Can't wait for the CD.
ReplyDeleteI thought your book was bought but was mistaken. Do I have to buy from Amazon or can I buy directly from you? Contact me at rwlisiura@yahoo.com, not gmail.
ReplyDeleteBook is out of print. Can usually be found on Amazon or Ebay. Sorry, I don't have any extra copies.
ReplyDeleteAre there two printings of the book and if there is, is the second more complete? Thanks...
ReplyDeleteOne edition/printing, University of Michigan Press, 2012.
ReplyDelete