By Aria Brent
AFRO Staff Writer
abrent@afro.com
It’s no secret that inclusion is important. People in marginalized and minority communities often grow up seeing few toys, television characters or book plots that depict them in a positive light or reflect aspects of their lives. However, with the emergence of television shows like Netflix’s “Luke Cage,” the CW’s “Black Lightning,” and Marvel’s “Black Panther” installments, there have been more opportunities for Black comic fans to see these characters come to life.
Even with more Black comic characters making their way off the page and into the world of film and television, there’s still more representation to be made.
That’s where Aaron Curtis Jr. enters the conversation.
Curtis is an artist from Waldorf, Md., who recognized the need for more diverse stories to be told. Now, he’s bridging that gap with his very first comic “Solu to the Rescue.”
“I want people to be able to see themselves,” said Curtis. “We deal with such tough lives and you see so much stuff. Art is a way for people to escape,”Curtis said. “But it’s hard when you might be of a certain background and you don’t see yourself. It makes you feel isolated from the world…like you don’t exist.”
Curtis noted that his life-long interest in comics is what made him want to become an author. Much like his ability to recognize the need for more diversity in the world of comics, he also recognized the need for a storyline that resonates with people his age.
He explained that his new story is about highlighting issues many young adults face in today’s time.
“A lot of comics start off with people from their city and they’re a genius– or it’s a kid from extreme circumstances, but this story takes on more of what life is like at the age of 25 and the dynamics of the economy: still living at home, dealing with a job you don’t like and moving forward, wanting to actually push something on the world and be part of something,” he said “It’s a more realistic look at comics and what the young adult generation is going through.”
The comic book connoisseur’s passion for creating storylines based in reality is shared by many Black comic authors. David F. Walker, a veteran comic writer and novelist, shared similar sentiments to Curtis, regarding the importance of creating Black characters.
“Everyone deserves to see characters that they can relate to on a personal level, because the abstract is not enough,” said Walker. “I grew up at a time when there were very few characters that looked or acted like me, and so I decided to start creating characters and stories that I had always wanted to see.”
The idea of creating the change you want to see is timeless and will continue to inspire writers of all backgrounds to create narratives that reflect the lives of marginalized groups. Walker noted that the future of Black comics lies in the hands of both the writers and the fans.
“The future depends on both creators and fans. The creators need to push themselves to make the best comics they can, and to think outside the box creatively,” Walker said. “The fans need to support these creators. The growth and evolution of Black comics can only happen when creators decide to create work that is original, compelling, and speaks a truth that cannot be denied.”
Curtis assured this comic is just the first of many, explaining that plans to continue this series and also create other comics that will focus on his other interests.
“I’m really big on romance, so I definitely want to make a romance comic or something of that nature,” he told the AFRO. “I want to drop all the comics and finish season one more or less by the end of next year. It’s going to be about five to six books and then, from there, we’re going to see how it goes.”
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