The First Black Superhero-The Black Panther

The Black Panther was the very first black superhero in mainstream comic books. Created by Stan Lee (writer) and Jack Kirby (artist), for Marvel Comics; he made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #52.

He was the king of a small African nation (Wakanda); a position he gained after much training, after his father, King T'Chaka was slain. The Black Panther's real name was T'Challa.

He eventually had many crossover adventures with other Marvel superheroes from the U.S.A., until ultimately, he joined the superhero group, The Avengers; (The Avengers #52); an affiliation which lasted for many years. He made many shifts between the U.S. and his home nation of Wakanda. He also married his  love interest, Ororo Munroe (the super-heroine Storm, who was part of the X-Men).

The Black Panther got his first solo feature in Jungle Action #5, which lasted through issue #24. He then received his own comic book "The Black Panther", which lasted for 15 issues and was drawn by his original artist; the great Jack Kirby. He endures to this day, through many comic book series.

His abilities included superhuman senses,strength, speed, stamina, reflexes, agility, genius level intelligence, as well as hunting, tracking and combat skills (enhanced by a heart-shaped herb from his home nation).

The Definitive Daredevil-Gene Colan Art

Marvel's character Daredevil has had many artists over the years, since his creation in the 1960's, but no artist captured him or his essence like---Gene Colan. Colan first began drawing Daredevil in issue #20. His artistic reign would carry on steadily through #154 (with a few exceptions). He would also see a short revival between the issues of#363-370. Daredevil was considered Gene's signature character, although he drew many others (Iron-Man,Dr. Strange, Dracula, and even Batman, to name a few).

I was first introduced to Gene Colan's Daredevil with issue #21, in a classic confrontation with the Owl.Even as a kid, I was very taken by the artwork. Gene was able to fully convey Daredevil's athleticism and twisting acrobatics in a way that no one else had captured or has captured to this day. His version of Daredevil would pull you into the (abundant) action with sweep and grace. This would carry on through all his works.An excellent example of this was portrayed during the Daredevil / Black Widow team era, which began in Daredevil #81. Gene gave his version of the Black Widow, beauty and sleek, athletic grace.

Gene Colan's version of Daredevil will always be the one that I remember. You owe it to yourself to check it out!!!

The Savage World of "The Warlord"

The Warlord (DC Comics) was an excellent fantasy/sword & sorcery series, which was created in 1975, by Mike Grell, Cary Burkett and Michael Fleisher. Mike Grell also served as the artist throughout the original series (133 issues,1975-1989). Grell's artwork was consistently fresh and exciting, rippling with muscular warrior men; beautiful,scantly-dressed warrior women; blazing swordplay; flaming sorcery; and a host of savage creatures. The series was similar in some ways to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar books, but full of a freshness and originality all it's own.

The Warlord (Travis Morgan) was a Vietnam era U.S. fighter pilot, who crash-landed through a hole in the Earth into the darkly, dangerous underground world called Skartaris. Armed with his 44 magnum and soon a sword, Travis became The Warlord. Shortly, he met Tara, a beautiful warrior woman, who would become his love interest. He also was soon joined by Machiste, a dark, mighty warrior, and Shakira,another tough female warrior. The Warlord's chief nemesis was a sorcerer named Deimos, who he encountered many times in his adventures.

1st appearance-"1st Issue Special #8, Nov. 1975; continuing into his own original series "The Warlord",#1-133. The Warlord was also revived for two more series (the last of which he was killed, and replaced by his son). He made an appearance in an episode of the animated TV series "Justice League Unlimited" and had a limited action figure set.

I would highly recommend seeking out issues of Mike Grell's original series of "The Warlord". You'll have a richly rewarding experience, filled with amazing adventure.

The Mysterious Black Canary

Black Canary is a beautiful, intriguing heroine, who got her start back in the 1940's. She was introduced in Flash Comics #86 in the Johnny Thunder as a sleek,lovely jewel thief (who it is revealed later was infiltrating a criminal gang). She got her feature in Flash Comics #92 as a heroine who was an expert at hand-to-hand combat who worked with her love interest, detective Larry Lance, while as alter-ego Dinah Drake, owned a floral shop.

Black Canary was revived in the 1960's in Justice League Of America comics as a member of the Justice Society, who resided on Earth-Two. She was now married to Larry Lance and appeared annually in the JLA-JSA team-ups in the pages of Justice League Of America comics.

Her life took a fateful turn in the 1969 JLA-JSA team-up, when her husband Larry sacrificed his life to save her from Aquarius. Out of grief, Black Canary moved to Earth-One and joined the Justice League. She also had gained an ultra-sonic scream (canary cry) through radiation. She also began a long standing (on-off) relationship with The Green Arrow.

Black Canary has undergone a vast amount of changes and re-vamps over the years. In the 1980's, she is revealed to actually be the daughter of the original Black Canary and Larry Lance, who apparently both died at the hands of Aquarius.She gained a new secret identity (Dinah Laurel-Lance)

She has been part of several super-groups (Justice Society, Justice League and Birds Of Prey, mainly).

Black Canary has been featured in many animated series as well as several live-action TV series and specials (Legends of the Superheroes,Birds of Prey,Smallville, and currently Arrow).

She remains to this day, a sexy, sleek, mysterious super-heroine in our current pop culture.