Indian comics in Montclair exhibit

Actual comics and labels included in the Montclair's new exhibit: Reflecting Culture:  The Evolution of American Comic Book Superheroes:1. R. M. Guera (artist), Jason Aaron (writer)
Scalped #1 (Vertigo Comics, March 2007)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This comic book features a Sopranos-style story about corruption, drugs and organized crime on a fictitious Indian Reservation. It is an example of negative stereotyping of Indians as illiterate, unlawful savages.

2. Dimi Macheras (artist), Ishmael Hope (writer)
Strong Man (Association of Alaska School Boards, February 2007)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

The story is based on a traditional Tlingit Hero Tale, which is combined with the life story of a typical contemporary Alaska Native teenager.

3. Steven Keewatin Sanderson (writer and artist)
Darkness Calls (The Healthy Aboriginal Network, November 2006)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This comic book is a resource on suicide prevention for youth, visual learners, and hard- to- reach populations in Canada. It tells the story of a troubled adolescent who finds meaning and importance in his life through the traditions of his people.

4. Steve Premo (cover artist), Cindy Goff and Steve Premo (writers)
A Hero’s Voice (The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, 1996)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This comic book tells the story of six Ojibwe leaders who have shaped the history of the Mille Lacs Band in Northern Minnesota.

5. Daniel Acuna (artist), Justin Gray (writer), Jimmy Palmiotti (writer)
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #3, Enter Black Condor (DC Comics, November 2006)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This issue deals with the origin and introduction of a new Black Condor who was given his powers by Tocotl, a Mayan Spider Goddess, and includes some Navajo history.

6. Ron Fattoruso (pencils), Mike Kelleher (inks), Rob Schmidt (writer)
Peace Party #1: Beginnings (Blue Corn Comics, 1999)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This is a multicultural comic book featuring two young Native American heroes who fight everything from prejudice and pollution to supervillians and the supernatural.

7. J. Scott Campbell (artist), Jim Lee and Brandon Choi (writers)
Gen 13: The Magical Mystery Tour (Image Comics, 1995)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

The main character of this comic book is Sarah Rainmaker who can influence local weather systems and control lightning. She is Apache and bisexual.

8. Ron Frenz (penciler), Joe Sinnott (inker), Buzz Dixon (writer)
NFL Superpro #6, Iced (Marvel Comics, March 1992)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This comic book caused much controversy at the Pueblo of Hopi. The plot features two groups of Hopis, the “hostiles” who advocate isolationism and the “friendlies” who want to deal with the outside world. There are also Mafia thugs disguised as Katsinas, the sacred spirits of the Hopi Tribe. Marvel, under pressure from the Hopi Tribe agreed to recall the comic, but by the time this happened, seventy-seven thousand copies had been released.

9. Shea Anton Pensa (artist), Mike Baron (writer)
The Butcher #1 (DC Comics, May 1990)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

This is from a five-part mini-series, which has the hero, John Butcher, a Lakota Indian, teaming up with Green Arrow, Black Canary, the Question and Tsunami to fight injustice and organized crime.

10. Chris Claremont (writer), Bob McLeod (penciler), Mike Gustovich (inker)
The New Mutants #3: Nightmare (Marvel Comics, May 1983)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

One of the featured characters is Danielle Moonstar, a Cheyenne who can create visual empathic three-dimensional illusions. The New Mutants is the name of two defunct Marvel Comics superhero teams, and features teen-aged superheroes.

11. John Byrne (artist and creator)
Alpha Flight #1 (Marvel Comics, August 1983)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art Museum

Alpha Flight is a Marvel Comics superhero team, whose members have distinctly Canadian attributes, including Inuit or First Nations heritage. Most of the story-lines are heavily influenced by Native American stories.

12. John Buscema (artist), Tom Palmer (inker), Roy Thomas (writer)
The Avengers #80: The Coming of Red Wolf (Marvel Comics, September 1970)
Collection of the Le Brun Library, Montclair Art MuseumComment:  This text is what appears in the exhibit. It contains a few mistakes that I didn't try to correct.

As one example, Ron Fattoruso and Mike Kelleher did the interior art for PEACE PARTY #1, but not the cover. I drew the cover myself and someone named Vandal inked it.

You can read about most of these comics at Comic Books Featuring Indians.