"Super Savages and Sovereign Traces"

I went down to the University of Manitoba and conducted an interview about a course looking at Indigenous people in graphic novels. The course is called "Super Savages and Sovereign Traces: Introduction to Indigenous Graphic Novels."Comment:  The course uses Scalped, Cowboys & Aliens, and Tribal Force among other comics and graphic novels.

The video doesn't mention Peace Party or Blue Corn Comics--except in the image used to introduce the class. Based on that, I imagine Peace Party gets a few mentions in the class itself.

Niigaanwewidam Sinclair is the professor. I've talked to him a couple of times, and I helped him build the Mazinbiige comic-book collection. That collection came about after the class started, perhaps because the staff realized the need to have more comics on hand.

For more on Sinclair and his work, see "From Super-Chief to Tonto."

Indigenous Narratives Collective

I've reported on Arigon Starr's SUPER INDIAN before. Here's the latest from her:

A Chat With Arigon Starr, Creator of ‘Super Indian’ ComicsYou’re publishing a comic for free, online, in small installments, then selling a collection on paper—this is a model that would have been unfathomable to comics creators 15 years ago. How’s it working out—what advantages or disadvantages does this process offer?

Offering anything for free is a disadvantage. Your audience expects to get the print version for free, and that is not going to happen with Super Indian. This model is like those folks at Costco or Sam’s Club offering tasty bites in-store—then letting you know the full version is available for a price. The real test for a printed version of Super Indian was at the recent Phoenix Comic Con. It was gratifying to know there is still a segment of the audience that wants a printed book.

What the print version offers that is totally different from the free online webcomic is that you’ll see full pages of artwork, as opposed to the half-page version online. I also created special extras, including a series called “Real Super Indians” that feature spotlight art and biographies of Native superstars like Maria Tall Chief and Jim Thorpe.

It seems there are several interesting American Indian writers and artists producing comics today—do you have the sense there is a community of Native comics creators?

A resounding YES! There is now a group of Native comic creators called the “Indigenous Narratives Collective” (INC), a division of the non-profit group Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.

Jacques La Grange, who’s the creator of Shadow Wolf and a member of the San Carlos Apache tribe, worked hard to curate a “Natives in Comics” panel for two years running at the annual Phoenix Comic Con. At this year’s convention, we had a group booth that featured the newly designed INC logo created by Navajo comic artist/designer Jonathan Nelson. Also participating were Jon Proudstar (Tribal Force) and Ryan Huna Smith. The panel was a huge success that had a standing-room only audience that made a big impression on the Phoenix Comic Con organizers. We also had lots of Native community members attend the panel and stop by the booth who were thrilled, amazed and grateful we were out there being a voice for the people.

We are planning on taking a group of Native comic creators around the country to more Comic Conventions and will be hosting a free Native Comics Workshop at the Heard Museum in Phoenix on July 28th.Comment:  For more on Arigon Starr, see Bitch Media Interviews Arigon Starr and SUPER INDIAN Webcomic.

TRIBAL FORCE's hiatus explained

Jon Proudstar tells what happened to TRIBAL FORCE after he and Ryan Huna Smith published the first issue and then split up.

Rebooting the Force

Native superheroes' creator musters his powers for a comeback

By Cindy YurthSoon, the three created by actor/writer/filmmaker Jon Proudstar began haunting his dreams, demanding to be reincarnated.

"But I can't," he argued with them. "I'm just a writer. The man who drew you, Ryan Huna Smith, has gone his own way. I'm not an artist, and I have no money to hire one."

But Earth, Thunder Eagle and Little Big Horn would not be denied. Eventually, Proudstar picked up a pen and started drawing them himself.

"I was terrified," said Proudstar, now 44. "Ryan's such a good artist. I knew I couldn't make them look like he did. But one day I woke up and said, 'This is either going to be done or not, and if I wait around for somebody to help me out of the goodness of his heart--because I certainly can't pay anybody--then it's not.'"

So start watching for Tribal Force No. 2. It may be a while. It's being drawn, but Proudstar is still looking for the resources to actually publish it.

"It's tough, it's really tough," said the Yaqui/Jewish/Latino Tucson resident.

Sometimes he thinks back fondly to the late 1990s, when big corporations were offering him and Smith "ridiculous amounts of money" to buy Tribal Force. But Tribal Force, alas, was not for sale.

"We used sacred symbols in the book," Proudstar recalled. "And themes that the big publishers normally shy away from, like incest. Sexual molestation is epidemic on most of the reservations in this country. I don't want some publishing company to tell me, 'We love the concept, just lose the incest thing, OK?'"

Incest is an integral part of the backstory for Earth, a.k.a. mild-mannered law student Nita Nitaal Nakai.Comment:  With PEACE PARTY, I've faced a similar problem as a writer but not an artist. But it wouldn't occur to me to try drawing it myself. For one thing, I know I'm not good enough. For another, it would be easier and less time-consuming to get another job and pay someone to do it.

For more on TRIBAL FORCE, see TRIBAL FORCE #1 Teaser and New TRIBAL FORCE Cover.

TRIBAL FORCE #1 teaser

Jon Santaanta Proudstar's Photos--TRIBAL FORCE #1 TEASER

Comment:  The interior art looks better than the cover art. The story appears to pick up sometime after the end of the previous TRIBAL FORCE. Unless there's some sort of introduction, that's potentially confusing.

For more on the subject, see Comic Books Featuring Indians.

New TRIBAL FORCE cover

Jon Proudstar posted the cover for his new TRIBAL FORCE comic book on Facebook. The comments from fans included:thats awesome dude...great work!!! way to go!!!

NICE!!! =o)

Very IMPRESSIVE!! I can't wait for you to work on my tattoo!!
Keeps us posted on the progress! Congratulations!!

Very nice work man!!!

Comment:  Hmm. My thoughts were more along the lines of: Too busy. Hard to discern the figures. Needs work. Not ready to be published.

If it isn't obvious, I think the figure in the middle is supposed to be a super-skateboarder. The figure in the upper right has four arms, two in shadow. In the lower right are three light figures and two dark ones--perhaps villains. In the lower left is a Raven mask--perhaps a hero or a spirit guide for the heroes.

Will this cover be in color? Few people publish comics with black-and-white covers these days. But the black silhouettes and shapes suggest this may be it.

In contrast to the new TRIBAL FORCE cover, the old TRIBAL FORCE cover stands out. It's still too busy--especially the figure in the lower half--but it's vibrant. It appeals to the eyes.

The new logo is a step down too. It looks hand-drawn and squished. Unless he didn't own the rights to the old logo, I don't know why Proudstar would switch.

For more on the subject, see TRIBAL FORCE in Progress and Comic Books Featuring Indians.

Sheyahshe interviews Proudstar

IPI:  Indigenous Peeps in the Industry--05In this portion of IPI, we are fortunate to hear from Jon Proudstar, creator of Tribal Force, a comic book featuring Native American superheroes and a historic first for a Native-created comic books, as he shoots the bull with Michael Sheyahshe (me!).

MS: Background info: what is your tribal affiliation and where are you from?

JP: I am Yaqui, Jewish, and Mexican.

MS: Tell us more about the comics you've been working on; how did it all start / come about?

JP: My book is Tribal Force! It's the first all-Indian super hero comic in the history of the United States! I had always wanted to do an Indian comic book since I was a kid. I grew up in a heavily ethnic neighborhood. It wasn't till I was older that I realized all the heroes in comics where white. I began to contemplate what would happen if the heroes where Indian, Latino, or Black.

MS: Keeping in mind any of your other talents, what is your specialty?

JP: I am an Independent Film Director. My first film DUDE VISION won three awards. I am currently editing my first feature length film THE CHAOS EFFECT, a comedy about dating. Also have another project titled BARKING WATER which will open up at the Sundance Film Festival. This project was directed by Sterlin Harjo and Chad Burris. Both Natives, yay!

MS: What is your opinion about Indigenous characters in comics? Do you feel we portrayed properly?

JP: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I have always felt that Tim Truman's Scout has been one of the best portrayals of a Native [character]. Apache, to be more specific. The thing about portraying Native Americans when you're not Native is: it's an Indian thing. Most people in America have never met a Native, much less know one. It's like the Golden Rule of writing: "Write What You Know!" Duuuuhhh!

I feel most people who attempt to write about us are confined to what Hollywood has doled out about us. Hollywood tends to keep us in a historical, romanticized view. There are very few films that portray modern Natives in a realistic light. And even those portrayals are confined to a region. Most people think that all Indians are the same.

Guess what? We're not. We differ from Rez to Rez and Tribe to Tribe. There are 753 Independent Tribes in America...holy cow! I think most comic book creators are just to lazy to do the proper homework on us.

So what's the answer? From me, my opinion. Don't write about us. Let us handle the job. I am tired of being portrayed incorrectly by non-Natives. I am tired of seeing my peoples' ways and beliefs prostituted for the benefit of dramatic license.

What's the difference between Natives creating Native heroes and non-Natives [doing so]? It belongs to us. We finally have a voice, after 500 hundred-plus years of being suppressed and almost killed off. So let me be the first to say "BACK OFF!!" We are here and we will tell our own stories!Comment:  As the non-Native writer of PEACE PARTY, a multicultural comic book featuring Native Americans, I have to disagree with Proudstar's main point. Back off?! No, I don't think so.

Proudstar tells us he's part Yaqui. The Indians in TRIBAL FORCE are Apache, Navajo, and Lakota. Living close to Apaches and Navajos may have given Proudstar insight into their cultures, but there's no reason to think he knows the Lakota culture well.

His point is also my point. Because there are hundreds of Indian tribes and cultures, no one Indian can claim to know them all. It's ridiculous to think that Alaska's Yup'ik know Florida's Seminole, Maine's Penobscot know California's Kumeyaay, and so forth.

In TRIBAL FORCE, the Navajo hero has weather powers because Navajos are close to nature. The Lakota hero was born with fetal alcohol syndrome because Indians have a drinking problem. These are examples of how "deep" the Indian cultures run in Proudstar's comic.

Do the comics, then decide

My attitude is this: I've done tons of research on Indian cultures. I've met and talked to thousands of Indians. I work for a Native-owned business and write for Native-owned publications. I don't claim to know enough to write the Great Native American Novel, but I think that's enough for a few lightweight comic books.

Besides, what exactly is the problem here? My comics don't affect any Indian's ability to create his or her own comics. Assuming they're reasonably good, I'd say they help by whetting people's appetite for genuine Indian stories. Dances with Wolves opened the door for more authentic Indian portrayals and my comics should do the same.

Why don't we let the marketplace of ideas decide? You put out your Native-themed comic and I'll put out mine. Feel free to critique my work--to rip it to shreds if it's false and demeaning--and I'll do the same with yours. If I lose the debate--if Indians say your comic is good and mine is bad--I'll bow to their wisdom.

That hasn't happened yet. Most Indians who have read PEACE PARTY have liked it. Some educators have ordered copies to use in their Native classrooms. That's about the best endorsement I could ask for.

Thunderbird good, Peace Party bad?

Proudstar's position is inconsistent, to say the least. He admires Chris Claremont's Thunderbird and Tim Truman's Scout, though both were created by non-Natives. He even named himself after John "Thunderbird" Proudstar.

What, he couldn't find a Yaqui hero to name himself after? Instead, he appropriated an inauthentic Apache name chosen by a white writer? Can you say "mixed message"?

Proudstar notes that even "realistic" portrayals of Indians are "confined to a region." I presume he means the Great Plains or possibly the Southwest. That's ironic considering his heroes come from the Great Plains and the Southwest and the action takes place in South Dakota.

Sure, Natives have produced good Native-themed comics: DARKNESS CALLS and AN INVITED THREAT, TALES OF THE CHEROKEE, A HERO'S VOICE and DREAMS OF LOOKING UP. But non-Natives have also produced good Native-themed comics: COMANCHE MOON, SITTING BULL, RELENTLESS PURSUIT. And Natives have also produced some mediocre to poor Native-themed comics. (No names, but longtime Blue Corn Comics readers know who they are.)

There are no hard and fast rules here. I agree that more Natives should create their own comics. And I agree that non-Natives like me should tread carefully. That's what I'm doing, Jon, believe me.

For more on the subject, see Comic Books Featuring Indians.