02/19/2026
For Black History Month, I want to highlight a few books from my personal collection that celebrate the contributions of Black comic book creators - the pioneers and the storytellers of this culture.
First up: Graphic Samurai: The Art of Denys Cowan, edited by Michael Stradford.
This book doesn’t just showcase Cowan’s incredible artwork, it gives you insight into his legacy through interviews with creators like David Walker, Joseph Illidge, Trevor Von Eeden, and more. It’s a masterclass in craft and influence.
Next is The Invisible Men by Ken Quattro.
This book shines a light on Black cartoonists from the 1930s through the 1960s creators whose names were often left out of mainstream history. Quattro dives deep, not just into their careers, but into their personal lives and the challenges they faced breaking into the industry.
Before there was Milestone… there was All-Negro Comics.
Chris Robinson reprinted this historic 1947 comic in a beautiful hardcover edition. It’s proof that we’ve always been telling our own stories, even when the industry tried to ignore us.
Then there’s Black Comix and Black Comix Returns, curated by John Jennings and Damian Duffy.
These books highlight a powerful wave of independent Black comic creators. What makes them special is that many of these voices weren’t waiting for permission. They built their own platforms and published on their own terms.
And continuing that mission, George Carmona III, Joe Illidge, and Dimitrios Fragiskatos created Access: The Guide to Black Comic Book Creators.
They were tired of hearing, “Where do we find Black creators?”
The answer? Right here.
These are just a few gems from my collection.
If you’ve got recommendations, drop them in the comments.
