That dude David Walker talks Shaft, Black Superheroes, and diversity in comics with Publisher's Weekly.


So, we already mentioned that the fine folks at Dynamite Entertainment got their hands on the license for iconic blaxploitation hero SHAFT, but I only learned today how that one dude David F. Walker (Super Justice Force, Bad Azz Mofo, Number 13) got the job writing the Shaft's exploits for comics via his recent appearance on the Publisher's Weekly Podcast. Besides the discussion of SHAFT (which drops its debut in December), I really enjoyed this producer Kate Fitzsimons' conversation with Walker about the clumsy wave of diversity that has swept into comics and its screen-based offshoots.
"Every Falcon story is the same thing: He's working as a social worker, someone calls him an Uncle Tom, and he beats up some gang-bangers..."
-David F Walker
Walker really gets into the ways in which he feels major publishers have been lazy in their attempts at diversity.  While I think they are getting better with it (especially at Marvel), I definitely get where David is coming from. I have heard many black indie creators express concern that the mainstream publisher's nominal nod to diversity will wash away the public's interest in independent creators operating in that space, and David and Kate address that in the interview as well. As much as I try to focus on positive stuff, I agree with a lot of what David says here (Maybe you've noticed I haven't written anything about the upcoming Black Panther movie...).

So anyways, CLICK HERE to check out this awesome interview on Publisher's Weekly's More To Come Podcast! I would LOVE to talk about this interview with you in the comments or on Twitter, Facebook, or whatever. So listen to it, and get at me...
Also, look out for SHAFT #1 in December!

Peace,
-samax
Samax Amen draws people, places and things for fun and profit. He is the artist of many great comics you never heard of like Herman Heed, Champion of Children, The Brother and The World As You Know It. He even writes and draws his own comics, like Dare: The Adventures of Darius Davidson, Spontaneous, and Manchild when he gets around to it. Because making comics is hard and stuff, he started GhettoManga as a blog in 2006 and as a print magazine in 2008. 
GhettoManga.com 
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