The Sons of Liberty.
Created and Written by Alexander Lagos and Joseph Lagos. Art by Steve Walker. Color by Oren Kramek.
Random House.
176 pages. $12.99.

The Lagos brothers and Steve Walker are not in full command of the (sub-)medium, but the idea of enslaved Africans in the colonies gaining superpowers and becoming African ninjas during the Revolutionary War is a great idea. The art is powerful, but I’m not really a fan of the half-painted, half drawn look here.  A little bit over-colored and a lot overwritten, this is a raw work for young readers with great ambitions—weaving Benjamin Franklin, a John Brown-meets-Yoda character, and echoes of “Sankofa.” 🙂 I hope future installments of this story will be leaner, sharper and less wrought, and thus, more powerful.

Dark Rain: A New Orleans Story.
Story by Mat Johnson. Art by Simon Gane.
Vertigo/DC Comics.
160 pp. $24.99.

As he did with “Incognegro,”Mat Johnson tells a simple and tragic story in a compelling, nuanced way. The award-winning novelist shades his characters gently, blending humor and pathos together in a way well married to the graphic novel form. Simon Gane is a smart enough artist to keep it simple, keeping the focus on the words and actions. Katrina is the star, supporting star and background scene for bold capers, Blackwater-style operations and minute-by-minute survival. Morality breaks down as fast as the levees, and the novel’s leads have decisions to make, according to situation, history and individual character. All the makings of a great (graphic) novel. I now know to expect nothing less of Johnson.