One of my favorite books is Professor William Foster’s ‘Looking for a Face like Mine’! This book explores the history of Black characters and creators and their impact in comic history! Despite the fact that Prof. Foster is an actual college professor, his writing voice can be read and understood by anyone no matter your reading level. My daughter Rebekah read this book a few years ago and loved it.
A few weeks back at the Brass City Comic Con, I picked up a copy of the Professor’s latest book ‘Dreaming of a Face like Mine’ and now…. The review!
Where his first book presented a historical view of Black comic history, ‘Dreaming’ is a more personal look at the same subject through essays and panels. No matter your color, race or species, this book will speak you as a comic collector and hopefully lover of comic book history!
One of the amazing things about this book (and any conversation you may have with the Prof) is he never apologizes, blames or is angered by some of the racist comments or images of comic books past! He looks at it as history; wrong as some of it is. This book also collects many ‘Foster’s Freehold’ columns. These are three or four page workings that deal in single thoughts or subjects with some incredible insight and a bit of humor.
But for me the gem of the book is the transcript of a panel from New York Comic Con from April 2005. Here Professor Foster moderates a panel featuring Trevor Von Eeden, Jamal Igle, Mark Morales and Alitha Martinez. The conversation is not only riveting, but shows the panel guests in such a positive light, despite the different backgrounds and careers within comics.
You don’t need to be Black to get something out of this book. This book caters to anyone who loves comics and comic history! This book is not only a fun read that you’ll find yourself rereading, quoting and referencing any chance you get!
Matman Rating – 5 out of 5 pearls of wisdom!
A few weeks back at the Brass City Comic Con, I picked up a copy of the Professor’s latest book ‘Dreaming of a Face like Mine’ and now…. The review!
Where his first book presented a historical view of Black comic history, ‘Dreaming’ is a more personal look at the same subject through essays and panels. No matter your color, race or species, this book will speak you as a comic collector and hopefully lover of comic book history!
One of the amazing things about this book (and any conversation you may have with the Prof) is he never apologizes, blames or is angered by some of the racist comments or images of comic books past! He looks at it as history; wrong as some of it is. This book also collects many ‘Foster’s Freehold’ columns. These are three or four page workings that deal in single thoughts or subjects with some incredible insight and a bit of humor.
But for me the gem of the book is the transcript of a panel from New York Comic Con from April 2005. Here Professor Foster moderates a panel featuring Trevor Von Eeden, Jamal Igle, Mark Morales and Alitha Martinez. The conversation is not only riveting, but shows the panel guests in such a positive light, despite the different backgrounds and careers within comics.
You don’t need to be Black to get something out of this book. This book caters to anyone who loves comics and comic history! This book is not only a fun read that you’ll find yourself rereading, quoting and referencing any chance you get!
Matman Rating – 5 out of 5 pearls of wisdom!
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