And we didn't even wait until Black History Month to post this item

In a move he hopes will be a first step toward uniting the black comics community, comics creator/self-publisher/columnist/retailer Rich Watson has started a new monthly e-newsletter, called The Glyph. Watson (whose column "Chicks and Romance" appears weekly at ComicWorldNews.com) describes the newsletter's purpose as twofold: to both provide news and information on comics with black characters and themes, and to offer a forum for discussion on issues specific to the black comics experience.

The first issue of The Glyph appeared in mid-January. Although the newsletter is currently available only in e-mail form, Watson expects eventually to publish it in hard copy, for distribution at comics shops, conventions, and elsewhere.

In his introduction to the first issue, Watson explained the newsletter's title, and underlying philosophy, this way:

The dictionary defines a glyph as "a symbol that imparts information non-verbally." Throughout the early 20th century (and even earlier than that), the symbol that white people associated with people of color in comics was little more than an ink-black face with thick white lips. The information it often imparted was that we were simple, one-dimensional creatures at best and savages at worst. Ever since those days, black and white creators have reshaped and redefined both its look and its meaning. How much has changed? And how much has stayed the same? The search for the answers to those questions and more is the purpose of The Glyph. It's my hope to bring together comics creators, fans and everyone of all colors who want that symbol to represent us as accurately as possible.

The January issue included such news items as new writer Reginald Hudlin's assuring readers that his version of Marvel's Black Panther won't be a hip-hop cliche, and African-American writers Dwayne McDuffie and John Ridley (along with co-writer Rich Foley) being nominated for Writers' Guild Awards in the Animation category for a story arc they wrote for the cartoon series Justice League. Also appearing were reviews of Angeltown #1, Fierce #1, and Ocean #3; blurbs about upcoming work by African-American creators, including Shawn Martinbrough, Kyle Baker, and Karl Bollers (along with Watson himself); and a Book of the Month (January's selection was Lance Tooks's Lucifer's Garden of Verses: The Devil on Fever Street, from NBM; the cover is pictured below).

Interestingly, Watson plans to include discussions from comics message boards "in matters regarding characters and creators of color." To that end, he's cooperating with the websites STEEL (Stop Trying to Eliminate Ethnic Legends) and the Museum of Black Superheroes. Topics covered in January's issue included, among others, "Characteristics of a black superhero" and "Is DC becoming 'white' again?"

Watson will serve as editor and chief writer for The Glyph, but emphasizes that the newsletter is "open to contributions from other writers, of any nationality, whether as columnists or news reporters or reviewers."

To learn more about The Glyph, check out Watson's column on the subject here, or e-mail him at cptsisko318@aol.com (be sure to put "Glyph" in the subject line). He's accepting subscription requests at the same e-mail address.