Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Nov. 4, 1993, edition 1 / Page 15
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Cljatlottc ^ost ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT B Section THURSDAY Novembers 1993 Partners hope justice is in comics By Winfred B. Cross THE CHARLOTTE POST If you can't find a decent com ic book hero you like, create your own. That's exactly what Marc Wilson, Edward Home and Ed "Bear" Francis did. The youth ful trio have formed Justice comics, a minority-themed line of graphic novels. The premiere issue may be out in the next couple of weeks, or whenever the company works out the financial aspect. The trio is raising fund to print about 1000 copies to sell for around $2 each. The issue will feature three storylines. Illustrated and written separately by each partner. "It will not be Just ethnic oriented with stories about crime and dmgs," says Wilson. We also have Scl-Fl and med ieval. It's mixed with different things." The book will feature The Merciless, a trench coat- wearing crime fighter who has no problem with dealing with crooks by any means neces sary: Mean Streak, an ex death-row Inmate who under goes a secret government ex periment that makes him heal quickly (a '90s "Immortal") and a yet unnamed Sci-Fi ser ies. "The comics will be very graphic because we wanted to get a message across," Wilson said. "If someone Is dealing drugs, we show that and what the consequences are. If you do crime, you're going to pay for it. It's going to be be realistic and moralistic. We're trying to move away from the main stream comics. When some thing is done. It's done for a purpose." Wilson said future Issues will also deal with racism. "The Merciless is indepen dent and doesn't pay his girl friend much attention. But she's white and the two will go through a lot of personal things. "I've got Asian characters, Hispanic characters and oth ers. We want to appeal to every m /k.m Marc TX^lson and Edward Home, partners in Justice Comics. Phett/CALVM FEMOUMN ethnic group. I'm starting out with The Merciless because he's been around in my mind for the longest m my mind. Home describes his Mean Streak character as "kind of a everyday Joe. "He doesn't wear a costume and everybody in the neigh borhood knows him. He went to prison for murdering a ruthless drug lord. The gov ernment comes to him and gets him to go through a cel lular regeneration program. It wants to be an army of un stoppable solders. But Jere miah Cain has other plans," Home said. "There's going to be action, but I like to write, so you'll see a lot of talking head See COMICS On Page 2B. Afro^ a bus ans ivember By Winfred B. Cross THE CHARLOTTE POST Folks at the Afro-American Culture Center will be pretty tired by the end of November. This may prove to be one of their busiest months of the year. The center kicks off its Family Arts program with a special story hour 10 a.m. Saturday in the Attic Theatre. Native American Jacque Gameau and African American Elisha MInter will tell tales dealing with their own cultural back grounds. Later the same evening, the Cultural Movement African Dance Company will give a lecture-demonstration. The group is based in Goldsboro and will do several African dances, chants and games. They will ask the audience to participate, but they warn you - the beat is contagious and you'll want to pat your feet or even participate. The dance company concentrates on the lifestyles of people from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal and South Africa. On Nov. 13, the internationally known Grey Seal Puppets will present the well-known stoiy "The Emperor's New Clothes." But there's a twist - all the characters are animals. "It will not be so much of presenting a puppet show, but In troducing kids to the art of puppetry," said Klmberleigh Jor dan, arts education specialist at the center. "I think it's great to bring them into our community for people to see." Both pro grams are free and open to the public. The work of South Carolina artist Jonathan Green goes on display Nov. 19. The exhibit Is titled "From Deep Roots to New Ground: The Gullah Landscapes of Jonathan Green" which features paintings with brilliant colors. "His work is absolutely beautiful," Jordan said. "It's in fluenced by his roots In the Islands of South Carolina so they See CENTER On Page 2B. Grey Seal Puppet Charlotteans vie for Coors talent crown By Winfred B. Cross THE CHARLOTTE POST Where will the next Martin Lawrence. En Vogue, Anita Baker or Will Downing come from? Charlotte? Perhaps. And that new superstar could be discovered as early as Nov. 13. That's when four hopefuls from the Queen City travel to Washington, D.C., to compete in the national finals of the "Super Talent Showcase" spon sored by Coors Elxtra Gold beer. Comedian Ken "Tito" Koonce, male vocalist Russell "Tad" Martin, vocal group Debonair and female vocalist Deidre Johnson will represent Charlotte in the national contest. Each won money and prizes in first and semi final rounds in Charlotte to advance to ne^ week's fi nals. For Martin, bemg in the finals is phenomenal. He's been In Charlotte seven months, the same length of time he's been singing in public. "Very few people knew I could sing," Martin said. "While I was at (North Carolina A&T State University) I was a jokester. AVhen people heard I was in the contest, they thought I'd be telling jokes." Martin learned of the contest through his sister Cheiyl Walker, who suggested he enter. "I was very doubtful about entering. Luckily I won the whole thing. Now I'm going to D.C. to bring it on home to Charlotte - like the Panthers did in Chicago." Martin won the contest with his rendition of "Unchained Melody," originally done by the Righteous Brothers. "That's the kind of stuff I like doing. I like Johnny Ma this, Otis Redding, the Righteous Brothers and Nat King Cole. I've been told I'm more of a crooner than a singer." Koonce, known as ' ' Tito the dog-gone comic, is trying for his second major ac- qpmplishment. Earli- er this year he Im- ^ pressed officials with Russell Simmons' "Def Comedy Jam" enough to be in the running for a spot on the show. A win in the Coors contest could put the 36-year-old N.C. Central Univer sity graduate In the national spotlight. The four-month competition, co- ^ sponsored by WPEG I FM 98, ended with the ■ semi-final round rpTfrirk Sept. 18 at the Shera- llUJ ton Airport Plaza Hotel. Winners received an all expense paid trip to the finals. Contestants from Washington, Charlotte, New York, South Carolina, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, will compete in the finals, to be held at George Washington University's Linser Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and available at TicketMaster locations. >' 1'^ ISA COLLINS . . . . 5B WHAT'S UP • • • »7B TESTDRIVE 4B
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 4, 1993, edition 1
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