It’s no secret that the world of Comics is dominated by white men, from creators to characters. Although many of these creators and their heroes are considered historic icons, it’s high time we push for a change. This overtly cis, hetero, white presence has got to move over and make space for new and diverse perspectives. Comics publications must push to acquire even more inclusive content. Sure, there are lots of Black superheroes, like Black Panther, Nubia, Luke Cage, Miles Morales, etc, but we need even more diverse representation and must be sure to place specific focus on Own Voices content.

The strength and energy that comes from Own Voices content is a super power all its own.  When creators are allowed to write and draw from the heart, crafting a character with real life experiences and infusing a narrative with personal inflection, something really magical happens.  Any reader consuming Own Voices content will be able to immerse themselves in the pages of a wholly authentic experience, to learn something new, and grow into a more empathetic human. To marginalized readers especially, it also delivers an important message; it says there is a place for you, you have value. It says we see you, we hear you, and you are not alone. That level of validation is unparalleled.

I was first introduced to the work of Tee Franklin by a friend, and I immediately knew I was onto something special. I had been following her on Twitter for quite some time, but couldn’t wait to get my hands on her published writing. She has an incredibly passionate and honest voice that deserves repeated recognition. As a Queer Disabled Black Woman in comics, Tee Franklin has already broken down so many barriers, and cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with both on and off the page, but t’s clear once you begin reading, Franklin’s work shines bright as a diamond and is truly a cut above the rest.

The first story that I read by Franklin was a short four-page entry titled “The Outfit”, and published in the back of Nailbiter Issue #27, a comic I purchased via Comixology solely to acquire “The Outfit.” If I’m being completely honest, it’s probably the strongest four pages I’ve read in ages, but possibly ever out of everything I’ve read up to now. “The Outfit” introduces us to an incredibly feminist tale of love, loss, and revenge.  We see a Black Woman reclaiming her power in as many ways as one can do, as well as tackling intense topics such as internalized and external racism, domestic violence, relationship infidelity, relationship dynamics, and more, and all of it wrapped up in a nice neat Horror Genre bow. Yes, you read that right, all of that in just four pages; I was utterly smitten. Franklin’s ability to do so much in just four pages gave me a one-two hook to the jaw and such an adrenaline rush that I immediately knew I needed more. The artist and letterer also did phenomenal work bringing her words to life on the page. It was a match made in heaven, honestly.  I could not wait to read more and immediately embarked on my quest to collect her entire catalogue.

After doing some digging, I was distraught to learn that although her series “Jook Joint” was picked up for a 5 issue run by Image Comics, it was later terminated after just two issues, and as a result was a little challenging to find. I put out a call on Twitter for any small comics shops that I could purchase copies from, and was elated when Tee Franklin herself signal boosted my search!  As a result, I was able to track down and purchase both issues of “Jook Joint” and acquire an alternate cover for Issue 1, as well as print copies of “Nailbiter #27” and “Bingo Love.” I read them all in one day (including a quick 4 page re-read of “The Outfit”). And my goodness!

“Jook Joint” is a feminist romp of Historical Fiction and Horror. Voodoo Priestess Mahalia runs the Jook Joint, a jazz club in the swamps.  It’s an establishment where all are welcomed, people can be free to be themselves, and where “all your deepest desires and dreams can come true.”  She’s only got a few simple rules to follow: Keep your hands to yourself. Respect Everyone. Do that and you’ll “Live To See Tomorrow.” Fail to adhere to the first two, and Mahalia will see to it that you will not be coming back. Those that do follow the guidelines know that Mahalia will see to your happiness, and ensure that you live out your wildest dreams, see your fantasies fulfilled, and know the feeling of being liberated in your true self. 

It’s like she’s got a Sixth Sense about her, because she always knows the right things to say. To give away much else of the plot in summary would be doing disservice to these comics, because there are so many layers of subtext and subtlety to uncover here. Like she has done with “The Outfit”, Franklin again managed to layer subtext of relationships, abuse, domestic violence, womanhood, and race in between elements of Horror and Supernatural fiction. It also has a strong Own Voices narrative featuring feminist themes and Queer representation. The artwork is once again top notch work, and drawn by the incredible Alitha E. Martinez and Shari Chankhamma -- two more women of colour making their mark on the comics industry. I love to see it! I hope that young women everywhere read the names of these Women on the covers and realize that they, too, have the capability to break into the comics industry and do great things. 

The issue also opens with a very simple, to the point Trigger Warning notice, something I know we’ve all discussed time and time again in the literary community, but is not as common as it should be, yet. And it closes with some personal words from other Domestic Violence Survivors, which really ties in with the core story and drives the empathy and relatability up to the next level. There is realness and truth within these pages, and it’s incredibly refreshing to immerse oneself in such an accessible form of super heroine storytelling. Overall, it’s an impressive first two issues, and I await the next 3 installments with anxious anticipation. (Bonus: If you support Tee on Patreon, we might be able to get those next three story installments a liiiiittle bit faster!)

In addition to “The Outfit” and “Jook Joint,” I also blazed through the “Bingo Love” graphic novel.  Although it is not remotely in the same genre as the first two stories mentioned here, and Romance is not generally a topic covered on DeadHeadReviews.com, I’d still like to touch on it as recommended reading. This beautiful story has a lot of lessons to share, and new perspectives we should all be listening to.  Sure, maybe “Bingo Love” is billed as a Romance aimed at the YA/Teen set of readers, but it should really be something in everyone’s library. It is a very charming story of young love and provides much needed representation of Queer Black Women and Queer Women of Colour in general. The artwork by Jenn St-Onge and Joy San is thoughtful, emotional, and inclusive. It is also worth noting that Franklin received pushback regarding the depiction of Hazel’s skin tone, and for it being as dark as it was; that topic alone raises a lot of conversation points about the types of representation we see most often in media. A similar point can also be noted on the representation of Black Women and Women of Color in “Jook Joint.” It has been so wonderful to see such honest, and thoughtful representation beyond just what white creators believe is doing due diligence to “diversity and inclusion politics.” Like I said earlier, Own Voices rep really, really makes a difference.

In conclusion, I’d like to just praise Tee Franklin for her ability to craft such thoughtful, intimate, and emotional narratives.  She has achieved success and fought hard to ensure that she is able to tell the stories which need to be told, and demonstrated immense flexibility to achieve this across multiple genres. Truly, this woman is a badass storyteller, a strong female voice rising above the rest in a male dominated industry, and has an innate ability to draw in readers of all demographics with her sharp wit and creativity. If you haven’t picked up one of these titles yet, or you aren’t following on Twitter, what the hell are you waiting for? Go, go, go!

By Ellen Avigliano

Twitter: @imaginariumcs
Instagram: @thejackalopeswarren and @imaginariumarts
Website: www.imaginariumarts.com