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https://blacknerdproblems.com/step-by-bloody-step-1-review/
Story: Si Spurrier / Artist: Matais Bergara / Image
Every so often, I have to make subtle adjustments to the creator attribution at the topic of the comic. Sometimes, it’s because the writer and the artist are one and the same. Sometimes, it’s because the narrative was the result of one person and the actual script was from another. Today’s case, it’s because to call Simon Spurrier the “writer” of Step by Bloody Step would be factually incorrect because there are no words in the comic. At all. There’s barely any lettering at all. It’s one of the most surreal comic book experiences I’ve had in a while, and I loved every second of it.
The premise of Step by Bloody Step is staggeringly simple. There is a little girl with a large, armored guardian. They have no language, no names, and seemingly no memories. All they have a singular purpose to traverse the harsh landscape, and that’s it. That’s all there is. It is a simple high concept fantasy work, and it’s the exact type of thing that Spurrier would excel in. Even though we don’t have any of Spurrier’s signature banter, we still have the makings of his wildly fantastical vision of a strange world, brought to life painstakingly by Bergara.
Without any discernible dialog, Bergara has the incredibly gargantuan tasks of converting whatever script was handed to him into a full double-sized comic. And as a result, we the readers are treated to forty pages of magnificent characters and set pieces. This is a world that stands alongside other established properties with ease. The sheer sense of scale and environmental diversity makes for favorable parallels to Shadow of the Colossus and Pacific Rim. The Guardian has a real heft and weigh with the illustrations. Lopes’s colors draw out unique details of the different biomes traversed. It’s an incredibly ambitious feat of storytelling and while the narrative is simple, the execution is wonderfully haunting.
We know as much about the world as the protagonists and witnessing the start of their odyssey was a true pleasure. I have loved Spurrier’s stories in the past and while a textless comic is a hard sell, I think the entire creative team rose to the occasion and this is a must buy.
9.4 “Footprints” out of 10
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The post ‘Step by Bloody Step #1’ Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Story: Si Spurrier / Artist: Matais Bergara / Image
Every so often, I have to make subtle adjustments to the creator attribution at the topic of the comic. Sometimes, it’s because the writer and the artist are one and the same. Sometimes, it’s because the narrative was the result of one person and the actual script was from another. Today’s case, it’s because to call Simon Spurrier the “writer” of Step by Bloody Step would be factually incorrect because there are no words in the comic. At all. There’s barely any lettering at all. It’s one of the most surreal comic book experiences I’ve had in a while, and I loved every second of it.
The premise of Step by Bloody Step is staggeringly simple. There is a little girl with a large, armored guardian. They have no language, no names, and seemingly no memories. All they have a singular purpose to traverse the harsh landscape, and that’s it. That’s all there is. It is a simple high concept fantasy work, and it’s the exact type of thing that Spurrier would excel in. Even though we don’t have any of Spurrier’s signature banter, we still have the makings of his wildly fantastical vision of a strange world, brought to life painstakingly by Bergara.
Without any discernible dialog, Bergara has the incredibly gargantuan tasks of converting whatever script was handed to him into a full double-sized comic. And as a result, we the readers are treated to forty pages of magnificent characters and set pieces. This is a world that stands alongside other established properties with ease. The sheer sense of scale and environmental diversity makes for favorable parallels to Shadow of the Colossus and Pacific Rim. The Guardian has a real heft and weigh with the illustrations. Lopes’s colors draw out unique details of the different biomes traversed. It’s an incredibly ambitious feat of storytelling and while the narrative is simple, the execution is wonderfully haunting.
We know as much about the world as the protagonists and witnessing the start of their odyssey was a true pleasure. I have loved Spurrier’s stories in the past and while a textless comic is a hard sell, I think the entire creative team rose to the occasion and this is a must buy.
9.4 “Footprints” out of 10
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
The post ‘Step by Bloody Step #1’ Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Gloriann Sacha Antonetty Lebrón, the Afro Puerto Rican that’s Amplifying Black Voices in Puerto Rico
The denial of their existence and lack of representations are just some of the daily struggles of Afro-Puerto Ricans living in Puerto Rico. Many Afro-Puerto Rican writers, poets, and storytellers combat this issue. Puerto Rico’s history involves being colonized by Spain and then the United States. Despite their oppressed past, there is a beauty and strength that runs through the veins of Puerto Rican people, which was evident through my conversation with Gloriann Sacha Antonetty Lebrón.
I was recently approached by Ketchum, about interviewing Lebrón on the amazing work she has done and continues to do to represent Afro-Puerto Ricans. BGN spoke with Lebrón over Zoom on February 23, 2022, about the importance of representation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Lebrón is an impressive woman with many titles, including poet, author, communicator, professor, and more. I, however, was very interested in how she defines herself without these titles.
“I love to call myself an Artivist. I also consider myself a strategist. I love to communicate in different ways. I recognize the power of stories. The stories that they try to forget about, the stories about the contributions of Black people. My grandfather was a writer and journalist and I helped him with his radio station. He spoke and wrote about Black women. Now I have the opportunity to gather information about Black culture and present that beauty and resistance through different forms of art.”
What was it like growing up as an Afro-Puerto Rican in Puerto Rico?
“It’s hard growing up here as a Black person, no matter your gender identity. Colonization is still impacting society. The belief system is that Black people are less than every other person on the island and the world. They say that [racism] happens in the United States, but it doesn’t happen here. We grew up with books saying that Puerto Rico is the most white of all the Caribbean islands and people think that Black Puerto Ricans are few.”
This question led her to speak about the hyper-sexualization of Black women and how they often get told they do not belong in spaces that allow them power and influence. Through Lebrón’s work, she proves that Black women deserve to be in whatever space they choose. As she transcended into various careers such as working as a professor, working within an Ad agency, and corporate business she often had to remind herself that she deserved to be there.
What was it like to break into corporate spaces where you didn’t see people that looked like you?
“I have to come back to my family. I understood that I deserved to be a part of every space. That I have to go with my chin high. I know I deserve to be here, and I’m here paying this debt to my ancestors. I’m creating a space for future generations to understand that they belong in every sector of Puerto Rico and every part of the world.”
Her parents spent their lives moving between Puerto Rico and the United States and experienced movements that amplified Black voices. Her mother grew up in communities that preserved Black history. She got her sense of pride from her parents, and she carries that pride into spaces where Black people aren’t represented.
You have a deep connection and talent for words. Why have you chosen to express yourself through written form?
“It’s one of my biggest expressions to heal. If I’m going through something, I heal through writing. I understand the power of stories and words and how that impacts film and music. If you have strong stories or words, that becomes art. Words are how we can take back our power.”
Over the past few years, Lebrón has created Revista Ethnica, a magazine that represents the full shades of Puerto Rican people.
What was your dream for Revista Ethnica, and how have you seen that dream come to life?
“I’ve had a strong fascination with books and magazines since I was a little girl. In Puerto Rico, we have a lot of magazines that come from America Latina, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, and I stood in front of those magazine racks and never saw myself represented. I never saw the beauty of my family, friends, and culture. I remember telling my father that there are no magazines representing Black people. I don’t know how he did it, if he called one of our uncles in New York, but he received Ebony and Essence magazine through mail. When I saw them, I thought, I can do this, and I can do this in Spanish. I’m working to continue the legacy of Black writers.”
Revista Ethnica is now opening a publishing company to support other Black Puerto Rican writers.
How can others support Revista Ethnica?
Among the other Black communities within Latina America, the United States, and the world, it’s important to recognize that Afro-Latinos exist. We need to create more things together and see how we can create more sustainable enterprises and always present ourselves as valuable.
When you hear the word Afro-Puerto Rican, what does that word mean to you?
It’s everything.When I listen to that word, I feel the love and power of our grandmothers, our mothers, our girls, and our Black men, who have struggled so much with things that didn’t deserve. Our aesthetics are that word. You can hear music with Afro-Puerto Rican. It’s magic and dignity.
What are some of the projects you are currently working on?
We are working on the 4th edition of the magazine, hopefully launching on the 12th of March. We investigated women who have been killed because of gender violence. Since 2013, over 60 percent of the women killed were Black women. What’s most important is healing. We created a creative writing project for the survivors to heal. We finished with an anthology, and it’s going to be the first published book with Ethnica publisher.
What would you say to other writers out there?
You have to start with your family or community, with the people who inspire you.Try to look for the story you would never hear about. Some ancestor or family member will call you to write that story. We can also start working on our own stories. You can create whatever you want. Start writing and put it out here so someone will notice and understand the struggle, beauty, and magic we create every day.