Noir Is the New Black

A new genre is forged in this crowdfunded anthology, which applies the moral shading of crime noir to cover injustices faced by African Americans. Editors Harris and Sapolsky (Spider-Man Noir) bring together 16 electric, challenging pieces from writers including Melody Cooper, Brandon Thomas, and David Walker, with art from Mark Bright, N. Steven Harris, and others. Wisecracking adventurers, jaded gumshoes, and climatic cliffhangers populate many revenge fantasies. “Vera’s List” and “Ousley” offer blazing period pulp action while “Gemini Visions” builds a suspenseful whodunit in modern Baltimore. Both “The Black Constable” and “Southern Hospitality” lay out searing historical thrillers with enslaved rebels and a racist hierarchy in colonial Jamaica, and a barroom shoot-out between a WWII veteran and the KKK in 1940s Alabama. “C.A.N.O.P.Y.” and “Igbo Landing” project noir into the future with soldiers fighting viruses, conspiracies, and violent hatred in imagined civilizations. Dimly lit panels busy with stylized rogues and red-hot ferocity elevate the art, along with varied character appearances. Featuring tried-and-true cartoonists and indie discoveries, this anthology will leave readers longing for a second volume. (Mar.)