Exploring narratives that center Black experiences through powerful storytelling and visual artistry, these two comic books are essential reads. Dive into magical rebellion and historical reckoning, each offering a unique window on identity, legacy, and cultural reflection.

Excellence, Vol. 1: Kill The Past

Overview & Themes

Excellence, Vol. 1: Kill the Past introduces Spencer Dales—destined for greatness in a world of magic, born into a society of Black magicians known as the Aegis, whose mission is to uplift others while sacrificing their own interests (Image Comics, FangirlNation Magazine). As Spencer comes of age, his idealism collides with a harsh truth: the Aegis is broken. He’s not just inheriting magic—he’s inheriting a system in desperate need of change (FangirlNation Magazine, AIPT).

The story blends urban fantasy, coming-of-age, and legacy-driven drama. Critics draw parallels to Harry Potter, yet Excellence stands apart by centering generationalism, anger, and a Black protagonist’s journey to reshape a flawed institution (AIPT, FangirlNation Magazine).

Art & Creators

Penned by Brandon Thomas with dynamic visuals by Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez, the series is proudly by creators of color—a fundamental part of the comic’s identity (“Excellence is Real”) (Image Comics). The artwork has earned praise for bringing magical spells to life and capturing Spencer’s fierce emotional core, using vibrant visuals to amplify action and tension (Goodreads, AIPT).

Why You Should Read It

  • Compelling protagonist arc: Spencer’s evolution from obedient son to revolutionary showcases deep emotional stakes.
  • Original world-building: A magical secret society rooted in Black tradition—and unrest—feels fresh and urgent.

Authentic storytelling: With its creative team’s lived experiences informing the narrative, it avoids surface-level representation and delivers real resonance.

Strange Fruit

Strange Fruit by Mark Waid & J.G. Jones

Set during the 1927 Great Flood of Mississippi, this tale follows an alien who falls into Chatterlee, Mississippi, and—mistaken for a Black man—becomes a symbol of transformative hope in a town drowning in racial and social fracture (Vox, wethenerdy.com). This graphic novel boldly melds historical fiction with surreal, allegorical sci-fi, exploring themes of racism, mythologized heroism, and the fragility of cultural norms.

Jones’s painted visuals are widely celebrated for their emotional depth and nuance, rendering both flood and fear with painstaking detail (wethenerdy.com, Comic Book Roundup). Yet the book is not without controversy—the production team’s lack of Black creators sparked serious critiques about narrative ownership and authenticity (WIRED, Vox).

Why You Should Read It:

It’s a bold, genre-bending metaphor for racial struggle; its beauty and conceptual ambition make it unforgettable—even amid debates about its creation.

Reflections on Representation & Storytelling

Power and Perspective

Both comics engage with how stories are told—and who gets to tell them:

  • Excellence shines because its narrative and creative origins are intertwined; the story emerges organically from Black experience, rather than appropriated.
  • Strange Fruit (Waid & Jones) highlights tensions around white creators interpreting Black pain, suggesting that authenticity isn’t just about intention but who’s given voice (WIRED).

Genre as a Vessel for Story

Genre conventions—urban fantasy, historical allegory, or illustrated biography—are not just style choices. They frame how themes are experienced and understood:

  • Magic and family conflict in Excellence elevate internal and external struggles, making metaphoric change feel personal.
  • Myth meets history in Waid’s Strange Fruit, reminding us that symbolic narratives can challenge oppressive norms—though the impact depends on who is doing the crafting.

Visual Language Matters

  • Randolph’s dynamic energy in Excellence connects emotion and motion, giving magic a vivid pulse.

Jones’s painterly scenes in Strange Fruit immerse readers in the sensory weight of history.