War of the Independents #2
Written and Illustrated by Dave Ryan (Red Anvil, 2012)
Cover illustrated by Larry Stroman
Synopsis
In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, a group of African American heroes search for a relic capable of powering the gateway to the world of the insidious Razorjack, but they’re not the only ones looking for it. An evil like you’ve never seen before has gotten there before them and now they must battle for the relic as well as their lives!
Notes
War of the Independents #2 (WOTI #2) has all of the makings of a classic Black Comic Key.
Low Print Run
Reportedly only 1500 copies were printed in 2012. Comics that showcase Black characters typically have short print runs due to retailers’ small orders. Also, Issue 2 books traditionally drop in sales after the first issue release.
Historic Cover
This book features the most independent superheroes to date in one comic book and the most original Black characters featured on one comic book cover. According to collectors, Marvel’s Black Panther Vol. 7 issue 25, Tanahesi Coate’s final issue, comes in second.
The cover was illustrated by THE Larry Stroman (Tribe Comics) and the interiors were drawn by Dave Ryan who also wrote the story.
Featured characters include: Blackjack, Wargod, Dreadlocks, Shadowhawk, Captain Africa, Flava Flav, Chuck D, Night Jak, Gaia, Naima, among many others. Many of these characters were popularized in the 1990s during the Black Age of Comics.
WOTI #2 is 237% more valuable than issue 1, which suggests that issue 2 has the highest demand in the series. This demonstrates the strength Black collectors have in the comics community and retailers are taking note.
Tony Kitrell’s Advent comics is spearheading a historic crossover event featuring superheroes of over 70 Black comic creators/ independent publishers. Will this be the net War of the Independents #2?
