Crossing the $1 billion mark in worldwide sales, it's no secret Marvel's Black superhero Black Panther took the Black community and the world by storm!

From breaking box office records to trending on social media for weeks, the power of the Black dollar cannot be ignored. So much so, a sequel has been confirmed. Wakanda fovever!

There’s no denying Black Panther was a key contributor in showcasing the need for diversity in the world of comics, but can we do more? Always!

As the first Black woman to own a comic book store on the East Coast, it’s no secret Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse owner Ariell Johnson’s stance on diversity and inclusivity in the colorful pages of comics.

“Why is it that we’re always looking for ourselves in this medium? It’s because we long to see ourselves being amazing. We like to see pieces of greatness acted out and we want to be a part of it. Not the sidekick, or the peripheral character that’s there for laughs, we want to be the hero sometimes too,” Ariell said during her Ignite Talk.

“When especially children, but adults too, are denied those narratives, it weighs on one’s understanding of self-worth, and even the belief in yourself to concur the unthinkable.”

“While I must agree, we are moving in the right direction, when even the comic giant Marvel has recognized the need for diversity, and decided to change up their roster, a bit, we must also acknowledge that we still have a long way to go before we have true diversity,” she added.

Preach, sis! We couldn’t have said it better.

In efforts to showcase diversity as we gear up for this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego, we’ve decided to enlist the help of Ariell to share with us her must-read comics highlighting powerful Black characters.

Keep scrolling to see the Black comics you need to know besides “Black Panther” — even if you're not a self-proclaimed Blerd (Black nerd).