Behind the Comic Strip: Top Black Graphic Artists

These artists are at the forefront of the industry.

Jackie Ormes - This photo shows a page of a comic book by Jackie Ormes, the first African American woman comic artist, on display at the City building in downtown Pittsburgh. Her characters were featured in African-American newspapers such as the Chicago Defender and Pittsburgh Courier between 1937 and 1956. (Photo: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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Jackie Ormes - This photo shows a page of a comic book by Jackie Ormes, the first African American woman comic artist, on display at the City building in downtown Pittsburgh. Her characters were featured in African-American newspapers such as the Chicago Defender and Pittsburgh Courier between 1937 and 1956. (Photo: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Orrin Evans - The single issue cover of All-Negro Comics was published by Orrin Evans in 1947. It is also part of an exhibit called ?Beyond the Funny Pages? on display at the city building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Evans' publication was only printed once, but he hoped to give Black comics an opportunity to show their talents. (Photo: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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Orrin Evans - The single issue cover of All-Negro Comics was published by Orrin Evans in 1947. It is also part of an exhibit called “Beyond the Funny Pages” on display at the city building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Evans' publication was only printed once, but he hoped to give Black comics an opportunity to show their talents. (Photo: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Eric Battle - As a comic book artist, Eric Battle has drawn for some of the top companies in the industry, including Marvel and DC Comics. He has also worked with a number of best-selling science fiction authors. More recently, Battle illustrated the Timestorm miniseries in 2009 for Marvel.

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Eric Battle - As a comic book artist, Eric Battle has drawn for some of the top companies in the industry, including Marvel and DC Comics. He has also worked with a number of best-selling science fiction authors. More recently, Battle illustrated the Timestorm miniseries in 2009 for Marvel.

N. Steven Harris - Harris specializes in graphic novel illustration, storyboard illustrations and concept illustration design. He is currently a freelance illustrator with Dynamite Entertainment and is working on issue four of Leslie Banks's comic book adaption of Vampire Huntress.

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N. Steven Harris - Harris specializes in graphic novel illustration, storyboard illustrations and concept illustration design. He is currently a freelance illustrator with Dynamite Entertainment and is working on issue four of Leslie Banks's comic book adaption of Vampire Huntress.

Khary Randolph - Since graduating from New York’s School of Visual Arts in 2000, Randolph has worked for a number clients in the animation and comic book industries. He’s contributed to Spider-Man, X-Men, Hellboy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Boondocks. He currently works as a lead character illustrator for 4Kids Entertainment.

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Khary Randolph - Since graduating from New York’s School of Visual Arts in 2000, Randolph has worked for a number clients in the animation and comic book industries. He’s contributed to Spider-Man, X-Men, Hellboy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Boondocks. He currently works as a lead character illustrator for 4Kids Entertainment.

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Regine Sawyer - Sawyer is the owner and founder of Lockett Down Publications, a multimedia company specializing in comic books and promotion apparel that was established in 2007. The company is currently producing several properties that include its signature Ice Witch and The Rippers, Death Mask and Chimera.

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Regine Sawyer - Sawyer is the owner and founder of Lockett Down Publications, a multimedia company specializing in comic books and promotion apparel that was established in 2007. The company is currently producing several properties that include its signature Ice Witch and The Rippers, Death Mask and Chimera.

Shawn Martinbrough - Martinbrough, an industry veteran, worked with top companies such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics and Vertigo before writing and creating his own instructional book entitled How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling. His recent projects include Luke Cage Noir, Punisher MAX: Hot Rods of Death, Bullseye: The Perfect Game and DMZ. He is currently working on a new graphic novel project with Robert Kirkman, the creator of the AMC television series The Walking Dead.

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Shawn Martinbrough - Martinbrough, an industry veteran, worked with top companies such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics and Vertigo before writing and creating his own instructional book entitled How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling. His recent projects include Luke Cage Noir, Punisher MAX: Hot Rods of Death, Bullseye: The Perfect Game and DMZ. He is currently working on a new graphic novel project with Robert Kirkman, the creator of the AMC television series The Walking Dead.

Leslie Banks - A New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Banks has written more than 42 novels and made contributions to 23 novellas. Her talents don’t just stop at novel writing though, as she is also skilled in comic script writing.

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Leslie Banks - A New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Banks has written more than 42 novels and made contributions to 23 novellas. Her talents don’t just stop at novel writing though, as she is also skilled in comic script writing.

Robert Taylor - Taylor, a New Jersey native, has been in the comic book industry for over 20 years working for companies such as Acclaim, Marvel, Image and DC Comics. After years working for others, Taylor launched his comic book/entertainment company Superhuman Works. His first Black comic superhero is an urban ninja called Night Jak.

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Robert Taylor - Taylor, a New Jersey native, has been in the comic book industry for over 20 years working for companies such as Acclaim, Marvel, Image and DC Comics. After years working for others, Taylor launched his comic book/entertainment company Superhuman Works. His first Black comic superhero is an urban ninja called Night Jak.

Robert Garrett - Garrett helped create comics such as Galtow, Inheritors and Ajala. He’s currently teamed up with XMoor Comics to create an illustrated book project called Tuttz (based on King Tutankhamen’s cat).

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Robert Garrett - Garrett helped create comics such as Galtow, Inheritors and Ajala. He’s currently teamed up with XMoor Comics to create an illustrated book project called Tuttz (based on King Tutankhamen’s cat).

Jerry Craft - Cartoonist Jerry Craft is the creator of the award-winning Mama’s Boyz comic strip, which has been syndicated since 1995. The series, which follows an African-American mother and her two sons, has spawned several books aimed at getting young people to see the positive aspects of African-American life. Prior to Mama’s Boyz, Craft worked as editorial director at Sports Illustrated for Kids where he created the popular SI KIDS TV segment.

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Jerry Craft - Cartoonist Jerry Craft is the creator of the award-winning Mama’s Boyz comic strip, which has been syndicated since 1995. The series, which follows an African-American mother and her two sons, has spawned several books aimed at getting young people to see the positive aspects of African-American life. Prior to Mama’s Boyz, Craft worked as editorial director at Sports Illustrated for Kids where he created the popular SI KIDS TV segment.