If you're a regular visitor to my gallery, you're probably familiar with the Brotherhood, my fan-fic team of superheroes of color comprised of characters from the various comic companies. Marvel recently did their own riff on that with a recent comic series called BLACK PANTHER AND THE CREW. Alas, this interesting series only lasted 6 issues. The team was comprised of the Black Panther, Storm, Luke Cage, Misty Knight, and Manifold. Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, with art by Butch Guice and Scott Hanna, it was one of my favorites reads this year. Black heroes have never had the same sales success as their white counterparts, so I kind of saw this cancellation coming, albeit it sooner that expected. But what happened next, I absolutely did NOT see coming.
One of the most prolific collectors on CAF is a great friend and all-around cool guy named Michael Rankins. Michael, whose capacity for kindness and thoughtfulness is beyond the capacity for mere humans to measure, saw this page from the series online and, knowing what a huge fan I am of these characters, purchased it and gave it to me as a gift. You heard me right: He GAVE IT TO ME AS A GIFT!
I've certainly never done anything to merit have a friend like him, but I'm very grateful regardless. Our mutual love of comics and comic art may have brought us together online, but admiration, respect and regard for him is what has made it last for years. I'd like to publicly thank him here for this incredibly awesome gift. He does -- and always will -- RULE!
The scene shown here features Manifold (bottom left) -- who has teleportation abilities -- summoning Luke Cage, Storm, T'Challa (in civilian garb), and Misty Knight. It is inked by Scott Hanna over a blue line scan by Butch Guice.
People like Michael make the world a better place.
