Michael Davis: Don McGregor And Why Black People Love Him
I like Nick Barrucci.
Always have.
Right now Nick is dealing with an issue that involves my dear friend Don McGregor. I can think of a lot worse people to deal with than Nick who has always been cool with me. I have high hopes that Nick and Don get on the same page and that’s all I’m going to say about that.
However, I will say a bit more about Don. As readers of ComicMix have no doubt noticed I have some recurring themes in my articles among them African Americans in the industry, the High School Of Art and Design and Asian Women.
Even I know that sometimes returning too often to a theme can get a little tiresome. Except for the many Asian women mentions, I realize that the constant mentioning of my high school (the greatest high school on the planet) and black people (the darkest people on the planet) can just get tedious. Yes, mentioning Asian women can certainly get monotonous also, especially to black women, but I really could care less.
Black Women! That Was A Joke! I Love my sisters…long time.
There is a recurring theme I wish I revisited often and I don’t think my readers would object too and that’s my love letters to creators I’ve had the pleasure to meet and often become friends with. Every so often I meet and befriend a creator and it’s always cool.
But…
Not as often I meet and befriend a creator who I idolized beforehand and that creator becomes like family to me, Don McGregor is one of those creators. I do so love me some Don McGregor and yes I’m going to write about black people but in a first for me I’m combining two recurring themes: black people in the industry and a love letter to a creator!
Don McGregor is just a great and I mean great guy. He also just happens to be one of the best writers to ever write for comic books.
Ever.
When I met him I stammered like a little bitch I was so in awe of this man. THIS from a man who hangs out with academy award and Grammy winners and whose annual San Diego Comic Con party has a guest list that reads like a Barbara Walters after Oscar special. I’m not saying any of this to impress you I’m saying it to underscore how freaking jazzed I was to meet Don McGregor.
One of the reasons I started the Black Panel, a forum to discuss African Americans in the entertainment business, and why I return to the black theme so often in my articles is because the African American experience is a complicated one.
I’m just trying to give some insight into that experience from a black perspective. I’ll let you in on a little secret; black creators seldom think white boys write good black characters. Don’t get me wrong-some of the greatest black comic book characters were created by white boys.
The Black Panther, the Black Racer, Storm…err…. the Black Panther, the Black Racer…Storm.
Look, I’m sure there are others in fact I know there are others but the misses have been so massive that all my brain can come up with are the three I’ve listed. How massively awful are some of the misses?
This massively awful, Marvel some time ago introduced a new Bucky. He was a black man who stood six foot three inches.
Give that a sec; a 6’3” black man named Bucky.
Yes, that was long years ago, but in 2010 Mark Millar created a black superhero, Tyrone Cash, a.k.a. Leonard Williams. His story? Well, he was a scientist, I’ll say that again, he was a scientist named Leonard Williams THEN he subjected himself to one of his super soldier serums and gained the power of the Hulk.
What’s the problem, you ask?
He gained Hulk like powers yet he retained his intellect.
What’s the problem with that you ask?
Well after he got his Hulk like powers this scientist decides to become a fucking thug and start dealing drugs. So let’s recap: he retains his scientist intellect and becomes a thug drug dealer.
Look, I think Mark Millar is a good writer but a character gaining Hulk like powers while maintaining a scientist intellect becomes a thug and a drug dealer? How the fuck is that not some thoughtless stereotyping?
What’s next, Mark? A black member of Mensa gets the powers of Superman and becomes a pimp? BTW, I hear you’re English and I’d like your take on a graphic novel I’m writing. It’s about how Princess Diana gets the power of Wonder Woman and becomes a two-dollar whore.
What?
I’ve got a lot more examples of screwed up black characters created by some white writers but that’s an entire book in and of itself so I’ll just let the two examples I used stand. Not that I give a shit what people think but let me say this, there are some incredible white writers who write great black characters and on the flip side of that there are some great black writers who write horrible white characters. Oh and Mark before I forget, when I received my PhD the first thing I thought about was robbing a liquor store. Nah, I’m just kidding, but as soon as I get Hulk like powers…
But as usual (sorry, Peter) I digress. Don McGregor body of work and original creations are simply awe-inspiring. I don’t think I’ve ever read a bad Don McGregor story. I know I’ve never encountered a bad Don McGregor original superhero. One of the reasons I was such a little pussy when I met Don is he writes the best black characters. Hell, I wish I could write black characters as well as Don does.
Sabre is one of Don’s creations is one of the best comics I’ve ever read. Sabre is a black character, in case you were born yesterday. Why didn’t I mention it above with the other great black characters created by white writers?
Because Sabre is in a class of its own.
Just like Don McGregor.
WEDNESDAY MORNING: Mike Gold
THURSDAY MORNING: Dennis O’Neil
![Cover image for Spider-Man: Clone Saga Omnibus Vol. 2 [New Printing]](https://comicmix.com/wp-content/uploads/cover_images/ean/978/130/295/584/7/9781302955847.jpg)
Don McGregor didn’t create the Black Panther, but his Jungle Action stories continue to be that character’s zenith.
“The Black Panther, the Black Racer, Storm…err…. the Black Panther, the Black Racer…Storm.”
Uh… Black Lightening by that white guy, Tony Isabella?
Black Lighting SHOULD have been the list. Sorry Tony, my bad.
I love reading (and writing, hah) love letters to creators. 🙂
Also – what would you say your favorite work from Don McGregor would be? (Like storyline or character or what-have-you.)
Sabre…period.
Michael Netzer and Michael Davis have made a rough week,
one I will cherish, because of them.
I had only come from a doctor’s office a couple of hours
before your piece arrived. It was a delicious surprise, and
one that gladdened my spirit, and in times when saddening
events are occurring, it is beautiful to receive a piece
written with such power and grace and humor.
And if that ain’t delicious, I don’t know what is.
I hope I can even come close to living up to what
you have written.
You know to read what you wrote, at a time when
it seemed some people on Message Boards I did not
even know existed gave me a moment of feeling as
they were writing what they thought my fucking
obituary, your piece was an antidote.
Several years back, I was having dinner with Dwayne McDuffie,
and having some heart problems at the time. It was during a
time when an editor was claiming he saved me from life
as a security guard by bringing me to Marvel Comics
(when I’d already written two dozen stories
for Warren Magazines, including the first, The Fade-Away Walk.)
I was staying in New York City with Alex Simmons and Billy
Graham.
Others were re-writing where they
stood when Sabre was done.
The book almost did not get finished. Why? Because I would
not change the fact that Melissa Siren was pregnant.
It was the mid 70s, Michael. You know where many industry were at.
And I told Dwayne at that dinner decades later, because I
thought, for sure, he would outlast me,
“Don’t let them get away with re-writing history, Dwayne. You
know what was going in this medium.”
I did not use the word “them.”
As you can tell, Michael, I’ve toned down as the years go along.
You want to know what I like about the Marvel Comics hardcover
of the Jungle Action books. Three things. The dedication to
my grand-kids. To get to write an honest Intro to the reaction
in the hallowed halls to a comic series that had an all black
cast of characters. That got me called on the carpet, let’s see,
just about every single issue.
But here is why I’m glad it exists: Dwayne McDuffie’s Afterword.
He brought me to tears when I bought a copy and read it.
I admit it openly, and freely.
I treasure the book for those three reasons.
I read your piece, and it helped reconfirm what it is I
hoped I could do as a writer: Tell the best damn story I could,
and be one of the people trying to open up what story-tellers
could do in this great, unique medium.
Because no matter what nick-name they gave me,
believe me, there were times I was sincerely daunted,
and with what has been happening with Marsha now,
it’s scary, daunting stuff.
So, you write a piece.
And you know what, I feel less daunted.
Michael Netzer draws my daughter and I together,
in another act of positive action and love, and I don’t want
to let either of you down.
Hell, it even seems you believe I could write a character
I created and still be able to do it.
One of my favorite images in everything I’ve done in comics
is Rainier and Denning, standing back to back in the cold rain.
They have each others back. And they don’t have to turn to
know the other is there.
I’m not a joiner; never have been. But I believe in personal friendship.
And I feel keen complex emotions when a stand-up guy like you
Michael writes a piece like this.
Oh, and Sabre is coming back in THE EARLY FUTURE YEARS.
The Kickstarter program is closer to finally starting.
I’ve seen Trevor von Eeden’s art on Sabre.
You and Michael Netzer, if it all becomes a reality, finally,
will get copy when it’s out there.
And I hope you still feel Sabre’s in a class of his own.
I’m sending along one of my favorite Billy Graham Sabre
pages, just for memories sake.
Thank you, my friend.
Don
I’ve said it before-NOPE. Thank YOU Don.
Don- As a fan following the past week’s wackiness I want to do my part to appreciate you. I’ve actually been recently recruited into a new venture to play Managing Editor for an impending website that will focus almost exclusively on crowd-sourcing endeavors. Last week I even invited Netzer to contribute (so he can vouch for me, of course). The team is going for a full-on launch later next week, but when your campaign is ready, please feel free to contact me so we can plug the holy heck out of the book. I would be honored to help in every which way.
richard@thelotteryparty.com
Richard,
YOU, are a class act. Will you be @ Comic Con? If so I’d like to buy you a drink.
One of these years, amigo-san. I’m stuck in Kentucky for the coming months, but I look forward to someday gushing to you over how much Milestone impacted a long-haired white dood like me.
Your comment made be smile Richard-thanks.
Great black characters created by white guys. No mention of Black Lightning? Not that Jefferson Pierce has always been written well. But, as Tony Isabella first conceived him? Just saying.
Like I said above Andrew, Black Lighting SHOULD have been the list.
Been ON the list. Sorry-I went to public school.
Lauren Mouritzen
Read the article, thought it was great!!!
Thanks for passing it on, would love to meet some of these great people w
ho have lifted the spirits of my dad during such a rough week, and thank them!!!
Just thought you’d get a kick out of Lauren’s reaction, Michael.
So here it is.
Don
Lauren Mouritzen
Read the article, thought it was great!!!
Thanks for passing it on,
would love to meet some of these great people who have lifted the spirits
of my dad during such a rough week, and thank them!!!
Michael, just thought you might get a kick out seeing Lauren’s reply.
Now to see if I can get the thing posted.
The page cyber-sleuth told me maybe the message was too short.
I may have written Only The Computer Shows Me Any Respect,
but that was in the 1970s for Killraven.
I didn’t foresee computer sarcasm in 2013.
Don
Don
HOW DID I MISS THIS??!! Oh! I remember…knocked on my keister for a week by Mr. Pain…and mad prepping for our beta launch…but STILL!! I missed both the love letter AND the response by Don ‘THE MAN’ McGregor!!
Michael…you ain’t never lied when you said that Sabre was in a class by itself. And to Mr. McGregor…please accept my profound thanks and gratitude for giving so many young (and older) Black males a true hero that we could see ourselves looking back from in our mirrors. RESPECT.
SABRE!! Nuff said.
And…Mr. McGregor…with regards to (Be still, my racing heart!) Sabre…THE EARLY FUTURE YEARS…count on 20 copies being purchased by me…(I have to pass on that same spark to some young bloods I know)…and I’m hunting for the kickstarter site right now.
Booyah Baby!! The Sabre soars again!
p.s. Mad props to the great Paul Gulacy…who made Sabre real.
Here’s the Kickstarter youtube link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ZGM_js3Og