Editor’s Picks

This year’s Black Comic Book Festival held in Harlem drew swarms of fans obsessed with Luke Cage, Sherlock and Holmes, and other superhero faire. Whit Taylor‘s tiny booth of mostly autobio comics quickly caught my eye, and I left with a copy of her comic Ghost expecting it to be a light-hearted, philosophical look at society.

Boy, was I wrong.

Instead I was left with an unparalleled experience that shocked me with its raw honesty. And yes, it’s a “twist,” but it’s a good kind of twist. The kind that doesn’t cheapen itself or dumb itself down, but actually elevates itself into another realm. I could bore you with a quick summary, but Ghost is the type of comic that’s more powerful if you go in blind with no expectations. Equal parts funny, inspiring, and heartbreaking, Ghost is a comic that’s not easily forgotten.

We haven’t played Genesis Noir yet because, well, it hasn’t been made yet. Currently in the blueprint stages, creators Evan Anthony and Jeremy Abel were inspired by literary stories and, of course, film noir to create a game that’s as much about science as it is about romance. Taking place before and after The Big Bang, the game puts you in the middle of a love triangle. After a shot rings out, it’s up to you to stop the universe from expanding and to save the one you love. Presented in non-linear format, the players will be able to click and explore the story at their own pace.

What caught our eye about this game is the concept art. Using a pristine, minimalist design, the art captures the noir aesthetic without feeling too familiar. You can keep track of the project here, but in the meantime, enjoy these stunning screenshots of the concept art, which should satiate you until the real thing comes out. (H/t: Video Game Art Styles)

“There are so many ways to sugarcoat this, but I’m going to be honest with you: this project was born out of anger,” wrote editor Bill Campbell in the introduction. Back when Ferguson, Missouri was shrouded with daily protests over the death of Michael Brown, who was shot dead by police officer Daniel Wilson, the country was a landfill of hot button issues no one really wanted to touch — issues of race, American exceptionalism, and the military industrial complex. But for some people, the best way to channel that anger and frustration was through art.

Artists Against Police Brutality: A Comic Book Anthology is a collection of comic, essays, and short stories about the damage police violence has done to black Americans. From cynical views of the American judicial system to singling out white liberals who misunderstand the issue, APB is a depressingly realistic take on the current racial climate in America. With contributions from more than 50 artists and illustrators, APB puts a human face, a personal touch, to stories most only read about in newspapers. AFB shortens the gap between impersonal news coverage and the reality of the people suffering from it, illustrating that the daily victims of police violence are more than just numbers.

All proceeds will go to the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people.