Turtel Onli: The Black Age Of Comics

The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts is proud to present Turtel Onli: The Black Age of Comics on view in Café Logan, 915 E 60th, from January 26 – March 31, 2024.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Black Age of Comics is a graphic novel movement dedicated to the promotion, creation, and support of Afrocentric comic books and graphic novels. Launched with a convention in 1993 by Chicago artist Turtel Onli, the Black Age of Comics celebrates creators & products derived of the Black, Urbane, Alternative, or African experience. The term riffs off the period language from the comics industry in America to discuss eras of production like the Golden Age (1938-1950) or the Silver Age (1956-1970). Existing outside the mainstream comic book industry, the Black Age aims at expansion – to include artists that create material from a black or African perspective.
Called the “Father of the Black Age of Comics”, Onli’s artwork (which he refers to as “Rhythmism”) combines afrofuturism, historical, and fantasy elements that has parallels with both fine art and comic book art. He has authored and illustrated numerous comic books and graphic novels including NOG, Protector of the Pyramids, Malcolm 10, Nog Nu and Grammar Patrol. Onli launched the first Black Age Convention in February 1993 and has been organizing the conferences ever since.
“Why are most music collections or playlists more Black than most comic or graphic novel collections?”— TURTEL ONLI