 Bringing the Storm
By Erickka Sy Savané
Ask most African-Americans who their favorite childhood superhero was and chances are they’ll say Superman or Wonder Woman. There haven’t been many superpowered role models for us to choose from, but thanks to Korby Marks, 35, the superhero universe just became a lot more colorful.
“I wanted to broaden the image of who we are and what we can be or do beyond the stereotypes that you see in the media,” says the Los Angeles resident about his motivation for creating Stormbringers, a comic book about a X-Men-like superhero team.
Unlike other popular African-American heroes, who were usually partnered with nonblack partners, the ten members of the Stormbringer team are black, and the world they inhabit is predominately chocolate as well. “I want kids to be able to see themselves as heads of the CIA, quantum physicists, or even angels,” says Marks. To say that the world is starving for these types of images would be an understatement. Positive black role models, both real and imaginary, are essential for our youth.
Role models aside, diehard comic book fans only care about comics with solid storylines. Marks seems to have cleared that hurdle. His first issue has sold out nationwide, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. The title was chosen as one of the top 42 independent comic books to watch by Wizard magazine and picked up for distribution by Diamond (the largest distributor of English language comic books in the world), and there has been film adaptation interest from several production houses.
This is even more impressive when you consider the fact that Stormbringers is a one-man operation. “It’s a constant hustle,” says Marks, who funded his business with a small business loan, savings from his 10-year career with Delta Airlines, and early investments from family and friends. “Right now, everything I have goes into Stormbringers. I’m raising money to release the next three issues of Stormbringers,” says Marks, who is currently selling stock in his company for that purpose.
Recently, Marks has turned his attention to bolstering the self-esteem of young black women with the launch of Glory, a comic book heroine whose powers are activated only when she feels good about herself. "There's a whole lot of deprogramming to do," Marks says of Glory's intended impact."
More at www.stormbringers.com. Also find Marks at ths week's Comic-Con convention in San Diego (July 24-27, 2008).
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