{"id":5215,"date":"2020-10-25T00:01:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-25T06:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5215"},"modified":"2020-10-25T07:31:16","modified_gmt":"2020-10-25T13:31:16","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-714-featuring-james-otis-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=5215","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #714: Featuring James Otis Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
 

\nBlack Heroes of the Wild West: Featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, released by Toon Graphics last month, is the first book that James Otis Smith<\/a><\/strong> has both written and illustrated. It’s a book that shines a light on Stagecoach Mary<\/a><\/strong>, Bass Reeves<\/a><\/strong>, and Bob Lemmons<\/a><\/strong>\u2014in three separate sets of comics. But there’s also a good deal of additional information provided, particularly in the book’s detailed backmatter. It all adds up to a book that gives readers a perspective on U.S. history that is not often seen and spotlights Black figures in history that have been routinely overlooked. The caption for the painting A Dash for the Timber<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (1889), which is included in the book’s introduction, says it all: ” … [R]enowned painter of the West Frederic S. Remington shows cowboys as a group of white men. In fact, a large number were Mexican or Native American, and as many as one-third were African American.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The introduction is written by Caldecott Medalist Kadir Nelson: “It’s time that we hear every American’s story: from every background and creed, we’ve all worked together to weave the grand tapestry of America.” This is followed by the first chapter, all about Mary Fields, aka “Stagecoach Mary.” The heart-stopping, adventurous first two spreads of this comic are the best possible way to kick things off. Smith uses light and shadow to dramatic effect. In this comic, which follows Mary through the years (her adult years), readers leran her fascinating story.
\n
 

\n
\n
 

\nChapter two focuses on Bass Reeves, and the pace changes in a signficant way. Here, we see merely one small snapshot of Reeves’s life, one arrest he made and the clever way in which he worked. The final chapter on Bob Lemmons takes a particular focus on the unusual (and more humane, comparatively speaking) way he corraled a herd of mustangs. <\/p>\n

Smith’s comics are dominated throughout by an earth-toned palette, and he manages to capture the humanity of each subject, while at the same time giving the entire book the “hero” vibe promised in the title. (Stagecoach Mary holds her own against a pack of wolves; Bass Reeves rides his horse off into the sunset, two captured criminals on the horse at his side; and a young Bob Lemmons corrals\u2014”BADUM, BADUM, BADUM”\u2014some mustangs.)<\/p>\n

The detailed historical backmatter includes information about the ways in which the cowboy lifestyle has been glamorized in Hollywood and how it was much more diverse than the stereotypes we have traditionally seen; the Mexican origins of cowboys; cattle drives and railroads; how barbed wire brought an end to the Old West era; Native Americans and Black Indians; and much, much more. The book includes photographs (you will see some below), paintings from the 1800s, a timeline, and a bibliography for further reading. <\/p>\n

Here are some more spreads from the book. …
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n

(Click image to see spread from which it comes)<\/em><\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
“She took on all the men’s jobs,
but her great passion was attending to the kids.”<\/em>
(Two images above: Click either one to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
Two images above: Click either one to see spread in its entirety<\/em><\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
“If we can’t beat him at cards, we’ll see how it goes with guns.”<\/em>
(Two images above: Click either one to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
“My name is Deputy US Marshal Bass Reeves. …”<\/em>
(Two images above: Click either one to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
“So if Bob Lemmons wanted to corral a herd …
all that he had to do … was to become a horse.”<\/em>
(Two images above: Click either one to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
“Bob was just as attentive at night as by day. …”<\/em>
(Two images above: Click either one to see spread in its entirety)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
The book’s introduction, written by Kadir Nelson<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
A backmatter spread<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
(Click cover to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
\n
 

\nHere is the September 2020 chat between Betsy Bird and James Otis Smith:
\n
 

\n