A new Black superhero has entered the Marvel comics universe, thanks to the vision and writings of a UC Riverside professor.
Dr. Al B. Harper, a physicist and friend of the Silver Surfer, is one of Marvel’s original Black characters, first appearing in a 1969 issue of “Silver Surfer #5.”
Harper’s character — originally created by late Marvel comics legends Stan Lee and John Buscema — has come back to life as a cosmic superhero in a new mini-series, “Silver Surfer: Ghost Light,” created by graphic novelist John Jennings and artist Valentine De Landro.
Jennings, the writer, is a professor of media and cultural studies at UC Riverside who has been involved with local exhibitions that showcase Black comic book heroes. He said the character of Ghost Light has been nearly 60 years in the making.
“Al Harper was the Silver Surfer’s first human friend, and he ended up having to sacrifice his life,” said Jennings, 52. “He was this character living in the woods, who was used to talk about issues of civil rights. … He didn’t have a background, a family. It just didn’t feel right for him to be in the ground when he saved the world.”
The new series is also the first time Silver Surfer, a fan-favorite cosmic hero from the planet Zenn-La, is in the hands of an all-Black creative team. Jennings hopes it’s one step in his ongoing work to diversify the comic book industry, and start conversations about race in media.
In the original story from 1969, Harper sacrifices his life to help the Silver Surfer and save humanity from an alien bomb. The Silver Surfer marks Harper’s grave with a cosmic flame, symbolizing his heroic deed.
The new series picks up a decade after his death, as Harper’s relatives are moving into his old house in fictitious Sweetwater, New York. Josh and Toni Brooks make discoveries in the house, including a secret lab, and release the Ghost Light — their formerly-deceased uncle, Dr. Al B. Harper — who has a new,…
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