Zo makes black history
COMIC BOOK WRITING CRIME FIGHTER INSISTS IT’S “HIP TO GIVE TIPS.” By John Batten
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (NBCActionNews.com) – A local figure whose fictional creations somewhat mirror his own life has been honored nationally. Alonzo Washington has been named to The Grio’s 100 list. “100 African-Americans in 10 different fields that are making black history,” he explained.
On a rainy day in Kansas City, Washington was handing out fliers to encourage citizens to call in tips to solve crimes, and making a radio appearance to get across his message “it’s hip to give tips.” Those are just two of the ways he fights crime, much like the characters in his line of comic books featuring African-American heroes.
They were created as a tool to help him in his work as a community activist trying to reach young people. “I said well, there’s something that I can do to capture their attention a little bit more than just talking,” he recalled.
At his first signing, he says about a thousand people showed up. That’s when he knew the comics could become a successful business that could fund his community activism as well.
Since then, the comic line has grown.
“I’m one of the few African-American publishers that have a universe of characters; I have Omega Man, Original Woman, Mighty Ace, Dark Force, Dark Wolf Assasin…” he counted off just some of the characters.
“When I first started it, Omega Man came from a future with an African-American president. I thought that was fiction, that’s reality now,” he said.
To read this article in its entirety, please visit NBCActionNews.com