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Neat Boxing Story from Trevor Von Eedon

Thanks to Mark Evanier for linking to this interesting comic by Trevor Von Eeden detailing the life of Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion of the world.

You can read the comic here (it's 59 pages in so far).

Note: The comic is what one would term "for mature readers only."

  • Posted on December 28, 2008 @ 10:17 AM

9 Comments

Wow, Von Eeden. I loved his Batman stuff. It's good to know he's uh...still doing comics. Jack Johnson is kinda cool, I guess.

....I read the first three pages and I'm amazed in a way I'm unfamiliar with.

My dad passed away and he left some comic books that are very old, classics illustrated by lewis carrol Alice in wonderland #49 july 1946, Huckleberry Finn by Samuel L. Clemens #19 january 1945, The song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow # 57 march 1949, A Tale of Two cities #6 by Charles Dickens, The Lady of the Lake # 75 by Sir Walter Scott september 1950. HOOEY September 1932. I dont know how to sale them or how to find out what they'er worth. can someone help me please.

I like the art and page design (and the fine lettering from John Workman, of course), but the prose is... yeah.

This was really annoying, let me guess, the author's black.

I thought it was going to, I don't know, tell us the story about some guy that history put on the sidelines. All this is is one great heavy handed propaganda piece about f'n awesome this guy is, how blacks have suffered, all whiteys are hateful, and just the bare mention of the main subject other then how "naturally" baddass he was.

This is just juvenile crap.

After reading wikipedia on this guy I can see that's there's so much he could have done with a story of his life and yet he decides to write a propaganda like this is still the early 19th century. He led a fascinating life and yet all we get is this roo rah sis boom bah whitey's the devil tripe.

I'm a Von Eden fan and a Jack Johnsons fan, so on paper this project sounds great, but the prose is really bad. And Johnson sounds like he came straight from the 70s.

Gotta love the line "When black men anywhere grab their dicks, they're celebrating the memory of...THE ORIGINAL JOHNSON."

Is Trevor Von Eeden black? I don't think it would be as funny that way.

I look at it as a "what the hell" kind of thing but that's not exactly bad. Neat is a good word, I think.

trevor von eeden

May 1, 2009 at 1:16 am

It's still amazing to me, how narrow-minded people with preconceived notions can be--and proudly so! I don't mind negative comments--as a matter of fact, I prefer criticism to praise--it helps one grow.

But time and time again, after reading the conclusions that some people have come to, just by reading 50 or so pages of a 240 page book--it still amazes me how proudly closed-minded some people can be!

I wrote the book. I know what's to come. These people have no idea of the true content of my story. They react to what they imagine is to come--or, what they seem to think that they already KNOW--about a man whose life they have obviously have never even researched for themselves. All they seem to know is what they've been told--by a notoriously racist press, and culture--when it comes to this great man's life. (Note: I did not say this great 'black' man's life!)

Answer me this ONE question: What do the titles "The Great White Hope", and "Unforgivable Blackness" have to do with a black man's point of view, whatsoever? Who, exactly, is guilty of "propaganda" here?

Jack Johnson was far above the limited expectations, and definitions of the racist culture he so soundly, spectacularly, and single-handedly conquered! And HOW was he able to do this? Has any other account of his life even attempted to posit the REASON behind his remarkable outlook--and victory, over an entire NATION of racists? Has his philosophy of life ever been presented? Is anyone aware that he DID have a philosophy of life, at all? Do you know, for example, that Jack Johnson was an avid admirer of Herbert Spencer--or do any of my narrow-minded "critics" even know who Herbert Spencer was? Oh, but I forget--they already know all that there is to know about Jack--his story has been told many times before--and always by white men. Is THIS fact--or the aforementioned fact that the titles of the two projects most closely associated with Jack Johnson have NOTHING to do with a black man's point of view AT ALL--significant to anyone? When my entire book is finally made available to the public, I'm slightly curious to know what these same people's reactions will be--but only slightly. I'm more interested to hear from the intelligent critics out there.

My book is a painstakingly researched, fact-based account of one HUMAN BEING'S life--and one that you've never seen, or read before--not the stereotyped cliche that the TRUE propagandists in history have turned this great man's story into. The color of my skin, or Jack's, has NOTHING to do with the truth of his story--and that was my single intent, in writing this book--to tell the truth about this man. To render him Justice. Propaganda? I have no agenda but the truth, here. Read my entire story, then judge for yourself what I have written--but first--open your mind. That's good advice, in ANY instance.

Does the phrase "jumping the gun" seem familiar to anyone?

I stand by my book, in its entirety--as it was written. And of it, I remain VERY proud.

-Trevor Von Eeden.

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