Trevor Von Eeden’s ‘The Original Johnson’ Debuts on ComicMix Tomorrow
Trevor von Eeden returns to comics tomorrow with a series that is especially meaningful to our American culture. It’s the story of boxer Jack Johnson, whom von Eeden describes as “the first psychologically free black man in American History.” This is the first major biography of Johnson created by an African-American artist.
The Original Johnson is the story about the man behind the face, a boxer who defeated white men in the ring and took their women after the show, who openly triumphed in white society. He was self-educated, well-read and fluent in three languages. And yet, as von Eeden says, “unlike today’s uncouth gangsta-rapper-thug black ‘stars,’ Jack Johnson had taste, style and class. He conquered racist America because he saw everything from the point of view of his own private joke. I want to explain that joke to our audience.”
Mike Gold, editor-in-chief of ComicMix, said, “I’ve known Trevor for more than three decades, and this is the best I’ve ever seen him do. This 240 page graphic novel is the work of a man reaching his creative peak.”
The timing could not be better as Congress last month passed a resolution, recommending President Bush grant a pardon for Johnson’s 1913 conviction, recognizing the racist overtones, and in order to exonerate Johnson and recognize his contribution to boxing. A similar Senate bill was sponsored by John McCain.
Johnson (1878-1946) was the first black heavyweight champion in the boxing world, reigning from 1908-1915 and participated in the first "Fight of the Century", defeating James J. Jeffries, the former champ, in 1910. The 1913 conviction was regarding his bi-racial marriage which was said to be a violation of the Mann Act.
After retiring from the ring, he opened a Harlem night spot in 1920 that became to be famously known a few years later as The Cotton Club. Johnson also holds a patent for modifications he made to a wrench.
Von Eeden remains the youngest artist employed by DC Comics, joining the company in 1977 and debuting on Black Lightning. He continued to work for the company for years and may be best remember for his work on Thriller, co-created with Robert Loren Fleming. He has also done extensive work for Continuity Associates and commercial efforts.
The Original Johnson will run every Wednesday on ComicMix.
I've been looking forward to this ever since Trevor told me about it a few years ago. This is very powerful stuff and it lives up to my high expectations.
I've been looking forward to this ever since Trevor told me about it a few years back. This is very powerful stuff and it lives up to my high expectations.
Johnson's 1913 conviction had nothing (directly) to do with his bi-racial marriages. Johnson's first wife shot herself. Some say this was because she was depressed and couldn't deal with society's condemnation of her interracial marriage to Johnson. I've also read that it was because she couldn't deal with traveling around the country with Johnson's two mistresses. Johnson would put them up in separate hotels in the same city. From: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/284…"Etta was never happy with that passion-by-appointment arrangement, but after several clouts to the head, she learned to mask her displeasure."OK. So the Original Mrs. Johnson commits suicide and in his "grief" Johnson hires an 18 year old stenographer, Lucille Cameron-Falconet, and begins to have an affair with her. The girl's mother accuses Johnson of kidnapping. “He has hypnotic powers,” said Lucy's mom, “and has used them on my little girl. I’d rather see my daughter spend the rest of her life in an insane asylum than see her the plaything of a nigger.” Johnson is tried under the Mann Act, but Lucy refuses to testify! The case is dropped and Johnson and Lucy marry. This is less than a YEAR after his first wife killed herself.OK, so Belle Schreiber had been one of Johnson's "traveling companions" during his first marriage. Belle had wired Johnson, asking for money. He sent her $200 and Belle had gone from Pennsylvania to Chicago, where she spent several nights showering him with gratitude. When Police found her later, working in a D.C. brothel, they used this story to try Johnson AGAIN under the Mann Act. This was two years after his first trial, around 1914. Belle testified against Johnson, possible to avoid prosecution as a prostitute, possibly because she was miffed at getting passed over for being Mrs. Johnson II.So, Johnson was convicted under the Mann Act, after being tried a second time. But his conviction had nothing (directly) to do with his interracial marriages.Jack is convicted. Instead of going to jail, Jack and Lucy skip town. They travel to Europe. Jack loses his title in Cuba. Finally Jack returns to the States in 1920. He's taken into custody and spends 11 months in prison. In 1924, Lucy divorces Johnson on grounds of infidelity. Less than a year later, he's married again to Irene Pineau.Johnson had gold capped front teeth. He was very proud of them. He was famous for flashing his golden smile, partly because it was an outward symbol of his own affluence. Personally, I made the association with gansta grills, but that might be my own racism rearing it's ugly, reptilian head. Johnson may have been a self educated, well read man, fluent in three languages. There seems to be evidence that he was also an unrepentant philanderer, a womanizer, who consorted with prostitutes and was possibly a wife beater. I can give Johnson points for taste and style. But seriously, I can't say that a wife beater who traveled about with prostitutes is all that classy.
"but that might be my own racism rearing its ugly, reptilian head."Based on the two comments you've made so far on this topic, I'm inclined to agree. You seem dead set to discount the actions and successes of the man based on two (one questionable and one patently unacceptable) personality traits. I must admit, this surprises me.
I'm not trying to discount his achievements. I'm just not willing to list his prowess with women as one of them. I'm not denying that Johnson was a boxing champion or that he forever altered how this country thinks of race. He had taste and style. But I'm not willing to call a wife beater, a womanizer and philanderer, who consorted with a string of prostitutes a "classy guy."
"Johnson's 1913 conviction had nothing (directly) to do with his bi-racial marriages."It had everything to do with his interracial sexual relationships, in addition to the fact that he kept beating White men in the boxing ring. To attempt to deny or minimize that fact is simply absurd. "So, Johnson was convicted under the Mann Act, after being tried a second time. But his conviction had nothing (directly) to do with his interracial marriages."Yes, he was tried and convicted of violating the Mann Act, by an all-White jury, despite the fact that he didn't violate the Mann Act, in the strictest sense. The Asst. Attorney General @ the time, Harry Parkin, basically admitted the reason for the prosecution right after the trial:*This verdict will go around the world. It is the fore-runner of laws to be passed in these United States which we may live to see, laws forbidding miscegenation. This negro, in the eyes of many, has been persecuted. Perhaps as an individual he was. But it was his misfortune to be the fore-most example of the evil in permitting the intermarriage of Whites and Blacks.*"Personally, I made the association with gansta grills, but that might be my own racism rearing it's ugly, reptilian head."I have no choice but to agree with your own suggestion about your own racism in regards to this association, considering that Johnson was wearing these teeth 100 years before any sort of "gangsta" image began."But seriously, I can't say that a wife beater who traveled about with prostitutes is all that classy."I agree, the man had many faults, and his personal life was in many ways, deplorable. I think too many folks have romantacized his memory (the original Johnson gn is also guilty of this, IMO), and attempt to portray him as a Black hero. In fact, I could argue that he did more harm than good because of his behavior. Perhaps if he had been more of an honorable champion, and been gracious towards his opponents, and respectful when talking to the press, the way Joe Luis was 20 years later (largely in response to the legacy of Johnson) he could have actually helped race relations improve during this time. Progress in Civil Rights might have been made much earlier in this country. Who knows?Nevertheless, that doesn't belie the fact that the government's prosecution of him was purely motivated by racism.
If Trevor von Eeden can make the claim that every time a man grabs his package it's in reference to "The Original Johnson," I don't think it's outlandish to think that the Golden Smile of Jack Johnson may have some connection to the grills of contemporary urban culture, even if that connection is only a metaphor that I'm reading into this. I was wrong to call myself a racist. But I won't say that you were wrong for agreeing with me. After all, I put it out there.For the record, I don't think Johnson's conviction under the Mann act was fair. I think that is was a set-up, probably with strong racist motivations. I think that Jack Johnson is an important figure in sports, culture and even World History. I think "The Original Johnson" is an important work, done with skill and talent that I will never grasp. The art is stunning. That said, I think the story (at least the portions that I've read) over-simplify Jack Johnson's life and times. They make him out to be more of a comic-book hero and legend than a man. Johnson's achievements are legendary, but I think it's fair to say that his life wasn't as exemplary as his boxing.
"If Trevor von Eeden can make the claim that every time a man grabs his package it's in reference to "The Original Johnson,"-"That was an extremely stupid statement, I wish it wasn't in the book."That said, I think the story (at least the portions that I've read) over-simplify Jack Johnson's life and times. "I got the entire book on Saturday, and it definitely over-simplifies Johnson's life, and downplays his faults. The man was not in the least bit interested in helping his race, he only cared about himself. Of course, the book stops after he won the championship, we'll have to wait for book 2, to see how it portrays the rest of his life, including his conviction and exile. For what I understand, Von Eaden isn't working on this one.In the meantime, a much more thorough examination of Johnson's life, good and bad, can be found in the Ken Burns documentary, Unforgivable Blackness.http://www.amazon.com/Unforgivable-Blackness-Rise…