Bronx Heroes Mp4 from Hunts Point on Vimeo.
Borough’s culture is regular feature of group’s comic
When most people think of comic book heroes, Batman and Superman come to mind. Ray Felix wants them to add the Boogie Down to the list.
Felix is the founder of Bronx Heroes, an organization dedicated to promoting comic book arts in the Bronx. The organization’s goal, he says, is to create comic books that celebrate the borough’s rich cultural and ethnic history through the work of local artists, and to help young people become successful comic book artists.
“If we can claim the Bronx economically and creatively as artists, that is the revolution,” said Felix, a Bronx native. “We need to take kids out of the prisons, away from the police, and empower them to be independent.”
Bronx Heroes participated in Comic Con, the biggest comic book convention in the country, at the Javits Center in Manhattan last October. The event attracted over 100,000 attendees in just four days. The group has been a presence at Comic Con since its creation in 2008.
Although Felix is wary of the increasing corporate character of the annual event, he says it provides unparalleled exposure for up and coming organizations like Bronx Heroes.
Most of the characters in Bronx Heroes don’t have super powers. Instead, they are a mix of historical figures and imaginary creations. Instead of X-Men, Bronx Heroes contains stories of Irish bootleggers, Jewish boxers and an exterminator who turns into a cockroach.
“I think what Bronx Heroes has on its side is history,” said Chris Duckett, a contributing artist to “Enter the Roach” and “A World Without Superheroes.”
“Without super powers, history creates an expanded universe for the characters to explore,” he added.
In 2012, the Bronx Heroes’ booth showcased the work of Trevor Von Eeden, the first black DC artist and the creator of “Black Lightning,” one of the first black superheroes with his own title. Von Eeden, a Bronx native, collaborated with Felix on a recent series entitled, “Black Power”.
Promoting ethnic diversity amongst its characters is another key aim of Bronx Heroes, according to Felix.
“For many years minority characters were stereotyped as pimps, hookers and thieves, or relegated to sidekicks,” Felix said. “We wanted to show kids that Black and Latino characters could be positive role models.”
Bronx Heroes began holding art shows at Longwood Gallery at Hostos Community College in 2006. In 2009, Felix decided to enter Comic Con, as the shows gained increased attention. Over 400 attended this year’s show in May at the Bronx Museum, which featured 40 artists’ booths, and offered workshops on drawing and marketing comics.
Although not a non-profit, the Grand Concourse- based group has received arts grants from the Bronx Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, among others, Felix says. He hopes sales of Bronx Heroes’ books will increase as the organization gains more recognition.
Felix has begun exploring other financial opportunities for the organization, encouraged by the enthusiastic feedback he has received, including a joint venture with soft drink company Bronx Pop that featured a line of sodas with Bronx Heroes characters on the labels.
Mentoring young artists is another core mission for the group. Last year, Felix and a colleague of his, Alex Simmons, worked with high-schoolers at Wings Academy to create their own comic book, which is slated for online release early next year.
This year, Felix worked with Bronx-based actor and comedian Justin Fornal to create a comic book titled, “The Adventures of Baron Ambrosia”, based on a character Fornal created for his show on the Cooking Channel. Fornal said he sees passion at the heart of what the young organization is doing.
“Bronx Heroes is great because it comes from a person who has lived in the Bronx and values its history, ” Fornal said. “It’s a strong name with a strong vision, and I hope it grows.”
About Post Author
