Blokhed Twinz
Remember how much Afro Samurai sucked? No, really it sucked. We had a friend working on the video game planned to accompany the series, and they took homie's job right out from under him after the series ended. That's how much it sucked. Well, you know why it sucked? Because it didn't have a sense of authenticity. There was no uniquely Afro struggle to relate to. It was all giant teddy bear heads and Samuel L. Jackson, cooning like the last negro on the plantation (Sorry Sam, you know we love you but we gotta call it like we see it.)
Truth of fact is Mark and Mike Davis, creators of the franchise Blokhedz, should have been on that project. If they had touched it, maybe Afro Samurai would have felt more…real. Code Z isn't doing anything new covering these young men with a herculean D.I.Y. attitude. CNN, FOX, and The Source have already written about their novelty. But it's the business savvy nature of these Boston born twins that has us mesmerized. Already they've got a merchandizing deal with DKE Toys and International Enterprise, not to mention an animated short on their website. And not one of those jinky flash animations; this is some real deal digital stop motion with a hip-hop soundtrack. Word is a movie isn't long in the coming.
With no mainstream play these brothers have been pushing Blokhedz Graphic Novel #1 non-stop since 2003. I'm not saying the book is perfect, but it's just as readable as any of the animated Hellboy books of the same size and demeanor. Plus, well, you know…It has Black people in it! The book is available at your usual suspects of online retailers.
21 June 2007