A true celebration of a seminal, if long neglected, piece of comic book history, this is informative and charming and deserves the attention of every stalwart comic reader.

Different kind of comic. I felt like I was reading a piece of history. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

So, let me start by saying that this isn't the style of comics that I like, but that's down to the style of graphics, NOT the content. I liked the information behind the comics and their history, always a good thing to know and I appreciated the updated sequels to the first comics. A good resource to have and well worth a read.

In June of 1946, Orrin C. Evans, an African-American journalist that wrote for various “Negro” newspapers and magazines, made a decision to provide the black community with comic books that did not portray black heroes in the typical stereotypes in other forms of entertainment.

Evans assembled a group of black writers and authors to create the first “All-Negro” comic. There had been a comic being produced at the time, but it portrayed real life heroes of the black community. This was all pure fiction.

We are introduced to such characters as:
Ace Harlem, Detective
Lion Man, a scientist sent by the United Nations to protect the Uranium supply in the Gold Coast from any nation wanting to use it to build a weapon.
Sugarfoot and Snake Oil, two adventurous lads that seem to find trouble.
Lil’ Eggie, who is a hen-pecked husband that would have fit perfectly in the comic section of any daily newspaper.
Hep Chicks on Parade which showed the dress and fashion of black females at the time with a splash of humor.
And then the syfy/fantasy tale of the Dew Dillies.

There is also a tale of two brothers that find themselves in trouble with a criminal threatening their lives. There is a note by the publishers explaining the Post Office required a story be included in the middle of the comic.

The book closes with new episodes of each adventure.

This treasure had been lost many years. This 75th Anniversary Edition had originally released in 2023. It has now been remastered and placed in a nice hard cover.

It was interesting to see how each character was used. Even when leaning into stereotypes, there was a lesson involved in the entertainment. One thing you would not see today is a cartoon advertisement saying, “Remember- Crime doesn’t pay, kids! Stick to church and use up you energy in good clean sports.” Times sure have changed.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book made me smile. As a longtime comic fan, I really appreciated seeing so many Black characters featured. It was also refreshing to be introduced to some incredibly talented artists.

It's clear why this is such an acclaimed volume -- not just for the restoration of the original work and the reminder that Black creators have been part of the American comics scene for decades, but also for the accompanying essays and modern stories inspired by the original collection. This is a must read for anyone reading comics.

I really enjoyed this collection of comics. It’s like a time capsule of a book. As a person who loves comics. I enjoy finding and collecting Nubia, Wonder Woman and Namor comics. This book gave a look back to comic origins. The development of Black characters by Black creators. You can see over time the characters more and more reflect the social and political climate of the era they were written in. You can see the change in how Black women were drawn and their roles over time. We must know if it weren’t for this comics there may not have been a Nubia or Black panther. These comics have a deeper message than just a fun read.

I absolutely loved All-Negro Comics 75th Anniversary Edition. This collection not only preserves a pivotal moment in comic book history, but it also shines a light on the incredible talent and creativity of Black artists and writers both past and present. The remastered original, insightful essays, and new stories make it a must-read for fans of comics and history alike. A truly inspiring and joyful tribute that belongs on every bookshelf!

A cultural milestone and a collection of historical significance, the 'All-Nego Comics 75th Anniversary Edition' should hold space next to other important creations of the same time. An anthology featuring gritty noir, folk mythology, a new superhero, and other shorts and prose, this all-original comic is well-produced by a cast of all-black creators from the early 1950s. This is concluded with new stories written and illustrated by contemporary creators who put a more modern spin on these stories. All-in-all, this is an excellent collection for anyone interested in the history of comics, African Americans in the industry, and for anyone who supports creative independence.

This was such a fabulous find. All-Negro Comics from 1947 was created entirely by Black writers and artists, which was basically unheard of back then. Getting to compare the original comics with this updated anniversary edition was really interesting—you can see how much things have changed (and what hasn't). The stories themselves are fun. "Ace Harlem" is a detective story with great dialogue and artwork, "Lion Man" features one of the first Black superheroes, and there's even a cute kids' comic called "Dew Dillies." Yeah, some of it feels dated, but that's kind of the point—it's a time capsule. What really made this special for me as a Black reader were the essays included in this edition. They helped me understand the significance of what these creators were doing in 1947 by pushing back against stereotypes and creating characters we could actually see ourselves in. The essays talk about activism and representation in ways that made me appreciate the comic even more.
The new colorized version looks great, and honestly, this whole collection is just a testament to Black creativity and resilience. Definitely worth checking out if you're into comics, history, or both.

Once again, I have learned something new about my own culture! This book feels like it was written for a very specific, niche audience and I’m so glad they have this.

Published by Image Comics and available November 4, 2025, All-Negro Comics is an anniversary reprint of the first comic anthology by all Black creators, first published in 1947. I knew I was going to love editor Chris Robinson's approach to the material from his introduction, where he lays out his tenants for the book: "Tell, Teach, Tribute," encouraging the readers to pass along what we learn to others-- tell others about it, leave a review, or make our own comics starring the characters. I'm happy to do just that. This comic book celebrates Black heroism, culture, humor, and pride in African heritage. We've got a hard-boiled police detective, cute fairy-like beings for kids, adventure stories, and even an attempt to reclaim, in the words of the original editor Orrin Cromwell Evans, the "almost lost humor of the lovable wandering Negro minstrel of the past." Sometimes it's jarring to modern readers, which is good -- the past was the worst and no one was perfect. The comics overall are fun, and it's sad knowing this was the only issue published. The essays included in this edition give the reader more context, and the bonus modern comics are a fun addition that reimagine the original works. I really want to suggest this to our library's Western graphic novel selector.

This is a historic and meaningful collection of comics. They're a wonderful relic of the age and marks such a wonderful achievement. It's amazing how far we have come with representation in comics. I almost take for granted reading such diverse stories that I forget where we started. Thank you for this wonderful read and quite humorous in places with the 1950's slang! I loved it

Three quarters of a century ago, Orrin C. Evans led a team of cartoonists to create the first comic book anthology of original Black characters created by Black talent, with the expressed purpose of entertaining while rejecting harmful stereotypes and pushing boundaries in the industry. This was only 8 years after Action Comics #1, 6 years after Captain America #1 and a whole 19 years before Black Panther hit the pages of Fantastic Four.
Remembering that these comics are from the 1940 stops any remarks about stereotypes.  I had no idea there were black only comics,  a black "Dick Tracy" that is just as corny as the white version. As usually it's OK to be derogatory to women, as seen in many panels of these comics.  I'd like to say that is a product of its time as well, but unfortunately, it's still a safe bet.
The art is fantastic, though some of the story lines are hard to follow simply because I don't get all the slang.
An important collection that needs to be seen and appreciated.
Highly recommended.  Publishing date Nov. 04, 2025

Thanks to @netgalley and Image Comics for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the first comic book by Black artists for Black readers in the United States, since I wasn't around during the period in which it was created, nor am I the intended audience, but the language, especially the creativity expressed through punctuation, is truly a delight to glimpse in our age of over-adherence to rules.

*** Possible Spoilers ***

From “Ace Harlem”: Two vicious young hep-cats, new to crime, but confident they can get away with it. – And, like all criminals,– they are too smart to get caught – – – – they think!!!

From “Dew Dillies”: Gimme a hand Bibber!........Ol' goolygator got me!

From “Sugarfoot”: What curvesome aroma! What luscious cookery!

Fun writing, right? Four stars for the original anthology and another star for the insightful companion essays included in the 75th anniversary edition.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

It's so refreshing to see African American comics from such a long time ago! As an often underrepresented group in comics, having these preserved means a lot to me, and provides a lot of insight as well. They're a glimpse into the art, language, and thoughts of the time that offer a unique perspective on the culture at that point. Although there are some veeery dated takes/portrayals (Lionman and Egbert come to mind first, I didn't rock with them like that...), I do think this is a very valuable resource for comic historians, especially those wishing to research African American comic history. It's nice to guess at the influences these artists had, and the written portions discussing individual experiences with the comics industry since were very insightful. I also appreciated bringing in current creators to bring some new life into these characters and stories. I can definitely feel the care put into this I'm glad that these weren't lost to time!

Thank you Image Comics and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Did you know that there once was an all Black comic book created by an all Black team of cartoonists?

Lead by Orrin C. Evans, All-Negro Comics is the first comic book anthology of original Black characters created with the purpose of entertaining while rejecting harmful stereotypes and pushing boundaries in the industry. "All-Negro Comics 75th Anniversary Edition preserves that history for generations to come, containing All-Negro Comics #1, several essays for historical context and contemporary reflection, as well as new stories by Black writers and artists of today, featuring the original characters."

Ace Harlem, Lion Man & Bubba, Sugarfoot & Snake Oil, and Dew Dillies all deserve to be household names.
While I'm not the biggest fan of superhero movies, l'd be first in line to see Lion Man. Lion Man isn't your typical costumed superhero but rather an educated scientist tasked with defending Africa's Gold Coast. How heroic is that?! Ace Harlem represents "the outstanding contributions of thousands of fearless, intelligent Negro police officers engaged in a constant fight against crime throughout the United States." With Sugarfoot and Snakeoil, "we hope to recapture the almost lost humor of the loveable wandering Negro minstrel of the past." Finally, Dew Dillies "will give all of us an opportunity to romp through a delightful, almost fairy-like land of make-believe." I appreciate the intention.

I want more! It's a shame that this comic book was intentionally discontinued despite its success and demand from its readers. What a disservice to the comic book community. This reprint should certainly spark conversation and hopefully be the catalyst to push more Black artists and comics to the forefront. Highly recommend!
Thank you @netgalley @imagecomics!

"All-Negro Comics: America’s First Black Comic Book" by Chris Robinson and Orrin C. Evans is an extraordinary celebration of cultural history, artistic brilliance, and resilient storytelling. This book not only delves into the origins of the first comic book created entirely by African American artists and writers, but it also honors the legacy of those trailblazers with meticulous research and heartfelt narrative.

The authors masterfully weave historical context with vivid illustrations, making the content both engaging and educational. The book shines a spotlight on the fearless creators who defied the social constraints of their time to tell authentic stories that resonated within and beyond the Black community.

What stands out is the meticulous attention to detail and the depth of insight into the socio-political climate surrounding the original publication. The blend of historical analysis with beautifully restored comic panels creates an immersive experience that’s both informative and visually captivating.

This book is not just a must-read for comic enthusiasts, but also for anyone interested in American history, cultural studies, and the evolution of storytelling. Robinson and Evans have crafted a powerful homage that preserves and amplifies the voices of pioneering Black artists and writers.

Highly recommended for its rich content, inspiring stories, and significant cultural impact. A true 5-star gem!