Noe’s Comics Nook: Noir is the New Black: Expanded Edition

Review

This expanded edition of Noir is the New Black features 18 stories, by nearly 50 creators, and includes some fun behind the scenes additional content at the back of the volume. The anthology defines noir as “a genre of crime fiction featuring hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings.” This is more than broad enough to capture the wide range of stories and settings at play throughout the anthology, which includes both short stories that feel complete all their own, as well as some stories that feel like just the beginning of a larger universe about to unfold.

As always, it is difficult to review anthologies in full – each comic would require its own, separate review – so I will highlight one that has stood with me since I first read it. In this case, that is the story “Southern Hospitality” by Mikhail Hardy, Eli Johnson, and Robin L. Davis. This is what I would call a work of “historical noir,” as it highlights the very real discrimination and attempts at integration through military service that happened in the US throughout the early 20th century, and does so in a tell-tale bleak bar setting. In this short story, we see JJ take a trip to a bar frequented by KKK members, seeking to avenge a murder. I won’t ruin the story, but these words haven’t left my mind: “This moment isn’t rage. This is resilience.”

Resilience, and acting out of need, are common throughout the anthology. As are explicit language, hate-speech, and violence, all used purposefully, all with need, to move the story along and to tell the story that needs telling. I share so you, future readers, are ready, not to warn or move you away from reading. It wouldn’t be noir to shy away from the hard things, the painful things, the dangerous things, now would it?

The copyright section of this anthology notes that it is “volume 1.” I can only hope that this is true, because we need more Black noir and anthologies like this are a perfect vehicle to highlight the comics being made, the careers on the rise, and move the needle ever-so-slightly forward on a more equitable publishing landscape.

Elements of Story

Plot: A collection of Black noir stories, created by a collection of 47 creators.

Characters: N/A

Major Settings: N/A

Themes: Crime; Racism; Hope; Struggle

Lesson Plan Idea Using Common Core Standards (CCS) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful.

Directions: Noir is the New Black opens with a foreword by Shawn Martinbrough that reflects on the definition of “noir,” remarking that this is something people seem to be often confused about – perhaps because formal definitions leave something wanting. He ends on a note of hope, that once readers have read this anthology, perhaps then they will know what the term means.

For this assignment, students are tasked with answering this very call to action: to define noir. Students will be assigned to read the full anthology, all 18 stories, within Noir is the New Black, and provided with some examples of people grappling with the definition of “noir.” One example I like is this Medium post (https://medium.com/topic-stories/what-is-noir-the-genre-is-more-diverse-than-you-think-d8e9dfe672bd) exploring the diversity of noir storytelling in film, but there are countless other options. What matters is that it is context that gets students thinking and building up their own way of defining the genre, because that is what they will tasked to do after their reading.

Students are tasked with presenting a definition of noir and providing in-text examples from Noir is the New Black to support their definition. Examples should make reference to themes, tone, artwork, etc. from at least five of the stories in the anthology. Students are encouraged to explore other noir media, particularly film, to use as reference or comparison. This assignment may be completed as either a paper, as a podcast, or as a comic. (Instructor note: if possible, I’d encourage splitting students into groups of three for this, which will encourage presenting their findings in more creative ways.)