Maroon Comix: Origins and Destinies

by Quincy Saul (Editor), Seth Tobocman (Illustrator), Mac McGill (Illustrator)

Escaping slavery in the Americas, maroons made miracles in the mountains, summoned new societies in the swamps, and forged new freedoms in the forests. They didn’t just escape and steal from plantations—they also planted and harvested polycultures. They not only fought slavery but proved its opposite, and for generations they defended it with blood and brilliance. Maroon Comix is a fire on the mountain where maroon words and images meet to tell stories together. Stories of escape and homecoming, exile and belonging. Stories that converge on the summits of the human spirit, where the most dreadful degradation is overcome by the most daring dignity. Stories of the damned who consecrate their own salvation. With selections and citations from the writings of Russell Maroon Shoatz, Herbert Aptheker, C.L.R. James, and many more, accompanied by comics and illustrations from Songe Riddle, Mac McGill, Seth Tobocman, and others, Maroon Comix is an invitation to never go back, to join hands and hearts across space and time with the maroons and the mountains that await their return.

Genres: History, Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction

72 pages, Paperback

Published July 12, 2018

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you read this, you'll never use the term "maroon" for a stupid person again.

The history lessons here are amazing. Some of the stuff on modern-day maroons struck me as a little starry-eyed, the characterization of Cuba in particular. But overall this was fantastic.

[Marius Jaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bold and engaging edited collection of images, text, narrative, history, and politics about Maroons. The reading lists at the end are worth the comix price alone. Powerful curated collection of contemporary and historical works, offered in an accessible, readable, and visually bold format that is larger than most comics and graphic novels. Some great story telling skills at work in here.

No question. Buy this. Far more value than the cost. This is like finding the core of a rhizome and you’ve now got 1,968 new possible paths to pursue.

[Rosey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories told in the of comic, they are inspiring, powerful and real histories of maroon communities told beautifully.

[Shelley Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating basic introduction to an important part of history that has been ignored. Maroons were self-emancipated enslaved people who, from the 16th century onwards, established self-sufficient communities (some of them still in existence today), waged war against enslavers and colonizers (sometimes in alliance with indigenous nations), and provided hope and inspiration to many. These communities existed throughout the Caribbean and the Americas.

In some cases these communities were multi-racial, as white indentured servants also fled exploitive working conditions and joined black communities.

The black and white art work works well, and there is a bibliography. It is clear that Maroons are still inspiring activists today from the writing. There are too many guns in the illustrations for my taste, and nonviolence as a method of struggle is not highlighted, but the comix did pique my interest to learn more about Maroons.