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Incognegro Graphic Novels #2
Incognegro: Renaissance
A page-turning thriller of racial divide, Incognegro: Renaissance explores segregation, secrets and self-image as our race-bending protagonist penetrates a world where he feels stranger than ever before.
When a black writer is found dead at a scandalous interracial party in 1920s' New York, Harlem's cub reporter Zane Pinchback is the only one determined to solve the murder. Zane must go "Incognegro" for the first time, using his light appearance to pass as a white man to find the true killer, in this prequel miniseries to the critically acclaimed Vertigo graphic novel, now available in a special new 10th Anniversary Edition.
With a cryptic manuscript as his only clue, and a mysterious and beautiful woman as the murder's only witness, Zane finds himself on the hunt through the dark and dangerous streets of "roaring twenties" Harlem in search for justice. In a time when looks could kill . . . Zane's skin is the only thing keeping him alive.
When a black writer is found dead at a scandalous interracial party in 1920s' New York, Harlem's cub reporter Zane Pinchback is the only one determined to solve the murder. Zane must go "Incognegro" for the first time, using his light appearance to pass as a white man to find the true killer, in this prequel miniseries to the critically acclaimed Vertigo graphic novel, now available in a special new 10th Anniversary Edition.
With a cryptic manuscript as his only clue, and a mysterious and beautiful woman as the murder's only witness, Zane finds himself on the hunt through the dark and dangerous streets of "roaring twenties" Harlem in search for justice. In a time when looks could kill . . . Zane's skin is the only thing keeping him alive.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2018
5 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Mat Johnson
41 books443 followersMat Johnson is an American writer of literary fiction who works in both prose and the comics format. In 2007, he was named the first USA James Baldwin Fellow by United States Artists.
Johnson was born and raised in the Germantown and Mount Airy communities in Philadelphia.
His mother is African American and his father is Irish Catholic. He attended Greene Street Friends School, West Chester University, University of Wales, Swansea, and ultimately received his B.A. from Earlham College. In 1993 he was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. Johnson received his M.F.A. from Columbia University School of the Arts (1999).
Johnson has taught at Rutgers University, Columbia University, Bard College, and The Callaloo Journal Writers Retreat. He is now a permanent faculty member at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. Johnson lives in Houston.
Johnson was born and raised in the Germantown and Mount Airy communities in Philadelphia.
His mother is African American and his father is Irish Catholic. He attended Greene Street Friends School, West Chester University, University of Wales, Swansea, and ultimately received his B.A. from Earlham College. In 1993 he was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. Johnson received his M.F.A. from Columbia University School of the Arts (1999).
Johnson has taught at Rutgers University, Columbia University, Bard College, and The Callaloo Journal Writers Retreat. He is now a permanent faculty member at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program. Johnson lives in Houston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 19, 2023
Incognegro was one of the first graphic novels that completely blew my mind, and this prequel is also well worth reading. Can totally be read as a standalone. A murder mystery set in the Harlem Renaissance, starring a Black reporter who is light-skinned enough to go undercover as a white man, IMHO this balances very well the mystery/thriller aspect with the exploration of race and passing.
February 8, 2019
The graphic novel presents a murder mystery that takes place during the Harlem Renaissance. It's a fascinating period of history, and this book has motivated me to look into it more. The main theme is black identity, and this story is successful in revealing that black identity is much more complex than most people assume. This is well worth reading.
October 1, 2019
I am so glad that there is a new Incognegro book; I am a fan of the original and like everyone else enjoyed the original. This story is a prequel and takes place during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's and before the original story. As a native Harlemite, I enjoyed the story especially the historical references because despite the Gentrification that is happening in Harlem, the connection to the past is still strong.
Our protagonist Zane Pinchback is a Cub Reporter who decides to investigate a murder at a party that happens when originally covering the release of a new book. Pinchback decides to use his skills, especially being a Light Skinned Black Man and discovers that there is more to the murder of a Black Man which the Police has dismissed.
The story covers issues of Race and Sexuality which are still prevalent today. For those who have an issue with the group Black Lives Matter need to understand that the lives of African Americans today are still ignored despite the election of the 1st African American President and the current Zenophobia that is rising because of the current occupant of the White House that condones it.
The story from Mat Johnson is excellent and the artwork doesn't disappoint. Like the original book,highly recommended not just for Middle and High School, in Universities in our nation. Race still remains a problem because this nation hasn't addressed it which makes the story so relevant. I want to see another Incognergo story soon.
Our protagonist Zane Pinchback is a Cub Reporter who decides to investigate a murder at a party that happens when originally covering the release of a new book. Pinchback decides to use his skills, especially being a Light Skinned Black Man and discovers that there is more to the murder of a Black Man which the Police has dismissed.
The story covers issues of Race and Sexuality which are still prevalent today. For those who have an issue with the group Black Lives Matter need to understand that the lives of African Americans today are still ignored despite the election of the 1st African American President and the current Zenophobia that is rising because of the current occupant of the White House that condones it.
The story from Mat Johnson is excellent and the artwork doesn't disappoint. Like the original book,highly recommended not just for Middle and High School, in Universities in our nation. Race still remains a problem because this nation hasn't addressed it which makes the story so relevant. I want to see another Incognergo story soon.
August 9, 2020
A fantastic follow-up to Johnson’s prior Incognegro book. Maybe not as original or as vital as the first, but no less confident in its take on the genre conventions of film noir/hardboiled fiction.
November 25, 2018
Johnson and Pleece have done it again. This prequel to their original graphic novel — Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery — takes us back to when Zane Pinchback was a cub reporter getting no respect from anyone. Once again we get amazing grayscale drawing and excellent writing, along with a thrilling mystery.
Whereas the original book dealt largely with the state of the South during this period, Renaissance stays in New York during the height of the Harlem Renaissance. This story provides a view into the racism and systemic oppression in the “better” North. It also tells the story of how Zane learned to pass as a white person and how he wrestles with the morality and contradictory feelings of partaking in privileges denied to his friends and neighbors, even for a good cause.
But, the book does not forget that it is a thriller and the mystery at the heart of the plot delivers. I am not sure how Mat Johnson keeps writing books that are so honest about so many dark topics, and don’t feel cluttered when it comes to story telling, and still manage to have happy endings that feel satisfying; but I hope he keeps doing it.
Meanwhile, I’m looking to see if Pleece has done more I should read. His consistent and careful style just sucks you in. He has a subtlety in how he uses setting — what is included, what is not — and framing that adds layers to the story while not taking the reader out of it.
Whereas the original book dealt largely with the state of the South during this period, Renaissance stays in New York during the height of the Harlem Renaissance. This story provides a view into the racism and systemic oppression in the “better” North. It also tells the story of how Zane learned to pass as a white person and how he wrestles with the morality and contradictory feelings of partaking in privileges denied to his friends and neighbors, even for a good cause.
But, the book does not forget that it is a thriller and the mystery at the heart of the plot delivers. I am not sure how Mat Johnson keeps writing books that are so honest about so many dark topics, and don’t feel cluttered when it comes to story telling, and still manage to have happy endings that feel satisfying; but I hope he keeps doing it.
Meanwhile, I’m looking to see if Pleece has done more I should read. His consistent and careful style just sucks you in. He has a subtlety in how he uses setting — what is included, what is not — and framing that adds layers to the story while not taking the reader out of it.
March 3, 2019
Incognegro: Renaissance is a fine book, well worth reading for its exploration of the Harlem renaissance and the concept of "passing". However, the mystery portion is pretty tepid with a clear villain and a notable lack of red herrings or femme fatales. This is no edge-of-your seat thriller. Mat Johnson spices conversations with some delightful humor, but he also offers pages and pages of dialogue with little action - a sign that he might be more suited to novels than graphic novels. Warren Pleece's black-and-white art is serviceable. Incognegro: Renaissance won't blow your socks off, but you're probably not going to find another mystery set in the Harlem renaissance soon, so it's worth reading for that fact alone.
March 16, 2021
Man, I loved this period adventure/crime story, read in the five issue series, thanks to the comics section at Half Price Books and the Berger Books imprint of publisher Dark Horse Comics.
Big fun: now I have to read the other book!
Recommended.
Big fun: now I have to read the other book!
Recommended.
February 19, 2019
The only thing that I can say that takes away from this book for me the the transition from one setting to another. It’s so jarring, you would think that you skipped a page or two. I enjoyed the mystery of it all, but it was kinda obvious to me, but at the same time the message was received and still very relevant to today. I liked this comic, and definitely continue to read and support.
March 14, 2019
Engaging story and characters with excellent art.
November 2, 2022
Much has been written about the Harlem Renaissance, where an area of New York City that had formerly been white became a dynamic black neighborhood. Such ethnic changes were part of what is known as the great migration, where blacks fled the segregated south in search of jobs and more economic opportunity. Many of the more talented ended up in Harlem and there began a flowering of what became black pride, a separate artistic thread as well as some intermingling of artistic and cultural works.
One of the milestones was a party for the 1924 novel by Jessie Redmon Fauset called “There Is Confusion,” a party attended by some of the most powerful white publishing executives. After this party where rising black writers and editors attended, works by black writers began appearing in mainstream magazines.
A party similar to that forms the opening scene of this graphic novel. Zane, a low-level reporter for a black newspaper, and Carl are attending a party for writer Arna Van Horn, celebrating his latest work. Zane is very light skinned black man that can pass for white and when there, they meet Xavier, a very exuberant black man that is also a writer. There is reasonable mingling of the races until Xavier is found dead in the bathtub, his wrists cut.
The police show no interest in considering the death of Xavier as being anything other than a suicide, their concern is more with cleaning up the social mess. Yet, Zane is convinced that it was a murder, and his main lead was an actress that was at the party. He follows the leads and on occasion passes for white when the situation is advantageous. Hence, the word “incognegro” in the title.
The storyline involves many instances of how the members of the black culture use their knowledge to come to the aid of Zane when he gets into difficulties. It is a very revealing look back into the days when blacks were relegated to secondary roles and doors were opened for the light skinned that simply would not have existed otherwise.
The murder/exploitation crimes are eventually solved by Zane and his allies. That solution is almost a subplot to what is more interesting, how smart blacks navigated the borders between the white and black cultures as they existed in the 1920’s and ‘30’s. You conclude that there is a great deal of truth in this rendition.
One of the milestones was a party for the 1924 novel by Jessie Redmon Fauset called “There Is Confusion,” a party attended by some of the most powerful white publishing executives. After this party where rising black writers and editors attended, works by black writers began appearing in mainstream magazines.
A party similar to that forms the opening scene of this graphic novel. Zane, a low-level reporter for a black newspaper, and Carl are attending a party for writer Arna Van Horn, celebrating his latest work. Zane is very light skinned black man that can pass for white and when there, they meet Xavier, a very exuberant black man that is also a writer. There is reasonable mingling of the races until Xavier is found dead in the bathtub, his wrists cut.
The police show no interest in considering the death of Xavier as being anything other than a suicide, their concern is more with cleaning up the social mess. Yet, Zane is convinced that it was a murder, and his main lead was an actress that was at the party. He follows the leads and on occasion passes for white when the situation is advantageous. Hence, the word “incognegro” in the title.
The storyline involves many instances of how the members of the black culture use their knowledge to come to the aid of Zane when he gets into difficulties. It is a very revealing look back into the days when blacks were relegated to secondary roles and doors were opened for the light skinned that simply would not have existed otherwise.
The murder/exploitation crimes are eventually solved by Zane and his allies. That solution is almost a subplot to what is more interesting, how smart blacks navigated the borders between the white and black cultures as they existed in the 1920’s and ‘30’s. You conclude that there is a great deal of truth in this rendition.
September 17, 2020
Ten years after
Incognegro
, Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece return with a prequel that gives us the origin story of the infamous Incognegro. Zane Pinchback, a white-passing Black journalist, crashes a book release party and becomes embroiled in a murder mystery when a Black writer turns up dead. The cops write it off as a suicide, but Pinchback suspects foul play. Why was there a manuscript lying next to him? Pleece's black-and-white art is crisp and clean, and it's nice to see his work on the urban landscape of Harlem as opposed to the Deep South. Johnson once again explores racial identity, but far from being a simple retread of the original book, it tackles some really fascinating issues unique to white-passing Black people (and all white-passing POC). Although we know Pinchback goes on to use his privilege for good, he's initially hesitant, guilty for being able to move through spaces his dark-skinned brothers can't. The mystery itself is pretty straightforward and simple, and the story overall isn't as deep and layered as Incognegro, but it's a worthy follow-up, and both these books are just itching to become a TV series. Fun, though-provoking stuff, with good historical context.
February 4, 2024
I don't typically read graphic novels but I was absorbed from the first page, and happily so. Thanks to this book, I intend to seek out more graphic novels to read in the future. This novel tells the story of a journalist investigating the suspicious death of a black writer at the home of a white writer during a scandalous interracial party. The journalist is able to "pass" due to his light skin and with a few disguising tricks. Set during the Harlem Renaissance, the language is authentic but jarring at times and the culture and attitudes are difficult to stomach, though we still hear similar statements and witness identical attitudes daily in present times. The history, the mystery, and the dialogue all make this novel engaging, exciting, and un-put-downable. I read it in just a couple of hours, and I'm eager to read more from these authors and about that time.
📰📰📰📰📰 Would strongly recommend
📰📰📰📰📰 Would strongly recommend
November 6, 2020
This is a prequel to Incognegro before Zane Pinchback becomes the acclaimed undercover journalist at the fictional, Black-owned New Holland Herald exposing racial violence. In his first assignment he sets out on his own to solve the murder of his friend, a Black writer, and at an interracial party in 1920's Harlem. It's also it's the first time Pinchback passes for white to navigate NYC in the roaring 20's to find justice for his friend. Again, the author deftly weaves humor and the terror of the era together. There's a little romance, and we get a taste of the Harlem Renaissance social scene. I really could use a few more volumes featuring Zane Pinchback!
February 9, 2020
Set during the Harlem Renaissance, this book follows a murder that happens at a literary party. Journalist Zane Pinchback goes on the case to find out the story behind a young aspiring writer's death, as the police brush it off as suicide. He teams up with an actress to uncover the truth.
I picked this up because 1) I am fascinated by the Harlem Renaissance and 2) I loved Incognegro when I read it for a graphic novel course in college. I think that the first book had more nuance and a deeper mystery. In this one it was very apparent who the perpetrator of the murder was and his motive. I was waiting for a twist, but that did not happen.
I picked this up because 1) I am fascinated by the Harlem Renaissance and 2) I loved Incognegro when I read it for a graphic novel course in college. I think that the first book had more nuance and a deeper mystery. In this one it was very apparent who the perpetrator of the murder was and his motive. I was waiting for a twist, but that did not happen.
September 19, 2024
I really liked it! A graphic novel set in the Harlem Renaissance it follows a light-skinned journalist as he works to solve the mystery of who killed a writer found dead in a bathtub at a literary party. The book sheds light on the queer community in NYC and also on the practice of “passing”—when some light-skinned Black people would live as white people to have access to white privilege. It’s a bit of a pet peeve for me when villains in a story confess their nefarious plans immediately when the hero confronts them…but that is an extremely minor bone to pick in a novel that I otherwise adored.
January 28, 2019
This prequel to Incognegro is set in the Harlem Renaissance with the previous graphic novel's hero, Zane, just a cub reporter. Dragged to a fancy mixed race party, he stumbles over a black writer's corpse with a sodden manuscript next to it. Everyone writes it off as suicide except a rising actress who convinces Zane to investigate. Fortunately he's very light-skinned so with a little walk, he can go where no black man would normally dare.
A good story and the details about life, skin color, Harlem and passing give it some added power.
A good story and the details about life, skin color, Harlem and passing give it some added power.
January 1, 2020
While I found the characters in this graphic novel a little flat, I thought the exploration of race and passing during the Harlem Renaissance was interesting. The graphic novel as the medium for the story was probably what interested me the most, and while the story doesn't break any new grounds, the last picture combines illustration and writing in a way only a graphic novel could to leave the reader with one last punch to the gut.
December 9, 2024
I had no idea this was a graphic novel until I opened up my pdf. I'm so happy I was able to read this, especially at the end of my Harlem Renaissance course. It truly gives you the ultimate experience of African-Americans during this time.
favorite dialogue:
"so, that's it, I can just decide to be a whole new negro? so what negro are you going to be then, huh?"
"that's the best thing: identity is open-ended. why have just one?"
favorite dialogue:
"so, that's it, I can just decide to be a whole new negro? so what negro are you going to be then, huh?"
"that's the best thing: identity is open-ended. why have just one?"
February 13, 2019
A subtler affair than the original, and perhaps a more traditional noir story, but no poorer for either. The lack of colour is perhaps thematicaly appropriate and does highlight the ambiguity Zane lives in, but it also flattens the world and is possibly why I don't quite feel like it's earned the final star.
May 6, 2019
Journalist Zane Pinchback goes to a party where a Black writer is found dead. The police brush it off as suicide, not at all interested in what happened to a Black man. Zane suspect the dead man was a victim of murder, not suicide and sets out to find the truth. I love mysteries and the Harlem Renaissance is one my favorite literary & artistic periods so this was pretty much written for me.
September 27, 2021
There are very few graphic mysteries. Thrillers are a dime a dozen but actual mysteries don't happen in this format very often. There is a lot going on in this title and Johnson's narrative works perfectly with Pleece's art to tell a story from a often ignored vantage point.
June 20, 2022
Another fascinating look at how a passing Black man might have navigated Jim Crow era in pursuit of Justice. This one isn’t quite at the level of the original as he exposed the violence of lynchings, but it is very good and covers similar themes and some new ones.
March 8, 2023
Great follow up to the fantastic first book of this series. I feared that the premise would limit exploring new issues and new avenues in the story, but the author expertly crafts another page-turning mystery and is impeccably drawn. Definitely check this one out.
April 16, 2023
Graphic novels are not my cup of tea or coffee. This one changed my mind. Reading the first six panels immersed me completely. The 1920's Harlem nightlife so easily and effortlessly catapulted me. It was like being a fly on the wall. I was there!
December 31, 2024
Solid followup that shifts the themes to a different setting and also tackles the topic of white artists stealing the work of PoC. It being a prequel doesn’t matter for much but it kinda gives you an idea of how Zane got to where he is in the first book.
January 25, 2019
As usual, thoroughly enjoyed it! May say more later...
March 28, 2019
How it All Began
This is a good story that lets readers know why Zane decides to Incognegro. I did enjoy reading this prequel.
This is a good story that lets readers know why Zane decides to Incognegro. I did enjoy reading this prequel.
July 8, 2019
A book of many times.
February 16, 2020
These books are so good and through provoking. All forms of prejudice and trying to “pass” in society are seen his May’s writing. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews