Where I'm Coming From: Selected Strips 1991–2005

Where I'm Coming From #3

by Barbara Brandon-Croft

A seasoned cartoonist of epic proportions, Brandon-Croft carves out space for Black women’s perspectives in her nationally syndicated strip

Few Black cartoonists have entered national syndication, and before Barbara Brandon-Croft, none of them were women. From 1989 to 2005, she brought Black women’s perspectives to an international audience with her trailblazing comic strip Where I’m Coming From.

From diets to day care to debt to dreaded encounters with everyday racism, no issue is off-limits. This remarkable and unapologetically funny career retrospective holds a mirror up to the ways society has changed and all the ways it hasn’t. The magic in Where I’m Coming From is its ability to present an honest image of Black life without sacrificing Black joy, bolstered by unexpected one-liners eliciting much-needed laughter.

As the daughter of the mid-century cartoonist Brumsic Brandon Jr.—the creator of Luther, the second nationally syndicated strip to feature a Black lead—Brandon-Croft learned from the best. With supplementary writing by the author and her peers alongside throwback ephemera, this long-overdue collection situates Brandon-Croft as an inimitable cartoonist, humorist, and social commentator, securing her place in the comics canon and allowing her work to inspire new readers at a time when it is most needed.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, African American

184 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2023

About the author

From Wikipedia
Barbara Brandon-Croft is an American cartoonist, best known for creating the comic strip, Where I'm Coming From, and for being the first nationally syndicated African-American female cartoonist.

Daughter of Brumsic Brandon Jr.

Reviews

[Kim Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for this spot-on, perfectly targeted set of cutting truths about America, racism, policing, conflict, relationships, work culture, and so much more. Barbara Brandon-Croft has crafted some of the most impactful cartoons I've ever seen. Is there a Hall of Fame for cartoonists? Hot damn, this is great work.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

These strips are from twenty to thirty years old, but they still feel pretty relevant today, from the politics discussed, to the friendships depicted, to the representation that matters so much.

The illustrations aren't very dynamic, showing only face-forward talking heads with some free-floating forearms and hands in the panels, and that lost me a little, but by reading the strips in small bursts over a week I was able to keep my attention on the content over the presentation.

This is a fairly generous collection of "select strips" but I'd be interested in seeing a complete reprinting of the series at some point.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: On Meeting Barbara / Marty Claus -- Cartoonist Profiles: Where I'm Coming From by Barbara Brandon / Barbara Brandon -- Where I'm Coming From Press Kit -- Where I'm Coming From: Selected Strips 1991–2005 / Barbara Brandon-Croft -- Where I'm Coming from Now / Barbara Brandon-Croft -- That's Pretty Cool When You Think about It / Sharon Pendana -- Syndicated Sisterhood / Rebecca Wanzo

[Chris Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light years ahead of its time, Barbara Brandon-Croft’s comic strips, originally run in the Detroit Free Press in the 1980s, did a great job elevating the voice of women and Black Americans. Pay inequity, police brutality, race relations, you name it, are all deftly addressed here.

[em petlev · Rating 3 out of 5]

the addition of boxes made it much more readable. i appreciated the front and end matter. i wish the comics were dated because as someone who wasn’t alive during most of this strip’s syndication i didn’t really know what a lot of them were referring too

[Sami Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny in just a few illustrations. Really witty. Funny in the way that makes you go “Awh damn how human”

[Sharaya Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

I truly appreciate being able to browse this particular collection of comics.

The inclusion of the various letters and other communication from well-known publishers and other organizations who were in contact with and in support of Barbara Brandon-Croft throughout her journey with getting her work into publication/syndication was a very nice touch.

However, I definitely feel like this would have hit harder some years ago.

Reflecting on the topics that each character helped to address, it sometimes came across as very stereotypical. Not that it came off as offensive content, but that rather in 2023, (for myself, reading the content as a black woman) the dialogue in my opinion, didn't bring anything new or unique to the conversations. So, after reading a few pages of the comic it felt like, "okay. I get it." I wasn't compelled to finish, although I might have if I didn't have to borrow the title from interlibrary loan.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologie de comic strips de Brandon-Croft (publiés de 1996 à 2005 si ma mémoire est bonne) où s'allient l'humour et les commentaires politiques pour explorer le quotidien d'un groupe d'amies afro-américaines sous le mode de la conversation ou de l'apostrophe directe des lecteurices. Coup de cœur pour le choix de présenter les personnages de face et aussi pour celui de ne représenter que les têtes et les bras (pas les corps – auxquelles les femmes noires, en particulier, sont si souvent reduites, comme l'explique l'autrice).

Les essais en fin de livre (présentation de Brandon-Croft, du contexte historique et de l'édition de l'époque, etc.) sont aussi très intéressants.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is timeless in that the joke and issues are still relevant to the lives of Black women. I was impressed with the comic strip selected. I love how the art is just the hands and heads of the characters, which focuses on the conversation and their expressions.

[audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!!

[Karen]

I remember these strips from growing up in the eighties and nineties, although growing up as a white kid in a backwater island town that was almost entirely white, I didn’t pay enough attention to them at the time. Brandon-Croft’s evocative style is super expressive, and her topics are unfortunately still super relevant. How are we facing even more corrupt and racist police violence, the overturning of Roe v Wade, and rising misogyny and racism around the world? There are some great accompanying articles putting her work in context, politically and artistically as well as personally. Highly recommended.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to see Barbara Brandon-Croft getting her flowers. I remember this strip from the 90s, though I can't remember how I saw it. Anyway, I appreciated it at the time for not being Cathy and I appreciate it now for capturing the zeitgeist in a dope way. If you like Dykes to Watch Out For, you will like this!

[Maya Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thought and care put into this book is so evident. In addition to the selection of hilarious strips, the collection includes early drafts and documents relating to the comic as well as brilliant commentary by Rebecca Wanzo, Sharon Pendana, and Brandon-Croft herself. Truly a masterpiece.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Sheree Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both the comic strips with very relatable topics, even now! Plus learning the history and achievement of Mrs. Brandran-Croft.

[luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars