Black History Month: The origin story of Scotland's first Black superhero
The creator of Scotland's first Black superhero wants to challenge perceptions with his character
Last updated 1st Oct 2020
The creator of Scotland’s first-ever Black superhero says he used his experiences of student life in Glasgow to fuel his creativity and create a comic which would challenge perceptions.
Beats of War was created by Etienne Kubwabo, a filmmaker and DJ, who moved to Glasgow ten years ago from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The comic book stars DJ ET, who comes to Earth to find a way to save his home planet from robot invaders and in the process discovers music. The comic is set in the city and looks at the barriers faced by people who immigrate to a new country.
It also features some of the most famous landmarks including the River Clyde, the Finnieston Crane and the Squinty Bridge.
Etienne said: “There are some experiences that I have had living in Scotland.
“All of those maybe injustices or things I've experienced of racism, for example going in a shop and being followed because the owner is worried I won’t have the money to pay for these things, I’ve been stopped by the police or things like stones being thrown at my family home.
“But also, things that I’ve experienced of love and how Glasgow is really welcoming. I’ve made so many amazing friends here and have had lots of positive experiences.
“You’ve got to take the good with the bad and Glasgow is no different. You see both sides.
“If you look at Batman and you see Gotham City, you're thinking of New York City. I want that to be the same thing with this comic book. I want people to read it and start seeing it in animation films and know that this is our city. This is where it's happening.”
Etienne is speaking to Clyde News as we celebrate Black History Month. For the month of October we are showcasing some of the inspirational stories from the city's Black community.
This national celebration lasts for the whole month of October aims to promote and celebrate Black contributions to British society, and to foster an understanding of Black history in general. Its origins go back to the 1920s.
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