We’re in New York and Johnson shows the race division was clearly traced of where black people were allowed to be even within the famous Cotton Club of the time located in the heart of Harlem. The story begins of course with a murder as most mysteries do, but soon we see that Mat Johnson the author is setting central characters, setting, but most of all social complexities of this time period for black people. This will be the first in a series of graphic novels featuring Zane Pinchback and continues to take place in New York during the Harlem Renaissance, giving the name to the series.

Zane continues to use this approach in a new graphic novel called Incognegro Renaissance #1. Great mystery, compelling characters, and a quest for justice - what more could you want? Incognegro Renaissance is on pace to be the prequel that the original graphic novel deserves.Zane Pinchback, the light-skinned reporter from the black newspaper The New Holland Herald is back! The graphic novel Incognegro introduced us to Zane and the daring way he goes about writing stories about the lynchings that were taking place all over the south during the 1920s. Overall, the plot thickens a bit with our new discovery of the victim’s family, but even better is the new angle added to Zane’s search for justice. It’s a winning scene for its honesty and vulnerability, and lays the foundation for a budding romance that, given we know Zane’s future, probably won’t end well. Are they freaks? Should they use their ability to pass? Would they be stupid not to? The theme of their conversation is underpinned by the guilt that comes with the decision to pass, and the reasons one might do it anyway. The realization turns into a great conversation between the two of them discussing the emotional costs and payoffs of their ability to hide their race. Zane meets someone like him, a black person able to go “incognegro.” Only she can do it even better, having sacrificed her identity to pose as white full-time. False climaxes always feel a bit cheap, but the encounter brings Zane to an audience with the woman he meant to question, and that makes way for the issue’s emotional heft that makes it all worthwhile. Now we find Zane captured in his first adventure undercover as a white man, and it turns out less lethal than it seemed. Last month’s origin story brought Zane closer to solving his murder mystery but came with immediate consequences. Writer: Mat Johnson / Artist: Warren Pleece / Dark Horse Comics

Incognegro renaissance