No doubt many stories of heroism among enslaved Africans should arise in the coming years. Dusting off the dirt poured on them after the Reconstruction era, we’re going to be in awe and have to ask ourselves: could we be that brave? And definitely, are we that smart?
The story of Robert Smalls is the American Dream sprung from our American Nightmare. Working five jobs to free himself and his family from enslavement, Smalls became the pilot of a Confederate warship. He stole it, rescued his family, outwitted both the Confederates and the Union blockade, and eventually commanded his own ship on the side of the Union.
Writer Rob Edwards will no doubt get to the details of that, but the first two issues of Defiant focus on Smalls’ youth. Wisely, he also frames the story in flashback. Of course history has told us how it ends, but we need the reminder that Smalls lifted up everyone he could. An older Smalls retells his life to his grandson on a fishing trip.
Damien Hill, Alex Paterson, Darrell May, Mauro Salgado, Blond, and Joshua Cozine collaborate to bring this story to life. It’s solid storytelling, laying out the set pieces for the eventual film adaptation. They all have to be careful to not rush to the events people remember Smalls for. Before he could become a giant in history, he had to grow up.
And that growing up was hard. The creative team is only slightly circumspect about the horrors of enslavement. Even if the book leaves much of the violence offstage, there’s no escaping it.
Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls comes from Stranger Comics in conjunction with Legion M. Thus it might be harder to find in your local comic shop. Every book I have from that publisher has been picked up at a convention (and their books are gorgeous), but they do have a website for their catalog. You can order the first two issues, or pre-order the hardcover collection of the first four issues due for release on Juneteenth this year. However you read this story you must read this story.
I’m going to spend the next couple of weeks reviewing books that I picked up at WonderCon this year. Most will be books that are harder to find, but I hope worthwhile.
