NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The comic book and fantasy genre might seem very different from hip-hop culture, but according to Run-D.M.C.’s Darryl McDaniels, the two are very similar.
In this episode of Beyond Black History Month, listen as we speak with both D.M.C. and Hilton George, the founder of the country’s first-ever convention for Black nerds: Blerdcon. As Darryl explores the similarities between the two mediums, Hilton walks us through the challenges surrounding inclusivity in comic book culture.
What you need to know about Darryl:
• Darryl McDaniels was a founding member of the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. Before music, however, his first passion was comic books.
• In 2014, he took his lifelong love to the next level and created his own comic book and brand of books called Darryl Makes Comics.
• McDaniels says had the opportunity to get started in the industry much sooner, after Run-D.M.C. blew up, but he held up because he didn’t want to seem arrogant. He tells us, “I didn't want the world thinking just because I had a couple of hit records, I could do anything…I did not want to be disrespectful or represent the culture in a bad way.”
• After the critical and cultural success of Marvel’s “Black Panther” in 2018, McDaniels received multiple offers to adapt his comic book. However, he turned them all down because he knew that studios only saw money and not the real value his work has.
What you need to know about Hilton and Blerdcon:
• After attending dozens of conventions and realizing the lack of diversity across the board, Hilton George founded Blerdcon in 2017.
• Aside from being named specifically after Black nerd culture, Hilton argues that is one of the most inclusive conventions around. He believes, “Fantasy is supposed to be something that transcends our own limitations on how we see ourselves.”
• Hilton also believes that not everything has to be motivated by money, and that inclusion and representation are rewards themselves. He tells us, “Fandom does not have to be a business. It doesn't have to be something that makes you money. It just has to be something that brings you joy.”