John Ridley, best known for the award-winning screenplay 12 Years A Slave , is also a comic book writer. The DC announcement of his return with The Other History of the DC Universe is no coincidence. It comes the night before Ridley will speak on the “The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens” panel during Black Lightning premiere weekend in Washington, D.C. to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and inclusion in comics.
The story will analyze iconic DC moments and chart sociopolitical gains from the perspectives of superheroes who come from traditionally oppressed groups. According to the press release, a few of the characters include John Stewart, Extraño, Vixen, Supergirl, Katana and Rene Montoya. The series focuses on the person rather than the heroic alter-ego, and explores how they work to overcome real-world issues.
“I could not be more excited by the opportunity to excavate the canon of the DC Universe through a vast array of characters who’ve earned their seat at the table,” Ridley said. “I’m very impressed with DC’s commitment to making their history as reverent and urgent as it is engaging and entertaining for all its many fans.”
DC did not specify a release date for the miniseries, but gave the comic an exciting logline. “THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE isn’t about saving the world, it’s about having the strength to simply be who you are.”
Ridley’s previous comic book work includes 2004’s Authority: Human on the Inside, which follows a group of superheroes dedicated to saving the world from itself. The Razor’s Edge: Warblade (2005) follows the titular character created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi. His most recent DC property, The American Way (2007), follows the Civil Defense Corps who could fight evildoers and communism.
“The Many Shades of Heroism” panel starts at 11 a.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 13. Follow @playerdotone on Twitter for live updates.
