Arguably, comics have some origins in 18th century Japan, but they were popularized in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 1930s. Since then, the medium has grown into a billion dollar industry, crossing successfully into television, cinema, and video gaming. The beginning of the 1980s saw the introduction of Japanese anime in American culture and by the 1990s, Japanese animation slowly gained popularity in America. The anime market for the United States alone was worth approximately $2.74 billion by 2009, according to the Anime News Network. Like other channels of entertainment, the comic book industry has come under scrutiny regarding cultural representation and the narratives of featured protagonists.
Justin and Terry L Raimey are founders of Black Streak Entertainment. Since 2011, they have independently published books, comics, and graphic novels, and produced animated shorts for kids, teens, and families featuring characters and storylines that represent our African-American experience. We caught up with them to talk about their company, world of comics and animation, and their future goals.
How and why did Black Streak Entertainment form?
Black Streak Entertainment formed out of our desire to see more black and brown characters in the world of comics and animation. We have been fans of comics, cartoons, and anime since we were kids growing up in the ’90s. We would’ve loved to see more characters who look like us and share our life experiences. So, this is also our way of satisfying the desires of our inner-child.
How did you get into publishing specifically manga and animated shorts?
As kids, we started out by drawing our favorite characters (TMNT, Kirby, Spider-Man, etc.) and writing our own fan-fiction storylines. We were also big fans of anime before we even knew what it was, watching shows like Samurai Pizza Cats, Sailor Moon, and Dragon Ball. Eventually, in our high school years, we started creating our own characters, the worlds they live in, and their storylines. Once we graduated college, we decided to make it official and from our own studio.
Do your characters and storylines differ significantly from other comic Universes?
Definitely. We do our own thing, writing and drawing from our personal experiences and feelings. We also put female characters in the forefront, rather than making them extensions of the male characters (Super-Girl, Bat-Girl, etc.). We also cover a wider range of genres with our comics and books, from zany comedy to socially conscious fantasy, action, and adventure.
The African American experience is generally underrepresented in mainstream media. How will Black Streak Entertainment reverse this Situation?
We write stories and illustrate from our personal experiences. We want to use our talents to show America in particular that African Americans are not a monolith. We have different likes and dislikes, and walk different paths in our life journeys. We want to entertain and inform audiences about black experiences, the elements of society that tie us together as a people, and how those elements affect us on a daily basis.
You’ve launched a Patreon page. Can you explain more about this and the potential benefits of patronage?
We want to open our first studio in Los Angeles. To do so, we need an army of people behind us. When you become a patron you’ll gain access to our vlogcast “Black Streak ON Air” where we talk about everything we’re reading, watching and playing. You’ll also get to read our comedy, comic strip series “Dusty Dirty Days”. It’s a gag comic about twin dust bunny sisters who landlord an apartment building together. We release 2 strips monthly through Patreon. We’re also giving our patrons HD character
wallpapers, physical art (art prints, wristbands, buttons, etc.), and so much more. Patreon tiers start at just $1, and the more you pledge, the more monthly rewards we will give you!
Connect with Black Streak Entertainment:
Web: https://blackstreakent.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackstreakent/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackstreakentertainment/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH7UYyZSs6GDUesEUGkiCdA
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