SOUTH-CENTRAL : Black Super-Hero Takes to L.A. Skies

Like many youngsters, David Brown grew up reading comic books and eagerly followed the exploits of super-heroes such as Batman, Spider-Man and Superman.

But Brown, a 38-year-old graphic artist, always dreamed of creating a black super-hero, a character that would spark the imagination of African-American youths.

“I’ve always been into comic books,” Brown said. “And I felt that there was a need to create a black super-hero that black children could relate to.”

Brown began to realize his childhood dream last summer when he received a $3,000 grant from the Los Angeles Arts Recovery Fund to create a 16-page, black-and-white comic book that will be distributed free in South and South-Central Los Angeles.

Brown said the comic book, “The Rise of the Phoenix,” and its black super-hero, the Phoenix, symbolize hope rising from the destruction of the spring riots.

“After the riots, I was devastated. It was like a shock of reality that made me realize that this city has a lot to do, and I wanted to create some kind of hope for young people,” he said. “They didn’t have a lot of faith in government, the police force, any kind of authority.”

Brown’s answer was the Phoenix, a super-hero who flies through the city helping crime victims and mediating racial and ethnic conflicts.

“The Phoenix’s whole philosophy wants people to rise above violence, rise above their differences, and take the time to understand people from other cultures and other ethnic backgrounds,” Brown said.

Brown is one of 145 artists selected from 493 applicants to receive $500 to $3,000 grants through the city’s Cultural Affairs Department, said Sandra Rivkin, a department spokeswoman. The $479,000 Arts Recovery Fund sponsors artists working to help heal the city in the aftermath of the riots, she said.

Brown expects to complete the comic book this month and distribute 5,000 to 10,000 copies after an official presentation Feb. 20 at the Watts Tower Arts Center.

In later issues, Brown said his super-hero will tackle issues such as AIDS, sex education and gang violence.

“The ideas are still coming. The Phoenix isn’t about using super powers, he’s about using his mind.”