‘Brotherman’ Comics Touch Off Controversy

Controversy stung one of the early black comic book independents last summer, when Toys ‘R’ Us booted the “Brotherman” books by Big City Comics of Irving, Tex.

The country’s largest toy chain said black customers had complained about two covers. One showed an angry crowd of picketing unemployed police. Another featured a man painting the portrait of a woman, adding imaginary shackles and a gag to her image on canvas.

Big City’s Jason Sims says the latter cover isn’t kinky, but an image of the painter’s kidnaping fantasies, since the woman knows he’s an art forger.

The dispute was widely reported and Toys ‘R’ Us has since tried to reverse its ban, but the companies are at an impasse over the terms for the titles’ return.

The disappearance of “Brotherman” has irked parents like Arthur Ferrell of Dallas, who called Big City to see what he could do about it.

“I am a parent with a 2-year-old, and to the extent that I can provide my son with images that are positive, that look like him, he’ll be a healthier member of society because he’ll develop a positive appreciation for his African-American status,” Ferrell says. “If he can’t appreciate who he is, it will be hard for him to appreciate others.”