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Black super-heroes (and others) in U.S. comicbooks! An overview by comics historian Barry Pearl, from Voodah to Black Panther and beyond. Part One of Comic Book Historians Alex Grand and Jim Thompson's interview with Professor William H. Foster III, comic book historian, former Eisner judge, and award-winning museum exhibit curator on the evolving roles of African-Americans in comics. Dr. Foster discusses his early forays into reading comics in the 1960s and 1970s, goes into a fascinating discussion of the portrayal and involvement of African-American characters and creators in comics including the Yellow Kid, Krazy Kat, Ebony in Spirit, World’s Finest, Sgt. Fury, Black Panther, Luke Cage, Black Lightning, Black Vulcan, Fast Willie Jackson, Robert Crumb in Zap Comics, Storm of the X-Men, Sabre, Hypno Hustler, Milestone Comics, trading cards, Captain America, Thunder as well as present-day comics featuring black character or creators. The extensive recorded interview by Grand and Thompson was transcribed, edited, and copiously illustrated with examples. The first half appears here; the second half is in #174. Taken together, the complete published interview with Dr. Foster represents the most comprehensive and important discussion of black American creators and black American culture in comic books available today. William H. Foster III is the author of Looking for a Face Like Mine (Fine Tooth Press, 2005) and Dreaming of a Face Like Ours (Fine Tooth, 2010). William H. Foster’s exhibit on the “Changing Image of Blacks in Comics” has been displayed at a number of venues across the country, including Temple University’s Paley Library, the 1998 Comic-Con International Comic Arts Conference, and the 2000 Festival of Arts and Ideas.