Tribe (comics)
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Tribe was a short-lived comic book published first in 1993. Created by Todd Johnson and Larry Stroman, Tribe launched as part of Image Comics' second round of titles and with sales of over one million copies is still the largest selling African American comic produced by African American creators.[citation needed] Although Tribe had been intended as a series it was canceled due to publishing delays.[citation needed]
Axis Comics later printed two more issues (2,3) of the series. The final issue (0) was published by Good Comics.
Special edition white covered copies of the initial issue, signed by both Johnson and Stroman have sold on ebay for as much as $300.[citation needed]
[edit] Plot
Tribe was a comic about the adventures of a predominantly African-American and minority superhero group based out of Brooklyn, New York. During its limited run, the plot of Tribe centered on their conflicts with a conglomerate of European and Japanese techno-pirates known as "Europan", which had a mysterious connection to a power-crazed, armor-clad villain known as "Lord Deus". The final issue also featured an appearance by Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon, even positing an alternate origin for the character.
Due to constant changes behind the scenes, with Stroman and Johnson switching companies, Tribe's release schedule was spotty, and the opening storyline seemed to meander and constantly shift focus, hinting at future twists that would never see fruition. In issue #1, Blindspot and Hannibal rescue young illusionist Alexander Collins from thugs hired by Europan, introducing him to their collective. In #2, Europan attacks both Collins (later to be known as "Front") and the lab of a Tribe-associated scientist who later becomes known as "Steel Pulse" after his liquid metal armor is released by gunfire from the Europan cyborgs and becomes bonded to his body. Tribe also faces the faux-"gangsta" superpowered assassin "Out Cold" at Front's club. Suddenly, the bizarre "Lord Deus" arrives on the scene, along with the Savage Dragon, who is on duty as a police officer.
In the final published issue of Tribe from the short-lived Good Comics (confusingly numbered "#0", but actually concluding the existing storyline from Image), Tribe and the Dragon fight Lord Deus, who drops portentous hints as to his true supernatural nature and sends the Dragon back in time (thus revealing his "origin"). Suddenly, team strongwoman "Rosalyn" transforms into a godlike armored being who proclaims she "remembers" her true past, implying that she is an immortal and an old enemy of Deus. Deus is defeated by Rosalyn and escapes, while the rest of Tribe is confused by her new appearance and powers.
Even after leaving Image Comics, Tribe continued to drop hints and in-jokes regarding its universe's characters, as well as including the cameo from the Savage Dragon. In issue #2, Tribe tries to avoid scrutiny from the police by claiming to be the "Urban Division" of Youngblood.
[edit] Characters
Originally, Tribe's creators explained that Tribe was intended to grow to over 200 members; Tribe was supposed to be a massive underground movement with dozens upon dozens of heroes. However, as of this writing, only a handful of the 200 have been introduced.
Tribe was led by Blindspot, who wore a stealth suit allowing him to become invisible. Blindspot was apparently a scientific genius whose work was exploited and "stolen from [him]" by Europan. Other members included Front, a nightclub DJ who can change individuals' perceptions and create totally interactive and immersive illusions; Shift, a former champion prize fighter who has super-speed and hyper-reflexes; Short Order, who can divide himself into multiple smaller versions of himself; Hannibal, a robot that gets destroyed and rebuilt over and over again; Steel Pulse, a liquid metal being that employs an exoskeleton to keep its shape; and Rosalyn, a voluptuous powerhouse whose abilities were not specifically defined.
Stroman and Johnson claimed that Tribe would have a rotating focus on its multitude of members not seen in the early (and only) issues. Trading card sets put out for the series showed a number of these potential future characters, including "Fly Girl", a New York runway model and fashion designer with flying abilities. "Fly Girl" supposedly produced a line of clothing for Tribe's headquarters, the "Beat Down Gym", and in a touch of real-life commercial synergy, Stroman and Johnson advertised similar Tribe fashions for sale in advertisements within the comic book. It is unknown whether any such clothing saw production.
[edit] Future
Rumors and fan requests of a relaunch or continuation have circulated as recently as 2005. To date there is no concrete information about such an event. In their joint interview in George Khoury's Image Comics: The Road To Independence, Stroman and Johnson insisted that recent rumors about an animated Tribe or film treatment are totally false and that they have no knowledge of any such projects. At the time of the interview, Stroman was no longer working in comics.
However, in September 2007, it was announced that Stroman was returning to Marvel Comics to pencil a What If? one-shot. When asked in a Wizard Magazine interview about the future of Tribe, Stroman replied, "I told the story I wanted to tell at that time. Now that I'm drawing comics again, there may be some stories to tell."
