''Real Deal Magazine'' was an independent comic book title published in the 1990s. One of the rare contemporary African-American-created and published comics, ''Real Deal'' depicted the Los Angeles underworld life with deadpan visceral humor and gross-out violence (termed "Urban Terror" by the creators). Stories were by H.P. McElwee (aka "R.D. Bone") and art primarily by

Lawrence Hubbard ''Real Deal Magazine'' was an independent comic book title published in the 1990s. One of the rare contemporary African-American-created and published comics, ''Real Deal'' depicted the Los Angeles underworld life with deadpan visceral humor and gr ...

(aka "Raw Dawg"). Inspired by magazines like ''Mad'', traditional

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

comics, and people the creators knew in their own lives, ''Real Deal'' satirized

Blaxploitation Blaxploitation is an ethnic subgenre of the exploitation film that emerged in the United States during the early 1970s. The term, a portmanteau of the words "black" and "exploitation", was coined in August 1972 by Junius Griffin, the president o ...

movies with a mélange of stories featuring convicts, hustlers, drug addicts, crack whores, car thieves, and murderers. In the words of artist/publisher Hubbard, a typical ''Real Deal'' story began with Hubbard cites Mort Drucker, Angelo Torres,

George Woodbridge George Woodbridge may refer to: * George Woodbridge (actor) (1907-1973), English actor * George Woodbridge (illustrator) George Woodbridge (October 3, 1930 – January 20, 2004) was an American illustrator known for his exhaustive researc ...

, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko,

E. Simms Campbell Elmer Simms Campbell (January 2, 1906 – January 27, 1971) was an American commercial artist best known as the cartoonist who signed his work, E. Simms Campbell. The first African-American cartoonist published in nationally distributed, slick ...

, and Doug Wildey as influences, while critics note the similarity of Hubbard's inking to that of Gary Panter and Raymond Pettibon.

Publication history

''Real Deal'' creators Hubbard and McElwee worked together at the Los Angeles headquarters of California Federal Savings in the 1980s. Amused by McElwee's wild stories of his friends and associates, Hubbard proposed illustrating them in comic form. After being rejected by mainstream publishers like DC and Marvel Comics, in

1989 File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...

Hubbard and McElwee formed Real Deal Productions and self-published ''Real Deal'' #1. ''Real Deal'' ran six issues, published irregularly from 1989 until 2001 (issues #1–#5 were published from 1989–1996; the final issue was published in 2001). ''Real Deal'' #1 was tabloid-sized, printed in colour on newsprint; issues #2-6 were traditional comic book size and format. Circa 1998, writer McElwee died at age 43 of a heart attack; issue #6 was published after his death featuring stories he had already written. Throughout the 1990s, Hubbard and McElwee made regular appearances at the San Diego Comic-Con promoting ''Real Deal'', where the comic became a cult favourite, especially among alternative comics creators. By 2001, faced with

distribution Distribution may refer to: Mathematics *Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations * Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a vari ...

problems and low sales, ''Real Deal'' went on hiatus. In 2009, alternative comics publisher PictureBox began distributing original issues of ''Real Deal'' through their website and at conventions like the

MoCCA Art Festival The MoCCA Arts Festival, or MoCCA Fest, is an independent comics showcase that typically includes artist booths, slide shows, and educational panels. It was created by the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in 2002 by bringing together over 2,000 ar ...

. As of June 2010, new issues of ''Real Deal'' are in production, with art and stories by Hubbard. A PictureBox trade paperback collection of the first six issues was also planned.

Plot and characters

Every issue of ''Real Deal'' featured G.C., a middle-aged streetwise criminal with no conscience, and his gang, including such characters as Ace Brogham, Slick Willy, and Pork-Butt. A recurring feature was the "Gore Dance," a wild scene of violence and mayhem. Many issues featured the R-Team (a take-off on The A-Team), a rag-tag group of

paramilitary A paramilitary is an organization whose structure, tactics, training, subculture, and (often) function are similar to those of a professional military, but is not part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. Paramilitary units carr ...

criminals led by Sarge. Other members of the R-Team include "Ugh", Killing Machine, "Match-Head", and Mad-Dog Jack. Among other "missions," the R-Team takes on the Italian Mafia. The recurring science fiction feature "Planet Dregs" stars Prisoner #73588X.

Footnotes

References

Grand Comics Database: ''Real Deal''
* '' Grand Royal'' magazine #1 (Fall/Winter 1993)

External links

*
''Real Deal'' at PictureBox
{{DEFAULTSORT:Real Deal (comics) 1989 comics debuts African-American comics American comics creators Crime comics Humor comics