Kerry James Marshall. The Rythm Mastr

In 1999, American artist Kerry James Marshall embarked on creating his comic series, Rythm Mastr, driven by the perceived lack of Black representation in the comics world. Initially appearing in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette over eight weeks, Rythm Mastr evolved into an installation for the 1999⁄2000 Carnegie International, adorning the vitrines of the Carnegie Museum Treasure Room with newspaper pages.

Unlike characters like Black Panther or Falcon, Rythm Mastr delves into the everyday struggles of Black individuals, transforming events like gang violence and public housing demolition into epic narratives. The series centers on the adventures of Rythm Mastr and his young apprentice, Farell. Over two decades, Rythm Mastr has manifested in various forms, including light boxes, paintings, and drawings. The series returned to the Carnegie International in 2018 in an updated form. This book presents the most thorough examination of Rythm Mastr to date, detailing its origins and evolution, while providing an in-depth analysis of Marshall’s intentions and ambitions in creating the series.