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TOM TOKEN
[a sci-fi/martial arts/action/comedy Negro Opera (featuring Samuel L. Jackson)]
by Daniel Barnes Jr.
The Concept
Dragon Ball Z meets The Boondocks meets Scott Pilgrim in an over-the-top, racial commentary that explores the “true” nature and motives of Black People.
Tom Token, the titular protagonist of our saga, is a 16-year-old African American youth who has moved, along with his family, from the streets of Los Angeles to the quiet and predominantly-Caucasian suburb of Lakeview. Things don't remain quiet for long, however, as he soon learns that he, along with every Black person on Earth, secretly possess incredible super-powers and that Black People are, in reality, a highly-advanced super-race hailing from a far-off planet.
Now, Tom, with the help of his family and newly acquired friends (and his mentor, Samuel L. Jackson), must face off against renegade Negroes, Ninjas, Robo-Nazis, and more as he fights to uncover elaborate conspiracies and learn of the long hidden history of his people, all while dealing with the prejudices and unfounded fears of a sheltered White community.
The Setting
While the story spans an assortment of exotic and strange locations (including L.A., Outer Space, Earth's Mantle, etc.), the vast majority of our tale is set in Lakeview, a peaceful, medium-sized suburb located in an undetermined state of the United States. Before the Tokens' arrival, the town's residents are all White, except for a single Japanese family (the Kusanagis).
Key Elements
Lakeview's lack of ethnic variety has caused its populace to become very racially ignorant ( ex. - several people believed that Blacks were a fictional race created for television). This complete lack of understanding and bewilderment at the Tokens' presence provides much of the series' comedy.
The series' tone shifts between high school slice-of-life to sci-fi action/adventure quite regularly and, when it shifts to the latter, is very flashy, fast-paced, and over-the-top – not dissimilar to shonen manga (such as Dragon Ball Z and Naruto).
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Also, here's a picture of Tom in the style I would want the comic to be in.
If you're interested, just reply to me in this thread with your deviantart and possibly your email.