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 Los Angeles underworld life with deadpan visceral humor and gross-out violence. Stories were by H.P. McElwee and art primarily by Lawrence Hubbard. Inspired by magazines like Mad, traditional superhero comics, and people the creators knew in their own lives, Real Deal satirized Blaxploitation 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, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, E. Simms Campbell, 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 comics form. After being rejected by mainstream publishers like DC and Marvel Comics, in 1989 Hubbard and McElwee formed Real Deal Productions and self-published Real Deal #1. Real Deal ran six issues, published irregularly from 1989 until 2001. Real Deal #1 was tabloid-sized, printed in color 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 favorite, especially among alternative comics creators. By 2001, faced with distribution 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. 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 is also planned. Real Deal update 2017 In 2015 Real Deal returned to the San Diego Comic Con with issue #7. With the help of Stussy art director Adam Weissmann. Lawrence Hubbard aka Rawdog was reunited with fans who were kids when they last visited the Real Deal booth with their dads back at the 2001 Comic Con. The Real Deal Hard Cover Graphic novel was published by Fantagraphics and released at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con and has had sales worldwide. Big boost to Real Deal. Stussy T Shirts distributed internationally. Snoop Doggalbum cover Seven Days of Funk. Pollyn album cover Patsy Skate Board designs. Real Deal website. Real Deal #8 will be out soon, will also be published by Fantagraphics. As of now Real Deal is in negotiations for an animated show, to either be shown on cable or one of the streaming services, so we can keep it Real Deal! Real Deal is not just a comic book, it's a lifestyle, a struggle, an ordeal, it's about surviving! www.realdealcomix.com
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 rag-tag group of paramilitary 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.
