RIP Turtel Onli

I sadly only just learned that Turtel Onli passed away a few weeks ago. I've mentioned him a few times on my blog over the years but I've never felt really qualified to say much about him. He was a staunch proponent of Black comics and comics creators, and he pushed for more Black creators to be seen and heard for pretty much his entire career.

Onli's character NOG, one of the earliest Afrocentric comic book characters, was originally featured in the Chicago Defender starting in 1979 before Online began self-publishing NOG, Protector of the Pyramides as it's own title beginning in 1981. In 1993, Onli spearheaded the inaugural Black Age of Comics convention at the Southside Community Arts Center in Chicago, where it was held for three consecutive years. Black Age of Comics Conventions have since been held in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Philadelphia with the latter annual ECBACC being the most prominent. His impression and importance on the Black comics commnuity can hardly be understated.

Below is a 2021 video chat about ECBACC, its history, and its relevance hosted by Professor William Foster III. Onli gets introduced and starts talking at about the 3:00 mark.

Related Items creator creators