In June 1941, the Tuskegee program was officially started with the formation of the 99th Fighter Squadron, formed up at the Tuskegee Institute, a famous school founded by Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee, Alabama. The unit included an entire service arm, including ground crew, and not just pilots. After basic training at Moton Field, they were moved to the nearby Tuskegee Army Air Field about 10 miles to the west for conversion training onto operational types. They were put under the command of Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., a West Point graduate. Colonel Noel Parrish took over as commander. Parrish, though white, was open-minded and petitioned Washington to allow the Airmen to serve in combat.
The Airmen were initially equipped with P-40 Warhawks, later with P-47 Thunderbolts, and finally with the airplane that would become their signature, the P-51 Mustang.
The Allies called the Airmen "Redtails" or "Redtail Angels" because of the distinctive crimson paint jobs on their aircraft' vertical stabilizers.
It has been said that the Redtails were the only fighter group who never lost a bomber to enemy fighters
Books
ZAPT!: "For a younger audience, the comic seems bullet proof. It's hard to imagine a young reader not deriving some enjoyment from Zapt!'s speed, humor and well constructed narrative." -AIN'T IT COOL NEWS
ZAPT!: “This is a cleverly written book, with a ton of action and just enough P.O.O.P. jokes to keep the kids snickering.” -COMICS IN THE CLASSROOM
ZAPT!: "A fun book for children and adults alike. A Saturday morning cartoon on paper." – THE COMICS REVIEW
ZAPT!: “…an amazing all-ages adventure with a likeable hero that is easily accessible to everyone – from the most seasoned Tokyopop reader to the under-nourished novice” – NEWSARAMA
ZAPT!: “It's aimed at a much younger market, and I think is perfect for that audience.” – COMIC BOOK RESOURCES
ZAPT!: “Great stuff! A rocketing thrill-ride to the stars!” – KEVIN GREVIOUX, creator of the film UNDERWORLD and writer on Marvel’s NEW WARRIORS
ZAPT!: “ZAPT! has all the heart, humor, visual style and energy you could ask for! Armand Jones is who I wanted to be when I was ten years old — an ordinary kid thrown into an extraordinary adventure...and coming up aces. Fast and funny — my two favorite things in reading material!” – ADAM BEECHEN, writer of tv’s HIHI PUFFY AMI YUMI and TEEN TITANS
"It's great to see a minority character starring in a fun sci-fi genre that usually lacks any real diversity other than alien lifeforms. This is something I would be proud to read my kids."
- NICKI MICHEAUX, actress on The Shield, Six Feet Under and Desperate Housewives. She is currently starring on ABC Family's Lincoln Heights.
Heroes
Tuskegee airmen, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Spaceman Spiff, Neil Armstrong, Commander Arcturus Rann, John Carter, Buzz Aldrin, Buzz Lightyear, Norin Radd, Captain Mar-Vell, Captain Comet, Magnus, Starbuck & Apollo, Luke Skywalker, Adam Strange, Dan Dare, Captain Kirk, Captain Sisko, Captain Picard, Chuck Yeager, Tom Corbett, Tom Swift, Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Lt. Roger "Bill" Terry, Jackie Robinson, MLK
TokyoPop is debuting a line of "Manga Readers" - manga being the Japanese art form of graphic novels. These books spare 8- to 12-year-old readers the challenge of having to read from back to front, and from right to left, as with traditional manga. They're slick, easy to follow and all-action.
ZAPT!
written by ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY reviewed authors
SHANNON ERIC DENTON & KEITH GIFFEN.
Illustrated by Armand Villavert Jr.
ZAPT! : Volume One
BINC: 8321836
ISBN: 1598165887
Diamond Order Number: APR06 3371 ZAPT VOL 1
Meet Armand Jones--a typical boy from small town U.S.A. Doesn't like his teachers. Doesn't like homework. Can't stand the bullies constantly harassing him on the bus every day. But what he really won't like is getting ZAPT! Armand is about to be inducted into the ranks of the Pan-galactic Order Of Police, where, like it or not, he'll have to save alien princesses, outwit marauding space thugs and still have to be home in time for dinner! Being a kid is about to get a whole lot harder!
ZAPT! : Volume Two
BINC: 8592232
ISBN: 1598165895
JAN07 3885 ZAPT VOL 2 GN
It's the continuing adventures of Armand Jones, who's just been inducted into the ranks of the P.O.O.P Corp to save alien civilizations, defeat invading armadas and battle scurvy space pirates...all before recess!
Trade Paperback, 96 Pages, TOKYOPOP, $5.99
Designed for mid-grade readers, ZAPT! is part of Tokyopop’s Manga Readers line, featuring youth-oriented stories, in an easy-to-digest 96-page format.
Myspace Comics has posted a 15 page preview of THE REVENANT, the all-new graphic novel from Desperado Publishing, featuring...ME! Created by ZAPT! co-creators Keith Giffen and Shannon Eric Denton
