A new First Nations comic anthology is putting Blak stories, artists and heroes into the hands of young readers, with an ambitious distribution strategy designed to reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the Northern Territory and Australia.

BLAK POWER COMIX is a new quarterly comic anthology bringing together First Nations writers, artists and illustrators from across the country.

Combining superheroes, humour, fantasy, culture, history and contemporary storytelling, the publication aims to encourage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers to discover a love of reading through the accessible and highly visual medium of comics.

BLAK POWER COMIX is a Australia's first Indigenous-led quarterly comic anthology and literacy initiative showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, artists, characters and stories.

Published from Darwin on Larrakia Country, the project combines professional comic publishing with regional and remote distribution, creative workshops, mentorship and talent development to encourage reading while building opportunities for the next generation of First Nations storytellers.

The first issue features work by Scott Wilson, creator of Dark Heart and co-founder of INDIGIVERSE; Jonathon Saunders, creator of The Cockatoo and Editor-in-Chief of BLAK and Brenton E. McKenna, creator of Hairy Holes and Australia's first published Indigenous graphic novelist. The issue features cover artwork by acclaimed Yuwi, Torres Strait Islander and Australian-born South Sea Islander artist Dylan Mooney, whose work explores identity, culture, representation, family and community.

At the heart of BLAK POWER COMIX is a simple idea, the founders said: Young First Nations readers should have access to exciting stories in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not only represented, but are the heroes, writers and artists creating them.

The project is developing a dedicated distribution network across the Northern Territory, working with schools, libraries, regional councils, community organisations, independent retailers and other partners to get comics into regional and remote communities where access to diverse reading material can be limited.

The project will take another major step nationally in 2027, with BLAK POWER COMIX #1 selected for an Indigenous Literacy Foundation book bundle, providing an opportunity for the publication to reach hundreds of schools and regional and remote communities around Australia.

Editor-in-Chief Jonathon Saunders said comics "were always a part of my life growing up, but I know many Indigenous kids in communities don't have the same access to comics and other reading materials".

"That's why we created BLAK POWER COMIX. We want kids to pick it up because it looks exciting, discover characters and stories they connect with, and hopefully develop a love of reading along the way," he said.

"It is also about showing young people that First Nations people can be the superheroes on the page; and the artists, writers and creators behind them."

BLAK POWER COMIX is designed as a platform for developing new First Nations creative talent. Through artist and writer callouts, workshops, mentorships and paid commissions, the project aims to "identify emerging creators and provide pathways from making their first comic through to professional publication and employment opportunities across comics, illustration, animation and screen media".

In this way, the publication "celebrates established First Nations creators while creating space for the next generation to tell their own stories".

BLAK POWER COMIX #1 is available now across the Northern Territory through participating schools, libraries and independent outlets, including House of Darwin, Aboriginal Bush Traders, Stone Monkey Comics, and Bookshop Darwin.

More information is available online.