Look around the room tonight at the country’s largest popular culture event and one will see an ever-growing array of Black superheroes, characters, and comics. But, if one were to look for the largest collection of iconic, legendary, and uniquely Black heroes, it wouldn’t be the booth of Netflix, HBO, Disney+, Mattel, or Hasbro, where one would lay eyes on them. Rather, the work of a single Black artist, a self-taught sculptor, on what can only be described as a fanatical and driven mission to contribute through the documentation of Black history past and present, through collectible art, plants a flag to show where collectibles should be moving towards in the future. Acori Honzo started his artistic career in collectibles more than a decade ago. Confronted with the opportunity to purchase only a single Black superhero, Blade, at retail, and even fewer Black mentors in the world of collectible figures, he picked up clay and taught himself how to fill the gap in the creative world for himself. Hundreds of iconic sculpts later, he retains, without a doubt, the largest private collection of iconic Black heroes ever carved, printed, and remembered, of any artist in recent memory, and certainly from a singular artist. A private obsession to create for himself has transitioned from recognition by private collectors, to that celebration and manning of a gallery space within the city of Philadelphia, to now the launching, creatively leading, and co-owning of a collectible brand, Depicting Our People’s Excellence (aka DOPE), with other similarly focused Black artists. An effort dedicated to documenting and making more widely available through produced collectibles, the rich history of Black icons throughout this country’s long story, with all the skill, authenticity, and love they deserve. From Basquiat to Harriet Tubman, Miles Davis to Easy E, Acori’s work shows a range and depth of focus, especially on the finest of details, that are one of the reason’s his collectors covet his pieces. Disburst, the premier global distributor of designer collectibles, is proud to show just a tiny sample of Acori’s original work, over 17 pieces, most never seen outside the artist’s private workspace, at booth #2549 at San Diego Comic-Con. The artist, visionary, and especially contributor, himself, can be found at booth #2649 right next door, for signings and questions throughout the convention in his first ever appearance in San Diego, California, or anywhere west of the Mississippi. San Diego Comic-Con main exhibit hall is open to all attendees, July 20 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and July 21 – July 23 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., and July 24 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Acori Honzo on Instagram Depicting Our Peoples Excellence on Instagram
