We get comments asking about Turtel Onli and what is the deal with him?  Ok.  Lets give it a go!

Onli had an impressive career as a major market freelance illustrator.  His clients were the likes of PLAYBOY, Paris Metro and many others.  This is where he learned how to grow his studio into a indie publishing brand. A production / publishing operation.  This is not self-publishing. This is innovative indie-production & publishing!

The current hot trend of Afrofutrism actually came long after Onli introduced a concept called Rhythmism as a future-primitif approach in all of the visual arts.  He launched it n Paris in 1978.

While in a few meetings with the late French great, Moebious, of "Fifth Element and Metal Hurlant fame", Onli realized the industry was uptight about Black folks on all levels.  He decided to morph his studio to expand the industry to be more like that of music or cuisine.  Where Blacks are much better received, appreciated and paid.

This illustration carries a small but vital note about Rhythmism.  Below is the first book published by ONLI STUDIOS in 1981.  "NOG: The Protector of the Pyramides". It uses the French spelling of pyramids as an homage to Paris, Moebious and the welcomed experience he learned form while living and working in the Bande Dessinee' industry of Paris.  

Onli exploded with all of these ideas and products along with amazing illustrations long before Post-Black, Black Lives Matters and of course Afrofuturism. Without funding.  With a lot of opposition form many of the same folks and operations who now expose their support and love for Black Lives and Afrofuturism.  Fortunately they came around and so many others have got that trend too.

Just saying the facts about this daring forward thinking innovator. 

 Rhythmism Lives!  Indie today: Black Age Forever!
 

"What$ in your collection?"

"Only ONLI!"

Sample Black Ink

A future classic image sketch from ONLI STUDIOS.  

A pre-publication peep. 

A fan treat..and view of things to come.

SASA is the New Face of Horror!

https://www.blackageofcomics.com/E-Books-Store.html

LINK TO ONLI STUDIO' E-BOOKS

 Rhythmistic Heroes from ONLI STUDIOS are doing the vital  maskings and respectful distancing to keep y'all and us well during these times of Sheltering In Place.

 The "Mega Sustah-Girl Work Out Book" is the only Graphic Novel in the world that is totally illustrated by talented female artists who have on their own depicted the character, Sustah-Girl: Queen of the Black Age, as they felt she should look. This is their vision of how a female super hero should look.

This great buy is a wellness / fitness guide & personal journal for sisters of all ages and stages looking to be positive and healthy.

 "Tales From The Rhythmic Zone" features Rhythmistic stories and art about the character that pre-dates the trend of afrofuturism and is the first intergalactic cosmic character created and published by an indie operation.  This makes this book so collectable and vital in most collections, classrooms and libraries.

 Prof. Turtel Onli. M.A.A.T. showing his titles recently in Chicago at the National Treasure designated South Side Community Art Center in the historic Bronzeville District.  This is where he  boldly launched the important Black Age of Comics genre / style/ and movement in February of 1993.  

Look how much color and diversity has emerged in this industry since that birth of the Black Age. 

Onli is a creative life long writer / deep  illustrator / radical designer / educator / indie publisher / & coach.  His flair and focus is known as Rhythmistic.  That is future-primitif and about the nexus of creativity, culture and commerce.

 This is a peek at the coming hot "Team BLANGA II" that will drop later in 2020.

Folks may have missed a lot of the critical action and innovation by way of Onli because his focus was pure.  He was doing his best to truly expand this industry to embrace and promote creators and characters of color.  Real diversity.  Various styles.

Onli took the hit that so many would not do.  The challenge to launch and grow the Black Age as a positive open genre that would welcome participation from all folks.

Question: "How much color and real diversity was in this industry before Onli launched the Black Age of Comics in 1993?"

Below is Prof. Onli presenting the cool  truth and importance of the indie Black Age of Comics to his students in 2008 at the Krannert Museum's Out of Sequence group exhibition curated by John Jennings & Damian Duffy.

  What$ in your collection?

"Did we hear you say, "Make mine ONLI"?

 Sometimes its about the money....sometimes its about the story....other times its about the art.  With Onli its about it all!

 Ms Antonia, a musician,  took this crucial picture of Onli at a kickass Chicago Black Age of Comics Convention produced by ONLI STUDIOS....catching him after selling a handful of ONLI STUDIOS books to a group of happy fans.  

At the time Onli also was the founding sponsor of the Kenwood Academy High School's very popular Anime' Club, taught Graphic Design and Coached Varsity Boys Volley Ball at the event's location being the Kenwood High School. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY4Dt_oX4AE

From the Father of the Black Age of Comics 2010!
LINK

Needless to say the mainstream is awash with images, creators and concepts of Color and mass diversity.  The decades long advocacy of Prof. Onli and so many courageous others has had its permanent impact.  " Indie today: Black Age Forever!"

 Now Prof. Onli and all that is the ONLI STUDIOS' Rhythmistic line of creators and products have emerged in full effect with Graphic Novels, Rhythmistic Fine Art, Wearable Art, Videos...with more planned.

ONLI STUDIOS fans and followers will love hearing that Prof. Onli is in mass-production mode to complete each limited series it launched in its crusade to expand this industry.

 Onli's limited edition vintage Rhythmistic treatments and trend setting experimental styles were in full effect decades before the rise of the current trends of  the celebrated "Afrofuturism" and the highly marketed "Waconda-hype". 

Innovators are like most pioneers. They get the barriers, stones, and obstacles.  The settlers get the land, gold and the money.  Onli is one such innovator.  

The image below, "Femme Chat" AKA "Cat-Woman", was created and drawn by Onli in 1977 when he was living in Paris.  It was for an exotic Bande-Dessine series that was to be published by the everhot trendy MODE Avant Garde Magazine.  

However the bigger promotional package for this ultra hip character was nixed by MODE when its owner realized Onli was Black.  They refused to see a Black artist rise in this manner even though they stood to benefit from Onli's awesome innovative art.

"Onli is back!!!"

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Sasa, Malcolm-10, Susta-Girl, The Button-Heads and NOG The Protector of the Pyramides and the return of Captain Sky will be coming your way.  Fans and Collectors never had it so good!

"Make mine ONLI!"

Rhythmism Lives!!

Feb. 8th 2020 saw an exciting signing at the DuSable Museum for ONLI STUDIOS in its Trading Post Gift Shop.

Thanks for visiting our blog to lean more about this emerging long time underground force that has transformed so much...with so little it is now qualified to do the impossible with less.
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There are few comix at the level of those published by the awesome indie operation of ONLI STUDIOS.  Headed by its Chief Operating Artist, Prof. Turtel Onli, M.A.A.T., since its founding in 1981, it launched the expansion of the entire comix industry to open up to real diversity.

Most of ONLI STUDIOS products come in an archival plastic bag with over-sized trading cards graciously included.  This is because Prof. Onli truly appreciates your participation in exploring and supporting ways to advance creativity, concepts and content in areas the mainstream refuses.

                                                       "ONLI STUDIOS returns the luv!"

 A wider range of styles, concepts, sources and even the actual people and cultures manifested in the animation, Graphic Novels and comics industries were slowly morphed to present day levels and soaring.

 Prof. Onli often asks the question: "How Black or really diverse was this industry before I launched the indie Black Age of Comics genre & movements in 1993?"

Onli designed the cover and character look for this best selling Funk-Disco album in 1978.

Onli is smart enough to know that way too many folks fear or dispise the term...."Black". They balk that if its called "Black" it must be just for Black folks.  Then in too many African American communities folks say, "We do not have to support you just 'cause you are Black!"

When Onli says "Black" he means styles and flavors....distinct and full of growth potential.

The below image is from the limited edition  "Legend of the Azaniac"

Onli says participate in this because we are awesome, unique, trail blazing and so damn intelligent. Plus y'all eat Thai, Italian, Chinese or Mexican cuisines and you all are not of those heritages or cultures.  And you never say if its called by those descriptors that it must only be for them.

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(Below: Prof. Onli receiving a Life Time Achievement Award at Temple University for his intelligent prolific effective work to bring positive diversity in the expansion of the comic book industry.)