#48 – How Do Reimagined Comics Challenge Social Narratives? | Kumasi J. Barnett
S10 #48

#48 – How Do Reimagined Comics Challenge Social Narratives? | Kumasi J. Barnett

Artist and professor Kumasi J. Barnett returns to the podcast to talk art, protest, and making work that cuts through the noise.
Known for subverting classic comic book covers with raw, socially charged rewrites, Kumasi reflects on what’s changed since 2022—from running for office to teaching at Penn State. We talk about the realities of being a Black painter, creating in the shadow of systemic erasure, and why some truths hit harder in spandex.
  • Why painting is the easy part—but being an artist is not
  • Rewriting comic canon to reflect modern injustice
  • Teaching art, parenting, and painting as a long game
  • Why selling out isn't the flex many think it is
  • What he’s planning next (spoiler: it's political)
🎧 Revisit Kumasi’s first episode from 2022 for more context on his powerful comic-based series.

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
  • Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
  • Edited by Daniel Alexis
  • Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
  • Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
  • Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
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Creators and Guests

Rob Lee
Host
Rob Lee
The Truth In This Art is an interview series featuring artists, entrepreneurs and tastemakers in & around Baltimore.
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Kumasi J. Barnett
Guest
Kumasi J. Barnett
Baltimore-based artist, who transforms comic book covers into thought-provoking reflections on systemic racism, police brutality, corporate greed, and political corruption. With an MFA from The Ohio State University, Barnett subverts classic good vs. evil narratives, infusing them with present-day social consciousness.
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