We’re sorry to report the death of storyteller Umar Abdullah, formerly known as Tobias Taitt, writer of BLACK, the powerful autobiographical serial first published in Aces Weekly over many volumes, illustrated by Anthony Smith, later published by Soaring Penguin Press as a graphic novel. He was 57.
As a black youth growing up, Tobias Taitt, a second-generation Windrush, brought to the UK by a mother hoping for a better life, learned first-hand that the world could be a cold and uncaring place for a child of the state. But he also learned to navigate — and, eventually, to buck — the system. A father of six and friend to many, he was a beloved member of his Chiswick community.
Well known for his trademark smile and storytelling, Tobias was passionate about recording modern British history, specifically the untold lives of its citizens. He believed their stories should be recorded for future generations, just as he did with his own, in BLACK, working with Anthony Smith: a story of undiminished hope, and of how an individual can triumph, despite having the odds stacked against them.
Tobias Taitt’s mother received a lengthy prison sentence for killing her husband’s brother. Tobias was then given a full care order and made a ward of the state. He spent his early life in a series of care homes in the south of England.
When he left those institutions at the age of 15, he began a descent into a life of crime, although simultaneously developing a love for literature, and all its possibilities, that grew within him. He was eventually arrested and spent several years at Her Majesty’s pleasure in some of Britain’s toughest prisons.
His graphic novel, BLACK, first serialised in the digital anthology, Aces Weekly, is a a brutally honest true story of a child’s struggle against overwhelming odds; a tale of a dysfunctional family life and a childhood spent mostly in care, touching on themes of class and race as the adolescent Tobias gravitates from care to crime.
In 2021, photo journalist and downthetubes contributor James Bacon visited and reviewed an exhibition at London’s Cartoon Museum celebrating Black History Month, featuring art from BLACK, for Mike Glyer’s website, File 770.
“BLACK is a comic that deserves wider consideration,” said James. “I found it compelling in its honesty, but had missed the launch of the exhibit, and so was delighted when an opportunity arose to see it, and was so very impressed.
“The exhibition space in the Cartoon Museum was set out like a small bedroom, or cell, or institutional bedroom, something that made it paradoxically intimate in its closeness and also cold with that realisation, with the art on the walls. Tobias Tait spoke to me from a screen in this exhibit space, and I was taken to another place, his place, his history, his predicaments and to his youth, a black boy in 1970s Britain growing into the 1980’s and to a life of crime.
“A criminal… but such an erudite and obviously thoughtful man. I highly recommend BLACK… it is a hard story, well worth reading.
“The autobiographical graphic novel overflows with reminders of a recent dark history, documenting a slice of a young British black man’s life, very much in
the vein of Steve McQueen’s Uprising and Small Axe series of films. But this is no misery memoir – rather, it stands as a celebration of words
and pictures with the power to elevate us.”
The BLACK – the Graphic Novel by Tobias Taitt and Anthony Smith installation at the Cartoon Musuem, 2021. Photos © James Bacon
Tobias Tait himself explained his approach to writing BLACK: “This is an uncompromising true story of a boy growing up in a series of institutions in 1970s/ 80s Britain,” he said. ”That boy happens to be me. When I was three years old my mother killed my uncle, was sent to prison, and condemned me to spend my early life in a series of bleak children’s homes.
“But the highlights of my early years are as memorable as the low points. And the people that helped me, both black and white still shine brightly to me. I’ve worked closely with Anthony Smith to bring my past alive in a way that will hopefully resonate with people young and old. This is our way of contributing a small slice of history that may otherwise have been lost.
“I’m honoured and deeply grateful that the Cartoon Museum is putting on an exhibition of the story…. But let me state clearly, this is no sob story or misery memoir. It’s a celebration of my life and British history through the power of words and pictures.”
“We were very sad to hear of the passing of Tobias Taitt,” the Cartoon Museum commented of his passing. “We worked closely with Tobias when we told his story through an exhibition of the book’s artwork. He was a lovely man.”
Paying tribute to Tobias on Facebook, Aces Weekly publisher David Lloyd commented: “I never got to meet Tobias, but it was hardly necessary to meet him to know him by a great deal of what could be perceived through his writing.
“A tough guy from tough times, who learned how to handle himself through them to survive and flourish. We didn’t get to tell more of his life than what we were proud to have shown, but I know he moved on to become a well-loved part of his community, as well as that fighting man of his past.”
Tobias Taitt (Umar Abdullah) – 1967 – 2024, returned to Allah on Monday 16th September 2024
• BLACK is available directly from Soaring Penguin Press | Available digitally from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Aces Weekly is online at acesweekly.co.uk
Tributes
• David Lloyd’s Facebook Tribute
• Islam21C: A tribute to Umar Abdullah, the “Da’wah Legend”
Further Reading
• downthetubes: New exhibition, BLACK, opens at Cartoon Museum
2021 news item
• For more information about the Cartoon Museum visit www.cartoonmuseum.org / Twitter @cartoonmuseumuk | Facebook @TheCartoonMuseum | Instagram thecartoonmuseum | YouTube – The Cartoon Museum
• File 770: BLACK: The Story Of Tobias Taitt
• John Hansard Gallery and Black History Month South present BLACK: The Graphic Novel 2022
As part of Black History Month 2022, John Hansard Gallery and Black History Month South presented BLACK: The Graphic Novel over 28th September – 5th November 2022. The exhibition featured on BBC South
• Review: BLACK – a Slings and Arrows review by Frank Plowright
• Anthony Smith, artist on BLACK, began his career as a cartoonist, working for Marvel UK, Knockabout, and a host of other publishers, before moving into advertising. At J. Walter Thompson he created numerous high-profile TV and press campaigns, and went on to work for a variety of other ad agencies before returning to cartooning and illustration. His daily cartoon, “Learn to Speak Cat”, appeared in The Metro newspaper and has been syndicated worldwide through GoComics. He is a regular contributor to Private Eye with his “Logos as they should be” feature
BLACK © 2024 Tobias Taitt and Anthony Smith | Tribute with thanks to James Bacon and Anthony Smith
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Obituaries
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