Incognegro
Incognegro is a black-and-white graphic novel written by Mat Johnson and illustrated by Warren Pleece, published by DC Comics imprint Vertigo in February 2008.
The plot of the graphic novels follows Zane Pinchback, a reporter for a black newspaper in the early 1930s New York City. He goes to the American South to investigate the arrest of his own brother, charged with the brutal murder of a white woman in Mississippi. He goes undercover as a white person due to his fairer skin to save his brother and uncover the truth.
Tropes used in Incognegro include:
- But Not Too Black: Invoked, as Zane and his friend Carl are light-skinned enough to pass as white. They aren't found out until Carl decides to raise his profile by mingling with the white upperclass.
- Different As Night and Day: Zane and Alonzo, in personality in looks: they look like alike except in skintone.
- Deliberately Monochrome
- Intrepid Reporter: Zane.
- Karmic Death: Huey.
- Scary Black Man: Cited as part of the reason his Zane's brother was arrested, the other part being plain old racism.