Abar: The First Black Superman (1977) Frank Packard

Abar may not be the greatest blaxploitation flick ever made, in fact it has been largely forgotten and is pretty tough to get your hands on at this point. But it is a novelty, and in a way, it's simplicity lays bare the issues at the center of black cinema and the blaxploitation movement. It's novelty is that it is, purportedly, the first black sci-fi movie. The premise is that an upper class, educated black family moves into a white neighborhood, and zany antics ensue! Dr. Kinkaide, the successful black scientist, and his family, are not welcomed into their new neighborhood. There is not a single sympathetic white character in the world of this film, and the good doctor's home is vandalized and the family threatened with violence. Abar, a youthful idealist who aims to end povery and racial discrimination, is hired as the Kinkaide's bodyguard. Meanwhile, Dr. Kinkaide has been whipping up a super-secret elixir in his basement laboratory that allows bunny rabbits to survive gunshot wounds. When the racial tension gets really bad, Dr. Kinkaide convinces Abar to down the potion, giving him supernatural honky-bashing powers. Production values are very low, the acting is even worse, and the premise and it's presentation are nothing less than absurd, but it's good camp fun with a positive message. Abar's speeches about making efforts towards social change by non-violent means and the unity displayed by the black community are heartfelt, if over-simplified, attempts to forward a positive political agenda. I also found it interesting that the (poor) black community stood up for the Kinkaides, because in many movies in this and related genres black characters who leave the community to live a more posh lifestyle are frequently denigrated and perceived as turning their back on their roots. There isn't a whole lot of action until the very end, when Abar gains an assortment of superpowers and there results a great big supernatural showdown between the racist honkies and the activist turned magical militant. All in all, a good bit of fun with some novel elements and an appealing camp aesthetic.

Available for sale at pimpadelicwonderland.com, and possibly for download at thepiratebay.org if anyone's still seeding