Milestone Initiative creators Jordan Clark and Atagun ?lhan launch speculative series from Ahoy Comics this August.

“What if the most important Black figures in history could become your superpowers?”

That’s the compelling premise behind Ancestral Recall, a new five-issue series launching August 6, 2025, from Ahoy Comics. Writer and creator Jordan Clark (known for Aquaman and Star Wars Adventures) teams with artist Atagun ?lhan (Poison Ivy, Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet) for a story that blends legacy, grief, and speculative power.

The series follows Melvin Waring, an aging, abstract painter whose creative process is guided by ancestral forces. Melvin, brilliant but reclusive, leans heavily on his wife, June, for navigating the practical side of his art career. When June mysteriously disappears, his already-precarious life unravels.

But Melvin’s intuitive connection to history—what he believed was metaphorical “ancestral recall”—suddenly becomes real. He begins channeling the skills, insights, and spirits of Black historical figures, many of whom have been buried by time or erased from public memory. Figures like Jean-Louis Michel, a legendary 17th-century swordsman, and Cheryl Linn Glass, America’s first Black woman race car driver, don’t just guide him, they empower him.

Clark’s goal isn’t just to entertain. As he explains, “As Black history is literally being erased all around us, Ancestral Recall feels like an urgent call to not just preserve it but celebrate the links between our past, present, and future.” He sees the comic as both tribute and torch, shedding light on forgotten heroes while offering readers a tool of cultural re-connection. “The series is my love letter to those who paved the way, and hopefully, an affirmation for us here in the now.”

I had the opportunity to preview part of the debut issue. It’s cozy yet sharply rendered, taking the time to introduce Melvin and June’s relationship before the metaphysical mystery ignites. ?lhan’s visual storytelling shines—particularly in the channeling sequences, where the art dynamically shifts to reflect each historical figure’s tone and era. Based on ?lhan’s past work, I expect a bold, stylistically fluid narrative canvas to match the spiritual scope of Clark’s writing.

This isn’t a typical superhero tale. Expect elements of magical realism, time travel, historical homage, and intimate grief, all woven into a speculative mystery that challenges how we think about legacy and identity.

Ancestral Recall #1 will be available at comic shops and digital platforms on August 6, 2025, featuring covers by Khary Randolph.

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Tune in this Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm Pacific for SCIFI.radio’s THE EVENT HORIZON, when the Answer Man, Thaddeus Howze, speaks with Jordan Clark about Ancestral Recall.