“Hannibal’s real movie poster” “He was Black and from Africa. They try to make him white” -Maurice James
 
*Hannibal (also known as Hannibal Barca, l. 247-183 BCE) was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome (218-202 BCE). He is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity and his tactics are still studied and used in the present day. His father was Hamilcar Barca (l. 275-228 BCE), the great general of the First Punic War (264-241 BCE).
 
These wars were fought between the cities of Carthage in North Africa and Rome in northern Italy for supremacy in the Mediterranean region and the second war resulted directly from the first. Hannibal assumed command of the troops following his father's death and led them victoriously through a number of engagements until he stood almost at the gates of Rome; at which point he was stopped, not by the Romans, but through a lack of resources to take the city.
 
He was called back to Africa to defend Carthage from Roman invasion, was defeated at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE by Scipio Africanus (l. 236-183 BCE) and retired from service to Carthage. The remainder of his life was spent as a statesman and then in voluntary exile at the courts of foreign kings. He died in 183 BCE by drinking poison.
 
 
Maurice James Jr. is a self taught Contemporary Artist and Graphic Designer. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Maurice now lives and works in Washington, DC which has been his greatest source of inspiration as an artist.
Growing up as a young man in the Wynnefield section of West Philadelphia, he collected comic books, baseball cards and watched films that while considered classics, did not prominently feature Black People in the heroic role. 
Using digital graphics and merging genres that have not traditionally been combined to recreate well known pop-culture moments, Maurice’s art answers questions such as “How could Black folklore integrate into comic book culture?”, or “What if Black artistic genius was hailed in the light of deity?”.  His work strives to create a glimpse of a reality in which Black People and Black Culture are one with Pop Culture.