Hebru Brantley - Martha's Boys (2017)

Martha's Boys (2017)

Artist: Hebru Brantley
Title: Martha's Boys
Year: 2017
Medium: Screenprint in colours on Mohawk Superfine UltraWhite paper
Sheet Size: 55.9 × 76.2 cm (22 × 30 in)
Edition: 85 — signed and numbered in pencil lower right
Publisher: POP!nk Editions, Chicago
Frame: Unframed
Type: Limited edition screenprint

Description:

Martha's Boys (2017) is one of the most culturally charged and formally accomplished prints from Hebru Brantley — the Chicago-based artist whose practice of reimagining superhero iconography through the lens of Black childhood experience has made him one of the most significant and most collected voices in contemporary American art. Two boys in superhero costumes — one in a DIY Superman suit, one in a Batman ensemble — stand back to back with the confidence of genuine heroes, their faces wearing the oversized goggle-glasses that are Brantley's signature motif, their postures composed of equal parts childhood bravado and earned dignity.

The title — Martha's Boys — carries a deliberate double resonance: it references both the famous "Martha" moment in the DC universe (the shared name of Superman's and Batman's mothers, the coincidence that resolves their conflict in Zack Snyder's 2016 film) and, more personally, the tradition of Black mothers raising sons in circumstances that require them to be both ordinary children and extraordinary survivors. These are Martha's boys — someone's sons — playing at being superheroes in costumes that are simultaneously aspirational and inadequate, the capes and belts suggesting the weight of roles they are too young to have been assigned.

Brantley's visual language — rooted in Chicago's graffiti and street art tradition, inflected by anime, comic books, and the visual culture of the Black South Side — here achieves one of its most formally assured expressions. The composition is confident and direct, the colour clean and saturated, the characterisation specific enough to carry emotional weight while remaining open enough to carry collective meaning. Printed on Mohawk Superfine UltraWhite — one of the finest uncoated papers in American printing — by POP!nk Editions, Chicago, in an edition of 85, signed and numbered in pencil by the artist

Shipping & Delivery:
✔ Worldwide shipping from France
✔ Professional packaging with insurance
✔ Tracking number included for secure delivery

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FAQ

Is this an original Hebru Brantley print?
Yes — an original screenprint in colours on Mohawk Superfine UltraWhite paper, signed and numbered in pencil by the artist from an edition of 85.

What is the edition size?
85 impressions.

What is the significance of the title Martha's Boys?
The title references both the famous DC Comics "Martha" connection between Superman and Batman, and the broader cultural significance of Black motherhood — "Martha's boys" as both comic book characters and real children navigating a world that demands both vulnerability and strength from them.

Who is Hebru Brantley?
Hebru Brantley (b. 1981, Chicago) is an American artist whose practice reimagines superhero iconography through the lens of Black childhood experience, rooted in Chicago's graffiti tradition and inflected by anime, comic book culture, and African-American visual history. His work is held in significant private collections and has been exhibited internationally.

Who published this work?
POP!nk Editions, Chicago — a specialist publisher of limited edition prints by leading contemporary artists, based in Brantley's home city.

Is the work framed?
No — sold unframed. Please contact us for framing options.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes — worldwide, with museum-grade flat packaging, full insurance, and shipment tracking.