Did they change the bands on these? The box I bought does not have the little foot band and the band looks like the one on my rojos.

Those are either the new blends or the ones created just for CI (the ones w/o the foot band). The original blends for Black Pearl is the "Gran series" (have a navy/black footband).

I had my first Black Pearl yesterday. Is it normal for the black stuff (like ink) to come off while smoking it. It turned my lips and fingers black.

Hmmmm........I haven't had a problem with the original Black Perles as far as any coloration from the wrapper coming off, but haven't tried the newer ones. To me it is a fine smoke and this would be a disturbing development if it holds across the board. I have smoked some cigars that turn the lips dark, almost like licorice candy (that you don't know about until you look in a mirror after smoking them) and don't like that effect.

Air, that is what happened. I actually didn't notice until I spit and it was black. Anyway, this was the only one I had (got it in a sampler) and it had the black pearl band on the foot (which was also black).

All the other ones I have from cbid have the foot band. I have smoked a lot of these and never had any color come off.

I'll have to ask CS.