4 African Indie comics companies you NEED to check out!

I love comics with the passion of a thousand suns. When an amazing script combines with beautiful art, detailed pencils and careful inking timeless stories can be born. Thanks to the rise of the internet the medium of comics has spread worldwide. Now, writers and artists from around the world are bringing their tales to the global stage. And Africa is a hidden powerhouse of comics.

While American comics, Japanese manga, Korean Manwha, and Chinese Manhua have caught fire across the world. Africa is rising to the forefront.  So I wanted to shine a spotlight on the African comic companies that I love.  They're in no particular order, just whatever came to mind first.

1)ETAN Comics

Founded by Beserat Debebe and drawing on Ethiopian culture, Etan comics seek to tell great stories and counteract negative view of Africa that the news loves to focus on. And he succeeds spectacularly. He's the reason I even came up with this list in the first place. I won a free issue of HAWI #1, the 1st issue in I hope a very long-running series about Emnet Legesse, a 20-year-old college student who must save her kidnapped mother from an ancient supernatural evil. I devoured this issue and was left hungry for more.  HAWI is not their first foray into comics, they also have the ongoing series JEMBER, about Ethiopia's first superhero. Publishing both in English and Amharic, they are a hidden gem.

2) The Comic Republic

This Nigerian comic book company is what got me into African comics with their wide selection of titles from the mystical focused Aje to the classic superhero fare of Guardian Prime they offer something for everyone. My personal favorite is Ireti Bidemi, the tale of a college student who gains the powers of a legendary Nigerian Queen.  The thing that makes them stand out is that they release their comics online FOR FREE. So you can legally download their entire catalog RIGHT  NOW (which I highly suggest you do cause they are good.)

3)YouNeek Studios

Also based in Nigeria, Youneek Studios follows the Marvel movie method. Instead of releasing monthly single issues they focus on full 200-page graphic novels. While each series in the YouNeek Universe can stand alone together they make for a well thought out, engaging ongoing plot.  With a historical fantasy like Malika: Warrior Queen and Sci-Fi superheroics of E.X.O. The Legend of Wade Williams writer Roye Okupe's deft pen creates nuanced, unique characters that will keep you reading.

4)Adorned By Chi

While created in the United States, Adorned by Chi is in and draws on Nigerian culture and mythology. Adorned by Chi puts a Sailor Moon style twist, giving the world the black magical girls I've always wanted. Full of heart, action and beautiful manga-inspired art. This is a series that you can't miss. I did an entire blog post about this series, so go check that one out here

These creators draw on the cultural traditions of Nigeria and Africa combining them with their own imagination.  It speaks to the sheer richness and untapped potential of Africa that Nigerian culture alone can be the wellspring from which these amazing, unique and fun works spring from. And with Hawi drawing from Ethiopian culture highlights how multifaceted Africa truly is. These comics all break stereotypes, shatter expectations and tell great stories. They're all a welcome addition to your library.

Taoism Grandmaster Full Series review

I just finished watching The Taoism Grandmaster a 2017 45 episode Xianxia drama. And ooooh boy do I have a lot of feelings.

If there's one major point in this series favor it's that it has a huge heart. From the very beginning, the tightly focused narrative paints a world waiting with bated breath for a war between humans and demons (Or as the questionable English subs call them Wolves). The only person who can save the world is the mysterious Taoism Seeker. So find this chosen hero the Five Sects stage a competition to find the legendary Saint Armor which will pick out the seeker once all the pieces are found.

The characters are the strongest part of the show. with 5 Sects working together, there are 29 people all aiming to be Taoist Grandmaster. The series takes the time to really flesh out almost all of the 29 characters so no one feels like a cardboard cut out.FeiFei, Tei Long, Liluli, my boy Yan Qi are memorable in their own right. Feifei for being a complex leading lady (Whose end game makes me want to rage at the heavens). Tei Long, a warrior who wears his heart on his sleeve and is super blunt. Liliuli took a while to grow on me since her archetype of "cute, clingy girl with a high pitched voice" is a major turn off. She proved herself with her resourcefulness and love for the main crew of heroes.

But it's Bai Qianji who steals the show. This nine-tailed fox is the general of the Demonic armies. Bai has more than earned that title. Starting out as the high pitched voiced girl who'd cower at the other generals scolding. Once she was unleashed on Earth, her true colors show. It was all an act. In reality, she's cold-blooded, manipulative, cunning and Machiavellian. By the time the main cast figures out her real scheme, she'd already destroyed the demon army, corrupted Kunlun, the son of the Chief of the all the Sects, into her thrall, brainwashed Feifei into being Kunlun's wife. While everyone is playing checkers, Bai Qianji is playing 4D chess while drinking fine wine and laughing like a mad woman the whole damn time!

Cower before the true face of EVIL!
From the very beginning, Grandmaster pulls no punches. The first major test is all 29 candidates to be sent to a pocket dimension where they must survive the biggest battle of the last demon war. A battle that leveled a city and killed thousands. The series keeps the emotional stakes high in between quests to find the different armor pieces, there are episodes that focus solely on the cast training to prepare for the upcoming war. More then just simple training arc mini stories these episodes are used to build character relationships all of which grow organically.

It's a must watch if you want to get into Chinese drama, if you can get past the laughable CGI in some places. Grandmaster does have a habit of falling into melodrama but the emotions feel so genuine that the viewer is swept up right along with the cast. I felt FeiFei conflicted emotions between Kunlun and Tei Long. Tei Long's earnest nature and Liluli's stubbornness kept me watching. The entire series with subs is up on youtube posted by the official Chinese production company. Here's the complete playlist

Adorned by Chi review issues 1-4

 Magical girl stories have always held a special place in my heart. I watched Sailor moon religiously as a kid, fell head over heels for W.I.T.C.H. in High school along with watching anime like Madoka Magicka, Shugo Chara, and Magical Girl Rising project.

As a black woman, I always wished I could see myself within the pages and on the screen within the genre I so love. When I discovered Adorned by Chi's Kickstarter back in 2018 I was excited. A 9 issue series set in an Afrofuture Nigeria where 5 college students become heroines (and a hero) to fight a creeping evil. I wasn't able to back the project but for Free Comic Book this year, they released Issues 1 to 4 for free!

The deft writing, amazing art, and human characters won me over instantly.

You have perky, party-loving GoGo who can be a ray of sunshine.

Her twin sister, Kelechi, is a goth after my own heart. With a love of the occult and sassy personality, she's the life of the party.

 Kaira reminds me a lot of Michiru from Sailor Moon. She's very zen and gentle but has a serious edge when others are put in danger.

Emeka is the popular sports star on campus.  He doesn't get much focus on these issues but he's hinted at being important later on.

Last, but certainly not least is Adaeze. She's the leader of the team. It's implied that she suffers from depression and throughout the narrative has crying fits.  It's revealed that they're connected to her power of empathy which allows her to communicate with monsters that attack the campus. She's the only one to realize that they were once normal people.  I love how the series uses this to focus on self-care, as Chi, Adaeze's magical animal companion, gives her real-world applicable tips to deal with stress and emotional burnout.  Even with the heavy undertones, the beautiful and vibrant art pops even in black and white.

The series is a must-read for fans of the magical girl genre, Afrofuturism or people who are just looking for a fun read. Here's the link to where you can buy both the free digital comics and pre-order the soft cover physical release

Book Review: Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Just finished this book a few moments ago and I can't put my shock into words. To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement. I devoured it like a starving woman at a feast.  Every time I thought I saw a twist coming or a knew a character, everything was upended and I was left picking my jaw up off the floor. The ending is a thing of haunting, heartbreaking beauty.  Joan He is a writer to watch. I eagerly await whatever she writes next.

I'll post a more detailed review but for now I give it 5 starsQ

I'm Alive!

Hey readers!
Just a quick note from me to tell you that this blog isn't dead. I'm planning on taking it in a more book review focused direction.

I know that book reviews are some what subjective since everyone has different preferences in terms of genre, tropes they enjoy, and writing style.  I'd admit that I'm a huge fantasy fan, with a passion for female lead stories.   I want this blog to be a space to  highlight and share books I love as well as hidden gems.

I would love to know if you have any suggestions for books to review. I'm all ears.