DARK HORSE BOOKS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARLIZE THERON’S SECRET MENU, PRESENTS: “IMBOKODO”

An action-packed Afrofuturist epic of finding strength and power, even in the toughest of circumstances

Dark Horse Books presents the epic Afrofuturistic saga Imbokodo, now available in a paperback volume that gathers all four issues of the comic series together in one book. The series is written by Thabo Rametsi and Thabiso Mabanna of Nguniverse Studios, with art, colors, and cover art by Katlego Motaung, letters by Frank Cvetkovic, and logo art by Gil Lazcano. It was developed in partnership with Secret Menu, the new media venture recently launched by Academy Award-winning actress and producer Charlize Theron, Dawn Olmstead, Beth Kono and AJ Dix, with an eye towards a scripted adaptation.

In the land of the pyramid sun, Ndawo, a single step for the Badimu (Gods) is a thousand Muntu (human) lifetimes. And in the war of the Badimu, from the smallest cut shall flow rivers of Muntu blood… endless rivers of blood.

War breaks out among the Badimu, casting a darkness over Ndawo. A darkness that would birth genocide and war among the Muntu. And now, a thousand years later—Ndawo remains divided into several Empires. As the brutal war reaches a bloody crescendo, numerous young girls mysteriously go missing from their villages in the empire of Mwenemutapa, leaving behind only a trail of carnage in their wake.

In Mwenemuntapa, a nameless woman, whose sister is among the missing, fights to join the ranks of the elite warriors tasked with investigating the missing girls. They are the greatest warriors in all of Ndawo—they are THE IMBOKODO.

In the words of multi-award-winning actress Charlize Theron:

“When Thabo and Thabiso from Nguniverse Studios first brought us this idea, we were so impressed with the epic scope and emotional depth of this world they created with such incredibly powerful female African warriors at the center. We knew we found a perfect home in Dark Horse when they saw the same potential in Thabo and Thabiso’s unique and special vision. As our company’s first foray into the publishing space, we couldn’t have asked for better creative partners than Thabo and Thabiso, and we can’t wait for the world to meet the indomitable warrior women of the Imbokodo.”

The Imbokodo (104 pages, 6.625” x 10.1875″) paperback collection will be available in bookstores on July 15, 2025 and in comic shops on July 16, 2025. The book is available for pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW, and wherever books and comics are sold. It will retail for $19.99.

Nguniverse Bio:

Nguniverse Studios is a film production studio formed in 2020 by award-winning actor Thabo Rametsi and corporate finance strategist Thabiso Mabanna. The company was formed to tell African stories through highly bankable genres that would see Africans well represented in sci-fi, historical epics, superhero, action and comedy films, and television.

Thabo Rametsi Bio:

Thabo Rametsi is a multi-award-winning South African actor, writer, director and producer who has led critical and commercially successful African films like Kalushi, Amandla, and Silverton Siege. He is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Myman Greenspan. Along with producing partner Thabiso Mabanna, he formed Nguniverse Studios as a vehicle to tell genre-bending African stories through print and filmmaking. Through Imbokodo, his comic book writing debut, they hope to create a cinematic universe.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!