Advance Review: YouNeek Studios Books via Dark Horse Comics

One of the things that always makes me shake my head in despair is the timing of various publishers doing the same sort of stuff. Take the multi-verse as an example of even the multitude of Black White and add a color style of books. With that said, however, there is one trend that I am pleased to see gain publishing plans. With the recent news that the Dakota-verse is returning to DC Comics, Dark Horse is also looking to add a diverse range of book from YouNeek Studios., where African creators utilise African history, culture and mythology. Over the next couple of months, this pairing are scheduled to deliver three graphic novels. Here is what you can expect;

E.X.O The Legend of Wale Williams
(W) Roye Okupe (A) Sunkami Akinboye (Col) Raphael Kazeem (Let) Spoof Animation

Wale Williams is the oldest sun of Doctor William. Both live in Lagoon City; but when the source of the city’s power, Prime-X, is stolen Wale need to step up and step into the E.X.O armour suit to save the city and live up to his best self.

Creator and writer Roye Okupe has mined a number of different ideas in order to deliver this book. An techno-futuristic African nation screams Wakanda and a armour suit could be either Iron Man or perhaps more obviously, Batwing. With that said, having inspirations and influences is not necessarily a bad thing; how else do you find an audience. In Wale, Okupe has a character that will seem familiar, making the book an easy read from the outset.

The art from Sunkami Akinboye has a nice amount of pace about it when it comes to the open act of the book. However, things become a little “talking heads” thereafter. Where there is a lack of movement from the characters, there has to be something else for the reader to see. Too often the backgrounds are bare, featuring a color rather than anything real descriptive. Facial elements can also be a tad inconsistent, but overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the art. The colors from Raphael Kazeem are a little too bright, lacking nuances that you may expect from other publishers. Kaseem tries hard, given the one color backgrounds some gradients. The letters from Spoof Animation are easily read, balloons placed well to engender the flow of conversations.

Writing – 3.5 Stars; Art – 3 Stars; Colors 3 Stars; Overall – 3 Stars. Ships October 19th

Malika Warrior Queen
(W) Roye Okupe (A) Chima Kalu (Col) Raphael Kazeem with Osas Asemoto, Collins Momodu, Omotuyi Ebota and Stanley Eweke (Let) Spoof Animation

This book follows Malika, a warrior queen as she tries to gold the five lands of her nation together. Set in 15th century Wes Africa, it is a book of conquest, politics, clans and tribes that hark back to the conflicts within African history. Oh, did I mention there were dragons?

Creator Roye Okupe works hard to establish the boundaries in this book. In doing so, he has created something very specific, in much the same way that Ram V achieved in These Savage Shores from Vault Comics. I am sure that this book will be of interest to anyone who has enjoyed the recent changes to the Wonder Woman mythos, may be with some Conan thrown in for good measure. I will say that historical based stuff from any nation is well outside my preferred choice of reading, yet Okupe’s writing managed to keep my interest through all 300 plus pages, and ironically for me, was as enjoyable as the more straight forward superhero trope in E.X.O.

Chima Kalu’s art has the same sort of fundamental style as Sunkami Akinboye in pacing and camera angle. I wonder if this then is the Nigeria “house” style in play or are both trying to adopt a more western approach? Kalu’s art develops as the book continues through its epic size. Different locations are well observed, giving backgrounds the opportunity to come in to the fore. This gives the book a more lived in and authentic look. This sense of environment is maintained by Raphael Kazeem and the team of colorists who ably assist. Again Spoof Animation comes up trumps with a font, that has to deal with exposition as much as dialogue.

Writing – 3.5 Stars; Art – 3.5 Stars; Colors – 4 Stars; Overall 3.5 Stars. Ships September 7th

Iyanu – Child of Wonder
(W) Roye Okupe (A) Godwin Akpan (Let) Spoof Animation

Creator and writer Roye Okupe has certainly been busy. This time around his story features a young child who has no recollection of her past. Iyanu is classed as a “forest girl” and therefore is looked down upon by the townsfolk. Ostracised she lives with a mentor as such. Iyanu though has wondrous abilities that are beginning to show. It is this powers that hark to bringing about an Age of Wonders. Think is, the townsfolk have the same dream and their preferred champion.

Okupe has clearly demonstrated a range of writing styles, whilst keeping the idea of African culture and history alive. By having the proponent as a child, Okupe allows for a simpler worldview to contrast the more political aspects and expectations of living in the town.

The painted style of colors and almost aimed at kids art from Godwin Akpan is simply breathtaking. It is a visual delight, with the opening act devoid of words demonstrates excellent storytelling. This trick is hard to pull off, yet Akpan manages it with ease. Spoof Animations letters remain consistent, though this time around they feel a little too big for panels.

Iyanu is a great looking book steeped in the magic of African mythology.

Writing – 3.5 Stars; Art 5 Stars; Overall – 4 Stars. Ships 23rd September.

YouNeek Studios have put together an impressive range of books, that maintains Roye Okupe vision. There is always room on the rack for different points of view, especially when they are as well put together as the three books.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network