A full-circle milestone celebrates a story born from one writer’s transformative journey to South Korea 25 years ago.
The Young Grandmaster Choi series — a prequel to Shero Comics’ flagship IP, Rayven Choi — was inspired by a life-changing cultural exchange trip that founder Shequeta L. Smith took to South Korea 25 years ago while attending North Carolina State University. That experience ignited her passion for Korean culture and later became the creative foundation for the Rayven Choi universe, which spans graphic novels, short films, workshops, and merchandise beloved by readers around the world.
Young Grandmaster Choi follows six-year-old Rayven Johnson, an African-American army brat adopted by a Korean family after the loss of her parents. Set in Seoul, the story blends martial arts, multicultural identity, and coming-of-age themes, resonating with readers of all ages in both the U.S. and abroad. The museum placement underscores the international cultural bridge at the heart of the series and recognizes its contribution to global storytelling and Korean-American creative exchange.
This achievement comes during a landmark year for Shero Comics, which in January was honored by the Los Angeles Lakers and Comerica Bank with the Woman of Diversity Award, and was recently selected to represent Los Angeles in the prestigious Intuit IDEAS Accelerator. Together, these recognitions highlight Shero Comics’ innovative leadership and further solidify its reputation as a rising force in transmedia storytelling, youth education, and diverse representation in publishing.
Shero Comics’ growing catalog of merchandise — including Young Grandmaster Choi books, Rayven Choi graphic novels, dolls, t-shirts, and additional collectibles — is available now on the company’s website at www.sherocomics.com. The Young Grandmaster Choi doll, praised by parents, educators, librarians, and young readers for its positive representation, continues to be one of the brand’s most celebrated items.
“We are honored to see Young Grandmaster Choi showcased in the Korea Manhwa Museum,” said founder Shequeta L. Smith. “This series has always been about bridging cultures, empowering youth, and celebrating the beauty of Korean and African-American identity. Being placed in the museum is a full-circle moment for me, just a quarter of a century after first visiting South Korea on a cultural exchange trip that changed my life.”
Looking ahead, Shero Comics will launch a major Kickstarter campaign in February during Black History Month to fund the next two chapters of Young Grandmaster Choi. These new books will complete the first full volume of the series. The campaign will introduce an exciting new wave of merchandise, including branded hair bonnets, a coloring and activity book, and an all-new collector’s doll inspired by Rayven’s latest adventures.
To learn more about Shero Comics and get updates on upcoming releases, visit www.sherocomics.com and join the newsletter.
Author Profile
- 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!
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