In honor of Black History Month, Dark Horse presents recommendations of comics and graphic novels that highlight Black voices and creators and themes of representation, empowerment, and education.
YouNeek Studios: Enter the YouNeek YouNiverse
YouNeek Studios, founded by Dwayne McDuffie nominee Roye Okupe, features a YouNiverse of superheroes based on African stories by African creators, influenced by African history, mythology, politics, and more. Dark Horse Comics is proud to partner with YouNeek Studios to share the YouNeek YouNiverse with a global audience. More details here.
From YouNeek Studios founder Roye Okupe:
“As a creator, I spend a lot of my time reflecting on characters, world-building, plot, business ideas, etc. But come February, every year, I do my best to dive deeper into what I consider a more meaningful form of reflection: Black History.
Typically, my reflection begins with the question: what does Black History mean to someone like me who was born and raised in Nigeria for the first half of their life and then, for the other half, grew up in the United States? More often than not, the answer to that question is Legacy and Excellence.
I am a product of many who came before me and paved the way so that I can thrive in my craft as a writer (Legacy). Because of that, I’m motivated every single day of the year by one goal: to create the most authentic and compelling characters and worlds ever seen in comics via my stories—Iyanu, Malika, E.X.O., WindMaker, etc.—(Excellence).
With these two tenets, I hope to honor the sacrifice of the real-life superheroes who came before me.”
Newest Release: In The Oloris: Heroes Will Unite, heroes from across YouNeek Studios’ different titles unite for the first time in an epic crossover event! When an unknown anarchist unleashes an army of extraterrestrial androids on the continent of Africa, Malika—legendary warrior queen of the 15th-century West African Empire, Azzaz—must put together a team of “unlike-minded” heroes to respond before it’s too late. Featuring appearances from other YouNeek YouNiverse heroes like EXO, Fury, and WindMaker, several YouNeek storylines finally converge.
Recently Released: Iyanu: Child of Wonder Volume 3 continues the popular tale of Iyanu and her new companions as they try to save Yorubaland from an ancient curse. Details here.
Iyanu will soon be an animated series on HBO Max/Cartoon Network, overseen by Black-owned animation studio LionForge Animation. More details here.
More YouNeek Studios titles now available:
Malika: Warrior Queen Volume 1
Roye Okupe, Chima Kalu, Raphael Kazeem, Spoof Animation, Godwin Akpan
Malika: Warrior Queen Volume 2
Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, Etubi Onucheyo, Toyin “Morby” Ajetunmobi, Spoof Animation
Iyanu: Child of Wonder Volume 1
Roye Okupe, Godwin Akpan
Iyanu: Child of Wonder Volume 2
Roye Okupe, Godwin Akpan
*Winner of the 2022 Nommo Award for Best Graphic Novel*
Iyanu: Child of Wonder Volume 3
Roye Okupe, Chima Kalu, Godwin Akpan
E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams Volume 1
Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, Raphael Kazeem, Godwin Akpan
E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams Volume 2
Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, Etubi Onucheyo, Tarella Pablo, Spoof Animation, Godwin Akpan
WindMaker Volume 1
Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, Toyin “Morby” Ajetunmobi, Godwin Akpan
WindMaker Volume 2
Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, Toyin “Morby” Ajetunmobi, Spoof Animation
The Oloris: Heroes Will Unite Volume 1
Roye Okupe, Sunkanmi Akinboye, Toyin “Morby” Ajetunmobi, Spoof Animation
All YouNeek books are suggested for ages 12-14 and up.
Find a full reading guide to the YouNeek YouNiverse of related titles here!
More Recommended Reading
Shook! A Black Horror Anthology
12 Funkdafied Tales of Terror!
Made in partnership with Second Sight Publishing, this anthology includes nearly 200 pages of terrorizing material. It includes stories from a range of award-winning Black writers and artists.
Stemming from a love of Southern gothic horror, this anthology boasts a cadre of award winning or nominated writers representing awards such as the Will Eisner Awards, the Ringo Awards, the Hugo Awards, and is the largest collection of Glyph Comics Awards winners and nominees in a single publication. Includes work by David Walker (Bitter Root, Black Panther Party), John Jennings (Kindred, The Blacker the Ink), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), and more!
Planeta Blu is a young adult graphic novel (recomended for ages 14+) about courage, compassion, love, and sacrifice to make Earth a better place for living beings. This is activist and rapper Tem Blessed’s debut graphic novel, illustrated by Michael LaRiccia, with a foreword by New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Van Jones. First funded and published from a Kickstarter campaign, the Dark Horse edition includes exclusive bonus content and a new cover.
After a group of friends gain magical abilities, they stumble upon a looming war. The animal kingdom is ramping up to save the earth—”Planeta Blu”—by taking on the global climate crisis and fighting pollution at the source. One billionaire oil tycoon has sinister machinations at work, but the globe’s animals and a young team of humans will need to work together if they want to have any chance at saving our world!
“I am not saying that this book will solve climate change but I foresee that Planeta Blu – Rise of Agoo will ignite the mind of someone that will. This remixed and revised version is destined to send colorful shockwaves of optimism past challenging times well into the future.”–Tem Blessed
Adora and the Distance
Marc Bernardin, Ariela Kristantina, Bryan Valenza, Bernardo Brice
Winner of the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics
Adora and the Distance is a young adult fantasy graphic novel following the epic adventures of Adora, a brave young Black woman who lives in a fantastical world with underground pirates, ghosts, and a mysterious force called “the Distance” which threatens to destroy it all–and only Adora can stop it.
Written by Marc Bernardin, the award-winning television writer/producer on Star Trek: Picard, Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina, Masters of the Universe: Revelations, Castle Rock, and more; illustrated by Ariela Kristantina (Mata Hari). Originally released digitally on ComiXology Originals and now available in print from Dark Horse Books.
The story is a tribute to Bernardin’s own daughter and her journey with autism. He wanted to write a story that anyone could enjoy, and also: “I didn’t want to tell a story about those of us who love their autistic friends or family members. Instead, I wanted to try and imagine the story one of those kids could be telling about themselves, about the adventures they’re taking inside their own mind.”
Available now wherever books and comics are sold, Adora and the Distance is recommended for ages 14+.
Tephlon Funk!
Stephane Metayer, Nicolas Safe, David Tako
Stephane Metayer teams up with Dark Horse Books to bring his popular self-published comic, Tephlon Funk!, to comic shops! With art by David Tako and Nicolas Safe, this coming-of-age story masterfully weaves together inspiration from 90s NYC street culture, anime, and hip-hop.
Since the death of her parents, 14-year-old Inez Jozlyn can’t catch a break. Still, she’s determined to make a better life for herself. After Gabriel, a mysterious classmate helps her out of a tough spot, she finds herself in the middle of a drug conflict. Along with her strange new friend, Inez will work with a young female cop with a strong sense of justice and a sword-wielding bartender to help stop the new drug from spreading throughout New York.
“Tephlon Funk isn’t just popular, it’s dope.”–Complex
LaGuardia
By Nnedi Okorafor, Tana Ford, Sal Cipriano
Hugo and Eisner Award-Winner
“LaGuardia is unique, playful, heartbreaking, empowering and full of hope for the future. The wisdom Okorafor imparts in each panel pushes back against the darkest urges of our human nature and creates a space that lets us all live.”
—John Jennings (The Blacker the Ink, Octavia Butler’s Kindred graphic novel)
Written by Nnedi Okorafor, Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award winner (Who Fears Death, Binti, Akata) and illustrated by Tana Ford (Silk, Duck!), with colors by Sal Cipriano, LaGuardia won the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album – Reprint, and the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story or Comic.
Now available in a hardcover Deluxe Edition celebrating the award-winning comic, packed with extras including a chapter of Dr. Okorafor’s script, a new cover and never-before-seen art from Ford, an extensive process art section, and more. LaGuardia is also available in a paperback edition.
Set in an alternative world where aliens have come to Earth and integrated with society, LaGuardia revolves around a pregnant Nigerian-American doctor, Future Nwafor Chukwuebuka, who has just returned to NYC under mysterious conditions via LaGuardia International and Interstellar Airport.
There, she and her sentient, plant-based alien friend become part of a growing population of immigrants, battling against interrogation, discrimination, and travel bans, as they try to make it in a new land. As the birth of her child nears, Future begins to change. What secret is she hiding?
LaGuardia is suggested for ages 16+.
Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery and
Incognegro: Renaissance
Mat Johnson, Warren Pleece
“A talented writer of both fiction and creative non-fiction, Johnson’s publications have established him as an important new voice in the African-American tradition.”—Walter Mosley
Part of editor Karen Berger’s imprint at Dark Horse, Berger Books, Dark Horse presents a 10th anniversary edition (2018) of Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece’s outstanding original graphic novel Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery. This is followed by an original prequel series, Incognegro: Renaissance.
Incognegro: A Graphic Mystery follows Zane Pinchback, a reporter sent to investigate the arrest of his own brother, charged with the brutal murder of a white woman in Mississippi. With a lynch mob already swarming, Zane, whose skin color is light enough that he can pass for white, must stay “incognegro” long enough to uncover the truth behind the murder to save his brother and himself.
Suspenseful, unsettling and relevant, Incognegro is a tense graphic novel of shifting identities, forbidden passions, and secrets that run far deeper than skin color. Suggested for ages 14+.
In the prequel series, Incognegro: Renaissance, a Black writer is found dead at a scandalous interracial party in 1920s New York and Harlem’s cub reporter Zane Pinchback is the only one determined to solve the murder. Zane must go “incognegro” for the first time–using his light appearance to pass as a white man–to find the true killer.
A page-turning thriller of racial divide, Incognegro: Renaissance explores segregation, secrets, and self-image as our race-bending protagonist penetrates a world where he feels stranger than ever before.
Incognegro: Renaissance is suggested for ages 18+.
Source: Dark Horse
