Dark Horse Comics has introduced a partnership with YouNeek Studios that may carry the inventive studio’s McDuffie Award-nominated Youniverse of African-inspired superheroes to the writer. The deal will see Darkish Horse reissue YouNeek’s previously-released graphic novels, and publish new books within the line, with a complete of ten titles to be printed by Dark Horse.
Based by Roye Okupe in 2012, YouNeek Studios has developed a universe of characters and tales impressed by the historical past and mythology of Africa, in tales informed by African creators. Okupe’s three previously-published books — Malika: Warrior Queen, Iyanu: Little one of Surprise, and E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams — will all obtain new editions that embody beforehand unseen materials. New titles to come back out of the partnership will possible embody previously-announced YouNeek books together with Windmaker: Delivery of a King and the team-up guide The Oloris: Heroes Will Unite.
Within the assertion saying the partnership, Okupe and Darkish Horse CEO Mike Richardson talked in regards to the significance of bringing tales that includes characters from underrepresented communities to a wider viewers:
“What we try to do over the subsequent few years is create a compelling and immersive universe with our personal twist. How? Properly, the YouNeek YouNiverse is an enormous, interconnected universe of sci-fi, fantasy and superhero content material unfold throughout a number of timelines with tales informed from an African perspective. Is that this bold? Sure. Is it unattainable? In no way.” Roye Okupe said “With this monumental partnership with Dark Horse and the impeccable historical past, assist and infrastructure they carry to the desk, we’ll lastly be capable of obtain our final objective: create, for a worldwide viewers, content material that empowers African creatives and storytelling.”
Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson added, “YouNeek Studios is not like something in American comics at present. Roye has introduced collectively a number of wonderful African expertise, telling African tales and Darkish Horse is honored to assist additional their attain.”
The Okupe-driven Youniverse is the newest superhero line for Dark Horse. The writer is already residence to Mike Mignola‘s Hellboy universe, in addition to Jeff Lemire‘s Black Hammer-verse. The previous of these has already seen a number of media variations, whereas the latter is within the means of being tailored. It wouldn’t be stunning if Dark Horse Leisure, the writer’s movie and TV wing, has eyes on bringing the Youniverse to the display in some unspecified time in the future.
Try descriptions, launch dates, and covers for the three previously-released YouNeek Studios books beneath. The primary releases below the partnership between Dark Horse and YouNeek, Malika: Warrior Queen, will arrive in shops this fall.
In Malika: Warrior Queen, Malika inherits the crown from her father, however within the course of the dominion of Azzaz is cut up in half. After years of civil battle, Malika lastly unites all of Azzaz, increasing it into one of many largest empires in all of West Africa—however growth won’t come with out its prices. Malika: Warrior Queen arrives September 7 2021 and is offered for pre-order now.
Iyanu: Little one of Surprise, the story follows a teenage orphan with no recollection of her previous. Immediately Iyanu discovers that she has skills that rival the traditional deities informed within the folklore of her individuals. It’s these skills which can be the important thing to bringing again an “age of wonders,” and Iyanu should start her journey to save lots of a world on the point of destruction. Iyanu: Little one of Surprise Quantity 1 arrives September 21, 2021 and is offered for pre-order now.
E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams Quantity 1 is an Afrofuturist superhero story about redemption set within the bustling metropolis that’s Lagos, Nigeria. Wale Williams, who moonlights because the tech savy superhero E.X.O tries to save lots of town from a lethal group of rising extremists, however first he should save himself. E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams Quantity 1 arrives October 19, 2021 and is offered for pre-order now.
It’s NOT “Darkish Horse Comics” – just Dark Horse Comics. Thanks.
Changes made, thank you very much Carina