African characters in comics

African characters in comics

African characters have appeared in comics since the very first comic strips. In the early 1900s, comics sometimes showed Africans in unfair and hurtful ways. Over time, these characters started to appear in new roles.

Eventually, African characters were drawn as everyday people, just like anyone else. This showed how comics began to tell better stories about people from the African continent.

History

American comics

In the early days of comics, characters from different backgrounds were sometimes shown using old-fashioned and unfair ideas. Black characters were often shown in ways that were not true to life.

The first big Black character in comics appeared in Cartoonist Lee Falk's adventure strip Mandrake the Magician. This character, Lothar, came from a group of jungle tribes but chose to travel the world fighting crime. He was known for being very strong.

Another important comic was All-Negro Comics, published in 1947. It featured Lion Man, a young scientist from Africa who worked to protect a big supply of uranium. He wore simple clothes and worked with a young helper named Bubba.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that a comic showed an African character as a strong, independent hero. This character was Waku, a leader from Africa. The first well-known Black superhero in American comics was the Black Panther, who first appeared in Fantastic Four in 1966. After that, more Black heroes like the Falcon and Storm appeared in comics.

African comics

In 1975, a comic called Powerman was made to teach children. It featured a super-strong character who could fly.

From 1965 to 1985, a comic and radio show in South Africa featured Jet Jungle and his friend Jupiter. Jet Jungle helped teach many children about nature and taking care of Africa’s forests and jungles.

In 2005, Nelson Mandela shared plans for a comic book called A Son of the Eastern Cape, which would tell the story of his early life. The comic was made up of 8 parts and was written and drawn by Nic Buchanan.

Belgian comics

In 1930, a comic called Tintin in the Congo showed Africa using old-fashioned and unfair ideas. The artist later said he didn’t research much.

Dutch comics

In 1947, a comic called Sjors en Sjimmie introduced a Black African child named Sjimmie. Later the comic was changed to remove old-fashioned ideas.

Italian comics

One of the earliest Italian comic strips was about a little African boy named Bilbolbul. The comic was drawn between 1908 and 1933.

Listed by company

DC Comics

DC Comics has many African characters. Some come from a group of gods called the Orishas, like Adiremi, who is the living wind, and Agemo, a chameleon who can change shape. Other characters include Computo (Danielle Foccart) from Côte d'Ivoire and part of an alternate Legion of Super-Heroes, and Freedom Beast, a South African hero who works with the Global Guardians. There are also heroes like Invisible Kid (Jacques Foccart) and Kid Impala, each with their own stories.

Wildstorm (ABC/Homage)

In Wildstorm comics, Anansi is a hero from Kenya who can create illusions, and Flint is a very strong Kenyan woman who has worked with teams like Stormwatch and the Authority.

Marvel comics

Marvel has many African characters too. Olumo Bashenga is an ancient king of Wakanda, and Black Panther is the heroic ruler of Wakanda, currently T'Challa. Other characters include Anansi, based on a famous trickster, and Jetstream, a Moroccan mutant with special powers. There are also many other heroes and villains from across Africa in Marvel stories.

Atlas Comics

In Atlas Comics, Waku Prince of the Bantu was a featured African leader in stories without regular white characters.

Marvel UK

Marvel UK introduced Afrikaa Ngala, who gets power from a special magma pool, and Doctor Crocodile, a magic user and leader from Mbangawi who is a friend of Captain Britain.

Strikeforce Morituri

In Strikeforce: Morituri, Silencer Akiya Bandaranaike became a powerful hero after choosing a special process, gaining great strength and the power to block sound.

Supremeverse

The Supremeverse includes The Five, five unnamed African heroes who asked the Squadron Supreme and Hyperion to leave Africa, and The Voice, General John M'Butu, a leader with strong mind powers.

Small Press: Comic Book

Captain Africa is a detective living in Juba Castle near a high-tech city called Egyptica. His real name is Prince Najee M’Witu.

Lion Man is a scientist from America who was sent by the United Nations to watch over a mysterious mountain near the African Gold Coast.

Zwanna, Son of Zulu is a playful superhero with special powers linked to Zulu traditions. He carries a spear with magical vines that he can control with his mind.

Nighthawk and Noah are characters who appeared in the comic called the Soul Sorcerer.

Nubian Knight is an ordinary man from South Africa who gains super powers from an ancient, godlike being named "El".

Anansi is a character from the comic published by Comico.

NETERS is a high-science-entertainment series from Daathrekh Publishing.

The Horsemen are characters representing gods from the Yoruba pantheon, including Yemaya, Ogun, Obatala, Oshun, Shango, Oya, and Eshu.

C.U.S.H. is a team of black superhumans from the comic Liberator.

Ku-Zu'u is a jungle king who appears in Wildman Comics & Stories and meets Xal-Kor the Human Cat.

Oba is a member of the team UNForce.

Dreadlocks is a blind hero empowered by ancient African gods. He was taught by a master teacher named Pharohn, and his goal is to bring order, justice, and peace to people.

Dread & Alive is a comic series from ZOOLOOK that features Drew McIntosh, the first Jamaican superhero in comics.

Small Press: Graphic Novel

Double Storey

Dave the Red Monkey is a fun character who looks like a red ape. He lives in a strange, imaginative version of Cape Town with regular humans. This story, called "Red Monkey: The Leaking Cello Case", was created and drawn by South African artist Joe Daly in 2003. Dave lives in old, fancy buildings and tries to avoid his lazy friends.

Gettosake

Credence Walker is an adventure hero inspired by an old character named Doc Savage. He lives in an imagined version of Africa. Travis G. Johnson wrote the stories, and Jeremy & Robert Love created the art. This was planned to be published in 2004 by Gettosake Entertainment.

Webcomics

Eleggua is a modern take on the Yoruba trickster deity, also called Eshu. It was made for online comics by Alex Hernandez (writer) and drawn by Korshi Dosoo. The comic has two parts: [Eleggua: Divine Infections]( and [Eleggua: Blood & Thunder](.

Other media

Television

• Anansi the Spider – a hero from Ghana. Anansi is a clever spider from African stories. He appeared as a guest on the animated show Static Shock.