What do you think?
Rate this book
Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods
In an age thought forgotten . . . when man, monster, and the divine all strode the Earth . . . a lone warrior emerges to test the immortality of the cruel gods who would deal destruction with impunity. He is a one-man reckoning that stands in defiance of his divine masters with a sword in hand and a thirst for godblood. His AKOGUN THE BRUTALIZER!
In the tradition of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Thor, rising stars Murewa Ayodele and Dotun Akande—the iron-forged, writer-artist team behind Marvel’s I Am Iron Man and Moon Black, White & Blood—usher in a new epoch of African dark fantasy on the ancient continent of Alkebulan with a mythic cycle of cosmic destiny and unrelenting warfare colliding man against god . . . and blade against blade!
Witness a rage-fueled tale of bloody vengeance as Akogun seeks to avenge the tragic loss of everything he ever held dear. All that stands in his way is the disgraced, fallen god Ogun, who seeks to be restored to his former glory!
Collecting Brutalizer of Gods #1–3.
In the tradition of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Thor, rising stars Murewa Ayodele and Dotun Akande—the iron-forged, writer-artist team behind Marvel’s I Am Iron Man and Moon Black, White & Blood—usher in a new epoch of African dark fantasy on the ancient continent of Alkebulan with a mythic cycle of cosmic destiny and unrelenting warfare colliding man against god . . . and blade against blade!
Witness a rage-fueled tale of bloody vengeance as Akogun seeks to avenge the tragic loss of everything he ever held dear. All that stands in his way is the disgraced, fallen god Ogun, who seeks to be restored to his former glory!
Collecting Brutalizer of Gods #1–3.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
120 pages, Paperback
Published March 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 4, 2025
On paper, Akogun promises an epic and brutal journey. In reality, it’s more like a chaotic fever dream where swords clash, gods fall, and logic takes a long vacation.
The setup is intriguing - gods warring, monsters rising, and a lone warrior with a thirst for divine vengeance. But from there, it spirals into a disjointed mess. Flashbacks jolt you out of the narrative just as you’re trying to get your bearings, and the plot feels like it’s trying to juggle too many ideas at once, dropping most of them along the way.
Character development? Forget about it. Akogun might as well be a cardboard cutout swinging a sword, while the gods he faces are about as memorable as generic video game bosses. And while the art is occasionally striking, it lacks the texture needed to make this violent, mythic world feel alive.
Then there’s all the violence and soft-porn moments, which come off as, I dunno, juvenile rather than edgy.
For me, and it's deeply subjective, Akogun is all flash and no substance. It’s not the worst read, but it’s far from the epic it promised to be.
ARC through NetGalley
The setup is intriguing - gods warring, monsters rising, and a lone warrior with a thirst for divine vengeance. But from there, it spirals into a disjointed mess. Flashbacks jolt you out of the narrative just as you’re trying to get your bearings, and the plot feels like it’s trying to juggle too many ideas at once, dropping most of them along the way.
Character development? Forget about it. Akogun might as well be a cardboard cutout swinging a sword, while the gods he faces are about as memorable as generic video game bosses. And while the art is occasionally striking, it lacks the texture needed to make this violent, mythic world feel alive.
Then there’s all the violence and soft-porn moments, which come off as, I dunno, juvenile rather than edgy.
For me, and it's deeply subjective, Akogun is all flash and no substance. It’s not the worst read, but it’s far from the epic it promised to be.
ARC through NetGalley
July 31, 2025
Lots to like here, the color palette is nice. I like the open panels and mythological setting. But I didn't connect with the story or characters and it ends too quickly before any resolution can take place.
May 8, 2025
Very beautiful art, great landscapes and creatures- the gods all feel like gods in their design and power.
A really interesting blend of African folklore and religion and classic comic revenge tales- I can’t wait to see what happens next!
A really interesting blend of African folklore and religion and classic comic revenge tales- I can’t wait to see what happens next!
January 6, 2025
2.6/5
Quality of writing: 3
Plot development: 2
Pace: 3
Characters: 2
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of reading: 3
The premise of this one is pretty classic - taking revenge on Gods.
The art is nice, but at some points it was hard to follow. Some of the characters seemed to bleed together and jumping between chapters did not help. It just felt a bit rushed, I needed more explanation, a bit more world and character building.
It has a good base, just needs some more substance.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Quality of writing: 3
Plot development: 2
Pace: 3
Characters: 2
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of reading: 3
The premise of this one is pretty classic - taking revenge on Gods.
The art is nice, but at some points it was hard to follow. Some of the characters seemed to bleed together and jumping between chapters did not help. It just felt a bit rushed, I needed more explanation, a bit more world and character building.
It has a good base, just needs some more substance.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2024
Monster killer storyline, I should have liked it, but I didn't. Too slow, lack of personality in the characters works. The art was fine, but a bit too digital for my tase. Not for me and I wouldn't recommend it.
December 17, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for an advance copy of this fantasy graphic novel that mixes pulp stories of sword and sorcery with mythology from Africa, and wonderful art telling a story of gods, the humans that are caught in their games and good old fashion revenge.
I was a big Conan the Barbarian fan, probably starting with the comics, which I knew before the many books, pastiches, movies, cartoons, role playing games and even a stint as an Avenger. I still remember the story of Conan and the Sea Woman, who dragged sailors to their death, something that stayed with me maybe because of the story, by Roy Thomas, but probably the art by Barry Smith. These might have been a gateway drug for me into fantasy which I think I was into before Star Wars. I read all the comics that features men with muscles and swords, women barely dressed, sorcerers covered in spells, whatever I could find. My library had large book sales, so when I could I would fill a bag with Lin Carter, Robery E. Howard, Karl Wagner, even the Gor books, which I liked for reasons outside of sword and sorcery. I've not felt a rush in reading these kind of tales in quite a while. The modern Conan tales are ok, but not really for me anymore. Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods written by Murewa Ayodele, illustrated by Dotun Akande takes me back to those days of sitting on my Grandmother's bed and reading Conan. This, hopefully the start of something big, features, gods, men, hunters, and fighting for power, and killing for revenge, set in a world that is just begging to be explored.
The book begins with a god falling. A drunk god at that, Obatala has fallen onto a world that is covered only in water. Upon reaching the bottom of the sea, Obatala rises to the surface, pulling land up with him, and creatures that start to walk and stir. Monsters, crawling things, beasts and more begin to walk the land. Soon the God of War Ogun appears, and defeats Obatala cutting of his hands, and killing all the creatures that Ogun can find. Except one lives and travels as far away as it can. Finding a pregnant woman the creature gives her a gift. Time passes and Akogun is born, a content baby with parents and a people who love him. Until they are taken away, and Akogun vows revenge. A revenge that not even gods will be safe from.
The book is a mix of being tossed into a story that is already moving fast, and one that builds up the world to make the stakes and the powers understood. This is a world where gods walk the earth, demigods mix with humans, and the woods are filled with creatures that would make even Conan think if finding another path. There is a feverish intensity, as if a storyteller knew that he would die when the fire he was telling the story by went out, and already drunk just started talking. However there is a good story here, and a different kind of mythology, one that I want to know more about, and a world I really want to explore. The art is amazing. Vile and violent, mean and cruel, and beautifully rendered. One can easily get lost on the pages, and one feels bad flipping the page, until one takes in what lies next. A graphic novel that really needs the art to tell the story, and has a story that could only go with this kind of art.
Nine-year-old me would have been in awe. There is a lot of violence, and a tad of of things that might make certain parents upset, but this is a story with Gods hacking off hands, so no one should be really surprised. Great art, a well thought out story. This graphic novel is really good. I hope to read more about this world, and see more by this team.
I was a big Conan the Barbarian fan, probably starting with the comics, which I knew before the many books, pastiches, movies, cartoons, role playing games and even a stint as an Avenger. I still remember the story of Conan and the Sea Woman, who dragged sailors to their death, something that stayed with me maybe because of the story, by Roy Thomas, but probably the art by Barry Smith. These might have been a gateway drug for me into fantasy which I think I was into before Star Wars. I read all the comics that features men with muscles and swords, women barely dressed, sorcerers covered in spells, whatever I could find. My library had large book sales, so when I could I would fill a bag with Lin Carter, Robery E. Howard, Karl Wagner, even the Gor books, which I liked for reasons outside of sword and sorcery. I've not felt a rush in reading these kind of tales in quite a while. The modern Conan tales are ok, but not really for me anymore. Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods written by Murewa Ayodele, illustrated by Dotun Akande takes me back to those days of sitting on my Grandmother's bed and reading Conan. This, hopefully the start of something big, features, gods, men, hunters, and fighting for power, and killing for revenge, set in a world that is just begging to be explored.
The book begins with a god falling. A drunk god at that, Obatala has fallen onto a world that is covered only in water. Upon reaching the bottom of the sea, Obatala rises to the surface, pulling land up with him, and creatures that start to walk and stir. Monsters, crawling things, beasts and more begin to walk the land. Soon the God of War Ogun appears, and defeats Obatala cutting of his hands, and killing all the creatures that Ogun can find. Except one lives and travels as far away as it can. Finding a pregnant woman the creature gives her a gift. Time passes and Akogun is born, a content baby with parents and a people who love him. Until they are taken away, and Akogun vows revenge. A revenge that not even gods will be safe from.
The book is a mix of being tossed into a story that is already moving fast, and one that builds up the world to make the stakes and the powers understood. This is a world where gods walk the earth, demigods mix with humans, and the woods are filled with creatures that would make even Conan think if finding another path. There is a feverish intensity, as if a storyteller knew that he would die when the fire he was telling the story by went out, and already drunk just started talking. However there is a good story here, and a different kind of mythology, one that I want to know more about, and a world I really want to explore. The art is amazing. Vile and violent, mean and cruel, and beautifully rendered. One can easily get lost on the pages, and one feels bad flipping the page, until one takes in what lies next. A graphic novel that really needs the art to tell the story, and has a story that could only go with this kind of art.
Nine-year-old me would have been in awe. There is a lot of violence, and a tad of of things that might make certain parents upset, but this is a story with Gods hacking off hands, so no one should be really surprised. Great art, a well thought out story. This graphic novel is really good. I hope to read more about this world, and see more by this team.
December 19, 2024
3 1/2 stars rounded up
Summary:
The age of gods is also the age of monsters, with divinity playing saint and sinner with both hands. This era brings about heroes and worse, as every action has an equal reaction.
There came a time when everyone’s eyes turned to the Earth, man, monster, and god alike. Naturally, battles quickly ensue, but not everyone is so willing to forgive and forget the carnage brought about by these decisions.
Review:
If there’s one thing I can say about Akogun, it’s that it is one heck of a whirlwind. This graphic novel will keep you on your toes from start to finish. It’s a dark read with many surprising and brutal twists.
So, this is one of those tales where I really just have to break it down into the good and the bad (or really, what I didn’t love as much). The good: The artwork is amazing. It’s vibrant, and the colors are amazing. The world is compelling, though I wish we had a chance to see more of it before everything kicked off.
As for the rest. Hrm. I wanted to like the characters, but at the end of the day, I just didn’t know them well enough to feel very attached. The potential is there! Even a few more panels for each would have made a difference in the character development department. The same applies to the combat; each fight could have been expanded by a few panels to really showcase what they’re going for.
Overall, Akogun is a compelling read, and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to read it. I’ll be following up with this series, as I’m certain it will only get better with time.
Highlights:
Gods & Legends
Epic Hunting
Battles & Determination
Trigger Warnings:
Death & Graphic Elements
Thanks to Oni Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Summary:
The age of gods is also the age of monsters, with divinity playing saint and sinner with both hands. This era brings about heroes and worse, as every action has an equal reaction.
There came a time when everyone’s eyes turned to the Earth, man, monster, and god alike. Naturally, battles quickly ensue, but not everyone is so willing to forgive and forget the carnage brought about by these decisions.
Review:
If there’s one thing I can say about Akogun, it’s that it is one heck of a whirlwind. This graphic novel will keep you on your toes from start to finish. It’s a dark read with many surprising and brutal twists.
So, this is one of those tales where I really just have to break it down into the good and the bad (or really, what I didn’t love as much). The good: The artwork is amazing. It’s vibrant, and the colors are amazing. The world is compelling, though I wish we had a chance to see more of it before everything kicked off.
As for the rest. Hrm. I wanted to like the characters, but at the end of the day, I just didn’t know them well enough to feel very attached. The potential is there! Even a few more panels for each would have made a difference in the character development department. The same applies to the combat; each fight could have been expanded by a few panels to really showcase what they’re going for.
Overall, Akogun is a compelling read, and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to read it. I’ll be following up with this series, as I’m certain it will only get better with time.
Highlights:
Gods & Legends
Epic Hunting
Battles & Determination
Trigger Warnings:
Death & Graphic Elements
Thanks to Oni Press and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
March 17, 2025
A huge shoutout to NetGalley and Oni Press for the ARC - my backlog of "to be read" comics may be crying, but my curiosity for mythological carnage is thriving.
Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods is basically God of War - but instead of the usual Olympian bloodbath, we get a Yoruban god-slaying spree. And honestly? That’s pretty refreshing for someone like me, who has mostly feasted on Greek, Roman, and Norse myth-inspired stories. The Nigerian duo of Murewa Ayodele and Dotun Akande clearly know their roots, and it shows in the rich, mythic brutality of their world.
The story follows Akogun, a warrior on a rampage, but instead of a straightforward revenge tale, we jump back and forth between the past and present - sometimes so much that they blur together. This non-linear approach had promise, but it often made the narrative frustrating to follow. Not necessarily sloppy, but definitely in need of more polish to let its full potential shine. If the storytelling had been just a bit more structured (not totally linear, just MORE linear), I think the reading experience would have been far smoother.
That said, the art? Absolutely stunning. I’m usually not a fan of digital gradient coloring, but here, it’s done subtly and meshes perfectly with the line work, elevating every scene. The visuals alone kept me hooked.
I also have a strong feeling that this comic has serious reread value - even if that wasn’t the intention. There’s a richness here that I think will reveal itself more on a second pass. This first arc sets up something truly exciting, and I’m eager to see where Ayodele and Akande take it next.
Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods is basically God of War - but instead of the usual Olympian bloodbath, we get a Yoruban god-slaying spree. And honestly? That’s pretty refreshing for someone like me, who has mostly feasted on Greek, Roman, and Norse myth-inspired stories. The Nigerian duo of Murewa Ayodele and Dotun Akande clearly know their roots, and it shows in the rich, mythic brutality of their world.
The story follows Akogun, a warrior on a rampage, but instead of a straightforward revenge tale, we jump back and forth between the past and present - sometimes so much that they blur together. This non-linear approach had promise, but it often made the narrative frustrating to follow. Not necessarily sloppy, but definitely in need of more polish to let its full potential shine. If the storytelling had been just a bit more structured (not totally linear, just MORE linear), I think the reading experience would have been far smoother.
That said, the art? Absolutely stunning. I’m usually not a fan of digital gradient coloring, but here, it’s done subtly and meshes perfectly with the line work, elevating every scene. The visuals alone kept me hooked.
I also have a strong feeling that this comic has serious reread value - even if that wasn’t the intention. There’s a richness here that I think will reveal itself more on a second pass. This first arc sets up something truly exciting, and I’m eager to see where Ayodele and Akande take it next.
August 10, 2025
I’ll be honest: I went into Akogun with a mix of curiosity and dread. A Nigerian dark fantasy steeped in ancient deities and mythic lore? That’s my sweet spot. But from the first few pages, it became clear this wasn’t going to be the immersive experience I’d hoped for.
The world-building is ambitious—dense with spiritual symbolism, cryptic rituals, and ancestral echoes—but it’s buried under a barrage of stylistic flourishes that feel more ornamental than functional. Panels shift tone and texture so frequently that it’s hard to stay anchored. Dialogue veers between poetic and opaque, and while that might work in a dreamscape, here it often muddies the plot.
New characters appear with dramatic flair, but we’re given little context—no grounding in who they are, what they want, or why we should care. It’s like being dropped into the middle of a masquerade with no guide. There’s power in mystery, sure, but this feels more like narrative neglect than intentional enigma.
This is apparently the first installment in a multi-volume arc. I respect the ambition, but I’m not convinced the storytelling scaffolding is strong enough to carry that weight. If the creators tighten the narrative and give us clearer emotional stakes, maybe I’ll reconsider. For now, I’m not sure I have the bandwidth right now for the long haul.
The world-building is ambitious—dense with spiritual symbolism, cryptic rituals, and ancestral echoes—but it’s buried under a barrage of stylistic flourishes that feel more ornamental than functional. Panels shift tone and texture so frequently that it’s hard to stay anchored. Dialogue veers between poetic and opaque, and while that might work in a dreamscape, here it often muddies the plot.
New characters appear with dramatic flair, but we’re given little context—no grounding in who they are, what they want, or why we should care. It’s like being dropped into the middle of a masquerade with no guide. There’s power in mystery, sure, but this feels more like narrative neglect than intentional enigma.
This is apparently the first installment in a multi-volume arc. I respect the ambition, but I’m not convinced the storytelling scaffolding is strong enough to carry that weight. If the creators tighten the narrative and give us clearer emotional stakes, maybe I’ll reconsider. For now, I’m not sure I have the bandwidth right now for the long haul.
July 19, 2025
Brutal but not godly
3/5
I wanted to like this so much more than I did: stunning illustration was unfortunately diminished by fragmented storytelling & scene selection. This felt like the movie "300" told through multiple people's viewpoints. Violence, nudity, & monsters were all excellently depicted but used in a somewhat desultory fashion, which felt more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive story.
Likes
+ Outstanding animation!
+ West African mythology/lore!
+ Hella combat/battles!
Dislikes
- Storytelling was amateurish & scattered.
- Plot meandered & didn't feel structured at all.
- No real character depth or development -- Akogun is all brute force, nothing to really "care about."
Summarily, this is a visual feast whose plot, characters, & story left me feeling hungry, not full.
3/5
I wanted to like this so much more than I did: stunning illustration was unfortunately diminished by fragmented storytelling & scene selection. This felt like the movie "300" told through multiple people's viewpoints. Violence, nudity, & monsters were all excellently depicted but used in a somewhat desultory fashion, which felt more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive story.
Likes
+ Outstanding animation!
+ West African mythology/lore!
+ Hella combat/battles!
Dislikes
- Storytelling was amateurish & scattered.
- Plot meandered & didn't feel structured at all.
- No real character depth or development -- Akogun is all brute force, nothing to really "care about."
Summarily, this is a visual feast whose plot, characters, & story left me feeling hungry, not full.
May 28, 2025
A hell of a journey, visually and viscerally. There's a steady stream of violence and sex here, as one mans quest for revenge is intertwined with the machinations of God's. I loved how this book looks, and the abundance of quotes you can take from it. but my big pet peeve is the characters seem undercooked, and the plot does jump around a lot. The timeline of events takes some work to iron out. Maybe this is ironed out if a sequel ever comes. But man, what a different kind of book, I admire the vision.
November 21, 2024
Whoa! What have I just read!? I know swords and sorcery genre but this is a very trippy. It's Conan the Barbarian having an acid trip. Those back and forth flashbacks got me lost in the story. And those explicit violence and soft p*rn scenes makes me more dizzy. The art is good but it the story is a bit mess up. There are lots of thing going on all mash up in this graphic novel. Before I can figure out what's going own another distraction comes along and blows everything away.
February 6, 2025
It’s Conan meets Hercules but African.
This was an awesome comic steeped in deep lore and ínstense violence. Basically it’s my kinda comic. I loved how it didn’t hold anything back. This is definitely a mature title. I was even shocked by some of the sexual scenes because I wasn’t expecting them, but they weren’t overly graphic or too long.
I have no knowledge of the African pantheons so it was very cool to learn about their gods and mythologies through this story.
I was confused a little bit here and there but that was mostly because I missed some things in the art that were important.
Can’t wait to read Akogun: Revenge of the Gods when that comes out.
This was an awesome comic steeped in deep lore and ínstense violence. Basically it’s my kinda comic. I loved how it didn’t hold anything back. This is definitely a mature title. I was even shocked by some of the sexual scenes because I wasn’t expecting them, but they weren’t overly graphic or too long.
I have no knowledge of the African pantheons so it was very cool to learn about their gods and mythologies through this story.
I was confused a little bit here and there but that was mostly because I missed some things in the art that were important.
Can’t wait to read Akogun: Revenge of the Gods when that comes out.
July 8, 2025
Honestly I appreciate the pitch here of Robert E Howard's "Conan" meets Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's "thor" with a bit of Charles R. Saunders "Imaro" as icing on top but this was a really confusing read plot-wise ngl! That being said if you can go into it knowing that the plot is kinda out there and not a simple A to B plot this is still a fun sword and sorcery comic!
August 23, 2025
من جدا دارم تلاشمو میکنم تا یک کار درخور از فانتزی آفریقایی یا آفروفیوچریسم پیدا کنم.
باور کنین اینی که یک ستاره گرفت از خوباش بود، بیشترشون رو دراپ کردم تا الان و بعد خوندن این به خودم قول دادم که دقیقا دهتای دیگه رو سعی کنم بخونم، اگه همچنان یکسری کار مزخرف بودن کلا از خیر آفروفیوچریسم و امثالش بگذرم.
باور کنین اینی که یک ستاره گرفت از خوباش بود، بیشترشون رو دراپ کردم تا الان و بعد خوندن این به خودم قول دادم که دقیقا دهتای دیگه رو سعی کنم بخونم، اگه همچنان یکسری کار مزخرف بودن کلا از خیر آفروفیوچریسم و امثالش بگذرم.
October 19, 2024
The author is really into femdom (I’m not projecting).
Pros:
Premise is fun and I will read the others.
Great art but I’d like to see fights last more than one panel.
Cons:
Bit of a deus ex ending but it’s about gods I guess…
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.
Pros:
Premise is fun and I will read the others.
Great art but I’d like to see fights last more than one panel.
Cons:
Bit of a deus ex ending but it’s about gods I guess…
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.
December 11, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Oni press for this arc!
I really like the art style, but the story just doesn’t do it for me. There’s nothing that grabs my attention, and the characters feel pretty bland and lifeless.
I really like the art style, but the story just doesn’t do it for me. There’s nothing that grabs my attention, and the characters feel pretty bland and lifeless.
May 21, 2025
no character to cheer for. A story that never caught my attention. Art only OK
June 16, 2025
I found the lore and flashbacks confusing. The art kept me reading!
August 24, 2025
A brutal read that's very reminiscent of mythos like God of war and the legendary journey of Hercules. Overall a very fun ajd entertaining story with unique art.
November 10, 2025
I liked the ranger view towards hunting. The animal is his to use now. Quite brutal combat. Sweeter fruit.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews