WindMaker: The History of Atala: Art Inspired by African History & Mythology

by Roye Okupe

Inspired by African mythology, The History of Atala is one part art book, one part graphic novel that re-imagines deities as powerful dragons! Pulling from the amazing depths of African history, Roye Okupe, writer of the hit graphic novel series like Malika and E.X.O., creates a breathtaking kingdom called Atala. With this book, he sets the foundations for what is undoubtedly a deep and meaningful universe (The YouNeek YouNiverse) of heroes. Illustrator Godwin Akpan’s painting breathes life into the story in a fantastic way. From dragons to mythical relics, a feuding royal family and magical swords, this book turns the fantasy genre on its head by placing familiar concepts in an awe-inspiring African setting.

Genres: Comics

54 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2017

About the author

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Roye Okupe is a creative specialist who holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in computer science from The George Washington University. His passion for animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2012, an avenue that would allow him pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. Under that umbrella, Roye wrote, produced and directed several animated productions including, but not limited to, 2D/3D animated short films, TV commercials, show openers, music videos and much more. These productions have allowed Roye to attain much prestigious recognition’s such as being #5 on Ventures Africa’s list of 40 African innovators to watch (2016) as well as being part of NewAfrican Magazines’ 100 most influential Africans of 2016.

With the superhero genre currently at the height of popularity, Roye has made it a goal to create a connected universe of heroes, with origins from locations that are currently neglected and/or ignored. In August 2015, Roye released his debut graphic novel titled: E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams Part One, a superhero story set in a futuristic Nigeria. E.X.O. was received with critical acclaim and has since been featured on CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, NBC, The Guardian, ABC7, BBC, The Huffington Post, Mashabe and more!

Reviews

[Vincent Stoessel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent guidebook for YouNeek universe

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as part of my kickstarter reward, so glad I did. Really love the character and it provides the perfect background for other parts of the series. Roye Okupe is a great storyteller with a plan. He is not only providing a story, he provides the reader with a bit of education on African culture, which is so cool. I highly recommend these books for readers of all ages.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less an art book and more an in-universe explanation of King Bass and the history of his country. A nice background story. As usual for this series, it could use some more copyediting.