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Kwezi
Kwezi: Issues 4-6 Collector's edition
The African superhero is back! In this edition, Kwezi hones his superhuman abilities and accepts that his powers are to be used to save his homeland from evil forces. To accurately reflect Kwezis world and that of potential readers, the comics dialogue is peppered with street slang and pop culture references that place the story in a familiar context for young South Africans. In a recent conversation with Design Indaba, Mkize shared his motivation behind the unique series. We have never had a superhero that looks like us and speaks like us and shares the same experiences and environment as us.
- GenresComics
48 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 7, 2019
Note 1: This is a review for *all* the volumes of Kwezi out so far (4 as of April 2019), not just this title.
Note 2: I don't speak any of the non-English languages of South Africa, so I wasn't able to follow some of the dialogue (roughly 5%).
I got these as a gift from my sister, who recently visited South Africa. It's cool to see superheroes through a non-American lens, especially in a package like this --- all the volumes are perfect bound and about letter size, so much like the Marvel and DC graphic novels of the 80's.
The art is quite good. Loykise Mkize doesn't have complicated linework, but there's a dynamism to his figures that works great in the superhero genre. He does excellent work with pacing and makes stunning splash pages. I also love the design chops. Each volume introduces new characters, and the costuming and looks are varied, interesting, and nothing like standard Marvel and DC work. Mkise is obviously in very interested in world-building, and he builds attractive worlds.
The writing, however, wasn't as impressive. We start off following Kwezi, a brash young man who is connecting his new-found superhero abilities to his social media presence. Then, he starts encountering other heroes focused on a cause of cosmic proportions. It's a standard trope in the superhero genre (with my favorite example being Grant Morrison's Zenith), but it isn't fleshed out here with personal detail. Kwezi makes a hero's journey, but I never understood what drove him as a person. And the world building, while inventive, just never stops; the scope gets wider and wider. About the time I get invested in a character (I was a big fan of the Giant Man analog introduced in volume 3), things change dramatically. I would have appreciated a slower take on practically everything in the story.
That being said, if you're a superhero fan, I would give these a try, especially if you like dynamic art and a non-US take on the genre.
Note 2: I don't speak any of the non-English languages of South Africa, so I wasn't able to follow some of the dialogue (roughly 5%).
I got these as a gift from my sister, who recently visited South Africa. It's cool to see superheroes through a non-American lens, especially in a package like this --- all the volumes are perfect bound and about letter size, so much like the Marvel and DC graphic novels of the 80's.
The art is quite good. Loykise Mkize doesn't have complicated linework, but there's a dynamism to his figures that works great in the superhero genre. He does excellent work with pacing and makes stunning splash pages. I also love the design chops. Each volume introduces new characters, and the costuming and looks are varied, interesting, and nothing like standard Marvel and DC work. Mkise is obviously in very interested in world-building, and he builds attractive worlds.
The writing, however, wasn't as impressive. We start off following Kwezi, a brash young man who is connecting his new-found superhero abilities to his social media presence. Then, he starts encountering other heroes focused on a cause of cosmic proportions. It's a standard trope in the superhero genre (with my favorite example being Grant Morrison's Zenith), but it isn't fleshed out here with personal detail. Kwezi makes a hero's journey, but I never understood what drove him as a person. And the world building, while inventive, just never stops; the scope gets wider and wider. About the time I get invested in a character (I was a big fan of the Giant Man analog introduced in volume 3), things change dramatically. I would have appreciated a slower take on practically everything in the story.
That being said, if you're a superhero fan, I would give these a try, especially if you like dynamic art and a non-US take on the genre.
April 26, 2020
I love the idea behind this book. The graphics are amazing and story is interesting.
September 30, 2021
Another action packed edition. Kwezi's journey to finding his inner hero continues as he returns home. Love the inter dimensional aspect. #proudlysouthafrican
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews