What do you think?
Rate this book
Buckhead
What strange secrets lie in the mysterious town of Buckhead, USA?
An astonishing Afrofuturist series from Shobo Coker ( Outcasts of Jupiter ) and George Kambadais ( The Black Ghost ) that blends the immigrant experience, African myth, and weird science in Small Town USA. Toba and his mother, a renowned scientist, have just immigrated to the US from Nigeria. But instead of living in the Big City like Toba always dreamed, they've moved to a sleepy little town in the Pacific Northwest called Buckhead. Hidden away in the basement of the school, Toba and his newfound friends discover a strange video game--a perfect replica of Ancient Benin and its people. Soon, Toba is on the run from men in black after witnessing strange experiments, disappearances, and a mind-controlling tattoo that everyone in town seems to have. As Toba and his friends chase down a vast conspiracy with connections to another world in the fight to save their parents, they soon uncover the ancient terror that’s behind it all. Will they be able to work together and save their parents (and Buckhead) before it’s too late? Collects Buckhead #1-5 .
An astonishing Afrofuturist series from Shobo Coker ( Outcasts of Jupiter ) and George Kambadais ( The Black Ghost ) that blends the immigrant experience, African myth, and weird science in Small Town USA. Toba and his mother, a renowned scientist, have just immigrated to the US from Nigeria. But instead of living in the Big City like Toba always dreamed, they've moved to a sleepy little town in the Pacific Northwest called Buckhead. Hidden away in the basement of the school, Toba and his newfound friends discover a strange video game--a perfect replica of Ancient Benin and its people. Soon, Toba is on the run from men in black after witnessing strange experiments, disappearances, and a mind-controlling tattoo that everyone in town seems to have. As Toba and his friends chase down a vast conspiracy with connections to another world in the fight to save their parents, they soon uncover the ancient terror that’s behind it all. Will they be able to work together and save their parents (and Buckhead) before it’s too late? Collects Buckhead #1-5 .
144 pages, Paperback
Published September 13, 2022
1 person is currently reading
28 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 1, 2022
Actual rating 2.5/5*
I preordered the separate issues to support Kambadais' work, which is also the best part of this comic series.
As far as the storyline is concerned, there is a simple plot, where a team of teenagers are the only ones who can save the world from an ancient spirit. It looks more like a video game with the virtual reality stuff, than a typical comic. It could be a nice read for kids and teens, however, even in this context it feels rushed and some events are too unrealistic. Maybe it needed more issues for the story to develop more smoothly, or, even better, I think that if it was a choose-your-own-path kind of story instead, it would be way more entertaining.
The art-style, illustrations and lettering are at a very good quality level. It's a shame that the lacking plot holds the overal result back.
I preordered the separate issues to support Kambadais' work, which is also the best part of this comic series.
As far as the storyline is concerned, there is a simple plot, where a team of teenagers are the only ones who can save the world from an ancient spirit. It looks more like a video game with the virtual reality stuff, than a typical comic. It could be a nice read for kids and teens, however, even in this context it feels rushed and some events are too unrealistic. Maybe it needed more issues for the story to develop more smoothly, or, even better, I think that if it was a choose-your-own-path kind of story instead, it would be way more entertaining.
The art-style, illustrations and lettering are at a very good quality level. It's a shame that the lacking plot holds the overal result back.
March 14, 2024
3.7 ⭐️ A mystery crew vibes read I couldn’t put down.
This was really enjoyable. Whilst the story wasn’t anything groundbreaking it was fun to follow along. The artwork was good and the characters were all interesting.
Rep// Black Nigerian MC (he/him), BIPOC SC’s.
TW’s listed below, please skip if you don’t want spoilers.
Tw// death, loss of a parent.
This was really enjoyable. Whilst the story wasn’t anything groundbreaking it was fun to follow along. The artwork was good and the characters were all interesting.
Rep// Black Nigerian MC (he/him), BIPOC SC’s.
TW’s listed below, please skip if you don’t want spoilers.
Tw// death, loss of a parent.
October 28, 2022
I'm going to be real. This book is coasting purely off the aesthetic (beautiful artwork and fun, vibrant color direction).
I don't think the pacing's necessarily the issue because there's no need to drag out the reveal, but the characters aren't strong enough to hold it up. I don't know the group well enough before they become fast friends. Apparently, Josue and Toba had some history beforehand that's basically brushed over.
Buckhead does seem heavily action-oriented/plot-based, so I can acknowledge that may be the reason why. But it comes at the expense of having no emotional weight, dragging out the reveal that would've built tension.
The focus on Nigerian cultural and religious elements coupled with the VIBES is interesting enough. Also, not gonna lie Romy baring his soul was funny.
If you're looking for a story with notable characters, this falls a few notes flat, but if you're just here for fun and the VIBES, man., then it's not a bad quick read. The story would've benefited from being longer.
2 stars but let's say 4 because i had fun
I don't think the pacing's necessarily the issue because there's no need to drag out the reveal, but the characters aren't strong enough to hold it up. I don't know the group well enough before they become fast friends. Apparently, Josue and Toba had some history beforehand that's basically brushed over.
Buckhead does seem heavily action-oriented/plot-based, so I can acknowledge that may be the reason why. But it comes at the expense of having no emotional weight, dragging out the reveal that would've built tension.
The focus on Nigerian cultural and religious elements coupled with the VIBES is interesting enough. Also, not gonna lie Romy baring his soul was funny.
If you're looking for a story with notable characters, this falls a few notes flat, but if you're just here for fun and the VIBES, man., then it's not a bad quick read. The story would've benefited from being longer.
2 stars but let's say 4 because i had fun
October 22, 2022
Not sure I was able to completely track the story but the art is great.
Also loved the line, " I read books, that's my superpower!"
Also loved the line, " I read books, that's my superpower!"
August 3, 2024
not for me....This is strongly YA and scifi about mind control gods/computer network
May 21, 2024
"Buckhead" is written by Shobo Coker and illustrated by Kambadais. I found this book on the American Library Association's website and is a recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction award. I absolutely loved this series because it is a fresh take on Sci-Fi, mixing in African folklore, really weird/cult-like science, and immigration. I will make my summary a spoiler-free one. The first book in this series (I believe there are five), sets the scene as the main character, Toba, moves from Nigeria to the US. Toba hopes that they will move to a big city, but instead their family moves to Buckhead, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. While exploring the basement of his school, he finds an old video game that reveals an ancient group of people. Then, they witness some weird experiments from a cult-like group, who try to chase Toba down (because he has seen too much). Toba and his friends go on an adventure to try to uncover the truth of this game and this group, leading to a conspiracy that is literally out of this world.
Sci-Fi lover or not, I think that everyone should read this book because it breaks the mold of "traditional" Science Fiction that has become mainstream over decades, as I believe this falls into the category of Afrofuturism. I think that when we think Sci-Fi, we think of the major arcs, like Star Wars, Star Trek, Ray Bradbury, etc, all of which are rooted primarily in American culture. Not only is this book an incredibly fun read on its own, but new readers get to see that Sci-Fi can mean multiple things! Established readers get exposure to different cultures, rooted in a genre that already love. This is inclusivity at its finest.
I would recommend this book for probably 6th grade and up. I imagine as a teacher, this could be used a choice in a science fiction-diverse lit book club unit. In this unit, students could discuss the science fiction aspects as well as what they are learning about African culture, maybe even presenting it to their peers. Another option for teachers could be to read this as a whole class during a graphic novels or science fiction unit, exploring science fiction as a genre with this as the anchor text (because it is refreshing). Then, the teacher could have students watch/read Ray Bradbury short stories alongside and make comparisons to the science fiction elements.
Sci-Fi lover or not, I think that everyone should read this book because it breaks the mold of "traditional" Science Fiction that has become mainstream over decades, as I believe this falls into the category of Afrofuturism. I think that when we think Sci-Fi, we think of the major arcs, like Star Wars, Star Trek, Ray Bradbury, etc, all of which are rooted primarily in American culture. Not only is this book an incredibly fun read on its own, but new readers get to see that Sci-Fi can mean multiple things! Established readers get exposure to different cultures, rooted in a genre that already love. This is inclusivity at its finest.
I would recommend this book for probably 6th grade and up. I imagine as a teacher, this could be used a choice in a science fiction-diverse lit book club unit. In this unit, students could discuss the science fiction aspects as well as what they are learning about African culture, maybe even presenting it to their peers. Another option for teachers could be to read this as a whole class during a graphic novels or science fiction unit, exploring science fiction as a genre with this as the anchor text (because it is refreshing). Then, the teacher could have students watch/read Ray Bradbury short stories alongside and make comparisons to the science fiction elements.
July 20, 2022
The severe watermark because the volume is yet-to-be-published made reading it digitally just a little harder to read but the action and adventure comes through about a group of kids needing to save the world- with the main character Toba, just moving to Buckhead with his super-smart mom and discover a portal-like access through a video game simulation in their school's basement that puts people in jeopardy including their own families.
Kids trying to save the world generally works as done this one with connections to Black Panther, inclusion of African myth, with tech infused Afro-futurism vibes.
It rolls along but there's not much substance to dive in to but the video game experience is alive and well in the execution of the graphic novel format.
Kids trying to save the world generally works as done this one with connections to Black Panther, inclusion of African myth, with tech infused Afro-futurism vibes.
It rolls along but there's not much substance to dive in to but the video game experience is alive and well in the execution of the graphic novel format.
August 2, 2023
I loved the artwork on this, by George Kambadais; it's bold and dynamic and suits the story well; the trouble is the writing by Shobo (some of it might be down to the editors too), but I found it very choppy, not enough explanation and whilst it sort of made sense by the end, it's all resolved too neatly. The whole caught-in-a-VR world is Tron-like, although the African gods element lifts it out of the usual run if the mill nemesis. The most annoying character is Darsha who talks in adult-detective-mode constantly saying things like "Let's go get the kid!"
Also dog's bark is "Bork! Bork! It's certainly unique.
Also dog's bark is "Bork! Bork! It's certainly unique.
September 23, 2023
Ancient African Brainiac + Dark City + Tron?
...what? This moved at breakneck pace. I don't know, there was an African lore version of Brainiac that got trapped in a puzzle by an ancient math wizard until he takes over a computer game and replaces people with robots and magitech hypnosis. The art was fun, but the way hands were drawn felt oversimplified compared to the rest of the art and I had severe tonal whiplash from things bouncing back and forth between serious and silly. Plotwise, this felt kind of all over the place for me, but I'm always down for a squad of Platonic friends that have eachothers backs.
...what? This moved at breakneck pace. I don't know, there was an African lore version of Brainiac that got trapped in a puzzle by an ancient math wizard until he takes over a computer game and replaces people with robots and magitech hypnosis. The art was fun, but the way hands were drawn felt oversimplified compared to the rest of the art and I had severe tonal whiplash from things bouncing back and forth between serious and silly. Plotwise, this felt kind of all over the place for me, but I'm always down for a squad of Platonic friends that have eachothers backs.
April 22, 2022
This isn't great, but for an all ages title it is at least OK. When my daughter was growing up she probably would have liked it. Take computer games/would building simulations, conspiracies, and oh yeah its up to the kids to save the town, the adults, and the world.
Nope, not a lot of story or character work.
(read as digital dloppies0.
Nope, not a lot of story or character work.
(read as digital dloppies0.
February 20, 2023
It's fun, and the art is vivid. I love the concept of Elseverse, a virtual reality environment based in Nigerian history. It just felt a little rushed. Maybe this should've been a 250 page graphic novel instead of a five issue miniseries? But fun concept, great art, and likeable and mostly realistic kid protagonists, so I think the middle grade audience will likely get into it.
November 9, 2022
Captivating science fiction storyline, with a plot that is gradually revealed as the story progresses.
Interesting characters that the artwork vividly brings to life.
Interesting characters that the artwork vividly brings to life.
August 2, 2023
I liked the art, but the story was a jumble. The entire thing felt rushed and … recycled? Nothing rang true for me, and I’m not sure I actually understand how everything fits together.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews