Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 18 sepTember 2018
Meet Captain South Africa; she'd rather not punch criminals

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA African stories circulate
Associated Press through "word of mouth"
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The and don't have the "last-
usual suspects — Wonder ing kind of print space" to
Woman, Spider-Man and resonate internationally, he
Darth Vader — roamed at said. Nearby, Janine Evans
Comic Con Africa. A few was offering capes mod-
African characters were eled on traditional Basotho
also on display: Kwezi, Cap- blankets and other clothing
tain South Africa and Sha- merchandise associated
ka Zulu. with a band of southern Af-
The success of Marvel's rican superheroes.
"Black Panther" film spiked "Our aim here is to actually
interest in African stories, take the Afrocentric from
and creators on the con- the fantasy world and bring
tinent hope to capitalize it into people's everyday
with more comic book lives," she said.
characters of their own. One African superhero is
The three-day convention Kwezi, a comic book char-
ending Sunday in South acter drawn by creator
Africa was a platform for Loyiso Mkize. He is a young
their efforts, even if it was man who learns he has
dominated by the global special powers, and then
superheroes, villains and sorts out problems in the lo-
other pop culture figures cal community. In a short
who have been around for video animation, a flying
decades. In this Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 photo, Bill Masuku, a Zimbabwean comic book artist and writer, Kwezi checks a phone mes-
Many of the first African sits at a stall at Comic Con Africa, a three-day comic book and pop culture convention in Johan- sage that summons him to
comic books are "cari- nesburg, South Africa. an urban Johannesburg
catures of Supermans, of Associated Press neighborhood: "Trouble in
Captain Americas," said Braamfontein, we need
Bill Masuku, a Zimbabwean where he also promoted Africa for the first time. the Warrior Prince," a glossy you now!!!!"
artist and writer. "But if you another of his creations, Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, graphic novel about the re- Other promotions at Comic
allow that to grow, giving Zimbabwean superhero Kenya have been running al-life Zulu king who built an Con Africa include "The To-
it time, you will get better Razor-Man. their own "comic con" festi- empire at a time of Euro- koloshe," a South African
quality story-telling that is Thousands of people, many vals for several years; South pean expansion into Africa, horror movie whose name
naturally African." in costume, turned out for Africa's annual ICON com- was among home-grown refers to an evil spirit; and
One example is Masuku's the suburban Johannes- ic and games convention projects on display. The "Apocalypse Now Now," a
Captain South Africa, a burg event introduced by started in 1992. story of power and intrigue South African short film and
black female superhe- Reed Exhibitions. ReedPOP, Hurricane Florence was written and drawn by novel whose name plays on
ro who "doesn't want to a subsidiary of the global scrapped plans by Anthony South African Luke Molver. the uniquely South African
punch criminals because company, hosts similar con- Mackie, the actor who has "To a large extent, African phrase meaning "soon."
that doesn't end crime," he ventions around the world played Marvel's Falcon su- stories get told by people The goal is "to normalize
said at a convention stall and brought its model to perhero, to travel to Comic outside of Africa, about the existence of African
Con Africa. Aquaman ac- people in Africa," said Rob- content and creators," said
tor Jason Momoa also can- ert Inglis, the book's pro- Masuku, the Captain South
celed. Kevin Sussman from moter and director of Jive Africa creator. "We're still
"The Big Bang Theory" and Media Africa, a company making the steps to get
Yetide Badaki from "Ameri- based in South Africa. Part there. I'm happy with where
can Gods" made it, to the of the reason is that many we are right now."q
delight of autograph and
photo op seekers.
"If you have issues with per-
sonal space, comic cons
are not for you," said ICON
director Les Allen as he
waded through crowds. Up
ahead, video gamers play-
ing a "Counter-Strike" first-
person shooter in sound-
proof booths battled each
other on giant screens as
spectators followed the
combat. Someone in a
reptilian "Predator" outfit
paced the hall, posing with
fans. Other people had
A boy dressed as Superman stands among other visitors to the masks, hoods, swords and
Comic Con Africa event, a three-day comic book and pop staffs and there was plenty People dressed as comic book characters at Comic Con Africa,
culture convention in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, of spandex and hair spray, a three-day comic book and pop culture convention in South
Sept. 15, 2018. of course. Africa, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.
Associated Press Associated Press
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