South african comic book artists

Id like to see more illustrators and more comic book artists making more. I am a comic book illustrator designer with more than ten years of experience behind. South african artists shine at the continents first comic. Remove vernon from your favorite artists list add vernon to your favorite artists list. A south african comic is a book or periodical published in south africa that contains sequential comic art stories. He is best known as coillustrator of nelson mandela. Ma is ancient african creation myth that has for the first time in thousands of years, has been resurrected from obscurity,and brought back to to life in vivid comic art. A sliver of the indie market is comics created by people of color. Comic book artist bryan hitch handled the cover work, coming up with a scenario that sees a hopelessly outnumbered captain britain punching things left, right, and center. Comic stripbook creators of africanamerican heritage. He got his first professional work at the age of 16, drawing the title story in the first issue of hulk weekly for marvel uk. An africanamerican conceptual artist, kara walker is best known for the wallsized cut paper silhouettes.

Im starting a series here on theblerdgurl called africa rising and through it i am going to highlight several artists and comic book companies that are based in. Pages in category african american comics creators the following 82 pages are in this category, out of 82 total. Before 2008, comic artists and street artists in cairo were underground. Kwezi is south africas first superhero comic book series. Comic book culture takes over south africa city press. This is truly an africa, the likes of which have never seen.

A hardcover collection of art and essays showcasing the best african american artists in todays vibrant comic book culture. Comic con africa will be hosting some of the local comic book artists at the first african edition of this international phenomenon. Im starting a series here on theblerdgurl called africa rising and through it i am going to highlight several artists and comic book companies that are based in africa, artists that are telling stories about africa or feature african characters. These titles were printed in a smaller size 161x116mm compared to the original dc comics title. Groups such as bongo maffin, abashante, boom shaka and tkzee developed huge followings. Renowned south african artist diane victor south african. The 2018 event welcomed over 45 000 visitors, 212 exhibitors. Spotlight, connect and encourage african american black graphic designers and visual communicato.

A hardcover collection of art and essays showcasing the best. My hope is that this will be a good primer for your own first steps into the work of black comic artists. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about comic book art. Cover and interior pages are newsprint so after being read and swopped a few times they would likely be falling apart and thrown away.

Now, of course, this isnt every black comic book artist worth mentioningnot even close. The collectors guide to art and artists in south africa. They team up with comic book writers, who create the characters, plots, and dialogues for the artists to illustrate. African gods and goddesses get a jack kirbystyle comic book. Nov 2, 2016 loyiso mkize is a south african born artist who has an amazing body of work. African comic book artists bring new superheroes to life.

Whereas cartoonists work is short form, either a single panel with a caption or several panels with some dialogue, the comic book. Pitshou mampa is a congolese comics artist, animator and illustrator. The lions share of those dollars about 60% of sales goes to the big two comic book publishers, marvel and d. Authors and artists ready to transport sa to new worlds at.

Egyptian comic book artists are writing their way out of. The open book comics fest promotes south african comic artists, illustrators and cartoonists and includes a marketplace of over 40 tables, curated by moray rhoda. Not only is he a brilliant photographer, he is also a visionary mixed media artist and comic book creator. South africa to host first comic con africa event in 2018. The 25 greatest comic book artists from the last 25 years. Jack ginsberg, artists book collector par excellence. The comic book superheroes putting sa graphic novels on the map. May 16, 2016 african superheroes are emerging, as comic book creators from the continent seek to change the meaning of diversity, bringing relatable characters and rich storytelling traditions to the. He is best known as lead illustrator of nelson mandela. We profile ten contemporary african artists you should know.

Vernon woodbridge comic book heros south african artists. His company aimed to create proudly south african entertainment products and communications solutions. Originally from the detroit area, pollard is best known for his simultaneous work on the marvel comics titles fantastic four, the mighty thor, and the. He recently founded his own visual arts and communication company loyiso mkize art pty which publishes the energetic south african superhero comic book, kwezi. Comic con africa focuses on all elements of pop culture, including cosplay, comic books, anime, manga, other. Thousands of south african fans gathered to celebrate pop culture at the first comic con africa in johannesburg, where local super heroes also got a chance to flex their muscles. People dressed as comic book characters at comic con africa, a threeday comic book and pop culture convention in south africa. Unlike that unauthorised and unsanctioned comic con from 20, comic con africa is a legitimate and fully supported addition to the beloved and world renowned comic con family. Over the years we have seen several illustrators come and go but the reputation of the art squad has survived any single artist.

Comic book culture takes over south africa muhammad hussain 20190911 11. Modeling is a term that drawing borrows from sculpture to signify any graphic strategy that develops the appearance of the third dimension. He has been involved with the local comics scene since 2000, when he founded igubu comics collective. With a focus on publishing new african writers, black letter media, which was founded by duduzile zamantungwa mabaso in 2011, produces both print books and ebooks. Comic con africa welcomes local comic book artists vs gaming. Music artists like mdu, mandoza, arthur, chiskop and zola, for instance rose to prominence. Features short comic book stories from australian and south african writers and artists. Varying line width and weight, exploring tonal contrasts, cast shadows, linear crosssections, and atmospheric perspective are some of the ways that the draftsman responds to the visual phenomena of the threedimensional world. Tracey rose born in durban, south africa and currently residing in johannesburg, tracey rose is an established contemporary multimedia artist. May 28, 2008 young south african musicmakers gave it a homemade twist but with echoes of hiphop and rap. This is because my first real connection to comics was with the art. I was thrilled when i heard that he had a comic out and it was the first id ever heard coming out of south africa. Home of cartoonists south africa number one cartoonists.

This rare south african reprint was published in 1960 by mimosa s. Promotes south african artists and galleries who will ship quality original works of art worldwide. I ve actually been a huge fan of kwesi designer, artist and creator loyiso mkizes artwork for quite some time. Sa comic creators are mostly focusing on good storytelling and realising that comics are the medium, not the genre, and that within it any tale can be told, thereby creating stories with universal appeal that are. He studied at the cape penisula university of technology in cape town, south africa where he obtained his. Despite past depictions, stories for africans by africans are now on the rise with the presence of trade events such as lagos comic con and free comic book day in cape town, south. Authors and artists ready to transport sa to new worlds at comic. French bandes dessinees meets southafrican comics in the art of. Representing the best south african illustrators, storyboard artists, cartoonists, 3d artists, graphic facilitators, digital. Loyiso mkize biography south african visual artist xhosa. The team of local artists that are making it big on a local and. As one of the most celebrated artists from south africa, warren louw, brings a new element to the team.

The open book comics fest forms part of the annual open book festival, which takes place every september in cape town. If one were to launch a comic con in south africa, it would make sense to. Collected poems by gabriel okara nebraska university press along with publishing a first book by an emerging new african poet each year, the africa book fund has also committed to publishing a. A richly illustrated collection combining moving history with stunning contemporary art, south african art now is the first book to document the role of art and artists in the evolution of. Although comics have different formats, this list covers creators of comic books, graphic novels and comic strips, along with early innovators. Woods, the chatham native and ontherise artistwriter behind indie favorite niobe. Stories from a south african childhood by trevor noah, waiting for the barbarians by. About comic book heros this a scene from a commic book were superman played by a chair and the invisable man played by the glass vase stand unable to save the damsel in distress played by the flower.

For my first post around the black comic creators you should know theme, i focused exclusively on artists. The business of black comic books black enterprise. The comic book superheroes putting sa graphic novels on. He is currently selfpublishing a south africa australia collaborative graphic novel anthology, velocity, and is also the open book comics fest coordinator. South african comics are usually selfpublished books that cover a wide range of subject matter and styles. Sep 29, 2016 talking to african american comic book artists, you often hear a common theme. Top 10 most popular and mustread south african books. The art squad best of south african illustration, storyboards. In case youre not that familiar with sa comic books and the most famous. Egyptian comic book artists are writing their way out of censorship this is reflected in the art scene of egypt. Reed exhibitions africa and reedpop, the worlds largest producer of pop culture events are the proud hosts of the annual comic con africa. Black letter media publishes authors not only in south africa, but other african nations such as zimbabwe, uganda, kenya, tanzania and nigeria, among others. Some comic book artists write and illustrate the comic books themselves. Before anyone cries outrage at why george perez and walt.

As south africans will once again unite under the geek culture flag at comic con africa, twelve local authors will be engaging in various talks as well as have their books available in the artist. Talking to africanamerican comic book artists, you often hear a common theme. From the golden age to present, recording the history of comic book publishing and collecting in south africa. When the political revolution took hold, emboldening the people of egypt, creatives came out in droves despite the threat of censorship. The emergence of african comic characters, superheroes not just marvels black panther and supervillains courtesy of comic artists who are african isnt something one glosses over. The art of comics also shows the work of comic book artists and animators who have. The 2018 event welcomed over 45 000 visitors, 212 exhibitors and almost 400 media. Aug 27, 2016 during the harlem renaissance in the united states, a cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s that brought the explosion of african american literature, music and art, african american artists aimed to reconceptualize their identity and represent their heritage and tradition with a sense of cultural pride. The art squad was formed in 1994 to represent south african illustrators, cartoonists and storyboard artists. In 2015, he founded his own visual arts and communication company loyiso mkize art pty ltd which publishes the energetic south african superhero comic book, kwezi. As box office figures can attest, comic books are big business, with successful cinematic adaptations proving that superheroes have made the leap from pop cultural niche to. Cover and interior pages are newsprint so after being read and swopped a few times they would likely be falling apart. The new quarterly sister publication to artsouthafrica dedicated to showcasing comic art from across africa.

The list presents authors with the united states as their country of origin, although they may have published or now be resident in other countries. Sep 20, 2018 thousands of south african fans gathered to celebrate pop culture at the first comic con africa in johannesburg, where local super heroes also got a chance to flex their muscles. Here are south africa s famous cartoonists and illustrators like zapiro and rico of madam and eve fame. These latino comic book artists create their own superheroes. Comic con africa debuted in johannesburg in september 2018. Axeage private press, artist proof studio, and the artist. Ricky pascal nzoni is a congolese illustrator, comics, graphic designer artist and animator, based in south africa. Black superheroes breaking out, but who gets to tell their. Rhoda tells whats happening on the sa comic book scene. Collected poems by gabriel okara nebraska university press along with publishing a first book by an emerging new african poet each year, the africa book fund has also committed to publishing a collected edition of a major living african poet each year, and this year it is gabriel okara, the only person who could ever be called both the elder statesman of nigerian literature.

Comic book artists tell stories through the graphic images they create. By creative bloq staff computer arts 11 march 2014 11 march 2014. Loyiso mkize biography south african visual artist. The mission of african american graphic designers is to. From action blockbusters to the lego movie, the influence of comic. These vignettes that she creates illustrate the history of the american south. A nigerian comics startup is creating african superheroes. The open book comics fest promotes south african comic artists, illustrators and cartoonists and. Jan 04, 2016 a popular south african comic, kwezi, or star in xhosa and zulu, created by designer and artist loyiso mkize, follows a teenage superhero in gold city, a metropolis imagined after johannesburg. Masterworks series of great comic book artists comic books. Aug 10, 2016 for my first post around the black comic creators you should know theme, i focused exclusively on artists.

Aleksi began his career illustrating hundreds of book and comic covers. African gods and goddesses get a jack kirbystyle comic book makeover photos african gods and goddesses get the superstar treatment. Keep your eye on these african comics theblerdgurl. Many south african artists books belong to the fine art press tradition that employs highquality paper, typography, and beautiful bindings. But as i matured as a reader, i began to appreciate the effort it takes to successfully write an engaging comic book. The following list represents comics that are currently available in print. He also illustrates the supastrikas comic book that comes with the sunday times, you, drum and huisgenoot magazines every month. The creativity of south african and french comics converge in this huge. The 10 greatest comic book artists of all time creative bloq. Over the years we have seen several illustrators come and go but the reputation of the art. To celebrate the last 25 years in comics, were looking back at the greatest comic book artists from the last quarter century. Masterworks series of great comic book artists comic books for sale online.