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Don’t miss out on these South African indie comic greats.
South African led Indie art comics have been progressively making more appearances in online spaces. Many assume that their creative projects, whether it’s a comic or animation series, need backing from a mainstream studio to be successful – these artists prove that notion wrong!
It is not uncommon for creators from developing countries to exclude their heritage from their art in an attempt to ‘globalize’ and make it more ‘palatable’ to a larger audience. For that reason the 5 comic series in this listicle are undoubtedly inspiring as they validate and are inclusive of the South African identity.
Whether you’re looking for a comedic, light-hearted story like ‘Rorisang & The Gurlz’, or something more brooding and action-orientated like ‘Demonic Brotherhood’, this listicle features an array of comic genres for everyone.
Written by: Kira Belle
1. ‘Rorisang & The Gurlz’
Cabblow Studios
Our Protag, Rorisang, is deeply in love with KPOP and between her and her friends the idea to create their school’s first Afro-pop band blooms. However, one person stands in their way – the choir mistress, who is of an older generation and astutely strict (as they usually are…). ‘Rorisang & The Gurlz’ encourages you to defy societal expectations while keeping that light-hearted vibe, topped off with comedic beats making it an entertaining read.
‘Cabblow Studios’, the mother-daughter duo, Kabelo Maaka and Dr Thepo P. Maaka are the lovely ladies behind this wholesome comic. Together they crafted this sweet story to encourage artists to pursue their passions, even if cringe, while using the marvelous power of music! With a complimentary color palette and a jubilant art style, the indie duo sets the scene for their comic series, ‘Rorisang & The Gurlz’.
2. ‘Dimensions KAINO’
Tapiwa Sikota
In the comic book ‘Dimensions KAINO‘, Tapiwa Sikota conjures a sci-fi environment that is laced with dynamic tribal fantasy, exploring an unique, unapologetically African style. The narrative focuses on Kaino, who is tired of living in his bro’s shadow and goes on an illegal bug-slaying spree with the intent of proving himself to a certain elite squad. What makes Kaino even more interesting is the fact that his brain condition allows him to access inter-dimensional time travel, instead of just dreams. What started out as a mission of spite, turns into a bug-slaying dimension-hopping story that is sure to keep you turning pages from start to finish.
3. ‘Highbury Hills’
Michael Samuels
Highbury Hills is the funky comic series that follows the daily lives of the main characters Keith and Charles. It’s a slice of life with that classic twang of South African humor, woven between each panel, ready to get a chuckle out of you. Not being afraid to poke fun at each other, the boys share a ‘polar opposites’ dynamic that is both charming, and full of platonic chemistry.
Writer and artist of the series, Michael Samuels, isn’t shy when incorporating South African slang, making the series true its roots and particularly witty when conveying commentary on things that all of us can relate to.
4. ‘Demonic Brotherhood’
dm_tpa
Utilizing insane fighting scenes, and displaying a skillful understanding of comic cues and dialogue, dm_tpa has created a series that will hook you from the get go! Have you read ‘Demonic Brotherhood‘ yet? If not, you DO NOT want to look past this exhilarating, action-packed read.
From a background of mystery and darkness, a demon appears at Siyabonga’s school, killing innocent students – leaving him to remain. The entity’s appearance captures the interests of the ‘Enforcers Church Organization‘, who possess supernatural abilities called ‘blessings’, used to put an end to the demonic entities. Feeling lost and afraid, Siyabonga, begrudgingly teams up with his bully to get to the bottom of this bizarre situation – resulting in a chain of world-altering events.
5. Reject
Nawedi
For a creative, having an artistic vision is rarely something that can just be brushed off – even if their current circumstances don’t support their pursuit. South African artist, Nawedi, perfectly captures this situation that many South African artists find themselves in through beautiful line work, and expressive characters.
His manga ‘Reject‘ follows, Boleng, has the desire to pursue his love for fashion, but living in South Africa has posed its challenges. Despite our country’s rich history in terms of the arts and culture, if you are outward about your artistic expression as an individual very few are keen to support you if it draws too much attention, and breaks societal norms. If you’re a South African that has felt like a black sheep for going for what you love, this manga can be a staple of hope for you – that it is possible even in the face of nay-sayers.
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