Nigeria’s Comic Republic Unleashes A Batch of African Superheroes

Superheroes seem to be in great demand these days. From Captain America to Wonder Woman, there is no limit or end to the dire need for humans gifted with the capacity to rescue the meek and punish the oppressors.

Sounds pretty seductive until you realize that the entire designated sect is white.

I grew up adoring Superman, and then later Spiderman and then much later Batman and it never really occurred to me that these were white men donning skin conscious costumes as they fought for justice and the right to look hot while doing so.

But, we now embody an era that forces us to recognize the significance of race, and how so very complex and uneven the scope is when equality is the measuring cup.

Thankfully, we are also witnessing the resurgence of dignity and excessive creativity stemming from a source that many would’ve never imagined.

Comic Republic, a Nigerian start up based in the sprawling and glitzy metropolis of Lagos has ushered in a new era with a newly conceived comic book that displays an array of superheroes of African descent.

Showcased as the Diaspora’s version of “The Avengers”, the cast of characters inhabits the key characteristics of a normalized existence by day and a distinctively magical existence once trouble comes knocking.

If any country needs rescuing, Nigeria would be at the top of the list, which is probably why “Africa’s Avengers” – a label bequeathed by fans – has taken flight with no turbulence.

Jide Martin, who is the brains and mastermind behind this genius project, has created a world that most Nigerians are eager and willing to endorse.

His tagline reads: “We can all be heroes” and this is illustrated through the grasp of ordinary citizens who possess powers beyond reason that grant them permission to be naturally awesome.

Guardian Prime is a 25-year-old Nigerian fashion designer who not only knows how to make his clients stand out in a crowd but also has the ability to channel his superhuman skills in ways that can whip Nigeria into shape.

Hilda Avonomemi Moses is a woman on a mission who despite her humble existence as a village girl has the ability to hold court with spirits.

Marcus Chigozie is a wealthy teenager who is also suffering from the level of angst that comes with his privileged background but his restless state is compensated by his gift of being able to be anywhere he needs to be at mind-blowing speed.

The mandated comic book blueprint that included everyone but the ones that looked like him, gave Martin the incentive to compensate for that slight defect,

He explained further to Quartz, “I thought about when I was young and what I used to make my decisions on: what would Superman do, what would Batman do? I thought, why not African superheroes?”

Martin, who started his company back in 2013, is garnering attention from companies worldwide – requesting his assistance with everything from illustrations that depict their overall mission to private portrait sessions for CEOs.

Comic Republic is setting off a wave that was already in motion when it comes to the impact the comic book industry is having on a continent that has endured being left out of a genre that most can identify with regardless of race, color or creed.

Lagos is now hosting an annual Comic Con and Kenya joined the party but hosting its first ever event in 2015.

It looks like this is a trend that will continue as long as the demand steadily resonates.

And, again – it’s about time.