October is Black Sci-Fi Fantasy Month, a monthlong celebration of Black sci-fi, fantasy and horror works in a variety of mediums. In recent years, there have been a plethora of comic books that explore Blackness through a speculative lens. Check out some of them below.
Iyanu: Child of Wonder
By Roye Okupe and Godwin Akpan
Published by Youneek Studios, this ongoing series tells the story of Iyanu, a teenage orphan with no memories of her past. Five hundred years after the Age of Wonders, Iyanu discovers she has mystical abilities that recall the Divine Gods of the past. With her powers, Iyanu must embark on a journey to save the world from The Corrupt, cursed wildlife and strange divine beasts. You can check out and purchase Iyanu on Amazon or anywhere paperbacks and ebooks are sold. It is also available to borrow digitally on the hoopla library app.
In addition to being a comic book, the series has been adapted into an animated series that will premiere on Cartoon Network and Max in spring 2025. Check out the trailer for the series on YouTube.
Tales of Asunda Vol. 1
By Sebastian A. Jones, Julio Brilha, Matteo Illuminati and Stephanie Williams
Published by Stranger Comics, this book tells a series of standalone stories focused on new and established characters in the fantasy universe of Asunda. These characters include Stranger Comics’ flagship half-elf Niobe Ayutami, a party of adventurers and Niobe’s biological and adopted brothers Waso and Dusu.
This book is one of the best entry points to Stranger Comics’ Asunda fantasy universe, giving readers a taste of the characters and worldbuilding. The paperback edition is available to order from Stranger Comics’ website, and the ebook edition will come out later on. You can also buy the issues separately on the website.
Destroyer
By Victor LaValle and Dietrich Smith
From BOOM Studios comes this powerful story about Dr. Josephine Baker, a Black female descendant of Victor Frankenstein. When her son Akai Baker is murdered by the police, she uses her knowledge of science to bring him back to life. At the same time, the scientific institution that let Baker down puts their own schemes in motion that involves Frankenstein’s monster.
This standalone graphic novel is not an easy read, but it is a poignant one. It is reflective of the conflicting grief, rage, innocence and optimism that Black Americans young and old face on a regular basis. It is available to purchase on Amazon and anywhere comic books are sold.
Djeliya
By Juni Ba
Long ago, a futuristic magical world lived in peace and harmony. Then, everything changed when the wizard Soumaoro destroyed it using his ivory tower. Ten years passed, and two people now journey to the tower for answers: Prince Mansour Keita, the last survivor of an ancient kingdom, and Awa, his djeli, or storyteller. Along the way, they see and learn the stories of others surviving the apocalypse and begin to question everything they knew.
Published by TKO Studios and drawn and written by the Senegalese-born Ba, this comic book is inspired by West African fantasy and animator Genndy Tartakovsky. Featuring a minimalist art style, a memorable cast of characters and a tale about the power of stories, this is a wonderful read. You can buy it from TKO Studios’ website or Amazon.
We Belong
Edited by Viktor Kerney and William O. Tyler
Funded and published by the comic book crowdfunding platform Zoop, this is an all-Black and queer sci-fi fantasy anthology. In an interview I did with the editors over at Into More in 2023, William O. Tyler said about the project, “I think Black queerness is everywhere and we use all mediums. … Comics especially let us express ourselves in such a palpable and visual way, reaching out to readers who are feeling the same things.” You can purchase We Belong in ebook and print via Zoop. It also is available on Amazon.
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Latonya Pennington is a freelance contributor whose comics criticism can be found at Women Write About Comics, Comic Book Herald, Newsarama and Shelfdust, among others.
