South africas kwezi team joins comic con africa 2018 first. Loyiso mkize is making his own mark on the local comic book. This follows his long standing and consistently growing career in the fine arts. Superhero collectionstradesgraphic novels featuring black leads. Kwezi as a young man who starts off as an arrogant, opinionated antihero who discovers and appreciates his superpowers.
Loyiso mkize, mohale mashigo and clyde beech will be joining the already impressive lineup of comic book talent at the inaugural comic con africa. From june 1st, kwezi has been stocked in exclusive books stores nationwide making it the first south african comic book to be made available at a major retailer. Kwezi, which means star in xhosa and zulu, is the brainchild of loyiso mkize, a. Oct 11, 2019 in 2016, kwezi then went on to be published at all exclusive books stores and bargain books stores nationwide. However, 2008 was the beginning of the current superhero craze. Loyiso mkize is no stranger to the world of south african comics. The first issue served its purpose well, it introduced a new.
The kwezi animation screen test is an adaptation of the superhero comic by the talented loyiso mkize from south africa the comic shares the adventures of a young narcissistic man, kwezi, who discovers he has super powers, is part of an ancient race that predates. Meet the team behind kwezi sas first superhero comic. Set on a contemporary south african backdrop, kwezi a 19 year old boy that discovers he has superpowers, and so the journey towards his purpose begins. Created by lyiso mkize, who has also worked on the long running and popular supa strikas comic series, the kwezi comic follows a narcissistic teenage boy named kwezi as he discovers his superhuman abilities amid the daily hustle of. Oct 18, 20 republica strives to be the one place to go for african digital comics and comicsrelated merchandise. The first three issues are collected as the kwezi collectors edition. Mkize has created illustrated artworks for a number of comic book projects and is also a fine artist in his own right. Its cool to see a proudly south african comic like this, set in what seems to be pseudojohannesburg. Kfc teamed up with comic illustrator loyiso mkize to create. Sep 18, 2014 in comic books loyiso mkize presents the follow up to an extremely successful debut. Starting out as a coillustrator for supa strikas, loyiso has branched out with a new initiative and has founded his own visual arts and communication company, loyiso mkize art which is publishing south africas first homegrown superhero comic book, kwezi. Kwezi by loyiso mkize kwezi is arguably the biggest superhero comic to come out of south africa in recent years. This business has grown since then merging his fine arts with other visual art which. Mkize founded the visual art and communication company loyiso mkize art ltd in 2015.
Facebook the brainchild of designer, illustrator and fine artist loyiso mkize, kwezi which means star in. Issue 10 comic con exclusive kwezi series by loyiso mkize. Kwesi flyboy africas youngest superhero amacreatives. Kwezi is the worlds most powerful superhero, but does he have the will to dis. Kwezi collectors edition loyiso mkize new africa books.
He also illustrates the supastrikas comic book that comes with the sunday times, you, drum and huisgenoot magazines every month. For more information about mkize and to view some of his work, visit. Bring the whole family for an interactive morning of comic. In 2014, loyiso mkize created kwezi, about a 19yearold city boy who discovers he has super powers. Looking forward to collecting this series and exploring the world loyiso mkize has created. His company produced the south african superhero comic book series kwezi. Kwezi is south africas very own homegrown superhero, selling out in print with every edition. Loyiso mkize is the mastermind behind south africas first homegrown superhero comic book, kwezi.
Kwezi is south africas first superhero comic book series. His journey starts off as a selfserving narcissist who only uses his abilities to further his social status. Sep 16, 2016 kwezi is written and illustrated by south african comic artist loyiso mkize. Loyiso mkize, mohale mashigo and clyde beech will be joining the already impressive lineup of. Loyiso mkizes kwezi culture blog the way of us superbalist. The strengths of this collection are the art and the production values. Before devoting himself to his own company, loyiso mkize art pty ltd and. Kwezi flyboy would, and is probably be the superhero the continent has every seen. Kfc teamed up with comic illustrator loyiso mkize to. He created its flagship south african superhero comic book, kwezi. Loyiso mkize biography south african visual artist xhosa.
The ending was quite a nice surprise, totally unexpected and. Loyiso mkize author loyiso mkize is a 29 year old visual artist based in cape town. At the edge of recognition, mkize is pulled away again. As quoted in afropunk, mkize describes kwezi as a young man who starts off.
Jun 27, 2016 kwezi cover art production timelapse by. South african artist diversifies the superhero universe. The african superhero universe widens with south africas. 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. Kwezi comic books are now also available at join the movement. 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. Me and my brother enjoyed the comics they were awesome my only suggestion is to have a glossary in the back that shows how to pronounce the the names. All the comics on this board are available on our web site. Collectors edition issues kwezi comics book 1 ebook. Feb 22, 2018 at the edge of recognition, mkize is pulled away again. He studied at the cape penisula university of technology in cape town, south africa where he obtained his diploma quali. A few months later, in 2014, loyiso developed and published the first south african superhero comic book series, kwezi, which is now the. Issues collectors edition by loyiso mkize goodreads.
South africas kwezi team joins comic con africa 2018. The comic book quickly rose to popularity with new episodes being published in steady succession. Kwezi is a young city dweller who discovers he has super human abilities. As quoted in afropunk, mkize describes kwezi as a young man who starts off as an arrogant, opinionated antihero who.
Kwezi is the worlds most powerful superhero, but does he have the will to discover his greatness. The book felt really fun and joyful, and it had a cheesy vibe i absolutely love about it in a world. Loyiso mkize loyiso mkize illustrator mohale mashigo binding paperback softback publisher new africa books pty ltd series kwezi comics language english number of. Loyisos his creators hope is that kwezi will ultimately become a cult figure. Loyiso mkize has managed to create a comic book which has managed to add more layers to the discussion of black comics in order. Loyiso mkize, clyde beech illustrator, viwe mfaku digital art director. The remarkable amount of work that goes in the craft of this comic book is over whelming. Loyiso mkize biography south african visual artist. The comic shares the adventures of a young narcissistic man, kwezi, who discovers he has super powers, is part of an ancient race that predates humanity and must set off on a journey to save the world and find his purpose. The first issue served its purpose well, it introduced a new character and put some of his powers on display.
See more ideas about comic books, comics and african. Illustrator loyiso mkize, also from south africa, grew up. Buy the collectors edition of all three books, as found in supernova vol. The partnership has published two kwezi collectors editions thus far, regularly enjoying bestseller status in some prominent stores. Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. The art however reminds you of the super strikas comic especially the hairstyle skeem sam who is head honcho of the armed robbery gang. Kwezi has definitely caught wave in the almost non excistant black culture of comic books created by black people for people. Loyiso mkize is one of south africas best known graphic novel and comic book illustrators, being one of the foremost contributors to the sunday times supplement supastrikers but turns to painting for creative expression and as an avenue for his personal, political and social commentary. The young man, a university student and writer, tells me that his name is mohau like. Jonathan gayle states that comic books manage to reflect the kinetic societal context within which comic books and comic book characters are created. Kwezi is a comic book title developed and produced by loyisomkize art pty, a visual arts company founded by artist loyiso mkize. May 06, 2015 kwezi is a comic book series founded by our very own noble son of the soil, loyiso mkize, a prolific internationally acclaimed illustrator, designer and fine artist from butterworth, eastern cape. His company aimed to create proudly south african entertainment products and communications solutions.
South african superhero series named after its lead character. Surely the 28 year old loyiso mkize who is the illustrator and creator of this piece, had a plan and was aiming at giving a movie feel for his comic. Kwezi comic book took three years of trials and tribulations to finally have available to the public, after local publishers showed no faith in the. Introducing the dream team behind south african comic, kwezi. Mkize said, we have never had a superhero that looks like us and speaks like us and shares the same experiences and environment as us. Born in butterworth, eastern cape, loyiso developed a love of art from the age of 5 and has followed his passion to this day as a fine artist, comic book illustrator and as founder.
Since 2000, the cultural zeitgeist worldwide has been dominated by superheroes appearing on the silver screen. The african superhero universe is set to widen in south africa. This was the challenge that presented itself to loyiso mkize when he came out with the first edition of kwezi comics back in 2014. Bring the whole family for an interactive morning of. Homegrown comic superhero kwezi is proudly south african. Kwezi, which means star in xhosa and zulu, is a 19 year old boy from gold city a fictional city based on johannesburg. Kwezi, one of the superstars on the african comics scene is getting the animation treatment and thats a sweet dream come true. Aimed towards the south african youth, join kwezi as he discovers his powers and how they can be used for good. Prior to that, for seven years he was head illustrator of the supa strikas soccer comic book. He and the comics colourist clyde beech are here to talk about the influences and. Mar 23, 2015 surely the 28 year old loyiso mkize who is the illustrator and creator of this piece, had a plan and was aiming at giving a movie feel for his comic.
Mar 01, 2020 kwezi is written and illustrated by south african artist loyiso mkize. Kwezi is written and illustrated by south african comic artist loyiso mkize. African comic book writers to watch including loyiso. Forget black panther africas homegrown superheroes the. Three years down the line with kwezi south africas very own homegrown superhero selling out in print with every edition, loyiso is making his own mark on the local comic book industry, and sharing his. The young man, a university student and writer, tells me that his name is mohau like one of the characters in mkizes comic book kwezi. The kwezi animation signals exciting times ahead for.
Loyiso mkize is making his own mark on the local comic book industry, and sharing his insights and reflections. Graphic novel and comic book illustrator, loyiso mkize between. Kwezi launches another instalment at the design indaba. The african superhero universe continues to widen with the emergence of a comic book series from south africa. Loyiso mkize is a skilled artist and his visual storytelling can stack up against any comic artist out there. Although im not generally a fan of digital colouring, the overall effect here is fresh, clean and energetic. Kwezi is written and illustrated by south african artist loyiso mkize. He studied at cput in cape town where he achieved his diploma qualification in graphic design in 2009. With kwezi, we finally have a south african superhero who deals with local issues and makes references to local jokes and who uses slang that is true to the streets of johannesburg. This edit will also create new pages on comic vine for. From south africa, she made her debut writing a fantastic oneshot called all the pretty ponies for vertigo.
Here are 5 things we learned listening to his story. The kwezi animation signals exciting times ahead for african. The kwezi animation screen test is an adaptation of the superhero comic by the talented loyiso mkize from south africa. Kwezi is a uniquely south african comic set in the vibrant city of johannesburg. Together with colourist clyde beech and writer mohale mashigo, the dream team have collaborated to bring south africans our very own. Jun 09, 2016 loyiso mkize is the mastermind behind south africas first homegrown superhero comic book, kwezi. Aug 22, 2018 22 august 2018, reed exhibitions africa, reedpop and vs gaming announced the addition of south africas kwezi team to the comic con africa 2018. Kwezi is a story the follows a young city kid who discovers he has super human abilities. Loyiso mkize is a south african artist and founder of his own visual arts and communication company loyiso mkize art pty ltd.
Kwezi is a comic book series founded by our very own noble son of the soil, loyiso mkize, a prolific internationally acclaimed illustrator, designer and fine artist from butterworth, eastern cape. The progressive politics of the black superhero in comics. What gayle is saying, is that the medium of comic books have a strong link with the realworld situations that it stems from. In 2016, kwezi then went on to be published at all exclusive books stores and bargain books stores nationwide.
Forget black panther africas homegrown superheroes. Kwezi, which means star in xhosa and zulu, is the brainchild of loyiso mkize, a designer and fine artist who got his start in comics as an illustrator for the longrunning supa strikas soccer series. The final point i want to cover in relation to the progressive politics of the black superhero is african traditions. Unit, athlone industrial park, 10 mymoena crescent. If you havent eagerly been following the adventures of south african superhero kwezi, youre seriously missing out. He recently founded his own visual arts and communication company loyiso mkize art pty which publishes the energetic south african superhero comic book, kwezi. Thank you for signing up to the new africa books mailing list.