Find Your Story: A YouNeek YouNiverse Recommended Reading Order
New Version Updated for 2024!
Since 2012, Roye Okupe has been building a universe of superheroes that spans centuries, centered around African stories and crafted by African creators. With this ever-expanding line of books, there are many points where a new reader could enter the YouNeek YouNiverse. To help readers choose a starting point, we’ve put together a suggested reading order in the graphic below.
You can see all YouNeek Studios titles here, including currently available and upcoming graphic novels. Stay tuned for more, as the YouNeek Studios line continues to expand and grow at Dark Horse!
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Since 2021, Dark Horse has been pleased to partner with YouNeek Studios to bring these original stories to a global audience. You can read the initial announcement here.
In Iyanu: Child of Wonder, the tale follows a teenage orphan with no recollection of her past. Suddenly Iyanu discovers that she has abilities that rival the ancient deities told in the folklore of her people. It is these abilities that are the key to bringing back an “age of wonders,” and Iyanu must begin her journey to save a world on the brink of destruction.
E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams is an Afrofuturist superhero story about redemption set in the bustling metropolis that is Lagos, Nigeria. Wale Williams, who moonlights as the tech savy superhero E.X.O tries to save the city from a deadly group of emerging extremists, but first he must save himself.
In Windmaker, the West African nation of Atala is thrust into an era of unrest and dysfunction after their beloved president turns vicious dictator. With the country on the brink of civil war, the WindMaker–an ancient hero of the Ataliansmysteriously returns in what appears to be an effort to save his people.
In The Oloris: Heroes Will Unite, heroes from across YouNeek Studios’ different titles unite for the first time in an epic crossover event! When an unknown anarchist unleashes an army of extraterrestrial androids on the continent of Africa, Malika—legendary warrior queen of the 15th-century West African Empire, Azzaz—must put together a team of “unlike-minded” heroes to respond before it’s too late. Featuring appearances from other YouNeek YouNiverse heroes like EXO, Fury, and WindMaker, several YouNeek storylines finally converge.
Praise for YouNeek Studios:
“Wale Williams—and his setting of ‘Lagoon City’—is to Lagos what Gotham City is to New York.”–Forbes
“’Bout time!” —Jamie Foxx
“E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams is the fast-paced, afro-futuristic graphic novel from Roye Okupe.”–CNN
“The designs are very slick and futuristic, and ignore some of the design stereotypes which frequently turn up in many “African set” productions created by less intimate creators. At an initial glance, it has all of the fast-paced action and hi-tech superhero antics that you would expect of most animated action series on Cartoon Network or NickToons, only it is featuring a brand-new hero for a brand-new era.”–The Examiner
