US-based Nigerian afro-futurist writer, Nnedi Okorafor, announced on Thursday 19th July, that she will be writing a new standalone comic book series about Black Panther‘s Shuri for Marvel. Shuri is the T’Challa’s techno-genius little sister in Black Panther. She will be the lead character in these new comic book series set for release in October 2018.
According to Marvel’s official release, the new series will throw Shuri into a more demanding role beyond the comfort of her lab and gadgets, when with the disappearance of Black Panther, the fate of the now vulnerable Wakanda rests on her shoulders.
Okoroafor is a professor at the University of Buffalo, New York. She has received multiple awards including the Hugo and Nebula Award for Best Novella, 2011 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and Africana Book Award. Her previous contributions to Marvel Comics include her writing of Blessing in Disguise, which was set in Lagos, Nigeria; Black Panther: Long Live The King; and the 3 part series Amazing Spiderman: Wakanda Forever, X-Men: Wakanda Forever and Avengers: Wakanda Forever. She will be working with Eisner award-winning artist, Leonardo Romero who did the art for Immortal Hulk comic.
Along with a photo of Shuri with other Marvel heroes in the background, the Sci-fi writer tweeted:
?Announcement: I’m writing Shuri. ?
“Black Panther’s Sister Shuri Is Getting Her Own Comic Book Series & It’s Happening So, So Soon” https://t.co/UkkQYGQci8 pic.twitter.com/bKximMptiD
— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) July 17, 2018
She told Bustle magazine that her love for Shuri stems from the fact that she is a young African genius who loves technology and “has traveled spiritually so far into the past that she’s seen Wakanda before it was Wakanda.” She further explained, “She’s a character in the Marvel Universe who really sings to me.” Okoroafor was also moved by the outpour of support which welcomed the announcement. She tweeted:
Wow, what an overwhelming outpour of excitement. The draft for the second issue is due today. Thank you, everyone, for giving me some extra energy while I’ve been working. ❤️?❤️!
— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) July 18, 2018
Unveiling the cover art for the first issue in the series, she tweeted.
Here is the illustration for the first issue of Shuri (written by me, art by @Leo__Romero). I love it soooooo much!
The cover artist for this is @SamSpratt. He did the album cover for @JanelleMonae’s Electric Lady. ?!!!#WakandaForever ??♀️ pic.twitter.com/ptLKUqDnxB
— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) July 18, 2018
Marvel says that it will reveal further details about SHURI at the San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel’s Next Big Thing panel.
Feature image: marvel.com