Rise of the Mafu

Rise of the Wafu: Volume 1, is the first graphic novel from First Noble Studios (https://firstnoble.org/), a production studio where heritage stories are told through digital technologies and design. I met First Noble's owners, Gerald and Steven Vrenden, through Renaldo Anderson, Graduate Director and Associate Professor of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University and founder of The Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM). Headquartered in Amsterdam, First Noble has been very active in promoting Afrofuturism awareness throughout Europe, highlighting their Afro-Caribbean roots.

Rise of the Mafu: Volume 1 - The Awakening, tells the story of three siblings on a journey to realizing their true potential. The story centers around Gerald, who finds himself having disturbing visions of malevolent forces threatening to do him harm. He's currently seeking counseling to determine the meaning of the dreams to no avail. His siblings, impulsive Steven and level-headed Wanda, have an idea of what Gerald is experiencing. The three are already aware of their status as spiritual guardians, but still have yet to realize their full abilities. This is the core of Rise of the Mafu. I won't spoil the story for you, but I will say that it's an engrossing and enlightening read.

What's just as good as this coming of age story is the artwork. The main reason for reading any graphic novel is the art, and Hakeem Rafai doesn't disappoint. His lines are crisp, his characters beautiful, and his colors vibrant. I'm always impressed when artists represent characters of African Descent positively, and Hakeem does as good as anyone.

I enjoyed Rise of the Mafu Volume 1, and I think you will, too. You can purchase it from First Noble by following this link: https://hisstoryoftheworld.com/rise-of-the-mafu-volume-1/