Posted in: Comics, Comics Publishers, Current News, Marvel Comics | Tagged: black panther, hexagon

Jean-Marc Lofficier Challenges Marvel Over African Superhero Creators

Hexagon Comics USA continues to put back into print European comics, originally published by Jean-Marc Lofficier, translated into English.

Hexagon Comics USA continues to put back into print European comics, mostly written by Jean-Marc Lofficier, translated into English and distributed solely through his website, Amazon page or at conventions. Selling enough copies to make it more than worthwhile, as well as making certain comics available to a wider English-speaking audience. And repackaging work by familiar names in American comics before they made it big. Retailers can purchase Hexagon Comics at a 40% discount from distributor Ingram or from the publisher.

And for January 2024, that means The Guardian of Senegal, a comic featuring a Western African superhero entirely made by a Senegalese writer-artist team, writer Mouhamadou Moustapha Sy and artist Narotam. And claimed as the first Western African superhero of all.

The Guardian of Senegal, made his first appearance in The Partisans #2, a story that took place in 1942. Jean-Marc Lofficier, EIC of Hexagon Comics, had wanted to include an authentic African hero rising from the ashes of the French Western African colonial empire.

However, Lofficier felt that the degree of authenticity that he sought would be better served if a Senegalese artistic team could craft his origins.

"I should state that I do not agree, in principle, with the notion that only writers of a certain ethnicity or origin can or should write characters of that same ethnicity, etc." said Lofficier. "I think talent, research and an open mind can be adequate substitutes. Nevertheless, I can see the wisdom of entrusting Black American heroes such as Luke Cage or Black Lightning to talented Black-American creators, and the results have certainly more than justified that choice.

"However, I confess that I fail to see how the same applies to Black Panther, a character from a fictional Eastern African country. To me, the versions of that character crafted by Don McGregor, Peter Gillis and Jonathan Maberry are just as noteworthy as those produced by Christopher Priest, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Nnedi Okorafor, but still a product of American culture. In my opinion, it would have been more interesting to see what might have happened if Marvel had looked for creators from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, or South Africa. It took me two years to put together a Senegalese writer-artist team to produce this issue."

Writer M M Sy is a young Senegalese engineer who first wrote fanfiction before being published professionally. His first novel, Sapiens Vampiris, was published in France in 2021 to critical acclaim. Artist Narotam works as a cartoonist for a Senegalese newspaper.

The story spans a period ranging from 1914 to 1938 and draws on the history of the Senegalese Riflemen who fought during World War I, 30,000 of whom were killed in battle. The keystone is a tragic friendly fire incident that happened at Chateau-Thierry on June 1st ,1918," explains Lofficier. "American machine gunners mistakenly fired on what they believed to be a night attack by German troops. Instead, they were soldiers of the French 10th Colonial division from Senegal, who had been trying to get back across the river."

THE GUARDIAN OF SENEGAL
Story: Mouhamadou Moustapha Sy
Art & Cover: Narotam
Adapted into English by Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier
7×10 squarebound trade paperback, 52 p. b&w, US$12.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-263-0

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