“Pants Optional” is PopCultHQ’s Zoom video interview feature where we connect with individuals within the comic book community. It’s a way to see/hear what creators have been doing during the pandemic, projects which may be in motion, and noteworthy events and happenings taking place in lieu of conventions, appearances, and the weekly NCBD grind.
For Episode XLII, I spoke with award-winning creator Josef Tzegai Yohannes. His internationally celebrated Eritrean-Norwegian comic series, The Urban Legend, is making its U.S. debut on Amazon Kindle. With three seasons of books and many one-shots, THE URBAN LEGEND catalog is nearly as big as the heart that is behind it all. Josef’s title, with art and lettering by Newtasty, colors by Sara Machajewski and Juan Moraga Gonzalez, introduces the reader to schoolteacher Malcolm T. Madiba, who is also under the guise of The Urban Legend – a human superhero defending the oppressed and being a voice for the voiceless on a global scale.
THE URBAN LEGEND
Written by Josef Tzegai Yohannes
Art by Newtasty
Colors by Sara Machajewski & Juan Moraga Gonzalez
Letters by Newtasty
By day Malcolm T. Madiba is a schoolteacher who lives by a code of justice and honor. After the murder of his brother, he adopts the alter-ego of The Urban Legend, a crime-fighting superhero committed to justice and protecting the innocent, putting bad guys in their place to help to keep the streets of recession-ravaged Capital City safe. A superhero with and without a mask, Malcolm’s compassion and inspiration move further than all the others to truly make a difference in the world.
The Urban Legend has forged partnerships and collaborated with organizations dedicated to social and societal change, including The Nobel Peace Center, The Nelson Mandela Foundation, and The Malala Fund. The comic is used in school curriculum on three continents including Norway, Brazil, and South Africa, teaching powerful messages that include topics such as bullying, climate change, social injustice, empowerment, and racism through special themed issues.
“It is my hope that people will embrace The Urban Legend in a different way than they have other superheroes, that they might see something in him that they wish they could see in themselves,” said Josef Tzegai Yohannes. “I wanted to create a black superhero who could give the voiceless a voice and stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. A superhero that could represent them, someone who could take the burden off their shoulders and empower them with his message and integrity. A superhero that could stand up and fight for them, because he is one of them, too, showing that they may always try to overcome the obstacles for the greater good, no matter the odds.”
So sit back and hear our new theme music and updated intro! Then check out Josef and me as we chat about his phenomenal series, talk about the creative team on THE URBAN LEGEND, the debut of the title here in the U.S., and plans he has for the future!
Special thanks to Josef Yohannes for taking the time to speak with us at PopCultHQ. Be sure to follow him & The Urban Legend online (links below). You are going to fall in love with the concept, the passion from the creators, and the inspiring material that needs to be seen!
Writer Josef Tzegai Yohannes:
`
`
`
`
`
THE URBAN LEGEND Online :
`
`
`
`
`
