[Video Interview] “Pants Optional” – Episode XLIII: Roye Okupe

“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 XLIII, I spoke with creator Roye Okupe of YouNeek Studios. The Owner/Creative Director at YouNeek Studios is also the creator and writer for a host of titles in The YouNeek YouNiverse, a shared universe of characters and titles which focus on telling extraordinary stories about extraordinary characters inspired by African history, culture, and mythology crafted by African creators.

YouNeek has self-published a handful of titles via crowdfunding and has received critical acclaim across the globe. They caught the eye of Dark Horse Comics, who welcomed Okupe and his YouNeek Studios graphic novels into its publishing line in a monumental ten-book deal. The publisher has re-released YouNeek’s earlier graphic novels, along with extra content not included in the original books.

YouNeek’s upcoming release of WINDMAKER Volume One arrives in bookstores on Tuesday, April 19th and in comic book shops on Wednesday, April 20th. It’s the first new graphic novel under the partnership with Dark Horse and is available for pre-order now.

Here’s a look at some of YouNeek Studios’ available titles, as well as info on this April’s debut of WINDMAKER.


E.X.O.™: THE LEGEND OF WALE WILLIAMS

A sci-fi superhero epic set in Lagos, Nigera

Writer: Roye Okupe
Artist: Sunkanmi Akinboye
Colorist: Raphael Kazeem

Cover Artist: Godwin Akpan

E.X.O. ™ – The Legend of Wale Williams is a sci-fi superhero epic about redemption set in Lagos, Nigeria. The story follows Wale Williams, a stubborn yet introspective young man living in the bustling utopia that is Lagoon City. When Wale isn’t enjoying great food while admiring the sleek skyscrapers modeled after the crowns of ancient Yoruba kings in the city, you can find him bobbing his head to music by his favorite artist—award-winning Afrobeats singer, Burna Boy— as he codes on his laptop. His life is pretty perfect.

But Wale’s perfect world comes to a crashing halt after his father, Dr. Williams’ research on the Prime-X—a secret energy source the size of an orange, yet capable of powering an entire city—falls into the wrong hands following a tragic accident.

Now, the entire city of Lagos is under siege from the CREED, a maniacal group of extremists led by the sociopathic Oniku, who have vowed to “rebuild the city by fire.” With a city once full of hope now left hopeless, Wale must make a decision: ignore the chaos, turn his back on his people, and watch the city he loves burn or finally forgive his father, put on the E.X.O. Armor—a super-suit Dr. Williams built for him as a way to fight back—and become the hero he was always meant to be.

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MALIKA™: WARRIOR QUEEN

A historical fantasy epic set in 15th-century West Africa

Set in fifteenth-century West Africa, Malika™: Warrior Queen (pronounced “Ma-Lie-Kah”) follows the exploits of Queen and military commander, Malika, who struggles to keep the peace in her ever-expanding empire. Growing up as a prodigy, Malika inherited the crown from her father in the most unusual of circumstances, splitting the Kingdom of Azzaz in half. After years of civil war, Malika was able to unite all of Azzaz, expanding it into one of the largest empires in all of West Africa.

But expansion would not come without its costs. Enemies begin to rise within her council, and Azzaz grabbed the attention of the most feared superpower the world has ever known: the Ming Dynasty. As Malika fights to win the clandestine civil war within the walls of her empire, she must now turn her attention to an indomitable and treacherous foe that plans to vanquish her entire people. From dragons to mythical relics, a feuding royal family and magical swords, the story of Malika: Warrior Queen stays true to the fantasy genre while adding something new by setting familiar concepts in an awe-inspiring African setting.

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IYANU™: CHILD OF WONDER

A classic children’s fantasy quest inspired by Yoruba culture & myth

Writer: Roye Okupe
Artist: Godwin Akpan
Colorist: Godwin Akpan
Cover Artist: Godwin Akpan

It has been over five hundred years since the age of wonders — a time where the Divine Ones blessed Yorubaland with spiritual, structural, and technological marvels. But in the blink of an eye, it all vanished, and all that was left were remnants of an ancient, advanced civilization. As humankind forges ahead, culture becomes knowledge, knowledge becomes history, and history becomes mythology. Until Iyanu. A teenage orphan girl with no recollection of her past who suddenly discovers that she has hidden powers that rival the Divine Ones themselves. It is these abilities that are the key to bringing back the age of wonders and saving a world on the brink of destruction at the hands of The Corrupt — Cursed Wildlife and Divine Beasts desperate to destroy humanity.

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WINDMAKER™

An urban fantasy epic set in the fictional nation of Atala

Writer: Roye Okupe
Artist: Sunkanmi Akinboye
Colorist: Toyin Ajetunmobi
Cover Artist: Godwin Akpan

After an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity, the fictional West African nation, 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 Atalians— mysteriously returns in what appears to be an effort to save his people. The only problem is that his spirit is reincarnated into the last person anyone expects to help—The president’s head of security.​

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Pre-order NOW at your local comc shop with the order code: DEC210392


So sit back and hear as Roye discusses the YouNeek YouNiverse, the epic 10-book deal by Dark Horse to distribute previous titles and new ones, why it’s important for him to connect with all readers through his characters, and the importance of the message found within each story.



Special thanks to Roye Okupe of YouNeek Studios for taking the time to speak with us at PopCultHQ. Be sure to follow him & YouNeek Studios online (links below). And do yourself a favor and pre-order WINDMAKER Volume One TODAY! Get ready to immerse yourselves into this brilliant YouNeek YouNiverse! And CLICK HERE to subscribe to YouNeek’s newsletter and receive 100+ pages of FREE YouNeek titles!


Writer Roye Okupe:

 

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Roye Okupe is an award-winning filmmaker, author, speaker and entrepreneur whose passion for comics and animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2015, an avenue that would allow him to pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. Under that umbrella, Roye wrote, produced and directed several animated productions, including, but not limited to, the award-winning and critically acclaimed Malika – Warrior Queen Animated Short. These productions have allowed Roye to attain many prestigious recognitions, such as being #5 on Ventures Africa’s list of 40 African innovators to watch (2016) as well as being part of NewAfrican Magazines’ 100 most influential Africans two years in a row (2016 & 2017). Most significantly, in 2021, Roye was nominated for the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, meant to honor “commitment to excellence and inclusion.”

YouNeek Studios:

YouNeek™ Studios is an award-winning multiplatform entertainment company founded by Roye Okupe. Using graphic novels, animation, video games, and other forms of media, YouNeek focuses on telling extraordinary stories about extraordinary characters inspired by African history, culture, and mythology, with the ultimate goal of empowering African creatives and storytelling across the globe.

About Dark Horse:

 

For more than thirty years, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, the company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The MaskGhostX, and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga, and products based on popular properties includes Dragon AgeBuffy the Vampire SlayerAliensConan, Tomb RaiderHaloThe Witcher,SerenityGame of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.