A few months later, in 2014, loyiso developed and published the first south african superhero comic book series, kwezi, which is now the. His journey starts off as a selfserving narcissist who only uses his abilities to further his social status. The brainchild of south african artist loyiso mkize, kwezi was released to critical acclaim in 2016. Kwezi has definitely caught wave in the almost non excistant black culture of comic books created by black people for people. Kwezi collectors edition loyiso mkize new africa books.
This week we find out how loyiso set out, against all odds, to bring a uniquely south african superhero to life, in the incredible new comic book character kwezi. Kwezi is a comic book series founded by our very own noble son of the soil, loyiso mkize, a prolific internationally acclaimed illustrator, designer and fine artist from butterworth, eastern cape. Loyiso mkizes kwezi culture blog the way of us superbalist. African comic book writers to watch including loyiso. From june 1st, kwezi has been stocked in exclusive books stores nationwide making it the first south african comic book to be made available at a major retailer. Kwezi collectors edition 4 issues 1012 sees our team of heroes faces challenges they never could have predicted while mpisi sets about establishing an antisuper campaign.
Loyiso mkize is making his own mark on the local comic book industry, and sharing his insights and reflections. The african superhero universe widens with south africas. Before devoting himself to his own company, loyiso mkize art pty ltd and. His company produced the south african superhero comic book series kwezi. The remarkable amount of work that goes in the craft of this comic book is over whelming. Starting out as a coillustrator for supa strikas, loyiso has branched out with a new initiative and has founded his own visual arts and communication company, loyiso mkize art which is publishing south africas first homegrown superhero comic book, kwezi.
A comic book centered around soccer players and which was mostly used as a medium for advertisers to display their brands and products. Kwezi is a young city dweller who discovers he has super human abilities. He recently founded his own visual arts and communication company loyiso mkize art pty which publishes the energetic south african superhero comic book, kwezi. Kwezi, in the development of its characters, manages to diverge from the stereotype of the sidney poitier comic book hero, a fact that is demonstrated through the absence of white characters in any of the publications. Loyiso mkize is a south african artist and founder of his own visual arts and communication company loyiso mkize art pty ltd. He completed his studies in graphic design at cape peninsula university of technology in 2009. Loyiso mkize, a cape town based artist and co illustrator of the hip supa strikas comic book and animation series on dstvs disney channel, launches his independent project under the loyisomkizeart flagship. Created by south african artist loyiso mkize, kwezi is the classic young hero in a. From south africa, she made her debut writing a fantastic oneshot called all the pretty ponies for vertigo. Graphic novel and comic book illustrator, loyiso mkize between. He studied and now lives in cape town where he has worked as head illustrator for the south african soccer comic series supa strikas. Kwezi flyboy would, and is probably be the superhero the continent has every seen. His african superhero is similarly real, as kwezi is about finding ones identity and purpose, and tells of a selfinvolved teenager with superpowers who must learn that with his.
He studied at the cape penisula university of technology in cape town, south africa where he obtained his diploma quali. Loyiso mkize is one of south africas best known graphic novel and comic book illustrators, being one of the foremost contributors to the sunday times supplement supastrikers but turns to painting for creative expression and as an avenue for his personal, political and social commentary. Loyiso s his creators hope is that kwezi will ultimately become a cult figure. This is the book i want to give all of the kids in south africa. An incredible south african superhero comic with relateable and representative characters. Mary mcfadden of the arcade has compiled a list of mustread african comic books, including nigerias comic republic, loyiso mkizes kwezi and lauren beukess all the pretty ponies. Issues collectors edition by loyiso mkize goodreads. Loyiso mkize is a south african visual artist and was born in butterworth, 19th march 1987. Loyiso developed a love of art from the age of 5 and has followed his passion to this day as a fine artist, comic book illustrator and as founder. Loyiso mkize is a south african visual artist and was born in butterworth, 19th march. Loyiso developed and published the first south african superhero comic book series, kwezi, which is now the companys flagship product. Collectors edition issues kwezi comics book 1 ebook.
Loyiso mkize was born in the town of butterworth also known as gcuwa in south africa. The comic book quickly rose to popularity with new episodes being published in steady succession. Click here to buy kwezi by loyiso mkize on paperback and find more of your favourite childrens young adults books in rarus online book store. Here are 5 things we learned listening to his story.
The bindup of the first three kwezi comics, which tell the story of a classic young hero in a johannesburgesque fictional city, will be released in two new languages this month. He created its flagship south african superhero comic book, kwezi. Loyiso mkize biography south african visual artist. Mkize has created illustrated artworks for a number of comic book projects and is also a fine artist in his own right. Kfc partners with artist loyiso mkize ahead of comic con africa 2019. Loyiso mkhize introduces new characters such as azania, illustrated abouve, to the comic with every issue. Kwezi is south africas very own homegrown superhero, selling out in print with every edition. Loyiso mkezi didnt begin his foray into the comic book world with kwezi however. Loyiso took the risk to create kwezi and clyde took the risk to go along with it. They took a risk on me because id never worked on a comic book. Kwezi comic book took three years of trials and tribulations to finally have available to. Kfc partners with artist loyiso mkize ahead of comic con. At last a local mzanzi superhero comic book hero kwezi, the brainchild of artist loyiso mkize, is offering kids images they can relate to.
He also illustrates the supastrikas comic book that comes with the sunday times, you, drum and huisgenoot magazines every month. Loyiso mkize is a south african visual artist specialising in fine art and comic book illustration. Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. We have lots of content creators who exist, they just dont have platforms. Loyiso mkize is making his own mark on the local comic book. Mkize has been creating comics professionally since 2009, and is one of the main artists of one of the most popular comics in the world. Collectors edition issues kwezi comics book 1 an amazon book with buzz. Set on a contemporary south african backdrop, kwezi a 19 year old boy that discovers he has superpowers, and so the journey towards his purpose begins. Kwezi, which means star in xhosa and zulu, is the brainchild of loyiso mkize, a. Forget black panther africas homegrown superheroes. Kwezi is the worlds most powerful superhero, but does he have the will to dis.
Kwezi is south africas first superhero comic book series. Kwezi is a story the follows a young city kid who discovers he has super human abilities. Mkize founded the visual art and communication company loyiso mkize art ltd in 2015. His company loyiso mkize art pty ltd serves as a central base from which his work is created. Meet the team behind kwezi sas first superhero comic iol. A south african superhero comic loyiso mkhize tells us about his local superhero comic, kwezi, which he hopes will become a phenomenon. Loyiso mkize presents the follow up to an extremely successful debut. I created the comic book, but i realised very quickly that i couldnt do it alone. Loyiso mkize with one of his portraits at his solo exhibition. In 2014, loyiso mkize created kwezi, a 19yearold city boy who. South african superhero comic, kwezi by loyiso mkhize. Homegrown comic superhero kwezi is proudly south african.
A hustler and champion of local comics created by loyiso mkize, the comic and its main character, kwezi, take place amongst the. Created by acclaimed artist loyiso mkize, the series is centered on 19 year old kwezi, a typical south african youngster immersed in popular youth culture who develops a connection with his traditional roots. Kwezi is the worlds most powerful superhero, but does he have the will to discover his greatness. Published on aug, 2015 at just the tender age of 28, loyiso mkize has managed to create a comic book series, titled kwezi, through a company he. Loyiso mkize has 348 posts on their instagram profile. His journey began several years earlier with the rather popular supa strikas comic book. The first issue served its purpose well, it introduced a new character and put some of his powers on display. New south african superhero comic kwezi by artist loyiso. Before devoting himself to his own company and fine art full time, mkhize worked as the head illustrator for a popular soccer comic book supa strikas srika entertainment. Kwezi is a comic which follows the story of a young man with super human abilities. The character kwezi begins as a young narcissistic kid with superpowers who morphs into a superhero as the issues progress.
This edit will also create new pages on comic vine for. Follow their account to see all their photos and videos. Miles morales appears in costume with his mask off a lot both on covers and in actual comic books, so i think this is an option lots of fans are going to prefer. Kwezi, which means star in xhosa and zulu, is a 19 year old boy from gold city a fictional city based on johannesburg. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Kwezi kwezi comics by loyiso mkize author clyde beech author. Introducing the dream team behind south african comic, kwezi. Loyiso mkize is no stranger to the world of south african comics. With kwezi, we finally have a south african superhero who deals with local issues and makes references to local jokes and who uses slang that is true to the streets of johannesburg.
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