Review by Frank Plowright
Malika Warrior Queen introduces a series of shared world titles set in fictional African cities or states explored by writer Roye Okupe over four features.
Okupe begins with a young Malika, smart and tactically aware, but not expecting to inherit the kingdom, before switching to Queen Malika, who has united the warring tribes of Azzaz to form a single kingdom. This was achieved via a clever practical application of military tactics she already knew as a precocious child. It’s the opening to a series set in the past informing other titles, but which can easily be read alone as stirring 18th century adventure. Some aspects are based on the history of African regions, as explained by Okupe between chapters, while others are entirely fictional, and with the addition of myths that may or may not be based on fact Okupe blends a compelling drama with a strong leading character.
In public Malika has a certainty to her decisions while balancing political factors that could destabilise her kingdom if left ignored. The more immediate threat, though, is the invading Ming Dynasty army, a massive force many consider unbeatable, and in private Malika’s uncertainties are disclosed. She has a plan, but will it work?
Artist Chimu Kalu is a strong storyteller who really comes into his own with the battle scenes. He takes no shortcuts when defining the sheer quantity of massed forces having at each other, and it’s notable that he maintains the decorative ornamentation to armour and robes even in the midst of conflict. His weakness is not being able to convey subtle emotions. There’s no problem with anger, but at other times readers will be left wondering what a character feels.
At not far short of three hundred story pages, a massive chunk of period drama is presented. It stands up alone as captivating adventure, but the clever aspect is how it informs the associated titles set in the present day and the future. On the negative side there is a twist that some might see coming, although Okupe doesn’t greatly oversell it, and all too often Okupe pulls the trick of revisiting a pivotal event from Malika’s past to add details relevant to that point of the story. The good considerably outweighs that, though, and the final third is a rollercoaster rebellion plot leading to one hell of a cliffhanger for Volume Two.
Before then, though, there’s a sort of epilogue, although an epic in its own right as Malika comes to terms with a sword she has, and how much more use it can be. That’s followed by a prologue to another of Okupe’s series, Windmaker, but it also ties back into Malika’s own kingdom, providing some information readers may have wondered about.
The world-building here is immense, setting up four series that blend fantasy and superheroics, but each of them favouring one element over the other. Fans of a cracking good story might want to be along for the ride.
