Releasing comic book miniseries simultaneously with their trade collections led to stories with a sense of drag to them. I've had issues with TKO’s publishing model in the past. The two find themselves entangled with a corrupt businessman (well, business-pig) / religious leader Mbam, and forced into a series of challenges while attempting to regain their former position, and (maybe) save the world. He is accompanied by Awa, his personal Djeli: a mix between a storyteller, spiritual guide and hype man.

Prince Mansour, the son of a great king, is forced to wander the land after the death of his father and the downfall of his kingdom. The land has been shattered by the tower of a mysterious (and wicked) wizard, giving rise to an age of strife and warfare.

It’s a five-part science fiction / fantasy mix, taking place in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s still feels like a young person’s effort, but a young person who knows what he’s trying to say and how to say it. This was an artist worth noting.ĭjeliya, his first longform solo project, shows he’s made large steps in a rather short amount of time. Despite being very much a green series, wearing its heart on its sleeve and waving its artistic influences proudly, the explosive potential was there from the first page: Ba had a great sense for character design, a cartoonish dynamism that carried his action set pieces forward, and the ability to mix world-building with proper storytelling. I became aware of Ba few years ago through the sadly unfinished sci-fi saga Kayin and Abeni - Afro Space Adventures. Which is why I was delighted to find out they intend to publish the first English-language graphic novel by Juni Ba, a writer-artist from France and Senegal. Proven industry talent - you know what you get with these people. These are people your average Wednesday warrior has heard of: Garth Ennis Steve Orlando Jeff Lemire Steve Epting. In its short existence, TKO Studios, a company I find myself engaging with over and over again, has published mostly familiar voices.

Djeliya juni ba