Shuri #1: The Search For Black Panther, written by Nnedi Okorafor and Illustrated by Leonardo Romero & Jordie Bellaire (Colorist)

ISBN:  978-1302915230

Publisher: Marvel

Shuri #1: The Search For Black Panther shines with beautiful cover art designed/illustrated Leonardo Romero & Jordie Bellaire

Shuri is busy testing out her gadgets, creating scientific formulas and throwing out gauntlets, but while her lab is her sanctuary and the place she never wants to leave, Wakanda needs her!  The Black Panther has gone missing during his mission to space and everyone is wondering who will be the next line to be the leader of Wakanda if he doesn’t return from this mission.

Shuri feels the mounting pressure of having to follow her dreams or the well-being of Wakanda.

In this comic book series by Afro-Futurist author Nnedi Okorafor, we get to follow Shuri in her own adventures and interests, not just as Black Panther’s sister. Shuri: The Search For Black Panther depicts the diverse cultural and political layers of Wakanda and the powerful women that are part of this community. Shuri’s character is definitely a role model to young women in pursuing their dreams and always aspiring to be their best self!  Nnedi Okorofor is known for building strong female characters and Shuri is not the exception. Through this story, not only will we get to meet strong female characters, but African Culture and heritage are strongly highlighted and celebrated throughout this whole series. 

There’s something very encouraging about having the opportunity to share the Shuri comic book series with young people of color in which they are represented and their culture and heritage is celebrated, but it is also that windows and mirrors type of book that leads us into learning experiences, cultural awareness and acceptance of others.

Awards:

Nommo award for best graphic novel

Reviews:

Shuri

Nnedi Okorafor is a Nigerian-American author of Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism for children and adults. Her works include WHO FEARS DEATH (in development at HBO into a TV series), the BINTI novella trilogy, THE BOOK OF PHOENIX, the AKATA books and LAGOON. She is the winner of Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus and Lodestar Awards and her debut novel ZAHRAH THE WINDSEEKER won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. Her next novel, IKENGA, will be in stores August 2020.

Nnedi has also written comics for Marvel, including BLACK PANTHER: LONG LIVE THE KING and WAKANDA FOREVER (featuring the Dora Milaje) and the SHURI series, an Africanfuturist comic series LAGUARDIA (from Dark Horse) and her short memoir BROKEN PLACES AND OUTER SPACES. Nnedi is also co-writer of Octavia Butler’s WILD SEED with Viola Davis and Kenyan film director Wanuri Kahiu. Nnedi holds a PhD (literature) and two MAs (journalism and literature). She lives with her daughter Anyaugo and family in Illinois.

Sci-fi stories that imagine a future Africa | Nnedi Okorafor

Elisa A. Garcia is a Supervising Librarian of Teen Services at the New York Public Library. She is motivated to foster a love of reading in reluctant teen readers and therefore strives to introduce them to a diverse world and experiences through books. Mentoring new librarians, Elisa has savored the opportunity to broaden her scope in promoting diversity in librarianship by building on her love to help our communities and instilling in others the passion she has for libraries and readers as a whole.