The First Revolution: A Prelude to the Outworld

The Orijah

“What if there were no niggas, only Master Teachers?”

“I’d stay woke.”
– Erykah Badu, 2008

They were called the Fudo.

The Fudo

A brutal and savage race, the Fudo believed that the universe was theirs; every moon, every planet, even the celestial dust was created for the Fudo to exploit and consume. They traveled the universe spreading their doctrine of expansion, exploitation and destruction. Those who did not bow before the Fudo were destroyed. Entire cultures were crushed by the “Immovable” as the Fudo traveled from star system to star system.

Imana, jewel of the galaxy, was home to a race of philosophers, explorers and scientists known as the Mwari. They were the Fudo’s next target. Conquered, the once peaceful and gentle race was made slaves by the “Immovable,” subjected to cruel, savage eugenics experiments designed to make the conquered races stronger for the Fudo labor camps.

Ami’Stad, The Philosopher

Many sentients died under the blades of Fudo science. But one of the Mwari, a philosopher turned slave, survived the experiments and was made… Different… Stronger. He rebelled against his masters using his newfound abilities to destroy a Fudo shipyard and eugenics facility.

The Priestess of Kush

But, it was difficult to control these newfound abilities. The well of dark light all Mwari possessed was tapped and threatened to consume the philosopher turned slave now rebel. He relied on this wisdom of his people. The oral tradition of the Mwari god Solu, passed from lips millennia ago now encoded into the DNA of this race of Imana, saved the rebel now called Ami’Stad… And gave him purpose.

The Avatar of Helios

The Philosopher turned slave now rebel saved four others who were also changed by the Fudo. These five trained themselves physically, mentally and spiritually in the use of their abilities. The Philosopher and his companions The Spartan, The Samurai of Felinae, The Avatar of Helios and The Priestess of Kush, traveled to the conquered planets of the Fudo Empire bringing justice to the troubled star system.

The Samurai of Felinae

They each took on an apprentice, a Fudo-enhanced native of that planet and taught them the ways of combat, history and the notion of resistance and freedom through the Mwari’s use of stories. Once trained, their students would become the protector of their people charged with finding new students to train them for the Revolution.

The Spartan

These five, these warrior griots, became known as the Orijah, the Guardians. Through their lessons, the conquered people of the Fudo Empire rose up against their oppressors and successfully moved the “Immovable.”

Having driven the Fudo out of the galaxy, the former occupied planets formed an alliance in order to protect themselves from future invaders. With the protection of the Orijah’s students now called the Amesha Spentas or Master Teachers, this Diaspora of planets flourished, and enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity.

This is the legend of the Master Teachers. This is the history of the Diaspora.

Outworld: The Return of the Master Teachers is coming in 2013 from Griot Enterprises… Stay Woke.

www.griotenterprises.com

Welcome to the Outworld… Stay Woke

The Gbeto

Outworld: Return of the Master Teachers is a science fiction, kung-fu epic spanning 3 generations.

The Master Teachers have been outlawed and hunted to the brink of extinction by one of their own. The Diaspora System is under the iron grip of Oro, The Despot and his Beret Sheri armada led by his acolyte, The Paladin. The Diaspora, once a galaxy devoted to peace and diversity, has become the Utopia, a totalitarian society dedicated to expanding its territories through war, subjugation and destruction.

However, a rag tag band of rebels led by a disgraced Master will provide to the key to the Diaspora’s liberation and will ignite a revolution that will restore the glory of the Master Teachers and bring justice to a beleaguered solar system.

Return of the Jedi

Outworld: Return of the Master Teachers is the first concept I created.

I was 11 years old when Return of the Jedi was released. For some reason, Luke’s evolution to full Jedi Knight and the ultimate redemption of Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader, resonated and sparked something within my burgeoning imagination.

Dreadstar

I envisioned alien races featuring a race of beings who evolved from cats (I was reading Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar also at the time). Imagine my horror when the next year, a certain animated cartoon called Thundercats hit the small screen… RANKIN BASS (shaking fist to the gods in defiant anger)!!!!!!!

Warp

A few years earlier, I had seen a science-fiction play inspired by Star Wars and Marvel comic books like Doctor Strange called Warp, produced by Lee Gotfried. Warp later became the flagship title for Chicago-based First Comics.

Thundercats

I’m a second-generation “Trekkie” and a big science fiction fan, but Warp grabbed a hold of me because the hero, Lord Cumulus, was played by an African-American. All of these elements went into the stew that would become Outworld.

It took a chance meeting with Dwayne McDuffie (R.I.P., my brother) to set its release in motion. Outworld’s eventual creation was due, in part, to unrealized opportunities: one, a possible Milestone project and the other a magazine that, unfortunately, never got off the ground.

As I was creating the concept and character design, I decided to experiment and see if I couldn’t blur the lines between analog and digital art creation further.

Whereas I would normally draw as much on the Bristol board as possible, Outworld would become primarily a digital creation.

The characters were drawn and colored individually. Props and backgrounds created using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop with the final page constructed in Adobe Photoshop.

The Master Teachers

Outworld grew up with me and has become the benchmark of my evolution as an artist and a human being.

In 2013, you’ll see what an 11-year old’s imagination can create.

www.griotenterprises.com

Calling Out To The Tribe

What’s up, fam.

2012 was a year of transition. Politically, socially, spiritually and personally, this past year was one of upheaval… And all of us felt its effects.

It is during these times of evolution when our mettle is tested and our true selves come to light. Sometimes, that light is too intense to bear. Sometimes, we see the truth and we don’t like it. But, if we face our fears and battle the greatest demons, ourselves, we become stronger than ourselves. It is at this point we evolve… We gain wisdom… We get better.

With that being said, I need to ask something of you. Before I do so, I want to give you a little insight on my hustle, Griot Enterprises…

Griot Enterprises frontpage

Since 2000, Griot Enterprises has existed for one reason: To tell great stories featuring heroes of color.

We have seen many great African American superheroes in comics, but we never saw an iconic African American superhero team. We didn’t have our Justice League, our Avengers. We, as comic book fans of color, young and old, didn’t have a universe where our heroes reside…

… Griot Enterprises fills that void.

Griot Enterprises properties page

The comic book market needs to continue developing innovative concepts that represent the world in order to thrive in an arena in which they have to garner attention from the movie and the video game industries as well as the buying public at large.

And honestly, Black Superheroes are cool.

Now, that you know a little more about my business, I’ll let you in on a little secret:

Griot Enterprises is just one man… Me… That’s it.

This is my baby… This is my passion… This is my grind…

And I need your help to keep this going.

Due to the transition of 2012, I’ve hit a snag and I need to raise $3000.00 by January 15, 2013 to stay in my current home lest I’m out on the street before this period of transition finishes its cycle. I’m not asking for a handout nor am I asking for charity. I just need you to do one thing:

Buy a book. Buy some swag.

That’s it. If each of you buys one book, I’ll live to fight another day. In addition, I’m offering incentives for y’all based on how much you purchase:

$1.00 – $3.00 – You will have a place in the thank you section of the upcoming The Horsemen: Book of Olorun trade paperback, which will be available in January.

$5.00 – I addition to being added to the thank you section, you will get a FREE PDF copy of The Horsemen: Book of Olorun trade paperback.

$10.00 – You’ll get a FREE PDF copy of The Horsemen: Book of Olorun trade AND a FREE PDF copy of Outworld: Return of the Master Teachers, which will be available in March.

$25.00 – All of the rewards above PLUS a FREE PDF of The New Mythology print AND Black Sci-Fi print available on Zazzle.com

The New Mythology

Black Sci-Fi

Here’s Griot Enterprises’ current line of titles. Clicking on the links will take you directly to the books and products:

THE HOLY BIBLE: DIGNITY & DIVINITY
By Walter D. Greason & Jiba Molei Anderson
$1.00 USD (digital)

The Holy Bible: Dignity & Divinity

This timely collection of stories reminds us how deeply men’s images fill religious traditions worldwide.

Dr. Walter Greason (Department of History, Monmouth University) and Jiba Molei Anderson created The Holy Bible: Dignity & Divinity to ask two fundamental questions:

How would familiar tales like the Garden of Eden and the Nativity differ if the women in the stories were the central characters?

Can we understand women as being as divine as men, if we shift our perspectives on our religious values?

The Holy Bible: Dignity & Divinity presents an important revelation about the universal power religion retains in the twenty-first century. Where commerce often takes center stage through a secular understanding of the holidays, these portraits remind readers that humility, piety, introspection, and integrity hold unique power to inspire a cynical world.

THE HORSEMEN: DIVINE INTERVENTION
By Jiba Molei Anderson, MCL, Digital Broome, Patrick Brower & Eric Pence
Issues 1 -3: $2.99 USD (digital); $4.99 (print)
Trade Paperback: $10.00 (digital); $20.50 (print)

The Horsemen: Divine Intervention

The gods of ancient Africa have possessed seven people to protect humanity from itself…whether humanity wants them to or not. They have been chosen to combat those who control the fate of the planet. Who controls the eight immortals but the number seven?

The world of The Horsemen is one of political intrigue, hip urban science fiction, and mythological fantasy where the actions of beings with immense power and extraordinary ability have reality-altering consequences.

THE HORSEMEN: BOOK OF OLORUN
By Jiba Molei Anderson, Bymers 2, Lea Goffinski & Joe Rubenstein
Issues 1 -3: $2.99 USD (digital); $4.99 (print)

The Horsemen: Book of Olorun

The Orisha emerged from a deep slumber. Seeing that their mission had been perverted, they had set about to free us…whether we wanted them to or not.

But, what if there were others not Orisha, not Deitis, not Human, but something more, a new Race? What side would they choose in the coming war?

And, who truly controls the Eight Immortals but the number seven?

MANIFESTO: THE TAO OF JIBA MOLEI ANDERSON
By Jiba Molei Anderson, foreword by John Jennings
$10.00 USD (digital); $20.50 (print)
Also available in hardcover!

Manifesto: The Tao of Jiba Molei Anderson

He is a writer, illustrator, designer and educator.

He has been nominated for the Glyph Award and his work is in The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.

Now, Jiba Molei Anderson, creator of The Horsemen, shares his work and his thoughts on illustration, design, writing, and the philosophy behind it all in this visual and educational retrospective of his career.

Also, I’ve got prints, T-shirts and swag at Zazzle. Feel free to get some of that as well.

The deadline for this drive is January 11, 2013. When you make your purchase, hit me up at jiba@griotenterprises.com and let me know how much product you copped so that I can give you your props. I thank you in advance for the support, Tribe. May 2013 be a brighter day for us all… Cheers!

www.griotenterprises.com

Who Controls The Eight Immortals In This Continual Maze…

The Deitis

A few posts ago, I re-introduced The Horsemen to you, my Sci-Fi Soldiers. Now, let’s meet their opposite number, The Deitis…

“So, for untold millennia, the Orisha became divine. Some of them did not want to be worshipped so they cast aside their physical form and returned to a state of energy. Others, however, decided to keep their physical forms and interact with Man … sometimes with intentions that were far from beneficial.

This new offshoot of the Orisha called themselves the Deitis, created a spiritual engine called the Elysium that collected the energy derived from the essence of worship. This energy had become the foodstuff by which the Deitis needed in order to survive. Without it, the Deitis would perish. The Deitis began to create realms of power. These realms had been placed all over the planet from Olympus to Valhalla, Neopolis to the Happy Hunting Grounds, Nirvana to Heaven. The Deitis began to grow cold and cruel, and they began to torment man.

The Orisha saw this and knew that Man had to be protected. So seven of the Orisha possessed human form and created a realm of their own known as Akebulan, the blessed land, and waged war with the Deitis. The war was hard fought and the Earth wept as her body was ravaged. Man almost perished due to flood and the rending of the land. But, in the end, the Deitis were cast out, at a heavy cost. The Orisha were severely weakened by the war and left the planet. Despite this, it seemed as if Humanity was free to chart its own destiny once more…

…But that was not to be.

Eight of the Deitis emerged from the ruins of the war. They were able to adapt to the petty desires of Humanity. They manipulated us, tempted us, and took us off of the path of enlightenment. Because of this, they were able to control us. They stopped us from reaching our true potential. We were supposed to be gods. They, the Deitis, denied us of our glory.”

Exodus, The God of Religion

Exodus, God of Religion

The minor god known as Exodus was able to hide himself from the Orisha’s wrath. Once the war was over, he emerged from his realm to see the earth scorched and ruined. He smiled. Smiled for he knew that this world was his. He would become the only god that man would ever know. He traveled from village to village, town to town, making himself and his power known to a chosen few. These men and women became his disciples and recorded the words and teachings of Exodus for future generations. Thus, Exodus had achieved his goal. He became the God of Religion.

Othello, The God of Commerce

Othello, God of Commerce

Othello, shrewd and crafty, hid among the mortals during the Great Conflict. He saw how the mortals coveted little shiny things, how they would fight each other, kill each other to possess something that they could carry with them when passed into the next life. Othello would own these things. Not only that, he would dictate to the mortals what new shiny thing they would have to own. He made them barter these shiny things for goods, for food, for their lives, for their enemies’ deaths. He would become the God of Commerce.

Ameratsu, The Goddess of War

Ameratsu, Goddess of War

To the east, Ameratsu emerged from a battle with her brother Susanowo, a battle that cost Susanowo his life. When he died, Ameratsu began to change. She who was the sun became dark. Before, she was peace and light. Now, she began to favor the arts of pain, violence, and war.

Ahura, The God of Industry

Ahura, God of Technology

The mighty Ahura, former all-father of all he surveyed, descended from the north humiliated. During the Great Conflict, Ogun the Dragonslayer dealt him a vicious blow. Faced with the option of retreat or certain death, the once proud warrior slunk off into the shadows with his tail between his legs. He would learn from his adversary though. As Ogun would be the God of Iron, Ahura would learn and become master of these new inventions that these little talking monkeys were so fond of. They would worship Ahura, not the hated Ogun, as the God of Technology.

Quetz, The God of Sex

Quetz, God of Lust

Quetz came from the south. Once a mighty warrior and ruler of a vast land, he had become a shell of his former self. He turned to the arts of physical pleasure, making its practice depraved and dirty. It had ceased to be an expression of love for Quetz. It had come to be just about sex.

Kali, The Goddess of Death

Kali. Goddess of Death

Kali stayed much the same as she was before the war. As she was the Goddess of Death, her role hadn’t changed that much (though she began to practice more exotic means of ending life). However, that which she dealt to man was denied to her. She wanted to know what death felt like and that began to drive her insane.

Amalek, The God of Politics (Amil Ratsgninrom)

Amalek, God of Politics

Amalek entered the light again defeated and broken. He was a mighty demon reduced to a shadow of his former self. Then, Exodus returned and Amalek found a new purpose in life. Every supreme deity needs a supreme adversary. But Amalek was still weak. He had no worshippers. He would need time to heal, to plan. So, he stayed in the shadows plotting, tempting others to think themselves better than they were. He became the kingmaker, but never the king for behind the throne is where the true power lies. Politics became his realm. And politics made Amalek very powerful indeed.

Asase, The Goddess of Life

Asase, Goddess of Life

Asase was different. The daughter of Olorun, The Lion took the earth and the preservation of life as her charge. She helped when she could, never revealing herself to mortals in order that they not worship her as they did her corrupted people. But man worshipped her nonetheless as the mother of the earth. No one, Deitis or mortal could ever hope to win her heart, however. It belongs to a brash Orisha with electric eyes and she waits for his return… After all, a father needs to know his children.

You now know the villains, go cop the books.

The Horsemen: Divine Intervention & The Horsemen: Book of Olorun are available NOW in digital and print at: Amazon, Comic Flea Market, Drive Thru Comics, Graphicly, IndyPlanet and Lulu. If you’re in the Chicago area, stop by G-Mart Comics or The Silver Room to pick up print copies. Support Indy Comics and Black Sci-Fi, fam… Cheers!

www.griotenterprises.com

Valiant in March 2013

Pretty gorgeous stuff… Valiant is doing it right and I’m LOVING Shadowman right now!

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X-O MANOWAR #11

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Pullbox Exclusive Cover by CARY NORD
Variant Cover by PAOLO RIVERA
Wraparound Variant by BART SEARS

ALL-NEW ARC! PLANET DEATH has arrived! X-O Manowar’s one-man invasion of the Vine’s alien homeworld starts here!

At long last, Aric of Dacia will take his revenge on the alien race that have pursued him at every turn. As his Visigoth forefathers sacked Rome, so too will Aric of Dacia bring a devastating assault to the doorstep of his oppressors. Taking the battle directly to the Vine planet of Loam, he will decimate their armies, he will level their cities – and he will not stop until the whole of their empire is reduced to ash. But when one man declares war on an entire world, what painful consequences will he reap for himself – and for the whole…

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Race Matters: For The First Time In History…Study Shows That Blacks Voted At A Higher Rate Than Eligible White Voters

Real talk… And real hope. The bullet or the ballot, fam… Cheers!

Merry Christmas from Team True Patriot

Happy Holidays from True Patriot… Indie Comics unite!

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Preview – Witchblade #162

I may not always buy their books, but damn does Top Cow create some beautiful covers!

Graphic Policy

Witchblade #162

Story by: Tim Seeley Art By: Diego Bernard & Fred Benes Cover By: John Tyler Christopher Variant Cover by: Diego Bernard & Fred Benes
Price: $2.99

“BLACK CAT”
Sara Pezzini finally relents to Cain Jorgenson’s advances and agrees to a date at a baseball game in this date night issue of WITCHBLADE! But as usual, the Witchblade’s tendency to attract weirdness like a magnet will draw out Chicago’s supernatural corruption… even at Wrigley Field.

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Meet The Horsemen

For a while now, I’ve been talking about The Horsemen as a team. For those who’ve copped the book so far, hopefully you know these characters. For those who are just learning about The New Mythology, here’s a run-down:

Obatala (Araba Annan-Boone)

Obatala, the Creator

Obatala is the supreme deity of the Yoruba pantheon, the androgynous creator. S/he is envisioned as an ancient wo/man dressed in luminous white cloth and having lustrous white hair. It is Obatala who shapes the child in the womb, and who is the highest deity concerned with the affairs of humans. Obatala is considered to be most benevolent, most wise, and infinitely powerful.

Obatala’s abilities are earth-based demonstrating her immense strength and durability. In addition, she has the ability the leap great distances. As the Shaper, Obatala controls the flesh as well possessing ability to heal virtually any wound to the point of regenerating lost limbs. However, this ability could be used as an offensive weapon as well. Woe to the person who is on the receiving end of her wrath.

Yemaya (Djenaba Mitchell-Joseph)

Yemaya, the Protector

Yemaya-Olokun is the mother of the Sea, the Great Water, and the Womb of Creation. She is the mother of Dreams, the Mother of Secrets. She is natural wealth, the Mother of pearl and Veiled Isis. She is the mermaid, the full moon; and intelligence beyond human comprehension. Yemaya rules the house, nurtures the child in the waters of the womb and has jurisdiction over the affairs of women. There is no mountain of trouble that Yemaya cannot wash clean; no desert of despair that She cannot flood with hope.

Yemaya can control water in all of its forms. She either can add or subtract moisture from any surrounding area or any opponent. She is also has the ability to breathe water making her comfortable either on land or sea. She can also fire blasts of focused moisture and has the ability to fly (or “swim”) these focused moisture currents. Her satchel holds other powers…and secrets that have yet to be revealed.

Oshun (Sony Kilgore)

Oshun, the Light

“Daughter of the Mountain,” Oshun is the Sacred Harlot. She is the queen of the performing arts and the sacred drum is Her womb. She is the golden lady; all jewelry belongs to Her. She is the coquette; the new moon is Her mirror. She is sweetness and light, all the things that make your life worth living. When the doctor fails, Oshun heals with cool water. She cures barrenness, troubled wombs, and difficult problems in pregnancy and sexually. The party will start as soon as Oshun arrives.

Oshun is entirely composed of energy thereby allowing her to manipulate her form and other forms of infrared and ultraviolet energy in various ways. She has the ability to fly, fire focused laser blasts, and can create various constructs using these energy signatures.

Oya (Adwowa Afeyni-Annan)

Oya, the Catalyst

Oya-Yansa is the Queen of the Winds of Change. Many people fear her because She brings about sudden structural change in people and things. Oya does not just rearrange the furniture in the house — She knocks the building to the ground and blows away the floor tiles. She is the Mother of the Mind. She can impart genius, restore memory, or slap you with insanity.

Oya has the ability to manipulate wind patterns creating a soft breeze or a devastating tornado. Oya also possesses the ability of super speed. Oya incorporates these abilities into her fighting style which is extremely graceful yet brutal. She also has limited telepathic and telekinetic abilities. When she uses her abilities, a red energy signature appears around her wrists and her right eye.

Shango (Jomo Nathaniel Massaquoi)

Shango, the Avenger

Shango is often called the God of masculinity and the Spirit of Mankind. In the folklore of the Yoruba, Shango and Oya fight together. They are the thunder and lightning during a storm. He is the beloved son, sacrificed and reclaimed. He is warmth of the flame, the sacred, the spark of the human spirit. Shango is social organization, government, and justice. Shango is courage, vigor, and physical strength.

Shango controls the electromagnetic spectrum. He can fire blasts of electricity and has the ability of flight. Shango also has the ability to focus this energy in his hands to create two machetes known as the “double-headed ax of Shango.” Shango’s fighting style is similar to Eshu’s (since they are brothers) and complementary of Oya’s. When Shango fights with either one, the duo (or trio as the case may be) is nearly undefeatable.

Ogun (Kofi Malik Boone)

Ogun, the Architect

The Dragonslayer! The Wild Man in the woods. Ogun clears the forest. He is the Architect, the Builder of Civilizations. Ogun is the Father of Technology, because of Him we have the automobile, the airplane, and the computer. Ogun is the strong, silent type; thick of body and brief in His speech. He is the blacksmith, the toolmaker, and a tireless worker. Ogun carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As the god of Iron, Ogun is covered in a metal-like substance. This allows Ogun to have immense strength and makes him nearly invulnerable to harm. In addition, Ogun has complete mastery over ferrous materials and can work this element much in the same way Obatala can work flesh. Furthermore, Ogun’s analytical thinking is superhuman allowing him to create or operate any device or sense any structural weakness. In other words, Ogun can create…or destroy anything he puts his mind to.

Eshu (Jani Varney Massaquoi)

Eshu, the Trickster

Eshu is Elleggua is Elegba the divine trickster-linguist, the chief engineer of the Da force and master of the nommo. That which is chaotic, absurd, unpredictable, and impossible is attributed to Elleggua. He is the personal messenger of destiny. All ceremonies begin and end with Him. Elleggua lives at the center of the crossroads.

Eshu has the ability to travel the Crossroads. This means that no door is closed to him whether the door is physical, digital, or spiritual. He can travel any distance, any realm. In addition, he has the ability to befuddle his opponents leaving them disoriented, confused, and ultimately, beholden to Eshu’s will. Eshu is also extremely agile. His fighting style is a combination of acrobatics, Capoeria, Tae Kwan Do, and pure physical improvisation.

You met the Orisha… Now cop the books.

The Horsemen: Divine Intervention and The Horsemen: Book of Olorun are available in print and digital NOW at DriveThruComics, Amazon, Comic Flea Market, IndyPlanet, Graphicly and Lulu If you’re in the Chicago area, The Horsemen is carried at G-Mart Comics and The Silver Room. Give the gift of The New Mythology for the holidays… Cheers!

The Horsemen © 2012 Jiba Molei Anderson & Griot Enterprises
http://www.griotenterprises.com

The Secret Origin of the Horsemen

It wasn’t the first concept that I created.

It wasn’t the book that my former partners wanted me to do as my first true comic book. But, The Horsemen is the project that I’m best known for. It’s the one that put me on the map. It’s the project that is making my dreams come true.

The Horsemen was the culmination of a number of projects that I wanted to do during my formative years as an artist. I had always been a student of mythology (blame that on Clash of the Titans). I first read the Greek myths, then the Norse myths, Egyptians and so on. Around the age of 16, I started reading about myths from Africa and decided that I wanted to create a series of illustrations based on the gods and goddesses of various regions.

The Race

I created a concept called The Race in 1993 using the mythology theme. The Race was about the descendants of the world heroes and demigods of mythology who had a recessive gene that, when activated through either proximity or severe trauma, would gain super powers. The premise was that they were caught in the middle of a war between two gods, Exodus and Othello. Whosever side they joined would tip the scales of the war in either god’s favor.

Also during that time, I created another concept called Jom and Aida based on not only African mythology, but also the opera Aida (as performed by Leontyne Price), which was the story of an Egyptian princess. I wanted to use the idea of death and rebirth as the central theme.

These concepts never came together…

…Until, in 1997, I was in the middle of writing my graduate thesis. I was writing, designing, and illustrating a book on the history of African American super heroes and their connection to the gods and goddesses of Africa. I had taken a class on Afro-Caribbean art and rituals, which exposed me to religions like Vodou, Santeria, and Candomble. It also exposed me to the African root faith systems of these religions, most notably the Yoruba faith of Nigeria.

The Deitis

Finally! This was my chance to do those African god illustrations I had always wanted to create! The book was going to be called The New Mythology. I used the names of seven Yoruba gods, the Orishas, and their aspects as the chapter titles for the book. However, when I got to actually creating those pieces, I realized that I couldn’t illustrate them in traditional African dress.

Since it was a book about super heroes, the Orishas had to be illustrated as such. I really got into creating these super heroic interpretations of these gods. I was getting real Jack Kirby with this concept. So much so that I did not want to let these designs exist only for this project and nothing else. So, they were going to be my new property.

But, what do I call them?

I remembered the title of a book that I had to read for the Caribbean class, The Divine Horsemen by Maya Deren. I dropped the “Divine” and the rest, they say, is history. As for the premise, thank DJ Krush. On the title track of his album, Meiso, Black Thought of the mighty Roots Crew said these fateful words:

“Who controls the eight immortals, but the number seven, in this continual maze?”

The eight immortals became the Deitis, with Exodus and Othello among them. The Race concept and Jom concept folded into this new universe, this New Mythology. I started a company and put this book out myself. The Horsemen is my firstborn and, therefore, the most precious.

That’s the lesson: follow your heart, be true to you and what you believe in, and the future can be yours.

The New Mythology

The Horsemen: Divine Intervention and The Horsemen: Book of Olorun are on sale now digitally and in print at IndyPlanet, Drive Thru Comics, Comic Flea Market & Graphicly.

Griot Enterprises is the future of entertainment… You better recognize!

www.griotenterprises.com