Nick Wood (1) (1961–2023)

Interesting. A collaboration writing about African superheroes. Now usually I have a down on superhero comix, thinking them (a) teenaged male fiction with a good dollop of eye candy, (b) fascist and (c) overly violent, but I actually rather enjoyed this. I did find it slightly difficult keeping the characters straight to begin with; it didn't help having various secret identities floating round, both historical and current. I liked the weaving of CIA interference with African politics (in fact, the assassination of Patrice Lumumba eventually led to my family leaving Egypt and settling in the UK).
What I would have liked to see is more interweaving of history and backstory; especially of the Kushite and the Aksum Kingdoms given that Black Power and the Pan African begin interacting with humanity before we became H. sapiens. The two have a long-running feud which could make for an interesting secret history. Recommended.… (more)

I received this eBook for free in exchange for an honest review from LibraryThing Early Reviews. The Last Pantheon” is a compelling novella that explores the nuanced line between heroes and villains through the lens of African superheroes. Co-authored by Tade Thompson and Nick Wood, this story diverges from traditional comic book narratives by offering a fresh perspective rooted in African culture and history. An enjoyable read to be sure. Read the full review on myt blog The Thugbrarian Review at https://thugbrarianreview.wordpress.com/2024/05/07/new-world-fiction/… (more)

If you have never read African sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction (the monikers are plenty), this is as good as introduction as you can find. Smart, complex both in terms of its narrative and its characters. Clearly of its place (South Africa) the specificity is part of his appeal, and not a cheap attempt at nativism. This novella is accompanied by illustrations (and a prologue) by Tade Thompson, who co-wrote it alongside Nick Wood. And although Thompson claims it to be a work of its time (it was completed in 2003 and the death of Wood in 2023 made revisions and changes unviable) it still feels fresh and challenging.
Ultimately, the story forces the reader to consider the nature of heroes and villains, realizing that neither one category is absolute, and no one character qualifies fully as either. The story of two superhero brothers facing each other, is both a commentary on the stereotypes of big publishing houses superheroes and a case in point as to where those characters can venture, if the are allowed free range.
The e-book includes additional material - an interview and initial email exchanges, worth examining as the backstage of the novella.
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