New from Saturday AM, Where Blackness & Manga Intersect: “Orisha”

Words & Art: Huzayfa Umar // Saturday AM Orisha is a manga that’s at the precipice of greatness. Real issues, like young Aboki struggling with acceptance because of his unique complexion, get woven together with bold fantasy elements, such as our protagonist’s rare encounter with a dying Orisha. The run-in changes everything about the trajectory of this young man’s life. Saturday A.M. magazine founder, Frederick L. Jones, has another hit on his hands with this one-of-a-kind, all-African manga written and drawn by Nigerian artist, Huzayfa Umar. The world’s most diverse Shonen comics anthology has created an action-fantasy series that doesn’t shy away from some hard-hitting topics and the deep-rooted issues communities often face. Off the rip, I need to give a huge shout out to Umar for his incredible job with the artwork. Not only does the manga flow beautifully, but his attention to detail puts many of your favorite artists to shame! The ability to create a wide range of facial expressions is one of my demands for excellence, which he does well, but the portrayal of black hair is often an easy mark of artists who don’t care enough or just don’t get it. Umar has clearly grown up around the various styles of hair, long and short. You can see the textures every time a new character is introduced, which produces a similar feeling to when you meet a new person and are wholeheartedly impressed with their hurr do. Whether it be braids, locs or a fro, I get the impression Zayf is usi…