Why Comics are Good for South Africa

Comics are not only good for South Africa, but for the world at large and history has proven this time and again. If we go back to the first superhero, Superman, he opened the world to new possibilities. A spectacle-wearing nerd could leap a building in a single bound, was faster than a speeding bullet and was more powerful than a steam locomotive!

DC Comic's third major superhero introduction, Wonder Woman, who was introduced in December 1941, is an inspiration for women and girls across the world to this day. She was no damsel in distress, but much rather a powerful woman who could protect herself and fight for justice.

Marvel Comic's Captain America fought Hitler before the United States of America joined the Second World War and Peter Parker made teenage boys believe in their own ability to be courageous and extraordinary. The X-Men subliminally entered into a discourse around race, ethnicity and humanity whilst my creation, Ntate Molefe, exposes us to a hero who is poor, living in Hillbrow yet serves his community by doing the right thing and is driven by his unrelenting need for justice.

Because comics combine images and text, intricate tales are used in the perfect combination of literary and fine art. Whether you are 10 or 40 ears of age, there is a comic out there for you to read and enjoy. This is especially essential in a country where literacy ranks so low and most people do not read for leisure or in general. "The Adventures of Ntate Molefe" bridges this gap, commenting on relevant social, economic and even political issues in a simplistic 3 or 4 framed strip.

This website hopefully brings those concepts to life, free of charge to the reader of this webpage or readers of "The Daily Sun".

Send me your art and stories and together we can make magic!