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DC and Zebra Comics Announce Collaboration on Joker: The World Anthology

Anthology to Include an Original Story Featuring a Never-Before-Seen Version of the Clown Prince of Crime, Created by African Storytellers

Zebra Comics PLC, a leader in African comic book publishing, announces a collaboration with DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery and one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels, to co-create and develop a story for DC’s upcoming hardcover anthology Joker: The World.

Joker: The World is an anthology that brings together an international consortium of creators and publishers to explore diverse interpretations of the iconic DC Super-Villain.

Among the esteemed contributors to this anthology, Zebra Comics PLC has enlisted the team of writer Dr. Ejob Gaius and artist Bertrand Mbozo’o Zeh to create a unique story titled “Black Therapy.” Set against the rich backdrop of Cameroon, in the heart of Central Africa, “Black Therapy” marks a historic moment in comics: for the ﬁrst time The Joker will be reimagined in an original story, tailored to a local audience, developed by an all-African creative team and placed within the vibrant tapestry of the African continent.

“This collaboration with DC represents a monumental leap forward for African representation in the global comic book industry,” stated Ejob Nathanael Ejob, CEO of
Zebra Comics PLC. “We are immensely proud to pioneer this endeavor, introducing a new and original version of The Joker to a worldwide audience, while showcasing the unparalleled talent and creativity of African storytellers.”

“Black Therapy” promises to deliver a gripping narrative that explores The Joker’s sinister machinations within the unique context of Cameroon, offering readers an exhilarating new perspective on the iconic character.

Joker: The World is slated for release on the Zebra Comics app and website on September 17, 2024, and at participating comic book shops, booksellers, and mass-market retailers/e-tailers in the United States, Spain, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Japan, Korea, Cameroon, Poland, and Argentina.

To preorder this iconic comic, visit the Zebra Comics app or website at
zebra-comics.com. Simply click preorder and you will be given ﬁrsthand access to Joker: The World once it’s released this September.

Further details will be communicated in the lead-up to the anthology’s September 17 release.

For more information about Zebra Comics PLC and its groundbreaking initiatives, please visit their website at zebra-comics.com, their Android and iOS apps, and their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube pages.

This collaboration between Zebra Comics PLC and DC heralds a new chapter in the annals of comic book history, showcasing the power of storytelling in transcending borders and igniting imaginations worldwide.

About DC:

DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, creates iconic characters and enduring stories and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. DC’s creative work entertains audiences of every generation around the world with DC’s stories and characters integrated across Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, television, animation, consumer products, home entertainment, games, and themed experiences divisions, and on the DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital comics subscription service. Learn more at dc.com.

Contact Information:
For Zebra Comics PLC:
Ejob Nathanael Ejob, CEO
Zebra Comics PLC
3rd Floor, PMUC Building,
Akwa, Douala, Cameroon
nathanael.ejob@zebra-comics.com
zebra-comics.com

For DC:
Michael Shelling
michael.shelling@dc.com
www.dc.com

April 26, 2024
DC et Zebra Comics annoncent leur collaboration sur l’anthologie Joker The World

L’anthologie proposera une histoire originale mettant en scène une version inédite du Clown Prince du Crime, créée par des Africains.

26 April, 2024 –

Zebra Comics S.A., le leader dans l’édition de bandes dessinées africaines, est fier d’annoncer un partenariat avec DC Comics, filiale de Warner Bros. Discovery, un des plus grands éditeurs de bandes dessinées et romans graphiques au monde, pour cocréer et développer un chapitre de l’anthologie DC intitulée Joker : The World.

Joker : The World est une anthologie rassemble un collectif international de créateurs et d’éditeurs pour explorer les diverses interprétations du célèbre super-vilain de DC.

Parmi les participants de cette anthologie, Zebra Comics SA, a réuni une équipe composée d’un écrivain (Dr. Ejob Gaius) et un illustrateur.

(Bertrand Mbozo’o Zeh) pour créer une histoire unique intitulée “Thérapie noire.” Une œuvre qui définit l’effet « Joker » en plein cœur d’Afrique centrale, au Cameroun. THÉRAPIE NOIRE, est une création entièrement africaine, et la toute première représentation du Joker dans une histoire originale adaptée à un public local et dans l’environnent très dynamique du continent africain.

« Cette collaboration avec DC est une grande victoire vis-à-vis la représentation des africains dans l’industrie mondiale de la bande dessinée, » a déclaré Ejob Nathanaël Ejob, le PDG de

Zebra Comics S.A. « C’est une fierté pour nous, d’être les pionniers de ce projet qui a pour objectif de faire découvrir au public mondial une nouvelle facette du Joker, tout en mettant en valeur le talent et la créativité inégalés des africains. »

Avec THÉRAPIE NOIRE, nous vous proposons un récit captivant qui explore les sinistres machinations du Joker dans un contexte camerounais particulièrement unique, offrant aux lecteurs une nouvelle perspective captivante de ce personnage emblématique.

Joker : : THE WORLD » est prévue sur l’application et le site web de Zebra Comics le 17 septembre 2024, ainsi que dans les boutiques de bandes dessinées, les librairies et les magasins de grande distribution aux États-Unis, en Espagne, en Allemagne, en Italie, au Brésil, au Mexique, en République tchèque, en Turquie, au Japon, en Corée, au Cameroun, en Pologne et en Argentine.

Pour précommander cette bande dessinée inédite, rendez-vous sur l’application Zebra Comics ou sur le site web

zebra-comics.com. Cliquez sur précommande et vous aurez un accès direct à Joker : The World à sa sortie en septembre.

D’autres informations concernant la parution de l’anthologie seront communiquées avant la date de lancement le 17 septembre.

Pour de plus d’informations sur Zebra Comics S.A. et ses projets novateurs, veuillez consulter son site web https://zebra-comics.com/home, ses applications Android etiOS, et ses pagesFacebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tikok, et YouTube.

Pour de plus d’informations sur Zebra Comics S.A. et ses projets novateurs, veuillez consulter son site web https://zebra-comics.com/home, ses applications Android etiOS, et ses pagesFacebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tikok, et YouTube.

Cette collaboration entre Zebra Comics S.A. et DC s’inscrit dans l’écriture d’un nouveau chapitre dans l’histoire de la bande dessinée, démontrant ainsi le pouvoir de la narration, au-delà des frontières, à titiller l’imagination des lecteurs du monde entier.

À Propos de DC :

DC, filiale de Warner Bros. Discovery, crée des personnages emblématiques et des histoires mémorables et est l’un des plus grands éditeurs de bandes dessinées et de romans graphiques au monde. Les créations de DC s’adressent à un public de toutes les générations dans le monde entier. Les histoires et les personnages de DC sont intégrés dans les produits de Warner Bros. Discovery (cinéma, télévision, animation, produits de consommation, divertissement à domicile, jeux et expériences à thème), ainsi que dans le service d’abonnement aux bandes dessinées numériques DC UNIVERSE INFINITE. Visitez dc.com pour plus d’informations.

Contact :
Pour le compte de Zebra Comics S.A. :
Ejob Nathanael Ejob, le PDG
Zebra Comics S.A.
3e étage, Immeuble PMUC
Akwa, Douala, Cameroon nathanael.ejob@zebra-comics.com
zebra-comics.com.

Pour le compte de DC
Michael Shelling
michael.shelling@dc.com
www.dc.com.

April 26, 2024
The Best Webtoon to Animation Adaptations

About a decade ago, if you typed the word “Webtoon” into any search engine, it probably wouldn’t have provided you with any results which could raise an eye. In other words, until the year 2018, webtoons were not very popular. Today, the story has changed completely. The comic format has moved on to be a global phenomenon, entertaining fans in different parts of the globe. It is now very common for comics fans to hear that they are reading a webtoon even in the most remote areas of the world, thanks to its accessibility.

With this increasing popularity in recent years, therefore, there has been growing interest from other segments of the entertainment industry. Film, animation and even video games have been created which are based on popular webtoons. Most prominent, though, are the webtoon to animation adaptations whose numbers have been growing incessantly. Some of these animations based on webtoons have even been published on the greatest video streaming platforms like Netflix. Some of these adaptations have even been met with critical acclaim, making them a staple in today’s entertainment world.

Before we look at the best webtoon to animation adaptations, let’s define what makes a good webtoon to animation adaptation.

Firstly, the adaptation should be faithful to the source material. This means that the characters, the story, and the tone of the webtoon should be preserved in the adaptation. Secondly, the animation should be high quality. The animation should be fluid and dynamic, and it should bring the webtoon to life. Thirdly, the story should be engaging. The adaptation should be interesting to watch, and it should keep viewers hooked from beginning to end.

So, which are some of these webtoon animated adaptations that are garnering so much attention? Here are some of them below:

1. TOWER OF GOD

Tower of God is a South Korean manhwa released as a webtoon written and illustrated by S.I.U. It has been serialized in Naver Corporation’s webtoon platform Naver Webtoon since June 2010, with the individual chapters collected and published by Young Com into thirteen volumes as of July 2023. Tower of God received official English translations by Line Webtoon beginning in July 2014.

In this webtoon, there is a tower that summons chosen people called “Regulars” with the promise of granting their deepest desires. Whether it be wealth, fame, authority, or something that surpasses them all—everything awaits those who reach the top. Twenty-Fifth Bam is a boy who has only known a dark cave, a dirty cloth, and an unreachable light his entire life. So when a girl named Rachel comes to him through the light, his entire world changes. Becoming close friends with Rachel, he learns various things about the outside world from her. But when Rachel says she must leave him to climb the Tower, his world shatters around him. Vowing to follow after her no matter what it takes, he sets his sight on the tower, and a miracle occurs. Thus begins the journey of Bam, a young boy who was not chosen by the Tower but opened its gates by himself. They call his kind “Irregulars”—beings that have shaken the very foundation of the Tower each time they set foot inside it.

It has received several mobile game adaptations and merchandise. In Japan, the web manhwa received an anime television series adaptation by Telecom Animation Film that first premiered on Naver Series On in South Korea, and aired in Japan immediately afterward. It originally aired from April to June 2020. Crunchyroll licensed and simulcasted the Japanese broadcast version of the anime for its streaming service. In August 2022, a second season was announced.

2. THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL

The God of High School is a South Korean manhwa released as a webtoon written and illustrated by Yongje Park. It has been serialized in Naver Corporation’s webtoon platform Naver Webtoon from April 2011 to December 2022, with the individual chapters collected and published by Imageframe under their Root label into four volumes as of January 2023. The God of High School received official English translations by Line Webtoon beginning in July 2014.

This action webtoon follows a high school student, Jin Mori, and his friends as they compete in an epic tournament in which they borrow the power directly from the gods. But not only that, along the way they uncover a mysterious organization who will grant any wish to the tournament’s winner.

It has received a mobile game and an original net animation short attached to the aforementioned game’s original soundtrack. An anime television series adaptation produced by MAPPA aired from July to September 2020.

3. NOBLESSE

Noblesse is a South Korean manhwa released as a webtoon written by Son Je-ho and illustrated by Lee Kwangsu. Noblesse was first posted on Naver Corporation’s webtoon platform Naver Webtoon in December 2007, and was concluded in January 2019; it was among the first webtoons to receive an official English translation at the launch of Line Webtoon in July 2014.

In this webtoon, a powerful noble, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel (referred to as Rai), has been asleep for 820 years with no knowledge of mankind’s advancement and scientific successes. At the start of the webtoon, Rai wakes up in an abandoned building in South Korea, and starts to get used to the modern world. He goes to a school, where he reunites with his loyal servant Frankenstein. With Frankenstein’s help, Rai enrolls into high school and inadvertently befriends athletic teenager Shinwoo, computer geek Ikhan, and Shinwoo’s crush Yuna, and a few others. Noblesse follows the group’s often dangerous adventures against a secret organization while uncovering Rai’s past.

It has been adapted into an aeni in 2015 and an original net animation (ONA) in 2016, and an anime television series by Production I.G aired from October to December 2020 on Crunchyroll.

4. LOOKISM

Lookism Is a Manhwa created in 2014 by former Ulzaang and author Taejoon Park. It was officially released in 2017 in English and other languages on the Line Webtoon App. Set in the outskirts of Seoul, Lookism is about a boy named Daniel Park (Park Hyungseok) who is bullied because of his looks. He decides to transfer schools, only to wake up in a new body. Throughout the story he witnesses multiple cases of ‘Lookism’, a form of discrimination based on a person’s attractiveness. As Daniel navigates this new life, he tries to uncover the mystery behind his second body. An animated adaptation by Studio Mir was released globally on Netflix in December 2022.

5. SOLO LEVELING

Solo Leveling is a South Korean web novel written by Chugong. It presents a world where hunters, human warriors who possess magical abilities, must battle deadly monsters to protect mankind from certain annihilation. In this context, a notoriously weak hunter named Sung Jinwoo finds himself in a seemingly endless struggle for survival.

It was serialized in Kakao’s digital comic and fiction platform KakaoPage beginning on July 25, 2016, and was later published in full by D&C Media under their Papyrus label on November 4, 2016. The novel has been licensed in English by Yen Press. A webtoon adaptation of Solo Leveling was first serialized in KakaoPage on March 4, 2018; it was illustrated by Jang Sung-rak (aka Dubu), the CEO of Redice Studio, who died on July 23, 2022, after suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage. The webtoon’s first season concluded on March 19, 2020, and its second season began on August 1, 2020, concluding in December 2021 with its 179th chapter. Its individual chapters have been collected and published by D&C Media into seven volumes as of February 2023. The webtoon has been licensed in English by Yen Press. A role-playing video game is in development at Netmarble. An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures is set to premiere in Q1 2024.

6. KILLING STALKING

Killing Stalking is a South Korean manhwa written and illustrated by Koogi. It was published online in Korean and English by Lezhin Comics and won the ₩100,000,000 Grand Prize Award at the Second Lezhin World Comics Contest.

The story follows Bum, a young mentally ill man with a difficult past. After becoming infatuated with Oh Sangwoo, a peer from his time in the military who saved him from a rape attempt, he decides to enter Sangwoo’s home while he is out of his house. Bum finds a tied up, bruised woman in Sangwoo’s basement and before he is able to free her, he is discovered by Sangwoo, who is revealed to be a serial killer. Sangwoo then breaks Bum’s ankles and despite Bum’s previous love for him, Sangwoo puts Bum into a highly abusive and manipulative relationship until the very end.

The series has been licensed in English in print format by Seven Seas Entertainment.

Webtoons are a popular form of media, and they have a large and dedicated audience. Adapting a webtoon to animation can help to introduce the webtoon to a wider audience, and it can also help to generate new fans for the source material. Additionally, animation can bring a webtoon to life in a way that static images cannot. The animation can help to capture the action and excitement of the webtoon, and it can also help to bring the characters to life.

Overall, webtoon to animation adaptations are a great way to introduce webtoons to a wider audience. They can be faithful to the source material, they can have stunning animation, and they can tell engaging stories. Animation, therefore, is of capital importance to webtoon creators everywhere, especially African creators like Zebra Comics PLC, as it can help to grow the industry in ways that other methods cannot.

September 7, 2023
Slice of Life Comics from Africa

Comics like every other artform are classified into categories. Each of these categories or genres have peculiar traits which differentiate them from others. Fantasy comics have magic, witches, wizards and ‘fantastical’ elements, science fiction is heavy on fictional rendering or imaginations around science and technology and romance deals with love and emotional relationships. Amongst the plethora of these genres, therefore, is Slice of Life. Slice of life is a genre in comics that focuses on the daily lives of its characters. The main focus is their relationships with other characters and their environment, rather than any sort of overarching plot. It is a depiction of mundane experiences in art and entertainment. In theatre, slice of life refers to naturalism, while in literary parlance it is a narrative technique in which a seemingly arbitrary sequence of events in a character’s life is presented, often lacking plot development, conflict, and exposition, as well as often having an open ending. The appeal of slice of life is that it allows you to take in a lot of different things without having to form an opinion about them. You can just let stuff happen without worrying about how it means anything or what it means for your character’s story arc. In some ways, slice of life can be more relaxing than other genres because it doesn’t require you to think about what you’re reading or try to analyse it at all.

Slice of life comics are particularly interesting because they provide readers with clearer perspectives on life. They are particularly great for readers who want to escape with content that provides them with peace of mind.

Globally, slice of life comics do not have the same market presence as other genres like superhero, science fiction, fantasy, thrillers and romance. Nevertheless, there are quite a good number of them on the market. The slice of life genre has even seen more proliferation in territories like North America, Europe and Asia. Notably, Japanese manga and Korean webtoons figure the highest number of slice of life titles on the market today. Some great examples include The Way of the Husband, Yotsuba&!, Wash Day Diaries, One Of Those Days, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Adulthood Is A Myth, The Collected Essex County, Days of Sugar and Spice, Glorious Summers: Southbound!, My Giant Nerd Boyfriend, The Little Trashmaid, Spirit Fingers, Yumi’s cells, Snailogy, A Budgie’s Life and Murrz.

As far as African comics are concerned, slice of life is a genre which is not as popular as others. This is surprising because the continent presents an uncountable number of situations and experiences which can be great inspiration for slice of life stories. This does not mean that there aren’t any slice of life comics from the continent. This just means that the number of slice of life African comics titles are by far fewer than every other African comics genre out there. With this, it is very important for African comics creators to focus on creating these stories which are not only inspiring, but also present great entertainment value. As a source of inspiration for African Comics creators, and great reads for any comic book lover, below is a list of some African slice of life comics which are worth checking out.

1. LA VIE D’EBÈNE DUTA

La Vie d’Ebène Duta chronicles the daily life of a young black girl far from her homeland. The story, scripted and drawn by Elyon’s, is delicious on several levels. There’s no talk of a fantasised Africa, no umpteenth (re)visit to clichés about immigration or all the misperceptions attached to black identity. With her friends Lulu, Camille and Claire, her sultry cousin, take a breath of fresh air in a society that really needs it. This is a piece of what it means to be a black and female immigrant in white dominated country. As far as slice of life comics from Africa go, this is no doubt the top of the list.

2. JUNGLE URBAINE

Set in Kinshasa, Congo, Bwana, a former top sportsman turned mechanic, who has become a mechanic, is in love with a rich girl called Lola. However, the two characters come from very different backgrounds, and a number of nefarious persons are deeply disturbed by this budding romance. Beyond the sentimental intrigue, this work shows an Africa seen from the inside by a local author whose graphic skills are far superior to those of many French-speaking authors. Jungle Urbaine was created by Thembo Kash and published by Harmattan BD.

3. LES TRIBULATIONS D’ALPHONE MADIBA DIT DAUDET

After being expelled from France, where he was living as a pseudo-student, Alphonse Madiba returned to his country of origin. All he could think about now was returning to France, the home of Alphonse Daudet. But while he lacks the financial resources, Madiba can rely on his ideas, his contacts and… an internet connection! The tribulations of Alphonse Madiba dit Daudet paint a humorous portrait of a generation of Africans who prefer to emigrate rather than build a future for themselves on the ground. Authored by Alain Mata Mamengi (artist) and Christophe Ngalle Edimo (writer), this graphic novel was published by Harmattan BD.

4. MOTO-TAXIS (Zémidjans)

Hodall Béo, full of humour, invites readers to stick firmly to his “moto-taxis” and follow his many adventures and misfortunes… Under his pencil, he transforms himself into many roaring gags !

In Benin, motorbike taxis are known locally as “zémidjans” and are an indispensable part of the country’s economy. They get around, through traffic jams and demonstrations, and take customers to every corner of Cotonou or Portonovo, including luggage and various road conditions. This beautiful book was published by Harmattan BD.

5. HAWKER

In Hawker we experience the life of Koulou, a meatball hawker who works for a woman who produces the commodity on a daily basis. Koulou is a proud guy who is not happy with what he does for a living, but also makes ends meet with it. His adventures are hilarious, especially as he usually finds himself in a deep mess despite the fact that his predicaments always stem from his desire to offer help, genuinely. Hawker was created by Franklin Agogho and illustrated by Yvan Ziem, with colours from Couertys Minko. It is published by Zebra Comics PLC.

6. THE INITIATION

In The Initiation, Mogorosi Motshumi reflects on his childhood days, building up to his years as a Black Consciousness activist in the aftermath of the Soweto uprising and his move to Johannesburg where he had his heyday as the author of the popular Sloppy comic strip during the 1980’s. The novel takes us through divorce, addiction, family tragedy, and HIV/AIDS. Motshumi’s novel – permeated by the shadow of the Apartheid regime as seen through the eyes of a child, and then an increasingly politically aware teenager – is a classic South African story. It is also a rich and personal account of universal childhood joys and challenges, from hunting lizards, fording rivers and negotiating new schoolmates. It is the first part of the trilogy to be published with two volumes to follow.

7. THE APARTMENT IN BAB EL LOUK

Described as a noir poem, The Apartment in Bab El Louk is written by Donia Maher and illustrated by Ganzeer and Ahmed Nady. The award-winning graphic novel is a formless telling of the events of the Tahrir square protests. Ganzeer has described it as “the reflections of an old recluse in the busy downtown Cairo neighbourhood of Bab El-Louk.”

This revolutionary work takes readers into the emotions and reflections of the Tahrir protests inspired by those who watched the uprising unfold. It renders a relevant portrayal of Downtown Cairo that captures its ennui and vibrancy, and delivers it in an evocative work.

The Apartment in Bab El Louk doesn’t have a linear trajectory and doesn’t abide by the traditional storytelling formats, but it doesn’t need to. It is more like a scene from a story we know all too well and therein lies its brilliance.

8. ON EST ENSEMBLE !!!

We’re together!!! A very popular expression in Cameroon, the country of origin of the author of this comic strip, which is in itself more of a graphic novel than a comic strip, the expression is intended to answer questions such as: What’s it like? It can also be used when shaking hands to say goodbye. As if to say that even far away, brotherhood remains. The novel features some wonderful chronicles of young people’s daily quest for the holy grail of success.

Tepson is a little crazy, but as crazy as his dreams allow. Tepson wants to become the next Bob Marley, Tepson wants to break through* thanks to reggae music, and his idol-like looks are no contradiction. This piece was created by Yannick Deuboue and published by Waanda Comics.

9. TUMBU

Tumbu chronicles the adventures of Tumbu, a young boy who lives in Koni Quarter, an imaginary neighbourhood in Cameroon. Through his eyes, we see how the lives of different characters intertwine in a hilarious and soothing way. Tumbu is a commentary on the lives of the ordinary man and what it means to live communal life in Cameroon. It is created by Ejob Nathanael and published by Zebra Comics PLC.

10. OUPS!

Set in a “mini cité” in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, this comic strip by Cameroonian artist Georges Pondy focuses on the daily lives of attractive, funny and oblivious teenagers. Oups is a demonstration of the talent of artist George Pondy, published by AKOMA MBA in 2012. The author of this series reveals the daily lives of young tenants in a student hostel full of surprises and adventures. The characters have their own particularities. Sam, one of the tenants of the hostel, is a woman with generous and harmonious curves… a bombshell. Because of her beauty, she is so coveted by men, often mistaken for an easy lay. Despite the sexual harassment she suffers, Sam continues to hone her weapons for new conquests. Woe betide the next beast. The artist’s distinctive graphic style is always realistic, and her actions are consistent with the storyline. The author also shows us that appearances are often deceptive. This is an African comic with strong graphics by Georges Pondy.

Slice of life comics come in different shades and colours. As the above clearly demonstrates, even though there aren’t many so slice of life African comics, compared to other genres, there are still a decent amount of well crafted slice of life titles that will entertain readers like any other genre.

June 7, 2023

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