Dark Horse Comics has disclosed the upcoming Afrofuturistic fantasy series Imbokodo has a prominent backer: they’re none other than Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, whose recently formed production company, Secret Menu, developed the four-part comic with writers Thabo Rametsi & Thabiso Mabanna (of Nguniverse Studios), and artist Katlego Motaung. Find out what Theron had to say about the series, after the jump:
Theron states, “When Thabo and Thabiso from Nguniverse Studios first brought us this idea, we were so impressed with the epic scope and emotional depth of this world they created with such incredibly powerful female African warriors at the center. We knew we found a perfect home in Dark Horse when they saw the same potential in Thabo and Thabiso’s unique and special vision. As our company’s first foray into the publishing space, we couldn’t have asked for better creative partners than Thabo and Thabiso, and we can’t wait for the world to meet the indomitable warrior women of the Imbokodo.”
Like Theron, Thabo Rametsi is an award-winning South African actor and filmmaker, who founded Nguniverse with Mabanna (a corporate finance strategist) in 2020, and for whom Imbokodo also marks his first foray into comics. (Theron’s roles in adaptations like Atomic Blonde, The Old Guard, its long-delayed sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and The Boys notwithstanding.) The creatives were upfront when the comic was announced in June that they hoped to turn the series into a cinematic universe, and Secret Menu confirms they will oversee any “scripted adaptation” in the press release.
Debuting November 20, Imbokodo follows the titular warrior women from the fictional empire of Monomotapa, and in particular, a young, nameless recruit after an enemy nation kidnaps numerous girls (including her sister) from their homes. Issues #2-4 will follow respectively on February 12, April 9, and June 4, while the trade paperback of the whole series will be released in bookstores on July 15, 2025, and comics shops the following day. The series is available to pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW, and all good comics/book retailers.
