Bronze Faces # 1
Writers: Shobo & Shof
Artist: Alexandre Tefenkgi
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Date: February 2025
Rating: 
This week, I will examine “Bronze Faces #1″ from BOOM! Studios, is a new series that celebrates Nigerian culture through an adventurous tale. Childhood friends Timi, Sango, and Gbonka reunite on the eve of the British Museum’s historic acquisition of the works by Timi’s father, the seminal Nigerian artist Adewale Balogun. Timi has been invited as a “guest of honor,” but what the Museum hails as a triumphant acquisition, the trio perceives as nothing less than brazen cultural theft. Fueled by a night of drinking and shared outrage, they devise a bold plan to reclaim the artwork themselves! However, when they acquire a document called “the Register,” which details dozens of colonial-era stolen artifacts, their focus shifts even higher to the Benin Bronzes—the British Museum’s collection of nearly 1,500 artworks taken from the Kingdom of Benin.
It’s rare to see Nigerian culture represented with such grace and utilized as the perfect backdrop for an elaborate heist. This opening issue takes its time introducing the characters while providing ample exposition and extending the dramatic elements, allowing readers to develop a deep understanding of the characters and their motivation to reclaim what’s theirs. This approach not only makes the story engaging but also aligns closely with the “Ocean’s Eleven” vibe, enhancing the heist narrative in which the protagonists have nothing to lose but everything to gain. “Bronze Faces” delves into the heart of Nigerian mythology and brings an exciting flair that seems promising at first. However, after finishing this first issue, I hope the next few installments will gain momentum, making this series a strong start for Black History Month.
Well, that’s it for me this week. Thanks for sticking around, and I look forward to seeing you next time.
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