#hawi

Overall thoughts on the Big Island The Big Island is the youngest and largest island of Hawaii with active volcanoes still creating new land. We recently spent 10 days on the Big Island, covering both Kona and Hilo. We know a lot of friends going to, or wanting to visit the Big Island, so this blog post series is for you! We chose to go to the Big Island based on raving reviews from a few…

“Barely a year since the founder of Etan Comics, Beserat Debebe, brought us the first ever Ethiopian superhero comic, Jember, he's back with yet another first. This time, his newest comic book Hawi centers a female superhero, a young Ethiopian woman named Ement Legesse, who is tasked with having to rescue her mother after she's abducted. The colorful visuals are stunning and showcase Debebe's talented team of African artists and their unique ability to capture the vibrancy of Ethiopia. A story about returning to one's roots and having the courage to rise above the challenges that come with seeking reconciliation and belonging, it's one we can all relate to whether literally or figuratively.

"The fact that Hawi is Ethiopian means a lot to me," Debebe tells OkayAfrica. For the 29-year-old creator of Etan Comics, having an Ethiopian superhero is meant to normalize the idea that Ethiopians and Africans in general can have an impact on the world. "I wish I had seen an Ethiopian superhero growing up," he says. "I would have embraced my ability to make a difference earlier and acted on it."

Hawi follows the story of Ement Legesse, a young Ethiopian woman living in America with her mother. In the opening scenes of the comic book, it becomes apparent that Ement desperately wants to visit Ethiopia on a guided tour but her mother is against the idea. According to her, Ement can barely speak their native Ahmaric language and fears for her safety given that numerous young girls have been abducted in Ethiopia. It's quite clear that Ement is frustrated by her mother's refusal to allow her to visit her home country. As the story progresses, the two eventually visit Ethiopia together (yay!) only for Ement's mother, however, to be abducted (oh no!). This is where the story really begins. Now we won't tell you how Ement obtains her dope superhero abilities but what we can tell you is what inspires them.” 

Read the full piece and check out more comic panels here

Presenting JEMBER and HAWI, the first Ethiopian superheroes as well as the first comic to hit American audiences in both English and Amharic. While Jember has its first two issues under its belt, Hawi (which just recently had a very successful Kickstarter campaign) comes out this July from ETAN COMICS. 

https://etancomics.com/hawi-1-sneak-peek-of-etan-comics-first-female-superhero-etan-comics/

Here are the synopsis of both JEMBER and HAWI

JEMBER - Amanuel Tilahun is an ambitious college graduate desperately searching for a job in the bustling city of Addis Ababa – until he comes across an ancient relic that changes his life! But who truly is JEMBER? Where did his powers come from? How will it change his life? Find out as he takes the ETAN COMICS Universe by a storm! Available in both English and Amharic.

HAWI - When a mysterious stranger kidnaps the mother of 20 year old Ement Legesse on their first trip back to Ethiopia, she must embark on a life-altering adventure embedded with historical conflict. Written in 2 languages & Created by an ALL AFRICAN team!