By Jahni Kwatrae for his Project: Kubadilisha.
“ Please check out the @kickstarter for our project!!! Kubadilisha: ጥሩ ጭራቆች the action packed Tokusatsu and Super Sentai Sci-fi epic with an Afrocentric twist. Had so many ups and downs trying to do my film and comic book thing! No matter how hard I fall no matter how big I fail. I refuse to lose! One day it will happen....hopefully that day is today, please check out the Kickstarter to my newest project. THIS IS A STORY FOR ALL AGES!!! “ Art by @welinthonnommo @venusbambisa @illesigns @joe.davis.art @thisiskimoz_
Kubadilisha is a retelling of the classic genres, Tokusatsu and Super Sentai, with an Afrocentric twist and told in a manga median. Just imagine properties like Gatchaman, Kamen Rider, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Guyver, Voltron, and Dragonball Z all bonded together with multicultural folklores to create one epic tale of human triumph. This is told from the cultural perspective of people of color from across the world. Many of the African, Asian, African-American, Afro Asiatic, Afro-Latino, and the Aztec people on Earth have all united in the land of Africa to build a new promised land which they all now call, AITHIOPIA. Aithiopia consists of all 54 African nations united as one with the inclusion of other people of all colors around the world. Pan Afrikan ideology is the backbone of this sci-fi saga series
Akida is the leader of The School. He comes from a strong militant family so a leadership role is pretty much built into his DNA. He's the second oldest of The School members and is of Eritean descent. He is a skilled strategist and is able to think well under pressure. At times, Akida can be arrogant but still means well. His immaturity shows sometimes due to trust issues he has with his teammates during missions. The worse case scenario is always on his mind. This is why he has great prep time capabilities. He is gear head that loves fixing cars and small engines and taking his hoover bike on the country side for very high rides. He is the captain of his high school rugby team and is very popular and well liked with the majority of his peers and teachers. The monster, Koi, he transforms into can fly, has hydrokinetic abilities and his arms can morph into different types of cannons that shoot powerful water projectiles into any shape he can imagine (i.e. a large hammer, or sharp blade like weaponry). Koi is the only monster that uses water as a power beam.
Maisha is actually the brains and rebel of the group. She is half Japanese and half Afro-Guyanese. She is a lot more reserved than the others. Her punk / nerd girl personality are two polarizing identities she must balance. So, at times she can be insecure. She loves virtual gaming and learning. She is easily the smartest of all the youngsters. She is the medic for The School when injuries occur in combat. She's the top pupil in the Chess, Medical Science, and Mancala clubs. She is also on the varsity squad of her school's fencing team which is the only sport she loves. Maisha transforms into the monster Cnidaria. Cnidaria is a jellyfish and onna-bugeshia type of creature. She becomes completely poisonous and immune to all poisons. She has camouflage ability and can make herself blend with surroundings. This gives her great stealth ability. Cnidaria gives Maisha skills to master more weapons than any other member. She's the deadliest with any edge weapon.
Wasim is South African and the eldest of the group. He is known as the loner due to his neurodevelopment and skin disorders. He has high-functioning autism (HFA) and albino skin. He is the most skilled fighter of the Pneuma Children and has the most discipline. He follows directions very well and it is a must that he finishes all tasks before moving to the next. He is the one best trusted to do a solo mission as he's very precise. This reflects his dexterity in mathematics and symbolizes the absolution he demands in his life. He's good at puzzles and decoding as well. Wasim is often praised by his superiors. However, he does have difficult communicating, building an emotional connection, socially interacting, and even showing expressions to the other Pneuma Children. They all still do their best to make sure Wasim knows he's a big part of The School family. Wasim transforms in the monster Azuerus The Okopipi. It is the only non-sea creature of The School, resembling a frog. It has great leaping ability, agility, and is highly acrobatic. It can also cling to any surface, even sheer ice. It amplifies his great fighting ability, making him the most dangerous in hand-to-hand combat.
Reockis is the Nigerian wild child, loose cannon jokester. He is filled with high energy and can be a bit of a sadist due to the fact that he loves a good fight and is probably the bravest of them all. He often goes into danger head first. He's the youngest of the group so he's constantly trying to prove himself to the others. He's also the fastest member of the group. Reockis can be very immature at times and never misses the opportunity to play a practical joke. He enjoys the sport of cricket or any stick-and-ball type of sport, but his favorite is Dambe (Hausa Boxing). He loves embracing his Hausa tribal heritage and this is the reason he so proudly shows off his facial scarification. Reockis transforms into the monster they call Piranha Boi. This monster is filled with aggression and relentless bravery. His persona is much like the fish it resembles. If speed kills then Piranha Boi has it as he moves at mach speed. He has very quick reflexes and reacts to action much faster than anyone.
Teo is the friendly, humble Dominicano giant. He is one of few words. He spends his time painting and meditating. He is a very artistic illustrator and sculptor and even writes spoken word poetry. He loves exercising especially weightlifting. Teo is very tall and has a massive body frame for him to only be a teenager. This is due to his gigantism growth hormone which also effects his sight. Because of his nyctophobia (fear of going blind), he has severe anxiety attacks when his eyeglasses are removed. Teo is the youngest professional wrestler in the world and often takes on opponents twice his age. He is also skilled to build explosives and with EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal). The monster, Whale, that Teo transfoms into embraces his size. It attributes this to giving him such great strength. Despite the fact that he's a large person, he still moves swiftly. And he's so powerful that he's only armed with his fists that are equipped with claws.
Turquoise is an android strictly created for battle. She was built to lack emotion and complete missions. She is a 'Mimeo' type of android. Mimeo androids are modeled after a person who once lived and become vessels for their conscience. However, their conscience is programed to take on the personality written by the coder. Turquoise is actually modeled after Karalexis's younger sister who died young in a freak accident. Since only five cell fusions were successful and Karalexis felt there was a need for a sixth member, Turquoise was created to assist The School members as trump card. Turquoise is cell fused with Illudium and each of the other School member's DNA. She's like a cousin to them all, but instead of being human, she's a cybernetic organic android. She is able to connect with each member on a telepathic level. Only Karalexis truly knows Turquoise 2.0's purpose and the extent of her powers. For now she is a misunderstood mystery to the Pneuma Children.
Grandmaster is the world's greatest human fighter. He is so powerful that his Qi delivers an aura that makes his clothing glow. He is called the ageless wonder because he is said to be over 300 years old. His youthful appearance comes from his Qi.
Although he was born in America, he is of Wodaabe descent. He is actually the last American-born man alive. In prior years, Grandmaster walked the Earth to find the world's greatest fighters and defeated everyone he ever faced. He then went into retirement to live in peace. Years later, Karalexis asks for his help with the 'Pneuma Seed' program. She wants him to train the members of The School to become stronger fighters than they could ever imagine so that when they transmogrify into Pneumas, their bodies become very durable and gifted with super abilities. Grandmaster agrees to assist. It has been many years since people, such as those comprising The School, have been able to withstand his attacks. So, when he trains with the youngsters, he's having the time of his life. His tutelage can sometimes be cruel but he knows what they can take so he often pushes them further than they believe are their limits.
The witty Sudanese mad scientist and the world's smartest person, Karalexis, is director and creator of the 'Pneuma Seed' program which spawn the heroic team known as The School. Karalexis is withholding a major secret from the entire world. The aliens she stole the Illudium from are coming for it. To top it off, the hostile aliens will more than likely not ask for the Illudium politely. These alien invaders are very powerful, like Gods. So, she created the bio-engineering conglomerate Ichor Corp to give the War Council of Aithiopia the illusion that it is to develop and research Illudium, create weapons and build a stronger, more advanced society for Aithiopia. While this is true, she never mentions that Earth and all humanity are in grave danger. Knowing the Earth would need to be prepared, she began the Pneumo Seed program with guidance and permission of the Ancestors. She created the process of fusing Illudium with a human embryo at conception.
Although their parents are involved in the The School's heroic program, Karalexis acts like a surrogate mother to all the members. She oversees their daily routines, training, and diet with the help of other trusted workers. Because she was the only survivor of fifty others during their mission, she has a whimsical and eccentric personality. She doesn't take anything in life too seriously and has a 'laugh now, cry later' type of attitude. The butterfly tattooed on her face symbolizes her new life. She is not the Karalexis she once was. When she returned to Earth she was reborn as the world's smartest person but went completely
An artistic indie filmmaker, writer, and comic book creator from Fort Wayne, IN. However, he's spent much of his life in the South, from Huntsville (AL) to Georgia and now residing in Nashville. He is also the creator and writer of the mature reader Grindhouse horror manga series, Giallo Gumbo. With your support, he and his team will be able to completely focus on creating the world of Kubadilisha.
Courtland Ellis (Lead Panel Artist)
Courtland Ellis currently works as the production/ Lead Motion Graphic artist at Aspire Ventures, as well as being a freelance concept artist, comic artist and animator. His past works include Stabb Gunner and Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer.
Welinthon Nommo, (Lead Character Designer/Concept Artist)
Born in Barahona, Dominican Republic. Graduated from the Art School of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD). He is a very talented cartoonist, graphic designer, and illustrator. He has worked in many advertising agencies, publishing houses, and movies. He has also worked as Illustrator and colorist for Susaeta editorial and as an art director in the Izone-Education Project. Nommo has also done work on comic books, card games, and has been a character designer for various projects. This is the second project where he and Jahni have collaborated. The previous beingGiallo Gumbo.
Venus Bambisa (Colorist/Character Designer)
Venus Bambisa is a concept artist and illustrator who has worked on comic book projects, children's book, book covers and animations. He is really interested in drawing characters with an Afropunk look and feel. He enjoys bringing ideas to life whether that be in the form of a character design or an illustration.
