Founded in 2007 by Sebastian A. Jones, Stranger Comics is an independent comic book company featuring comic books set in the fictional universe of Asunda. The characters in this world are not entirely inspired by European fantasy settings either. Instead, Asunda also features influences from Afro-Indigenous cultures and Asian culture.
In fact, many of the books published by Stranger Comics are related to Asunda’s flagship character Niobe Ayutami, the Black elven daughter of the devil-possessed human king Andrek VII and the missing Galemren elf queen Nadami. In addition, she is also the proxy of the Goddess of Light, Arunmiel, and the devil, Arukas, the Untamed. Above all, Niobe is a warrior, healer, and hero in the making.
Originally debuting in The Untamed Vol. 1 in 2015, Niobe is taken under the wing of a human man named Hareth, aka The Stranger, before going off on her own in her solo series. Niobe’s solo series turns ten this year, but her story has evolved beyond it in various comic books. Through non-linear storytelling, you get to see Niobe at different points in her life and see how different characters are connected to her. To celebrate Niobe Ayutami and introduce more readers to her story, here are ten essential comic books to read.
- The Untamed Vol 1: A Sinner’s Prayer by Sebastian A. Jones, Peter Bergting, Darrell May, A Larger World Studios and Christopher Garner.
A fusion of dark fantasy and spaghetti western, this comic features The Stranger (aka Hareth) and Niobe’s very first meeting. After making a deal with The Untamed (aka the devil), The Stranger returns to life and goes to the gritty town of Oasis to reap seven souls in exchange for being reunited with his family. However, the more souls he reaps, the more his dark past catches up to him. When he meets a young elven girl named Niobe, he finds himself wondering if redemption is better than vengeance.
- The Untamed Vol. 2: Killing Floor by Sebastian A. Jones, Peter Berging, Darrell May, and A Larger World Studios
Following the events of A Sinner’s Prayer, Niobe and The Stranger head to the port town of Assara Bay for clues regarding The Stranger’s missing family. When two leaders of rival assassin guilds promise Hareth information, Hareth soon finds that their hatred for him may cost him Niobe. Meanwhile, Essessa, a vampire knight, also hunts Niobe for her own reasons. Yet Niobe won’t go down without a fight as she learns to fight with a sword and spear while utilizing her spiritual faith in Arnumiel, Goddess of Light.
- The Untamed Vol. 3 (issue 1 and 2, series ongoing) by Sebastian A. Jones, Peter Bergting, Darrell May, and Joshua Cozine
While on a boat to Herfang to search for Hareth’s wife and child, Niobe and The Stranger suddenly find themselves in Ugoma, the homeland of the Galemren elf tribe. A tense moment between Niobe and Hareth leads them to the family Niobe never knew. While this series is still ongoing, it is significant because Niobe begins to learn more about her Galemren heritage and those who know her mother Nadami.
- Niobe: She Is Life by Amandla Stenberg, Sebastian A. Jones, Ashley A. Woods, Darrell May, and A Larger World Studios
As the start of Niobe’s solo series, it begins with Niobe on the run from the vampire knight Essessa. A fall causes Niobe to find sanctuary in a place with Galemren elves, dwarves, and half-blooded people like herself. When a young Galemren boy is murdered and a half-orc young man is blamed, this sets off an unprecedented chain of events that leads Niobe to battle. Not only does the book feature Niobe’s first steps as a savior-in-the-making, but it also features a powerful coming-of-age tale that shows Niobe falling in love for the first time.
- Niobe: She Is Death by Sebastian A. Jones, Sheldon Mitchell, Blond, Barbara Nosenzo, and Darrell May
This sequel to Niobe She Life finds a heartbroken Niobe becoming a bounty hunter. When a bounty is placed on Niobe’s head, innocent girls are caught in the crossfire. While trying to find the person behind the bounty, Niobe meets a figure from her past and must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for vengeance. A notable thing about this book is that it shows how Niobe’s misadventures from the previous book inspired other young Galemren girls to develop a steadfast fighting spirit.
- Earathune by Sebastian A. Jones, Darrell May, Sheldon Mitchell, and A Larger World Studios
Taking place sometime during Niobe’s adulthood, this book sees her working with the dwarf Buxton Stonebeard and the silver elf Skarlok as Buxton returns to his homeland for the first time in years since his banishment. There are two souls there that Buxton needs to reap to be free of his cursed axe, Madraq, but getting them will be easier said than done. A war is brewing between the dwarves and the orcs, one that will put them in the path of an old enemy of Niobe’s. Although you can read this book as a standalone, you’ll appreciate this more if you have read Niobe’s solo books. You get to see a more self-assured Niobe and see characters connected to the events of Niobe: She Is Life.
- Tales of Asunda: Niobe & The Stranger First Kill, Issue 1 by Sebastian A. Jones, Julio Brilha, Blond, and Joshua Cozine
Beginning during the events of Niobe: She Is Death, before flashing back to a time between The Untamed, Vol. 1 and 2, this book sees a teenage Niobe reminiscing about the first time she took a life. This is significant because Niobe is the proxy of the Goddess of Light Arunmiel as well as the devil Arukas the Untamed. As a warrior, Niobe has killed countless people to protect herself and her loved ones, but there are times she has been tempted to kill out of vengeance and bloodlust. The former causes Arunmiel to favor her, but the latter causes Arukas to whisper in her mind. First Kill demonstrates not only Niobe’s spiritual faith but also her merciful side.
- Tales of Asunda Vol 2 #1: Niobe She Tribe, by Sebastian A. Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Canaan White, Blond, Darrell May
This standalone story features Niobe hiding away in Ugoma after the bittersweet events of Niobe: She Is Life. When Niobe sees a mother and child in danger, she learns that they were banished from a Galemren tribe by their new chief when the old one was replaced. As a result, Niobe decides to challenge the new chief and change the tribe’s tradition. Like First Kill, this issue demonstrates Niobe’s merciful side as well as her sense of duty to all her fellow Galemren, regardless of their different tribes.
- Niobe and Dura (issue 1 and issue 2; series ongoing) by Sebastian A. Jones, Prentice Penny, Sheldon Mitchell, Darrell May, and Joshua Cozine
Taking place before the events of The Untamed Vol. 1, this series features Niobe as a child, guided by the creation goddess Dura after the destruction of Niobe’s tribe by the demonic being Vastar, the firstborn child of The Untamed. With Dura as her mother figure, Niobe begins to learn of her potential as a warrior and healer, as well as the origin of Asunda and the conflict with Vastar. Eventually, the series will show how Niobe ended up in the town of Oasis at the beginning of The Untamed Vol. 1.
- Tales of Asunda Vol. 2 Issue 4: Mother’s Hands by Sebastian A. Jones, Stephanie Williams, Matteo Illuminati, Arianna Pisani, and Joshua Cozine
Set after the events of Earathune, this standalone story features an adult Niobe reuniting with the creation goddess Dura. When Niobe asks for guidance about possibly recovering a lost love, Dura uses her magic to show how Niobe’s mother Nadami, met the love of her life, Powlorre. Not only is this the first comic book appearance of Niobe’s mother, but it is also a beautiful story of romantic and familial love, as well as a mother’s legacy.
Latonya “Penn” Pennington is a Black-Asian genderqueer freelance contributor and poet. They’ve written a plethora of pop culture criticism at sites such as Popverse, Into More, Comics XF, and many more. As a poet, they’ve been published in places such as Black Sci-fi’s Scribes of Nyota, Fiyah Lit magazine, and The Daily Drunk. Check out more of their work on their website Words From A Penn.
