IKENGA

With his remarkably deep and resonant voice, narrator Ben Onwukwe adds even more intrigue to this nuanced superhero story, set in contemporary Nigeria. While mourning the murder of his father, young Nnamdi receives a supernatural gift. With it, he can transform into a powerful shadowman, the ideal alter ego for exacting revenge on the superpowered criminals he blames for his father's death. Onwukwe's dramatic pacing and exaggerated characterizations are perfectly in keeping with the story's heightened world-building. Listeners can easily imagine the comic book speech bubbles surrounding the dialogue of the eccentric villains. Onwukwe's narration provides a vivid contrast to the gravity of Nnamdi's grief and rage. A superlative listen for superhero fans. R.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2021]