E.X.O.: The Legend of Wale Williams, Part One

Marvel’s Black Panther gets some competition in this fast-paced first book in the E.X.O. series. Set in 2025 in Lagoon City, Nigeria (formerly Lagos), the story opens with Wale Williams returning after a five-year absence, which was spurred by the accidental death of his mother in his father’s laboratory. Finding Lagoon City threatened by a powerful gang known as the Creed, Wale reluctantly dons an Iron Man–esque E.X.O. supersuit created by his father in an attempt to keep the citizens safe. Fans of American superhero comics will feel right at home with Akinboye’s explosive, tech-driven battle scenes, and Okupe laces the dialogue with Nigerian street slang that adds to the story’s strong sense of place. Few readers will be surprised by the secret identities of Oniku, the Creed’s masked leader, or Fury, a speedster hero who comes to E.X.O.’s aid; explanatory exposition gets heavy at times; and certain scenes (such as the death of Wale’s mother) don’t land with the intended emotional impact. Even so, Okupe leaves plenty of unanswered questions and knotty family dynamics to unravel in the second installment of Wale’s story, also available. Ages 12–up. (BookLife)