EXCLUSIVE: Mohale Mashigo reveals Marvel character she’d love to write most

Mohale Mashigo is the author of the widely acclaimed bestselling novel ‘The Yearning’. Her last book, a collection of brilliantly unsettling speculative fiction short stories called ‘Intruders’ explores how it feels not to belong. Also a comic book writer, she’s written a Black Panther story, knocked an acclaimed stint on United States of Captain America out of the park, and is working on some stories in ‘Batman: Urban Legends’ for DC. She’s also told us which Marvel character she would love to write next, and it’d be a pairing made in heaven. Did we mention she’s also an award-winning singer-songwriter? Well, she granted GeekAfrique an interview, and herewith are excerpts:

By Abdulkareem Baba Aminu

GeekAfrique: First of all, why did you become a writer, and at what point did you decide to? (Basically, what’s your origin story?)

Mohale Mashigo: I don’t know why I became a writer, but I have always been a storyteller. Even from a young age, I enjoyed telling stories. I started writing for fun, with a friend in high school. She would write one chapter, and I would write another. Even then I didn’t consider becoming a writer. It was only once my debut novel, ‘The Yearning’, was published did I think ‘Woah, I think I’m a writer now’.

GeekAfrique: You’ve written some very well-received books. Which of them is your favorite, and why?

Mohale Mashigo: I’ve written a novel and a short story collection. The short story collection is my favorite because I was testing my skills, strengthening my voice, and having fun. Not to say writing ‘The Yearning’ wasn’t fun, but I had no idea what I was doing when I wrote it. With ‘Intruders’, the short story collection, I visited different characters and put them in impossible situations. It was also the first time I really tried speculative fiction. The characters in ‘Intruders’ are also some of my favorites.

“Not to say writing ‘The Yearning’ wasn’t fun, but I had no idea what I was doing when I wrote it. With ‘Intruders’, the short story collection, I visited different characters and put them in impossible situations. It was also the first time I really tried speculative fiction.“

GeekAfrique: You’re known for skating in and out of various genres. Which, would you say is where you’re most at home?

Mohale Mashigo: I don’t think I’ve written enough to have a favorite genre yet. In fact, I sometimes find myself genre-blending so I would say my favorite is whichever I’m writing at the time. I feel most at home when I write about black women and girls if I’m being completely honest.

GeekAfrique: Your story in Marvel Voices was brilliant, showing us sides of many of our favorite superheroines we hadn’t been shown before. What inspired the story?

Mohale Mashigo: I liked the idea of young heroes being each other’s support system. I genuinely wondered: Who do these young women turn to when they need a break? What do they do on their off days? They know of each other, but could they possibly be friends? I liked the idea of a secret self-care spot and things started flowing from there. Riri, Shuri, and Kamala were perfect for the story.

“I liked the idea of young heroes being each other’s support system. I genuinely wondered: Who do these young women turn to when they need a break? What do they do on their off days? They know of each other, but could they possibly be friends?”

GeekAfrique: For non-South Africans, what’s the Kwezi comic book series all about?

Mohale Mashigo: Kwezi, created by Loyiso Mkize and Clyde Beech) is a story about a regular 19-year-old who suddenly (not really, there is a whole backstory) gains the hero starter pack of powers. Instead of going out here and doing things for “the greater good,” he uses it to become a social media sensation with dreams of being a global icon. It’s a story about ego vs altruism. We go on a journey of self-discovery with him, while he comes against dark forces that want to get rid of him. This all takes place in Gold City (a version of Johannesburg). I joined the team from issue 7 and the comic is now on issue 13.

“Cap is an interesting character, but writing him was never on my radar until I was presented with the opportunity to write a black woman taking on the mantle, then I was like ‘Uhmm…yes please!’ Nichelle Wright is such a badass!”

GeekAfrique: You went from a brilliant Black Panther story on Serial Box for Marvel to The United States of Captain America. Is cap’s story one you’ve always wanted to tell, or are the times simply calling for one?

Mohale Mashigo: Cap is an interesting character, but writing him was never on my radar until I was presented with the opportunity to write a black woman taking on the mantle, then I was like ‘Uhmm…yes please!’ Nichelle Wright is such a badass, and she doesn’t back down from a challenge. She’s also an activist by day, and Captain America by night. I simply fell in love with the character as we were creating her. Nichelle Wright is definitely one of the highlights of my young comic book writing career.

GeekAfrique: Speaking of that, is there a particular Marvel character you’d love to take on?

Mohale Mashigo: Blade. Without. A. Doubt.

GeekAfrique: Do you find flitting from comics to prose to songwriting to screenwriting even a little dizzying?

Mohale Mashigo: Besides learning the technical elements of the different disciplines, no. I’m a storyteller and every story needs the same thing from me: to tell the best way I can. Perhaps I’m a multi-linguist that way. I understand the personalities of the languages but in the end, a story is just a story.

GeekAfrique: While we’re still catching our breaths from ‘Intruders’, when is your next novel coming out?

Mohale Mashigo: I have no idea. I’m certain my publisher will say 2023, ha-ha. In the meantime, I’ve become Lead Writer for a South Africa game developer (Nyamakop) and we are working on something SUPER-exciting. Can’t say what right now, but it’s pretty dope. I also have a 3-part story in ‘Batman: Urban Legends’. The editor (Ben Abernathy) approached me asking if I would be interested in writing something for DC. I said yes, and I was given the character Kid Eternity. He’s in Gotham and things are getting weird and interesting for him. I had fun working on Kid Eternity in Gotham because he’s a weird and mysterious character, which is definitely in my lane.

GeekAfrique: Finally, what, would you say, is one thing a reader would most certainly find in every Mohale Mashigo story?

Mohale Mashigo: Humour. No matter how dark or light the story may be, there will also be humor. It’s how I navigate my own life and it finds its way onto the page. There is always room for laughter.