If you have never read African sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction (the monikers are plenty), this is as good as introduction as you can find. Smart, complex both in terms of its narrative and its characters. Clearly of its place (South Africa) the specificity is part of his appeal, and not a cheap attempt at nativism. This novella is accompanied by illustrations (and a prologue) by Tade Thompson, who co-wrote it alongside Nick Wood. And although Thompson claims it to be a work of its time (it was completed in 2003 and the death of Wood in 2023 made revisions and changes unviable) it still feels fresh and challenging.
Ultimately, the story forces the reader to consider the nature of heroes and villains, realizing that neither one category is absolute, and no one character qualifies fully as either. The story of two superhero brothers facing each other, is both a commentary on the stereotypes of big publishing houses superheroes and a case in point as to where those characters can venture, if the are allowed free range.
The e-book includes additional material - an interview and initial email exchanges, worth examining as the backstage of the novella.

Novella about two African superhumans, Pan-African and Black Power, who play hero/villain roles in the 1970s, until Pan-African surrenders and serves a prison sentence. After he’s released, his renewed visibility brings Black Power back—and Pan-African is still pretty mad about Black Power’s failure to succeed against CIA interventions/assassinations and South Africa’s apartheid regime. But part of the point of the story is that punching does not solve Africa’s problems. ( )

A very engaging comic book-inspired fantasy novella. The philosophical differences between the "hero" and the "villain" are thought-provoking, although I felt a bit let down by the ending. ( )