Nnedi Okorafor’s star is rising rapidly in literature at large. The winner of Nebula and Hugo awards has been tapped by Marvel to write an eight-page series, she has a short story in the Star Wars short story anthology, From a Certain Point of View, and is having her 2010 book Who Fears Death turned into a series by HBO. It’s fair to say that Okorafor is becoming a literary darling, and it is also fair to say that Okorafor is a genius.

Okorafor’s eight-page series for Marvel is based in Lagos, and has the significance of being the first Marvel comic set in an actual African city. Blessing in Disguise is inspired by the more than 200 Chibok girls abducted by the terrorist group Boko Haram in 2014.

Okorafor says that she wanted to tell this story as a response to the lack of nuanced representation in the superhero world, citing that even though Wonder Woman exists, there is still a lack of true diversity. Okorafor believes that superheroes need different desires, dreams, flaws and they need to be less predictable in their actions.

“They were normal girls who suddenly had to deal with a huge change in their lives … and their story of perseverance is so powerful … Like many Nigerian girls, Ngozi comes in a small package but is strong-willed and determined,” Okorafor explains of her lead character.

We can’t wait!