The Black Power Interviews: Nikia, the Pandora

Who are you? How long have you been a superhero?

My name is Nikia Lynott. I am an Eve, an Anesidora. Americans called me Pandora, from the Greek mythos. I – and my sisters – are descendants of Lilith, Lucy, Mawu.

I am a mystical being, bestowed with magical powers of life and death, good and evil.

So you aren’t human, then?

As a descendant of Lucy, the oldest human on record – an African woman, whose bones were discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 – I am human… but much more.

What makes you much more?

Lilith… Mawu. Have you been listening?

*Clears throat* Apologies.

Accepted. I have been a “superhero all my life. It is the destiny of the Anesidora to protect the world until another takes her place.

And what do you do, then?

We live. We open businesses; we travel the world, clubbing, gambling and drinking ourselves silly; we get married and have children; we save the whales. However we choose to live and enjoy our lives.

So, who were some of your favorite superheroes growing up?

I assume you mean in comic books and other media.

Yes.

Well, as an avid reader of comic books, as well as a fan of superhero cinema and television, I have many, but I really love the independent stuff – there’s more creativity there. Of course, I love the classics, like Brotherman, Urban Shogun and Bayou but I also love the brilliant new works like Ngolo, Jagunjagun Lewa, T.A.S.K. and Dasu.

Wow! You really DO know comic books.

 An Anesidora is not all about saving the world and fighting supervillains.

Speaking of Supervillains… do you have a particular villain who is your nemesis?

Yes! He is called the Black Russian. I despise him. Not because he denies his blackness while claiming Black Pride; not even because he belittles and hate on Black women to justify only dating Caucasian women – he is a hot mess of conflict and contradictions. I REALLY despise Black Russian because he is always trying to kill ME.

Is Black Russian as powerful as you?

Please. I’m Nikia, the Pandora. You’d better ask somebody. Better yet… read about me yourself in Black Power: The Superhero Anthology.

Oh, I already have and your story is amazing. Tell us a bit about the chronicler of your adventures in BLACK POWER: The Superhero Anthology.

Lance Oliver Keeble, resides in Los Angeles, California, where his blue collar experience and diverse exposure helped shape his current style.

In his youth, he dabbled in the arts: stage, music, photography, poetry, scripting, and many other passions.

His current work is Nikia, the Pandora, my story in Black Power: The Superhero Anthology and Globes Disease, the Best Book Awards Finalist in Horror/Fiction.

Thank you, for a great interview, Nikia!

Thank you, for the opportunity. Now, I’m off to save the world again…hopefully, for the last time.