Bronze Faces #4 (of 6)

Written Shobo and Shof Coker, Illustrated by Alexandre Tefenkgi (Boom Studios,
July 2025)

Synopsis

A comrade falls, and the team does not even have time to mourn their passing as blaring sirens signal that the law is not far behind. In the bloody aftermath, the group threatens to splinter, each emerging faction forming their own strategy for the British Museum Heist. But they won’t be the only ones with a plan in motion… as Detective Lai uncovers a crucial piece of evidence that will set the stage for an explosive confrontation.

We Wear the Masks

As I’m reading issue 4 of Bronze Faces, I’m having one of those moments where the penny drops and things begin to fall into place. It’s kind of like when the detective in Usual Suspects realizes he was speaking to Keyser Söze the whole time.

I’ve been so obsessed with the Ogiso crew liberating Nigerian artifacts, I may have lost sight of the larger commentary on identity and belonging. Maybe the bronze Benin masks were simply an allegory for the masks we wear that hide our true selves.

Shof and Shobo Coker’s Shakespearean tragedy continues to take several twists and turns. In this issue, we learn that Sango’s real name is Eben; traditionally a boy’s name. However, it’s unclear if this revelation, and subsequent discussions of gender fluidity in African cultures, has any real bearing on this story. Shobo and Shof remain reticent in revealing the entire backstory of our three main heroes: Gbonka, Sango, and the recently deceased Timi.

What is clear from the story’s flashback, however, is that Sango and Rose share a history of being social pariahs. And this desire to reclaim their cultural history may be an attempt to “rewrite their stars.”

Weathering the Storm

Unfortunately, Sango’s capricious nature and jealousy has totally upended the group’s plans. Like the Yoruba God, her tumultuous mood hangs over them like a storm cloud, leading to the volatile conclusion we witness in this chapter.

Shof and Shobo’s dramatic narrative demands every ounce of Alexandre Tefenkgi’s creative ability. In turn, he provides another award-winning performance, transitioning from flashbacks, action scenes, and pivotal exchanges in the story with relative ease and clarity.

What Did I Miss?

My only criticism of this series remains that I always feel one step behind the story. Whether I’m missing obscure cultural and social cues or story plots are slow to develop, I’m constantly wanting more from each issue.

At this point, however, I’ve concluded that this is by design. This narrative embraces the true nature of episodic storytelling in the comic book medium in such a way that I’m anxious for each subsequent issue to arrive.

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