Written by Rayo Ailara
Nothing defines the feeling of transitioning into adulthood quite like graduation day. Even as you celebrate with family and friends, you can’t ignore the thrilling and frightening reality that this day marks your first true step into the real world. The desire to do things for yourself, to take charge becomes strong. You want to make big decisions, you want to make meaningful plans, you want to take control.
PiggyVest’s first comic series, Grown Ups does a solid job of capturing that feeling with its first episode, successfully setting the stage for a relatable and entertaining first season. It’s a coming-of-age series that follows four young Nigerians who are fresh out of university and trying to figure life out. Produced by Nigeria’s leading savings and investment platform, it’s no surprise that Grown Ups focuses an extra eye on their different paths to financial stability.
Meet The Characters
Nonye. Brilliant, kind, and hardworking, she is a born hustler with an unmatchable drive to succeed. She is the friend everyone needs in their corner.
Uwem. The smart but impulsive one. Uwem has the ability to sell ideas, but his ideas aren’t always great. His dreams are large and he is willing to go to any length to achieve them.
Marvin. The life of the party. Enjoyment is always guaranteed whenever he’s around. However, with a politician father and a high-achieving sister, Marvin feels he has to constantly try to prove himself.
Jerry. The independent, self-reliant and protective one. He is always willing to put the needs of others before his own. Sometimes, Jerry’s ego gets in the way of his relationship with others.
Why should you read PiggyVest’s Grown Ups?
Interesting visual appeal
Grown Ups has a fascinating visual style — and it gets even better as the story progresses. Drawn by the talented Israel Obasola, the illustrations breathe life into the characters and their surroundings, making every issue a delight to read.
Universal themes and life lessons
The comic subtly educates as it entertains, making it an excellent resource for those seeking financial guidance and personal growth in their own lives. If you are looking for stories connected to real issues young adults worry about today, Grown Ups is a good place to start.
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Rich storytelling
In Grown Ups, every major character is shaped by their relationships with other characters, and there are wide-ranging consequences for each action. This interconnectedness, a credit to Agnes Ekanem’s thoughtful writing, lends the comic a surprising amount of narrative density and emotional weight. It also teaches an important lesson: personal growth is hardly a solitary journey.
Consider Nonye. Her tense relationship with her father contrasts sharply with the warmth she shares with her mother. Meanwhile, Marvin’s sweet but tense relationship with his sister demonstrates the power (and complexity) of sibling relationships. These relationships power Grown Ups from issue to issue.
Relatable characters
The main characters in Grown Ups are deeply relatable for the average young person. Nonye, Jerry, Uwem and Marvin are everyday people dealing with everyday struggles. Each character reflects the experiences of countless young adults striving to find their place in the world.
In each issue, you will discover pieces of yourself and your story in these characters. You may even draw motivation from their wins and losses. Whether you’re an Uwem, chasing your dreams with all the grace of a bull in a china shop, or a Jerry, being the ultimate “superhero,” Grown Ups is the comic that will have you saying, “Yep, that’s SO me!”
If you haven’t started reading the comic, you can check out the first issue here. (Find all the issues here.)
And after you’re done, you can find out which Grown Ups character you are with this quiz and then watch the creators and fans discuss season 1.