🗨️ Comics

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⭐ What drew you to start creating and self-publishing your own comics or webcomics?:

   First of all I've always loved comics ever since I was a kid, but as a kid growing up in Nigeria, Africa in the early 90's we didn't have access to comic books.

   Back then, this was before the Internet so things have to travel by cargo ship from America all the way to Africa. That caused a delay in the impact of trends and culture on us in Nigeria, Africa. 

   For instance, when a new movie came out it Hollywood and it was all the rave and what was trending that year, it would take 2 to 3 years before that movie is available in the Nigerian market and it becomes popular and the rave everyone is talking about in Nigeria.

   So American culture influenced and steadily reshaped African culture through entertainment but we were behind the American trends. Whatever was trending in America would trend in Africa especially in Nigeria later on as far as entertainment was concerned. 

   Anyway, we didn't have any single comic book shop in the entire country or any channel of distribution that provided us with the current month's issue of Batman or Superman or Spider-Man.

   However, there was a Christian daily devotional called Topz. It contained comic strips, puzzles, quizzes, and stuff. That's the closest I ever got to having a steady monthly comic book that was up to date. 

   Back then we were all Catholic in my family and we frequently attended a fellowship we called CIWA (Catholic Institute Of West Africa). It was an Interdenominational Fellowship that was later shut down by a high ranking Arch Bishop or Bishop who was visiting Port Harcourt and taught it was too Protestant for his liking and it wasn't Catholic enough. 

   Anyway, that story is for another day. Anyway, it was at CIWA folks would come and sell Christian materials. One of them was Topz.

   There was also in bookshop in Rumumasi, Port Harcourt where there were a few Christian comics. The Al Hartley classics as well as some comics in the Crusaders series. 

   I once bought a full new testament comic book as a kid. It was the entire new testament Bible as a fat graphic novel. I don't know how it got lost or stolen from me later in life. Anyway, I've looked online trying to find that same precious graphic novel about Jesus from my childhood but I can't find it. 

  Also, since we are running a mock on going thru all the comics I touched as a child, I suppose I must tell you I once owned; a looney tunes comics, a Superman comic, and two Lobo comics.

   I broke my arm as a little kid and after coming back from the hospital with my Plaster Of Paris (P.O.P); my Mom took pity on me and felt even though she was strapped for cash she needed to let me enjoy a little bit so she took me to one of the stores in Port Harcourt where White people went to shop back in the day in Port Harcourt. 

    I didn't know what to expect. Anyway, I saw comics there. Remember that was in the early 90's and one comic in that store cost 200 Naira. That was a lot of money in the 90's.

   Anyway, my Mom ended up spending over 2000 Naira on comics for me. She also bought me a few biscuits. 

  The joy I felt made me forget any worries about having a broken arm.

   Note: My arm was fully healed a year later. You would never know as a child I once broke my arm unless you are told.

⭐ Did you have a background in art or storytelling before this, or was this a completely new adventure?:

  Not officially. I never went to Art school or took a course in storytelling. As far as formal education on art and storytelling goes, all I have is the same Fine Art classes everyone else took in Primary School and in Junior high. As well as the English composition and literature lessons I also had in school. 

   In as much as it, has its place. That alone cannot help in writing or drawing comic books the marvel way, or the DC way, or any other way for that matter.

   When it comes to how I learnt how to write and draw comic book stories; it's all self taught. I downloaded books from the Internet and learnt from there.

⭐ What’s the origin story of your first comic—what inspired the concept?:

   I rather not talk about the first comic book series I ever made. Let's not talk about it. Let's forget it ever happened. 

⭐ How do you approach crafting a story that works in the comic format, balancing visuals and text?:

  Perhaps I'll write a book on that. There's so much to cover to answer that question.

⭐ What’s your workflow like—from sketching to final publication—and what tools do you use?:

   I'll give you the short answer. I write a synopsis. From the synopsis I write an event road map of the most important events that would take place in the story to take the story from the start to the finish. Then I flesh out dialogue and more events linking all the key events until I've woven a single thread. That is the script.

  When one approaches comic book writing as scenes in a movie one is making up in one's own head the process is all the more much easier and sweeter.

⭐ How do you decide on the art style for your comics, and what influences shaped it?:

  When you see beautiful, you'll know it. When I see an art style I like and best conveys what I'm trying to decor depict; I know it.

⭐ What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about comic creation since starting?:

   There are more technical things than you would think one needs to know to draw good comic book art. Things that are staples of the trade but even the most devoted comic book reader doesn't.

⭐ What’s been the toughest part of self-publishing your comics or webcomics?:

   Some days you might not feel like drawing but you've got to draw any way.

⭐ How do you manage the dual roles of artist and writer—or do you collaborate with others?:

   I don't collaborate. In the future I may collaborate with another artist but don't hold your breathe. 

   However when it comes to somebody else doing my writing; that would never happen.

⭐ What moment as a comic creator has made you the proudest so far?:

   I am most pleased and satisfied anytime I finish a project. 

⭐ Who do you imagine as your ideal reader, and how do you keep them in mind while creating?:

   I plan to create different comic book imprints for different demographics and target markets. Creating something specific for every interest group.

⭐ How have your readers responded to your work, and has their feedback influenced your direction?:

   I have learnt not to let the reactions of readers influence the story. The loudest person in a comment section is just one person and doesn't represent or speak for the entire audience. I may change things to impress that one person only to lose the 99 that liked it but didn't comment that they liked it.

⭐ Have you tapped into any comic or webcomic communities for advice, support, or exposure?:

   Not directly. But I have watched and listened to videos and podcasts from different webcomic communities and comic book creator forums.

⭐ Why did you choose self-publishing over traditional publishers or established platforms?:

   Why should I choose freedom rather than given up my freedom to a secular company that puts out a message that my comics are trying to counter.

⭐ How do you promote your comics or webcomics, especially as a newcomer with limited resources?:

   I post it on X (twitter) and hope for the best.

⭐ What’s on the horizon—do you have your next comic or storyline already in mind?:

   I always have a next story in the pipeline I'm working on and I would soon be ready to release. And I always have another project after that, and another after that one. I can't stop. 

⭐ How do you hope to evolve as a comic creator in the next few years?:

  The plan is to be bigger than Marvel, DC, and every other company put together in the next 10 years. 

⭐ Are there any dream projects or collaborations you’d love to pursue in the comic world?:

   I don't dream to working with people. If someone is good enough for me to want to work with them, I can study them and their style and replicate whatever they would have brought to the table had I worked with them; and to my own taste too. Plus I don't have to cut them a cheque now. I save money and make money.

⭐ If you could add one over-the-top, impractical element to your comic just for kicks, what would it be?:

   You are probably going to see many of them in upcoming comics so why bother telling you 

⭐ What’s your favorite comic or webcomic by another creator, and how has it inspired your own work?:

   I rarely ever read other people's comics. It's the art that I look at. I currently have over 70 new comics on my phone and all I do is flip through the pages and admire the art, I am never even tempted to bother to read the text staring back at me in the word bubbles and following the story so that I can understand what's going on in the story. 

  Maybe it's because comic book storylines are so dumbed down & cliché and I've heard it all before there's no need for me to torture myself reading another comic book story. 

 All I care about with comics is the Art and there's so much out there to like. Sometimes I just browse comic book page artwork on Pinterest and just save it to my phone. I don't care about getting the full comic, I just care about the most beautiful of its inner pages and the cover page. I often don't even know the Artist's name or the name of the project.

⭐ Do you have any unique habits or rituals that help you get into the creative zone?:

   I pray before I write.