Hero Within’s Tony Kim Speaks On The Evolution Of Geek Fashion

In the pop culture world, there are a variety of avenues to explore, ranging from writing comics to selling graphic novels. An emerging trend is geek fashion, especially with cosplay and people looking to represent their favourite characters on a t-shirt. Pop culture entrepreneur Tony B Kim has set out to provide a market for geek fashion with his Hero Within clothing brand.

It was a pleasure to interview Tony about how he set up his brand, how he got into comics and what it felt like to host panels at San Diego Comic Con.

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Luke Cage: Everyman Writer Anthony Del Col Talks About CTE And Mental Health In Comics

Luke Cage is the kind of down to earth hero that a lot of people can relate to. His indestructible skin gives him an edge when protecting the community of Harlem. But what happens when an unbreakable man becomes vulnerable? Anthony Del Col invites comic fans to find out in his Luke Cage: Everyman miniseries.  Luke has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a concussive disease that’s common in contact sport athletes.

It was great to check in with Anthony and interview him about the series, his thoughts on CTE and what he thinks of mental health in comics. 

Red Hood And The Outlaws Artist Dexter Soy Talks Comics, Collaboration And Rooftop Fights

Ever since DC: Rebirth, one of best titles has been Red Hood and The Outlaws because of the story quality, characters and art. Jason Todd, Artemis and Bizarro have all received amazing development, courtesy of writer Scott Lobdell and artist Dexter Soy. The Philippines born artist has created some incredible panels. After an epic two year run, Dexter recently finished up on the series with Red Hood and The Outlaws #25.

But before he signed off, I couldn’t resist interviewing him about his time on the series and how he got into the comic industry.

Geoff Moore Gets Candid With The Nature Of Violence And Collaboration For Son Of Hitler

For a writer, history is a playground, with one of the most popular topics being World War II. A lot of stories have focused on the atrocities that Hitler and the Nazis committed. Being original in an oversaturated market is tough, but Anthony Del Col and Geoff Moore were able to accomplish that with Son Of Hitler. The graphic novel contains a variety of twists and turns that shape the outcome of World War II.

Being a fan of the story, I wanted to get Geoff’s thoughts on the writing process behind Son Of Hitler. In this informative interview, Geoff goes into detail about the kind of research that was involved and the importance of collaborating with such a big project.

Skip To The End Creator Jeremy Holt Talks Nirvana, Mental Health And Musical Time Travel

Music has the power to transform lives, whether through connecting with a song or being transported to another place. Nirvana was the kind of band that touched many people, with Kurt Cobain being an inspiration. But Cobain’s life was also complicated by depression, drug abuse and a distafisaction with the celebrity lifestyle. Cobain and his band were happiest when they were making music, which is what Jeremy Holt decided to explore in his graphic novel Skip To The End.

I’m happy to present an interview with Holt about the nature of his graphic novel and his thoughts on what it means to be transformed through music. He spoke candidly on his opinion of mental health, male suicide and the independent comic scene.

X-Men: Red Artist Mahmud Asrar Talks About What It Means To Bring Jean Grey Back To Life

The X-Men have featured in some of the most recognisable stories in the history of comics, and Jean Grey is among the most iconic. Having been dead for years, Jean was resurrected in the pages of X-Men: Red, a series that sees her grappling with a changed world for mutants. Still believing in Professor X’s dream, she puts together a team of her own X-Men to try and make the world a better place for mutants and humans. I recently met the artist of the series, Mahmud Asrar in Manchester at a comic signing in Travelling Man and I couldn’t resist getting his thoughts on what it’s like to draw such an important character.  He was really open and The Comic Vault is pleased to present an interview with Mahmud about his drawing process, what it meant to handle Jean and why the X-Men are so relatable in the modern day.

Creators Of New Macroverse App Reveal Why They Want It To Become The Netflix Of Comics

We’re living in an exciting time for comics, with plenty of independent creators being able to get their work in front of an audience and engage with people around the world. A number of apps for independent comics have started to be developed, and one of the most promising is Macroverse. The brainchild of M2, Macroverse is a phone app that allows comics to be consumed in a creative format. Creators Eben Matthews and Adam Martin teamed up with comic artist Steven Perkins to produce an original comic for Macroverse called DeadTown. I enjoyed talking to all three of them about how the app can help indie creators and the hope that Macroverse can become the Netflix of comics.

Jess Smart Smiley Talks Fantasy Quest, Puzzles And The Magic Of Mystery Books

The great thing about comics is that there is so much opportunity for creativity and different variations. I’m interested in promoting as many diverse comic related stories as possible, which is why I’m pleased to present an interview with illustrator Jess Smart Smiley. Jess is promoting an all-ages graphic novel called Fantasy Quest that features puzzles and magic. He needs your help to fund Fantasy Quest through Kickstarter and he spoke to The Comic Vault about the story and what readers can expect.

Casey Bowker Talks With The Comic Vault About Hollowed And How You Can Help Support The Series

The comic book industry is built on collaboration, with writers and artists working together to create something magical. The same can be said for indie comic writers and bloggers, which is why The Comic Vault is open to promoting independent comics and graphic novels. I’m pleased to reveal an interview with indie comic writer and pop culture website editor, Casey Bowker, who has created his first comic called Hollowed. He’s looking to get the series up and running through Kickstarter and he chatted to The Comic Vault about why he wanted to become a comic writer and how the industry has changed for independent writers.

Batman And 2000AD Artist Dave Taylor Discusses His Work

Recently, I attended Chester Comic Con and had the pleasure of meeting Batman and 2000AD artist Dave Taylor. Dave kindly agreed to be interviewed by The Comic Vault. He’s been in the industry for a number of years, drawing for DC, Marvel and indie publishers. One of his most well-known graphic novels is Batman: Death By Design. Read on to find out how he pissed off die hard Bat fans and why he feels it’s never been a better time to be an indie comic creator.