Comic Crusaders Podcast

From collector to creator, Rod Jenkins took his love for comics and decided it was time to go off and create his own. Today he is the successful publisher and creator of Kiss ME Comix along with his wife as a Dynamic Duo.

Dive in and hang out with me and Rod, Publisher/Creator of Kiss ME Comix! Learn all about the characters of this indie comic book universe; titles like Serenade, Bountyhunter, and Excessive Force, and the journey he took to get here.

In this episode:

[00:01 - 06:04] Comics Saved Our Lives

• I welcome Rod Jenkins
  • Kiss ME Comix
• Rod talks about his start into comic books and his inspiration
  • Originally from Chicago
  • The journey getting into the fandom
    • Comic book vending machines!
  • Starting on ‘Journey into Mystery’ and Thor

[06:05 - 22:23] A Look into the Kiss Me Comix Universe

• Going from collector to creator
  • Meeting his artist wife and making a business
  • Inspired by Champions
  • The process of getting the first book together
  • ‘Serenade’ created within 6 weeks
• Rod talks about getting set up
  • Coming to a convention with 20 copies
  • Building a physical store
  • ‘The stamp of approval’
• We take a look at the different titles and how they were created
  • ‘Bounty Hunter’
  • How to shop through the collection
    • Links below
  • Breakdown of the art creation
  • ‘Excessive Force’ - voted in by fans
  • Get the origin video synopsis
    • Links below

[22:24 - 29:13] The Real Story Behind Serenade

• Rod talks about their Flagship Title: Serenade
  • All done by water color
  • The MC - half black half Korean
  • From a monster to a vigilante
  • More info about the MC and other characters
  • How to get into the story
  • Other materials you can get
• Creating material for POC
  • Navigating the challenge of being independent

[29:14 - 38:27] Closing Segment

• What is the future for Kiss ME Comix
  • Moving towards animation
  • Looking to partner with Blender or Unity
  • Getting to fashion and other mediums
• Lessons learned and Rod’s advice for other creators
  • Keep an open mind
  • Do not wait for the perfect moment
  • Get yourself a thick skin and keep going
  • Work with mentors and leaders
• How to connect Rod and support Kiss ME Comix
  • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“For us that’s the main thing: keeping our people engaged. We DO NOT insult our readers.” - Rod Jenkins

“People of color CAN be creative, and take their creativity to the highest level - and that’s where we want to take it.” - Rod Jenkins

“Do not wait for the perfect moment, because it will never come. If you think you’re ready to jump, then jump. Be prepared for the lumps, bumps, and bruises.” - Rod Jenkins

Resources Mentioned:

• Kiss Me Comix Shop
• Serenade
• Kiss ME Comix Universe YouTube Channel

Connect with Rod on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Make sure you visit kissmecomix.com and get into the Kiss Me Comix community.

Check out the video version of this episode.

Thanks for listening / watching!

Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven’t yet.

https://www.youtube.com/c/comiccrusadersworld

Download the Comic Crusaders Android App Today (iOS Coming soon)

Host: Al Mega: @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

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Today Al chats with the illustrators of Aztec Warrior God by David Towner, the very talented, Andrea and Diego Lopez Mata.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37j-bFd39zc

www.aztecwarriorgod.com

https://www.facebook.com/aztecwarriorgod

About Aztec Warrior God:

The Project

Aztec Warrior God is an exciting, action-filled superhero franchise created with modern audiences in mind. The story is crafted to appeal to broad, multicultural audiences with strong messages of equality, tolerance, racial and social harmony, environmental responsibility and compassion. While the characters are traditional superheroes, capable of using their powers for destruction, they practice restraint, diplomacy and seek intellectual solutions to problems before resorting to violence. The franchise features indigenous characters from every region of the world and a female-centric, ensemble cast, with 8 of the 13 ensemble characters being women.

The Series

Facing imminent extinction during the final day of Hernan Cortes’ assault on Tenochtitlan (August 13th, 1521), many surviving Tenochca withdraw into a designated region of the underworld (Mictlan) which was gifted by the god Huitzilopochtli, to re-build, re-populate and thrive without interference from the outside world. The gods subsequently granted 13 warriors and designated intellectuals, superpowers and immortality in order to ensure strict cultural preservation and maximum potential for advancement. Their immortality is preserved by a well-guarded water source known as the “Healing Waters” AKA fountain of youth.

Over the next five hundred years, the intellectuals integrate themselves into various cultures around the world to develop an understanding of technology, cultural development and languages to ensure their prosperity during the 1000-year integration, always returning to their civilization in the underworld and sharing their teachings with their peers. Their intellectual and technological knowledge rival any country on earth. However, they remain true to their culture and live as they did in the 16th century.

One designated warrior, Amoxtli, later nicknamed “Aztec” by society, has been granted powers of superhuman strength and shapeshifting, which he has spent nearly 500 years developing. He will emerge on earth on the 500th anniversary of their transition to Mictlan to fulfill his destiny. On August 13th, 2021, he will enter the world and find opportunities to help create a more stable, peaceful and sustainable planet, using his powers and knowledge. Amoxtli and his group are aided by warriors from the spirit world who have been hand-selected by the Spirit World Tribal Council (AKA "The Council"); Danuwoa (Cherokee) and Ahiga (Navajo) who appear periodically to serve as earthly guides as well as regional guides from Hindu, Zulu, and Taino cultures.

About Emergence (First Chapter):

On the 500th anniversary of the fall of their empire (August 13th, 2021), the immortals emerge to discover a world that has been crippled by a Lassa virus pandemic. Upon discovering that the virus was created in a lab by a Russian Oligarch named Adrian Volkov, who is also manipulating and selling vaccines to the highest bidder, they decide to negotiate with him to help distribute vaccines to the most devastated countries. When Volkov makes it clear that he has no interest in supporting their cause, the warriors decide that his organization must be destroyed.

Bio:

Originally from Alaska (Chugiak-Eagle River), David Towner is an American Entrepreneur, Comedian, Writer and Filmmaker. Prior to pursuing his business and entertainment ventures, he served as a US Army Paratrooper with missions in Somalia, Haiti and Cuba. Towner is most known for his quirky feature film, Our Scripted Life, which was released in 2020 and was downloaded half a million times in the first three months after being released. The film was the public introduction to Towner's character Roscoe Turner, a hillbilly from Kentucky who offers his own brand of unsolicited wisdom. Towner is also the Creator and Head Writer for the graphic novel series, Aztec Warrior God, which has gained millions of fans around the world. He is married to model Brandi Mendoza. The couple has triplet girls, born in 2017, and reside primarily in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Thanks for listening / watching!

Host: Al Mega (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook): @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven’t yet. https://www.youtube.com/c/comiccrusad...

Twitch:

We got a real modern legend in the house: R.A. Height! Tune in to learn all about Ray’s campaign on the upstart crowdfunding platform ZOOP, Cornerman.

Ray is the creator of Midnight Tiger, Freelance Illustrator, Father of Two, Husband of One, and Decent Human Being!

Tune in with me and my co-host C.V.R. Bard, to learn all about Ray’s campaign on the upstart crowdfunding platform ZOOP, Cornerman.

In this episode:

[00:01 - 06:07] Comics Saved Our Lives

• I welcome R.A. Height to the show
• A bit about Ray
  • From Compton originally
  • How comics played a big role in his life
  • First comic published at 19 years old

[06:08 - 26:43] In the Corner

• How Ray got his start
  • Upskilling and researching from books
  • Pitching with no fear
  • The first projects with Marvel
• Working with Kevin Greevioux
• A look into Ray’s independent work
  • Midnight Tiger
• We take a look at Cornerman
  • Who’s training the heroes?
  • Example from Dragonball
  • Cornerman is the man training the greatest heroes
• Making the character and the world
  • Building off of the true teacher mentality
  • Based off of Michael Jay White
  • Super martial artist vs. the superhero world
  • 32 pages
• Ray teases the plot of the comic
• Make sure to support!
  • Links below

[26:44 - 38:59] Bringing the Art to the Fans First

• Ray talks about the collaboration with Zoop
  • Helping artists create
  • Creating tiers of support
• The influence that inspired Cornerman
• Breakdown of where the money is going to go
  • Paying the creative team first
  • Paying off the logistics
  • The priority is the people
• When Ray decided to step out and do passion projects
• Ray talks about the ownership behind the project
• The most requested covers from fans
  • It all depends on what’s hot
  • Star Wars is usually big

[39:00 - 48:26] Closing Segment

• The future for R.A. Height
  • Working with the Luke Cage comic
  • How Ray got a approached
  • Building credibility through X-Men Blue
• Ray talks about other works he’s been involved with
  • Ex: Guardians of the Galaxy the Animated Series
• Support this project
• How to connect with the R.A. Height
  • Links below
• Final words

Connect with Ray on Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to check out https://zoop.gg/c/cornerman to take a look at the latest comic.

{DJ}C.V.R.{The Bard}: @C_V_R_TheBard

Check out the video version of this episode.

Thanks for listening / watching!

Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven’t yet.

https://www.youtube.com/c/comiccrusadersworld

Download the Comic Crusaders Android App Today (iOS Coming soon)

Host: Al Mega: @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

Sister Sites: http://www.undercovercapes.com​​​​ http://www.geekerymagazine.com​​​​

Mike Davenport is the creator/creative director of The Marvel Universe Online, an open-world version of the Marvel Universe made by fans for fans that takes place on the ever-changing world of Earth 619.

Join me while I chat with Michael and let’s take a dive into the Marvel Universe Online!

In this episode:

[00:01 - 06:56] A Hero in Life and in the Game World

• I welcome Michael to the show
• A bit about Michael
  • Learn more about Michael’s background
  • The start of the fandom - God Loves, Man Kills
  • A hero in life and in game
  • Currently working in Germany
  • How the love for gaming started

[06:57 - 30:02] Building Marvel Universe Online

• Michael’s inspiration to do something bigger
  • Impacted by MMO’s
  • Influenced by City of Heroes
  • Developing the idea for MUO
• Starting the project of MUO
  • How it started out as a joke
  • Dumping the early concepts online
  • The story of the ‘Almost Marvel MMO’
• Bringing the Marvel Universe to life
  • Tackling the technical problems first
  • Pitch before making
  • Getting it out to the comic community to get involved
• Breaking through the industry
  • Navigating licensing
  • Taking it to the people first
  • The game people want
• How to support and visit the website
  • Links below

[30:03 - 38:43] Raising Up Other Artists Through the Platform

• The present goal of the project
  • Giving players more options than ever
  • Commissioned art - showcasing artists
• Supporting other artists from the platform
  • What you can do as an artist
  • Printing out your own characters
• Bringing back the subscription model
  • Rewarding loyalty
• Making the Marvel world feel big and ‘lived in’
  • The ability to traverse areas
  • Different areas provide different experiences

[38:44 - 47:36] Closing Segment

• How can fans support
  • Like, follow, share!!
  • Contribute if you can
  • Help in development
    • Contact page on the website
  • #whatisthemarveluniverseonline
• Get involved now
• How to connect with the Michael
  • Links below
• Final words

Resources Mentioned:

• Support MUO on Patreon

Get more from Michael on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to check out https://themarveluniverseonline.com/ and take a dive into the marvel universe online!

Check out the video version of this episode.

Thanks for listening / watching!

Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven’t yet.

https://www.youtube.com/c/comiccrusadersworld

Download the Comic Crusaders Android App Today (iOS Coming soon)

Host: Al Mega: @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

Sister Sites: http://www.undercovercapes.com​​​​ http://www.geekerymagazine.com​​​​

Al chats with the creators/publishers of Livid Comics, John Durgin & Joel Vanpatten, learn al about this indie comics company and more...

Follow them on:

http://www.lividcomics.com https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCV1M1f7qJRUVdlMFIsfn_QQ https://linktr.ee/Lividcomics

Video Link: https://youtu.be/2SqGXy7Qa5k

Thanks for listening / watching!

Host: Al Mega (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook): @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven’t yet. https://www.youtube.com/c/comiccrusad...

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/comiccrusaders

Visit the official Comic Crusaders Comic Book Shop: comiccrusaders.shop

Visit the OFFICIAL Comic Crusaders Swag Shop at: comiccrusaders.us

Episode 70 in an unlimited series!

Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

Sister Sites: http://www.undercovercapes.com​​​​

http://www.geekerymagazine.com​​​​

http://www.splinteredpress.com

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