my love affair comics started in the 1970s I’m a native New Yorker I grew up
1970s I’m a native New Yorker I grew up
1970s I’m a native New Yorker I grew up in the Bronx the neighborhoods of sound
in the Bronx the neighborhoods of sound
in the Bronx the neighborhoods of sound view and then co-op city there’s a
view and then co-op city there’s a
view and then co-op city there’s a really fun childhood it was actually my
really fun childhood it was actually my
really fun childhood it was actually my neighborhoods were very diverse in co-op
neighborhoods were very diverse in co-op
neighborhoods were very diverse in co-op city you had Jews Italians Irish
city you had Jews Italians Irish
city you had Jews Italians Irish Hispanics you know black folks and
Hispanics you know black folks and
Hispanics you know black folks and Asians and it was a really fun
Asians and it was a really fun
Asians and it was a really fun environment like my crew were friends
environment like my crew were friends
environment like my crew were friends and I used sweets to ride our bikes
and I used sweets to ride our bikes
and I used sweets to ride our bikes around and we still get into trouble
around and we still get into trouble
around and we still get into trouble we’re responsible for property damage
we’re responsible for property damage
we’re responsible for property damage even saw a dead body it’s almost like
even saw a dead body it’s almost like
even saw a dead body it’s almost like the movie stand by me only with open
the movie stand by me only with open
the movie stand by me only with open fire hydrants and people of color that’s
fire hydrants and people of color that’s
fire hydrants and people of color that’s a different TED talk you know we used to
a different TED talk you know we used to
a different TED talk you know we used to I used to used to watch TV shows all the
I used to used to watch TV shows all the
I used to used to watch TV shows all the time some of my favorites were the
time some of my favorites were the
time some of my favorites were the original Star Trek I used to walk around
original Star Trek I used to walk around
original Star Trek I used to walk around my house going and I crapped my parents
my house going and I crapped my parents
my house going and I crapped my parents up because I used to recite the opening
up because I used to recite the opening
up because I used to recite the opening you know to boldly go but I just say to
you know to boldly go but I just say to
you know to boldly go but I just say to bogel ego and used to crack my dad up
bogel ego and used to crack my dad up
bogel ego and used to crack my dad up all the time I never got why he was
all the time I never got why he was
all the time I never got why he was laughing but eventually I did
laughing but eventually I did
laughing but eventually I did I watched the Six Million Dollar Man
I watched the Six Million Dollar Man
I watched the Six Million Dollar Man would Steve Austin and I used to copy
would Steve Austin and I used to copy
would Steve Austin and I used to copy him I loved the Incredible Hulk you know
him I loved the Incredible Hulk you know
him I loved the Incredible Hulk you know you won’t like me when I’m angry
you won’t like me when I’m angry
you won’t like me when I’m angry you won’t you won’t but Star Wars when
you won’t you won’t but Star Wars when
you won’t you won’t but Star Wars when Star Wars came out that blew me away
Star Wars came out that blew me away
Star Wars came out that blew me away like that opening shot of the big Star
like that opening shot of the big Star
like that opening shot of the big Star Destroyer chasing that little rebel ship
Destroyer chasing that little rebel ship
Destroyer chasing that little rebel ship and I was just like oh my god I was just
and I was just like oh my god I was just
and I was just like oh my god I was just I probably the images on that just
I probably the images on that just
I probably the images on that just really made an impression upon me I
really made an impression upon me I
really made an impression upon me I never forgot that to this day and I’m
never forgot that to this day and I’m
never forgot that to this day and I’m probably you know begged my parents
probably you know begged my parents
probably you know begged my parents would take me to see that feeling like
would take me to see that feeling like
would take me to see that feeling like three times the theater and back then
three times the theater and back then
three times the theater and back then that was a lot like my mom was like
that was a lot like my mom was like
that was a lot like my mom was like really you want to see again again and I
really you want to see again again and I
really you want to see again again and I was like I have to have all the
was like I have to have all the
was like I have to have all the merchandise I need everything I need the
merchandise I need everything I need the
merchandise I need everything I need the toys I need the underoos you know
toys I need the underoos you know
toys I need the underoos you know somewhere George Lucas was like yes yes
and I and so I even had like the store
and I and so I even had like the store was lunch box and back then we used to
was lunch box and back then we used to
was lunch box and back then we used to carry the middle lunch boxes to school
carry the middle lunch boxes to school
carry the middle lunch boxes to school yeah yeah I doubt they could do that
yeah yeah I doubt they could do that
yeah yeah I doubt they could do that today what the metal detectors in all
today what the metal detectors in all
today what the metal detectors in all that stuff but I and then I started
that stuff but I and then I started
that stuff but I and then I started sketching I started drawing and then one
sketching I started drawing and then one
sketching I started drawing and then one day I drew my Star Wars lunchbox and I
day I drew my Star Wars lunchbox and I
day I drew my Star Wars lunchbox and I brought that drawing home and my mom my
brought that drawing home and my mom my
brought that drawing home and my mom my dad saw and he said huh wow this kid
dad saw and he said huh wow this kid
dad saw and he said huh wow this kid might have some talent here so they
might have some talent here so they
might have some talent here so they enrolled me in a local community center
enrolled me in a local community center
enrolled me in a local community center painting course so once a week and this
painting course so once a week and this
painting course so once a week and this is in co-op city in the Bronx once a
is in co-op city in the Bronx once a
is in co-op city in the Bronx once a week I used to paint with my teacher
week I used to paint with my teacher
week I used to paint with my teacher named Emilio and so I learned how to
named Emilio and so I learned how to
named Emilio and so I learned how to create images in color it was awesome
create images in color it was awesome
create images in color it was awesome and so after I had a certain amount of
and so after I had a certain amount of
and so after I had a certain amount of paintings and a certain body of work I
paintings and a certain body of work I
paintings and a certain body of work I used that to apply to the Fiorello H
used that to apply to the Fiorello H
used that to apply to the Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music & Art
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art that’s the fame school for those of you
that’s the fame school for those of you
that’s the fame school for those of you who don’t know you know where the the
who don’t know you know where the the
who don’t know you know where the the movie where the kids used to break into
movie where the kids used to break into
movie where the kids used to break into I want to live forever on in the
I want to live forever on in the
I want to live forever on in the hallways in the lunchroom I mean that
hallways in the lunchroom I mean that
hallways in the lunchroom I mean that really was true you know you know we
really was true you know you know we
really was true you know you know we boring art majors would be sitting
boring art majors would be sitting
boring art majors would be sitting drawing and people would just be like ah
drawing and people would just be like ah
drawing and people would just be like ah I don’t like damn okay but it was cool
I don’t like damn okay but it was cool
I don’t like damn okay but it was cool it was great because it was such a
it was great because it was such a
it was great because it was such a diverse group of kids from all over the
diverse group of kids from all over the
diverse group of kids from all over the five boroughs of New York that were
five boroughs of New York that were
five boroughs of New York that were under this one roof and it was an
under this one roof and it was an
under this one roof and it was an amazing creative environment to be in
amazing creative environment to be in
amazing creative environment to be in you had art majors vocal majors dance
you had art majors vocal majors dance
you had art majors vocal majors dance majors music majors and drama majors the
majors music majors and drama majors the
majors music majors and drama majors the really cool thing though is that the art
really cool thing though is that the art
really cool thing though is that the art and the dance majors shared the same
and the dance majors shared the same
and the dance majors shared the same floor so every day I used to see pretty
floor so every day I used to see pretty
floor so every day I used to see pretty girls walking around in leotards but
girls walking around in leotards but
girls walking around in leotards but that’s a different TED talk
that’s a different TED talk
that’s a different TED talk this is the 1980s this is the birth of
this is the 1980s this is the birth of
this is the 1980s this is the birth of MTV in the music video you know you had
MTV in the music video you know you had
MTV in the music video you know you had the Michael Jackson videos the Printz
the Michael Jackson videos the Printz
the Michael Jackson videos the Printz videos even that aha take on me that was
videos even that aha take on me that was
videos even that aha take on me that was all animated we art students love that
all animated we art students love that
all animated we art students love that but then like started noticing something
but then like started noticing something
but then like started noticing something I’m like you know with the exception of
I’m like you know with the exception of
I’m like you know with the exception of Michael Jackson and prints most of the
Michael Jackson and prints most of the
Michael Jackson and prints most of the videos were the ol featured white
videos were the ol featured white
videos were the ol featured white artists even the people dancing in the
artists even the people dancing in the
artists even the people dancing in the backgrounds or whatever or whatever they
backgrounds or whatever or whatever they
backgrounds or whatever or whatever they were all white people and I was like huh
were all white people and I was like huh
were all white people and I was like huh that’s interesting then I started
that’s interesting then I started
that’s interesting then I started noticing the TV shows that I used to
noticing the TV shows that I used to
noticing the TV shows that I used to love you know most of them featured
love you know most of them featured
love you know most of them featured white folks films too and if you saw
white folks films too and if you saw
white folks films too and if you saw people of color we were usually like the
people of color we were usually like the
people of color we were usually like the jive-talking sidekick
jive-talking sidekick
jive-talking sidekick we were like the threat or we were
we were like the threat or we were
we were like the threat or we were struggling and you know listen I
struggling and you know listen I
struggling and you know listen I remember the Jeffersons so yeah they
remember the Jeffersons so yeah they
remember the Jeffersons so yeah they moved on up but at the same time you
moved on up but at the same time you
moved on up but at the same time you know you had good times and I was I’m a
know you had good times and I was I’m a
know you had good times and I was I’m a fan of good times but I mean between
fan of good times but I mean between
fan of good times but I mean between like Janet Jackson getting beaten or
like Janet Jackson getting beaten or
like Janet Jackson getting beaten or burned by the iron or like the father
burned by the iron or like the father
burned by the iron or like the father dying off-screen I was like this mean
dying off-screen I was like this mean
dying off-screen I was like this mean mom yeah we watched a little more
mom yeah we watched a little more
mom yeah we watched a little more uplifting maybe mash I mean there’s
uplifting maybe mash I mean there’s
uplifting maybe mash I mean there’s something like that like you know like
something like that like you know like
something like that like you know like there were jokes Olivia Nam war like
there were jokes Olivia Nam war like
there were jokes Olivia Nam war like they they had jokes there so but so
they they had jokes there so but so
they they had jokes there so but so while I was in school you know I really
while I was in school you know I really
while I was in school you know I really started like developing my craft and I I
started like developing my craft and I I
started like developing my craft and I I really started drawing and I really
really started drawing and I really
really started drawing and I really wanted to become a comic book artist
wanted to become a comic book artist
wanted to become a comic book artist that was my thing and I started to you
that was my thing and I started to you
that was my thing and I started to you know really say okay this is what I want
know really say okay this is what I want
know really say okay this is what I want to do for a living I really want to tell
to do for a living I really want to tell
to do for a living I really want to tell stories I want to tell images you know
stories I want to tell images you know
stories I want to tell images you know because as a comic as in growing up I my
because as a comic as in growing up I my
because as a comic as in growing up I my friends used to read comics but I loved
friends used to read comics but I loved
friends used to read comics but I loved comics seeing the images of like you
comics seeing the images of like you
comics seeing the images of like you know Superman and super women like
know Superman and super women like
know Superman and super women like leaping tall buildings in a single bound
leaping tall buildings in a single bound
leaping tall buildings in a single bound that was awesome it really made me feel
that was awesome it really made me feel
that was awesome it really made me feel empowered I mean it’s a run around my
empowered I mean it’s a run around my
empowered I mean it’s a run around my house like you know do a whole lot of
house like you know do a whole lot of
house like you know do a whole lot of stuff because it really made me feel
stuff because it really made me feel
stuff because it really made me feel empowered and those images I remember
empowered and those images I remember
empowered and those images I remember those images they just really just blew
those images they just really just blew
those images they just really just blew me away they made an impression upon me
me away they made an impression upon me
me away they made an impression upon me and the difference between film and
and the difference between film and
and the difference between film and comic books is that with a comic book I
comic books is that with a comic book I
comic books is that with a comic book I could hold that image in my hand and I
could hold that image in my hand and I
could hold that image in my hand and I can look at that image whenever I wanted
can look at that image whenever I wanted
can look at that image whenever I wanted you know so I said okay you know what I
you know so I said okay you know what I
you know so I said okay you know what I want to become a comic book artist and I
want to become a comic book artist and I
want to become a comic book artist and I want to do this for real and so I
want to do this for real and so I
want to do this for real and so I applied to the School of Visual Arts
applied to the School of Visual Arts
applied to the School of Visual Arts which is also in Manhattan and I got a
which is also in Manhattan and I got a
which is also in Manhattan and I got a scholarship to go there I applied to
scholarship to go there I applied to
scholarship to go there I applied to Pratt and Parsons but my parents are
Pratt and Parsons but my parents are
Pratt and Parsons but my parents are like no you got a scholarship to SBA you
like no you got a scholarship to SBA you
like no you got a scholarship to SBA you going there and so I was determined to
going there and so I was determined to
going there and so I was determined to get work before I graduated college
get work before I graduated college
get work before I graduated college because I don’t want to be like
because I don’t want to be like
because I don’t want to be like everybody else and you know be amongst
everybody else and you know be amongst
everybody else and you know be amongst the herd so in my junior year I went to
the herd so in my junior year I went to
the herd so in my junior year I went to the New York Comic Con and back then in
the New York Comic Con and back then in
the New York Comic Con and back then in the 90s there was only one convention in
the 90s there was only one convention in
the 90s there was only one convention in town that was the New York Comic Con
town that was the New York Comic Con
town that was the New York Comic Con both Marvel DC are both based in New
both Marvel DC are both based in New
both Marvel DC are both based in New York City and they would send their
York City and they would send their
York City and they would send their editors there to look for talent and if
editors there to look for talent and if
editors there to look for talent and if you were aspiring comic artists you went
you were aspiring comic artists you went
you were aspiring comic artists you went there to get work and I did
there to get work and I did
there to get work and I did unfortunately I did I got my first
unfortunately I did I got my first
unfortunately I did I got my first paying work doing painted illustrations
paying work doing painted illustrations
paying work doing painted illustrations for Marvel Comics then I went on and I
for Marvel Comics then I went on and I
for Marvel Comics then I went on and I started working from milestone which is
started working from milestone which is
started working from milestone which is the first black owned public comic book
the first black owned public comic book
the first black owned public comic book publisher and then I went to DC Comics
publisher and then I went to DC Comics
publisher and then I went to DC Comics and there I became the first black
and there I became the first black
and there I became the first black artist to draw a regular Batman series
artist to draw a regular Batman series
artist to draw a regular Batman series which is Detective Comics thank you
but those of you don’t know DC Comics
but those of you don’t know DC Comics stands for Detective Comics that’s their
stands for Detective Comics that’s their
stands for Detective Comics that’s their flagship title but it was really awesome
flagship title but it was really awesome
flagship title but it was really awesome on this black kid from the Bronx I’m
on this black kid from the Bronx I’m
on this black kid from the Bronx I’m creating like I’m working well you know
creating like I’m working well you know
creating like I’m working well you know when one of the most iconic brands in
when one of the most iconic brands in
when one of the most iconic brands in the world I’m creating new characters
the world I’m creating new characters
the world I’m creating new characters and co-creating like sections of Gotham
and co-creating like sections of Gotham
and co-creating like sections of Gotham City you know and it really started I
City you know and it really started I
City you know and it really started I started getting fans I started noticing
started getting fans I started noticing
started getting fans I started noticing people started noticing like my work and
people started noticing like my work and
people started noticing like my work and became fans of my work and then I
became fans of my work and then I
became fans of my work and then I noticed that people actually liked my
noticed that people actually liked my
noticed that people actually liked my work but they were also impressed by the
work but they were also impressed by the
work but they were also impressed by the fact that I was doing in and for people
fact that I was doing in and for people
fact that I was doing in and for people of color they’re like wow we can do this
of color they’re like wow we can do this
of color they’re like wow we can do this and for other people they were like wow
and for other people they were like wow
and for other people they were like wow they can do this and that really made me
they can do this and that really made me
they can do this and that really made me start to think about things you know the
start to think about things you know the
start to think about things you know the interesting thing is as an artist you
interesting thing is as an artist you
interesting thing is as an artist you know we work in our little hovels we
know we work in our little hovels we
know we work in our little hovels we work in our little caves you know we
work in our little caves you know we
work in our little caves you know we tend to work in our studios or apartment
tend to work in our studios or apartment
tend to work in our studios or apartment and we don’t get to we don’t get to
and we don’t get to we don’t get to
and we don’t get to we don’t get to adventure on to the outside world and we
adventure on to the outside world and we
adventure on to the outside world and we really don’t see the effects of the work
really don’t see the effects of the work
really don’t see the effects of the work that we create until we go outside you
that we create until we go outside you
that we create until we go outside you know I it’s really pretty scary
know I it’s really pretty scary
know I it’s really pretty scary sometimes we know we don’t shave
sometimes we know we don’t shave
sometimes we know we don’t shave sometimes we don’t bathe sometimes you
sometimes we don’t bathe sometimes you
sometimes we don’t bathe sometimes you know I gotta wear pants like this is for
know I gotta wear pants like this is for
know I gotta wear pants like this is for you this is the love I have for you guys
you this is the love I have for you guys
you this is the love I have for you guys you know dressing up here but I noticed
you know dressing up here but I noticed
you know dressing up here but I noticed that when I would go to comic convention
that when I would go to comic convention
that when I would go to comic convention those people would say wow you know what
those people would say wow you know what
those people would say wow you know what hey I’m an aspiring artist how can i how
hey I’m an aspiring artist how can i how
hey I’m an aspiring artist how can i how can I do this or I have kids how can you
can I do this or I have kids how can you
can I do this or I have kids how can you know how can I foster their interest in
know how can I foster their interest in
know how can I foster their interest in this and so that really inspired me to
this and so that really inspired me to
this and so that really inspired me to create a book that would encapsulate all
create a book that would encapsulate all
create a book that would encapsulate all of my experiences and hopefully sort of
of my experiences and hopefully sort of
of my experiences and hopefully sort of give people insights in terms of how I
give people insights in terms of how I
give people insights in terms of how I tell a story and how I craft an image
tell a story and how I craft an image
tell a story and how I craft an image and that was pretty cool and also the
and that was pretty cool and also the
and that was pretty cool and also the really cool thing is that it gave me at
really cool thing is that it gave me at
really cool thing is that it gave me at the opportunity to create images that
the opportunity to create images that
the opportunity to create images that were outside of the comic book genre
were outside of the comic book genre
were outside of the comic book genre more personal images more diverse images
more personal images more diverse images
more personal images more diverse images you know so after that I went back to
you know so after that I went back to
you know so after that I went back to doing regular comic books I Illustrated
doing regular comic books I Illustrated
doing regular comic books I Illustrated Luke Cage I did Captain America I’ll
Luke Cage I did Captain America I’ll
Luke Cage I did Captain America I’ll illustrate it Black Panther and then
illustrate it Black Panther and then
illustrate it Black Panther and then today I work alongside Robert Kirkman
today I work alongside Robert Kirkman
today I work alongside Robert Kirkman the creator of The Walking Dead well I
the creator of The Walking Dead well I
the creator of The Walking Dead well I don’t draw this I don’t draw the Walking
don’t draw this I don’t draw the Walking
don’t draw this I don’t draw the Walking Dead but I mean you know we work on a
Dead but I mean you know we work on a
Dead but I mean you know we work on a comic book that’s about this
comic book that’s about this
comic book that’s about this international art art thief named Conrad
international art art thief named Conrad
international art art thief named Conrad Paulson it’s really cool and this is a
Paulson it’s really cool and this is a
Paulson it’s really cool and this is a really great example of the power that I
really great example of the power that I
really great example of the power that I have in terms of representation when we
have in terms of representation when we
have in terms of representation when we first started working on the book Robert
first started working on the book Robert
first started working on the book Robert would send me notes about the characters
would send me notes about the characters
would send me notes about the characters because we had to create this universe
because we had to create this universe
because we had to create this universe from the ground up and aside from the
from the ground up and aside from the
from the ground up and aside from the lead character
lead character
lead character uh and his family who we just assumed
uh and his family who we just assumed
uh and his family who we just assumed were white Robert really didn’t give me
were white Robert really didn’t give me
were white Robert really didn’t give me any specific notes on the other people
any specific notes on the other people
any specific notes on the other people in the story and so there is a female
in the story and so there is a female
in the story and so there is a female FBI agent who’s trying to bring Conrad
FBI agent who’s trying to bring Conrad
FBI agent who’s trying to bring Conrad Paulson down you know and so her name is
Paulson down you know and so her name is
Paulson down you know and so her name is Elizabeth Cohen and so what I’m doing
Elizabeth Cohen and so what I’m doing
Elizabeth Cohen and so what I’m doing the design from the car let me draw her
the design from the car let me draw her
the design from the car let me draw her as a black woman sent it off Robert saw
as a black woman sent it off Robert saw
as a black woman sent it off Robert saw what he said Oh Elizabeth Cohen’s black
what he said Oh Elizabeth Cohen’s black
what he said Oh Elizabeth Cohen’s black now cool just like that I use my power
now cool just like that I use my power
now cool just like that I use my power and so going forward you know like
and so going forward you know like
and so going forward you know like that’s my thing is to diversify any
that’s my thing is to diversify any
that’s my thing is to diversify any story or any image that I’m good that
story or any image that I’m good that
story or any image that I’m good that I’m hired to draw that’s it but that’s
I’m hired to draw that’s it but that’s
I’m hired to draw that’s it but that’s like standard procedure for me now I
like standard procedure for me now I
like standard procedure for me now I just do that so if I can’t draw if I
just do that so if I can’t draw if I
just do that so if I can’t draw if I can’t change a major character they’ll
can’t change a major character they’ll
can’t change a major character they’ll be like a black guy in the background
be like a black guy in the background
be like a black guy in the background like or a woman just like oh you know
like or a woman just like oh you know
like or a woman just like oh you know hey I do it but what I really want to do
hey I do it but what I really want to do
hey I do it but what I really want to do is I really want to capture a moment in
is I really want to capture a moment in
is I really want to capture a moment in time with a static image that’s what I’m
time with a static image that’s what I’m
time with a static image that’s what I’m trying to do and so whether or not it’s
trying to do and so whether or not it’s
trying to do and so whether or not it’s you know like an action scene or a car
you know like an action scene or a car
you know like an action scene or a car chase or you know an argument between
chase or you know an argument between
chase or you know an argument between two people or a shootout or even a scene
two people or a shootout or even a scene
two people or a shootout or even a scene of a woman holding her child and showing
of a woman holding her child and showing
of a woman holding her child and showing love that’s my power and so because I
love that’s my power and so because I
love that’s my power and so because I believe that art inspires art creativity
believe that art inspires art creativity
believe that art inspires art creativity feeds feeds creativity and everyone in
feeds feeds creativity and everyone in
feeds feeds creativity and everyone in this room has this power so whether or
this room has this power so whether or
this room has this power so whether or not you are an artist and you draw some
not you are an artist and you draw some
not you are an artist and you draw some of the most iconic brands in the world
of the most iconic brands in the world
of the most iconic brands in the world or you simply are just having an
or you simply are just having an
or you simply are just having an interaction with someone you just met we
interaction with someone you just met we
interaction with someone you just met we all have the power and is the power of
all have the power and is the power of
all have the power and is the power of representation thank you
representation thank you
representation thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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