Social media can often seem negative, filled with endless scrolling through unoriginal content and arguments, but it has also greatly benefited a young comic book creator. The TikTok account @slow_comics has gained a significant following by showcasing his own comics and sharing his enthusiasm for attending comic conventions. At one of these events, he met Dare, an American artist of Nigerian heritage, who is publishing and illustrating an indie comic that highlights his culture. The comic is titled Ori: Holder of the Heads and features rich illustrations influenced by Dare’s Yoruba background.
Dare also created a side story called Etch, which can be read in two different directions, offering unique viewpoints in a debate between two unusual characters. The host of @slow_comics expressed his excitement and purchased both comics. The video of this interaction became popular, leading to an increase in followers for Dare’s creator account and resulting in the quick sale of all available copies of Ori and a limited presale. Dare had to ask his brother Joshua to travel from Pennsylvania to New York with more copies, which also sold out. In a video, Dare thanked his supporters and detailed how collectors could access new editions. The host of @slow_comics confirmed that both Etch and Ori are excellent reads and noted that the video’s popularity caused the comics to sell out almost immediately. Dare, Ori, and Etch are set to appear next at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, on September 12-13, and at the Uhuru Book Fair in Clark Park, Philadelphia, the following weekend.
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Source: Good News Network, by Good News Network