Writing Outside The Lines

Saving the world from a giant spider. Creating and controlling fire. Hoping to make a real difference. 大卫·DJ·邦德， 中科院 12, 小企业管理局 ’16, creates comic book characters who may have the coolest superpowers — but ultimately, they are still people who face everyday challenges and adversities.

“耐力漫画 is about people who push through,” says Bond. “I tend to lean into the superhero, 幻想的元素, but I really like to tell stories about characters with all different kinds of backgrounds, all different kinds of diversity who have to use what’s inside of them to push through the issues presented to them on a macro level.”

Bond’s love for creative writing blossomed early on, but his passion for comics was born during an OU English capstone class that focused on comics and graphic novels. “That’s really when I started loving comics as a genre,” says Bond. 当我还是个孩子的时候, 我读超级英雄漫画, 比如漫威和DC, but the capstone course really gave me the idea to write them.”

启发, he developed the script for his first comic, “影子机构”,” right out of college and later worked with artists to make the visuals come to life. 为了出版, Bond raised money on the creative crowdfunding platform Kickstarter in October 2020.

Bond set an ambitious goal of raising $5,30天内完成, reaching it just moments before the deadline. “We had minutes left when we hit our goal. It was like New Year’s Eve. It was so exciting,邦德说. With the funds, he printed 1,000 books which are sold online and during select events at bookstores.

With two additional scripts finished for the “Shadow Agency” and a new comic “Only Yellow Door” in the works, Bond is planning on publishing the next book in the near future.

While major comic book publishers have come a long way in creating more diverse characters, Bond believes there is always room for growth. “We are making a lot of steps forward in these spaces and are making sure that people who are not frequently represented have a chance to tell their side of the story,邦德说.

Although his comic is geared toward older teens and young adults, Bond hopes audiences of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy his stories. He especially likes when his audience find a character they can relate to. “我一直都很喜欢. That’s what stories are for — to help people identify with characters,” he says. “It helps them see what kind of growth and development they can have in spite of these outward forces.”