| At what point in your life did you discover that you were destined to be a comic book writer? |
| Hmmm destined, I’ll say this. There was a Comic-Con I had just attended in Chicago. It was my first one and it was like going to Disney World. I had never seen anything like it. The very next week I was having lunch with a friend and he suggested we start a company and create our own comics. I think I started writing comics that day. |
| How long have you been writing comic books professionally and do you work for an outside comic book company/studio, freelance or own your own company/studio? |
| About 25 years now. My company is called Strictly Underground Comics, It serves as an imprint under the umbrella of StreetTeam Studios. |
| What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of being a comic book writer, and even more specifically a black comic book writer? |
| Being an independent publisher I have complete freedom to tell any story I want. As a black comic book writer It’s telling stories that otherwise will not be told. |
| Do you create full time, or do you have another full-time job? What is your educational background? |
| I have a day job. I went to Columbia College in Chicago. I skipped my 4th year and took the money that would have been my tuition and started Strictly Underground Comics. |
| What tools of the trade do you most like to create with? |
| Just a basic pen and a legal pad, once I have the story the way I want I move to the laptop and put it all down. Make what ever edits and changes I need to and so on. |
| Who are some of your biggest comic book writer influences? |
| Oh wow Stan Lee, Warren Ellis, Dwayne Mcduffie, Grant Morrison just to name a few. |
| What style(s) does your comic book writing take and how much has black culture and history influenced your style? |
| I think you can definitely see and feel that in the work that I do both my parents made sure that I had knowledge of self and my history. So yeah it’s a pretty big influence. |
| What inspires you to create and how do you strive to reach your readers within the black community by reflecting themselves in your work? |
| Inspiration comes from all over the place. It could be a book I’m reading. Sometimes it’s music or sometime simply walking down the street. As far as how I reach black readers. I think it’s important to see yourself reflected in a medium that really didn’t have you in there. I’m a black man and I have a certain perspective and vision and it’s important to have those visuals and stories. |
| Do you have a particular project or projects which stand out as your favorite(s)? |
| I like them all. Because being Indie you know the sheer sacrifice and energy it takes to get it out. So when It’s done I can reflect back on it. So nah I don’t have a particular favorite. |
| As a black comic book writer, do you feel a personal responsibility to the black community to create content which not only entertains, but also uplifts and educates? |
| I think I have to be conscious of what I’m saying. So yeah that’s definitely in my mindset when I go in. |
| What does your creative schedule look like and how many hours a day do you create? |
| There is no particular time where I sit down and just go. It’s all day. |
| How do you best meet the challenge of juggling your day job (if applicable) and/or your family, against your writing career? |
| That’s difficult at times. You just do the best you can. Doing this creative stuff. Is challenging and can absorb a lot of your time. So I do my best. |
| Do you listen to music when you’re creating? If so, what type? |
| Not all the time but I do at times just to have background noise. It varies. One day Rock, One day Hip Hop. Trip Hop some R&B it depends on what I’m writing. Like now I’m listening to Mr. Lif lol. |
| What is the most difficult part of your writer process? |
| Trying my best not to edit myself or tone it down. If I’m hitting a topic then I need to really hit it and not try to sugar coat it. Ya know. |
| What do you do to recharge your creative batteries? |
| Just relax, step away from all of it do something different for a while then you get that urge to get back to it. |
| What have you found to be the most challenging thing about breaking into the comic book industry, especially as a black creator? |
| If you mean like the big two or a major publisher. Then I really think those days are just done. I think the independent route is the way. Breaking in is simply creating an ip and putting it out. If you don’t have the funds to publish. You can run a crowdfunding campaign for it and if your property draws an audience your off and running. |
| How does your work resonate with the black community and what do you want your legacy within the black community to achieve? |
| I think it hits at least I hope so lol. Legacy wise. I just hope I leave a positive mark on the industry when it’s all said and done. |
| How and why is it important that black people are represented in this medium and how important is it that black creators work together to encourage, empower and educate the black community through their work? |
| I think it’s very important as black creators to be just as visible as our IP’s. As far as black creators working together. I think that’s important as well. There are a lot of obstacles and hurdles you have to go through and over. I have my own company but I’m also under the StreetTeam Studios umbrella which is the home of six more creators. I think people see that unity and it does resonate. |
| How long does it usually take you to complete work on a comic book piece/project? |
| It can be anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years. |
| How many comics have you written? |
| About 18. |
| What are the names of some of the titles you’ve written? |
| “Something” “Prodigy” “PUNXofRAGE” “The Almighty StreetTeam” |
| What does artistic success in the comic book world look like to you? |
| I think you would like the work you do to be received well from your audience. |
| What upcoming project(s) are you working on, which you can share with the readers? |
| Almighty StreetTeam #2 is the next immediate project on deck. There are other things in the works. but that’s next. |
| Where can the readers continue to follow your career? Do you have a website or blog? |
| PUNXofRAGE.COM Instagram, PUNXofRAGE |
Thank You John F. Allen for the interview. Shout out to StreetTeam Studios Crew!The PUNXofRAGE Radio Crew Strictly Underground and all the people that have supported me on this journey. Thank You
John F. Allen Author 