I Only Make Comics for Younger Audiences, But Comics for Adults Are Necessary

Hey Subscribers!

Today I want to talk about why I create comics mainly for the 10-20 year-old crowd. I totally appreciate the amazing folks out there making comics for adults. They’re necessary, no doubt!

Here’s the deal: I grew up loving comics, cartoons, manga, and anime—they were everything to me! They made me laugh, cry, and dream big. Now, I aim to capture some of that magic and excitement for today’s readers. I make comics because I want people to have fun, feel inspired, and maybe even walk away thinking a little differently about the world. I genuinely believe that stories have the power to make us better humans.

One character that reflects this vision is Midnight Tiger. I love seeing readers get excited about him! The thought of kids (and adults!) cosplaying as Midnight Tiger and coming to my table to share how much they love the book and the universe makes my heart soar. That connection is what it’s all about.

Just because I mainly focus on younger readers doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy my work too. There’s a middle-grader in all of us! I love hearing from adult fans who dig what I’m creating. It blows my mind and reinforces that these stories can connect across ages.

I try to make characters who feel real—like friends you wish you had or role models you want to be like. I tackle issues that folks of all ages deal with, weaving in themes that aren’t traumatic. I want readers to think and feel but still come away with a positive outlook.

I’m all about enjoying adult-themed comics too. I love a good dystopian story or slice-of-life that digs deep. Right now, my heart is in creating uplifting narratives. Comics can do so many things, and I want to be part of that conversation. It’s exciting to see how comics are evolving in America, and we’ve still got a ways to go to catch up with what’s happening in Japan.

No More Collaborations, But That’s Not A Bad Thing

I no longer have an interest in collaborating with a writer. In fact, the work Studio Skye-Tiger and I are doing right now for DC may be my last collab with a writer for a good long while.

I've had the opportunity to work with some of the very best writers in the game—some of my favorites, actually. Some became my favorites BECAUSE we worked so well together, and they’re on a special list! LOL! But here’s the thing: as an artist collaborating with a writer, I can’t change the story they’ve prepared. I can only funnel that narrative through my visual lens, and that’s how a comic comes together. That’s the beauty of collaboration—it’s a mix of 2-5 voices creating a finished product, but the bones of the story belong to the writer. They write the lyrics, I sing lead, and the colorist, letterer, and maybe an inker are the band. Tons of hit songs have been crafted this way, and many artists prefer it.

Some favorite collaborative projects

However, at this stage in my career, I want to be Prince. I want to write it, sing it, compose it, and play lead guitar with some of the best band members in the business, while also lifting others by writing songs for them on the side. If I have any Prince fans reading this, you feel me. His music has a single voice—you know it’s a Prince song when you hear it. It feels like him, and he’s telling you who he is through his music. He may not always be the same Prince, but he is ALWAYS Prince. This is my best explanation for why I’m stepping back from collaborations with writers (aside from my wife, but that’s mostly my studio handling it). I’ve always felt incomplete as a comic artist and creator when collaborating. Even in my top three collaborations, I've only felt about 85% whole. So, that’s what it’s all about for me—feeling complete. I want my work to feel like me from start to finish, with my unique voice shining through in everything I create.

Until next time!

-Ray