This month on MEET THE INDEPENDENTS! Meet Zachary Aneiress, creator of Athens Ophelia The Partitioner series books 1 thru 5 a huge fan of the X-men’s Storm and a down right cool dude!
Check it!
Introduce yourself to our readers.
Answer: What’s up I’m Zachary Aneiress, creator of Athens Ophelia The Partitioner series books 1 thru 5!
How did you first discover comics?
Answer: They were in blockbusters, Toys R Us or FYE, they were off to the side with the mangas and action figures. I thought they were cool.
How did you get started in the comic industry?
Answer: They never make comics about openly gay black teenagers and gay black teenagers are the most powerful in world because not only are we open about it; we take on hateful people every day when our lives are on the line and it deserves to be acknowledged that through it all we still get back up and fight harder and harder. Truths like that deserve to be written about; comics, movies and on.
Who were your early influences?
Answer: X Men, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z; the normal things that everyone watches if you’re a trying to escape. Some say Harry Potter or Star Wars
What comic books did you collect or read while growing up?
Answer: I read a lot of books; anything Storms from X Men, Mangas, Inuyasha, DN Angel, Sailor Moon, anything that was outside the normal
Who do you think are the top five black superheroes out there and why?
Answer: Athens Ophelia The Partitioner, of course. Storm from X Men, Static Shock, Miles Morales, & John Stewart
If you could rewrite any character which one would it be and why?
Answer: Storm from X Men; she’s a goddess! She controls the earth and weather. She’s a beautiful woman with an amazing story that really needs to be on screen!
Given the success of books like Watson & Holmes and Tribe, what other books do you see having mainstream appeal?
Answer: Athens Ophelia The Partitioner. It’s not just because I created it, it’s fun, it’s creative, it’s inspiring, I get inspired by Athens Ophelia The Partitioner all the time because he’s his own person and really steps up to be more then what others see him as. If it becomes a movie, you’re not only going to be in for entertainment, you’re gonna cry, laugh, and look for the other books to made because it’s that fire!
Avengers or X-men? Why?
Answer: I can’t do that because they each got my boos on them! I love Storm but I got to show love for my boo Wiccan and he’s LGBT another get character! Then there’s Rogue, Jean, Gambit or Scarlett Witch or others that just make it hard.
If there were anything you would say to someone looking to get into the comic industry; especially a person of color; what would it be?
Answer: tell our story! We’re these incredible people. We have all this life in us where it’s hard or not right, we have so many stories to tell. We experience so much in such a short time, we need more stories about us that happen to us all the time. We’re creative so don’t sweat the doubt.
Is there anyone in particular you would like to work with in the future or on a book?
Answer: I’ve got a list. I’m keeping it to myself but if I work with them (many individuals) you’ll hear about it.
What is the central premise behind your book?
Answer: You’re never what box people put you. You can be extraordinary no matter the race, sexuality or whatever.
What’s the strangest thing you have in your house?
Answer: My dogs. They are my babies but they are weird.
Who would you say is the target audience with your books?
Answer: it’s for anyone and everyone but specifically for my LGBT color community. I’ve had white people read my books, all races read my books and they love it. But I really am looking for that Athens Ophelia costume on Halloween and on the playground for my kids of LGBT colored or….not.
What is your favorite film of all time?
Answer: I’d love to say Pokémon but then there’s Dragon Ball Z or Halle Berry Catwoman lol
What was the last comic book you bought?
Answer: I bought The Scarlet Witch comic books from the Witch’s Tale and Phoenix saga book, I read them both.
How are your titular characters different from say Luke Cage or other black superheroes?
Answer: He is not like all the other black superheroes because he’s so prissy. He’s got this genuine attitude that shows up to do the job and outrageous spirit that puts him apart from anyone because he’s a dude that’s gay but he’ll fight you like you’re just another person. Gender roles aren’t specific to him; right is right and wrong is wrong. Aneiress is this fashionable tough heart of gold diva and he’s so honest. I love him and he’s a great hero!
What other project or projects are you currently working on?
Answer: I got a few projects in the works; still aiming towards my black community & LGBT community with the mainstream in mind but they’re very different from Athens Ophelia series and I hope that they’re reserved just as well as Athens because Athens Ophelia reviews have been heartwarming.
What’s the experience been like working in comics?
Answer: People aren’t looking at us like that. I’m lucky that the few people who have given me the chance to get a little look have loved it but it’s hard and you got to refocus on you and what you see as successful because it can break you.
Why do you think it’s so hard for Indy creators to get mainstream coverage?
Answer: It’s not important til it’s popular. Stan Lee was made fun of when he was Indy and nobody thought he’d be anything now Marvel is the biggest thing in the world. Disney can’t get enough of it. So when you get ya chance to shine share it because it’s hard out here.
What are your thoughts on the Milestone re-launch? (What’s your favorite book?)
Answer: Static’s new artwork is great! I’m waiting for Michael B Jordan to make good on his promise to bring us a good Static movie! Static has such a great pull and the cartoon is the first African American cartoon of such caliber and it won an Emmy!
What are your thoughts on the current political climate in America and the Black lives matter movement?
It would be nice not to see videos of Karen attacking us every day come on my timeline and on the news. It’s a normal that needs to go away. I love that we are saying we matter, because our lives as black people matter but this over written hostility needs to stop. We are capable people. We’re talented people and we deserve respect.
As a black creative have you ever experienced racism?
Answer: All the time! It gets worse when the LGBT factor comes in and it’s painful, insanity driven but you stay strong, handle their crap and keep going!
What is the biggest obstacle that Indy creators must overcome to be taken seriously alongside mainstream companies like Marvel and DC Comics?
Answer: we can’t compare with all those stories. Don’t get me wrong they’re great stories but they’re stories about the same character seen through 50 plus years. We can only live the life we live and put the point of view we have on our characters and keep going.
Why do you think Worldofblackheroes.com is important for Black Superheroes and Black Creators alike?
Answer: It gives a shine to our black heroes! We need that more than ever because of Black Lives Matters, the gay bashing and outright hatefulness we experienced from our own people, white people, Asians and on. I would have loved to have a website that allowed me to be able to find a hero to relate too when I was a kid because the white kids didn’t say a black hero was a thing. Especially a gay black hero.
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Check back next time as we continue to MEET THE INDEPENDENTS!
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