S:2 E:19: Onaji Rouse of Koncret Comics

(upbeat music) - Hey, all my nerds, geeks, blurds, and freaks. Welcome back to another episode of Geeky Sexual and Intellectual. I'm your host, Q. And today's guest is Mr. Onaji Raos. He is the creator and writer of his comic, Odina, coming out of Concrete Comics. Check him out, check out Concrete Comics. Check out Odina. I'm not gonna say too much about Onaji because this is our first time ever meeting in this interview. It's been a couple of weeks since we recorded this and it's like 20 years in pass and we as best friends now. Okay, and you will be able to tell that from this first interaction. That's just how I roll, y'all. I've tried to make everybody comfortable and I try to make as many friends in this life as I can because they fart in between. So, give it a listen. I hope you like it. (upbeat music) Back to another episode of Geeky Sexual and Intellectual. I am your host Q. Onaji Raos from Concrete Comics. How are you today? - I'm doing great. How are you doing? - I'm okay. You know, we talked a little bit before and I'm like, good, good, good day today. (laughing) - It's Sunday, it's Sunday. You gotta, you gotta get yourself room to breathe. And it's creators. We don't have that time sometimes but we're just always on go. We're like, (humming) Even in my wrist, I am dreaming about things that I want to create when I wake up. - Exactly, right in the front shut off. - Never. - So, I always do this now in the climate that we are all living in. How are you doing in these round of times? - Let me tell you something. By God's grace, I'm adapted, I persevered and I've triumphed and I'm still triumphed. Amen, hallelujah. (laughing) I'm like, because every day it's something new. - Always. - It's like, you know, you see a life being a certain way. You have the, you know, the ebbs and flows but this is all day, get, get, get, get, get, get a rickshaw. - And as, you know, being at we work from home and being creators, you know, we already kind of used to working like this but it's like being limited still, not being able to go certain places and stuff and you still gotta take precautions. So it's still that, that, like you said, that roller coaster, so it's, yeah. - Well, like so mentally and spiritually, how are you and how have you been getting through this the last six months? - You know, being online can be exhausting. And like you said, spiritually, I meditate, I pray, I thank God and I'm still alive because there are others who are losing their life to this thing. So with that, you know, it's, you know, be thankful, be thankful you're still here. You know, and also, you know, with what's going on with, the, you know, with us, you know, people of color, black people, it's a trying time. And I hope that, you know, this, this moment we still, I hope that we get to this point when we accept the fact that we are this world with things like, you know, with art and culture and all this stuff. You know, like I watched Black as King yesterday and that was, but not like, when I tell you, I was like, I was telling Lonzo, I was like, come on now. That's saying, like, you can't hold your head, you can't hold your crown with your head now. Like, you know, like brother, you a king, like, work around like you a king. Like, they gave me a rejuvenation on my spirit. I'm like, it's, yeah. - It spoke levels, every, I the little, you know, the, the programs that they inserted. I was like, who, every time I sold with Quiver, 'cause I'm like, that is a small statement, but it means so much. - Yes, even when he was, the guy was saying, you know, it takes the women to reassemble us. - Mm-hmm. - And I was like, those are facts. - Facts, every point in history. - Yes. And I was, it was, it was, it was beautiful. Like, it was monumental. I looked for low stuff like that. Well, you know, that visual representation and then, you know, like, you know, Moesha coming to Netflix. - Yes. (laughs) - How do you know from this great experience? - Not that Moesha not, but I'm like, this is Bloodbuster, Excellent. And you're like, Moesha, (laughs) (laughs) - But you know what, though? - Oh, it begins and wrenches. That's the versatility of your play. - You know, it's our culture. It's, it's everything, you know, it, like, I'm gonna tell you right now, like, I love the show I made a story. But I love also the show P Valley. - Okay. - So, you know, you got, you know, the British, you know, television show and then you got the, you know, the gutter, it's, that's what makes us, us. It's like, it's like, it's like, it's in us. Michelle Obama, she's the best of both worlds. - Thank you. - Can teach and preach you and she can drag you. (laughs) - What class? - We class. (laughs) - And she'll make you feel this big. (laughs) - In a loving way, like, you know, as if you're gonna kick. - Yeah. (laughs) - Oh, man. But yeah, but back to this, you know, our whole situation day to day, what have you learned during this time about yourself, about the world, just everything? What have you learned? - I've learned that, remember I said, we are the world. Stuff doesn't move without us. Let's be perfectly clear. We are, we are the epitome of the culture. I don't care who might be offended by that. I don't give a shit. We, we are a trend, like we set the trend. And most of people copy off of that and that is apparent, you know, with the way things are going on. However, our lives are not treated in an example when it comes to like, you know, us being accepted. The culture is accepted, but us as people, you know, we're still looked at as like, we're not very important. And that's the sad part. And I think with that is, you know, while in this world, I'm looking at a new first set of eyes is we matter. Like we see, we move this motherfucker, excuse me. - I don't know, we cast out out here. - Okay, good, good, good, good, good. So I don't, you know, I don't care who gets offended by, you know, I am my people, we are, we are God willing. So, you know, not like God, we're good. - Yeah, and people, if you're thinking individual, you shouldn't take offense to their statement. You can look at different points in history, artistically and creatively. Where did they come from? Where did they stand from? If you think you do your history, it comes from black people. And that's okay, because even in companies, you have strong employees. Hopefully you hire strong employees. We are doing this to keep this ship going. - Yes. - That's what society is. Nobody is greater than any other part of society, but recognize the pieces that you have. - Thank you. - And it may not come in the skin that you wanted in, but we have to bring this forward. So, why can't you accept it? - Yeah, and also as, you know, being that, you know, as a common creator at that, you know, I can't go to cons like I won't do, 'cause you know, we're on lockdown, kind of. So, I have to find other ways, you know, to promote, you know, I have to find other ways to, you know, collaborate with my brothers, you know. So, it's all about still finding that way around that mountain. And that's what life is about. It's like, I don't care, like, 'cause I was talking to someone the other day and they were telling me how their girlfriend might has, you know, a felony, but she still went to graduate to college, did all that stuff. So, and I was like, that should be your example of life. And no matter where you go, you know, you gotta keep going. - Exactly. - And when you come to this mountain, you can either go up or go around it. Don't stop and go back, 'cause we ain't got time for this shit. - Oh, no. - I can go back. He built us to go forward. You know, so that's why, like, knowing these times, you just gotta think of other ways to keep yourself going. - Exactly. That's a perfect example of life. You can't go backwards 'cause as long as you live it, it's moving forward with or without you. - Thank you. - To move with the flow instead of against the flow or just stagnant. - Thank you. - Stagnant things die. You guys, you got to keep going. - What? That's what I check in. I just always want to do that because everybody needs to be asked, how are you? - And I appreciate it and thank you. - Yeah. - So give back to you and your greatness. You are the co-founder of Concrete Comics. You are also the creator of a character called Odena of Concrete Comics. You are the founder of obsolete studios. And sidebarbing that to sidebar, you are also an actor. - Yes. (laughs) - I'm like, you was running the whole game at my brother. (laughs) - No, you gotta be more than one trick pony in this game. You know? - Yes. - You say, um, uh, extra flows of income and (laughs) you gotta have a whole. - You gotta work your craft, work your kids. - Yes, especially creatively. Because it don't always pay day like you wanted to. So you gotta have a whole bunch of pay days. - Thank you. - But for people that don't know what Concrete Comics are, let me break that down for them. And you can feel feeling where I leave the gaps. Concrete Comics is an independent publishing company I was blind. in 2018, this company is a branch of the Concrete Music Group, which I didn't even know about that. So learning things, everybody's learning together today, kids. OK, Concrete Congress is a collective of artists, creators, and writers. Their passions as creators is to bring their wildest dreams to life through their deep rooted stories and eye-catching visuals. Their mission is to create stories through a diverse lens that appeals to all audiences and all ages. Breaking boundaries, stereotypes, and daring to be different. I love that. Thank you. So if you could run down how Concrete Congress was just a brainchild that came to fruition to the great thing that it is now for the community. Well, that's what started off with my colleague, Liza Starr, who is the founder. He's the founder of it. He started Concrete Music, which is, you know, he is a rapper and he does music. So when he always wanted to do comics, so he never thought that he could it. And you know, most people, you know, we tend to get in our way thinking like, yeah, it never was going to happen. So, you know, he met Jermel, who me and Jermel knew each other through a previous group when we were working on the comic. So when those two met up, and they were like, they were going to try to create this brand to make comics, they brought me in the fold. And pretty much like right then and there, it's been like a brotherhood sense. Like it was like a natural, like it just flowed. Like, so when we launched, you know, we created these titles that we already were working on. Like these are our own like little titles. I had Odina, you know, Jermel last year had a absorber and Liza Starr had his care to act alike. So we kind of was like, well, we just, you know, do our own, you know, create our own thing and like our own titles and all that stuff. So when we did it, we didn't know it was going to be received as good as it was, you know. But I believe that when you have something that, I'm going to put this, it's natural from your creators, like, you know, like the, for the culture, it's more, it's well received. So that's why I think it is, you know, we're kind of hitting something on the thing. It's because, you know, we're black creators and we're creating black characters. - Yeah. - Who else can tell our stories but us? - I wish Hollywood would learn that. (laughing) But to speak back to what you were saying, I call it black lash because you know you have a thing that I put my lip right now. (laughing) - Yeah, well, I see the black lash with all of us with our, with our babies, with our creations. We're like, oh, I know this is great. I know this is magnificent, but will it be received well? And some people pull out at that point when they had a thought they were like, I'm just going to bow out. - Yeah. - I'm black, people not consuming black, you know, products or what have you. And then, no, it's people out there that's hungry for that, don't stop. - Yeah, but it's a false narrative that we're fed. And like you said, Hollywood thinks that. So when Hollywood sends out that message to us, that, eh, this is not going to sell, it's not going to do that, it's not going to do that. But, it does, because why do we want someone else telling our stories? - Yeah. - Like, it doesn't make sense. It does not make sense, like these black shows. Why do you think they're such a big deal now that these seven black iconic shows are coming in Netflix? - Mm-hmm. - Because people have been holding on to our shows, like they're trying to like, you know, monopolize them. So, but you, but you so quick to tell these black creators that this is not going to sell, this is not going to do well. - Yeah. - You do want to take it from them and buy from them and then not pay them shit for it? - Exactly. - Yeah, work. - Okay, so we get out of script. But yeah. (laughing) I'm going to tangent for every day. (laughing) Because my brain just go out for different tangents and different, uh, 'cause we're seeing-- - I'm just under way, so I'm sorry. (laughing) - Yeah, so let me get us back on track. So, basically, what I really want to do is, I want to start back with you. I want to go back and know your backstory. I know I want to get into your characters' backstories, but I want to get into your backstory. So what got you in the comics and did anything in your childhood influence who you are and what you do today? - Yes. I got into comments when I was real little, like, you know, like most kids, I found this book with these characters, you know, these colors, you know, I'm just like, man, this is fascinating. These characters are flying around and doing all this stuff. And so, but I didn't actually buy my first comic, even though I was see 'em, I didn't buy my first comic 'til I was like 12, and I was like, when I really looked and started reading it, and it was like the way it was just thought out the stories and everything. So, you know, it's time to go on, you started thinking, you know, like, why is there not that many, you know, of us in the kit and the booklets. So, you know, one day I was sitting down, and that's, but for me, sorry, back to me. So, I've always been into creating, you know, like drawing and stuff like that, you know, and theater, all that stuff, you know, doing all this stuff. So, writing, I always wanted to do, but I never really embraced me trying to create the book. I always thought, like, eh, that's the typical way to go. I'm just gonna get me a nine to five, whatever. After a while, you know, it comes a point when you're just like, something's gotta get. Like, I gotta start putting some characters together. So, our nieces and nephews and daughters and sons can see themselves. - Yeah. - So, I've always been a fan of comics and how, you know, they tell a story and also how they help kids reading. They helped me read. - Me too. - Yeah, like, I've learned words, like big words, reading comics. - Yeah. So, a creator don't realize it, 'cause I'm dyslexic. I was diagnosed dyslexic when I was in the fifth grade. And text books, I would, all the words would just float away. - Yeah. - The letters were separate, but comic books kept my mind focused. I don't know, that speaks to a lot of people with dyslexia or any type of learning disability. Yeah. - But you know what I've learned is that they, it's often time looked down upon if a child is reading comics like it's a child. But when you say that, that takes their way from the child actually looking at reading period. - Mm-hmm. - Like, they could learn a lot. Like, but, in a hood. - Yeah. - But, so, getting into, you know, comics, I finally started doing it when I first moved to Atlanta in 2009. I moved to Atlanta because I'm originally from North Carolina, Riley, North Carolina. And I moved to Atlanta for artistic, you know, pursuit. But I didn't know like what to really do. So I started working on my comic, but I didn't really work on it work on it. 'Cause you're not straggling, you know, trying to work and do all this stuff. So until like 2016, I was like, I'm finally gonna do it. I'm just gonna sit down, draw it, and do everything, and let God work the rest of it out. - Mm-hmm. - And look how it turned out. (laughing) - Yeah, you gotta keep pushing. 'Cause it's okay to put it on the back burner. 'Cause, you know, life is always happening. But you gotta come back to it. Because I don't know if you're an empath, but you can feel when you are slipping away, when you're not pursuing your dream. And we just try to check the boxes like, okay, well, like you said, I'm just gonna get a nine to five. You lose yourself, you lose your joy for the living. Because you just, the car, I get this point. You just making the moves until they put you in the ground. So come back to your dream. - Exactly, you know what's just funny? You said that about being an empath because I would ignore that. - Mm-hmm. - Because, you know, I think we have that gift of being empathic when it comes to like, I give. And I would ignore it so bad that to the point when I got older, I was like, I can't fight it anymore. Like, it's something that keeps, it keeps me up at night. So I would always, it's like, I gotta work on it. I gotta do it. It's like, do it down there. It's like, do it down. - Oh God, that's what I say. And I tell people all the time on this podcast, I owe them. I'm 40. So it's never too late. I said, I'm not going to stop. They don't have to cut my hands off to stop me from writing and, you know, drawing. They go have to chop my ears off of me doing this podcast. I'm like, what else? I have to go to work. I have no control over that. But I have control over this. - Yes. I have to control the things you have control over your life to keep you motivated and going and not taking yourself at this game early. - But I tell you, like, getting into also acne stuff, you learn like how to be resilient because you're going to hear a million knows ton of time as well as in life in general, like you're going to get rejection. And one of the stories that people told me was like, you know, when you're on this, who was the story? It was about you being on your deathbed. And you're surrounded by all your gifts. And they're saying, you, we come forth to you and you didn't use us. So now we have to go to the grave with you. That shit hit me and I was like, Lord. - I just got a tingle when you said that. - You said, you said I'm saying that. - Yes. - Now is the time to don't deny your gift. Like, do it. I don't care how old you are. Do we have to have a thing? - Yes. People just like, I'm too old for that. This is, that's young people stuff. Like, no, old people squandered, I mean, young people squandered too. Come back, come back to it. - Yeah. - Okay, so how did, I mean, I'm sorry. How did you become a comic book character creator? So you saw the characters when you were keys in which part can you say, hmm, I can make my own shit. (laughing) - You know, like I said, that lack of representation. And then like, you know, the typical token characters that you will always see. You know, without going into too many details, you know, they would look a certain way or just be a certain way or just be underutilized. And I was like, I'm tired of like, you know, these big name companies, they would have all these characters that they're sitting on. But they were only pulling out doing black issue. And I'm just like, this is so stupid. And then on top of that, but then black women in comics would be so underrepresented, it was so ridiculous. Like, you know, like young black girls love comics and cartoons, but they don't tell you that. Yeah. Like I come from a matriarchal family. I got eight nieces that range between the ages 29 to the five. So imagine the youngest one. She not seeing herself in these movies like Avengers and stuff like that. Well, we know for a fact that that's not the truth. That's not the world we live on. It's time to like change that narrative. And I got to, if I got to move forth and like do something to do that, then so be it. I'll be that person. Yeah. And you know what? And people always want to say, well, it's about business. It's about finance. Okay. So if you're in a big company like you see, let's say Marvel Disney, whoever, all the name. If you buy money, your bottom line, you know you have a demographic that you have not tapped into financially. Why not try that? Because otherwise you're leaving money on the floor. If you're all about money, let's just see if we can get some money for that. We're going to drop this bag to receive more bags. And inside of that was possible with black pants. And I hate to keep going back to that. But that's the start of it. Yeah. We have blade. But blade didn't knock out numbers like black people. So I'm like the money's there. If you just all about the green, you not worried about the black. We got the green. Produce for us. Get our people in there to produce for us. Here's the thing. Here's the why it didn't work because you didn't have certain people in the room when you were doing this. If you allow certain individuals in that room, you would actually get a product that would sell. But instead you're trying to tell me that some old guy, some old white guy in Hollywood knows what I like. Yeah. I don't know you brother. On my life. It was so crazy about that. Somebody could say the slip of that, the reverse. Well, why do black people think they know about white people? That's historic. That's a historic statement where I have a historic statement on that. Because we have been, we have been conditioned to know everything about white people. I was about to say we've watched, we had to watch you. And even back in slavery. You had, and I hate to go pull that out because people are like, Oh, we're going slavery. But I'm like, we had to take care of the house. We had to take care of your food. We had to take care of your kids. So that's where the learning started. Okay, this is what white people like to eat. This is how white people. I calm the master's wife's hair in the morning. So we know everything about them inside and out. We had to sit back and watch as you eat. We had to sit back and watch as you entertain your guests. We had to sit back and like clean. Like, basically, we had to sit back and observe and not be ourselves. And learn your language. Thank you. And learn your religion and stuff. So what else are we going to do? We're going to just like act like we don't know who you are. Yeah. So out of just surviving, we had to learn. They're people. They're life that they're culture. They didn't have to learn about us. They just said, I just have to feed this thing to keep it alive. So we can do my mind. That's it. You don't get me shit. Yeah. And then fast forward. Television was all white people. So again, we're learning your lifestyles through, you know, Archie Bunker or whatever. Whatever shows. All the shows. You know, Karen Mason. Whatever was on. Friends. We learned about white folks and they friends. I'm just like. I'm just saying we've had always. You always been under the microscope because you won't show anything but yourself. So we've learned everything about you. Not to think you don't have any heartbreak and hardship in life. But we've learned everything about you. You don't know anything about us. So you can't make a show about us. You can't make a comic book about us. Thank you. Have not been paying attention to even write something about us. So we have to be in those rooms. And that may turn a couple of people green. I don't care. It's just the truth. Hey, like I said, I don't go talk about anybody else. Yeah. That ain't my problem. Exactly. So I told you, you know what me and you. Like, let's go just wait. Let's turn right. Oh, no, baby. We gotta come back now. So let's go back a little. Okay. Okay. What is your process when trying to come up with a new character? And how do you develop their backstory and personality traits? Hmm. That's a good one. Um, I will probably say I will look at the authenticity of the world around me. Like because I'm real big on like looking on like what's current and stuff like that. You know, like I said, I got eight nieces. So the language, the lingo. What's going on at the moment? Like, you know, I'm sending a crack on up and I'm like, they are a layers to me. So watching their personalities and see how the world personality, especially like, you know, young, young people. You know, I have to take that in like why am I creating a character? This is going to be like from back in the 50s or something. Yeah. I don't make no sense. So it has to be imperative to the culture of what's going on right now. Like how they act and stuff like that. And then I'll talk about that. But the process. Because I take that shit to heart when I'm creating it. I'm just great. So I'm going to be like, oh, boom, there you go. No, it has to be like from a place of culture. Like, like, what's their background story? Like, you know, like for a dinner, say, for instance, a dinner is definitely from the south. You know, she got a bit of a, you know, sudden attitude to, you know, she got swag to. So, you know, that's what you got to put in there when you, you know, you create this character. So it's all about like, where her surround is it? Where she grew up at, you know, that type of thing. You know, black people in different areas. We all grew up similar, but we all got a different way of speaking. You know, a different way of talking, you know, like our lingo and that type of stuff. You know, and I love it. So that's what I consideration. Like, what are you from the background? That type of stuff. Their style. So you make them a human first. Yes. Yeah. And then you tack on it. Oh, I'm very protective of Odena. Like, when I tell you, like, somebody was joking about a bathing suit song. I was like, no. This is my baby. It's like your daughter. This is my baby. It's my baby to the world. Like, no, no. Yeah. But that's good. I'm glad, you know, anybody that's listening to this. That's thinking about creating characters and becoming a writer. That's a good step to have. Create them as a person. The what they don't even have to be a perfect person. Just create a quality human being and then they can be here. Because that's what they are from birth. We all human. Starting and then whatever greatness that comes after that. Okay. That's who we are. Second. Let me see here. Well, I'm way out. Okay. What's one thing you wish you had known before you began your career in writing? Ooh. Tell you what. That's some good stuff right there. To just do it. And not. Like, I wish I could just go back in time and tell my person, tell myself younger. Just just just do it. Like, gotta start lining that stuff up for you. You worry about trivial shit. Like, not worry about how you gonna get from point A to point D. Just do the work. Yeah. Start doing that work. And that's for anybody. Like, just start doing that work. Your alignment will start taking place. Yeah. For your eyes. Because a lot of people think about the rejection. Or they don't even think about how much work it is. I just thought it was going to be fun. Yeah. That's what started the thing in your head. But you need to know, hey, this fund is actually work. Do you want it to make money? It's work. Yeah. It has to be an action. And then enjoy the process. Like, enjoy the process as you go along. Like, don't worry about getting to the end of the line. Enjoy this moment. Like, it's work. But it's your work. Yes. This is going to be your testimony to somebody else. So enjoy the time. Shit. Somebody will find you. They're going to say, oh, they did this. I can do this. Exactly. Yeah. We have been here preaching. Okay. So let me see here. What are some of the best resources that you've had. That's helped you along the way. Best resources. You know, God for one. You know, my faith is. You got to pray for your alignment. Just let, like, let him order your steps. To my family and my friends, you know, those, you like, you know, like, as time goes on, you know, people come and go seasons, you know, people. But those who are consistent and they stay in your life, you appreciate them more. Those who speak life into your dreams. You appreciate them more. Keep those people around because those are ones who. Even if you don't see greatness in yourself, they're going to see greatness in you. Yes. And. They're also going to be the ones that kind of check you. You need that and your family will humble you. I love that. The family. And your shit about whatever issue you're going on. They will cut you down. And it's all love. So you need that. Yeah. And also. My brother at the concrete conference, you know, my brother, I'm definitely thankful for that. Like I found my people. So. Yeah. And I'm going to speak on this support because when you say that, I kind of giggled on the inside because I have my best friend. I'm just going to shout out at him. It's Tonya. You know, Texas. I told her back again. Corona hit, you know, we got time to be trippy all then. - Yeah. - It's probably back in February. I told her I said, girl, I don't know if I want to do this no more. I think I'm done. We had just a geek, we're up. I'm not going to do that podcast again. And she's saying, mm, okay. Are you done talking? I said, yes. She's saying, I'm not going to listen to that shit. I said, what do you mean? Of course, you being stupid right now. This is just, I don't even know why we talking about this. This is being stupid. You want my opinion right? I said, yeah, yeah. She's saying, have your moment. And then I want you to throw this dumb shit you talking about in the trash and come up with a plan. Start over again. You have something good. It's not like it's frivolous. And I'm going to tell you stop this pity party and start again tomorrow. If you need some help, please call me. - Shout out to Kanye. - Yeah, and I was in my car and I felt the type of way. Like, fuck this bitch. (laughing) And I felt like the next day, so the next day, 'cause I was kinda angry, I was like, shot fired, bitch, I got him. I hit all the hits. So the next day, I called her. I said, hey, time, she said, hey, what's up? You better than that? I said, I just want to tell you, thank you for being a friend. (laughing) She said, what you mean? I said, girl, you hurt my feelings. So bad, yes. I said, but you hurt her, but you built me back up at the same time. Like, stop with that pity party shit. That will kill all dreams. That I'm here, you need me to get you back on the track. But don't come with that shit again unless you got a plan. - We all need that time, yeah. This is gonna be like, how many do you stop fucking whining? That's just, that's just showed off and get your ass up. Like, if I ever tell somebody this, it's okay. They're gonna be days where you're gonna be like, I don't think I can be this, I'm gonna walk away. Or you might be like, I'm a cry. That's fine. But get your ass right back up. - Exactly. Ooh, I'd never forget that. - She hurt me, huh? - She hurt me, she hurt me, huh? - That's what I'm saying. We all need time in our life. - From Dallas, get you a time from Dallas. Okay, so tell me the story of, oh, I already asked you that. How would you think, why would you think it's important to have black comic book publishing companies and why is it so crucial to the black community? You kind of touched on that a little bit, but I want you to land around just the whole scale of it. - Yeah, well, you know, since milestone comics, you know, we gotta need something else where it's gonna be beneficial to our community, especially like for black publishers, for you know how many people there probably are who think that it's hard to even get their comic or something to read. And because you know, especially like Marvel, like Marvel and DC, those are big companies. So I'm pretty sure they have already idea of what they want and stuff like that. You know, for black publishers, you know, they can probably work with more so the black creator because, or whoever they want to, just to kind of get that ear of what they need to do. So that way they get that perspective on, maybe is this gonna sell? Is it not gonna sell? But just to give them that first hand look of that fresh set of eyes. And then for the black community, it helps benefit for the simple fact that is, we have a ton of creators in our community who know the opportunities. It's kind of like the draft, where like one person might get drafted, but you have all these other players, you know what I'm saying? So there's a ton of creators and writers and poets in our community who don't get that heard, don't get heard or get that voice. And that's why it's important to start like looking within our own community when it comes to things because we have the talent. - Oh yeah. - I mean, it's just replicated in other ways. (laughs) - Yep, and a talent squandered is a horrible thing. - Yeah. - Because like you said, you die with your dreams. Who are the members of Concrete Comics? And what are the individual duties and passions within the brand? - I'm not a Nick. (laughs) - I knew my damn thing. (laughs) - I don't think I'm gonna be like, "Oh, Lord, here you go." (laughs) And another star is the CEO of Concrete Comics, you know, he's a creator. And then you have Jamel Lesson. He created Acolyte, by the way. So he created Acolyte and Azzurio, which is a new book coming. Jamel Lesson is the VP, where he likes to think he is. (laughs) - Well, I think I'm gonna be like. - Chaffa. - He's gonna be like, "Nah!" (laughs) But he's on the creative absolver and ads to a short, many that's based off the African folklore. That being, you know, population slash everything, 'cause, you know, just do everything. - And he's talking to you, that's how I was short. - Yeah. (laughs) - I like the face. (laughs) - I'm the creator of Odena and the story Kandaki. So, yeah. - Okay, and speaking of all those characters that you run down, I wanna let everybody know the character name. Like you said, there's Acolyte, the moonwalker, there is absolver, Prince of the Oblivion, Odena, the indestructible Odena. And then there's Andy Starboy, aka Andy Gonzalez. - Yes. (laughs) - Kandaki that you said, right? Okay, did I miss anybody? - I think that's Zoriel. I think that's the, she's one of the guns. - Okay. - Yeah. - I don't like cool. Yeah, that's a cool little line. I was looking at them together, the three of them, Acolyte, I was on her and Odena. So, it's kinda like the black dressie. (laughs) 'Cause soon as I saw it, then I thought Wonder Woman was like, oh, she was like, she'll put Wonder Woman-ass in the dirt. - But that's why I created the character, because we don't have that black female powerhouse like that. - Yeah. - But still kinda has that human aspect of being the sister from around the way. - Yes. - Oh, yeah. - I said, oh, I like Usher and Jazzy. (laughs) - Oh, man. Yeah, and so I know that they have their individual comics, but how do they, how do they come together to build the concrete universe? - They each play their part. When it comes to like the different superhero type, arc type, arc type, you know, like moonwalk, Acolyte, I have to call it moonwalker. - Yeah. (laughs) - He's kind of like cosmic. You know, he's in that cosmic side of things. Even though he's still on earth, he's that cosmic side of the world. Habs all of us supernatural. Odena is more, she's a medium. So she's more like, she's more street, I won't say she's street level, 'cause she's more like X-man type. - Well, she, they started that street level and then they came together to have organizations. - Thank you. (laughs) - And then Andy started one as an alien. So you have those different type of characters that kind of play, they can each have that own world, but then come together for the greater good. So it's important to actually like, have your character be able to stand on their own, but then at some point gradually, like kind of just gel together. And that's what they do. - Okay. And could you elaborate on their individual back stories and what their powers are? - Well, Akalike is, he's half alien. You know, I feel bad giving out their stories because you know, I'm the type person. I probably say too much and I'd be like, "Oh, my bad." But I say, Akalike, he's learning his destiny. He found out who his father was, was part of his powerful alien ancient race. And so he's inherited his powers or he's trying to learn how to use him. Absorber is, as Jamel would say, he's like a vengeance, a vengeance, a vengeance, I can't even say. It's how you say like a vengeful spirit, reincarnated. - Okay. - So, and Andy Starborn, I don't know, is he an alien, so I can't. - Yeah. - He also rides whale vibes up in here. - Yeah, yeah. - What it is, you know, and with that, but I want to know more about the story. Daniel hasn't shown too much to me about the story, which kind of helps in his case, because I don't know. I told you, I won't give too much away and I'll be like, "Oh, my bad." (laughs) - Shit, that was the next season. That was a couple of episodes here. - But yeah, for each of them, it's so, it's very different. Odena is more like, she was born with her powers. You know, like, where is she, it's more of a natural genetics for her. But it also goes into the mythology where super humans come from, and we're descendants of gods. They're talking about you. - Yeah. Okay, so are there any new characters coming down the pipeline at Concrete Comics, and if so, what are their names? - Childish stories, 'cause you say you give too much away. (laughs) - Well, child, let me tell you. (laughs) You know, I said Zeryl, which, you know, she's on, you can see her on the Concrete website. Concrete Instagram, as is a fascinating story. It was created off the African folklore, based off the vampires. But that used to, that can turn into dragonflies or something. But that's all I'm stopped there saying. I will say my book, Kandaki, is based off the African Queens from the Kush Kingdom. - Okay. - But I'll put mythology in it. So back in the day, you know, during the Kush Empire, there was these African Queens that ruled down there. And they were called conductives and you can see their pyramids in the Marrow Way, which is Sudan now, so yeah. Okay, awesome. I can't wait to see all of that. Okay, let's see. Well, I want to get, we talked a lot about concrete comments, but I want to get into, I guess I want to say superheroes and superpowers just in general. Yeah, with the world change, if superheroes and supervillains actually existed in your mind. Oh my god, would it? Yeah, it would be a sh*tcha. Like, I figured it would be like that, show the boys, like that dark underhand, probably government involved, just a hot F and mess. Okay, mess, yes. Yeah, it would change. It would, yeah, it would just be a mess. I'm like, look at us now. Exactly. Oh, great differentiator is power, financial power. Yeah. And that's what our government, you know, corporations and all that stuff. So they basically the supervillains to me, I'm so sorry. Yeah, so I'm just like, look at the trash show that we present now. If we could, you know, levitate shit and transport and all this other stuff, it would be worse. Think about it for a, a K a sex trafficker could teleport just matching bitches at their homes. I'm just like, so no, you don't go. I it's bitter for whatever person with the power will go like, will be controlled by whoever and they could do whatever they want. Like they could shoot something out of the sky. Like, you know, it just be a sh*t show. And then it'd be like a constant, always battle war of what's going on. Like, it's like he's a lesbian mess. Like, you know what? And I, you know, comics got us all here to where we are today. But what you think about comics, it's just the, it's so unrealistic, like Superman, for instance. He is just so wonderful and so great. And I'm here for the people and I'm saving everyone. I'm just like, that's not how this shit would really happen. That's why like home lander would be more like what Superman is. Yeah. Well, maybe it's because he's an alien, maybe it's because he's from crypto crypto. But he was conditioned and learned like we learned. He did, he was raised here. Yeah. I know crypto and crypto is kind of arrogant too. So I don't know why that didn't play in the picture for who he was. Why did he try to act like he's just getting what else? That's what I like more realistic gritty comics. Yeah, I like that's why I went out growing up. I wasn't real big on Marvel and DC. I read like dark horse and top cow and image comics. Yeah, they were a little bit more realistic and gritty. Yeah. I remember I used to image comics first game. I used to get a wall cats. Yes, for the storm watch all this. Yeah, because my character was zealot. You know, I was like, she was always like wall cats and Jim Lee's wall cats and cyber force and all this stuff. I love that stuff. Zealot was kind of a. She was in a hole like. Oh, yeah, she would cut your head off and everything. I thought it was dope. It was dope. I was like, you can keep Batman Superman. Batman was a little edgy. He was a little. I don't care what nobody say Batman is just a rich insane person. No, he really is. No, he has like trauma that I don't know what his problem is. Like he could have easily went to there. They feel like everybody else, but he wanted to embark on this dark past that he was just like, I got the money. I couldn't afford to do whatever I want. Yeah, you said wall cat. Did you remember when they did a walk as versus Justice Lee? No, but I saw I saw artwork of it. I'd never read it, but I read artwork of it. Give me a little snippet. Give me a little snippet so I can go and find it. They have a place in each one of the members against each other and they put Zealot versus Wonder Woman. And I guess you know, like she would. One woman end up knocking her out to build him, but I kept thinking myself. I was like, but Zealot is more of a train fighter. Yeah. And at that time, then Wonder Woman, the one woman now. Yeah, she probably can get because you know she got the sword and she and she's all about putting me for now, but Batman. I don't know. Zealot seemed more like a skilled fighter. She's kind of like tomorrow. Where's like dangerous. She was taking down a huge ass growing me and chopping off the limbs and the heads. Exactly. I was just like, OK, OK, let's see here. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? I always said I probably, I wouldn't mind having a weather superpower. I'd be shooting some light in the bolts up some people's ass. Like, like it ain't nothing. I know it's right. Well, I know I was having that, but you know, controlling the atmosphere, you know, pressure of the world. And I'm just saying I like. I will stop some some events and probably play some elsewhere. I'm just, it's a lot you can do whether people don't understand. You can even stop famine. You could put, you know, rain, torrential rains, help the people. You said them, they have Trump rallies. Oh, we have in the tsunami. It's a little wet. Let it. Oh, right. And just points. Exactly. Every rally. Like, why is it every rally? I don't know. I was like, some lightning bolts. We have some asses. OK. So now I'm going to my segment of the show that I say, I call it, do you want to go with this or that? OK. For that song, you know, I'm old. What's the same age? Say, OK, cool. So I don't feel bad because they, I have people on the show that's 10 years younger than me or 10 years older than me, never right at the in the middle. OK. So would you prefer Netflix or Hulu? Cool. Yeah. Why are they making same face? Because Hulu has American dad and like good shows where the Netflix has the movies. So right now with the seven Black shows coming to Netflix, they're going to win right now. Let me ask you something about that. Hey, did you watch Black is foot? No, I did not. Is it good? I'm going to use some people. Oh, yeah. A lot. I saw all the mixed reviews, but what I love is kind of like that unscripted scripted kind of show. And my husband's like, it's basically blackish. I'm like, oh, it's blackish to the tip power. Yeah. So he sells, you know, a scripted show. He got his fake little family. But they go hard into paint. It's unapologetically black. OK, so I got to watch it now. OK, good. People was tracking. I was like, it's not editing my listen, the eventual I see it. Yeah. And I watched it before I saw all the reviews. I was like, I love Kenya because I love blackish. But it is, it is like blackish. It's basically like blackish, but you can't cut some blackish. You don't really go for the heart on black topic. They do that on blackish. Yes. OK. I mean, black is foot. Yeah. So I say give it a try. OK. I don't want to hype it up too much, but I just like it because it's something different. I watch it. Yeah, because you know, he rich like dreams rich and blackish. Oh my goodness. I just be laughing. OK. So like this brother wants to be rich and in the same breath, he detest his riches. OK, now definitely got to watch it. OK, so I don't know if you're a gamer, but if so, would you would you choose console gaming or PC gaming? Probably console more so than PC because I eventually love to get to point my like rock and buy a piece. Five. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god. That thing is ugly, but I want. So somebody put up a meme when it dropped. I said internet is fast and it was like a millisecond. It had dropped the visuals of the box. Somebody had already put something up. I remember you, you know, yes, the dude that always had the blue eyes wide dragon. His name. They had put his head on top of the box because the collar. It looked like his collar. These motherfuckers don't waste no time. It's undefeated. OK, so while you're driving or on the train, do you listen to music or podcast? Listen to music. Let's see what you two when these when these doors on the runner open up finally, would you prefer to have a big party or a small gathering? A small gathering. If it's benefiting me, probably a small gathering. If it's for networking or something, I probably have to go. Be a month's crowd. Still wearing my mask. I don't give a shit what they say. Oh, I'm still having around. I got enough filters around here to last me 13 months. OK, again, when the runner times is done with us camping or binge watching your favorite shows at home. Been watching my favorite shows at home because we just said we still stand in the house. I'm not trust. Yes. OK, would you well in life? Do you prefer text messages or phone calls? [BLANK_AUDIO] >> How it text messages? >> I'm the same way, cuz some people saw them, they don't know when to get out of the phone, they're not taking the cues. >> And then I don't do well with forced conversation, unless it's natural. I don't do a forced conversation at the while I'm just, cuz I'm very bad about hiding. Especially if we're in person and we're talking and you're boring me. >> Yeah. >> I always do this. >> [LAUGH] >> I start to glaze over and I go over and I'm going to go, chill. >> But it goes into the same breath when people tell you, we had a whole conference meeting. Bitch, that could have been an email. >> [LAUGH] >> What I tell you, I used to get that shit all the time, I feel like we got a meme for that. You could have emailed me this. >> I can't shit to do on my lunch break. >> [LAUGH] >> So I feel the same way about phone calls, don't call me. >> If it's something I don't care how to just see how you do it. >> Send me a text message, I can tell you the text message I want. And I got shit to do, I'm going to be watching porn on my phone, don't. >> [LAUGH] >> Okay, do you prefer online shopping or shopping in store? >> Actually, I'm accustomed to shopping online, man. Cuz they don't show up quick. >> Hell yeah, and I'm like even if you don't like it, cuz people are like, well I like to try it. I don't know, bitch, you're gonna drop it off at the post office, calls, cuz here I'm alive, they say take it to calls. >> [LAUGH] >> Just drop it off, we'll see you guys in another one. >> Yeah, I've always been online shopper. I just don't like dressing rooms, I don't like waiting on this bitch to count all my, how many items do you have? 20, or you can only have five, take it all with you. >> I just grab it and leave in it way and be like, I try to shit wrong when I get home. >> Exactly, you know what, and I do it too, but then I be pissed off, why don't you go to the dressing room? Look at all your fat, hanging out. >> [LAUGH] >> Maybe it has been official, but I'm like, I just send this bitch back if you don't read. >> Yeah. >> Let's see, Facebook Instagram. >> Instagram? >> Yeah, cuz Facebook is kind of like news, it's not really entertaining anymore. >> Not that, but you have so many people in their opinions on Facebook, and it's always negative. And I don't want to hear you talk, I just give me a cue picture and keep it moving or something. >> Well, this is beneficial, you know. >> Well, Facebook always has some shit. How do you go to Congress? How do you have to speak to the Hall of Representatives about your fuckery? Like, >> That's what I'm saying, I'm like. >> It's just too bad. >> Oh, Lord, and we up with acting like it's the difference, Facebook, I want them both. But I'm just saying like, on Instagram, I don't want to hear that shit. Turn on comments all. >> [LAUGH] Would you prefer a comic book or a comic book movie? >> comic book. >> Me too. You know what you're the first one to say, that's what I said, you are brother. >> [LAUGH] >> Please say a movie, she has this entertainment value. But I'm like, that ain't how they shit went. >> Yeah, no, cuz it's either hit or miss with the movie. The book, I know for a fact, depending on the writer and the art and style, I know it's going to slap. >> So. >> Yeah, and the movies, I'm just like, why do you try to rush that into one thing? >> Thank you. >> This should have been at least three, if you always about the money. This should have been three films. And I'll throw it up, Civil War. I'm so mad at that shit, that is not the shit. Okay, moving on. Would you prefer a loyal friend or a rich friend? >> I have a loyal here. >> Thank you. >> I'm so proud of you. >> [LAUGH] >> And I don't know if you're in horror movies, but would you prefer a Western American horror film or a Japanese horror film? >> Probably Western, cuz Japanese, it goes real, real left. And I can take all that visuals that they got going on there and it's a lot. >> They hit a stick with you. >> See, I've seen the original bridge. >> Yeah, I have too. >> Yeah, and I was like, this is creepy. Like, this is like real creepy. >> Yes, and it's still, it can still transcend, because I can't remember the name of this film. But basically, he was a photographer, him and his wife moved to Japan. And he got me about his neck hurt. And more and more to film when he was like stomped over, stomped over, come to find out he had an affair with a woman and killed her, because she was going to tell the wife. And her spirit was riding his back. >> See, that's not the shit to come over, and I got to give him his creative, his creative. But it's the visuals that come with it, it's just like, that's what the dance is. >> I'm like, I'm a girl, it's woman working with the lights off now. >> Exactly. >> Okay, so well, I had a lot of fun with you, and I can talk to you all day long. Because I keep up this question as long as my own, but I was like, stop, because this is going to be a two hour show. >> I know. >> And I would love to have you on the show, many, many more times, every time you'll drop something. >> A lot of, anytime, I had the best time, this is like so fun. You're amazing, invite me back whenever you need me, I'm there. >> Thank you so much. So tell the listeners where they can find you and everything, concrete comics. >> Yes, you can find me on my Instagram at obsolete studio LLC, or you can find me at concretecomics. IG, that's K-L-N-K-R-E-T comics. I hope you know how to spell comics. And, you know, just look us up, we're there. >> All right, man, do you have any merch or anything, y'all, y'all. >> You got shirts. >> Okay, cool, yeah, I love t-shirts. >> Yeah, check, I'll, I'll, I'll send you this stuff. >> Thank you so much, I love freaky. >> Yeah, I feel like that's so black of me, just back to see some fans. >> That's nice. >> Yes. >> All right, well, you have a good day and you stay safe at it. And, we're on the streets, and don't mess with the government. >> Yeah, man, man, man, man, man, look, get through this, whoo, get through this. [MUSIC] >> All right, that's it. I hope you enjoyed yourself, because I'ma tell you something. You probably already noticed, but I thoroughly enjoyed my damn self. Especially this time, always, but especially this time. Because me and Elijah have been talking almost every day in the DMs, video chatting in the DMs every since this episode. Bam, instant friend, that's how you do it. Don't, don't be missing your blessings out here. [LAUGH] All right, so again, check out Onaji's comic, Odena, over at Concrete Comics. All right, y'all, I'm gonna be out and get, I hope you enjoyed yourself, share it with others. Hopefully, somebody else can get something out of this. All right, y'all, take it easy. All right, y'all, it's time to do the spiel to pay the bills. You can support the show by donating through Patreon, Cash App, which is Dollar Sign, Gadgets and Geekery. Or through anchor.fm, there's a couple of different ways that you can donate to the show on a month-to-month basis. To help sustain future episodes and equipment. Just merge over on the Gadgets and Geekery website, there's shirts, mugs, hats, cell phone cases, all sizes on the shirts. You can call us and leave any comments or show ideas on the hotline, which is 972-664-4886. Again, that's 972-664-4886. We're on all the social media, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Gadgets and Geekery is how you can find us. 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