Indie Comics Spotlight: Shape Comics

The Indie Comics Spotlight is a series that aims to bring attention to independent comic books, publishers, and creators deserving of wider recognition. In this installment, we speak with Breyden Boyd, the founder of Shape Comics and the creator of the company’s lead title, Shape-Man.

Tristian: Hello Breyden! Thank you for taking time to speak with Geek Vibes Nation about your comic book company. Could you tell our audience a bit about your company, and the comics you publish?

Breyden: Absolutely! Shape Comics is a an indie comic company started by myself and my partner Anthony Carranza. We’re just a couple retro inspired artists who want to make awesome stuff for the sake of awesomeness. Our comics and characters are all retro inspired too, I’m more of the superhero guy (Shape-Man and Omega) and Anthony is the sci-fi/western guy (Sonic Saturn and the Calico Kid).

Tristian: What made you want to create your own comics? What were some of your inspirations?

Breyden: Shape-Man was a character I originally made as a kid, so for me personally, creating my own comics allowed me to take those childhood dreams and make them a reality. I had a bit of a vendetta, and I told myself that no matter how long it took me, Shape-Man would get a legitimate comic. That first issue finally came out a year after I set out on it, and it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done because I had never done anything like that before. But the feeling of completing it and being able to share it with people was unmatched. And now, I’m just keeping the train moving!

Tristian: What are some of the highs of producing your own comic? How do you deal with the lows?

Breyden: There’s lots of good parts of running your own company. You get to create the things you want to create, and get them done the way you think they should be done. It’s very fulfilling, especially when people like the stuff you create! Of course, the downside of that is that you don’t just get to be an artist, you have to be everything. Artist, writer, businessman, cameraman, performer, customer service representative, the whole shabang! It’s extremely fun, but it can be a lot of work!

Tristian: Your company began with a video on TikTok about one of your heroes, Shape-Man. How much has social media played in the success of your company so far? How do you find new and interesting ways to utilize it?

Breyden: Social media can be pretty tricky, but it’s definitely a very powerful tool in helping to get peoples eyes on your work. It’s volatile and inconsistent, but all it really takes is one or two strong videos to really gather some attention. I’m a lot more relaxed with social media than I used to be, I found that stressing about it too much can be damaging. I just post some art and some videos talking about it, if they blow up then awesome and if they don’t then no sweat! But it is important to keep at it I think, You never know what could happen. As I said before, powerful tool!

Tristian: What advice do you have for others who aspire to run their own comic book companies and produce their own comic books?

Breyden: It’s a very tricky business, and the best advice I can give is to not be easily discouraged. Making Comics is hard, and promoting them can feel even harder. But if you let it get to you, and you quit, you’ll never know if you could’ve actually made it. I’d say set smaller goals, instead of shooting for an entire comic book right away, shoot for that first panel. Even a single step a day is still movement in the direction you want to go, eventually you’ll arrive at your destination!

Tristian: Where can our audience connect with you online and find your work?

Breyden: You can find me on Instagram and TikTok! My username is @b.boyd.design . You can also check out Shape Comics online as well, Instagram/TikTok: @shapecomics.co , Website: www.shapecomics.co