Planet Random Creative is a small indie production shop in Rockaway, NY. Teaming up fans and establish comic artists worldwide to develop diverse superheroes that represent everyone!
You become a part of a one-on-one development process with experienced Comic Creatives and get cool rewards to show-off your work!
I had a terrific opportunity to interview Raymond Ayala the head writer and creative force behind Planet Random Creatives’ “Make 100 Heroes” Kickstarter Campaign
Alex Yarde (AY): Your “Make 100 Heroes Campaign” is an effort to create the heroes that are missing from comics, animation, and film. “We want to give you a seat at the table and the power to make the hero you feel the world needs.” That really resonated with me. I started writing All Things Geek because my daughter couldn’t find black girls leading mixed gender superhero teams. She loved the Power Rangers but realized the Red Ranger was always in charge and a white guy.
Raymond Ayala (RA): You and I share a similar motivation, as a Father, the scarcity of heroes that reflected my children upset me, but also inspired me to share the characters and stories I had envisioned. I felt like I had to do it.
AY: What do you see as the main impediment to a more robust or diverse pantheon of heroes in mainstream outlets or big studios?
RA: I’ll go with a business case that I hate. It’s safe to say that entertainment is profit-driven, and that drive is very resistant to change. This seriously hurts us because to Marvel and DC a diverse book may be profitable, but when it’s not as profitable as a less diverse book, then it loses its spot in the portfolio. Their business doesn’t need to invest in our market, so they don’t. They dabble and test on Executive order, but it’s clear that we don’t belong in their portfolio. To me, diversity is reality so in everything I create we belong.
AY: You said in your Kickstarter pitch – “Planet Random Creative is a small indie production shop in Rockaway, NY. We work with fans and artist from all over the world to make comics and comic related stuff.”
How did Planet Random Creative get started?
RA: In 2010, I developed an Aqua-man story and wanted to pitch it to DC. Somewhere in that process, I decided not to give the story away, but instead to tell it as my own. I immediately read every book I could find on making comics and started to write scripts. At NY Comic Con that year I met an army of indie creators and realized there was a place for me in this, so in 2011, my wife and I formed Planet Random Creative. I quickly began to connect with artists and early on I met Justin Copeland, a fantastic storyboard artist for Marvel Studios (at the time). Justin loved my scripts, he really loved them, the guy signed my crummy contract in like two weeks to do all of the art on two stories! NY Comic Con lit the fire, forming the LLC opened the door, but it was Justin that really pushed me through the door.
AY: In your awesome promo video the theme from Super Friends from the seventies. That really hooked me! (I’ll date myself) I remember ABC Saturday Morning line up as a kid. Sadly, Kids don’t have Saturday Morning cartoons anymore. Who were some of your favorite heroes or cartoon shows growing up? Who are your favorites today?
RA: As a kid, I’d watch anything on Saturday morning. Over the years, Robotech, Thundercats, both Avatar stories, Bionic Six, Code Geass and Sword Art Online standout. Today, the new Voltron comes to mind as pretty cool. And Alex, making that Super Friends promo was so much fun!
AY: In your Kickstarter pitch, you wrote, “My passion is storytelling, and I create multiculturally because I believe you belong in story.” What first got you into writing comics?
RA: I grew up on a multicultural block of nerds, and I was the mischevious little brother of the neighborhood. There were always comics all around, and I never had a problem getting to them. I swear I’ think I learned how to read in comics books.
AY: Who was your first character?
RA: The first character that made it into the Planet Random Universe was SIEGE. He’s a hard case cybernetic mercenary who is brown. He was who I’d imagine myself to be when I watched anything Sci-Fi. Now Siege leads a team of young heroes in my DISCIPLINE storyline.
AY: It’s a great time to be a Geek! So much of pop culture today is driven by Comic Book Culture. I recall a friend of mine Jeff who owns a Comic Book store discussing BvS and saying “I’d NEVER thought I’d see a paradeamon on the big screen!” And now Black Panther is coming out. Why do you think Comic Book Movies are so popular today?
RA: I think it has a lot to do with geeks like us growing up and making our kids geeks!
AY: What about the Villains? I often find villains motivations to be more nuanced and compelling. A fallen hero or an anti-hero that gets pushed over the edge. Like that line. “You’re one bad day away from being me.” Do you have opportunities to create unique villains too?
RA: Yes! Villains are available… I should mention that in the campaign. LOL. But seriously, in honor of Black History Month, I’m hoping to make a ton of new Black heroes for tomorrow.
AY: Your team has quite an impressive roster of original comic book heroes of all different backgrounds and abilities. What kinds of Comic Book stories inspire you?
RA: Good storytelling inspires me. Give me any comic, well told, and I’m a fan.
AY: How much time does it take to create a new Comic Book Character from inception to completion on average?
RA: In my current process it takes about 3 weeks to flesh out a character for story another week or two for designs. In screenwriting it has taken me up to a year because character is story in film. In comics, characters have less of a character arc so you can focus on disposition and character traits that will work across multiple storylines.
AY: Is there anything you’d like to share with my readers why they should fund your Kickstarter and seize this opportunity to create their own unique comic book character?
RA: We are building something different. I’m not afraid to say that my take on things is not the only take. I think that fans know what is missing from entertainment. We are creating a world-class storytelling universe by going to fans and giving them the power to see who and what they want to see. Who else does that? There is no boardroom of executives telling us what heroes we can feature. Here no one can tell us that we don’t belong in space or fantasy. No one can tell us that an Asian or Latino can’t lead a top team. With Planet Random fans are our executives. I invest in fans who are underserved because I am a fan who still is underserved. I believe you belong in every story across every genre as the lead character, not a sidekick. The Make 100 Heroes campaign, is one of the ways we’ll make this happen, and it is only the first step for us in a big year.
Contribute to make this goal happen and earn some kickass rewards at Make 100 Heroes Kickstarter here
Follow Planet Random at their Homepage and on Facebook
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All Art – Planet Random