Read The Art of Neo-Man :: It Started With a Doodle

I remember it pretty vividly. The Dark Knight was just released on DVD (God, I was only 12 years old and that movie still feels new to me) . At this time, superhero movies were nowhere near as oversaturated as they have become in recent years. Christopher Nolan's Batman film series was a major landmark in the industry before being overshadowed by the explosion of comic book film adaptations that would soon follow. My second oldest brother and I watched the Dark Knight in our family room, captivated by the action and emotional weight that was brought to the screen. We always both loved Batman, but the movie - especially Heath Ledger's acting as the Joker - really left their mark on us.

We were probably halfway through watching the film when one of us - I can't remember who - said, "Hey, let's draw some superheroes and supervillains." It likely could have been me, since I was the big drawer in the family (who would've guessed?). I only remember what I drew, not anything my brother made. The Dark Knight was still playing but I got lost in the artmaking. I drew a guy with drill arms and a mutant crustacean man. I also had this idea of a hero in a metal suit who could throw laser discs like ninja stars. I named him "Neo-Man". It didn't make sense, but it was the first thing that popped in my head, and it sounded cool enough to stick.

Later that night, I took my stack of doodles up to my room and flipped through them to take another look. It wasn't unlike me to draw characters and then make comics that told their stories and brought them to life. So, I did as I normally would, and began making a comic book series that pitted Neo-Man at the forefront. At the time, I didn't know this would become my magnum opus. My life's work. It even served as a beacon of light in the darkest period of my life. What you are about to witness showcases both the art of concept and story behind how said concepts came into being. Buckle up.

The cover of my first take on Neo-Man when he was created in high school - half my life ago, if not longer.