How Art is Born Season 2
Episode 3

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EMPHASIZING STORY AND REPRESENTATION IN INDEPENDENT COMICS WITH PRESIDENT OF STRANGER COMICS SEBASTIAN JONES

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Sebastian A. Jones is the President of Stranger Comics and the creator of the world of Asunda including its lead character Niobe, which became the first nationally distributed comic with a Black female author, artist, and lead hero in history. At Stranger, Jones partnered with Garcelle Beauvais on the I Am Book Series, children’s books that focuses on diversity. Titles Jones has written and published include: The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer, The Untamed: Killing Floor, The Untamed: Still a Fool, Niobe: She is Life, Niobe: She is Death, Niobe & Dura, Dusu: Path of the Ancient, Erathune, Essessa: The Fallen, Tales of Asunda: Silver Blood, First Kill, Morka Moa: Rise of the Jade Lord, Salvador, Pinata, I Am Mixed, I Am Living in 2 Homes, I Am Awesome, and Ruining Christmas. In this episode of How Art is Born Season 2, Sebastian sits down with friend and host R. Alan Brooks to discuss the importance of focusing on carefully crafted characters and stories for independent comic creators, what it takes to run an independent comics company, what kind of music they like to listen to while writing, and more.

This episode contains mature language and content.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Photo of Sebastian Jones holding four of his books. In the background are large posters of his character Niobe
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ABOUT SEBASTIAN JONES

Sebastian A. Jones is the President of Stranger Comics and the creator of the world of Asunda including its lead character Niobe, which became the first nationally distributed comic with a Black female author, artist, and lead hero in history. Before Stranger, Jones was President of MVP Records, releasing scores of albums that featured such artists as John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, and Billie Holiday. At Stranger, Jones partnered with Garcelle Beauvais on the I Am Book Series, children’s books that focuses on diversity. He has co-written the psychological thriller video game, Hektor. Jones has also taught lectures around the world, including BTH in Sweden to FAMU in Florida. After working with Prentice Penny at HBO, Jones recently partnered with Penny to create a comic company, where they will produce comics, TV shows, and films that focus on BIPOC creators and creations, which will be published through Stranger. Titles Jones has written and published include: The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer, The Untamed: Killing Floor, The Untamed: Still a Fool, Niobe: She is Life, Niobe: She is Death, Niobe & Dura, Dusu: Path of the Ancient, Erathune, Essessa: The Fallen, Tales of Asunda: Silver Blood, First Kill, Morka Moa: Rise of the Jade Lord, Salvador, Pinata, I Am Mixed, I Am Living in 2 Homes, I Am Awesome, and Ruining Christmas.

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