Meet the creator of the new comic 'Legend of Althea'
The next Black superhero has arrived
After undergoing an artificial heart transplant, Althea discovers she has the ability to heal others...but at a great cost. This classic heroes dilemma is given a new and refreshing spin by it's creator, Royce Adkins. The LA based writer and filmmaker has a knack for crafting stories with characters who flip what some would consider a disability into a superpower. His original breakthrough project "BioPunks" focuses on three individuals with physical disabilities who receive special powers from a "Spinal Core" installed on their backs. In his new comic "The Legend of Althea", the focus is a black woman, with vitiligo who is coming to terms with her newfound healing power.We were able to get in contact with the comic's creator to get his insight on his newest creation, and he gave us the scoop:
1. First off, let’s hear more about the creator of this great new comic. Can you introduce yourself? How long have you been into comics and animation?
My name’s Royce and I’m a filmmaker turned comic book writer. I’ve written/directed a few short films over the past few years with another one on the way soon. I’m a huge sci-fi nut so everything I do is in that genre. Growing up, I was into movies, comics, and cartoons/anime. I loved how each medium provided a way to take in amazing stories in different and unique ways. Seeing the first Toy Story in theaters made we want to become a storyteller in some fashion. I wanted to move people the way I was moved sitting in that theater. This ultimately led me down the path toward filmmaking, and then writing my own comics later on. I also have a podcast called Blerd Empire that I host with my dad which is a lot of fun!
2. What inspired you to tell this story in particular? Was there a lightbulb moment that made you create Althea or was it something that’s been brewing for a while?
The origin of Legend of Althea is a little interesting. My love for healers within the superhero genre began while playing a game called City of Heroes on PC back in high school. You were able to created your own custom hero with different sets of powers and go on a bunch of missions with other players. My character was a healer and I loved being responsible for keeping everyone alive. The sense of accomplishment I felt keeping my teams health bars full after completing an insane boss mission was unparalleled. To most I was the “support” character of the group, but I felt I was the most crucial part of the team. I kept everyone alive! Ever since, I always thought it would be cool make the healer the focal point of a superhero story. When your ability is to fix and not destroy, the dynamic changes. It’s a challenge I’m excited to take on. I originally wrote Legend of Althea as a short film I planned to shoot sometime this year. But 2020 had other plans. So, instead of sitting on this idea all year because of the lockdown, I used the knowledge I gained from doing my first comic book, BioPunks, and decided to convert Legend of Althea into a comic as well. I found my amazing artist, Aleksandra Tot-Bulajic, on UpWork and she blew me away with her art style! She was able to crank out most of the first issue fairly quickly which allowed me to submit to the Webtoon short story competition. The best short stories will be selected to be Webtoon originals so fingers crossed Legend of Althea is included in that group!
"Though my stories are set in interesting sci-fi settings, I always do my best to ground the characters in some emotional truth. Most of that truth stems from my own experiences."
3. What are your thoughts on the state of black representation in this field as a whole?
I believe black representation in mainstream comics has improved but there’s still a lot of work to be done. A major factor is we’re still clinging to the same characters from fifty plus years ago. Don’t get me wrong, the OG superhero’s hold a special place in my heart. But unfortunately, they’re also holding us back in my opinion. This is why I believe the indie comic scene is setting the bar for representation from many various backgrounds. There are so many indie creators with amazing stories to tell and deserve a chance to hang with the heavyweights. I’m happy to be part of the indie community as we continue to push for this new standard. 
4. Are there any parallels between the stories you tell and your own life?
Though my stories are set in interesting sci-fi settings, I always do my best to ground the characters in some emotional truth. Most of that truth stems from my own experiences. If you’ve scene most of my work, whether it be my films or comics, they all have a common theme of finding ones self worth. This is something I’ve struggled with over the years, and still do today to some degree. I use sci-fi elements to force my characters into fighting for their self worth. My hope is to show that we don’t always have to settle. We scan strive to be a better version of ourselves.
"I believe black representation in mainstream comics has improved but there’s still a lot of work to be done."
5. Two part question: What’s the best part about telling a story like this? What are your goals for Althea in the future? (A cartoon would be fire!)
The best part about telling a story like this is I’m in full control of the narrative. I can have a black girl (Althea) with vitiligo be the star. I can have a Puerto Rican boy (Cray) with a limb difference be a strong supporting cast. I plan on introducing other diverse characters in the future as well. If I do my job right, Legend of Althea will be a closer representation of how our world actually looks. It’s amazing to have that freedom! My goal for Althea right now is to simply have the opportunity to tell the story in the best way possible. It could work as a cartoon, movie, or tv series. But the focus right now is to continue the story in hopes the reader feels the same way I felt as a little kid in the theater watching Toy Story. Read Althea here!Read More Gritty Vibes Content here
Like our content? Support the movement! Check out our merch.[metaslider id=7842]Want to guarantee a feature on Gritty Vibes? Choose an option below:[ecwid widgets="productbrowser" default_category_id="0" default_product_id="0" minicart_layout="MiniAttachToProductBrowser"][yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1"]For more dope content, click here