Issue #23 - Comics, Creativity, and Late Bloomers
You do you
6 months.
That’s how long this newsletter has been running. It’s not my first time doing this—I used to run a website and publish content for years—but this feels different. More personal.
You’ve probably noticed the “Notes from the Creator” section isn’t always strictly about comics. Sometimes it’s a thought sparked by a comic I read, a chat with a creator or LCS owner, or just something that’s been on my mind. (Today’s note? inspired by a recent piece by Colleen Doran.)
Indie Highlights
News Highlights
Marvel & DC Unite: Deadpool/Batman Crossover Announced
For the first time in over two decades, Marvel and DC are collaborating on a crossover event featuring Deadpool and Batman. The event kicks off with Deadpool/Batman #1, written by Zeb Wells and illustrated by Greg Capullo, releasing on September 17. This will be followed by Batman/Deadpool #1 in November, penned by Grant Morrison with art by Dan Mora. Each issue will include backup stories featuring other Marvel and DC character pairings, with more details to be revealed.
Punisher Returns in 'Red Band' Series
Marvel has announced Punisher: Red Band, a new five-issue limited series launching on September 10. Written by Benjamin Percy and illustrated by Julius Ohta, the series is described as the most violent in Punisher history. Frank Castle returns in his classic skull emblem costume, resuming his brutal crusade against crime. The series will be polybagged for explicit content and coincides with Jon Bernthal's return as Frank Castle in the streaming series Daredevil: Born Again.
Notes from the Creator
Yesterday I stumbled across Colleen’s latest article, and it really kickstarted a wave of thinking—not just around creativity, but also luck, destiny, or whatever name we want to give to the circumstances we’re born into.
For most of my life, I believed I wasn’t a creative person. I even took a career aptitude test when I was younger, and it told me I had close to zero creativity. But I’ve never let those kinds of labels define me, and that one didn’t either.
Colleen makes a great point: our location, our surroundings, our circumstances—these things often shape how others perceive our creativity. And they shape how we act too. The version of you that’s constantly stressed or in survival mode doesn’t have the same capacity to imagine or create as the one who feels safe and supported.
It’s easier to see far when you’re standing on the shoulders of giants. It’s easier to create when you’re not worried about bills, kids, or your next meal.
These days, I consider myself the most creative person I know in my industry. I owe most of my success to that creativity—something I only started building in earnest after turning 30.
I’m 37 now, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more creative. It’s not just about work anymore. It spills into everything: writing, drawing, experimenting, learning. I finally have the mental space to think deeply and act intentionally—and that has made all the difference.
Don’t let age define who you are. Don’t let labels other people put on you define who you are. You can be anything or anyone you want to be as long as you put the work.
Thanks for reading!
Angelos