Like many creators capitalizing on the wave of versatile content development and marketing opportunities that have exploded over the last decade, I’ve been looking to leverage my own enthusiasm for storytelling into a personal publishing project. In the process of overcoming that often debilitating anxiety around judgement and abject failure that creators tend to share, I decided to reach out to Omar Spahi of OSSM Comics. He and I had been in brief contact a few months back regarding his own crowdfunded project, Xenoglyphs, and I was looking for some insight.
Initially, I wanted his take on the process: the whats, whens, how-tos and, most importantly, how much. I was surprised when he replied to my first email in minutes. Within the hour, we were on the phone discussing project management, collaboration with artists, and crowdfunding. Omar is absolutely one of the most grounded and approachable professionals I’ve ever come into contact with, while also having a voracious appetite for knowledge and zero apprehension about sharing his experience openly. He is a creator whose love of comics and intention to uplift and connect the community at large is wholly evident is his Dreamer Comics Podcast.
Featuring interviews with inspiring creators like Matt Kindt (Dept H) and Joe Kelly (I Kill Giants), to industry influencers like Boom! CEO Ross Richie, Valiant Marketing Director Mel Caylo, and Top Cow’s Ryan Cady, host Omar Spahi has put together a list of notable contributors with one purpose: to walk developing, self-motivated creative talent through the process of creating, with their entire being, the stories we love and characters we cherish. He engages each guest with pointed questions and observations in a manner that elicits invaluable insights, while also highlighting their achievements. He does this dynamically, without being distracting or obstructive, because he isn’t the star.
Omar allows the creators to relate their motivations and journeys, imbuing the space he creates with honesty, optimism, and clarity. There is also a fair amount of pragmatism in play, as any effort to stake out on your own as a creator should be grounded in the ethos of hard work and perseverance. Discussions touch on the importance of identifying the emotional core of any project and retaining fidelity to that foundation throughout the often arduous development process. They also feature thought-provoking dialogues on the necessity of collaborative vision and creative synergy between team members with considerations on managing consistency.
I’m not surprised that Omar has anticipated the need and audience for this content. In the months since our initial correspondence his following has exploded, becoming not only the #1 comics related podcast on iTunes, but the overall #1 podcast on the platform. As of October 15, the Dreamer Comics Podcast has also debuted on Youtube, premiering with Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers writer Kyle Higgins. The DCP team are planning a content rich channel that will be updated with new videos daily.
Updated 10/21/18
Christian Davenport
Cable201@comicattack.net
