Today we’d like to introduce you to Lex Miniel.
Lex, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started when I was ten. I had recently discovered comics, and it was an instant obsession. Comic books filled the void of missing home (I’m originally from the Dominican Republic), my family, and of being an awkward, foreign stranger people hardly talked to and much less understood. Eventually, I would come to read Nausicaä of The Valley of The Wind, and it would forever change everything about how I saw the world, and how I saw myself. Nausicaä revolutionized me: the way I thought, the way I saw things.
And suddenly I knew. I remember thinking to myself, “I want to make something like this” and scanning the cover of the 3rd book at the library’s copy machine. I kept the image on my binder for school. I looked at that thing every day, all the while thinking, “I want to make something like this”. So I did. Obviously, none of them were masterpieces, but I made comics about ninja puppies, my friends at school, superheroes, etc.
Eventually, when it came time to decide what to do for college, I told my dad I wanted to be a comic book artist. Instead of laughing at me, he was actually really supportive. I decided to go to SCAD and get my BFA in Sequential Art. I’ve recently graduated and am working on self-publishing my first comic book series, titled FATES.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has NOT been a smooth road. Let me tell y’all something: comics ain’t easy. And I’m going to say it again for the people in the back: comics ain’t easy. It’s extremely labor intensive. There can be anywhere from 5 to 6 stages a comic goes through before it’s done, and sadly, people don’t really seem to think of comics as a legitimate art form. So that adds an extra hurdle when you’re trying to create something people tend to not take seriously.
Add to that pinch of mental illness and a dash of exhaustion from working pretty darn close to full time while also attending a school as rigorous as SCAD full time, and you’ve got yourself quite a rocky road. I’m pretty sure I’ve lost years of my life due to stress and lack of sleep, but at least all that is somewhat over now. Can’t say it’s going to be smooth sailing from now on, because it’s probably going to be quite the opposite. Just a different kind of difficult. The comics industry is a hard one to break into, but I’m determined. I still live the sentiment I felt when I first read Nausicaä. I hope to one day make a graphic novel that could do what Nausicaä did for me for another child. I think that’s really what drives me. The fact that Nausicaä saved me from that void, and the thought that maybe I could do that for someone else, too.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Far Traveler Comics is an independent comics studio that I co-founded with my cousin Ruben, who is an excellent writer. We’re just getting started, but I’d say we specialize in telling stories that wouldn’t otherwise be told. As a company, I think I’m most proud of how we’re keeping Dominican folklore at the forefront of our inspiration, and paying homage to our culture.
As far as what makes us different, I think it’s probably our approach to comics. Both Ruben and I are avid film and music fans, so we try to create comics in a mixed-media sort of way. We will be releasing a soundtrack for our first series, titled FATES. It’s currently being composed by Erick Sanchez, an up and coming composer in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The best part? He’s also my cousin. Even though I want to eventually hire all kinds of artists from all over the globe, it’s really nice that it’s sort of become a family business. I don’t really think I can express how exciting it all is.
What were you like growing up?
I will say, I’m a bit of a goth. Not in the sense that I wear all black or dress a certain way, but I definitely have the mindset. I can be a bit of a loner at times, and I’m very comfortable with being alone. I tend to describe myself as a hermit, but it’s not like I don’t have friends or don’t know how to socialize.
I am extremely into surrealism, books, art house cinema, and old school anime.
Also, as some wise person said on the internet: Nothing in this world slaps more than sleeping.
Contact Info:
- Website: fartravelercomics.com
- Email: fartravelercomics@gmail.com
- Instagram: @fartravelercomics
- Facebook: facebook.com/fartravelercomics
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