Back in the day, you could order comic books by the bundle through the Sears catalog, so that’s what Attiba Royster’s parents did. He was around 9 or 10 years old when they got him that first comic collection for Christmas — the John Byrne “Superman” comics.
“I guess my mom or dad thought they would keep me busy. I had really just started drawing, and I was mesmerized by the action and the expressiveness of the characters, the color, even the smell of the newsprint and ink,” he recalls. “I was hooked.”
A few months before leaving his hometown of Philadelphia, he went to his first comic convention and got reeled in to the idea of creating comics as a career. He says there was a self-starter, do-it-yourself mentality to the artists there, who were more into independent comics and ‘zines, as opposed to the bigger superhero books. Although he’s always had some level of insecurity about his artwork, that convention had so much creative energy buzzing around it, he was inspired to try his own hand at making a living with his art. Now that he’s in San Diego, he’ll be exhibiting his work for the second time at this year’s annual Black Comix Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16 at the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. This Black History Month event, started by comic artist Keithan Jones, features Black comic artists, writers, and books with discussions, a video game contest, food, and other activities (ission is free).
Royster, 49, is also a curator and graphic designer who lives in San Diego’s North Bay Terraces neighborhood with his partner, Claudia Pruitt. He took some time to talk about his work, connecting with other Black artists, and his interest in horror and organizing events like San Diego Fright-Mart and the “Tales of Horrorgasm” anthology series.
Q: How did you first learn of Black Comix Day and why did you want to become involved with it?
A: Keithan Jones. He’s the man behind Black Comix Day, in addition to being an incredible comic book artist. I ran into Keithan at San Diego Comic Fest and started following him on Facebook. The first BCD I went to was at the Malcom X Library on Euclid and Market. I was impressed with the level of talent and the overall vibes. I’ve gone every year since.
As an African-American, I think it’s important to see the creativity of our people on display in the popular arts. We have unique voices and perspectives that we can use to help people to see the world differently. I wanted to share my vision and also help people like me to share theirs.
Q: What will people see from you if they attend this year?
A: I will be an exhibiting artist. I will have some of my art prints available and I will also be doing commissions. I have a couple of story ideas for future projects, and I like to use BCD as a testing ground to see what people think. BCD has an intimate relaxed atmosphere, so it’s easier to talk in-depth and get some real helpful .
Q: What does it mean to you to have an event like this, centered around the work of Black comic artists?
A: It’s a chance to be seen, recognized, and to connect with a community of people who I have so much in common with. Also, it’s a chance to let the community know that we are out here, and we are making comics that are aligned with their values. When I see all the African-American kids that come to BCD it reminds me that when I was a kid there wasn’t much access to events like this. It makes me feel good to be able to be an example and maybe even help inspire the next great comic book creator.
What I love about North Bay Terraces in southeastern San Diego…
My neighborhood is very diverse. Where I grew up, it was predominantly Black people, so I really appreciate being in a neighborhood and seeing African-Americans, Mexicans, Filipinos, and all the other colorful people that give my neighborhood its unique vibe.
Q: What kind of difference do you think this kind of representation makes, both for the people consuming the art, and for the industry?
A: I think the success of BCD speaks to the demand there is for stories created by African-Americans with our specific point of view. I find that people are excited and willing to buy Black-owned comics, but more often than not, they just don’t know we’re out here. BCD highlights Black creators and helps connect us with an audience eager for our kind of storytelling.
Q: What kind of influence has connecting with other Black comic artists and professionals had on your own work?
A: I’ve gotten a lot of good advice. I’ve been able to work with a few of the people I’ve met through BCD on my anthology, and I hope to work with more this year. Most importantly, there is the encouragement and I get from the community. We’re all like each other’s hype men.
Q: What are some things (or people) you’re most looking forward to doing/seeing at Black Comix Day this year?
A: In addition to catching up with a lot of friends, I’m especially looking forward to seeing Jocelyn Short, who is a super talented Illustrator who had some really cool concepts for projects and I’d like to see how those are coming along. I’m also looking forward to catching up with Thingamajig Studios; “Me and Mr. Jones” is one of my favorite reads.
Q: Can you talk a bit about your interest in horror and comics? How did these come together for you?
A: Horror has been a part of comics from the beginning, and it’s been part of my life for as long as I can . One of my all-time favorite pastimes for as long as I can is watching horror movies. Back when I was in my teens, we would all go to the video store—me, my brother, my cousins, my sister—and we would just go up and down the horror aisle looking for the most ridiculous, over-the-top movies we could find. We were partial to the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series. Later, I got a job working at a video store and I found a group of friends that were into the same types of things, and they helped introduce me to all different varieties of horror films, older films, and foreign films. A few years ago, I began feeling like I didn’t really have anything to say in the superhero genre, and horror movies and comics were getting very interesting and trying different things, so I wanted to try to be a part of that.
Q: To people who aren’t into the genre, it could just seem scary; what do you think people misunderstand about the appeal of horror?
A: The thing I love about horror is the genre’s ability to sometimes act as commentary on society. You can say a lot about what’s going on in the world. I don’t like to be overtly political, but I love the way, say, “Dawn of the Dead” is an allegory for consumerism, or how a lot of the modern horror films like “Get Out,” or “The Substance,” or “Nosferatu” are about processing trauma. There’s a whole lot you can do and say with a horror story besides just being scary.
Q: To that end, tell us about San Diego Fright-Mart.
A: We started San Diego Fright-Mart to address a need we saw for a horror-themed event in San Diego. I have been to a number of horror events outside of San Diego, and I met so many people who were from here, but didn’t have anything that catered to them. It’s a one-day, pop-up vendor market/mini-convention. We try to find unique vendors and artists and activities for this event. The first one was last year; the next one is May 10 at the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley.
Q: You’ve also put together a horror comic book anthology?
A: Yes, the “Tales of Horrorgasm” anthology series. We are currently taking submissions for our third anthology. The theme this time is vampires. Our partners are primarily San Diego-based creators and from a range of diverse backgrounds. We also like to include first-time comic book creators. It’s very important in a creative person’s development to be given opportunities and we are happy to provide one. Our two previous anthologies are available on our website at horrorgasmsd.com.
Q: How did this idea initially come together?
A: The first “Tales of Horrorgasm” came to coincide with our “Horrorgasm” art event on Halloween of 2019. I connected with a group of creators who were in the middle of an anthology project. I had experience putting together publications and I was able to help make the idea a reality. After the pandemic hit, many creators were left with some free time. Since we already had a system in place for producing the comics, we decided to make more. All in all, we made five comics between 2019 and 2020. We collected the best of these stories and made the first “Tales of Horrorgasm” collection in 2021.
Q: How would you describe your point of view as an artist?
A: I look at the world through the lens of popular culture. I like to use the symbols and iconography of pop as a shorthand to quickly communicate ideas and themes, and from that baseline I can get to some of the deeper thoughtful and emotional aspects of my work.
Q: What inspires you in your comic book work?
A: I’m continuously inspired by the incredibly talented people that work in this business. From the big-name, high-profile artist on a book like “Batman,” to someone making their first comic ‘zine. It’s not easy to make comics and it’s certainly not a way to get rich. People do it purely for the love, and it’s that love and enthusiasm I see that inspires me.
Q: Aside from your own work, what are some series or standalone comic works that you’ve been excited about recently?
A: There has been a boom in recent years of really thoughtful horror books that I really like-“The Nice House on the Lake” by James Tynion and Álvaro Martínez Bueno, “Somna” by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, and of course I have to mention “Killadelphia” by Rodney Barnes. These books are doing a great job of using traditional horror themes to express deeper ideas.
Q: What’s been challenging about your work?
A: I always struggle with self-confidence about my work and allowing myself to just let the work flow, rather than trying to direct it toward a certain style. I guess somewhere along the way I picked up the idea that your art needed to fit into a certain standard in order for you to be successful, but what I’ve found is that people are far more interested in your style rather than you trying to be like someone else.
Q: What’s been rewarding about this work?
A: The feeling of fulfillment I get when I form a genuine connection with someone around a piece I’ve done. I’m often spending hours in my studio working alone, never knowing if anyone is going to like or appreciate what I’m doing. That little acknowledgement that people are noticing and enjoying it means the world to me.
Q: What has this work taught you about yourself?
A: I’ve learned to lean into myself more. I know I have a tendency to try to suppress my own impulses when it comes to my art because I think I learned that one style is more valued than others. I’ve learned people want art that is not perfect, and the artist lets his feelings and personality come through. That’s what makes it human and unique.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Don’t compare yourself to other people; everyone is on their own journey in life and in art. It’s OK to ire and look up to people, but don’t get into the trap of competing with peers to reach life or career goals.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: I still get scared at horror movies. I usually watch them through my fingers, curled up in a ball.
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: We’d take a hike in the desert or the mountains, get breakfast, and then head to the beach. Hang at the beach for a while then get some tacos. After that, take in an art exhibition with some friends and end the night at a nice, quiet spot sharing some laughs.
