Send Surfers to Mars with Mindy Indy

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[00:00:00] The Swell Season Podcast is recorded by the Newsstand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network​

Tyler: Hello, and welcome to the Swell Season Surf Podcast. [00:01:00] I'm your host, Tyler Brewer. Surfing has a long history in comics and the arts. As far back as 1937, a surfer appeared on the cover of New Adventure Comics. By 1948, Batman, Robin, and Superman were sharing waves on the cover of World's Finest Comics. Apparently, even saving the world leaves time for a surf. John Severson, founder of Surfer Magazine, the bible of the sport, made cartoons part of its identity and introduced readers to Rick Griffin's legendary little grom, Murphy. Griffin later brought his imagination to the psychedelic underground comic scene alongside R.

Crumb. And of course, there's Snoopy catching waves in Peanuts, and Marvel's Silver Surfer taking the whole idea into the cosmos. For decades, artists have used surfing to explore humor, freedom, and the feeling of riding something much bigger than ourselves. the [00:02:00] page, a wave can become a doorway into another world. guest carries that tradition into a universe of her own. Mindy Indy, also known as Melinda Stephen, is the cartoonist behind Airhead, a science fiction adventure that brings surfing, extraordinary abilities, and humor together. Mindy has spent years developing this world while building a life as an independent artist. We'll talk about what drew her to surfing, pun intended, how she captures the feeling of riding a wave on comic book page, and what keeps her committed to her story through all the work, all the work it takes to bring to life. And we'll explore something surfers might already understand. When you're riding the energy of a force much more powerful than yourself, surfing can feel a little like a superpower. welcome to Swell Season.

Mindy: Oh my gosh, what a great intro. Thank you so much, Tyler. Wow. Thank [00:03:00] you so much for having me as a guest. Super fun

Tyler: Stoked. I mean, we met on the boardwalk here in Rockaway at Rockstock a few years ago when you were-- You just came out with your first issue of Airhead, which was really cool, and you were kickstarting it then too, I believe as well, right?

Mindy: Yeah, you know, years blend together in my mind, but yes, I, I did. I- you know, Rockstock is one of the funnest events, like, on Earth. Like, I've exhibited in comic cons and stuff, but Rockstock is still the funnest. You're, you're on the beach, there's surfing, and the ESA has been really great. It's like, I, I've...

They... It's great. Like, they have me under their tent. They're really chill. It's cool to watch the young surfers, and, um, yeah, it's, it's really fun. Like, some years I do portraits, but every year I have, you know, my comics out, and, uh, yes, I have done multiple Kickstarters. Um, [00:04:00] and yes, this is my third one now.

Yeah

Tyler: So first, you just came from Comic-Con. How was that, by the

Mindy: Oh my gosh, yes.

Tyler: I'm so jealous. Like,

Mindy: Ah

Tyler: I wanna go one day, it's just, like, I've walked by Javits Center when it's going on, tried to

Mindy: Ooh. Oh, ah.

Tyler: I got

Mindy: Really? Impressive. I'm impressed.

Tyler: I shouldn't do this.

That's not okay."

Mindy: Oh my gosh. Well, so they have, like, the badge tap thing, so I always... If I'm not tabling, which I used to table for many years, um, in Artist Alley, but it's getting harder and harder to get in. But honestly, like, this year I was okay, like, just going as a professional. I've, I always apply if I don't get a table, I always apply for a professional pass, and sometimes I go for one day, but this time I went for all four days.

Well, now five because they have, like, the retailers day. So, like, I was really, um, [00:05:00] networking and, um, just, like, being... There's a professional lounge there now. Like, they didn't always used to have that, but it's just nice to have, like, that little, like, additional space where you can connect with other comic creators.

They have special programming. They have, like, comfy couches. They have, like, a bathroom, like a nice bathroom, like a better one. Like, seriously, you don't have to wait in those long lines. That stuff's important, you know? Uh, yes. Yes.

Tyler: must be like kind of wild because you get such a interesting cross-section of people too, 'cause you have artists per- like yourself, but you also have a lot of fans. You have the people who, who obviously, uh, dress up. You have the people who are fans of the movies and TV series who may not be exposed actually to the actual comics even, like...

Mindy: Mm-hmm.

Tyler: collectors there. Like, it's, it's a real hodgepodge of [00:06:00] people, I imagine.

Mindy: Yes, exactly. And there's different sections, you know, too. You know, you have, like, more of the mainstream stuff on the main show floor, and then you have, like, um, the artist alley section. And now they're having a writer's block, which I saw, uh, my friend Lance in, uh, and, uh, he had some of his novels there as well.

But also, uh, he, he had one comic, which I got too, which is like a comic novella cut thing, graphic novella, s- something like a mix of, like, text and pictures. Um, but yeah, so you f- you find some interesting things. There are subsections of subsections, and there's a fandom for everything is, uh, under the general pop culture umbrella.

But yeah, it's, it's always good. And, you know, at the heart of it is the people. You know, like, I went there to connect with people. I went there to also [00:07:00] talk about my Kickstarter and y- you know, like, I was wearing this crazy ha- I don't know, did you see the pictures?

Tyler: I d- I didn't get to,

Mindy: Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. So, so wait, wait.

Uh, I have something... I have something that's, like, packed here. And for, for the video people, wait, because I have to show you. Hold on. I'll keep you in suspense. The suspense is all part of it.

Tyler: killing me

Mindy: Okay. Mm-hmm. All right. Okay, here it is. All right

Tyler: Yeah

Mindy: Okay, so I was walking around with this special hat at New York Comic Con.

So it is... Yes, I was

Tyler: listeners, if you're listening, you're not watching this, it's a, the hat is, um, a placard that says, "Send surfers to Mars," with her QR code on [00:08:00] it, and it's hilarious.

Mindy: Yes. Yes, it is a mini sandwich board that I attached to my Airhead bandana with masking tape, and it held up the whole time, which is, which actually considerable 'cause it's just made out of cardboard. Um, but yeah, you know, this thing, it, you know, you gotta think outside the box when you go to Comic-Con, like, because people saw- people were, like, coming up to me and were like, "I keep seeing you everywhere.

What the heck is this?" And so yeah, yeah, you just, uh, y- you know, you gotta catch people's attention if you're really, you know, uh

Tyler: would they say? Like, what do you mean send surfers to Mars?

Mindy: Some people-- I will say I got a variety of responses. Um, most of them were like, "Oh, just like tell me about this." Like, "What is this?" Some people were like, "Yeah, right on." Like, some people... Like this one girl actually, like she was [00:09:00] like fairly serious and asking like, "Is, is this some kind of protest?

Like you want to like, like are, are you sending like a group of people like to Mar-" I'm like, "No, no. That, I assure you,

Tyler: against surfers? Are

Mindy: no.

Tyler: to get them kicked off the planet?

Mindy: No." I was like, "Uh, no, it's all good vibes here. Like my surfers want to go to Mars. I assure you no surfers were harmed in the making of this comic."

Tyler: So, uh, Mindy, I'm curious, like, how did the world of comics enter your life? Like, when did you start... You know, when did your passion for it really, you know, become... 'Cause you're, you're, know, you're, you're originally from Michigan. Is that-- Am I correct? Yeah. So I'm

Mindy: Yes

Tyler: like, how all of that kind of got, got going for you.

Mindy: Yeah, so I've always loved to draw. Ever since I was little and could hold crayon, I've always been drawing, especially cartoon characters since I loved to watch cartoons, and I [00:10:00] also loved reading, like, the Sunday morning comic strips, you know? And, uh, you know, in the newspaper. Ha, newspaper, what's that?

Some people might say. Like, what is it?

Tyler: Oh, you mean, uh, the Apple News app? No, just kidding.

Mindy: Oh.

Tyler: Or Ground News?

Mindy: Oh, gosh. Yeah, I mean, they still exist. They're still out there, you know, sometimes. Yes. Um, but yeah, I mean, I, I really liked, I mean, like, thinking about, I loved, you know, Garfield. I loved, um, Overboard. I think this one's the newer ones. I loved, um, you know, just, uh, all, all...

There's so many of them over the years. Um, but yeah, like of course Peanuts and stuff. But, uh, yeah, so I transitioned to comic books actually when [00:11:00] I... So I was really into video games because I won a Sega Game Gear from somewhere, and it came with Sonic the Hedgehog, and I was obsessed with Sonic, and I, I s- I was just obsessed in my childhood.

I watched the TV show, I loved the video games, and I saw in some drugstore a Sonic the Hedgehog comic book, and I ate it all up. I loved Sonic. I just got... I have almost every single issue of the Archie Sonic comics, uh, when they had printed them until I... I mean, in the '90s, yes. Uh, I kind of... Now, now they're published by a different publisher, but, um, yes, I, I love Sonic.

So I started reading actual comic books on a monthly basis from the Sonic comics. And then, you know, as I grew up, I got more into, like, anime and manga and... But it was hard to find in the '90s. You had to hunt for it. You had to... [00:12:00] I went, I, I went to very small comic cons with my friends in, uh, you know, the Detroit area of Michigan, and we got, we would get, like, VHS bootlegged, like, j- uh, subtitled Japanese anime of, like, the Sailor Moons and Dragon Ball Zs before they came out, like way before.

And so I knew all that stuff before anyone else, before it was cool. Yeah. Yeah. And so, and then I found out, oh, there's Sailor Moon comics and Dragon Ball Z comics. Oh, like, these comics came before the animations. Oh, and so then ah, ah, I get, got into that. And my first time going into a comic store, like, I remember, like, I was like, "Whoa!"

Like, it blew my little mind because it's like, before it's like I would get the Sonic comics from the drugstore, from, like, [00:13:00] Waldenbooks, right in the mall.

Tyler: them.

Mindy: RIP Waldenbooks. RIP malls.

Tyler: Well, they're making a comeback as pickleball places.

Mindy: Yeah, kind of. There's one in Jersey I've been to that is, is good. Yeah, in, in Livonia, Michigan, the malls are not really doing, doing too great. May- maybe it'll make a comeback. Maybe. That... Yeah. So people like going to physical places again, so we'll, we'll see what happens. Um, but anyway, yeah, um, comic store.

I remember I would get so nervous and so excited going every month to the comic store just 'cause I couldn't wait to see, like, what the next issue was of, of Sonic and, and the other, the other things. Like, I collected Ranma ½ and Inuyasha. Like, that's, that's when I discovered my favorite, um, uh, artist, Rumiko Takahashi.

And, [00:14:00] uh, a- and so I found those manga before I knew about, you know, the animes. I mean, Inuyasha was animated way later. Um, but yeah, it was, uh, it was great. Like, I, it, you know, like, the hunt kind of made it more appealing in a way, 'cause it was like, oh. It's like, it's, uh, it's like nowadays you just have that in the library, and there's, like, so much.

What do you know is good? I, I, I don't know

Tyler: it's, it's interesting. Like, I find, I feel like there's a bit of a parallel between, like, a comic book shop and a surf shop in some ways, because they both cultivate a community, and they both can be intimidating too, as

well. Like, especially if you're new to it and you're

Mindy: உம்.

Tyler: to figure it out.

Like, it's kinda... Like, I've been to plenty of comic book stores. I used to sell a lot of stuff to them, so I'd go in and

Mindy: Oh.

Tyler: I'd be always very nervous, actually, like, 'cause I'm like, "I feel like such a poser right now. I'm not [00:15:00] trying to be cool, but going in here trying to sell something of a license or some licensed product or whatever."

And, it, it was... I would go in and I'd be like, "This feels so similar. Oh, this is like a surf shop almost," you know?

Mindy: Ooh, yes, they have their own subcultures, you know? Yes. Yes, for sure. And there is some crossover too, you

Tyler: Yeah.

Mindy: I've never

Tyler: shops too. I feel like those three are kinda that create scenes and create communities and subcultures and foster them, you know? Like the, a lot of the comic book shops also like will have like events and things of that natures, right? Like they're all trying to draw people in and so it, it kinda brings a community together, which I think is really kinda cool seeing that crossover sometimes

Mindy: Yes, yes, comics and surf crossover

Tyler: there's a shop in Long Beach called Unsound, and it's a really core surf shop, but the owner, uh, Dave [00:16:00] Vaughn, is also a real big comic nerd. And so he started selling comics there too, which is really cool

Mindy: You know, I d-- I, I remember at my first Rock Stock, Unsound was a sponsor. Maybe I should get in touch with them again because I remember they... Yeah, like I'm gonna like write this down. Like I-- you know what? Because, um, I... And that name is so familiar because, you know, they, they have a lot of sponsors, you know, at these events, and there's so much going on, and then but after the event is over, you just kind of like...

I, I don't wanna say you just like, oh, like, just like forget about, but like, it's like, oh, onto the next thing, and then there's this Comic-Con and there's this art show, and then like... But yeah. Yeah, I'll, I'll definitely reach out to Unsound

Tyler: Do, what did [00:17:00] drew you to the comics? Was it the first the illustration and drawings, or was it the storytelling? What, like, kind of really kinda got you hooked, would you say?

Mindy: Hmm. So for Sonic, I would say I already liked the character. For the other ones, I loved the style of anime, uh, because the Sonic ones were not anime at the time. I mean, it's gotten more anime over time as, like, th- the branding has m- uh, transformed.

Tyler: as it mainstreamed, you

Mindy: Yes. Yes. Um, but for anime and manga, I love the style, and I like, yeah

Tyler: you just for our, some of our listeners who might not be initiated, what is the difference between like a regular style comic and like, you know, manga and anime? Like what differentiates

Mindy: Oh my gosh, that is hard to explain in words. [00:18:00] Um, do I have some ma... Wait. So I, I'm in my art studio now, and I have a limited amount of, um, some, some reference materials here, but I feel like I have some manga at home, but I... Dare I say that I don't have manga here right now to show you, which I

Tyler: A lot of people are gonna be listening, so we're gonna have to describe it. Like, would

Mindy: Okay, I'll just describe it. I'll just describe it. So, um, uh, so anime, they, they have the big eyes and the tiny pointy noses and mouths that are not realistic, but they're just like ovals and like pointy chins and stuff. But like they have like big crazy hair and like they, they have, um, uh... [00:19:00] Y- you know, a lot of times they're, they're black and white, uh, that's a major distinction, and that is because of in Japan they publish it, uh, cheaply, thereby just doing it in black and white.

A lot of times you'll see a lot of different kinds of patterns with the screen tone. Because they don't use color, they make a lot of use of these different screen tones, which are like dots. Like they're, um...

Tyler: Day dots and other,

Mindy: Yes, exactly. Um, and there, there are certain themes, like there's like a magical girl theme, like "Sailor Moon."

There could be like martial arts themes like "Dragon Ball Z," those are very popular. Um, and there could be like shonen, like boys', um, manga, like which could feature sports, it could feature like monsters or something. And, um, shojo manga is girls, which obviously is magical girl ca- category, but [00:20:00] also, um, other stuff too.

Um, let's see. There's... It's so funny because when you're so used to something, it's hard to describe it at the basic level to like new people. But then, then you contrast that with American comics, like American comics are more focused on like, okay, yes, the traditional comics, they were, uh, bright colors, uh, primary colors, very focused on superheroes.

Um, obviously Superman, Batman, those kinds of... The, the Marvel, you know, Universe. And, uh, for those that don't know, Superman and Batman are DC and the, the Marvel is like, you know, the Spider-Man, the Iron Man, y- you know, all that stuff, you know, all those, uh, it's lots of the movies

Tyler: do you think like, like American style comics are almost like, I don't wanna [00:21:00] say masculine, but they're, they come from like... I feel like they come from like a very male's male perspective. Whereas I feel like, uh, the anime and manga tend to have a more effeminate or, or androgynous, like less, less of a gender specific, you know, less of a gender, uh, approach to it almost

Mindy: I think that you would be right in that observation, yes, because especially when you think of the American comics, you think, like, the guys with the muscles and the ah. And, um, you know, there were a lot more female cartoonists at mangaka. Um, there was a lot more females like Rumiko Takahashi and other ones doing it, um, you know, way, way before, like, you know, in the '80s and stuff.

And whereas there weren't that many female, uh, cartoonists working on the big two comics, Marvel and DC. Um, there were some like [00:22:00] Colleen Doran, which I, I have loved. She is one of my inspirations as well. There was Wendy Pini, who, uh, she made Elfquest. Uh, that's a famous one. That's a fantasy one. And, um, she was at New York Comic Con, but I missed her.

Ah, I saw her last year, though. It's okay. Um, but, uh, so but that, that still, that was super indie, super niche, and not really in the mainstream that much. But then again, you, you've always had like, you know, indie comics. You've had zines. You've had stuff in like the underground, like, you know, as you mentioned R.

Crumb before in like the, the skate shops, the surf shops, the, uh, you, you know, stuff that was a little more underground

Tyler: g- kind of as well seeps into it as well, and, and punk scene used a lot of zines with comics too, and [00:23:00] yeah. Like

Mindy: Mm-hmm.

Tyler: I, I, I, I am curious like then, like you've worked in the comic industry for a while. You used to do stuff with, with, uh, like Deadpool, uh, coloring and, and Marvel and other stuff.

Like

Mindy: That's right

Tyler: has... One, I w- I definitely wanna know about that experience, but two, I'm also curious like have women like become more prominent in the comic industry? And is it, or is it still very, uh, men- male driven, the, the, the way the industry is?

Mindy: Ooh. Ooh, these are good questions. Yes, so for, um, for my Deadpool experience, it was kind of like right time, right place kind of thing. So I was Kyle Baker's assistant and yeah, like, so Kyle Baker was, you know, the artist for that issue in 2010, 2011. And I had... Geez, how the heck did I first get in contact with him?

I think it was, like, through a mutual friend, and [00:24:00] then I also saw him at a Comic Con, a local Brooklyn Comic Con. But then, no, you know what? He walked into the art store I was working at. That's right, and that's was the thing, and sometimes it doesn't... I was working at the Pratt store, and he came in and we had known each other from before and he was like, "Do you know Photoshop?"

I'm like, "Yes." And he's like, "Do you wanna be my assistant?" I'm like, "Sure." That's how some things happen. And it, yes, yes. And so yeah, I was his assistant for, um, like, about two years,

Tyler: Угу.

Mindy: working on that, like coloring assistance and also, um, like looking up references, um, and things for like, you know, he needs to draw a helicopter or whatever or, um, some, you know, machine or like truck or something.

And so I'd like look it up and like send, you know, references. And, um, at the time I believe [00:25:00] we also used a 3D program to... Was it SketchUp? Google SketchUp? And to like find some of these references so he could like do it from different angles and stuff. And, um, yeah, so that was cool. But yeah, I, uh, I wish I got, you know, the, the full like, like title credits, but because I was just an assistant, you know, you don't see my name in Marvel, which it's always weird to like say, "Oh yeah, I worked at Marvel."

But it's like, well, I was an assistant and like if people like look it up, it's like, well, they didn't list you. But for those that are cool, that are in the know, that know the real story, um, yes. So, so there is that. That, that was that, um, part of the question. As for role of women in comics now, yes, definitely we have grown to be more prominent, uh, in, in the space.

Uh, but there, there are still like, you know, me and my boyfriend Blake were [00:26:00] walking around Artist Alley and, um, I feel like- Most of the people that we talked to there were male, uh, still. Um, actually one of the, my friends from Michigan, Katie Cook, she's still kicking ass left and right and, and doing it.

She's worked on My Little Pony. Nice. She's done, um, some Star Wars stuff. She-- Yes, yes.

Tyler: my jam right there.

That's... I love the Star Wars comics, and I definitely enjoy what Marvel has done with them. I, I've, I've found those to be really, really fun stories, actually.

Mindy: I, I, you know, I enjoy Star Wars. I'm not, like, super into it, but I, yeah, I enjoy it every so often

Tyler: It's all good. There's no, no judger near

Mindy: Okay, cool, cool. [00:27:00] You, well, you can't be into everything. There's just too much stuff out there.

Tyler: For

Mindy: But, uh, yeah, yeah. But, um, let me see. Let me, let me think. I'm, I'm really bad when it comes to name-dropping, but yeah. Oh yeah, I saw my friend Elisa Martinez. She was there in Artist Alley, and she's been, been working on, on some big titles for, for many years.

For many years. And, um, yes, so... But you know what? I have to actually, like, stop and think about who were the women that I did talk to, um, wherein it doesn't come first to mind, unfortunately. But, you know, th- there are, like, the, there's a whole, like, Women in Comics organization, and, um, they had panels at New York Comic Con.

They had a little coffee and tea hour for the professionals, which was great. Um, I had missed the coffee and tea, but I did grab a croissant. Yes. [00:28:00] Yes.

Tyler: I'll take a

Mindy: Yeah. I, hey, you know what? It's, it, it's just good conversations, you know? Like, uh, the perks of, you know, being a pro. Um, yes, uh, women are making strides, you know, in this, in this realm.

And, you know, um, I, even though I am a woman, like, in here, like, I still, like, kind of like Rumiko Takahashi, like, I don't feel the need to always have, like, a woman female lead. Like, I, I have a male lead for my, my character, Air, uh, in Airhead, and, but th- there are plenty of other female characters in there, female and male, and, um, and aliens.

Let's, let's not forget the aliens as well. There are more to come. Mm-hmm.

Tyler: is, I mean, your, your magazine for sure, like, more of an ensemble I would say even. Like, you have a kind of a main character, but I feel like you do a great job of, kind of spreading the love, if you will, to all the [00:29:00] characters. Like, it, it feels like there's a lot of people to kind of consider, which is really fun and allows a lot of different side stories for you to kind of explore, which is kind of neat.

Mindy: Oh, thank you

Tyler: for our listeners, like, give them a bit of an overview of what Airhead is and, you know, what the story is and what to expect and what they're, they're seeing in it, uh, currently?

Mindy: Yes. Excellent. Excellent. Uh, so yes, I, uh, uh, I'm just gonna show it for the, the viewers here

Tyler: If you're not watching, you're listening. It's a very cool cover of a surfer, futuristic surfer, uh, which is super cool, and it looks freaking awesome. I love it

Mindy: Thank you so much. Yes, and you know Aer is spelled A-E-R. So it's short for Aerio Zephyr, which is his full name, and he's...

Tyler: name, by the way.

Mindy: Thank you. Thank you

Tyler: like, a unique history in surfers, [00:30:00] surfing as well, 'cause you had Zephyr Surfboards in the '70s, which influenced, like, Dogtown and the Z-Boys and all the skate culture, which is really cool. So I love

Mindy: yes. Thank you. I'm glad that you appreciate that detail. Ah, fun. So yeah, so, um, Air has a special ability which he doesn't fully understand yet, which, you know, sometimes he can see the future in his dreams. So on the cover you see like a giant head, like a, that's his vision, and then he's like following his vision on the surfboard, and he's surfing in space, but also in the water.

Yeah, so we have some water there, we have some space there in the background. Uh, it's the best of both worlds. So he can sometimes see the future in his dreams, but not all the time. He can't quite figure it out yet. He wants to figure it out, um, and his dad is a scientist, uh, Professor Charles Pipsy, and he is, [00:31:00] uh, trying to, you know, kinda like do these experiments, like help Air understand his power, try to like track it.

You know, like Air wakes up to an alarm clock where he needs to give like a certain password, and then he records his dreams. And then Pips analyzes it, is like, "Is this a normal dream or is it a, possibly a futuristic premonition?" And, um, so but yeah, anyway, the story goes along. You get to know s- like Air and his friends, Jade, who lives in New York Squared, and oh yes, Air lives in the futuristic city of New San Diego

Tyler: what year is this exactly? Give, give

Mindy: Yes.

So this is set 200 years in the future, roughly. It's, and I'm gonna be like... Yes, yes. Post World War IV, which is referenced in the... And I'm like, you know what? I really need to draw an actual timeline because there-- And actually, you know what? [00:32:00] Unfortunately these days I'm like, was that number high enough?

Do I need to like bump it up to like World War VI? But you know how like there's like other war- I was like, there could be like the AI war that's like in between that's like not a World War. There could be like an alien war in between

Tyler: wars. Don't worry, yeah, don't worry. There's a lot of wars

Mindy: Gosh.

Tyler: in our world.

Mindy: gosh. But yes, so, um, it is the year 2233 AD, and that, that is the present day in "Airhead." And so, you know, you do have some futuristic technologies in there. You have, um, some changes which are just, like, in the background. You have, like, the United States is not united anymore. It's divided into different territories.

You have New San Diego, which had a series of, um... well, California in general had a series of major earthquakes, and, and that, you know, I, I put that in there 'cause when my, um, when my sister had [00:33:00] moved to San Diego, my mom was all worried. She's like, "You're gonna fall off into the ocean. You're gonna..." You know.

But that, I was curious about that. I was like, "Oh, that's, like, just interesting and stuff." And ever since I was little, I, like, geeked out about plate tectonics and stuff. This is, like, super nerd territory here. I was like, "Oh, Pangea. Oh, it's so cool." But, like, so San Diego, um, as we know it, there's not much left of the, uh, previous San Diego, but we have new San Diego that is a series of islands due to this, uh, California part of it falling off, uh, into the ocean, and separating from the mainland, and then sea level rise, and that combined.

And so in the world of "Airhead," you have, like, these, like, giant, sweeping, cool-looking highways that are connecting the islands and also to the mainland. And then you also have technology, which was [00:34:00] like, we need the flying cars already, okay? So th- there are flying cars. Yes, they are coming, at least in "Airhead."

Tyler: know.

Mindy: Yeah, I mean, it's, it's-- I-- we're not ready for a lot of stuff, but it's, it's coming whether we like it or not.

Tyler: Serious

Mindy: So, so we, we got the flying cars. We also have flying surfboards. So the surfboards in "Airhead," they fly in the air and also in the water. And there's also a fun little scene in there where they're, they're not connected by the cords.

It's connected remotely, so if you lose your board, all you gotta do is click your heels, and then your board levitates to you if you lose it in the ocean.

Tyler: that would solve a lot of problems in surfing, tripping over the leash, so I like that

technology.

Mindy: Yes. Yeah, and actually when I had first tried surfing, that, that was like one of my concerns. I was like, I was afraid to be [00:35:00] like tangled in the leash or whatever. I was like... Uh, it was, it was, it was on my mind. Mm-hmm

Tyler: Where, so like how, how did surfing present itself to you for this? Did you, had you surfed before you made this comic? And, and where did the idea for the c- the story come from?

Mindy: Yeah, so I had not surfed before the comic, uh, but my character has inspired me to surf, which is the opposite of what you would think. So, uh, my sister Angie moved to San Diego, uh, and I was like, "Oh, this... It's so cool here," like all these plants I'd never seen before. Like, all... And it's just cool architecture.

Um, I was inspired by the location. I was like, um... I had made some of the main characters beforehand, like in a, a animation in college where like they had the powers, but there wasn't a story yet really. [00:36:00] Um, and then, 'cause I, I studied animation and comics and also other stuff in college, and so like I had done, like for an independent study, like a very, um, first kind of like preview of what I wanted the main story to be, you know, with Airhead.

And I think, I think, yes, it did have the surfing there as part of it, and I think it was, yeah, it was because when Angie moved to San Diego, I was like, "This is cool. I want my story to be set here." And then like, what would my characters do if they lived there? They would probably surf. Um, and so yeah, just it's, it was really like a rounding out of the characters.

It's like this is what they did in their pastime, and but it kind of like grew and, you know, when I moved over here to New York, I've lived here since 2010, and, uh, I discovered that, [00:37:00] yes, there is surfing in Rockaway. And, uh, this is very exciting to me 'cause I really wasn't expecting that like from New York City.

Yeah. And so I'm like, "Oh, this is cool." But it, it was still a while until I, like, tried it. I'm not, like, a sports-like person, like a phys- it's a physical thing. Like, it's an extreme sport. So, but, but what I did was, I think this was... I remember, it was after, um, my one teaching job ended because they closed this afterschool program, and I was like, "Okay, what's my next thing?

I wanna try to, like, beef up my Patreon." Okay. And, and Patreon is another, like, crowdfunding thing, but it's like an ongoing monthly thing. And I was like, "How about let's focus on it just for Airhead?" So it'll be like the behind the scenes of, like, how I make Airhead, [00:38:00] the Airhead comic. For everything from the drawing to, like, the writing, the, um, coloring, and all that.

And so I was like, "What would be cool is, like, if I could get 100," what was it? "Up to $100 a month on there, then I will take a surf lesson for the first time." And, and that would be, like, the goal, right? So I was like, kind of like, uh, mini campaigning for it, just, like, emailing people, texting people. And yes, I reached my goal, and I took the surf lesson in Rockaway.

And, uh, yeah, it was, it was awesome

Tyler: Who gave you the lesson? Which, which school?

Mindy: Gosh, it was... I'm still on their mailing list. It was- Yeah. Yes, it was Locals for sure. It was them. And, uh, yes, and it was, like, for, like, $99 at the time, you could take a surf lesson. I was so stoked. I was, like, so like, yes, okay. It was a [00:39:00] perfect day. It was a beautiful day, and I put on all my sunblock because I burn very easily, and I g- I go there and yes, I do learn.

Um, I couldn't really stand on the board my first time, but I did kind of, like, kneel. I, I got to the point where I could kneel. But it was scary. I, I... It was scary but fun at the same time. Um, uh, but it was, uh... I was, I was... I felt super empowered. My arms felt like they were gonna fall off at the end. But and I was like, "This is a physical thing."

But, and, you know, and I, I did e- even after that, um, like, you know, they have that Locals cafe, so, like, and they had, like, parties and stuff there too, so it was like, you know, I loved their parties. I would, like, you know, go and, like, hang out there. Of course, I would go to Rockaway. I would still be, um...

Tyler: Doing your research, basically.

Mindy: It is... [00:40:00] Yes. It is research. And, and yeah, it was. Like, the surf lesson was a research, and I did go again. Um, it was kind of like a surf date, like, you know. But it was, it was fun. It was awesome. Um, but, uh, you, you know, it, uh, those were my only two times going, but a- after the second time, I realized, I was like, "You know, do I wa- do I want to surf to get good at it?"

Un- quote, unquote, "Or do..." 'Cause I know I'm not gonna get good at it, 'cause you need to be consistent. You need to do it a lot. Yes. And I was...

Tyler: of responsibilities.

Mindy: Yeah, and I was like, "You know what? At this point, I, I did enough research for now. I would rather spend my time doing art." And I, I [00:41:00] s- it's cool watching other people surf. I still follow a lot of surfers, and I think it's, it's really, like, pretty, like, watching, like, people surf on the waves and stuff, and like, ooh, like, it's just, like, cool

Tyler: you know, it's an art form, you know? And the, the wave is your canvas and you're drawing lines on it basically, which is very similar to what you do

Mindy: Ooh, I like that analogy. That's cool. That's cool. And it's like, yeah, like if, if given the opportunity, like sure, I, I would surf again, but I, I also know it's like, eh, it's like, it's kind of expensive and it's like, oh, I, I... It's, it's a whole big... If you don't do it all that often, I, I, I, I, I don't know. It, it, it would be cool to do it again, y- you know?

It's... But yeah, me not being like super into sports, like which, which is ironic, right? Like, but, but it looks, it looks cool. I like drawing it, like it's, it's pretty to draw, like surfing in the waves

Tyler: was [00:42:00] gonna ask, like, the, the thing that struck me about the artwork is how much movement there is in it.

Mindy: Mm-hmm.

Tyler: surfing is difficult to capture, I think, in still images. And, and because of that, much experience is about speed, flow, and timing, and I'm curious, like, how you approach- approached illustrating someone riding a wave, and how did you go about thinking about that?

Mindy: Ooh. Ooh, that's a great question. And yes. Um, well, you know, I studied animation when I was in, in college, and also I've still worked on animation freelance here and there. Um, so just the way I draw has more of a movement to it. And of course, like, you know, um, you can see references online, you can see still pictures, you can see video reference.

I think there, and there was some, uh, scenes where, you know, Air is surfing and I wanted a particular, um, [00:43:00] position, you know, and I would, you know, scroll, scrub through a video until I saw something that, like, looked like... Because it happens very fast, you know. And it's like, oh, like, wait, it's like kind of like a blur, but it's like I, I can kind of like y- you know, um, hide some of the blur the blur with the waves or something if, if I, if I need.

But, um, yeah, there, and you know, I also tried to, like, liven it up a bit by not drawing the same position a lot because they, they're of course like, you know, the classic poses. But yeah, just from different angles, like here, like, you know, I have him like from behind and then it's like he's starting the aerial and then he's doing the aerial like in, in the air right there.

Of course, Airhead's favorite move is the aerial being Air. Yes. And, [00:44:00] um, but yeah, like, so it's, you know, like, like some of the research and then like making shit up as well as I go. Like when they surf in space, spoiler alert, that happens in issue two.

Tyler: how, how did you, uh, develop the character of Aaron? If you could describe to our listeners, like, what, what, what's his personality like? Like, who is he like? 'Cause it, to me, like, he's got a very... has that Spicoli-esque vibe to him, for sure. Like, uh, uh, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, like, typical surfer, "Hey, bro," kinda thing, but there's obviously more going on.

But I'm curious, like, how you developed that character and some of the other characters, and where you pulled the influence from.

Mindy: Oh, yes. Oh, great question. So my first sketch of Air was, I remember being in class in this auditorium. We, we ha- we [00:45:00] did have some lectures in art school. Um, and there was this guy that was wearing a bandana that was in front of me, and I just thought that it was really interesting how his curly hair, like, curled around the bandana.

And so I thought that was interesting to draw, and I sketched, I sketched it in my sketchbook, and I was like, "Oh, I like this. Like, I like this look. I like this character." And I, I, I distinctly remember that was, like, the first sketch. God knows where that sketch is, but it's, it's there somewhere in some notebook of art history or something.

Um, but, uh, and so yeah, it started, it all started with the bandana and the curly hair. Yes. Yes. Air definitely rocks a bandana. And, um, so then I was like... Yeah, like I, I think that for me, like his personality from comics fans is more akin to Goku of [00:46:00] Dragon Ball Z. Like he, he has like the, the pure heart. He wants to help his friends.

He's a loyal friend. Um, but he, he is a bit forgetful. He is a bit like, um, yeah, an airhead. He's a b- you know, it's a play on words, you know. Um, but uh, you know, he is-- there's, there's more to Air than meets the eye. Like, you know, he really wants to help Jade that, you know, she decided to stop using her power, like her telepathy and, you know

Tyler: Jade is his, like, one of his best friends and love interests

and, uh, also has a psychic connection with her

Mindy: Mm-hmm.

Tyler: she has to move away unfortunately, but they're bonded, uh, psychically

Mindy: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. And so yeah, one of his motivations is not only like how can he understand [00:47:00] his power, but like maybe that could also help him like to help Jade as well, because she's having troubles with her power. Like her power is like it, it, as we find out, they give her these like major migraines, and so she...

I hope I'm not giving too much away, but it's like she decides to stop using her power, at least for, for now. That's a little teaser. Um, but, uh, so, so yeah, like Ayr really wants, um, he wants to help his loved ones, and he, um, he wants to help people in general because he's, he's a lifeguard as well. And so, um, he is used to like springing to action and taking action, like of course to save people on an everyday basis, you know, for his job, but also like when he has this vision of this giant [00:48:00] solar flare, which is basically like the end of the world here, and his first instinct is, "Oh my gosh, I have to help people."

And so the first person that he, uh, tells is his dad, Pips, and so then they together, they go to the laboratory and they, uh, they figured out, they determine with these other, uh, grad student scientists, aerospace grad students, uh, that yes indeed, the solar flare is an unnatural CME, which is the, uh, coronal mass ejection.

But you know, when, when Ayr is going around trying to use this, no, he just used layman's terms. Like it's a solar flare. Like n- and it's like When you're trying to warn people, you know, about something like this, how do you even tell them? And th- this is, I, I, I don't [00:49:00] wanna give away too much for, for like the, the first issue, but, but I try to think about Air and like how he would communicate, like with his personality.

It's like he's not gonna say, "There's a CME." It's like, what the hell is a CME? It's like for scientists, like yeah, but for the average person it's like, oh, and then like, people, like, they recognize, oh, this is the lifeguard that's like telling us this 'cause it's like on the beach. He like gets like his megaphone and stuff and so like he's trying to warn people.

And, uh, yeah, so I pretty much given away most of the first issue there, but

Tyler: No, there's lots of

Mindy: yeah.

Tyler: in there and lots of nuance as well. You know, how do you storyboard all of this? Like, how do you develop that story, and what is, like, that process like?

Mindy: Wow. So a lot of times it'll come from like, like a vision in my head, like a vision of like [00:50:00] what I want the, the story to be, and then I might sketch that in a sketchbook somewhere. But now since I hire a letterer to letter my issues, I write on an actual script and, uh, like I type it out and then I'll do another like actual storyboard of how I want the page to be laid out and stuff.

And I just like... Okay, I had, I have some handy right here. So these are from issue three, Send Surfers to Mars. Uh, I had some of these handy and they're just like on like just typing paper, like r- regular 8 1/2 by 11 that, that, that you could just like get from anywhere. And see on this one, like I like taped it up.

I like cut it up, like literal cut and paste, like I wanted to like move some panels around, um, before I draw, you know, the real thing, which is still hand drawn. I still hand draw Airhead

Tyler: Does, does like, were you drawing on any other stories or were there anything that [00:51:00] influenced the storyline? And, and also like, do you have like the whole story mapped out in your head or do you- are you go- making it as you go along? Like, do you have an over, over the- like an arch that you know like what is end, what the end is gonna be like at least eventually?

Mindy: Uh, yes, both and. So I have a general view of what I, where I want it to go, but also, like, since I'm the writer-artist, as I'm drawing more of the issues, I'm like, "Oh, wait, I could put that more into this scientist's background of..." And it's like, and I'm gonna put that in issue four. And like, as you say, there's the ensemble cast, and really it's only, like, in the first few issues we have just a glimpse, but there's really more to, like, delve into with, with the, the characters' backgrounds, and it does go into more of, like, the manga influence of that.

It is [00:52:00] more of an ensemble cast, whereas in American comics it's, like, Superman, Batman, those are lone figures, okay? Like Superman, and then like, okay, I guess Lois Lane maybe. Like, but she's not as, like, colossal as Superman. But okay, Batman, and then okay, yeah, Robin, but like Robin's kinda lame. But

Tyler: you get like a Justice League or an Avengers style comic. You don't, you don't get that. It's always like centered on a one protagonist basically

Mindy: mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. And now I, I, I do think like things, uh, like, uh, yeah, like the, the more recent Marvel movies, I think that they have like more of an ensemble feel. Yeah. Um, trying to remember exact titles, but I haven't even seen a lot of the Marvel movies 'cause you have to see five movies before you see the next movie.

So that's why I haven't, um, seen the most [00:53:00] recent ones, so... But, but that's okay. Um, but yes, um, Airhead, I, I do, I do have an idea of where I want it to go, probably maybe aiming for 10 issues, but we'll see how much I can cram into every issue, as every issue is jam-packed with awesomeness. And, um, but yeah, like leaving-- It's fun to leave room for creativity because I, I recently...

Like, I get a lot of ideas when I'm jogging, you know? And because you're in motion and you're like thinking of like, you know, you get like a cool like soundtrack and you're like, "Yeah," like pumped and like all these ideas are like running through my head, and I recently decided to like, you know, I could wrap the series up if I like don't go this branch that I was considering, and maybe finish this series before I [00:54:00] die.

So we'll see. Um, but I was like, yeah, it's like there, there are still multiple possibilities, uh, for the Airhead world. And, and yes, you're, um... I think what you, you asked about my, my influences. Main influences are, um, so style-wise, there is the Daft Punk animation, which I don't know if you're-- Are you familiar with the Daft Punk animation?

Tyler: I came across in my research for this, yes,

Mindy: Okay. Yeah, yeah.

Tyler: influence for you

Mindy: Oh, it's so great. So there's, for those who don't know, the band Daft Punk had animated, yes, their, their entire Discovery album. And when I first saw that, it blew my mind. This was like way early 2000s and I was like, "This combines all the things I love: anime, dance music, and space." And I was like, "This is so [00:55:00] kickass.

It's so cool." And so that, that is a major influence and, uh, this Leiji Matsumoto is the style, um, of, of that and he is a mangaka as well. Um

Tyler: That's like that One More Time video now. I love that. That video

Mindy: Yes. Yeah, yeah. That's the, the main one that most people would know. Yes. So, so there's that for stylistically. Um, humor-wise, Rumiko Takahashi, um, which she has a lot of like physical humor.

Yeah. Um, a lot of like situational humor, um, like in-jokes and stuff, like leading up to, to it and, uh, and things like that. So I have a lot of that. Um, I would say further in the series, like when they get to Mars, um, I would say "Lost" is an influence and also the "Langoliers" movie. [00:56:00] This is a movie... Oh yeah, I- it's an old movie, I think from the '90s.

I believe it-- I don't know if it's Stephen King or what, but, so, uh, I don't know if this is like the, it's a spoiler alert or whatever, but like air and crew warp to space and they're kind of like stranded on Mars for a while.

Tyler: Hmm.

Mindy: in like a, a wormhole, and they, um, they end up in...

I th- I think what it was in the movie, only the people that were asleep were still on the plane, and then they woke up and there's like, where's all the rest of the people? And it turns out that they like warped into another dimension. Um, and then it was like the past or whatever, and it-- but it was like these monsters who were like eating, [00:57:00] like eating the world or something.

And it was just like very trippy and very sci-fi. Like, okay, okay, monsters, m-monsters eating the world does not happen in "Airhead," but like, uh, just, just like that feeling like there's only a few people that are in this, in this world now. Um, yeah, so, so that, that kind of thing. And then they, they're kind of like in the "Langoliers," it's still Earth, but in, in "Airhead" it's Mars that they're at, and it's halfway terraformed, so they're, they're walking around and all you need is a light jacket.

Yeah.

Tyler: Did you have to do a lot of research like science and other things for this? Like, did you, do you put in, like, a lot of research on, like... 'Cause there's science and sci-fi in this, and you mention this kind of in, in the beginning of the comic actually.

Mindy: Mm-hmm.

Tyler: kinda talk about that, and I'm curious, like, how much research went into this and what you looked [00:58:00] to for source material

Mindy: Yes. So I studied Mars a lot, and actually I have this nifty little Mars globe here. Yes.

Tyler: globe before. That's cool

Mindy: Yes, I do. Yes. It, it is fascinating. And actually it is, uh, it's by-- it's colored by elevation, and so I especially got this one so you could see where the water would be on Mars, on the halfway terraformed Mars, wink, wink.

So future surfing will happen there. So, uh, yes. And I-- this, this globe, I just got it from Amazon and I, I was researching like where would be a cool place for like a base to be or multiple bases. Should it be near the water perhaps, or maybe a little further [00:59:00] away? And like where, where are other things like gonna be in...

Tyler: notes on it.

Mindy: Yes. And so, yeah, I was like, you know what? It is an actual place. It's not just like this made up planet or whatever. And so... But, um, yeah, I've, I've always been fascinated by Mars ever since there was this like the face on Mars was like a thing. It was like... Yes

Tyler: face on there. Yeah.

Mindy: it was, it was, it was something like that, or like maybe an alien or like...

It was like on "Unsolved Mysteries." I definitely remember that. Yes. Yes, and it was just very curious, and so I was, uh, ever since then, of course, like, you know, loving outer space and like "Sailor Moon" and stuff, and like I, I've, I've always felt, even from an early stage, that the surfers should be on Mars, and I, I don't know why.

I don't know [01:00:00] why, but, um, I felt like they should be in there. And, and actually, I will say, um, since in, in the earlier stages of my, of my story that eventually became "Airhead," the surfing was not as prominent and they were just on Mars, like without the water at first, but then they discovered like the secret ocean somewhere.

Um, but then now it's just like, oh yeah, like you obviously see the oceans. Like they're, they're, they're coming from space and you see it, like, so, um... But, but yeah, like I, yeah, so they, it's like they're in space and, you know, I, I did some research, but I honestly, I'm leaning more into the, the fiction part of the sci-fi because it's like, okay, they're, they're walking around, the, the atmosphere is breathable, the, um...

But you know, [01:01:00] in reality, Neil deGrasse Tyson would probably pick my comic apart, even though I would love to give him a comic, but he would probably be like... And, and for those who don't know or are not familiar, uh, Neil deGrasse Tyson is a very famous astrophysicist that has been in many documentaries.

Mm-hmm.

Tyler: in sci-fi, so

Mindy: so I, I love his Star Talk series. Like it would be my dream to be on Star Talk. I would geek out so hard. I would have to, I would have to like compose myself. I would have to be like, "Just cool. Oh, it's just, you know, Neil deGrasse Tyson. It's no big... It's, it's cool. It's, yeah, I'm just here, just on the show, that's..."

But you know, I'm, I'm on the Swell Season surf pod with Tyler, so that's even more awesome. Yes. It is pretty cool. Mm-hmm.

Tyler: I wanna know a little bit about the actual, like, printing process for this comic book and how you go about that and [01:02:00] kind of how you dis- how you go about distributing it in today's modern world that we live in, you know? Uh, 'cause that's also, like, a big, big expense, but also a big

part of it, too.

Mindy: Yes. Yes, you're absolutely right. And so I have decided to go with a printer called ColorVision, and this is just 'cause I had a friend in the comics world that I liked her book, and she printed with them. And so it's like, yeah, it's like word of mouth, you know, and they're in the Midwest. They're not in China.

Like, you could get it for cheaper in China, but I wanted to go somewhere local, which, hey, guess what? In the pandemic was-- when, when everything was, like, shut down from overseas, that was actually a good choice, so... Yeah. Well, yeah. Yeah, that too, and, and other things. It's like, um, I, being from the Midwest, I was like, "Yeah," like, "That's cool, yeah."

Shout out to ColorVision Printing. And, uh, they have [01:03:00] good quality for the colors, which is very important for Airhead, as it, it is very vibrant. Um, but yeah, I, I think that actually one of the main hurdles for, um, comics is, like, the-- okay, if you want to make it look like a professional comic, is getting the funding to make it be printed like an actual book.

Like, "Oh, look, it has a, it has a binding in it. It has spine." I geek out about the spine. It has it printed Airhead #1. Um, and actually I'm, uh, for-- So the Kickstarter is important to help me raise funds for the printing of that. That, that is a large chunk of that process because I'm, you know, I'm a freelance artist, and I'm living in New York City.

Like, I can't self-fund this. Like, I can self-fund printing some, like, zines, like, you know, scanning some copies of that. But, like, you want it [01:04:00] to be professional, you know? And, and so what I'm doing is I'm printing not only, uh, the single floppy copy of Airhead #3, which is Sensor vs. Mars, but also the one through three combined trade paperback, which will be over 100 pages, um, 'cause Airhead 1 is, like...

Yeah, it's like, it's like 50 pages. So it'll be basically double the size of Airhead 1, and, um, so... And it'll be cool. It-- In this, in the comics terms, it is called the trade paperback edition. And, um, and, uh, yeah, so for current fans of Airhead, they can buy the single issues. A lot of those are, are flying off of the Kickstarter rewards.

But also, you know, new people can jump right into either a digital or a physical, uh, copy of the books, one through three combined.

Tyler: So, I just wanna ask, uh, one question and we're gonna [01:05:00] wrap it up, but I have this one question I wanted to ask you. If you could collaborate with any artist or, or surfer, living or dead, on a comic book project, who would it be?

Mindy: Wow. No one's ever asked me that before. You know, the first, the first one that sticks out in my mind is Bethany Hamilton.

Tyler: Oh, interesting.

Mindy: I guess she's inspiring. I follow her a lot on Instagram. She, she's super inspiring

Tyler: to her and be like, "I want to do a comic book of your life."

Mindy: Ooh. I mean, I mean, may- maybe, yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, I'm not sure. I n- so there was the movie, like she's, she's been in a movie, and yeah. Oh, may, oh, make up as the Elder, yeah. That'd be cool. Yeah, I mean, yeah, you know, I t- I didn't think of that, but she, you know... And she's also a Christian [01:06:00] too, which I, I am as well, so like we have that in common too, so that's cool.

Like she has, like she's, she's always got positive vibes, um, you know. And yeah, yeah, so that, you know... And she, she's inspiring, you know. She's, she's still kicking ass left and right, you know?

Tyler: One arm and charges huge waves and has a family. So yeah, you know,

Mindy: Yes, indeed.

Tyler: wild, you know?

Mindy: Yeah.

Tyler: pretty full on.

Mindy: Yeah

Tyler: artists who, what, what, what, uh, or comic book artists that you would wanna collaborate with

Mindy: You know, so living or dead, now that opens it up to, to so many possibilities. I mean, I don't know, like Leonardo da Vinci, like to invent... Yeah, I'm totally going there 'cause he, like he invented all this cool stuff that like, I mean, not only was he an [01:07:00] amazing, uh,

Tyler: and all those guys.

Mindy: y- yes. Like he, he...

Tyler: design

Mindy: Y- yes. Yeah. Yeah, like there was an episode of "Futurama", which also "Airhead" is inspired by, where like Da Vinci was actually an alien, and he, like, he was like the dumbest alien of his, like, race on his planet, and so they sent him here.

And then, but like, and then like Fry and the other, um, the other characters of "Futurama" go to his planet and they're like, "What?" Like, yeah, it's, it's crazy. No, I, I love "Futurama."

Tyler: show

Mindy: but, but yeah, yeah, Da Vinci rocking it with the cool inventions. And I, well, I, I, I will say it would be hard because it's been hard to let go because as a writer and the artist, like it was even hard to me, hard for me to like let go of like the lettering.

But Clay Adams, my letterer, and part of the Kickstarter funds go to hire [01:08:00] him as well. It was even hard for me at first to like let go of that part of it 'cause I could letter it myself, but you know what? This is me building... Yeah, it, it is. Um, it helps to build my creative team and, um, he, he does it even better than I could have.

I, I will say he does it so good. And so I don't know. I have drawn a lot of, a lot of other things. Like I just locked down another children's book gig, so, so that's great. Like I have drawn for like a lot of other people before. Would I write something and have other people draw it? I don't know. I would feel like I would want to draw it.

But, um, I, I, I don't know. Like there's, there, there's a lot of different possibilities that can happen in the creative worlds. Not ruling anything out

Tyler: Well, [01:09:00] Mindy, this has been super fun. I've really enjoyed this. So like, this is your time to pitch. We have a Kickstarter going. It ends on the 22nd,

Mindy: Yes

Tyler: we're gonna get this out ASAP, this episode, and I want you all to support this. It's really cool, really fun comic. So here's your chance.

Pitch hard to listeners

Mindy: Yes. So please support Airhead one through three, Send Surfers to Mars, and you can either find the link in hopefully the show notes or... Yeah, excellent, excellent. Uh, I also have a short link, which is bit.ly/surfmars. Um, and you can select a lot of cool rewards there. They call them Kickstarter rewards, but all that basically is, is you get a cool thing for a certain amount of money.

Like you can get digital comics, physical comics, you can get [01:10:00] original art. You can have your head in Airhead. Yes. Yes, that's one of my favorites. It's I will draw, I will draw your head on this illustration with all the characters' heads, which is super cool. And, um, so that's cool. I have original Mars watercolors, um, which is, is basically like studies, like for the, the world, uh, of, of the Martian world, and so those are cool.

As of this recording, there are only three left, so let the FOMO get you on that one.

Tyler: And, and, uh, where can they follow you on social media as well?

Mindy: Yeah, so I'm most active on Instagram as Mindy Indy. That's spelled M-I-N-D-Y I-N-D-Y underscore art

Tyler: All right. And, um, wait to see eps- uh, issue three. I wanted to call it episode three. [01:11:00] Issue

Mindy: Yeah. It's an episode in my head too, yeah.

Tyler: forward to it. And, uh, listeners, go check it out. Go follow Mindy on Instagram, and please support this Kickstarter. It's super cool. She's halfway there to her goal.

Mindy: Yes

Tyler: bit to go over the top, which would be awesome. So listeners, go get there. And, um, Mindy, thank you so much for joining me and, uh, and sharing this really cool artwork and comic book. I really enjoyed it

Mindy: Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Tyler. This, this has been so fun, and like you've asked like really awesome questions. Like I appreciate that. Like this... Yeah, it's, it's just fun like ta- talking and geeking out and just like, ah, like so

Tyler: a fun thing I love to explore, and I love the offshoots of surfing, and this is, like, a really cool one. So yeah, listeners, we'll check you all down the line soon. Yew. [01:12:00]