Meet Absalon White Jr. of East Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Absalon White Jr..

Hi Absalon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started writing comic books at 14, but my love for superheroes goes back even further. I grew up dressing as different superheroes every Halloween and watching superhero movies and TV shows. My dad introduced me to comic books when I was 10 and taught me how to read the panels. A year later, he introduced me to anime, and I became even more obsessed.

By the time I turned 14, my mom noticed how deep my love for anime and superheroes ran. One day she asked, “Why don’t you write your own comic book and create your own superheroes?” That idea had never crossed my mind. I honestly didn’t think a kid like me could do something like that. But she believed I could. She even sat me down and taught me how to use Microsoft Word on my old HP laptop.

From that moment on, I was hooked. I loved creating my own superheroes, worlds, and storylines. I spent the next four years honing my skills before even thinking about publishing anything. I wanted to make sure I was truly ready to share my work with the world.

One thing that always stuck with me growing up was the lack of representation of Black superheroes in mainstream media. I didn’t know of any Black superheroes, not because they didn’t exist, but because they weren’t being shown in mainstream media. I had no Black superheroes to look up to or dress up as for Halloween. That always bothered me, and I knew I wanted to change that.

That inspired me to create original, powerful Black superheroes the world could enjoy. Superheroes that would give Black kids characters to look up to and dress up as for Halloween. Still, my comics have never been just for the Black community, they’re for everyone. The representation is a bonus, but the stories are for the world.

Over those four years, people in my hometown started hearing that I was working on a comic book, and they were excited. They’d ask, “When’s the release date?” and I’d always say, “Soon!” But by 2018, I still hadn’t published anything. I started to sense that people were beginning to lose faith in me and my project. Eventually, they stopped asking altogether.

That silence hit hard. I stopped writing. For about two years, I gave up on myself and the dream.

Then the pandemic hit in 2020, and I was furloughed and later laid off. Like many others, I had a lot of time on my hands. I wasted some of it chasing things like affiliate marketing courses, things I wasn’t passionate about. One day I thought to myself, “What am I doing? I’m a comic book writer. That’s what I love. That’s what makes me happy.”

I dusted off my laptop and started writing again, seriously this time. That’s when I began working on Instant. During the process, I made a bold decision, I made myself the main character.

There were two reasons for that. First, I’d always dreamed of being a superhero, and now I had the power to make it happen. Second, I felt that making the superhero a real person (me) would make the story more relatable to the audience.

I finished the script near the end of 2020 and went on to found my own publishing company, Verendus Comics. I created Verendus because I wanted to retain 100% of the rights to my creations. These characters are like my babies, and I wasn’t willing to give that up.

In 2021, I began searching for a digital artist to bring my drawings and designs to life. I can draw on paper, but I knew I needed digital art to publish in the modern era. After a few missteps, I finally found Ajhay Cerezo, who’s now the lead artist on Instant.

I explained to Ajhay that I was looking for someone to sign a Work for Hire agreement, meaning the artwork would belong to me since the concepts, designs, and story are all my originals. He fully understood and agreed without hesitation.

By late 2021, Ajhay had completed over 75 pages of artwork for the first chapter of Instant. I spent the next few months promoting the release, and in February 2022, I published the first chapter digitally on Amazon.

Since then, I’ve been featured on ABC, PBS, radio shows, podcasts, and I even hosted a panel at Phoenix Comic-Con.

On December 3, 2024, I released the hardcover edition of Instant on Amazon. Since then, I’ve hosted a book signing event, a poster signing, and was honored during Black History Month at the Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain.

And now, I’m incredibly honored to be interviewed by Voyage Phoenix Magazine. It’s a huge milestone, and I’m beyond grateful to be here.

Although I’ve achieved some incredible milestones since publishing Instant, I haven’t yet reached a place where I can write comic books full time. I’m still waiting for that “big break” or viral moment that could change everything.

I’m incredibly grateful for the fan base I’ve built so far, and I’ll never take their support for granted. But without wider exposure, most of the world still hasn’t seen what I can do as an author, or had a chance to read Instant. Until that happens, making comic books my full-time career remains a dream I’m working toward.

I’m hopeful that this feature in Voyage Phoenix Magazine could be the moment that changes things, that it helps more people discover my work, expands my audience, and brings me closer to writing comics full time. That’s my prayer, and I’m ready for whatever comes next.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge I faced in creating Instant was finding the right artist.

Before I met Ajhay Cerezo, I hired someone on Upwork, someone I won’t name. I asked how long he thought it would take to complete 75 pages of art. With confidence, he said, “Two months.” I was surprised, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I asked him to do a mock-up of a character with gold bars in front of him, since Instant’s color scheme is black and gold, and black and gold happen to be my favorite combo. It took him about a week, and after several failed attempts, he finally produced a somewhat acceptable gold tone. I didn’t hold the delays against him.

I shared my suit design and told him clearly, follow it exactly, no changes. But a week later, he sent a version with several added design elements. I immediately told him that was unacceptable and personally edited out the additions. After some back and forth, he reverted to my original design. I told him he could move on to the cover art.

Another week passed with no progress. When I asked what the holdup was, he revealed he had a second job that was interfering, something he hadn’t disclosed earlier. Again, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

But as more weeks passed, he still hadn’t finished even the sketch, let alone the inks or colors. He continued citing his other job as the issue. I reminded him that this should’ve been communicated upfront.

When the two month deadline arrived, the cover art was still unfinished. I asked why, especially since he had initially claimed he could complete the entire book in that time. He told me he felt “unmotivated” and even accused me of being unprofessional for expecting him to meet the deadline.

At that point, I decided we needed to part ways. I asked him to send over the unfinished concept art and delete all remaining files of my designs. Shockingly, he refused, unless I paid him the full amount we had agreed upon for a completed cover. He demanded payment for work he hadn’t finished.

Despite the fact that the suit design is my original creation and that I am the main character, Instant, he attempted to blackmail me. I eventually paid him just to ensure my designs wouldn’t be misused or held hostage.

He acted as if he was entitled to ownership or partnership in the project, which was never the case. I reminded him that he was hired through Upwork as an employee, not as a collaborator.

We went our separate ways, and I haven’t heard from him since.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an author who specializes in writing comic books, best known for my series Instant. The story follows myself as the titular character, Instant, who gains super speed after a traumatic accident. Unlike me, though, he doesn’t want his powers. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a superhero. He’s burdened by the gift I’ve always wished for.

What I’m most proud of is the bond I’ve built with my fans. There’s nothing more rewarding than meeting someone who’s read Instant and watching their face light up, or even seeing them get emotional, sometimes to the point of tears, when they meet the Instant in real life.

What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to creating original, powerful Black superheroes unlike anything the world has seen.

The world will know my name, and it will know Instant.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
That’s such a tough question. I’ve had so many great memories over the years. But if I had to choose, one that stands out is when my mom used to play “When Sly Calls” by Michael Franks before tucking us into bed.

I was about eight at the time, and those were some of the hardest moments for my family and me. But when she played that song, it made everything feel a little better. It brought comfort. It made the hard times feel just a little easier to get through.

Pricing:

• $9.99 Digital Version
• $29.99 Hardcover Edition

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DPJ7NRL2/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.H41C4qI6lGPGFofCV2eHXg.QxmOIrg-ZxN84bPd1b_QPbWg9uLIgCiHI9HTEtfS_gI&qid=1744356329&sr=8-1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/absalonwhitejr/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@AbsalonWhiteJr.
• Other: https://youtube.com/shorts/yeHBV9hfGZA?si=Uf_uRGahCfhJczZ4