Indie Comics Interview with Ken Vergil, Creator of ‘Relentlessly Bullied Hero’
We are always open to highlighting creators — artists, writers, colorists, letterers and more — whenever they have a cool new project. Recently, we got an e-mail from Ken Vergil, the creator who goes by Hero DarkyDark on social media. His latest project, Relentlessly Bullied Hero, was just added as a listing on our site, and Ken launched a Kickstarter to fund the book.
We were able to catch up with Ken and ask him a few questions about Relentlessly Bullied Hero, and how he came to make this project come to life.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Ken, tell us about yourself… what state do you live in. What do you do for a living?
KEN VERGIL:
Currently I live in Illinois, a nice place if you know where to go. As for what I do, I do like to keep some privacy so I’ll leave it that I work in STEM. Outside of that, I make content for all.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How did you get started with Hero DarkyDark?
KEN VERGIL:
Like many kids, I was bored and had a lot of crazy ideas. of course since I was a kid I had no money and little skills in art so I had to get creative. So small YouTube projects here and there, and writing up stories till I got older with a job and I can properly fund my crazy ideas.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How do you approach the creative process for “Relentlessly Bullied Hero?” You mention that you were inspired by “One Punch Man” and other anime / manga… but how is your book different?
KEN VERGIL:
To me, it always starts as an idea, interest, or even a joke.
Y’know sometimes you’re watching Justice League Unlimited or One Punch Man, and you’ll see a character dynamic, or a power/move, or even just a fight and go “You know what, it’ll be cool if this happens instead.
Or if this storyline or character was thrown in the mix.” then from there it snowballs into its own idea.
I’ve always been creating my own stories as a kid so I had a bunch of assets of ideas on the workshop I can tweak to create unique ideas.
What makes Relentlessly Bullied Hero different is the My Hero Academia influence, mostly the examination of Hero-ing the different ways heroes existing in real life can affect society.
But instead of it being through a high-schooler lens, it’s more of an outsider in a weird situation dealing with this issue. And just for extra uniqueness, he has a literal villainess that follows him around just to mess with him, so there’s a fun hero/villain dynamic slapped on top to give it a certain spice that introduces more ways the story can be structured and move since the character’s situation and why are dramatically different.
I mean, I’m marketing the book off of that some weird edgelord hero got into some, so far, unexplained deal with a villain yet he still seems to be on a heroic journey.
So, many questions open up to why, did she capture his family, did he trade something to end up here, how does it even work that a hero is going around with a villain following him everywhere.
Many questions that on a surface level make the series different from what you see in One Punch Man or My Hero Academia, and especially other American comic media.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
What has been your biggest challenge in this process?
KEN VERGIL:
100% publicity, finding a artist that I feel would fit what I want at a reasonable price wasn’t easy but in modern times with sites like Twitter or a Google search, you can find your way.
Funding could be hard but like I said, I work and I’m smart with my money so saving to fund the creation of a comic isn’t much trouble outside of “when can I start putting money into it.”
But publicity, for someone like me who have not been officially in the comic/ manga making space for long with a very low following, getting eyes on the project and making sure those eyes pay for the book have been my biggest struggle.
Hopefully, as I continue to create and prove my worth, it’ll be easier.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Tell us about Grimiora… that character in particular looks like a whole lot of fun to write for. What inspired her creation?
KEN VERGIL:
Grimoira has honestly been a breakout character of the series, seriously almost everyone that has seen the project have their eyes on her HAHA. Honestly, it makes me feel a bit bad for Zeal, the title of the book is basically about him.
Then again, that just means she’s doing her, it wouldn’t be the “Relentlessly Bullied Hero” if the hero isn’t being screwed over by his villain co-star both in-universe and out.
But yes, she is a joy to write, writing her and zeal interact was always a bright space in the writing process. She does serve multiple purposes for the series, one of the most obvious things is alluring more eyes to the series. As a indie project from a guy with little following, getting people to spend hard-earn cash on a series about a openly edgelord isn’t easy, so of course having a very eye-catching girl right next to him to counter his look and personality helps a lot.
Second is obviously her story/plot importance, as much as it would’ve been easy to make her the pin-up girl who’s there to be hot and mostly naked on covers and posters to sell them, hell I could’ve tossed away Zeal as the main character all together and just make it about her, but in the end I decided to make her still be equal to Zeal despite shining brighter, where he presence and what she does bring real weight to both how the series is where it is and why the characters act; basically she’s hot and is plot important.
Thirdly, for me, I mentioned I have a interest in romance series, but I’m more of a “I just like a dynamic in a relationship” kind of vibe. So as I was crafting the story and had Zeal created, I already had a idea that his co-star was a villain but what kind of villain she was were in the air. So what’s a easier way to make a fun dynamic with edgelord then by a more energetic goth villain who bullies him because she can. If you ever watch Sonic X, the way Knuckles and Rouge interact would be the perfect description of what Zeal & Grimoira’s relationship is. Except here the Rouge (Grimoira) have more power in the dynamic since she a veteran villain at this for years, and Zeal is a much newer to the job hero, so from all the pictures and stuff you can see that things are slanted in her direction. But hey, Zeal wouldn’t be the Relentlessly Bullied Hero without all odds against him haha.
Either way, Grimoira is our national treasure, she is both cherished and shown off in story and plot! Though she can be a bit… of the mark these days, like one time tying up Zeal as a joke (a special event for the Kickstarter launch) but then forgetting to leave him food and water for days. In her defense, she’s a villain, usually a hero would’ve swooped in for the hostages by then, she’s not used to actually maintaining the kidnap. If there’s one thing I can promise, you’ll never be bored of her.
One of my big goals isn’t just to have people obsessed over Grimoira, but obsessed over her and Zeal’s relationship and situation. I mean let’s be honest, hot girls come and go, but people will stay if they’re invested in the characters. Which is why I try my best to ensure Grimoira isn’t actually stealing the show to the point Zeal may as well not exist, but they exist co-dependent on each other so that people will care how their relationship move and if it’s shaken. Basically it’s a game of having go, “I wonder how this’ll affect Grimoira as she interacts with Zeal and how he usually react to these things” rather than JUST, “What Grimoira is gonna do this time.”
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Is this just the first chapter of Relentlessly Bullied Hero? Will there be more issues, or are you going to tell other stories next?
KEN VERGIL:
A series, how long, it depends on how the series is. If we get a lot of eyes on it and people want more, I can make it last many issues, if it isn’t really gaining any traction at all, I have a way to end it in a handful of chapters. I like keeping my writing loose like that, where I can always adapt to what happens. Of course I would like to keep it going for a while to get in all the ideas I have, which is only possible if people support the Kickstarter and such.
I do have other stories I wanna tell as well. I got another series named Storm Rail Riderz inspired by Jet Set Radio, imagine your delinquent/ crime drama series but on awesome rollerblades and that anime logic.
And another, The Galloptier, it’s more of a parody book about a horse hero but watch out, it may tug on your heartstrings. Thankfully as the writer I have the time to write them all, funding them and getting them funded is the hard part.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How do you engage with your fans and build a community around your work?
KEN VERGIL:
Honestly between you and me I hate people…
Unfortunately, if you wanna sell a comic/ manga, you gotta talk to them. So, I speak with them on Twitter, I got a YouTube going, I’m thinking of creating a discord server once things get big enough, and I’ve been making plans to go to cons to meet readers and speak to potentially new readers.
Honestly, if I could I would just continue living my transparent simple life but like many heroes you can’t always get what you want, so you might as well do your job with a smile right?
It ain’t all bad, I managed to met some great people so either way it’s worth it.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
What has been your biggest challenge in this process?
KEN VERGIL:
100% publicity, finding a artist that I feel would fit what I want at a reasonable price wasn’t easy but in modern times with sites like Twitter or a Google search, you can find your way.
Funding could be hard but like I said, I work and I’m smart with my money so saving to fund the creation of a comic isn’t much trouble outside of “when can I start putting money into it.”
But publicity, for someone like me who have not been officially in the comic/ manga making space for long with a very low following, getting eyes on the project and making sure those eyes pay for the book have been my biggest struggle.
Hopefully, as I continue to create and prove my worth, it’ll be easier.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Tell us about Grimiora… that character in particular looks like a whole lot of fun to write for. What inspired her creation?
KEN VERGIL:
Grimoira has honestly been a breakout character of the series, seriously almost everyone that has seen the project have their eyes on her HAHA. Honestly, it makes me feel a bit bad for Zeal, the title of the book is basically about him.
Then again, that just means she’s doing her, it wouldn’t be the “Relentlessly Bullied Hero” if the hero isn’t being screwed over by his villain co-star both in-universe and out.
But yes, she is a joy to write, writing her and zeal interact was always a bright space in the writing process. She does serve multiple purposes for the series, one of the most obvious things is alluring more eyes to the series. As a indie project from a guy with little following, getting people to spend hard-earn cash on a series about a openly edgelord isn’t easy, so of course having a very eye-catching girl right next to him to counter his look and personality helps a lot.
Second is obviously her story/plot importance, as much as it would’ve been easy to make her the pin-up girl who’s there to be hot and mostly naked on covers and posters to sell them, hell I could’ve tossed away Zeal as the main character all together and just make it about her, but in the end I decided to make her still be equal to Zeal despite shining brighter, where he presence and what she does bring real weight to both how the series is where it is and why the characters act; basically she’s hot and is plot important.
Thirdly, for me, I mentioned I have a interest in romance series, but I’m more of a “I just like a dynamic in a relationship” kind of vibe. So as I was crafting the story and had Zeal created, I already had a idea that his co-star was a villain but what kind of villain she was were in the air. So what’s a easier way to make a fun dynamic with edgelord then by a more energetic goth villain who bullies him because she can. If you ever watch Sonic X, the way Knuckles and Rouge interact would be the perfect description of what Zeal & Grimoira’s relationship is. Except here the Rouge (Grimoira) have more power in the dynamic since she a veteran villain at this for years, and Zeal is a much newer to the job hero, so from all the pictures and stuff you can see that things are slanted in her direction. But hey, Zeal wouldn’t be the Relentlessly Bullied Hero without all odds against him haha.
Either way, Grimoira is our national treasure, she is both cherished and shown off in story and plot! Though she can be a bit… of the mark these days, like one time tying up Zeal as a joke (a special event for the Kickstarter launch) but then forgetting to leave him food and water for days. In her defense, she’s a villain, usually a hero would’ve swooped in for the hostages by then, she’s not used to actually maintaining the kidnap. If there’s one thing I can promise, you’ll never be bored of her.
One of my big goals isn’t just to have people obsessed over Grimoira, but obsessed over her and Zeal’s relationship and situation. I mean let’s be honest, hot girls come and go, but people will stay if they’re invested in the characters. Which is why I try my best to ensure Grimoira isn’t actually stealing the show to the point Zeal may as well not exist, but they exist co-dependent on each other so that people will care how their relationship move and if it’s shaken. Basically it’s a game of having go, “I wonder how this’ll affect Grimoira as she interacts with Zeal and how he usually react to these things” rather than JUST, “What Grimoira is gonna do this time.”
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Is this just the first chapter of Relentlessly Bullied Hero? Will there be more issues, or are you going to tell other stories next?
KEN VERGIL:
A series, how long, it depends on how the series is. If we get a lot of eyes on it and people want more, I can make it last many issues, if it isn’t really gaining any traction at all, I have a way to end it in a handful of chapters. I like keeping my writing loose like that, where I can always adapt to what happens. Of course I would like to keep it going for a while to get in all the ideas I have, which is only possible if people support the Kickstarter and such.
I do have other stories I wanna tell as well. I got another series named Storm Rail Riderz inspired by Jet Set Radio, imagine your delinquent/ crime drama series but on awesome rollerblades and that anime logic.
And another, The Galloptier, it’s more of a parody book about a horse hero but watch out, it may tug on your heartstrings. Thankfully as the writer I have the time to write them all, funding them and getting them funded is the hard part.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How do you engage with your fans and build a community around your work?
KEN VERGIL:
Honestly between you and me I hate people…
Unfortunately, if you wanna sell a comic/ manga, you gotta talk to them. So, I speak with them on Twitter, I got a YouTube going, I’m thinking of creating a discord server once things get big enough, and I’ve been making plans to go to cons to meet readers and speak to potentially new readers.
Honestly, if I could I would just continue living my transparent simple life but like many heroes you can’t always get what you want, so you might as well do your job with a smile right?
It ain’t all bad, I managed to met some great people so either way it’s worth it.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
How do you stay motivated and inspired to create new work, even in the face of challenges or setbacks?
KEN VERGIL:
Thankfully, I have a mountain of ideas from childhood I always wanted to try out, and new ones are created once in a while.
It’s as easy as seeing something fun and going, “Hey, that gives me an idea.” then I cook in the workshop of ideas I have laying around. My biggest reason to move forward is just my desire to tell stories, being able to put it on paper and enjoy by people is basically all I need so I just move forward to get there.
Like playing basketball, even though you’re not good at it, it’s not about getting into the NBA but enjoying the game.
Of course, I do want to be successful in comic/ manga-making and that requires money so please support my stuff! More support = more ideas I can do.
INDIE COMICS ZONE:
Will you appear at any conventions/comic shops where fans can meet you in person — or do you plan to do so in the future?
KEN VERGIL:
Yeah of course, I mean if they’re willing to spend cold hard cash to invest in my projects the least I can do for fans is meet them with a smile and chat the good chat. I have a couple of plans and am free to any invitation.
Follow Ken and his Hero DarkyDark persona on Twitter, and YouTube.
