Novel featuring Indigenous superheroes looks for artists, writers and designers

This December, creators of the graphic novel series “Aztec Warrior God” are hosting a contest in search of new digital artists and writers to contribute to their rapidly growing series. As of Friday, the series boasts over 1.7 million followers on Facebook.

David Towner— the creator of the series— says the search is all about creating opportunities for fellow artists.

“My perception is that this whole project is about creating new opportunities for people that may otherwise not have had those opportunities,” Towner said. “We want a broad range of people and more representation … we just don’t want to restrict anybody.”

The series was inspired by Towner’s trip to Mexico in 2009. There, he immersed himself in Aztec ruins and culture, and was able to experience the digging up of Aztec archaeological sites. He spent multiple years researching the topic to grasp an understanding of the Aztecs as well as American Indigenous tribes.

This experience prompted him to create the series based around the Indigenous tribes of the Americas. He composed superheroes based on real life historical figures from the cultures of the Zulus, Hinduism and the Americas.

According to AztecWarriorGod.com, the series is dedicated to, “indigenous people across America, from Puget Sound to the Straits of Magellan, connected by a common ancestor and a legacy of pride, your traditions, strength and spirit inspire the world.”

While connecting to the mission is important to the series, artistic abilities of the submission to their talent contest trumps all.

“It’s also an exhibition of the people we think are the best,” Towner said. “So we might get a writer. Or so, let’s say more appropriately, an artist who puts in some tremendous material, great submissions and we love them, even though they may not be a good fit for what we’re doing.”

Towner said artists will keep 100% of the rights to their submissions.

On Feb. 18 in Los Angeles, there will be a banquet event to showcase the submissions of the best artists and writers. Candidates are encouraged to submit up to three individual designs or writing samples, which will be judged separately as entrants can win multiple prizes.

Other media representatives who have yet to be confirmed will also be in attendance at the event to view the pieces on display, Towner said.

The deadline for submissions will be Jan. 31. Submissions can be emailed to brandi@splash-mktg.com, and preferably sent as a JPEG image.