Review Fix chats with Tooth & Nail creator Cory Andre Byrd, who discusses the series and his origin and goals in the industry.
Review Fix:Â How did you know a career in comics was for you?Â
Cory Andre Byrd: When I was a kid I would draw my own characters, i.e. Lightning Sword, The Constellations. I turned my living room into my own personal stage and acted out scenarios with these characters. As a teen I evolved into reading Image and Marvel comics and drawing the poses I liked best from those books. The art work and stories inspired me to create my own comic.
Review Fix:Â Who inspires you creatively?
Byrd: Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane and Joe Maduaria were my biggest influences. Later in life I began watching a lot of anime and reading manga (Naruto, Rurouni Kenshin, Fullmetal Alchemist). My biggest influence is my late father, who encouraged me as I created my own comics.
Review Fix:Â How are your comics different or special?
Byrd: Byrd’s Eye View Comics is different/special because I kept the traditional style of drawing. Not only is it organic, as an artist it brings me a sense of joy every time I see it. I am not looking to transition to digital digital art at this time.
Review Fix:Â What about this comic? Sell us. Sell us hard.
Byrd: Tooth and Nail is an action packed comic that centers around four anthropomorphic cats who are fighting to maintain a divided world. It is a hand-drawn, manga inspired epic that includes an entire world of animals who are working on both sides to gain either peace or domination.
Review Fix: What else inspired this comic?
Byrd: Video games such as Metal Gear Solid, TMNT: The Arcade Game, & TMNT: Turtles in Time. They represent teams working together to fight evil. Even as a team, the characters have individual personalities and abilities.
Review Fix: Who do you think will dig it the most?
Byrd: Generation Y/Millenials.
Review Fix: How do you want your books to be remembered?
Byrd: I would like the art work to stand out most in people’s minds. I would be elated if people remembered my story the way they know the classic lore of Batman or Naruto.
Review Fix: What are your long-term goals for your work?
Byrd: To complete the three act arc of Tooth & Nail, with room to expand the world at a later date.
Review Fix: What do you feel you need to do that you haven’t yet, in order to make this comic as successful as you want it to be?
Byrd: Expand my readership to other parts of the U.S. I’ll need to network, attend more conventions, and meet other creators.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Byrd: When I’m done with Tooth & Nail, I would like to revisit an old comic I had created 20 years ago called The Shadow Knight. That project has always been on the back burner on mind.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Byrd: Continue drawing and creating. It would be great to get Tooth & Nail made into an animated series and/or video game.
Review Fix: Where can people find out more?
Byrd: www.byrdseyeviewcomics.com
[email protected]
Tooth and Nail comic on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CByrd76
Instagram: byrdseyeviewofficial
Review Fix: How else can people support you?
Byrd: Spread the word, buy the books at the comic book stores (buy local!), provide feedback – honesty helps make better art work!
You go Cory!