Four Days to Comic Con Revolution!

Where we'll be talking to Ray-Anthony Height!

If you read last week’s Substack on Stephan Franck, you’ll recall that we will be doing a live podcast panel with guests Stephan Franck and Ray-Anthony Height this coming weekend at Comic Con Revolution in Ontario, CA. The panel will be at 3:30 p.m. in Room 200C.

Let’s explore Ray’s biography because, if you’re unaware, he’s contributed quite a bit to the comics industry. Ray-Anthony Height is an industry veteran and also a longtime colleague (and friend) of podcast co-host Kris Simon, who even interviewed him for her own Substack on the Industry of Independent Comics, which was re-released last week in anticipation of the show.

Ray-Anthony Height is a comic book artist, writer, and character designer with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. Born and raised in Compton, California, Ray’s introduction to comics came through his cousin, who introduced him to John Buscema’s run on Conan, sparking a lifelong love for the medium. During his high school years, Ray often collaborated with friends to create their own comics, laying the foundation for his future career. This is practically the playbook for becoming a professional in the comics industry!

Although Ray’s passion lies in his creator-owned work, Midnight Tiger, he is no stranger to working with major comics publishers. His work includes titles such as X-Men: Blue, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Spider-Man, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider, Prowler, and Fear Itself: Fearsome Four for Marvel Comics. He also contributed to Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book. Beyond Marvel, Ray has worked with DC Comics, Viz Media, Cartoon Network, Milestone Media, and Image Comics, among others.

Midnight Tiger debuted in 2014 and is published through its own Studio Skye-Tiger, which also publishes Shayla Height’s comic series, What the F*ck Mama! This collection by Ray’s wife introduces the crazy adventures of Nanita, a fierce, funny, and unapologetic 85-year-old, and her family. Studio Skye-Tiger has announced that it will launch a new product every 11 weeks. You can also read the Midnight Tiger webcomic, which updates every Tuesday.

Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Ray often spends between four to fourteen hours on a single interior page, striving to deliver his best work on every project. His artistic influences include renowned comic artists like John Byrne, Jim Lee, and Arthur Adams, as well as animators such as Joel Jurion and Shigeto Koyama.

Beyond his artistic endeavors, Ray is passionate about mentoring aspiring comic creators. He offers guidance through his "Comic Creator Coaching" initiative, sharing insights from his extensive experience to help others navigate the industry. Also important to mention is that Studio Skye-Tiger doubles as a mentorship program for emerging talent, offering programs such as a paid internship.

Now, to get to the good stuff! On the panel with Stephan Franck, who will be talking about aliens (and not the movie, but extraterrestrials), Ray’s Superfan passion is…BBQ! Ray mentioned that he is slowly trying to work his way into becoming a pitmaster, which is an exciting topic that pleases the podcast co-hosts as they come up with a cocktail and dessert pairing to go with some tasty barbecue discussion! Don’t miss out!

For more information (is there more?!) about Ray-Anthony Height and his work, visit his Substack or follow him on social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and X (FKA Twitter).

Thank you for joining us on this podcast journey. A reminder that the Superfan Podcast hasn’t launched yet, but will soon in the weeks leading up to San Diego Comic Con! You can find us on the socials at Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and X! Soon, you’ll be able to see the podcast on our YouTube channel as well. Follow it now so you don’t miss out. Please be sure to like, share, and subscribe!

Special thanks to our Season One sponsor, the amazing Fanbase Press! Fanbase Press is a GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated comic book publisher that celebrates super fandoms and creates new ones! #StoriesMatter.