CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — There are few better feelings than seeing a project through to fruition.
The release of Glory Bound, a comic book based around the world of professional wrestling, provided Island artist Brad Seymour with that experience.
“This was my first-ever, all-by-myself comic book," Seymour told The Guardian in a recent phone interview.
“Usually, with comic books, jobs get broken up with different people."
For example, there is normally a person who does the drawings, a person who does the colourings, there are writers and a letterer.
"But, because it was a kick-starter project, the guys at Sandstone Comics let me know I had to do it all by myself," said Seymour, 39.
"It was a lot of work.”
Glory Bound follows the main character, Jett Squires, who has to prove his mettle against the best wrestlers in the world.
Seymour based some characters in the book from his life, including his wife, Desiree, who is commentator Dez Troya. A good friend of Seymour’s, Dan Archibald of Summerside, is featured as Danny Fracture. Desiree’s friend, Beth Murray, is Scarlett St. James, one of the champions in the book.
Seymour’s co-worker, Gary Bowness, is Gary Bowerstone, who is also on the commentary desk with Dez Troya. Seymour’s best friend, Mitch Ryder, is Might Ryder.
“Jett Squires is a younger wrestler, I wouldn’t say a rookie, but he still is very new to the sport and he looks up to Danny Fracture, who is his favourite wrestler,” explained Seymour.
Well-known trainer
Archibald, a well-known personal trainer based in Summerside who works with many elite athletes, said he is honoured to be featured.
“Anybody who knows me knows I love Superman and am obsessed with Superman,” said Archibald, 40.
“I love comic books and to actually be in one ... I feel like a kid. Maybe I shouldn’t be this excited, but I’m pretty pumped about it.”
Archibald said, “it’s kind of surreal” to see his image in a comic form. Seymour, who works at the Atlantic Superstore in Charlottetown, presented Archibald with a signed copy of Glory Bound, which he plans to frame.
“There’s a panel there where Danny Fracture is laughing and I started laughing when I saw it,” said Archibald.
“Brad said, ‘That’s the exact laugh I heard in my head when I drew that’.”
Archibald admitted he thought Seymour was joking when first pitched Danny Fracture’s character.
“He said he patented him after me, he’s going to be one of the good-guy wrestlers and he won’t turn 'heel',” said Archibald.
“He said he’s using the same colours as my business, The Lion’s Den, black and gold.”
Seymour said it was a “pretty sweet” moment to pick up the final copy of Glory Bound for the first time.
“I never expected my first big foray into comic books to be my own book,” said Seymour. “I always figured I would be drawing something for somebody else.
“It’s pretty awesome to be able to say I have my own comic book out. It’s a big kick for sure.”
Did you know?
- Brad Seymour’s Glory Bound comic book can be picked up at the Comic Hunter on Queen Street in Charlottetown.
- Copies can also be ordered online at sandstonecomics.com.
- Seymour put over 400 hours of work into Glory Bound.
- Seymour has already started working on Issue 2 of Glory Bound. He is currently in the scripting stage.
