SDCC Coverage sponsored by Mad Cave
Like most first-time attendees, Tony Weaver Jr. is at San Diego Comic-Con and is excited to absorb the atmosphere. But don’t make mistakes, mental health, and the way he can raise awareness about it, is never far from his heart. The strange tale of his debut graphic novel is a moving tale of bullying and belonging, and has earned the “Book of the Year” honors from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and People Magazine. After that, Eisner was nominated. This was icing on top of the cake for this Forbes under 30 recipient.
Speaking to Beat last year about the book, Weaver is back to promote mental health awareness and share his ongoing mission to share with him what this awareness means to his work.
Nancy Powell: Congratulations on your nomination. It’s been a year since the book was released. What did this mean to you?
Tony Weaver Jr. : I have no words to express how grateful I am. I found books like Weirdo that could exist, but I found a child who needed it, a community that needed it, a child who needed it, a child who needed it, a child who heard a conversation with a child who heard a story like embrso with the kids. That’s what I wake up with gratitude every day.
Powell: And do you think it’s because of our current climate? There’s a lot going on in the world, and there’s a lot of fear and uncertainty.
Weaver: Well, I think mental health is always a problem worth talking about, but in the climate we live in today, kids deal with a considerable amount of uncertainty. They have a lot of questions and some of the old admiration we gave them to make them complacent are no longer going well. I say, “Just be yourself, just be yourself.” Yes, no, it’s not going to take me anywhere. “You’re amazing. You’re just like you.” Um. I don’t feel that way. I’m going to school, that’s not what’s going on. When I go to an online space, it’s not what’s going on. I watch the news, it’s not what’s going on. We are actually doing some of these empty catchphrases that we use to convince our kids that positivity is important and not working. I think they need something more fulfilling and the weirdos are offering it.
Powell: Hopefully you’ll beat Eisner. Have you seen any other books? Or are you going in a different direction?
Weaver: I’m thinking very deeply about Eisner right now. It’s something I don’t take for granted to be nominated for the Top Award in Comic Book Media for my debut book. It’s a truly amazing moment. But even more, I want to create more stories in this world. So I wrote a strange 2. It is in the process of being explained. There is also a YA fantasy series that was acquired on MacMillan, which we are in the process of creating and working on, and for me the biggest thing is that I’m very excited about what Weirdo has done so far, but I needed to go further. We need more and more. More people need to talk about it. More needs in the classroom. It is also required for your state reading list. And I think admiration like Eisner would go really far to help it happen.
Powell: Are you afraid of the ban on books and censorship that may stop the message?
Weaver: I don’t think the ban on books about weirdos is a matter of when, and not that. Anyway, I’m glad that it’s not happening so far that I’ve been informed, but I don’t think anyone trying to protect the book from the hands of a child will succeed. I don’t think it will work if you try to hold such a tool from the hands of children who need such a tool. They can try, but I’m a very stubborn person. If I spend time writing a book, trust that I will take the time to make sure my kids get it.
Powell: What did you think about Comic Con? Is there a specific artist you want to see or a panel you would like to participate in?
Weaver: When I came to Comic Con, I think I’m really here for the community. I follow along with the community. I might end up on a panel, I might end up on an activation, I might end up on a party I know, but that’s the joy. I really don’t show you my schedule. I’m just looking around here.
Keep an eye out for more coverage from SDCC ’25.
Like this:
Like loading…
SDCC Coverage sponsored by Mad Cave
