Cowabunga, Dude!
Comic book writer, editor, and educator Paul Allor visits the Shelby County Public Library on Thursday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to address the writing and editing process, especially in the comic industry, and how they add concern for veterans suffering from PTSD in stories.
They were honored by the Indiana Authors Awards as the 2022 Genre Winner. See them in the Adult Stacks, by the window overlooking the community plaza, at the Shelbyville Branch, 57 W. Broadway St.
Allor’s calling card is balancing intensely character-driven stories with bombastic ideas and dynamic plotting. Paul has written comics for some of the world’s biggest properties: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Captain America and other Marvel characters, Star Trek, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, My Little Pony, and more.
Allor combines veteran-focused mental health care issues in their writing, and is known for increasing queer representation in comics.
Their critically acclaimed run on G.I. Joe reinvented the franchise for a modern audience. One issue, which dealt with PTSD and mental health issues in veterans, is used by veterans’ mental health advocates across the country to further awareness, and won the SAVE National Media Award for Excellence in Reporting on Suicide.
Paul is also known for their work in increasing queer representation in comics, and for co-creating some of the first queer characters in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and G.I. Joe franchises. Earlier this year, they received national recognition for their work in developing the Death Ranger, a non-binary villain in the Power Rangers universe. Hollow Heart, the subject of this award is a gay monster love story and an allegory for queer liberation.
Their creator-owned books include Hollow Heart for Vault Comics, Monstro Mechanica for AfterShock Comics, Tet for IDW Publishing and Past the Last Mountain for CEX Publishing, among others.
Paul is currently the Editorial Director of CEX Publishing, and the primary writing instructor at Comics Experience, an online school for comic book creators. They live in Indianapolis with their blind rescue dachshund.
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