“Almighty” Christopher Daniels had once been heralded the “King of the Indies” as well as one of the most prolific and best wrestlers in the world having performed for every major wrestling promotion on the planet (with brief stints in the WWE and WCW) for the last 24 years. Currently signed to Ring of Honor, Daniels, along with his tag team partner Frankie Kazarian, collectively known as The Addiction are on a quest to regain the ROH Tag Team Championship. However, in his spare time, Daniels partnered up once again with Eisner-award winning creator Art Baltazar to create another trippy adventure with
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However, in his spare time, Daniels partnered up once again with Eisner-award winning creator Art Baltazar to create another trippy adventure in Aw Yeah Comics Team Up. Aw Yeah had previously published a comic back in 2014 when Daniels and Kazarian were in TNA, and while their gimmick has only slightly changed since then the goal remains the same: have some fun writing comics.
We caught up with Daniels and talked what it was like returning to the writer’s desk and his love for comics influenced some aspects of his career.
“I’ve always wanted to write books, but never thought I could be a full-time writer,” Daniels said. “Like if somebody to tell me to write a story as if it were my job, I wouldn’t know what to do. I just happen to be inspired by the first time we did this. That story just kind of came to me and so as I was dealing with that book being out, I had this idea for a team-up. I sent the story to Art and Franco and it was all about getting a good idea out and that’s what brought me back to doing it.”
Daniels and Kazarian even did a store signing with fellow ROH stars the Young Bucks at the Aw Yeah Comics store a few months back in Harrison, New York to promote the upcoming issue. Daniels talks about how he first got involved with the DC Super Powers duo.
“I was at SDCC in 2011. My friend Ken Anderson and I were walking the floor and I happened to walk by the Aw Yeah Comics table and Art and Franco flagged us down. They were huge fans of us and actually sketched us. I was aware of Art because of Tiny Titans but wasn’t really a fan until I started talking to him. I wasn’t really aware of what he and Franco were doing, but after that initial conversation, I sought out his work and saw what he was doing within the all-ages market.”
Daniels mentioned he had supported Art and Franco’s Aw Yeah Comics Kickstarter from a few years ago and was instantly enamored with their creations such as Action Cat and it helped him form the idea for the first issue of his and Kazarian’s adventure. He also talked about what’s in his comic pull box.
“I was a Marvel guy, top to bottom. I read pretty much everything they put out. I don’t read a lot of DC or independent stuff, and it’s usually just Marvel for me. There are a few times I’ll notice an indie or DC project and I’ll pick it up, but that’s mainly because of the creators involved.”
Creating his own first story came naturally, but it was the approach to Art and Franco to get it published was what he found slightly more intimidating.
“It was completely unsolicited,” Daniels laughed. “I came to them and if they had any interest fully expecting, for him being as busy as he is, to not have time. This was right before the launch of all his Dark Horse projects as well, but he hit me right back up and said he would love to do this.” He mentioned that he originally pitched the idea to TNA, but for whatever reason, they passed on it. It was Art that suggested they just do it themselves under their Aw Yeah Comics banner, but shared a funny story about the ironic timing of the book.
“The day the first issue came out was the day my TNA contract expired. Myself, Art, and Frankie did a signing at Challenger’s in Chicago and it was then I had the book in my hand and it hit me ‘I’m a comic writer now’. No matter what happens from here on out, I’ve made two comics now!”
You can find Aw Yeah Comics Team-Up featuring Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian at ROH shows and comic stores later this year.
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