Kameron\u2019s been around comic books and art since he was a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrowing up, I was into anime and animated series such as Sailor Moon<\/em>, Digimon<\/em>, Justice League<\/em>, and Static Shock<\/em>,\u201d says Kameron. \u201cMy dad collected a lot of comic books and shared his love for them with me as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019d copy what he saw from the comic books and manga. \u201cI didn\u2019t really know what I was doing at first,\u201d says Kameron. Then he realized he was getting into a form of storytelling. \u201cWhen I reached high school was when I knew this was what I wanted to continue to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kameron grew up when a lot of the representation for minority characters was either non-existent or stereotypical, painting the group in a negative light. He doesn\u2019t want to see that continued and feels it\u2019s extremely important for minority readers \u201cto be able to see themselves and be celebrated in the world of comics. I make it a priority to make sure underrepresented groups are shown in [my] comics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which brought him to his experience participating in the Milestone Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants in the Initiative, including Kameron, got to learn from some of the biggest icons in the comic book industry, making connections that will last a lifetime. Milestone\u2019s website describes the Initiative, part of DC\u2019s Talent Development Program, as \u201cdesigned to identify, educate, spotlight, and empower the next generation of Black and diverse creators in our field so that the stories of the next century are truly reflective of the world around us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kameron was blown away by the opportunity to participate. \u201cHonestly, I\u2019m still trying to pinch myself and can\u2019t believe it\u2019s real. I was ecstatic!\u201d he says. \u201cIt felt amazing knowing that I was going through a program that was going to push me and others and create amazing stories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kameron admits he was a little nervous and intimidated going in but he met so many like-minded creatives it helped put him at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The artists of the group were given the opportunity to work with Tom Mandrake, an American comics artist famous for his work with DC Comics, and the Kubert School, a technical school focused on cartooning and graphic arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Initiative helped them improve and build up their storytelling skills within comic art. Then, the artists were paired with writers to illustrate the stories the writers were working on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was paired up with Jarred Lujan and our mentor, Clayton Henry, and Editor, Arianna Turturro, who helped Jarred and me as we worked on this story,\u201d says Kameron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kameron and Jarred\u2019s story is called \u201cOften Imitated.\u201d The story follows the hero, Hardware, coming face-to-face with an android that was designed to both copy and destroy him. Though Hardware is covered in heavy machinery and uses technology to defeat the android, the story truly showcases his humanity and how important that is to his hero status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This story will debut in DC\u2019s book New Talent Showcase: The Milestone Initiative,<\/em> which will hit shelves June 6th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Kameron, the experience of attending the Initiative was game-changing. \u201cWords cannot describe it,\u201d he says. \u201cDuring the seminar we were able to meet everyone and the cohorts in person. It was such a great and unforgettable experience, especially with getting in-depth lessons and talks from a multitude of creators and speakers, as well as now having a new family with my fellow cohorts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a>The Milestone Initiative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lavendermagazine-com.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/OftenImitated_Preview1-702x1080.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n