Jason B. Ryan was often infatuated with the anime and comic world long before he decided to venture into the industry.
The Inception Of Jericho Cutter
A decade in the making: The television and film producer had twenty years under his belt, but he was able to fulfill his interest when the industry paused in 2020. The character he planned to create was Jericho Cutter, which Ryan first gave light ten years before he put pen to paper.
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Pandemic Paved The Way For His Comic
Global shutdown birthed Jericho Cutter: “In 2020, when COVID shut down everything, my industry was largely affected by that because we couldn’t produce anything. I had just finished writing a feature-length screenplay at the time that I was really excited about, and then the whole world shut down. And I was thinking, ‘How can I continue my creative outlets in a situation that’s pandemic-proof?’ And it almost felt like the character himself Jericho walked into the room like ‘Hey remember me,'” Ryan told AfroTech exclusively.
His Production Company
Odd Ninja Media: Jericho Cutter, which was penned by Ryan with artwork created by Tonio Maicon, was launched through the production company Odd Ninja Media. Ryan launched the platform to champion diverse characters through animation and comics to introduce new and inspiring storylines created by artists of color and those from underrepresented communities.
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According to information provided to AfroTech, the production company’s theme infuses the elements of:
- Hip-Hop
- science fiction
- Afrofuturism
- comedy
- spirituality
- metaphysics
- action
More On Jericho Cutter's Storyline
Plot: Jericho Cutter was the first comic released through the production company when it was founded in 2020. Ryan wanted to merge the sci-fi genre into a comic, placing a Black man living in America as the lead.
“I wanted to tell a story that featured a character that looked like me as the lead character, a Black man as the lead,” Ryan explained. “And through this sci-fi backdrop, I was able to infuse some real-life experience as far as the journey of a Black man in America, things that we’re up against, the things that we experience, and the things that make us who we are culturally. I wanted a way to infuse that in this sci-fi space.”
The debut comic told the story of a man who has no memory of his existence and has to work toward recollecting memories to tap into his superpower and save the world from the very same oppression organization hunting him down.
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“When I created this character — this was before the ‘Black Panther.’ There were some Black characters in the mainstream, but there wasn’t a lot. It was just really important for me to be [a] part of that representation of us within that space. Cause when you think about science fiction, a lot of it is about the future and what the future looks like.”
Second Installment On The Way
What’s Ahead: Ryan is gearing up for the anticipated second installment, which he promises will be on a grander scale with new characters, a more expansive universe, and an in-depth storyline. Readers should also expect to see returning character Tahira take a more prominent role in the immersive comic.
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“My purpose is to tell authentic stories that entertain, enlighten and make you think about things,” Ryan expressed. “Not just frivolous fun, not too political, or trying to push my thought process on you. I feel like my purpose is to create a lasting brand, a lasting character, and a franchise that can stand up to any of the mainstream Marvel and DC characters. It’s my purpose to bring in another voice.”
