My name is Justin Simmonds and I’m a Marietta ARTrepreneur specializing in storytelling and cartooning. It has been my dream since I was 11 years old to be a cartoonist and at the age of 25, I brought that dream into reality when I founded Mind Invader Comics.
Mind Invader Comics is Marietta’s very own unique source of serialized entertainment that specializes in depicting life in the Gem City through the filter of 1950s Sci-Fi. Emphasizing bombastic concepts such as Space tyrants invading the square, secret government projects gone awry, and A Big Chicken buried beneath our feet! All this and more are crafted together in an amusing retelling of the origins of Southern customs, as well as Marietta’s history and traditions.
Why do this you may wonder? Well, one thing I remember from my days at Marietta High School was that we had these ID cards that said: “Be Somebody”. I always knew that I wanted to be somebody who made comics, but it wasn’t until 2019 that I realized I wanted to be somebody who told stories to his community through comic books and more.
Luckily for me and a testament to the nature of this community, there have been avenues available to me that have helped the process of making these larger-than-life characters and concepts accessible for all to enjoy. You can find some of my art at my second home and former studio; Cool Beans Coffee Roasters, the baristas and managers have been tireless ambassadors for the vision of Mind Invaders! As well as the faculty and staff of Marietta City schools and art programs where I’m given the platform to inspire and educate the next generation on the power of creativity and how it has shaped me.
I grew up inspired by comic books and stories of heroes both young, old, big, and small who faced insurmountable odds, and the adventures they went on with their team of equally passionate comrades to tackle them armed with their wit, cunning, and belief in the greater good. Heroes from both Marvel and DC such as Spider-Man, Dark Hawk, The X-Men, Teen Titans, and The Young Avengers would go on journeys that would send my young imagination into a frenzy!
As I grew older, I began to turn my attention to the creators that would conjure these tales of heroism. The techniques they used, and the best practices they discovered in sequential storytelling are contributions that moved the industry and medium forward. I look to them as my north star as I strive to bring about similar fun and entertainment. Creators such as Orrin Evans, Wally Wood, Jack Kirby, Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, and Al Williamson to name a few.
With the groundwork they’ve laid out and the tools available through social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I’ll be able to share what they’ve taught me through behind-the-scenes processes, thoughts, inspirations, and final concepts while welcoming feedback and engagement! There I’ll also be serializing the saga of my characters and stories for free so that no one will miss a moment as it happens in this fantastic world of fantasy and imagination!
Now that the path has become clear, and I am armed with the tools, knowledge, and resources to embark on the next phase of this journey confidently I look forward to sharing my story of Marietta Georgia with you. The story of a town that faces the threat of an Intergalactic Empire obsessed with the Big Chicken, where Lockheed Martin is all that stands in the way between us and annihilation. However, can their solutions save us, or will their secrets take us to our graves?!
