I've compiled some key stories along my comic books journey to share with you.
BalAnce, The Big Book
While visiting my sister in Lansing, Michigan, I noticed she had this big book, measuring 16x12x3 inches. It was blank inside. And it seemed like it was calling to me. I asked her where she got it. When I went to buy one, they were sold out, so my sister gave me this one instead.
This is how my comic book journey began, as I began to write the story of BalAnce within its pages.
Book One: The Legend of Gii-wed-anong
Referring to "The Big Book," I began drawing out the story of BalAnce as a four-part full-colour comic book series, rooted in the Aanishinaabe creation story. Starting with Book One: The Legend of Gii-wed-anong, I finished 256 pages in about a month of steady writing and drawing.
When I finished, I realized that this size of Book One wouldn’t be practical for people to read. So, I decided to break Book One down into eight standard 32-page comic books. In the end, I added An Aanishnaabe Creation Story and more details to the original story, which resulted in 10 comic books or parts for Book One.
Photo Caption: The Legend of Gii-wed-anong, the Aanishinaabe name for the North Star, is Book One of BalAnce, paying homage to the Northern Direction. It details the Aanishinaabe legend of Nanaboozhoo, Creation, Destruction, and Re-Creation.
Book One: Part 1 of 10
To begin sharing the story, I self-published Part One of The Legend of Gii-wed-anong. The first print run featured a unique handmade cover: each element was cut and pasted onto a purple and blue background, then photographed. Because of the high cost of trimming, only 100 copies were produced.
Photo Caption: This is the first cover of the first print run of Part One of BalAnce’s first book, The Legend of Gii-wed-anong.
Cover to Cover
Because of the high cost of trimming, only 100 copies of Part One were printed, and I later updated the cover to the present “birch bark scroll.”
Photo Caption: This is a selection of the first comic book print, showcasing the front and back covers of The Legend of Gii-wed-anong.
Giiwedanong - The Female Half of the Spirit of the North Wind
Giiwedanong is a balance of male and female energy who behave like an older couple. This is Her before they find the Thunderbird Eagle Feather and tip the balance of power in their favour. And we know that Power can Corrupt.
Photo Caption: This is an early sketch of the female half of Gii-wed-anong, the Spirit of the Northern Direction. She is on the back cover of the first print run of Part One.
New Cover Art
I first wrote and self-published Part One of The Legend of Gii-wed-anong with a blue cover but later changed the cover art to its present form of the Birch Bark Scroll.
I also branded the name Ded-C-Comics, a play on Dead Sea Scrolls, to make the connection to ancient hidden knowledge being rediscovered. Aanishinaabe wrote on cliff sides, hides, and birch bark scrolls.
Photo Caption: “An Aanishinaabe Creation Story” is Part One of the Legend of Gii-wed-anong, including artwork of Aanishnaabe stories written on birch bark scrolls.
Part 2: The Fall before Winter
I wrote and published Part Two, “The Fall before Winter,” of The Legend of Gii-wed-anong in January 2017, and since then, The Truth in Truth and Reconciliation Board Game has taken up all of my time until August 2024. That's when the Game was out and on its way and I had time to begin writing Part Three.
Photo Caption: “The Fall Before Winter” is Part Two of the Legend of Gii-wed-anong. Gii-wed-anong stands next to his wife, seated in their Lodge.
Part 3: Crash Landing
I became stuck on the title for Part Three of The Legend of Gii-wed-anong. It wasn’t until January 2025 that a title came to me and “Crash Landing" was written and self-published soon after.
Photo Caption: “Crash Landing” is Part Three of the Legend of Gii-wed-anong. A meteor strikes, Nanaboozhoo Arrives, and adventure begins!
The First 96 Pages
The first 96 pages of BalAnce’s Book One: The Legend of Gii-wed-anong consist of three 32-page comic books, Part 1: An Aanishinaabe Creation Story, Part 2: The Fall Before Winter, and Part 3: Crash Landing. Together, they form the opening chapters of a much larger journey.
Book One will eventually include 10 comic books, 32 pages each, for a total of 320 pages. Each of the four Books in the series corresponds to a cardinal direction: North, East, South, and West. Together, they will total about 1,000 pages. My plan is to complete 96 pages a year, finishing the series by April 2034, when I will be 69!
You can support my journey by purchasing any of my creations (comic books, board games, artwork, and merch). Miigwetch, Miigwetch, Miigwetch for helping me bring BalAnce to life!
Book Two: Waab-anong
I've written an introductory chapter for each of the remaining three books. This one is Book Two: Waab-anong.
Waab-anong is the Aanishinaabe name for the East Star or the Morning Star, is Book Two of BalAnce. This story has Nanaboozhoo travel to the Great Shining Sea to find out why people are fleeing their burning lands.
Book Three: Zhaaw-anong
Zhaaw-anong is the third book within BalAnce. I started writing this in 2008. Once I start something, I have to finish it. It is about 5 years away from being completed.
Zhaaw-anong is the Fine Star seen only in the South and in Summer, gifting us with Light and Warmth. But what happens when the Light goes out. Nanaboozhoo discovers.
Book Four: Nin-gaa-bii-we-anong
This is the fourth book within BalAnce. In some places of Anishinaabe land, the West is also known as Epangishmook, which is the name on the book you see here. Later, the name changed to Nin-gaa-bii-we-anong since I wanted to honour the presence of the word Anong in each title.
Anong is the Aanishinaabe word for Star. I tried to use cover art that had symmetry. If you look closely, you may see they all reflect a sense of BalAnce.
Nin-gaa-bii-we-anong is the story of the Western Direction, where the Sun, Stars and Spirits go to sleep. Nanaboozhoo embarks on his last and greatest challenge.
On Brand
This is a digital version of the brand DeD-C-Comics artwork from page 36 of “The First 96 Pages.” My comics brand DeD-C-Comics, suggests finding lost knowledge in ancient writings.
Tales from the Outhouse
Also part of my comic book journey, this is a 56 page manuscript of a story that I hope to turn into a series of strange and silly stories loosely based on experiences in Northern Ontario.
On Brand
In late 2022, I found out I could print single games. I printed the 3rd version of my board game in April 2023. I found out I could print a document up to 40 pages to go with the Game, and so I put together an abbreviated version of the first ever “Genuine Indian Guide Book" for the Truth in Truth and Reconciliation Board Game. This is the first working cover.
