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Black History Month Interview: Joi Dariel

In celebration of Black History Month, PREVIEWSworld is bringing you a series of interviews with professionals from all fields in the comic industry. 

Check out our interview with Jori Dariel, Production Manager and Graphic Designer for Zenescope Entertainment below!


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PREVIEWSworld: What initially got you interested in comics?

Joi Dariel: Art steered me into my interest in comics. One of the my favorite comics as a child was Generation X. I liked it so much that I drew my own version of issue 5. I made it so it would read "'Big Time in the Big Apple' Artist: Joi Dariel".  Now I work in comics.

PREVIEWSworld:What does Black History Month mean to you?

Joi Dariel: It means a lot to me. Ultimately, I have to be true to myself and remember those who came before me, whether from years ago or from my own family, to pave their ways in Art, Academics, History etc. so I can create my own. I'll always have this nagging feeling of "Am I taking this for granted?" but it's a good thing to me because it makes me confident in realizing that I chose the right path in life and I will always work hard for it.

PREVIEWSworld: Who’s your favorite black artist/entertainer? Why?

Joi Dariel: I'll stick to comics & Sci-Fi and choose Afua Richardson, Ariell R. Johnson, and Nichelle Nichols. It was very hard to limit my list to 3 people. Afua Richardson is an amazing artist working in comics and one of my inspirations as a creator. Honestly, I hope that my company gets to work with her someday. Ariell R. Johnson just opened up Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse in Philly and that is on my local comic shop list to support. Ariell's business is the first black female owned comic shop on the East Coast. I love that Ariell is making her store an outlet for diverse comics along with the mainstream titles. Nichelle Nichols is my favorite Sci-Fi entertainer since I always loved watching her on Star Trek: TOS. She is a trailblazer in representation on television, especially in the Science Fiction category.  She is very friendly and an amazing woman. I got to meet her last year and I gave her my portrait of Uhura that she really liked. 

PREVIEWSworld:Do you feel comics represent a wider diversity now—or do we still have a ways to go?

Joi Dariel: It's getting better now but there's always room for improvement. Of course more has to be done for the entire industry so they can spotlight not only characters but diverse creators. We can't stop and feel like "Okay, we have 1 creator of color and/or different sex. We're off the hook." No, you're not. Comics are for everyone and should be created by everyone. Good thing about social media outlets is that more creators are getting noticed for their work and more fans can connect with and support them.

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PREVIEWSworld: What new projects do you have planned for the near future? What are you creating right now?

Joi Dariel: I am excited for working on new stuff from my job. I look forward to designing new logos and advertisements. My personal work involves illustration, so I have goals to make more work throughout the year. 

PREVIEWSworld: What advice can you offer for the aspiring comic creator?

Joi Dariel: I have a few things to share that has helped me throughout my career: 1. Do what makes you happy 2. Be honest with yourself & your work 3. Keep Going! I really hope it helps some people out there. No path is ever easy, so it's important to stay committed to achieve your goals. 

Read more Black History Month Interviews in the PREVIEWSworld's Black History Month section!

Read more Black History Month Interviews in PREVIEWSworld's Black History Month section!

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