Since I'm doing a Black Creators countdown this month, I didn't have time to do spotlights on black-created comics like I normally like to do in February. Instead, though, I asked the nifty comic book writer Regine L. Sawyer to do some spotlights on fellow black women members of her Women In Comics NYC Collective. This is the first one! - BC

Born and raised in New York City, Micheline Hess started her professional comic book career in the early 90s with Milestone Comics as a colorist; working on such books as ‘Static Shock’ and ‘Icon’. Working for the groundbreaking company, inspired her to take her own concepts and comic book storytelling to the next level. She has several creator owned works such as the fantasy-adventure comic, book series ‘Malice in Ovenland’, (Published by Rosarium Publishing), ‘The Anansi Kids and the All Saints’ Day Adventure’, and the children’s book ‘The Island Cats of Cunga Ree.

[I did a piece on Hess' Malice in Ovenland comic here - BC]

In addition to being an Independent Comic Book Creator, Micheline is also an accomplished digital painter, with her work shown nationally at various Art Shows annually. With all her activities, she still somehow manages to have a day job as a Graphic Designer at a prominent Ad Agency; using that knowledge and experience in creative technology to promote her personal work of developing graphic novels, short stories, and interactive iBooks for kids. Moreover, she conducts workshops at various Comic Book Conventions across the country teaching artists how to utilize iPads to create and color their own comics.

Micheline is most adept at creating characters and stories that provide a safe and fun way to inspire young children, especially girls. Through colorful flights of fun and fancy, she hopes to encourage a stronger sense of self-love, friendship, and a hunger to embrace all things new and different in the world around them. She has always been interested in the portrayal of black people in visual narratives like comics and movies and is constantly endeavoring to weave her own sense of humorous storytelling into both her personal and professional work. Check out her websites: www.facebook.com/ovenland and www.kuronekko.com