Childhood Inspiration: Comics, Manga, and Games

When I was a little kid, I was always doing one of three things: reading Sonic comics, reading manga, or playing Final Fantasy. A lot of my teachers back then would’ve told you that media, of that sort, was a complete waste of my time or that it was rotting my brain. But, it was actually doing the exact opposite. The complex themes and rich, text-heavy narratives of Final Fantasy? The unique interplay of language and imagery provided by comics and manga? It broadened my vocabulary, boosted my comprehension skills, and led to a life-long love of reading.

From Reading to Writing: A Creative Journey

Eventually, that love of reading led to a love of writing, and that love of writing led to the career I have today! My name is Daniel Barnes and, nowadays, you can find me writing for the official Sonic the Hedgehog comics at IDW Publishing and on Guild Wars 2 – a popular, long-running, online role-playing game developed by ArenaNet. I’ve also written a few issues of Aggretsuko, as well as an original graphic novel called The Black Mage – both published by Oni Press.

Comics and Their Impact on Young Readers

So, as you can see, reading comics in my youth clearly had a positive impact on my life. But, that experience isn’t exclusive to just myself. Comics have repeatedly proven themselves to be an excellent way to get kids excited about reading. A 2023 study conducted by the National Literacy Trust, on just over 64,000 children, found that nearly twice as many of those who read comics in their free time said that they enjoyed reading, compared to those that didn’t. (https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-and-young-peoples-engagement-with-comics-in-2023/)

Rethinking Education: Learning as a Lifestyle

Knowledge can be acquired from many different places, and good education is about more than just rote memorization or rigid “one-size-fits-all” lectures. It’s organic. And kids are far more receptive to learning things when it’s connected with their interests and experiences. Learning shouldn’t be a chore. It should be a mindset. It should be a lifestyle. And it should extend well beyond standardized tests, homework assignments, and classrooms. Kids shouldn’t be force-fed knowledge. Rather, we should be fostering a culture that makes them hungry for it, well after the school bell has rung.

Introducing ENDLESS FANTASIA

This philosophy, combined with the proven educational potency of comics, is the guiding principle driving ENDLESS FANTASIA – my new, all-ages comic book series and literacy initiative. Set in a stylish world of remixed fairy tales and nursery rhymes, the series follows Jack & Jill – a duo of adventurous teenagers fighting to stop the Big Bad Wolf – a powerful, ancient demon that wants to conquer the City of EverAfter.

A Mission to Inspire Young Readers

After years of working on IPs and franchises owned by other companies, I’ve decided to finally strike out and develop one myself. Not just for independence and creative freedom, but to embark on a personal mission – a mission to prove that comic books are more than just entertainment. They enrich minds, spark imaginations, and help cultivate a literacy and reading-focused lifestyle.

Kids don’t want to be pandered to or patronized. They want to be challenged. They want to be engaged – and there are few things more engaging than compelling, action-packed stories with strong themes, amazing artwork, and memorable characters. A good comic book leaves a lasting impact. It leads to real, positive change in the world. And ENDLESS FANTASIA is my plan to manifest that positive change.

Building Change Through Community and Crowdfunding

I also think that change, of this kind, HAS to be community-driven – which is why I’ve turned to crowdfunding to help realize it. In a world where the rich keep getting richer, and both education and artistic freedom seem to be getting more and more devalued, we shouldn’t be turning to corporations and banks to improve the world – we should be turning to each other.

We are the authors of our own story and, with the power of reading, we can all write a happy ending.

[Help turn the page on ENDLESS FANTASIA’s literacy quest and consider supporting their crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/206565177/endless-fantasia

Those who pledge can not only obtain comics and merch for themselves, but they can donate bundles to classrooms and comic shops!

The campaign ends on Monday, October 13th, 2025 @ 10 AM PST. Your support can help usher in a new generation of young readers!]