Find out how Lonnie “Lō” Plater is building the Next Great Indie Comic Universe. Superheroes may dominate comic shop shelves, but some of the most exciting stories today come from independent creators. Free from corporate universes and decades of continuity, indie creators have the freedom to take risks and tell stories that are uniquely their own. One creator embracing that opportunity is Lonnie “Lo” Plater, founder of Dark City Comics and creator of E.P.I.C..
What started as a rediscovered love of comic books has grown into a successful independent publishing company with a funded Kickstarter, an expanding universe, and ambitious plans beyond comics. We spoke with Lo about his creative journey, the success of E.P.I.C., the growing indie comics movement, and why creators should never stop believing in their stories.
Table of Contents
- Meet Lonnie “Lo” Plater
- Rediscovering His Love of Comics
- Creating E.P.I.C.
- Finding Kickstarter Success
- Why Indie Comics Are Thriving
- Advice for New Comic Creators
- Learning From Rejection
- The Future of Dark City Comics
- Support E.P.I.C. #2
Meet Lonnie “Lō” Plater
Independent comics thrive because creators are willing to bet on themselves. Instead of waiting for Marvel or DC to hand them an opportunity, they build their own worlds from the ground up. That’s exactly what Lonnie “Lo” Plater has done with Dark City Comics.
His flagship title, E.P.I.C., combines superhero action with creator-owned storytelling. More importantly, it represents the vision of someone determined to tell stories on his own terms.
Although comics have always been part of his life, the path to becoming a comic creator wasn’t exactly straightforward.
Rediscovering His Love of Comics
Like many comic fans, Lo’s love for superheroes started during childhood. However, life eventually pulled him toward other creative outlets.
“First and foremost, thank you guys for the opportunity to be a guest on your platform.
I’ve been in love with the genre since I was a kid. I’ve always had characters and stories in my head, but my creative mind steered towards music, video and film for years.”
That creative spark never disappeared. It simply waited for the right moment.
Ironically, that moment happened during a casual trip to a local comic shop.
“One day my ex and I were downtown in Glendale, Arizona and Drawn To Comics was having a curbside Comicon. I hadn’t been in a comic book store in ages.
I walked in and fell in love all over again. I was so pumped that by the time I got home, ideas were already starting to flow.”
Sometimes inspiration arrives dramatically. Other times, it simply takes walking through the front door of a comic shop.
For Lo, rediscovering comics reminded him why he fell in love with the medium in the first place. The ideas he’d carried around for years finally found the perfect home.
Creating E.P.I.C.
Rediscovering comics wasn’t enough. Lo wanted to contribute something meaningful to the industry that had inspired him for so many years.
That desire eventually became E.P.I.C. (Earth’s Protector In Crisis).
“The creation of E.P.I.C. came about through a combination of things. Mainly though, I wanted to contribute to a space that I loved and had forgotten the feeling.”
Rather than imitate the Big Two publishers, Lo focused on building something entirely his own. Creator-owned comics give writers and artists complete control over their worlds, characters, and future.
As interest in E.P.I.C. continued to grow, readers from across the United States—and even overseas—wanted a way to support the project.
That’s when Kickstarter entered the picture.
“The idea for the Kickstarter came from all of the interest we had been getting and inquiries from people all over the country and different parts of the world.
I felt like Kickstarter was a way to reintroduce the company and allow people who were truly interested a peek behind the scenes and a ride along during the process.”
Instead of simply asking fans for money, the campaign invited readers to become part of Dark City Comics’ journey.
The strategy worked.
Finding Kickstarter Success
Launching a Kickstarter can feel like riding a roller coaster with no brakes. Every creator dreams of hitting the funding goal, but the anxiety doesn’t disappear once the campaign succeeds. In many ways, that’s when the real work begins.
Fortunately for Dark City Comics, readers responded almost immediately. The campaign reached its funding goal in less than two weeks, giving Lo and his team the resources they needed to bring E.P.I.C. to life.
Still, success came with a new kind of pressure.
“It was stressful until we hit the goal, then you get anxious. I was dying to show people that I appreciated them believing in me and I wanted to be able to show them what we were doing as soon as possible.”
Many comic fans have backed campaigns that took months—or even years—to deliver. Those stories can make potential backers hesitant to support new creators. Lo understood those concerns from the beginning.
“You hear the horror stories of campaigns taking months and years sometimes to fund. I wanted everyone who pledged to know that we appreciate them and we were committed to fulfilling our promises.”
That commitment to communication and fulfillment helped Dark City Comics earn the trust of its supporters. Crowdfunding isn’t just about raising money. It’s about building a relationship with readers who believe in your vision enough to invest before the book even exists.
For Lo, every backer became part of the team.
Why Indie Comics Are Thriving
Independent comics are enjoying one of their strongest periods in decades. Creator-owned books regularly find audiences through crowdfunding, conventions, and social media. At the same time, many readers are looking beyond Marvel and DC for fresh ideas and original characters.
Lo has watched that transformation happen firsthand.
“It’s funny, because now you see more mainstream comic companies in our spaces.”
Not long ago, independent publishers and the industry’s biggest companies often occupied separate worlds. Conventions, marketing, and readership felt divided. Today, those lines continue to blur.
“Before it was a bit of a separation, a hierarchy so to speak, where you could tell the indies were over here and the big guys were over there. Not so much anymore.”
Technology has played a major role in that change. Artists, writers, colorists, and letterers can now collaborate across the globe. Digital tools have lowered production costs while raising the overall quality of independent comics.
“Technology and access has given us indies more talent to pick from, which in turn has upped the visuals a lot.”
Social media has also helped level the playing field.
“Social media has put us in similar algorithms and now die-hard Big Two fans are taking an interest in indie titles. You can see the change happening in real time.”
That shift benefits everyone. Readers discover exciting new creators, while independent publishers gain opportunities that barely existed a decade ago.
Lo Plater’s Advice for New Comic Creators
Ask any successful creator for advice, and you’ll usually hear something inspirational. Lo’s answer started a little differently.
“DON’T!! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!”
Thankfully, he was laughing.
“No seriously, you gotta love it.”
Creating comics isn’t glamorous. Writers spend countless hours revising scripts. Artists battle deadlines. Publishers juggle marketing, printing, conventions, and fulfillment. Success rarely happens overnight.
That’s why passion matters.
“You gotta love it so much that the people can see it in your face and, more importantly, in your results.”
Lo believes creators must embrace every part of the journey, including the difficult moments.
“You gotta love the ugly parts just as much as the pretty parts and stay focused and committed to the process.”
He also believes creators have a responsibility to respect the medium that inspired them.
“Don’t cheat the space or disrespect the genre.”
It’s simple advice, but it reflects the attitude that has helped Dark City Comics continue to grow.
Why an Image Comics Rejection Wasn’t a Failure
Every creator experiences rejection. The difference is how they respond to it.
Before launching Dark City Comics, Lo submitted work to Image Comics. Like many aspiring creators, he hoped it might open a door.
It didn’t.
Surprisingly, he doesn’t look back on that experience with disappointment.
“It was so long ago and I never really got into this to create for another company anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal to me.”
Instead, he viewed the submission as a chance to learn and make new connections.
“It seemed like a cool opportunity. I want to say it was for Wetworks. I have to see if I can find the submission.”
Even then, his long-term goal was always clear.
“I got into this to tell the stories I wanted to tell from my perspective. It’s hard to do that working for someone else.”
That creator-first mindset has become one of the defining characteristics of Dark City Comics.
What’s Next for Dark City Comics?
The success of E.P.I.C. is only the beginning for Dark City Comics. While many independent publishers focus on a single title, Lo has a much larger vision. His goal isn’t simply to publish comics. He wants to build an entertainment company that tells stories across multiple platforms while staying true to its comic book roots.
When asked what fans can expect next, Lo didn’t hesitate.
“More comics, more titles, brand expansion into film and other forms of media.”
That ambitious plan reflects the changing landscape of independent entertainment. Today’s creator-owned properties can grow beyond the printed page into movies, television, animation, games, music, and collectibles. Many of today’s biggest franchises started as independent ideas before finding wider audiences.
Dark City Comics is already laying that foundation.
“Dark City Comics is absolutely a comic book company, but we have relationships in film, music, multimedia and merchandising.”
Rather than expanding too quickly, Lo wants every new project to meet the same standards readers expect from his comics.
“We are going to expand respectfully, with quality and consistency being the driving force of whatever we do.”
It’s a philosophy that values long-term growth over short-term hype. That’s a refreshing approach in an industry where many projects disappear almost as quickly as they’re announced.
For Lo, every new comic is another step toward building a lasting universe that readers can follow for years to come.
Support E.P.I.C. Issue #2
Dark City Comics isn’t slowing down. While the first Kickstarter campaign proved there was an audience for E.P.I.C., the next chapter is already underway.
As our interview wrapped up, Lo had one final message for comic fans.
“Thank you guys for having me and please remember to let your audience know that Issue Two is in its prelaunch phase. We’d love for anyone who may be interested to take a look at the Kickstarter page. Thank you all very much.”
Independent comics succeed because readers choose to support original creators. Every pledge helps fund new artwork, printing, production, and future stories. More importantly, it helps talented creators continue telling stories on their own terms.
If you’re looking for a fresh superhero universe built outside the walls of Marvel and DC, E.P.I.C. deserves a look.
Kickstarter:
E.P.I.C. #2: Arise Alphas Part 1
Final Thoughts
Lonnie “Lo” Plater’s journey reminds us that the best comic book stories don’t always come from the biggest publishers. Sometimes they begin with a lifelong fan rediscovering the magic of comics during a visit to a neighborhood comic shop.
That spark led to the creation of Dark City Comics, a successful Kickstarter campaign, and an expanding universe that continues to attract readers around the world.
His advice for aspiring creators is simple: love the work, respect the medium, and stay committed even when the process becomes difficult. It’s advice earned through experience, and it’s reflected in everything Dark City Comics has accomplished so far.
The independent comic scene continues to grow stronger every year. Creators like Lo are proving that passion, persistence, and community support can compete with even the industry’s biggest names. If E.P.I.C. is any indication, Dark City Comics is just getting started.
If you enjoyed this interview, then click the link to read more interviews with the most fascinating people on the planet.
Join the Conversation
Have you discovered E.P.I.C. or another great independent comic? Which creator-owned series deserves more attention?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below! If you enjoyed our interview with Lonnie “Lo” Plater, please share this article on Facebook, Bluesky, X, Reddit, and Threads. Every share helps more readers discover independent comic creators and supports the future of creator-owned comics.
And if you’re interested in seeing where the E.P.I.C. universe goes next, be sure to check out the Kickstarter campaign and follow Dark City Comics for future announcements.
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