Meet Fearma Art and Her 8-Bit Business!

“It’s really simple and easy to make,” are the words you’ll hear if you stop by Nichole Rosati’s (Fearma Art) table at your local comic-con. An avid lover of all things fun and nerdy, Rosati has adapted her passion into her profession with her 8-bit artwork. The senior Accounting major from Greensboro understands the value of a quality product and produces a wide array of merchandise ranging from television characters, comic book heroes, and the occasional sushi, Rosati has built her business around the child-like wonder that us millennials have inside for television, movies, and culture that surrounds us and I’d say she’s doing a bang up job.

Discussing how she got started with her business, Nichole said that it began as a simple hobby, merely making and presenting her work to her friends and family as gifts. Eventually, she gained attention from friends and her fellow students which prompted her to start taking commissions. After gaining a loyal audience, she went from selling one or two from her little container to showcasing her work at local conventions to high success. With the help of pearler beads and a hot iron (which you should never try to touch, trust me I’ve tried), Rosati has become a self-made businesswoman.   

Through her hard work and dedication to creating a quality product, she now understand how to function as a professional business owner dealing with deadlines, supply and demand, and of course, proper customer service. “I sell at conventions and I have the merchandise available online through Etsy,” she said as we discussed her work. “Typically, depending on the commission, it could take me one day to two weeks. It all depends on how many beads I have, whether I need to get special colors, and the timeframe in which I’m given.”

Here are some of my rapid fire questions for Fearma, here we go! 

What's are some of your favorite movies? 
"The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Star Wars franchise (cause, of course), and anything Studio Ghibli related."

What's are some of your favorite television shows?  
"Steven Universe and Rick and Morty"

Favorite video game(s)  
"The Legend of Zelda series, Undertale, Kingdom Hearts"

Favorite anime? 
"Wolf's Rain"

If you could meet any fictional character, who would you meet? 
"Steven Universe, Rey, BB-8, or Kylo Ren from the Star Wars franchise."

What is the best way for people to get in contact with you about commissions? 
 "Through email, DeviantArt, or my Facebook page."  

Regarding her plans for the future of her business, Nichole plans to incorporate a wider variety by expanding her reach into the Disney properties. “I’ve had so many people, especially little children interested in Disney stuff so I think that will be my next goal.” We certainly hope that she won’t go crazy! Somehow, she has managed to balance schoolwork, an active campus life, and friends on top of having a booming business and we couldn’t be more proud. Shoot for the stars, Nichole! 

Want to buy some of her 8-bit art? Check out her site here! 

Also, tell what you think? Should I do more interviews such as this and who would you like to see? Thanks again for all the support! 

Passing The Torch: Good For Minority Representation or not?

Credit: Marvel Comics

 Since his introduction into the Marvel Universe in March of 1963, Tony Stark has remained a centerpiece at many comic book fan's growing and ever-changing table. Through comics, television, and now a very lucrative and critically-acclaimed move franchise, it looks like Mr. Stark won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Or at least that was assumed by a number of fans surprised by the news of a new character taking on the mantel of Iron Man - or should I say woman? Earlier this summer, fans were treated to the news that 15- year-old, Riri Williams, an African American girl would take on the role under the name Ironheart.

So lets break this down, a young, charismatic woman of color with a genius level intellect who wants to save the world. Nothing wrong with that, right? Well, my answer is yes and no because yes, it is amazing that we are becoming more inclusive in our media and representing people of color in mainstream comics however; this positive transition is being clouded by what I like to call Torch Syndrome (sorry, I love naming things). This is when a character of a different gender, racial background, or sexual preference assumes the role (passing the torch) of a well-established, typically white superhero or heroine (typically in the main continuity) and will remain in that role until the original character's eventual return (when you give the torch back).

Throughout the history of comics, minority characters were subjected to crude depictions or none at all but with the inclusion of characters such as Marvel's Storm and Black Panther (two of the first major non-white superheroes), writers and artists began to write more introspective, detailed pieces such as the works of Spawn (Todd McFarlane), Blade (Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan), and Saga (Brian K. Vaughan). The landscape of comics has become broader and more accepting of non-traditional lead characters, so I ask, why can't minority characters be wonderful and iconic in their own right?

Now, I don't hate every new or recent character to take up the mantle of another hero. I love Kamala Khan (Miss Marvel), Miles Morales (Spider-Man), and the Jessica Cruz/Simon Baz Green Lanterns (Justice League) and believe them to be solid characters with great stories. The problem is that in an effort to be be more diverse and create characters of all different backgrounds, where comics have been falling short is thinking of how it looks when they won't let their characters stand on their own two feet. This is almost as if to say (and pardon me if this is too inflammatory) that a minority character can never be as legendary as their white contemporaries.That the legacy they create will never be as influential or inspiring as their predecessor.

In her defense, Riri seems like an amazing character and I am very certain that with Brian Michael-Bendis at the helm of the project that she will become a character with depth and wide-spread appeal. What I'd love more than anything though is for writers to be confident in their characters and want to give them their own compelling stories rather than have them serve as stand ins for the originals. Oh, and use the wonderful characters they already have but that is an argument for another day.

Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments section what your thoughts on this topic are. I'd love yo hear them and thank you for your support!


If you are interested, take a look at this video on diversity in comics as seen through the eyes of everyday fans. Also, play the game at 4:25 and see how well you do.

ALL WORDS, TEXTS, AND IMAGES BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES