Interview: From Miami With Love

At 30 years of age Dorphise Jean, a single mother of one bright and budding six-year-old son, hails from Miami, FL. In 2019 she is set to release her second issue of Spirit’s Destiny. First released in 2016, the story of Destiny, who later takes on the code-name Spirit, is a half demon half human hybrid fighting an extraterrestrial demon set on destroying humanity. When Dorphise Jean introduces us to a new super heroine there is nothing average or typical about Destiny. It took her witnessing a horrific accident to push her into the hero role. Prior to the accident she used her powers for selfish reasons out to enhance her personal gain. One might say Spirit is less of a hero type and more of an anti-hero... so to speak.

Born of Haitian descent Dorphise Jean expressed to us how she wanted to introduce a female Haitian character that others of the same origins could identify with. Not only does Spirit’s Destiny do this super effectively with it’s Haitian powerhouse but it’s insightful creator doesn’t stop there with her diversity. When we asked her about how she would diversify her stories here’s what she had to say.

“I don’t just choose nationalities and throw them in the book I speak with people of those nationalities (races) and learn from first-hand experience how to cultivate my characters.”

When reading Spirit’s Destiny, you’ll get fully flushed out characters with real life experiences. The characters have real hurt, real joy, real ambition and real hurdles to overcome in life. There is almost always a catalyst or inspiration that a creator draws upon to instill the realness that draws in a reader. Dorphise advise her inspiration for writing comes from a plethora of places and outlets.

“I get inspiration from any source that randomly inspires me, and I write from that inspiration. Even from other writers. I can be going through the most horrific thing in my life and Haitians just like to tell their stories and laugh through it.
 Haitian’s turn their pain into comedy. When I went to therapy, I learned to be able to divert your depression into creativity.”

While we had a moment of Dorphise’s time we decided to dig a bit deeper into the life and mind of an independent comic book creator. For a woman with such a rich and diverse history there had to be attributes of her own that our readers might connect with. Below are a few questions we presented and her answers as she only she could express them.

CM: Did you ever finish a screenplay?

DJ: I’ve written a few shorts but I’m outlining one currently and working on a concept that’s top secret and to be released later.

CM: Why are you a comic book creator? What lead you to this field?

DJ: I started writing screenplays and I was told I should try comics because it would be an easier medium. The reason why I stuck with comics I could never find any Haitian characters. There were Africans but not Haitian. I didn’t know it was that difficult. I’m trying to write fantasy and sci-fi. My writing is somewhat fantasy, somewhat mythical, somewhat superhero. I’m not sure I want her (Spirit) to be the hero type who’s always saving the day.

This interview was conducted and written by T.M. Vornes on behalf of Concept Moon Magazine and Concept Moon Studios.