Indie comic creator Dare went to Anime NYC with a table, two books, and no idea that a single visitor would change everything. TikTok reviewer @slow_comics has built a 40,000-follower audience by stopping at convention booths other people overlook, and his visit to Dare’s table turned into one of those videos the internet can’t scroll past. The reaction hit a million likes, Dare gained 25,000 new followers, and both Ori: Holder of the Heads and the side story Etch sold out overnight, including a limited presale.
When the demand outpaced the inventory, Dare’s brother Joshua drove from Pennsylvania to New York with more physical copies. Those sold out too. Ori draws on Dare’s Yoruba Nigerian heritage and imagines a world where people talk to their ancestors, which makes the whole moment feel bigger than one viral video: it’s a story about culture, family, and a community showing up for a small creator.
Dare thanked everyone in a follow-up video and confirmed that Ori and Etch preorders are reopening. Next up, Dare appears at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, on September 12-13, followed by the Uhuru Book Fair in Philadelphia. Which small creator or local artist are you supporting right now? Tell us in the comments so we can check them out.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.