Studio Card #5: The Hero’s Journey (Part II) – Initiation
| Brief | In the first part of the Hero’s Journey, the hero answered the call and stepped into the unknown. Now comes the real test. This stage—Initiation—is where the hero is challenged, pushed, and transformed. |
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| Scope | The middle of the journey is where things get messy. The hero faces trials, enemies, and obstacles that test their strength and resolve. But they also find allies—unexpected friendships that help them push forward. Every challenge brings them closer to who they need to become, preparing them for the greatest test still to come. |
| This & That | The Made Collaborative has developed a storytelling framework rooted in timeless methods. Through this process, urban youth and professional collaborators alike have shaped Back of the Yards. Now, it’s your turn. Dive into the journey, add your voice, and your work could even be featured in a future issue of the comic |
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
The hero steps deeper into the special world, facing trials that test their strength and reveal who they can trust. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry adjusts to life at Hogwarts, forming bonds with Ron and Hermione while clashing with Draco Malfoy.
In Back of the Yards, Andre’s initiation comes when he discovers his true power—but that revelation also brings danger. When a gang of bullies attack his friends, he’s forced into a fight that proves just how much the world around him has changed.
At this stage of the journey, your hero isn’t just reacting to the world—they’re being shaped by it. Every challenge, every ally, and every enemy serves a purpose. The trials they face push them to grow, revealing their strengths and weaknesses. The friends they make aren’t just companions; they reflect different aspects of the hero’s journey. The enemies they encounter force them to confront what stands in their way.
As a storyteller, think about how this stage unfolds in your own work.
What obstacles force your hero to change? Who stands beside them, and who stands against them?
Every moment in this stage should propel them forward, preparing them for the ultimate test still to come.
7: Approach the Inner Cave
The hero pushes deeper into the heart of the story, drawing closer to the ultimate goal. This “innermost cave” is often where the treasure, truth, or power they seek is hidden. Sometimes it’s a physical object, other times a symbolic revelation—but either way, it won’t be easy to claim.
In Star Wars, the innermost cave takes the form of the Death Star—a fortress at the center of the conflict. Luke and his companions must infiltrate it, risking everything to rescue Leia and take the next step in their journey.
The hero’s journey isn’t just about where they go—it’s about what they’re truly after. This is where they face the heart of their quest. The “innermost cave” holds the treasure, truth, or transformation they seek—but getting there is never easy.
Is it a lost artifact or something deeper, like self-acceptance? In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom, but the real test is the moment of decision.
What is your hero truly after? And what will it cost them?
8. The Ordeal
The hero faces their greatest test yet—a moment of life or death, victory or ruin. This is where everything is on the line. Through this struggle, they undergo a transformation, experiencing a kind of death and rebirth, whether literal or symbolic.
In The Lion King, Simba’s ordeal isn’t just about defeating Scar—it’s about confronting the guilt that’s haunted him since Mufasa’s death. Only by facing his past can he reclaim his place as king and restore Pride Rock.
Every story needs a moment where the hero is pushed to the edge—where victory seems impossible, and failure feels inevitable. This is The Ordeal, the moment that tests everything they’ve learned, everything they believe in, and everything they are willing to sacrifice.
For your story, this should be a turning point, not just a tough moment. This isn’t just another challenge—it’s the challenge. Whether it’s a brutal fight, a crushing betrayal, or a complete loss of control, the hero should walk away from this moment forever changed—or not walk away at all.
9. The Reward
Surviving The Ordeal changes a hero. Whether they’ve faced death, loss, or their own weaknesses, they emerge transformed—and with that transformation comes a reward. This could be the object of their quest, newfound wisdom, or a deeper sense of purpose.
Often, this is also a moment of connection—a love scene, a reconciliation, or an unexpected moment of peace before the next challenge.
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry overcomes every obstacle guarding the Philosopher’s Stone, only to discover that it has appeared in his pocket—proof that he was always meant to claim it.
Let’ s Collaborate!
It's time to claim the reward!
Your hero has been tested, pushed to the edge, and emerged transformed. They’ve faced trials, forged alliances, and survived the Ordeal—now, they’ve earned their reward. But what does that truly mean?
This isn’t just about winning—it’s about change. What has your hero gained? A physical prize? A new understanding? A moment of love, peace, or reconciliation?
Now, bring it all together. Show us how your hero claims their reward—and what it means for the road ahead.
Draw the Journey
llustrate a pivotal moment from the middle stages of the Hero’s Journey—the trials, allies, and enemies that shape the hero’s transformation.
It could be:
• A single image capturing a key trial, a powerful ally, or a dangerous foe.
• A comics page showing the hero navigating the Ordeal or approaching the Innermost Cave.
Show us the struggle that defines your hero.
Strong submissions may be featured in Back of the Yards!
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Studio Card #6: The Hero’s Journey (Part III) – The Return
| Brief | This Studio Card production was developed by the Made Collaborative Studio as part of its comic series the Back of the Yards. With this Studio Card, we present you with a summary of the Hero's Journey, which is a framework that helped many to develop their own creative projects through the centuries and with that, it is our hope this summary may help participating youth with their own creative projects. |
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| When | The Made Collaborative Studio began as a modest grass roots project started by a ragtag group of participating artists in Chicago and was designed to provide a unique collaborative opportunity for after school programs and participating youth from our urban communities. |
| Who | This Made Collaborative Studio project technically started over 10 years ago as only a kernel of an idea in the mind of the project’s founder on one of his many bus rides home and through much trial and error over the years, evolved into the Made Collaborative Studio virtual model that exists today. |
| Why | The Made Collaborative Studio was created to help promote creative thought and provide a unique (and free) collaborative experience for afterschool programs and participating youth alike. |
Phase #10: The Road Back
The hero returns to the ordinary world or continues onward to an ultimate destination, but their trials aren’t over just yet. They are often pursued by a vengeful force that they must face.In the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this is where Gollum confronts Frodo at the ledge of the volcano and tries to take the Ring back from him.
Phase #11: The Resurrection
The hero emerges from the special world fundamentally changed by their experiences.
In The Lion King, Simba learns the truth that it was Scar who orchestrated Mufasa’s death. Simba throws Scar off Pride Rock in order to reclaim his place as king.
Phase 12: The Return to Elixer
The hero brings with them the object of their quest, which they use to better the ordinary world in some way–whether it’s through knowledge, a cure, or some form of protection.
In The Matrix, armed with the knowledge of the truth, Neo delivers a message to the Matrix that he will save humanity.
Let’ s Collaborate!
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Submit Your Artwork
The Made Collaborative Studio is fueled by your artistic contributions. We’re a community of artists and storytellers who want to build something supportive for creatives of all backgrounds and ages.
We encourage you to participate in our collaborative community by showing off some of your work. We may feature your artwork in the future.
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Studio Card #3 – Creating a Character (Part II)
| What | This Studio Card production is part of the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project produced by Made Collaborative Studio, and features Carl Jung’s Archetypes of the Unconscious Mind. This Studio Card sets forth the 12 primary character archetypes which we hope help participating youth with their own creative projects and ideas. |
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| When | These 12 character archetypes can be used by participating youth for their own independent collaborations, just as they have been used by others throughout the course of time, from the ancient Greek plays to modern day Star Wars trilogies. |
| Who | These character archetypes are important to understand because unlike character stereotypes, which are superficial generic generalizations, archetypes are said to have been deduced through the development of storytelling over tens of thousands of years, indicating repeating patterns of individual and group experience. |
| Why | Character Archetypes can help one gain a better understanding and development of literary characters and stories for not only our Made Collaborative comic publications, but also independent collaborations of any participating youth and others. |
Digging Deeper -
The Evolution of a Character's Development
With this Studio Card collaboration, we pick up where we left we off from Studio Card #2 (Create A Character Part I – Developing Basic Traits) and take a deeper dive into your character’s inner core. What drives your character? What are your character’s core beliefs? And what from their back story helped to shape those beliefs?
To help set the stage for this collaboration, we present you with a quick overview on the evolution of one of Marvel’s most popular comic characters, the Black Panther.
An Introduction to Character Archetypes
The Black Panther, of course, would evolve from his early comic origins in the year 1966 to his premiere on the movie big screen in 2018. But it all started with that foundation that was set by co-creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
And it is that very foundation that we are trying to help you develop for your own character. One primary tool that is helpful for this character development can be found with Carl Jung’s character archetypes. In short Carl Jung developed these archetypes as a way of capturing the essence of a person, i.e., that person’s character.
For example, the Black Panther can be described with a few of Carl Jung’s archetypes. He was a Hero archetype for all of his bravery and commitment to his cause and the people he represented and supported. He was also a Ruler at times, given his leadership roles. And he was a Mentor to others given his intelligence and integrity.
It is from that foundation that the Black Panther’s character was able to evolve over 5 decades. And to help you gain more understanding of these Character Archetypes and set the foundation for your own character development, we have provided a short Google Slide overview that goes into a little more depth of each of the primary character archetypes that we will refer to as part of our ongoing collaborations with you. [NOTE – CONSIDER TRANSFERRING THIS OVERVIEW FROM GOOGLE SLIDE TO ISSUU FLIPBOOK.]
Developing Your Character's Archetype, Core Values and Back Story
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Revisiting Our Own Humble Beginnings and Original Characters
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Let’ s Collaborate!
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