Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

Who is ...
Draymond Carter?
Brief Draymond Carter is a fiery-tempered young character in the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project developed by the Made Collaborative Studio. The younger cousin of Russell Patterson, Draymond shares a brotherly bond with Russell, who moved in with Draymond and his mother, Evelyn, years earlier. Bold, passionate and sometimes unpredictable, Draymond's personality contrasts with Russell's quieter, more imaginative nature. With this bonus Studio collaboration, we invite collaborators to explore Draymond's family relationships, his connection to Russell, and the experiences that shape his identity, helping imagine how his story might unfold in future issues of Back of the Yards.
Core Personality Draymond’s extroverted and assertive personality is a stark contrast to Russell’s more gentle and introverted nature.
Archetype The Sidekick
Motto “You're going to lose.”
Collaboration Background Draymond was developed by Jimmy Briseno and Len Kody as part of the initial Issue 1 scripting process.
Debut Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series

Quick Introduction

A Bond Forged in Dreams

Russell wasn’t supposed to stay forever. That’s what Draymond thought, at least. When his quiet, lanky cousin first moved in, it felt like a temporary thing—a visit that would end. But as the months stretched on, Draymond realized that Russell wasn’t going anywhere. 

It was weird having him around, with his head always buried in books or lost in his own thoughts. But then something happened that Draymond didn’t expect—even as they teased each other and fought like brothers, Draymond started looking up to Russell. Not that he’d ever say it out loud, of course. Russell had this whole other world inside his head, filled with wild adventures and incredible stories, and before Draymond knew it, he was pulled right in.

The Adventures of Teshue & Shiro

It didn’t take long for them to become both rivals and teamates—Russell leading the way on their imaginary quests, and Draymond charging in as Shiro, his fearless ninja alter ego. Even in the real world, Draymond secretly admired Russell’s calm, even if it drove him crazy at times. Maybe being the sidekick wasn’t so bad, not when the hero was his cousin.

In their dream world, anything was possible. Broomsticks became katana blades, and bullies turned into warlords. Russell became Teshue, the silent warrior, while Draymond was Shiro—fierce and unstoppable.

Who is the Caregiver?

Draymond’s mother, Evelyn Carter, is Russell’s auntie. Evelyn is caring for both both of the boys, currently. Russell won’t tell Draymond what happened to his own mother.

It is a mystery.  

Evelyn approaches the boys with a careful balance of strength and care. With Draymond, she’s firm and unyielding, guiding his fiery impulsiveness with discipline.

For Russell, her touch is softer—nurturing his quiet, sensitive side with understanding. Her own grounded nature keeps the household steady, providing the stability both boys desperately need as their worlds grow increasingly chaotic.

A Made Collaborative Production

Introducing a New Hero’s Journey
Back of the Yards!

01 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
Welcome to the Issue #3 Collaborations! This anchor Studio Card introduces Back of the Yards, a Creative Commons comic series developed by the Made Collaborative Studio. Set on Chicago's West Side, the story follows a young man whose seemingly supernatural encounter leads him on a journey to discover what is real, what lies beneath the surface of his neighborhood, and how the lives of those around him are connected. With this Studio Card, we invite you to explore the world of Back of the Yards and help shape Issue #3 through a series of creative collaborations.
When
Our story moves between past and present, exploring how events, relationships and decisions from earlier generations continue to shape the lives of characters today. As we develop Issue #3, we'll uncover more of the neighborhood's history and the mysteries connecting its past to its present.
Who
Meet the students, neighborhood Elders, families, law enforcement officers and other personalities who inhabit Back of the Yards. From Andre Davis and Tamia Parker to characters whose stories have yet to be fully revealed, each brings a different perspective to the neighborhood and its unfolding mysteries.
Why
Every neighborhood has stories worth tellin g— and every person has something to contribute. Through our Studio Cards and creative Workshops, we're inviting collaborators to help develop the characters, places, artwork and story possibilities that may shape Issue #3 and the future of Back of the Yards.
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This Studio Card is part of the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project developed by the Made Collaborative Studio.  You can learn more about our Creative Commons license by visiting the Explore the Studio page, but in short, what this means is that as a Creative Commons project,  you can copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the content for any purpose, even commercially, as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. And if you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license above.

If you’d like to explore the Back of the Yards comic further, you can see and access the Studio Card to your right and/or the related Studio Cards below.  Thanks for collaborating with us!

Let’s Collaborate!

Let's Collaborate

Draymond’s world was turned upside down when his older cousin came to live with him. Some of those changes have been amazing, others have been a struggle. Either way, Draymond is growing and his family is changing. 

What events from Draymond’s mother’s past have brought Russell into his life? What happened between Evelyn Carter and her sister?

 

Just click below to collaborate with us and we will highlight selected responses from you (i.e., your "Studio Notes") within upcoming virtual Zoom workshop sessions (limited virtual seats available for live viewings, but we will post recordings of all workshops in any case), along with an invitation to some of you to collaborate directly with us and other creators within those virtual working sessions!  
Badass Shiro

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.

Table of Contents

Related Studio Cards

Who is…
Big Earl?

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

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Brief
“Big Earl” Perkins is one of the neighborhood's beloved Elders in the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project developed by the Made Collaborative Studio. A big man with an even bigger heart, Earl is known throughout the neighborhood for his warmth, wisdom and the stories he's collected over the years. But behind this gentle giant lies a lifetime of experiences and untold stories. With this bonus Studio collaboration, we invite collaborators to explore Earl's past, his relationships within the community, and the moments that shaped him, helping imagine how his story might unfold in future issues of Back of the Yards.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Earl was the neighborhood football hero before an injury pushed him to the sidelines. And undiagnosed dyslexia prevented him for excelling in school. But Earl’s kind soul and balanced nature granted him resilience through life’s toughest struggles.
Primary Archetype
The Everyman
Motto
“If I didn’t get hurt, then I would never have found me.”
Collaboration Background
Big Earl was developed by Jimmy Briseno and Len Kody in 2015 as part of the initial Issue 1 scripting process.
Debut
Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series
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The Monahans!
Andre’s Favorite Comic!

11 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
The Monahans began as a mock comic book cover commission, but now they're finding a place within the world of Back of the Yards. In Issue #3, readers may catch a glimpse of their comic tucked inside Andre Davis's backpack - a small detail that could open the door to a much larger story. For this collaboration, we're inviting writers, artists, and other creative minds to help imagine that story. Using the Hero's Journey as a creative starting point, we'll explore who the Monahans might be, what adventures await them, and how their fictional world might take shape. Whether through storytelling, original artwork, or simply describing an idea, collaborators can help develop a fictional universe that may someday extend beyond this brief appearance.
When
The Monahans will be introduced through Andre's storyline in Issue #3, with opportunities to develop its fictional history and world through our ongoing Studio collaborations.
Who
The characters, personalities, and world of the Monahans are still largely unexplored. That's where participating writers, artists, and other creative collaborators come in.
Why
To create a backstory for the Monahans and imagine the places where their adventures might unfold. Artists can contribute original background illustrations, while non-artists can describe settings in words. Selected ideas may help shape the comic's fictional world and potentially inspire future stories.
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Who is…
Tamia Parker?

12 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
For our second Issue #3 collaboration centered on Tamia Parker - and the final collaboration in this series - we're returning to a transformation that began much earlier in the Studio. Tamia has spent Issue #3 questioning her dreams, her perceptions and what is happening to her. Now we're inviting you to help us explore what she has become, what she finally understands - and what Tamia might say when she is given the final word.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Tamia is extremely bright, curious, introspective and creative. She is an artist at heart, with empathy that forms connections with others in ways that she even doesn’t fully understand yet…
Archetype
The Creator
Motto
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” - Leonard Cohen
Collaboration Background
Tamia’s character was initially developed during the original Made Collaborative in-person classroom collaborations with youth in the fall and winter of 2013, as part of an after school program in the West-Side of Chicago.
Debut
Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series
Read more

Who is…
Russell Patterson?

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

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Brief
Russell Patterson is a shy, imaginative young student at New City High and one of the original characters from the Back of the Yards comic series. A grade or two younger than the other principal youth characters, Russell often retreats into his extraordinary imagination and vivid dream life. With this bonus Studio collaboration, we explore Russell's mysterious past, emerging abilities, and relationships with Tamia and Draymond, inviting collaborators to help imagine how his story might unfold in future issues of Back of the Yards.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Russell Patterson has an extremely vivid imagination and a very active dream life. He just may be the most talented and creative student at New City High, but he lacks confidence so he too often daydreams as a means of escape.
Archetype
The Dreamer
Motto
“It is okay to live a life that others don't understand”
Collaboration Background
Russell’s character was initially developed during the original Made Collaborative in-person classroom collaborations with youth in the fall and winter of 2013, as part of an after school program in the West-Side of Chicago.
Debut
Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series
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Who is…
John Golden?

Who is John Golden?

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Summary Traits
John is a master illustrator who can take any transform any idea into illustrative magic. He is the owner of his own independent art studio, the Mortal Mirror Studio, and he was one of the early participating artists for Made Collaborative, his art featured in both Issues 1 and 2 of the Back of the Yards comic series.
Core Personality Traits & Values
John is smart, creative and always open for a new challenge. He hails from the great state of New York, moved to the windy city of Chicago, ending up where he is today in the mountain tops of Colorado, where he continues to apply his creativity to new creative projects. And if you'd like to collaborate with him, just hit the "Let's Collaborate" button on the left to start the conversation!
Archetype
The Magician
Motto
TBD
John's Projects
TBD
Debut
John started working with Jimmy Briseno and Manny Dominguez in the very early days of this Made Collaborative project back in 2014, during initial meetings with youth in the after school programs of Chicago.
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Who is…
Dex?

10 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
For Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, we're taking a closer look at Dex Coleman - one of the neighborhood Elders whose sharp wit and colorful past may conceal more than anyone realizes. Dex has lived through decades of neighborhood history, including his connections to Darius King and Chicago's criminal underworld. As the past begins to intersect with the present, we're inviting collaborators to explore what Dex might recognize, who he might see, and what those encounters could reveal about the larger story unfolding around him.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Dex is a wisecracker, a sharp dresser and a straight talker. Even though his moral compass has evolved over the years into that of a respectable citizen of Back of the Yards, he’s still known to indulge in a few vices.
Primary Archetype
The Rebel
Motto
“I ain’t got time for dreamin’. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
Collaboration Background
Dex was developed by Jimmy Briseno and Len Kody as part of the initial Issue 1 scripting process.
Debut
Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series
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All Stories Start With

A Great Character!

04 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
With this collaboration, we're putting our original Create a Character process to work on an actual open question from Issue #3. You'll have an opportunity to help develop the young man's appearance, background, personality, motivations and history - and ultimately help us answer a simple question: Who does Dex see?
Background
Early in Issue #3, Dex Coleman encounters a young man he doesn't recognize. We know this character will matter to the developing story. What we haven't fully decided is exactly who he is.
This & That
Selected ideas and artwork may be featured through Made Collaborative and considered as we develop the character who ultimately appears in Issue #3. Contributors whose ideas are incorporated into the finished comic will be credited as part of its development.
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Who is…
Cerria Cortez?

05 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
For Issue #3, we're opening the story of Cerria Cortez - one of the newest characters entering the world of Back of the Yards - to collaboration. A military veteran, young Chicago police officer and Nick Zomski's new partner, Cortez carries her own history into the neighborhood. We're inviting you to help us explore the people, places and experiences that shaped her, including the tattoos she carries and the stories behind them.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Cerria is fiercely independent, emotionally guarded, highly intelligent, and driven by a deep belief that truth, justice, and personal determination can still challenge broken systems
Archetype
TBD - [Eric to Determine]
Motto
TBD - [Eric to Develop]
Collaboration Background
Cerria Cortez was developed by Eric Nyamor in collaboration with Tony Maldonado, Len Kody, and Jimmy Briseno as part of the Issue #3 pre-production workshops during the summer of 2026.
Debut
Issue #3 of the Back of the Yards comic series
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Who is…
Nick Zomski?

06 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
For Issue #3, we're also introducing Nick Zomski - a veteran Chicago police officer whose past may hold clues to what is happening in the present - and opening his story to collaboration. More than thirty years ago, a younger Zomski crossed paths with Darius King and an investigation that was never fully resolved. As Zomski makes his debut in Issue #3, we're inviting you to help us explore what he remembers from 1994, and what he may recognize today that others do not.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Quiet, observant, and deeply pragmatic, Zomski values fairness, survival, loyalty, and maintaining order within systems he no longer fully trusts.
Archetype
TBD - [Tony to Determine]
Motto
TBD - [Tony to Develop]
Collaboration Background
Nick Zomski was developed by Tony Maldonado in collaboration with Eric Nyamor, Len Kody, and Jimmy Briseno as part of the Issue #3 pre-production workshops during the summer of 2026.
Debut
Issue #3 of the Back of the Yards comic series
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Who is…
Tamia Parker?

03 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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Brief
For Issue #3, we're opening the next stage in the journey of Tamia Parker - another character born from our earliest youth collaborations - to collaboration. As Tamia's dreams begin to blur with reality and she senses that something within her is changing, we're inviting you to help us explore what her transformation might become—and what it could ultimately mean for her.
Core Personality Traits & Values
Tamia is extremely bright, curious, introspective and creative. She is an artist at heart, with empathy that forms connections with others in ways that she even doesn’t fully understand yet…
Archetype
The Creator
Motto
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” - Leonard Cohen
Collaboration Background
Tamia’s character was initially developed during the original Made Collaborative in-person classroom collaborations with youth in the fall and winter of 2013, as part of an after school program in the West-Side of Chicago.
Debut
Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series
Read more
My Skill
Web Designer 50%

Submit Your Artwork

Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book. iPad/iPhone users, submit images from FILES (NOT from Photo Library). 

Submit Your Artwork

Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.

UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW 

Submit Your Artwork

Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.

UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW 

Submit Your Artwork

Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.

UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW 

Submit Your Artwork

Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.

UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW 

Submit Your Artwork

Collaborate with professional artists by contributing some artwork of your own! Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.

UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW