| 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. |
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| 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. |
The Monahans began as a standalone mock cover illustration, 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. Who are the Monahans, and what adventures might they have? What kinds of places and settings might bring their world to life? Whether through storytelling, original artwork, or simply describing an idea, collaborators can help build a fictional universe that may someday extend beyond this brief appearance.
Andre Davis has always had a vivid imagination. Long before discovering his extraordinary abilities, he was already filling his notebooks with sketches of superheroes, characters, and worlds of his own.
So it only seems natural that Andre would also be an avid comic book reader.
In Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, readers may catch a glimpse of The Monahans, a comic book tucked inside Andre’s backpack. It’s a small detail in the larger story, but one that offers an interesting creative opportunity.
After all, every comic book has a story behind it — even one that exists within another comic book.
And in this case, that story is still waiting to be told.
Sometimes, a creative idea takes a little time to find its place.
The Monahans began as a commissioned mock comic book cover featuring the real-life Monahan family, illustrated by Made Collaborative artist Eric Nyamor. At the time, the artwork was a standalone creation, without any particular connection to the larger Back of the Yards storyline.
Years later, Made Collaborative founder Jimmy Briseno saw an opportunity to give the illustration a new purpose. Andre Davis, one of the central characters in Back of the Yards, is an imaginative young artist with a love for comic books. It seemed only natural that a few of his favorite comics might find their way into his backpack.
And why not make The Monahans one of them?
The idea was simple: introduce the fictional comic within Issue #3 – perhaps one of Andre’s go to comics – even if readers only catch a passing glimpse of its cover. Then invite collaborators to help imagine the larger story behind it.
It also presented another opportunity: to introduce the Hero’s Journey, one of storytelling’s most familiar frameworks for developing characters and adventures. Rather than starting with a fully developed story, why not invite collaborators to explore how a hero’s journey might unfold from the very beginning?
What do Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and countless superhero stories have in common?
At their core, many follow a similar storytelling pattern known as the Hero’s Journey.
Popularized by mythologist Joseph Campbell and later adapted for writers by Christopher Vogler, the Hero’s Journey offers a framework for developing characters and their adventures. A hero begins in a familiar world, encounters a challenge that changes everything, ventures into the unknown, and eventually returns transformed by the experience.
It’s a storytelling structure that has appeared in myths, legends, books, movies, and comics across generations.
And it offers a useful starting point for our next creative challenge: imagining the story behind the Monahans.
The diagram above illustrates the 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey, beginning in the familiar Ordinary World, moving into the challenges of the Special World, and ultimately returning home.
Each stage represents a different part of the hero’s adventure. While we’ll explore these stages in greater detail through future Made Collaborative workshops, for now, it’s helpful to understand the journey through three broader phases.
Want to see how the Hero’s Journey works in practice?
In this short animated TED-Ed video, Matthew Winkler explores the storytelling framework through familiar characters and adventures, showing how heroes leave their ordinary worlds, face unexpected challenges, and return changed by their experiences.
As you watch, think about how these same storytelling elements might help us imagine the adventures of the Monahans.
While the Hero’s Journey is often illustrated through 12 individual stages, we can also think about it in three broader phases. Each helps us understand how a character’s story develops from beginning to end.
Every hero starts somewhere. Before the adventure begins, we get to know the character, their surroundings, and the people and things that matter to them.
Something to consider: Who are the Monahans before their adventure begins? What does their everyday world look like?
Something happens that disrupts the hero’s ordinary life. They encounter new challenges, meet allies and adversaries, and make decisions that shape their journey.
Something to consider: What event sends the Monahans on an adventure? What challenges might they encounter along the way?
Eventually, the hero’s journey comes full circle. Whether they succeed or fail, the experiences they’ve encountered have changed them in some meaningful way.
Something to consider: How might the Monahans be different at the end of their adventure? What have they learned or discovered?
So, what does the Hero’s Journey have to do with the Monahans? That’s where you come in.
We have a mock comic book cover featuring the Monahans, but their fictional story has yet to be developed. Who are these characters? What kind of world do they inhabit? And what adventures might be waiting for them?
The Hero’s Journey gives us one possible framework for exploring those questions. But it’s not a set of rules. You don’t need to follow all 12 stages or develop an entire story from beginning to end.
Instead, think of it as a creative starting point.
Maybe you have an idea for the Monahans’ origins. Maybe you can imagine an unexpected challenge that sends them on an adventure. Or perhaps you have a particular setting in mind—a mysterious city, a distant planet, or a place that exists only in your imagination.
There are plenty of ways to help bring their world to life.
In the workshop below, we’ll explore two opportunities to collaborate: developing the Monahans’ story and creating the places where their adventures might unfold.
We’ve got a mock comic book cover. And we’ve explored the Hero’s Journey. Now it’s time to put some of those ideas to work. There’s one thing missing: the story itself.
Who are the Monahans? What makes them interesting? What challenges might they face? And what kind of world do they live in?
That’s what we’re inviting you to help imagine. For this collaboration, we’re offering two creative challenges. You can participate in either one—or both!
Challenge #1 — Create the Story
Help develop the fictional backstory of the Monahans. Use the Hero’s Journey as inspiration, or take the story in an entirely unexpected direction.
Challenge #2 — Build the World
Imagine a place where the Monahans’ adventures might unfold. Create an original illustration, sketch a background, or simply describe the setting in your own words.
There’s no single right answer, and you don’t need to be a professional writer or artist to participate. We’re looking for creative ideas that can help us explore what this comic might become – and with, over time we just may use this “comic” within our own Back of the Yards comic story going forward.
A Made Collaborative Creative Workshop
The Monahans have a comic book cover. Now they need a story—and a world to explore.
That's where you come in!
Use this form to share your ideas, original artwork, or both. You can help imagine the Monahans' adventures, create a setting for their story, or take on both creative challenges.
Ready? Let's see what you come up with!
Why has it stayed with you?
Hold onto that place. Now it is time to put it on our map!
No drawing skills required. Just bring your imagination.
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. With this submission, we are would welcome in particular any illustrations that include the Andre character, but we welcome all of your submissions even if Andre is not included.
Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.
UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW
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).
Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.
UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW
Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.
UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW
Some special pieces may be selected to appear in the Back of the Yards comic book.
UPLOAD YOUR IMAGES BELOW
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
