Who is Eric Nyamor?

Who is ...

Eric Nyamor?

Brief	Erihii Nyamor (aka Eric) keeps things grounded and real while being one of the team’s biggest dreamers. His anime-influenced art adds both vibrance and credibility to the project. Since the launch, he’s played a key role in artistic and character development.
Core Personality Traits & Values	Eric combines his passion for storytelling with a strong belief in the transformative power of art. He’s both a visionary and a collaborator, using creativity to connect and inspire.
Archetype	The Creator
Motto	"No matter how hard or impossible it is, never lose sight of your goals."
Collaboration Background	Erihii has been creating dynamic art and characters for as long as he can remember. His recent projects include collaborations with the Nashville Black Market and illustrations for children's books across Tennessee.
Latest Work	Linked below you'll find Erihii's Instagram for the latest on work and appearances. Further info can also be found on his "I Can Draw" website. The Yas x Yen IG is a production journal of Nyamor's graphic novel in progress.

The Call to Adventure: Eric’s Early Journey

Erihii Nyamor, born in Grand Rapids to Nigerian parents, discovered his love for art at an early age. His passion for drawing often got him into trouble, but it was his unwavering determination to create that set him apart.

From sketching his early characters to collaborating with authors and local creatives, Erihii’s journey as an artist was always fueled by his vibrant imagination and desire to inspire through his work.

Trials and Triumphs: Erihii’s Rise

As Erihii continues his artistic journey, he stands at the threshold of a new chapter. Having faced the trials and tribulations that shaped his path, he is now more determined than ever to push the boundaries of his creativity. His work, infused with a blend of cultural pride and imaginative flair, continues to inspire those around him.

With each new project, Erihii not only hones his craft but also empowers others to find their own artistic voice. His journey has been one of growth, resilience, and transformation, but the ultimate adventure lies ahead—one where he fully realizes his potential and leaves an enduring legacy in the creative world.

The Final Ascent: Erihii’s Path to Legacy

Erihii now stands at the threshold of a new chapter. After facing the trials that shaped his path, he’s more determined than ever to push his creative limits. His work, rich with cultural pride and imagination, continues to inspire.

With each project, Erihii sharpens his craft and empowers others to discover their artistic voice. His journey has been one of growth and resilience, but the greatest adventure lies ahead—where he fully realizes his potential and leaves a lasting legacy.

Let’s Collaborate!

Let's Collaborate

Yaz x Yen is Erihii's current graphic novel project.

Yas is an emo angel from Paradise. Unlike most angels, she’s a badass. She cusses, listens to metal, and loves dark clothing.

Yen is a demon from the Phantom Realm. Unlike most demons, she’s a softie. She’s kind, likes fairies, and loves sunflowers.

Sunflowers do not grow in the Phantom Realm, so Yen goes to Purgatory to pick some. There, she meets Yas, and the two form an unlikely bond.

Related Studio Cards

Who is…
Peaches?

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

Brief

Peaches is one of the neighborhood's Elders in the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project developed by the Made Collaborative Studio. Known only by his nickname, Peaches observes, advises and occasionally comments on the lives of the neighborhood's younger generation. But behind his familiar presence lies a rich and largely untold history. With this bonus Studio collaboration, we invite collaborators to explore Peaches' mysterious past, his relationships within the neighborhood, and the experiences that shaped him, helping imagine how his story might unfold in future issues of Back of the Yards.

Core Personality Traits & Values

Peaches is the dignified moral compass the Elders. Even though he is very much a realist, Peaches tends to see the best in people and he encourages them toward a righteous path.

Primary Archetype

The Mentor

Motto

“Though our destiny is now our own, our search for that destiny has only just begun.”

Collaboration Background

Peaches 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

Who is…
Cerria Cortez?

05 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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

Who is…
John Golden?

Who is John Golden?

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.

Who is…
Big Earl?

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

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

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

01 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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.

Who is…
Andre Davis?

09 | Issue #3 Collaborations

Brief

For our second Issue #3 collaboration centered on Andre Davis, we're opening the pages of his notebook - and inviting young creators, artists, and storytellers to help fill them. Earlier, we explored Andre's emerging abilities and what becoming extraordinary might mean for him. This time, we're turning to his creative side: What might Andre draw, sketch, write, or imagine when no one else is looking? Selected contributions may ultimately appear inside Andre's notebook in the finished comic, giving collaborators an opportunity to leave their creative mark on Issue #3 of Back of the Yards.

Core Personality Traits & Values

Andre is bright, inquisitive and self-reliant, always searching for the truth and a greater understanding of himself and others … but he may also be susceptible to the trappings of his newfound power …

Archetype

The Hero

Motto

“To dare is to do.”

Collaboration Background

Andre’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

All Stories Start With

A Great Character!

08 | Issue #3 Collaborations

Brief

For Issue #3, we're returning to our Create a Character framework - but this time, we're opening the halls of New City High and inviting you to help us populate them. From students and teachers to administrators, friends, rivals and unexpected personalities, we'll use the same creative process introduced earlier in the Studio to build the community surrounding Andre and Tamia. At least two of the characters created through this collaboration will appear in Issue #3 - with the possibility that others may return in stories still to come.

Background

New City High is filled with students, teachers and personalities whose stories are still waiting to be told. As we develop Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, we're inviting collaborators to create original characters who might walk its halls, form new relationships and help bring the school community to life.

This & That

Selected ideas and artwork may be featured through Made Collaborative and considered as we develop new characters that may ultimately appear in Issue #3 or future issues. Contributors whose ideas are incorporated into these new characters will be credited as part of its development.

Who is…
Tamia Parker?

03 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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

The Monahans!
Andre’s Favorite Comic!

11 | Issue #3 Collaborations

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.

Who is…
Russell Patterson?

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

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

My Skill

Web Designer 50%

Who is Eric Nyamor?

The Call to Adventure: Eric’s Early Journey

Trials and Triumphs: Erihii’s Rise

The Final Ascent: Erihii’s Path to Legacy

Let’s Collaborate!

Table of Contents

Related Studio Cards

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

05 | Issue #3 Collaborations

Who is John Golden?

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

01 | Issue #3 Collaborations

09 | Issue #3 Collaborations

08 | Issue #3 Collaborations

03 | Issue #3 Collaborations

11 | Issue #3 Collaborations

Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration

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Submit Your Artwork

Submit Your Artwork

Submit Your Artwork

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