Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
If you would like to be a guest on the Indie Comic Exchange, please follow this link and fill out the form kurtbrugel.com/indie-comic-book-creator-exchange
Steve's Instagram instagram.com/thesteveurena
Read all of Steve's Comics here globalcomix.com/a/steve-urena/comics
In this episode of the Indie Creator Exchange, Steve Urena shares his journey from discovering comics through Fox Kids cartoons to launching successful indie titles like Slow Pokes and Zombie Date Night. A Connecticut native, Steve describes learning comic writing at Comics Experience under Andy Schmidt and Paul Aller, turning class projects into funded Kickstarter campaigns. He discusses blending horror, humor, and romance in his storytelling, using zombies as both entertainment and metaphor for human fear and connection. Steve emphasizes passion over profit, encouraging creators to contact comic shops directly, build genuine community, and treat every project as a labor of love. The discussion expands into the evolving comic landscape—digital vs. print, social-media burnout, and the resilience of indie creators who rely on collaboration and authenticity rather than corporate IP farming. The talk closes with reflections on creative partnerships, patience, and long-term commitment to craft.
3 Educational Points
1. Persistence builds opportunity: Steve Urena shows how consistent outreach, cold-emailing stores, and engaging in cons turn passion projects into real sales.
2. Horror as metaphor: Zombies and fear can represent broader human and social anxieties, providing creative depth beyond simple scares.
3. Community over competition: Independent creators thrive by sharing resources, building relationships, and valuing collaboration more than market dominance.
If you would like to be a guest on the Indie Comic Exchange, please follow this link and fill out the form kurtbrugel.com/indie-comic-book-creator-exchange
Steve's Instagram instagram.com/thesteveurena
Read all of Steve's Comics here globalcomix.com/a/steve-urena/comics
In this episode of the Indie Creator Exchange, Steve Urena shares his journey from discovering comics through Fox Kids cartoons to launching successful indie titles like Slow Pokes and Zombie Date Night. A Connecticut native, Steve describes learning comic writing at Comics Experience under Andy Schmidt and Paul Aller, turning class projects into funded Kickstarter campaigns. He discusses blending horror, humor, and romance in his storytelling, using zombies as both entertainment and metaphor for human fear and connection. Steve emphasizes passion over profit, encouraging creators to contact comic shops directly, build genuine community, and treat every project as a labor of love. The discussion expands into the evolving comic landscape—digital vs. print, social-media burnout, and the resilience of indie creators who rely on collaboration and authenticity rather than corporate IP farming. The talk closes with reflections on creative partnerships, patience, and long-term commitment to craft.
3 Educational Points
1. Persistence builds opportunity: Steve Urena shows how consistent outreach, cold-emailing stores, and engaging in cons turn passion projects into real sales.
2. Horror as metaphor: Zombies and fear can represent broader human and social anxieties, providing creative depth beyond simple scares.
3. Community over competition: Independent creators thrive by sharing resources, building relationships, and valuing collaboration more than market dominance.
