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| photo courtesy Victor Dandridge and Vantage:Inhouse Productions |
Dandridge is a content-generating force in the indie comic world. The Ohio native owns and manages his own production house, Vantage:Inhouse Productions. He wields the pen, with award nominated expertise, on his created titles, The Trouble with Love, The Samaritan, and Origins Unknown. His comic book reach also extends beyond writing. Dandridge has helped educate and guide younger aspiring comics writers and artists with his U Cre-8 Comics line of educational tools.
Victor found his love of writing early in his adolescence. At 13, he created a binder of over 200 original characters and by 16 he had plotted out 150 issues of story arcs using those characters. That comes to about 15 years worth of comic book stories.
From there he pursued his dream of comic making by attending the Columbus College of Art and Design. While he thought his art was the key to making it in the comic industry, He quickly learned something about himself while attending school. "The school wasn't providing me what I needed in terms of encouragement towards the art or maintaining my passion. That's where I found out where I'd really rather write. I can say I'm a happy dropout." Even though school might not have been for him, it did give him the opportunity to meet several of his collaborators on his future projects, such as The Samaritan artist Ren McKinzie and Ol' Crazy & the 40oz of Death artist Bryan Moss.
Using pixel art and moving on to his own books, Dandridge was into the convention scene early in his career. After not finding much success at a smaller con in Cincinnati, he came home to Columbus and asked around at a Wizard World after party on how to get a table at the Wizard World Columbus show. While walking to his table the next morning, his girlfriend, Adrianna brought up the U Cre-8 Comics program to the Wizard World higher ups. Once the Program Director heard about it, Wizard World wanted in. After securing a 3 show run, Victor, debuted the program at Wizard World Philadelphia. He said, "We had so much fun in that room! The room was packed. There was a Marvel Panel going on at the same time across the hall. And I guess people were leaving the Marvel Panel to come to mine." Both he and Wizard World considered it a success and a partnership was forged.
He continued to have a table at each show. His charisma and ever-present smile helped him get into hosting panels for the A-List talent that the Wizard World shows brought to town. While in Des Moines, Victor would be hosting the VIP Meet and Greet for comic book royalty. "Stan Lee! Come on! It doesn't get better than that. Man, I can't wait to hang out with Stan the Man." Victor clapped and laughed. Victor is so pervasive in the Wizard World culture with his hosting, consistent appearances with his books, and untiring work promoting the cons that he has been dubbed Mr. Wizard World.
Even with all his collaborations in the con world, he didn't get comfortable in his new found accomplishment. Once, when making plans for Wizard World Reno, Victor made the bold move of only securing a one way ticket to the show. "My whole point was I'm going to fly out there and earn back the money to fly home. This kept me hungry and challenged me to not get lazy."
It was through Wizard World that I first met Dandridge. Two years ago, I attended my first large scale comic con when Wizard World made a stop in Des Moines. The con was electric with a buzzing energy that could be felt as soon as I walked through the show doors. I spent three days taking my time talking with artists and creators; talking about their work and comic book experiences. I stopped at a corner table with a black and white book called, The Samaritan.Victor and I talked and I walked away with a great appreciation of him and his work.
I asked him how he connects with the casual fan who approaches his table. Victor answered, "The first thing is how well do I create an experience? I have to figure out what I have that you might like. Its not how to get you to like what I have, it's to find out if I have something you might like. Which is very, very different. I ask what things are you reading right now. What things are you a fan of? What things are you NOT a fan of? How can I pitch whatever I have to fit that model? I'm not trying to turn you into a comic book fan...I'm trying to see if you'd be interested in my product. The key is figure out what you like and see if I fit that. If I don't, do I know people who have something that fits your style? It's all about building this culture, this community be you a fan, creator, peer, family or whatever. We have to build this community."
Knowing that the fans and his work were the brick and mortar for building this community, I asked him, "Where do you want all of this to be in five years?"
Victor sat back in his seat. "Wow..." He thought for a moment and a smile flashed across his face. "I want Vantage:Inhouse to be one of the premier indie publishers in terms of content. I want our stories to be on the 100 Greatest Graphic Novels list. I want to knock somebody off that list. It doesn't have to be the top spot but I want it to be in the top 100."
With that we stood up, shook hands and wandered our separate ways in the drizzle of that grey Iowa morning. I looked around at the downtown skyline and hoped that Des Moines was good to Victor Dandridge at Wizard World. He has worked hard to be good to all of us.
For info about ordering one of his books, his con schedule or even to reach out and contact him, Victor can be found at:
Vantage:Inhouse website: vantageinhouse.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/victor.dandridgejr
Twitter: @vantageinhouse
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