What is POWERS?
POWERS was born in name in 2015, during a late afternoon in a Kent State University at Stark computer lab with Avi Copen, Hayden Waller, and Aaron Byrd. As Byrd prepped for an exam, the rest of us expanded upon the mythos of POWERS, but its true origins trace back to as early as 2005. Superheroes were my escape, my passion—my solace in a home that revolved around football. I constantly sketched myself as a version of the Hulk, but blue—my favorite color. Looking back, that blue character wasn’t just a fantasy; it was the version of myself I aspired to be—strong, powerful, poised, and in control.
POWERS is a reflection of life through my eyes—who I would be if I were a superhero. It encapsulates my journey, from being told that my worth was tied to anger to realizing that my greatest strength lies in my calm, in my ability to help others. It became a way to process grief, heartbreak, and trauma. But I never wanted it to be just about me. No great team book—Avengers, Teen Titans, Justice League—revolves around just one person. I wanted to create a world filled with diverse voices and experiences, telling more than just my story, but the stories of others as well.
Since that pseudo-meeting in 2015, POWERS has grown into something more. It became a reflection of the world through all of our eyes—the friends who helped shape it, the events that defined our lives. POWERS is not just my story. It’s our story.
POWERS is a reflection of life through my eyes—who I would be if I were a superhero. It encapsulates my journey, from being told that my worth was tied to anger to realizing that my greatest strength lies in my calm, in my ability to help others. It became a way to process grief, heartbreak, and trauma. But I never wanted it to be just about me. No great team book—Avengers, Teen Titans, Justice League—revolves around just one person. I wanted to create a world filled with diverse voices and experiences, telling more than just my story, but the stories of others as well.
Since that pseudo-meeting in 2015, POWERS has grown into something more. It became a reflection of the world through all of our eyes—the friends who helped shape it, the events that defined our lives. POWERS is not just my story. It’s our story.
