Sherocomics

SHERO COMICS x GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES

SheroSquad — Tue, 05 May 2026 01:33:16 +0000

About eight months ago, we began a beautiful partnership with Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles—and it’s been such a rewarding journey ever since.

Our award-winning founder, Shequeta L. Smith, has had the joy of mentoring Girl Scouts across Los Angeles through our Shero Talks badge-earning workshops. In these sessions, the girls aren’t just learning—they’re creating. From building their own comic book characters to imagining entire story worlds, they’re stepping into their power as storytellers and future creators in real time.

So far, we’ve had the opportunity to work with over 100 Girl Scouts, and every workshop brings something special. The energy, the ideas, the confidence that starts to bloom, it’s honestly why we do this work.

And of course, we can’t forget the fan-favorite: the “funtastic claw machine.” It’s become a signature part of the experience, equal parts fun, surprise, and celebration.

This partnership has truly been a wonderful experience, and we’re excited to continue building with these incredible girls — helping them see that their stories matter, and that they belong in every creative space they can imagine. Check out some of the flicks from our previous workshops below.

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YOUNG GRANDMASTER CHOI WINS THE 2026 ZELDA AWARD

SheroSquad — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:12:49 +0000

We’re proud to share that Young Grandmaster Choi Chapter #1 has won the 2026 Zelda Award for Best Children’s Graphic Novel.

The Zelda Awards celebrate excellence in comics and are named after Zelda “Jackie” Ormes, the first Black female cartoonist and a pioneer in the field.

This milestone reflects the heart of the series. From the beginning, the goal has been to center girls, especially Black girls, in stories of strength, resilience, and self-discovery.

The story follows Rayven, a young girl who, after the loss of her parents, relocates to South Korea and must navigate a new culture while processing grief. Once there, she is bullied for being different, from her hair to her skin color. Through martial arts, she begins to build confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging. Rooted in social-emotional learning, the series supports conversations around identity, bullying, and resilience, and is currently being piloted in select schools across the country.

This award is a reminder that stories rooted in authenticity and purpose matter. It belongs to the readers, educators, librarians, and supporters who have championed this work.

Watch the Zelda Awards HERE.

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OUR YOUNG GRANDMASTER CHOI DOLL ENTERS THE STRONG NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLECTION

SheroSquad — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:58:59 +0000

In exciting news, the Young Grandmaster Choi doll has been accepted into the permanent collection of The Strong National Museum of Play, and honestly, this moment means everything to us. The Strong isn’t just a museum; it’s one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to preserving the history of play. The toys and characters archived there aren’t chosen at random, they’re selected because they’ve helped shape how children imagine, learn, and see themselves. To have Young Grandmaster Choi included in that collection is both humbling and deeply affirming.

What makes this even more meaningful is what the character represents. Young Grandmaster Choi was created to center a young Black girl rooted in both African-American and Korean culture, a story that hasn’t traditionally been reflected in toys or children’s media. Now, that story is being preserved as part of the cultural record. It means that future generations will not only see characters like Rayven Choi, but recognize that they’ve always belonged in the world of imagination, play, and storytelling.

For us, this isn’t just about a doll, it’s about legacy. It’s about building stories that last, that travel, and that matter. From classrooms and libraries to international recognition and now a national museum archive, Young Grandmaster Choi continues to grow in ways we once only dreamed of. And this milestone is a reminder that when you create with purpose, those stories don’t just reach people, they become part of history.

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THE STORY BEHIND SHERO COMICS: CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SHEROES

SheroSquad — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:18:53 +0000

This year marks year 10 for Shero Comics. Our journey has been filled with challenges, but we have made a name for ourselves as an indie multimedia company. Today, we wanted to take a look back at just how far we’ve come and the journey of our founder, award-winning creator Shequeta L. Smith, who launched the company to create stories where Black girls can see themselves as the heroes.

Inspired by the legacy of Jackie Ormes — the first Black female cartoonist — Shero Comics continues a tradition of bold storytelling that centers girls as leaders, problem solvers, and innovators.

This video highlights the vision behind the Shero Universe, including the Young Grandmaster Choi series, a coming-of-age martial arts adventure that explores themes of identity, confidence, and resilience. The series is supported by an educator discussion guide that helps teachers, librarians, and youth leaders facilitate conversations with students about bullying, empathy, and leadership.

Shero Comics is helping introduce young people to storytelling, creativity, and the power of seeing themselves reflected in the stories they read.

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IBPA INTERVIEWS SHEQUETA ABOUT FUNDING YOUR CREATIVITY

SheroSquad — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:19:08 +0000

This week, Shero Comics founder and CEO Shequeta Smith joined the Independent Book Publishers Association for their first podcast episode of the year. In a candid and resource-filled conversation with host Christopher Locke, Shequeta shared how creators can find funding for their work and told the story behind Shero’s Geeky Grants & Gigs—which originally grew out of the Shero Comics’ company newsletter.

Since launching Geeky Grants & Gigs as its own Substack on December 12, the response has been incredible. The list is well over 700 subscribers, and every Friday it delivers grants, gigs, opportunities, and internships for creatives working in film, gaming, writing, and the arts.

In a full-circle moment, Shequeta was recently awarded a small grant she originally shared with the community back in December. That funding is now supporting a new partnership with a nonprofit in South Central Los Angeles to host a workshop for young Black girls focused on the history of textured hair. The project connects closely to Young Grandmaster Choi Chapter 3, which centers on Rayven discovering her power through her 4C hair.

On the IBPA podcast, Shequeta also shared how she has funded her creative career through grants, along with practical tips on where to find opportunities and how to apply—including resources from her own newsletter.

Watch the full episode below.

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SHERO’S GEEKY GRANTS AND GIGS NEWSLETTER LAUNCHES ON SUBSTACK

SheroSquad — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:18:47 +0000

About a year ago, we started sharing a small Geeky Grants list inside our Shero Comics newsletter. It was just us passing along opportunities we were already applying to. Then something happened that made us pause — one of our readers won a $15,000 grant from the list.

That’s when we knew it was time to level this up.

We’ve moved the party over to Substack and expanded it into Shero’s Geeky Grants & Gigs — adding not just grants for creatives, but also paid gigs, unique opportunities, and internships, for students & recent grads, and mid-career creatives looking for jobs in entertainment.

In just three weeks, the list has grown to nearly 400 subscribers, which tells us exactly what we already knew: creatives are hungry for access, clarity, and information that actually helps them move forward.

Over the past five years, Shero has won over $100,000 in grants, and this platform is us sharing where we find the money — openly and consistently. Alongside weekly opportunity drops, we’ll be hosting live conversations with industry insiders and webinars on writing and winning grants, breaking down what actually works.

Below is the link to subscribe to the newsletter.

https://geekygrants.substack.com/

Feel free to share the newsletter with others. Also, if you apply for something here, share it.

If you win, we will celebrate YOU!

This is totally our year!

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SHERO COMICS FOUNDER RECOGNIZED AS LEADER IN PITCHBOOK’S 2025 BLACK FOUNDERS ROUNDUP

SheroSquad — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 02:03:54 +0000

Shero Comics is proud to share that our founder, Shequeta L. Smith, has been featured in PitchBook’s Black Founders & Investors to Know in 2025, a community-driven list that highlights Black innovators shaping their industries and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

The article opens with a clear picture of how underrepresented Black founders—particularly Black women—remain within the venture ecosystem. With only 1% of investment partner positions held by Black women, progress has been slow and uneven. Smith’s inclusion on this list speaks to her impact not only as a creator and entrepreneur, but as a builder of an expanding transmedia universe rooted in authentic storytelling.

Across Shero Comics, Smith has created a body of work that spans graphic novels, manga, animation, film, and games—each project designed to empower women and girls of color while bridging cultures across the globe. Her publishing catalog continues to inspire readers worldwide, while the growing Shero Universe extends into new mediums through Shero Games and Rayven Choi Films.

Being recognized alongside other Black founders and investors underscores the broader movement toward greater representation in creative and tech-driven industries. Shero Comics celebrates this milestone and applauds every leader featured for their contributions and continued innovation.

Readers can explore the full list and learn more about the featured founders here:
Https://Pitchbook.Com/Blog/Black-Founders-And-Investors-To-Watch

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YOUNG GRANDMASTER CHOI LANDS IN THE KOREA MANHWA MUSEUM IN BUCHEON

SheroSquad — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:32:50 +0000

I’m happy to share some news that means a lot to me personally: the Young Grandmaster Choi books — along with the YGC doll — are now on display at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, South Korea.

This is especially meaningful because the entire Rayven Choi universe began after a cultural exchange trip I took to South Korea 25 years ago while I was a student at North Carolina State University. That trip shaped my creative path, so seeing this story honored in a national museum in Korea feels like a true full-circle moment.

This year has already brought big blessings, including being honored by the Los Angeles Lakers and Comerica Bank with the Woman of Diversity Award and being selected to represent Los Angeles in the Intuit IDEAS Accelerator.

And more is on the way. This February during Black History Month, we’re launching a Kickstarter to complete the first full Young Grandmaster Choi volume and introduce new merch — including YGC hair bonnets, a coloring/activity book, and a brand new doll.

Be sure to join our Shero Comics newsletter on our homepage for updates.

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SHERO COMICS SELECTED FOR INTUIT IDEAS ACCELERATOR

SheroSquad — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:53:13 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that Shero Comics will represent Los Angeles in the 2025 Intuit IDEAS Program! This incredible program empowers small businesses with access to Intuit’s full suite of tools – QuickBooks, Mailchimp, TurboTax, and Credit Karma – plus grants, coaching, and community support. Excited to grow alongside amazing entrepreneurs nationwide!

Read more about the program and our co-hort in the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper at the link below.

The Los Angeles Sentinel

https://bit.ly/4i6jTSy

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SHERO COMICS FEATURED IN BLACK GIRL NERDS

SheroSquad — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 02:26:09 +0000

Big news! Shero Comics is proudly featured in Black Girl Nerds’ latest article, “Nerd Money: How Black Women Are Monetizing Their Passions in Geek Culture.” It’s a huge honor to stand alongside so many powerhouse Sheroes who are building bold, creative companies and representing nerd girls on a global stage.

This feature celebrates innovators who are turning their passion into impact, and we’re thrilled to be part of the story.

Read the full article here:

https://bit.ly/3IPu68Z

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