When One Door Closes, Build Another

Three years ago, Another Door Comics began with a story, a leap of faith, and the belief that sometimes the best thing you can do is take a chance on yourself.

Now, The Boy in the Bot, the very first title from Another Door Comics, is heading toward its exciting conclusion.

It’s bittersweet to close the chapter on our first series. Billy’s story means far more to me than the pages, characters, and mysteries we have created along the way. It represents a turning point in my own life and the beginning of a dream I had carried with me for years.

A little over nine years ago, my family and I moved from New York to Rhode Island for an opportunity at Hasbro. Leaving our extended family was not easy. Our children were starting middle school in a new town, at an age when friendships and familiarity mean everything. Like so many families, we were stepping into the unknown together.

It was a leap of faith.

For six years, that decision led to incredible experiences. I had the opportunity to collaborate with talented people, work alongside some of the best creative minds in the industry, and help shape globally recognized brands. Every project brought new challenges, new lessons, and new friendships that I will always be grateful for.

Then, as part of a larger organizational restructuring, my position was eliminated.

Looking back, I had no idea how much that moment would change my life.

People sometimes ask how I feel about that chapter.

The truth is, I am grateful.

Not because it was easy, but because it gave me the opportunity to pause and ask a question I had never really given myself permission to ask.

After more than two decades helping build some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including Spider-Man, the Avengers, Transformers, and many others for both Marvel and Hasbro, I wondered:

Could I take everything I had learned building other companies’ brands and use it to build something of my own?

There was only one way to find out.

Shortly afterward, I sat down with my wife, laughed at the uncertainty of it all, and began reaching out to friends and collaborators. I did not have every step figured out. I simply knew I wanted to create stories and work with talented people who loved comics as much as I did.

That was the moment Another Door Comics truly began.

When one door closes, another opens.

Sometimes, however, you have to build that door yourself.

At my core, I have always been a storyteller.

The Boy in the Bot became the very first story I chose to tell through Another Door Comics.

It’s a science-fiction adventure filled with mystery, action, childhood wonder, and wish fulfillment. But beneath all of that, it’s also a story about family, trust, identity, and finding the courage to move forward when life suddenly changes.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons Billy’s journey has always felt so personal to me.

Now, the road to The Boy in the Bot: Book Three, I Am Project B.L.U.E. has begun.

I am once again joined by the incredibly talented Leo Rodrigues for Chapter Five. To close out the series, original The Boy in the Bot illustrator Rafael Loureiro, fresh from his latest work with Marvel, returns for Chapter Six, the epic finale of Billy’s origin story. Ren Spiller, the colorist behind many of our titles and Dynamite Comics’ Ben 10, will bring both chapters to life in color.

Every time a new sketch or page arrives, I become even more excited about what we are creating together.

The third act of any story is incredibly important. It’s where the promises made at the beginning must finally be fulfilled. It’s where the mysteries are answered, the emotional journeys pay off, and everything comes together.

I couldn’tt be more excited for that challenge.

In Book Three, Billy must face his father’s legacy, discover who he truly is, and uncover the secret his father was protecting all along, finally answering the question that has driven this series from the very beginning:

What is Project B.L.U.E.?

The Boy in the Bot: Book Three is now in prelaunch, and you can sign up to be notified the moment the campaign launches.

Everyone who follows the campaign before launch and becomes a backer will be in for a special surprise. I cannot reveal everything just yet, but we are planning to celebrate the finale in a big way.

There will be exclusive covers, limited-edition collectibles, one-of-a-kind pieces, and a few surprises we are keeping behind the door for now.

Let’s just say we are going all in.

If you are just discovering Billy and his towering robotic protector, Books One and Two will also be available during the campaign, giving new readers the chance to experience the complete Project B.L.U.E. origin story from the very beginning.

Readers have compared the series to Ben 10, Big Hero 6 and The Iron Giant, while others have connected with its Spielberg-inspired sense of wonder. If you enjoy mysterious government projects, unlikely friendships, and stories about ordinary kids caught up in extraordinary events, I think you will feel right at home.

Each volume is a 72-page, full-color graphic novel featuring two chapters of the six-chapter story, an eight-page backup story, and behind-the-scenes material.

As a fan first, I know how important it is for every book to feel worth your investment. We have worked hard to make each volume something substantial, beautifully produced, and worthy of a place on your shelf.

Bringing this story to its epic conclusion has made me reflect on how much can grow from a single decision to take a chance on yourself.

Building Another Door Comics has given me the opportunity to trust the experience I had earned, collaborate with talented people, and create something that feels deeply personal.

Three years ago, I chose to build another door.

Today, we are preparing to complete our very first story, and I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who has joined us on this journey.

I hope you’ll join the journey with us as Billy’s story reaches its unforgettable conclusion.

Because while Project B.L.U.E. is coming to an end...

Another Door Comics is only getting started.

Follow The Boy in the Bot: Book Three on Kickstarter.