Ozarks Life: MSU educator dives into writing biographical comic books

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Inside the Meyer Library on the Missouri State University campus, you won’t find a section for comic books.

But in a corner office, you will find a comic book author.

“I’ve been reading them since I was a kid,” Michael Frizell, Missouri State University’s Director of Student Learning Services, said.

Michael’s office shows his passion for pop culture. Outside of his 9-to-5, Michael dives into research and writing.

“Comic books can be for everyone and really do span a wide variety of things that you won’t see just at local comic book stores,” Michael said.

Michael has created hundreds of works over his 15 years of being published. A majority of his content is biographical, like his comic on Chiefs star Travis Kelce.

It runs through Kelce’s setbacks in college to being a Super Bowl champion.

“I like the ones where you’re talking about someone who wasn’t famous before they became famous,” Michael said about his work. “They didn’t have famous parents, they weren’t rich, they weren’t just kind of segueing into it easily. They had to work for it.”

His most recent comic features the Midwest Princess herself, Chappell Roan.

“I was on vacation and I saw this group called ‘The Femmes’ in Boston performing on the street ‘Hot To Go’ and a couple of other things, and I thought (Chappell’s) huge,” Michael recalls. “I mean, they know her here. So I said to my publisher, ‘Hey, you know, we should do one in Chappell Roan.’”

Once the Willard native started winning awards, a comic on Chappell was a no-doubter.

For Michael, the process of writing a story to fill 100 pictures began.

“Talking about her creative process,” Michael said is important. “I think that’s more interesting than, you know, auditions that sometimes go well and sometimes don’t. So I mined her past for stories that she told about how she got her name, and then the creative process of creating her songs; that’s what I wanted to convey.”

From struggling in high school to being dropped by Atlantic Records to the release of the hit single, ‘Good Luck, Babe,’ Michael packs a lot into 22 pages.

“So I try to find that moment in time that seems formative for them and open the book with,” Michael said. “That gives us a way in so that we have common ground before you get started (reading).”

“(I) look for those stories that make them feel real and I want (readers) to walk away, ‘Gosh, I understand that person just a little bit better,’” Michael concluded.

Michael is currently working on seven comics. He only writes the comics. Artists are hired from all over the world to collaborate with him to visually tell his story.

You can find where you can buy Michael’s comics on TidalWaveComics.com. That includes Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and anywhere digital comics are sold.

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