Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.
Weekly Creative Focus
Whether diving into creative work or spending time learning and reflecting, here’s what’s been on the mind and plate this week.
One Weekend at a Music Festival Changed My Creative Flow
Inspiration doesn’t strike when you wait for it—it strikes when you move toward it.
This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the 10th Anniversary of rapper Tyler the Creator's music festival/carnival, Camp Flog Gnaw.
From the Almost Famous Exhibit showcasing the artifacts of OFWGKTA over the last 10 years to the creativity of honoring MF DOOM's 20th anniversary of Mm..Food, there were tons of activations that inspired my spirit.
One place where I always find inspiration for my work is at concerts.
As I continue to work on my Hip-Hop Superpower Drama Comic, Boom Kid, I am constantly seeking inspiration to help me complete this project.
Three performances pumped life into my work
1. Doechii
My first experience with Doechii is off the Chromakopia album. The track "Balloon," which features her, was one I had on repeat.
I had no clue how she looked, her style, and what inspired her. All I knew was that she could rap. So when I saw her perform live, I was blown away. Her stage graphics were the first things that caught my attention—giving off a retro comic book vibe. Then there was her style, which gave off a chill persona but could still get wild when need be (she performed her entire set in heels). She commanded the crowd's presence, and we were there for it. She even brought Sexy Redd out, and the crowd lost their shit.
Key Inspiration: Having taste and point of view is what takes your work from good to great. It’s all about how you present your work.
2. Tyler The Creator
CHROMAKOPIAAA.
This is why I attended the festival.
Since his first music video, Yonkers, Tyler has always tailored his creations to his tastes. It was only fitting that on the 10th anniversary of his festival, we not only had new music but a performance that was unlike any he’d ever done. Tyler killed it from start to finish. His simple set design was still present, and most importantly, he brought out all his features from Schoolboy Q, Doechii, Sexy Redd, and Daniel Ceasar. Tyler took a small concept and built a whole world for himself that so many can take part in and enjoy.
And the crazy part is that the crowd knew every word of all his new material.
Key inspiration: An idea is only an idea until you consistently put care and work into it.
3. FM MOOD: A TRIBUTE TO MF DOOM
I prioritized experiencing this performance at the festival. Even though MF DOOM was not there with us, his presence was felt. Madlib was on stage mixing, accompanied by a live orchestra and a special appearance by Erica Bahadoo. This moment felt very spiritual and emulated the essence of what he stood for.
MF Doom was a creative who proudly flaunted his inspirations. He mastered taking things he loved, mixing them with new concepts, and giving the world something new. Most of the musicians at the festival were inspired by MF DOOM in some way or another. (I mean, Tyler did wear a mask for half of his performance, just like DOOM.)
After watching that tribute, I finally found the critical lyrics for Boom Kid’s most famous song, Old Man Ray.
Key Inspiration: Tap into all that inspires you and mix it into your work boldly.
I’ve struggled to find moments to finish Boom Kid this past year. But it wasn’t until I put myself into the world that I found inspiration.
Inspiration is waiting for you. You have to go out into the world and find it.
Exciting News: Stoic Sparks for Comic Creators Is Coming!
Starting December 2, Damianism Presents will officially transition to Stoic Sparks for Comic Creators.
I’m also launching a paid subscription tier designed for comic creators ready to overcome challenges, build resilience, and create consistently. Paid subscribers will get:
Weekly Stoic exercises tailored to comic creation.
Instant access to the full archive of tools and prompts.
Early and exclusive access to new products and comics.
Don’t worry—Gutter Thoughts will continue as it is and remain completely free for all subscribers.
Stay tuned for full details in the next few days!
This Week’s Creative Sparks
Here are the shows, books, movies, comics, and more that have sparked my creativity this week:
Manga: Thunder 3 by Yuki Ikeda
There’s no better feeling than picking up a book based on its cover, with no idea of the premise, and when done reading, you realize it was the best money you’ve spent all year. Thunder 3 is a book that will most likely be in my top 5 manga of the year. It’s quirky, weird, meta, and downright funny. I f**king loved it and am excited for volume 2 coming January 2025. In order not to spoil anything, I won’t say anything anymore. But if you need more before you jump in, you can read the first chapter here.
Book: The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
This book has always caught my attention simply because of its epic cover. But I rarely see folks talk about it on BookTube (the place where I mostly get my book recommendations and news). I am only 25% into the book (usually the spot where I determine if I should stop or continue), and this is definitely a continue-on. C.L. Clark is excellent at writing characters. Each character she introduces I feel some emotion towards and hella want to know more. Most importantly, I love fantasy novels that have tons of politics in them.
YouTube: Jaguar’s Rebrand & The Death of the Marketing Middle Class
Oren has become one of my go-to sources for everything related to brand design, strategy, and marketing. He’s why I have a pulse on what is happening in the design world. Because of him, I had no clue about the horrible Jaguar rebrand. What I enjoyed about this video is how he explains why legacy brands struggle to stay relevant. The reason why: Millennials are aware of their worth exiting the workforce and pursuing entrepreneurship. It is an interesting watch, for sure.
Comic of the Week
Lego Ninjago: Shatterspin #1
Writer/Pencilier: Tri Vuong
Like I’ve shared, I love it when I stumble upon a gem.
I haven’t read a Lego comic since I was a kid and was subscribed to the official Lego magazine.
But this book's cover was so attention-grabbing that my numero uno comic buddy and I stopped to take a peek. The art is outstanding. When I arrived home and read through all the comics I picked up—I was impressed that this was my favorite. It knows what it is, the story it’s trying to tell, and who is their audience. The story isn’t overcomplicated. It doesn’t try to explain the world to you. It asks you to trust it, and it will make sense. All you need to know is who the essential characters are, their goals, and what obstacles prevent them from achieving that goal.
Tri keeps it simple.
This is a book I will reference whenever I begin to overthink a project I am working on.
If you want to read Ninjago Shatterspin you can grab your copy here from Midtown Comics and your digital copy here.
The Stoic Quote of the Week
A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.
“But, Hardin,” reminded Fara, “we can’t!”
“But you haven’t tried. You haven’t tried once. First you refused to admit that there was a menace at all! Then you reposed an absloutely blind faith in the Emperor! Now you’ve shifted it to Hari Seldon. Throughout you have invariably relied on authority or on the past—never on yourselves.”
—Salvor Hardin from Issac Asimov’s Foundation
This week’s quote doesn’t come from a Stoic philosopher but from a fictional voice that embodies Stoic principles. It reminds us that no one has power over the decisions or actions we take in life. You don’t need validation to live the life you have. Every decision you make comes down to you and only you. You have all you need to find the path forward to whatever you seek.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.
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I loved reading the Key Inspiration insights you shared in each section. Definitely points for me to consider and apply. Thanks Damian!