The Creation
The INDIGO CLAN graphic novel is about a group of metaphysical warriors who are fighting for a planetary spiritual evolution. It is one component of a multimedia-experience that represents a cultural paradigm shift towards that of mystic spirituality, metaphysics, and world indigenous wisdom. This movement has been coined “Indigo Warrior Culture.”
Indigo Warrior Culture is a revolutionary, inclusionary, conscious-raising metaphysical cultural movement that is based on indigenous world unity and multicultural global community. It is an evolution of the Indigo Children movement and the Spiritual / Sacred Warrior culture. Indigo Children have now grown up and are “Indigo Warriors,” who are on a spiritual and political path of liberation, sovereignty, and social justice.
Through this lense, the characters and storylines of INDIGO CLAN seek to help people understand we are all connected, and not insignificant or alone. The message is loud and clear- when we unify, we evolve our collective consciousness, and are empowered to be change-makers by simply discovering and living out our own life purpose.
The series is based on the real life experiences of the creator, Ry-El Nagasta, and on the concept that there are certain people we encounter in our life that are meaningful and significant, and are a part of our journey to pursue our life’s purpose. It is through the lessons and experiences that we have with those people with whom we have “spiritual crystalline connections”, which are the basis for our “clans” throughout our lives. These clans are what help us to find and do our “Soul Work”, and heal the traumas of our past, present and future lives. They strengthen us and push us towards our destined paths.
The idea for INDIGO CLAN came over a period of several years as Ry-El was doing his own research on the mystic arts, martial arts, various world indigenous practices, and other tools, practice, knowledge, and sacraments of spiritual systems from around the world. As he was exploring the various topics, he found himself formulating a story that incorporated this diverse range of spiritual practices, esoteric information, and multicultural perspectives. As he began to look around for forms of media that were talking about spirituality in an empowering way, he saw that accurate information was hard to come by. He also took notice that, to no surprise, there was very little representation of people of color in the entertainment media.
With INDIGO CLAN, the accompanying mutli-media components, and the formation of Indigo Warrior Culture, Ry-El is telling the story of paradigm shift from the present into the future- and it is global, diverse, spiritual and cosmic!
This is Ry-El’s path of purpose. What’s yours?
The Characters
DEVA
A teenage black girl from Oakland, CA. She has naturally developed occult, psychic, and extrasensory perceptions, and she is recognized as a prodigy by the INDIGO CLAN.
HORACIO
A member of the INDIGO CLAN, a young man from Brazil. He channels ArchAngels and Neteru, as well as being trained in Capoeira and the Condomblé spiritual system.
OYANA
A member of the INDIGO CLAN, a young woman from the middle east, who has been trained in various Asian martial arts and mystic arts. She has two spirit dragons that assist her.
A Native American/ Mayan medicine woman who is a leader of the INDIGO CLAN. She searches for and recruits new members of the INDIGO CLAN.
YAMAYA
ANXO
A mysterious Cuban member of the INDIGO CLAN who prefers to work on his own and shows up when and where he wants to.
REPTOIDS
Enemies of the INDIGO CLAN, Reptoids are humans who have been possessed by a reptilian/archon entity. They maintain control over the world governments, and pursue their agenda through technological and economic manipulation.
A member of STAR-Ops, Supernatural Trackers Of Arcane Recon Operations, a government funded group who hunt and capture Indigos. Koa is of Samoan descent who makes his debut in Chapter 2.
KOA
The Creation
Author/Creator
Ry-El Nagasta is an Afro-Indigenous visionary comic book writer, multimedia producer, shamanic energy healer, and healing arts facilitator. He is the creator and writer of INDIGO CLAN, a spiritually-charged adventure series that weaves ancestral wisdom, energy healing, and metaphysical insight into a powerful story of black and brown youth awakening to their purpose. Ry-El is an 8-year indie comics publisher, AfroComicCon workshop leader, and a finalist of the AfroComicCon Film Festival. The most recent chapter of INDIGO CLAN was nominated for 3 Glyph Awards.
In addition to writing, Ry-El produces music and multimedia for INDIGO CLAN, including the Deva and the Indigo Clan music project, multiple singles, and Episode 1 of the animated adaptation. His music projects have been co-produced and engineered by Grammy Award-winning Jabari Tawiah. He co-founded Auspicious Acoustics, a sound healing music group curating events and retreats as well as releasing sound healing meditation music via YouTube. He is also co-founder of Afro Indigo Retreats, which curates healing and cultural experiences around the world, rooted in African and Indigenous traditions.
As a certified Sound Healing practitioner and energy worker, Ry-El integrates decades of experience as a spiritual teacher, Qi Gong and Tai Chi guide, and advocate for natural medicine. He has collaborated with Indigenous tribes such as the Yawanawa (hosting the first-ever all-Black retreat in their Amazon village), the Wiraxika, Noke Koi, and the Dogon. He’s presented at AfroComicCon on “Real Life Superpowers,” taught group energy work and his own healing curriculum Bird Medicine, and worked as an audio engineer.
A grassroots activist at heart, Ry-El’s background includes peace, environmental, and social justice advocacy. His life’s work centers around awakening consciousness and building a cultural movement for healing and spiritual liberation, both through the arts and in real-world communities. As a parent and leader, he’s committed to empowering future generations with tools for transformation.
ARTIST OF CHAPTER 2, 3, 4, AND 5
N. Steven Harris is an African-American two-time Eisner-nominated, multi-Glyph Award-winning comic book illustrator with a career spanning over 30 years in the industry. A Brooklyn, NY native, Harris is best known as the co-creator of Aztek: The Ultimate Man (DC Comics), and has illustrated major titles such as Batman: Officer Down, Deadpool Annual ’98, Generation X, X-Force, and Michael Cray (DC/Wildstorm). His dynamic, cinematic visual style blends superhero energy with Afro-futurist storytelling and a deep commitment to Black excellence and mythic heroism.
Harris’s recent projects include work with DMC of the iconic hip-hop group Run DMC, Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer with creator David Crownson, and a UK-based hip-hop artist and activist. He also contributed a written and illustrated piece to DC’s Represent: In Defense of Free Speech.
Harris also won a VLA (Virginia Library Association) Graphic Novel Diversity Award in 2016. In 2019, Harris was invited by the American Embassy to Algeria to represent the U.S. at FIBDA, one of the world’s leading international comic festivals. In early 2020, he spoke on the stage of Harlem’s world-famous Apollo Theater, marking the first time a panel on freelance comic art was held at the historic venue.
Throughout his career, Harris has remained a passionate advocate for independent storytelling, mentoring emerging creators and amplifying diverse narratives in the comic book world. His latest work on INDIGO CLAN continues that legacy, bringing together mysticism, liberation, ancestral memory, and revolutionary imagination in a bold new visual universe.
EDITOR
Joseph Illidge is an African-American writer, editor, and producer whose thought leadership in high-profile IP, publishing, and media has shaped groundbreaking work for DC Comics, Image Comics, Simon & Schuster, and Todd McFarlane Productions. With expertise in writing, creative oversight, and project management, Illidge develops top-level multimedia IP for comic books, graphic novels, and beyond.
Through his production company Illuminous, Joseph announced a partnership with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Film and Television for a film franchise based on XERO, the DC Comics spy series created by Black Panther writer Christopher Priest. As a writer, Joseph’s projects include The Shadow Cabinet for DC Comics, Bloodletter—a new Spawn Universe series from Image Comics and Todd McFarlane, the Harriet Tubman middle grade graphic novel for HarperCollins, and the Judge Kim and the Kids Court series of children’s graphic novels for Simon & Schuster.
His career began at Milestone Media, Inc., the influential publisher spotlighted in HBO Max’s documentary Milestone Generations. He later served in editorial leadership on the Batman titles at DC Comics and curated Lion Forge Animation’s Catalyst Prime superhero imprint, both celebrated for their inclusive hero fiction.
COLORIST OF CHAPTER 2, 3, AND 4
Walt Msonza Barna, from Zimbabwe, is an award-winning comic book illustrator, colorist, and cover artist whose vibrant, versatile style has made him a rising force in the industry. He has brought his talent to projects across children’s books, video games, and comics, blending dynamic visual storytelling with a bold sense of design.
Since beginning his career in 2011, Walt’s work has appeared with major publishers such as DC Comics and BOOM! Studios, as well as several independent publishers, including Advent and Massive. He is the recipient of the 2015 Glyph Award and a 2023 Glyph Award nominee, further cementing his place as an emerging voice in the global comics landscape.
In INDIGO CLAN chapters 2 - 5, Walt’s colors channel both the mystical and the modern—expanding the book’s world with color, energy, and atmosphere that amplify its ancestral themes and futuristic vision.
ARTIST OF CHAPTER 1
New York native, Anthony A. Angleró draws inspiration from his studies of Native and diasporic cultures and traditions as well as various interpretations of mythology, spirituality and theology.
Combined with the desire to convey to his works' viewers a notion of civil equality and global commonality, the artist strives to create synergetic, often syncretic visual representations of that which is intrinsic and relative to us all.
As a visual artist, musician and martial artist, A³ uses his various passions as roads towards self mastery and avenues with which to communicate to as large a diversity as possible.
LOGO ARTIST
Ras Terms, a.k.a. James Monk, was born and raised in Miami, Florida with a Puerto Rican and Columbian background. Spreading his mission all over the world, Ras Terms’ work can be seen on everything from clothing and stickers, to large scale murals.
Today his contemporary art is recognized on a global scale and has been featured in the Smithsonian, as well as in galleries throughout North and South America. Ras Terms has worked with music artists Wyclef, The Marley Family, Hieroglyphics and more. He continues to travel and create on a constant basis, collaborating with a broad range of artists and painting the walls of cities around the globe.