Eddy Rodriquez

Eddy Rodriguez of Melrose Park, who works under the pen name Edshard, is excited about the release of his first comic book, THE SHARD OF SUN, which debuted on Aug. 28. Edshard wrote, illustrated and published the comic book independently, proving that anything is possible with the right drive, motivation and instruction.

The low-fantasy, superhero-adjacent story is about a magical trickster who protects his city from the shadows, centering on his rivalry with a thief archrival.

“The inspiration came from different pillars,” he said. “As a kid, I loved Sonic the Hedgehog, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon and EarthBound.” 

Readers can access THE SHARD OF SUN book for free on GlobalComix. The platform allows creators to publish page-by-page and gives readers the option to zoom in on individual panels using a mobile phone or iPad.

Edshard said THE SHARD OF SUN is geared towards teens, making it an ideal fit for Triton College students.

For Edshard, Triton played an instrumental role in helping turn his passion for comics into a finished project. He credits Triton’s Visual, Performing and Communication (VIC) Arts Department for giving him the proper tools to succeed.

“I had a great experience with (department chair and instructor) Jill LoBianco-Bartalis,” he said. “She always encouraged me to try new techniques and to experiment.”

Although Edshard’s passion for comic books began at age 10, his fascination flourished during his time at Triton. He especially enjoyed writing and illustrating for the college’s former student newspaper, Fifth Avenue Journal, where he drew the banners for the publication

“My friend at Fifth Avenue Journal told me I had to take Triton’s comic book course,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect.”

Triton’s Graphic Novel Creation course (MCM 296 001), taught by art instructor Stephanie Lupu and comic book writer Bill Nedrow, helped Edshard network with other writers and build his portfolio.

“The class was an absolute joy,” he said. “Both of my instructors were very impressed with my work and told me I needed to find a publisher.”

After earning his graphic arts degree, Edshard drew on his experience and inspiration to pursue his goal of completing his own comic book. Two and a half years later, he completed the first chapter of THE SHARD OF SUN.  

Looking ahead, Edshard hopes to continue writing and self-publishing comic books.

“Triton gave me the best foundation as a comic book writer and illustrator,” he said. “I was able to connect with a lot of similarly creative-minded people. I feel fortunate.”