Donny Cates, sci-fi comic connoisseur, visiting Ultimate Comics Chapel Hill

Donny Cates, one of the biggest names in the comic industry, is coming to Ultimate Comics Chapel Hill. Cates will be doing a Q&A session and a book signing to promote his newest work and to connect with his fans.

The event starts at 5 p.m. on Feb. 16. After the Q&A and book signing, Cates' fans can also take pictures with him. 

Cates has become well established in the comic industry over the last six months with the release of his comic books, “God Country” and “Redneck,” and will be discussing and promoting them at the event. 

“This is a guy — when he hit — he hit like really big across a couple of different companies,” said Alan Gill, the founder of Ultimate Comics. “His career has just spiraled in the last six months.”

Owning a comic book store, Gill was bound to stumble across Cates' work eventually. 

“I started reading his book, 'God Country,' which was fantastic." Gill said. "I didn’t know whose it was.” 

"God Country" is a five-issue mini-series about Emmet Quinlan, a widower with dementia who comes upon an enchanted sword.

Siena Fallon, store manager of Ultimate Comics Durham, said "God Country" is one of her favorite things Cates has written.

Cates currently works with AfterShock Comics, an American comic book publisher.

“Cates is definitely an up-and-coming writer,” said Lisa Wu, AfterShock's retailer and fan relations manager. 

"Comics have had quite a presence in the movie industry recently," Cates has said. Cates has also been working closely with Image Comics, who published "The Walking Dead," to publish many of his previous individual works. He recently signed a deal with Marvel Comics, responsible for "Avengers," "Captain America" and other popular comics. 

Despite his new deal with Marvel Comics, Cates is able to write his own individual comics. Many of his comics are science fiction and present themes that address prevalent issues.

His newest comic, “Babyteeth,” tells of a woman giving birth to the Antichrist, and how her family must cope with their new addition. Cates wanted to take a different storytelling approach and offer a new theme. 

“'Babyteeth' is really a story about family," Wu said. 

As opposed to making the focus of the novel the supernatural child itself, he focused more on the family dynamic and how they must adapt to offer a different perspective. 

Despite his growing popularity, Cates is still finding time to interact with those interested in his work.

“It’s just a really nice thing to do for fans,” Fallon said.

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