In the world of independent comics, few creators are blending visual intensity with psychological depth quite like Wesley Quiles, better known by his artistic moniker 222Degreees. A professional tattoo artist turned comic book creator, Quiles brings his unique sense of contrast, tone, and narrative weight to his self-published series Substance Man—a haunting exploration of identity, control, and emotional survival. With Issue #1 now available at Forbidden Planet, Quiles sat down to discuss the evolution of Substance Man, the influences behind his visual storytelling, and how his experience in tattooing shaped his creative voice in comics.
Interviewee: Wesley Quiles
Interviewer: Anthony Andujar Jr
Q1 What inspired your journey into comics as a medium? What were the comics that got you into creating art?
WQ: I’ve always been drawn to stories I could fully immerse myself in. As someone who also loves art, comics felt like a natural extension of that. I wouldn’t say comics specifically got me into creating art—it was storytelling in general. Things like The Twilight Zone, Star Wars, Fantastic Four, and a lot of Saturday morning cartoons were big influences. They taught me a lot about world-building and how to set a tone through visual storytelling.
Q2 Before making comics, you primarily started with tattooing. Given that you are a professional tattoo artist, what were the lessons gained from tattooing that applied to your journey into comics as a comics creator on your book, Substance Man? What was the creative process like from early development to present? Did you start with a script? Thumbnails? Or did you draw on the fly?
WQ: One of the main things tattooing taught me over time is contrast, and that naturally translated into the way I approached Substance Man, since the book is drawn entirely in greyscale with little to no color. Originally, it was going to be in full color, but I felt that took away from the tone I was trying to create. Around that time, I was also deep into reading a lot of manga, which had a big influence on both the story and the visual style. When I first started, I’d just begin drawing without much structure, and that often led me into corners where it was hard to push the story forward. Eventually, I found a rhythm—thumbnailing each scene individually and tackling them one at a time helped me stay focused and move the story with more intent.
Q3. The story of Substance Man centers on Umi as the main protagonist and his journey to uncover the veil that lies beyond the world he knows. What is it about Umi as a character that made him the best fit to lead the story as the lens for readers to follow?
WQ: For Umi, every day starts the same and ends the same. He follows a strict routine, and his understanding of the world beyond the Institute is extremely limited. Which is why I feel he works so well as the main character, because everything is new to him, just as it is to the reader. He becomes our eyes as the story unravels, and we experience each shift in reality through someone who’s just starting to question it all.
Q4 In the first issue of Substance Man, readers are introduced to the protagonist, Umi. Though as Umi delves further in his journey, encountering other characters such as Dr. Rhys, Celinah, and other mysterious characters, what are the themes that you wanted to explore with the cast of characters?
WQ: These are characters who also have their own lives and routines that are far different from what we see with Umi. They have their own moral compass, beliefs about the world, and overall a different perspective on life. I wanted to touch on Themes such as control vs autonomy, identity and dehumanization, substance abuse, and isolation/loneliness. Substance use in the story isn’t meant to glorify addiction—it’s used as a literary device to explore themes of control, coping, and emotional suppression. Characters don’t rely on substances to seem edgy or cool but instead use them to survive, to numb, or to comply. It’s more about what the behavior represents than the behavior itself.
Q5. From the original iteration to the present iteration of Substance Man that is currently on the stands at Forbidden Planet, what were some lessons and skills that you learned that impacted your approach to creating comics, tattooing, and overall creativity?
WQ: Originally, Substance Man was something completely different—the time period, the setting, the characters, even the format. It wasn’t even supposed to be a manga-style book. The only things that stuck from the original idea were the name and my desire to keep it grounded in the psychological genre. Along the way, I learned not to force the process when I’m feeling uninspired. Instead of trying to push through, I’ve found that stepping away and doing things I genuinely enjoy allows the ideas to come back naturally. I’ve come to see creative ideas like clay—they start shapeless, but over time, you mold them into something that reflects what you set out to express.
Q6. What were some of the challenges that came with creating Substance Man?
WQ: One of the biggest challenges was getting my ideas onto paper the way I envisioned them. When I picture a scene or a specific panel—whether it’s the angle, the lighting, or even a subtle facial expression—I try to bring it to life exactly as I imagined it. The first version has to feel true to that original vision before I even think about tweaking it. Of course, artist’s block is always a challenge, but I think that’s something most artists deal with. For me, the harder part is making what’s in my head match what ends up on the page.
Q7. As an independent creator, what was the publication process like, and how did it impact your approach to publishing future installments?
WQ: It was all a learning experience that involved a lot of research, figuring out how to present the final product in a way that felt true to the story while still being accessible to an audience. Reaching different types of readers was always a priority, which is why I wanted to make digital versions of the book available alongside the physical release. Balancing both formats taught me a great deal about planning, pacing, and how to establish visibility as an independent creator.
Q8 What has the relationship been like having Forbidden Planet be the perfect retailer when debuting copies of Substance Man on the stands? What’s your history with Forbidden Planet as a retailer, and how surreal is it to see your book on the stands for readers to own a copy of?
WQ: Forbidden Planet is awesome, man. It’s been my main source for comics and manga for most of the time I’ve been reading them. So to walk in, pick up some books, and brush shoulders with something I created—it’s a great feeling. Huge shoutout to my friend Kelso down at Forbidden. He’s a great human being and sets a welcoming, creative atmosphere down there.
Q9. What projects do you have down the line that readers should keep an eye out for? And what’s in store for Umi and the cast of characters for issue 2 of Substance Man?
WQ: Right now, my full focus is on seeing this story through—I’m not looking to start any new projects at the moment. With Issue 2, we’ll start to uncover where Umi has ended up, get a deeper look at Celinah and her intentions, and finally meet the Director behind the Sharp Minds Institute.
Q10. Where can people follow your work for updates on new chapters and projects?
WQ: You can follow me on Instagram @222degreees for all Substance Man content and general art updates… or just meet me in Laboryn city.
Dan Kleiner