16-year-old Shaylee van Oostrom will be at the 2024 rAge Expo with her debut manga Demon Force. Based in Kempton Park, Shaylee will be one of many brands and artists showcasing their work at the event, which takes place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre next month.
Debuting Demon Force
Demon Force follows a young boy who, alongside his friends, attends a school that trains and nurtures future heroes. However, his nefarious brother constantly interferes with his progress. Published by BK Publishing, van Oostrom worked with the company to develop into a fully-fledged manga artist. The two continue to work together to produce more issues and develop the series further.
Shaylee has already completed the next two issues. She has launched a Backabuddy campaign to raise funds to edit and publish subsequent volumes, as well as to support her tertiary art education. Van Oostrom will be at the 2024 rAge Expo selling signed copies of her comic and special merchandise, including printed Demon Force caps. “I’m really looking forward to showcasing my work and connecting with people who love drawing, animation, and comics as much as I do,” she says, “Being part of rAge is a dream come true.”
Catch Shaylee van Oostrom at the BK Publishing stand in Hall 9 of the artists’ alley during the entirety of rAge Expo. There will be about 40 other creatives in the alley, including the Afro Geek stand.
