The GaryVee Audio Experience

Episode: The Power of Comics: Creativity, Storytelling, and Building Characters

Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Gary Vaynerchuk (GaryVee)
Guests/Team: Jim Rugg, DJ Kaufman, and the VeeFriends Comics team

Episode Overview

Gary Vaynerchuk kicks off the new year with a deep dive into the creative, emotional, and storytelling process behind VeeFriends comics. The conversation explores the intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, childhood imagination, and character-building, with insights on how comics foster emotional intelligence, parenting values, and new readership. The episode delivers a candid look into Gary’s creative mind, the collaborative process with his comics team, and the broader impact of comics as both art and business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Creative Origins of VeeFriends Comics

• Gary’s Personal Storytelling Roots ([03:40]-[06:11])

  • Gary discusses his long-standing affinity for fiction and improv, tracing it back to inventing bedtime stories for his younger brother due to his own lack of interest in reading. He reminisces about childhood “adventure games” where he would improvise narratives for friends and family.
  • Quote:
    "I just made up stories and would really just riff, like truly riff for like 30, 40 minutes without a breath... My gift and my curse is my brain goes quite fast." — Gary ([03:40])

• Imagination and Storytelling in Marketing ([06:11]-[07:23])

  • DJ shares how a passion for comics and imagination naturally transitioned into a marketing career, realizing that the best marketing is just great storytelling.

2. Collaboration, Improv, and Building Comics

• Artist Retreats and Jam Sessions ([07:23]-[16:44])

  • The creative process behind VeeFriends comics reflects an improv-based, artist-retreat mentality—removing the team from daily routines to spark new ideas and collaboration.
  • Quote:
    "I can't do these at the office. I can't do these in a conference room. I got to take myself out of my Gary Vaynerchuk of it and I go into Gary V the creative person, and I leave most of my normal business, you know, operational self at the door." — Gary ([14:39])

• Character DNA and Origin Stories ([08:08]-[12:06])

  • Gary emphasizes his fascination with origin stories (“I am incredibly built for an origin story... I like adversity, I like to know people, where they come from and why”), revealing which comics have his personal touch.

3. Creative Decision-Making and Killing Ideas

• Importance of Letting Go ([17:25]-[18:58])
  • The team discusses the value in abandoning ideas, even after investing hours of work, and how this approach reflects in both comics and broader life decisions.
  • Quote:
    "Nothing excites me more than spending two and a half hours down a road of like... and then sitting down for like dinner and being like, fuck that. We're scratching all of it dead. Dead. And I think that's a lesson that a lot of people could learn." — Gary ([17:25])

4. Humility, Empathy, and the Message of VeeFriends

• Reaction to Audience and Humility as Core Theme ([19:27]-[22:08])
  • Gary explains how he uses the group’s reactions as a “litmus test” and why humility, despite being difficult to discuss in a “personal brand” era, is central to VeeFriends’ characters and stories.
  • Quote:
    "Humility might be the single most powerful attribute on Earth... I built Be Friends to build up the fame of humility and get kids to be pumped about being humble." — Gary ([21:28])

5. Commerce and the Art World: Bridging Creativity and Business

• Salesmanship and Belief ([22:30]-[26:03])

  • Gary draws parallels between “selling what you believe in” and being a pastor, pushing back on perceptions that salesmanship is inherently negative, especially in creative fields.

• Art vs. Commerce: Overcoming Stigma ([26:03]-[27:37])

  • Addressing the “demonization” of commercialization in the arts, Gary argues that great art sometimes deserves a commercial voice so that more quality work gains exposure.
  • Quote:
    "If you're an artist that's so mad about commercial and capitalism, well, then add a little commercial and capitalism to you to eat up some of the oxygen, thus rendering what people buy to be of higher quality." — Gary ([26:03])

6. The Future of Comics and New Readers

• Welcoming New Fans ([32:32]-[36:40])

  • Gary stresses that comics must become more welcoming and less gatekeeping to thrive in the coming years, as he predicts a pendulum swing back to physical books among Gen Alpha.
  • Quote:
    "I believe that the four year olds that are walking earth right now will be the 10 year olds that want to go and buy a physical comic book and physically read it in the room for seven minutes." — Gary ([32:32])
  • Both Gary and Jim highlight how difficult it is for newcomers to navigate comic stores—underscoring the need for clear entry points.

• Expanding the VeeFriends Universe ([37:54]-[39:08])

  • Plans are underway for character spin-offs and expanding into comic book stores, but Gary emphasizes patience and long-term strategy over rushing distribution.

7. Teamwork and Process Behind VeeFriends Comics

• Collaborative Creation & Unique Approach ([39:47]-[42:19])

  • Gary highlights his disciplined, patient approach to distribution and expansion.
  • Jim and DJ share the excitement and uniqueness of VeeFriends’ creative process, focusing on creative voice and ownership in each comic.

• Drawing and Artistic Expression ([44:31]-[47:02])

  • Gary discusses his own artistic processes—doodling out of boredom and as a child, primarily focused on wrestling characters. He notes the importance of authentic, “simple” art, and addresses past criticism of VeeFriends’ visual style.

8. Art, Authenticity, and Legacy

• Defining Art and Handling Criticism ([47:39]-[49:28])

  • All reflect on imposter syndrome in art and the evolving definition of what counts as “real” art.
  • Quote:
    "When the canvas was invented, the artists that mattered in the world at the time said that real art could not be on a canvas. It could only be on a building... I don't have anything else to say to anyone on earth besides that sentence." — Gary ([48:41])

• Legacy and Being Misunderstood ([49:33]-[51:44])

  • Gary is comfortable being misunderstood now, believing VeeFriends will be fully appreciated in hindsight, long after he’s gone.
  • Quote:
    "Real art is more comfortable in being misunderstood than it is in being understood. I am comfortable with being misunderstood." — Gary ([50:59])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:40 | Gary | “I just made up stories and would really just riff...My brain goes quite fast.” | | 14:39 | Gary | “I can't do these at the office. I can't do these in a conference room. I got to take myself out of my Gary Vaynerchuk of it…” | | 17:25 | Gary | “Nothing excites me more than spending two and a half hours down a road...and then...scratching all of it dead." | | 21:28 | Gary | “I built Be Friends to build up the fame of humility and get kids to be pumped about being humble…” | | 26:03 | Gary | “If you're an artist that's so mad about commercial and capitalism, well, then add a little commercial and capitalism to you…” | | 32:32 | Gary | “The four year olds that are walking earth right now will be the 10 year olds that want to go and buy a physical comic book and physically read it…” | | 48:41 | Gary | “When the canvas was invented, the artists that mattered in the world at the time said that real art could not be on a canvas…” | | 50:59 | Gary | “Real art is more comfortable in being misunderstood than it is in being understood. I am comfortable with being misunderstood." |

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:00: Gary’s introduction—emphasizes personal and parenting aspects of VeeFriends comics
• 03:40–06:11: Gary’s childhood storytelling and improv; natural roots of fiction in his creative life
• 07:23–08:08: The collaborative, improvisational nature of their comics creation
• 12:06–14:39: Gary’s role in various comics, hands-on creative DNA
• 17:25–18:58: Value in abandoning unworkable creative ideas—parallel to career/life choices
• 21:28–22:08: Humility as the central value in VeeFriends’ universe
• 26:03–27:37: The art–commerce divide; call for artists to embrace both
• 32:32–36:40: Accessibility and welcoming new readers into comics
• 44:31–47:02: Gary’s approach to drawing, personal authenticity in art
• 48:41–50:59: Redefining art, comfort with being misunderstood

Tone & Style

The conversation is deeply personal, candid, and warm, blending Gary’s high-energy, motivational style with reflective, nostalgic, and sometimes philosophical musings from all participants. There’s a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among the team, plus a passion for creativity, community, and the future of comics.

For Listeners

This episode is an inspiring look into the heart and strategy behind VeeFriends comics, perfect for creators, parents, comic fans, or anyone interested in storytelling, creative business, or legacy building. The team encourages new readers to explore the comics for free at veefriends.com/comics, highlighting both the artistic and parenting themes throughout.

Final Recommendations

• Parents: Consider reading VeeFriends comics (especially #2, Fearless Ferry, and #5, Motivated Monster) with your children (beware: #5 is more mature).
• Fans & Collectors: Stay tuned for upcoming spin-offs and new releases—Gary hints at exciting exclusives and long-term strategy.
• Creators: Absorb the message: embrace humble, collaborative creativity, but don’t be afraid to connect with the commercial side of your craft.

Follow and connect:

• Read comics for free at veefriends.com/comics
• Join the conversation on GaryVee’s socials
• Stay updated on new drops via the VeeFriends website