After his son survived Parkland shooting, dad creates comic book that illustrates realities of PTSD
When Mike Kaye was in the drafting phases for his new comic book, his youngest son inquired if he could be a character in the story. His wife also prodded him to include more strong, female roles. But the family member who had the most impact on Kaye’s work was his oldest son, Dylan.
Dylan Kaye, now 20, is a survivor of the 2018 Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The superhero in Mike Kaye’s comic book, Ulrius Jewels, shares a burden similar to his son’s — the superhero is plagued by “mind demons” that make him act against his will, sometimes forcing him to lash out against those around him.
Like Dylan Kaye, the superhero finds himself battling his own mind, which can cause him to be misunderstood by others. Communication is a challenge, especially when it involves his experience at Parkland.
“Before the shooting, I knew almost nothing about PTSD,” Mike Kaye said. “I thought it was something soldiers got returning from war. It’s not something I thought my son would have.”
Kaye had been contemplating the idea for the comic since he was a teenager, but he could never quite capture the essence of his main character. He couldn’t figure out what made him tick.
It wasn’t until the real-life tragedy in Parkland when he was inspired to model his character off of his son’s struggles and perseverance. The traditional boundaries between “hero” and “villain” eroded, and it allowed him to add depth and complexity to his character whose true villain lies within.
“I feel like I have a lot in common with the character because of the amount of inner struggles I deal with,” Dylan Kaye said.
Through his story, Mike Kaye aims to shed light on the realities faced by those living with PTSD and their families.
Advent Comics will publish Ulrius Jewels on Aug. 23, to be sold in comic book stores around the country and internationally.
“I thought the premise of PTSD was very interesting,” said Tony Kittrell, owner and editor-in-chief of Advent Comics. “I liked the story, and I think our readers will too.”
When the comic book is released, he plans to donate a fraction of the proceeds to Henderson Behavioral Health, which provides housing and health care to people with behavioral health conditions, such as PTSD.
“Even if it’s a loss for me, I feel like I’m helping real people like a superhero would do.”
Tate Ottati, owner of Tate’s Comics in Deerfield Beach, plans to carry the first editions of Ulrius Jewels.
Ottati watched as Kaye’s dream grew throughout the early stages of Ulrius Jewels. He was there as Kaye went from getting the book illustrated to published.
“I’m extremely proud of him. He’s really been hustling,” Ottati said. “I mean, he wrote all this from real experience, and that’s what real artists need to do or else their work will seem fake.”
Even five years after the shooting, Kaye and his family continue to learn more about PTSD and how to best care for their son.
During the shooting, Dylan heard the gunman’s footsteps echoing down the hall. On the other side of the locked classroom door where Dylan and his classmates hid, he heard the handle jiggle.
Dylan’s symptoms first arose six months later, causing him to lose sleep and act compulsively, sometimes becoming aggressive with his parents.
“He slipped from a straight-A student to failing all his classes,” Mike Kaye said.
After the shooting, Dylan Kaye became closed off to the world around him.
Mike Kaye and his wife didn’t know what to do. “You can’t expect them to heal on their own,” Kaye said. “You really need someone who knows them and cares about them to help them.”
Through his work, Mike Kaye doesn’t just want to tell a compelling story, but he hopes to create a more open conversation about PTSD.
“You need family, friends, loved ones, to all gather and help them, because they might not see the problem themselves,” he said. “The mind is a fragile thing.”
