Under The Skin: The Exclusive Inside Story Of Neymar Jr Comics

There is no bigger event in the world of comics than a Comic Con. Soon after Neymar Jr. Comics launched “Inked,” our very own Chris Flannery and Jason M. Burns were at the New York Comic Con with more than a quarter of a million fellow comic book fans. There in Manhattan, Flannery, the president of Neymar Jr. Comics and Fan The Flame Concepts, and Burns, the editor in chief, caught up with ESPN The Magazine reporter Dan Hajducky. What transpired was a great write-up of Neymar Jr. Comics from the “world-wide leader in sports.” The article provides a great look into how the world of Neymar Jr. and comics collided, with the perfect background of a massive comics convention in New York City. Hajducky wrote: At the 2018 edition of the convention, Flannery and Burns jaunt up flights of stairs with stacks of comics under their arms. The covers boast a hazy blue likeness of the Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian striker. “Isn’t this amazing?” Flannery … says of the fervent mass swarming the main floor below. Nearby, a cosplayer dressed as Negan from “The Walking Dead” texts while resting a shockingly realistic barbed-wire baseball bat replica on his shoulder. Burns, crew-cut with tattoos covering his right forearm, has written for the “Megamind,” “Jericho” and “Kung Fu Panda” franchises and had long harbored a story about a hero whose tattoos come to life. “Given how important (the personalities of tattoos are) to Neymar and the character, that was the start of the snowball,” Flannery says." The full article can be read here. Since its launch in 2018, Neymar Jr. Comics has propelled into popularity much like Junior, the hero of “Inked,” was thrust into a life of fighting evil. The ESPN piece was just the beginning of coverage of Neymar Jr. Comics. Major media outlets around the world flocked to inform readers and viewers of the amazing products we’re working on. When we first announced Neymar Jr. Comics, ESPN, The18, Sports Business Daily, O Globo, L’Equipe, Le Figaro Sport24, the Independent, Sportskeeda, Medio Tiempo, BeGeek and The Sun jumped on the opportunity to showcase our work. Not long after, Univision Deportes, Yahoo Deportes and CNET en Español were doing stories on our groundbreaking digital app, which you can use to access every issue of “Inked.” We here at Neymar Jr. Comics are thankful for all of the coverage but know we must live up to the hype every day as we continue to strive to make the best comics in the world, from “Inked” to “Red Card” and everything in between.

The Neymar Jr. Digital Comics universe combines the passion for comics shared between the world's most recognizable footballer, Neymar Jr, and Fan The Flame, an independent comic and graphic novel studio and technology company. The digital comics make it seamless to dive into the experience whenever and wherever you want. “Like many kids, I had two dreams growing up, to be a professional footballer and a superhero. I’ve been blessed enough to play football at the highest level,” said Neymar Jr. “Now I have the chance to bring new, modern, powerful storytelling through comics and graphic novels to fans around the world.” From initial launch just nine months ago, Neymar Jr. Comics has grown to deliver innovative and accessible storytelling to an audience of nearly 3 million followers. Since the release of the initial “Inked” series, Neymar Jr. Comics has delivered a fully digital comic book experience, allowing for easy reading on the go. The release of the second series — “Red Card” — will also mark the debut of an enhanced user interface that publishes in five languages (Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian and English) and delivers mobile-driven, short-form snackable content built around the way that its younger, digital-native audience consumes content. New content will drop multiple times per week and the complete series will be released over a one-month period. The new digital platform allows users to choose how they seamlessly swipe through story panels or scroll (with a new webtoon reading experience) on their phone or tablet on the website, or by downloading the app on Apple or Android. For those who don’t want to wait for the digital comic to be released over the course of a month, the entire story can be purchased and downloaded at any time. With a purchase download, the reader will get an ad-free experience, the ability to read offline and additional exclusive content. A digital graphic novel version of all the episodes collected together can still be purchased, allowing fans of the series to access the world of Neymar Jr. Comics in the way that best suits them. “Inked” and “Red Card” are the first of many titles that have been released on the digital app, while additional titles will be released beginning next month for all ages. The world of “Inked” serves as an introduction to Junior, the hero built in Neymar Jr.’s likeness, who receives superpowers through a special tattoo ink. Anything tattooed on Junior becomes a sidekick that can be summoned to aid him as the reluctant vigilante trying to save his sister from a human trafficking cartel. “Red Card” features a sci-fi driven, post-apocalyptic plot that begins after a mission into space leads to alien spores being released into the atmosphere. As a result, the majority of the population transforms into mindless, insect-like creatures. The world falls into disarray and it’s up to Junior to liberate a camp of survivors while calling on some football skills to win unique and sometimes barbaric matches of life and death. A portion of all proceeds from Neymar Jr. Comics titles is donated to Instituto Projecto Neymar Jr., (INJR) the charity founded by Neymar Jr. and his family which aims to expand opportunities for children, adolescents and families living in situations of social vulnerability. 

With the launch of Neymar Jr. Comics, one of the world’s most visible and popular football players was able to combine his lifelong passion for comics with an exciting new digital storytelling platform.At Neymar Jr. Comics, we have the luxury of working with one of the brightest football stars in the world, but also one who truly loves comic books and superheroes. Starting with the landmark series “Inked: Art Animates Life,” Neymar Jr. Comics has been a dream come true for everyone involved.“Like many kids, I had two dreams growing up, to be a professional footballer and a superhero,” Neymar Jr. said. “I’ve been blessed enough to play football at the highest level. Now I have the chance to bring new, modern, powerful storytelling through comics and graphic novels to fans around the world.”The first series from Neymar Jr. Comics, “Inked,” features a hero in Neymar Jr.’s likeness, Junior, who uses magical tattoo ink to bring his body art to life. A reluctant vigilante, Junior uses his newfound powers for good against a mysterious cartel with supernatural ties.“As a kid who grew up reading comics, I hope that these stories and characters can inspire and entertain people around the world,” Neymar Jr. said.The series was created by Jason M. Burns, a New York Times bestselling author and comic and graphic novel creator. Burns built a world around a gritty, fictionalized Brazil full of unique characters and mystical powers. The complex, engaging storylines are published digitally in multiple languages to allow accessibility for readers around the world.“One reason I wanted to create a digital comic is that I use my phone to connect with fans on social media,” Neymar Jr. said. “With this new app, fans can use their phones to interact with my comic series and its universe of characters and inspiring stories.”Because Neymar Jr. is an altruistic-minded superstar, a portion of all proceeds from revenues at Neymar Jr. Comics will benefit his charitable foundation Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr. INJR strives to expand opportunities for children, adolescents and their families living in situations of social vulnerability through education, culture, sports and health.Beyond “Inked,” Neymar Jr. Comics has a range of products lined up, including a science-fiction concept in “Red Card.” Plus, the studio will be releasing in the coming season new stories that are family oriented to ensure all of Neymar Jr.’s fans will have stories that appeal to them and are age-appropriate.“We’re thrilled to partner with him and his engaging brand to bring these compelling stories to a global audience as part of a long-term franchise across multiple platforms,” said Chris Flannery, president of Neymar Jr. Comics.

“Inked” takes place in a universe not unlike our own, but with added mystery and magic – and a diverse array of characters who come in and out of Junior’s life, adding to the franchise and creating lore as the story unfolds. While we have created a vast, cinematic universe with “Inked,” reimagining Neymar Jr. as a comic book superhero wasn’t simple. If you haven’t checked out the series, “Inked” features the protagonist Junior, built in Neymar Jr.’s likeness, who receives superpowers through a special tattoo ink. Anything tattooed on Junior becomes an entity he can summon to aid him as a reluctant vigilante trying to save his kidnapped sister. The artists, writers and producers from Fan The Flame Comics, the creators of Neymar Jr Comics and “Inked,” were asked what it took to create a superhero alter ego for one of the biggest stars in the world. You can check out the resulting mini-documentary below. Featured in the video are: writer and editor in chief Jason Burns, a New York Times best-selling author, and illustrators Dustin Evans, Steve Gendron and Fero Peniche. And of course, we got Neymar Jr.’s input as well. For more on the behind-the-scenes story of how Neymar Jr. Comics started this series, check out this story here.

Neymar Jr.’s tattoos are core to his identity. Just as his amazing ball skills and desire to win define the Brazilian star on the pitch, his tattoos help define his outlook on life and history. It’s no wonder, then, that “Inked: Art Imitates Life” was inspired as much by Neymar Jr.’s tattoos as by the passion of Fan The Flame creative director Jason M Burns for comics and body ink. In the end, these passions collided in the universe of “Inked.”  In the series, the hero Junior (created in Neymar Jr.’s likeness) receives mystical tattoo ink allowing his tattoos to come to life as crime-fighting guardians. The team at Fan the Flame Concepts used Neymar Jr.’s actual tattoos for the characters in the story – like Baysan, the lion inked onto the footballer’s left hand. Neymar Jr.’s tattoos, many of which were drawn by Brazilian artists Thieres Paim and Adão Rosa, have a deep connection to “Inked,” from the storyline to the art itself. Here is a look at some of Neymar’s most iconic tattoos, including a few of which have made it into the world of “Inked” — and some that may still appear in the series. Chest The words "Gigante Por Natureza", meaning "Giant By Natue" definitely defines who Neymar is: an immense football talent and personality. In addition, his affinity for animals is plain to see with an eagle on his pectorals, complete with a football pitch.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Thieres Paim (@thierespaimtattoo) on Mar 28, 2019 at 7:24pm PDT Arms Family is also very important to Neymar and his comic portrayal. He has both his sister and his mother tattooed on his arm, plus a tattoo of his son.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Thieres Paim (@thierespaimtattoo) on Dec 4, 2018 at 6:47am PST Hand Perhaps the most iconic of Neymar Jr’s tattoos – at least, in the “Inked” universe – is the lion tattooed on his hand. It comes to life as the big cat Baysan in the series, Junior’s sidekick and guardian.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by 3n310ta ???????? ???? neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Feb 27, 2019 at 6:45am PST             View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Thieres Paim (@thierespaimtattoo) on Oct 27, 2017 at 12:38pm PDT Forearm Joining Baysan, Neymar Jr.’s tattoo of a tiger that appears on his back left forearm is transformed into the feline companion Roberta in “Inked.”           View this post on Instagram                   2017???????? A post shared by 3n310ta ???????? ???? neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Dec 31, 2017 at 5:31pm PST Neck The tattoos people most often see on Neymar are those on his neck. His tattoo on his left side “Tudo Passa” means “Everything Passes,” the good and the bad. The tattoo directly on the back of his neck is probably his most recognizable one, with two wings around a cross entitled “Blessed.” He also has the Roman numeral “IV” behind his ear symbolizing the number of people in his family.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by 3n310ta ???????? ???? neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Sep 10, 2018 at 12:57pm PDT             View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by 3n310ta ???????? ???? neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Oct 15, 2018 at 1:09pm PDT Back Neymar Jr’s love of comics is on full display with his dual back tattoos, featuring two legendary superheroes: Batman and Spiderman.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Thieres Paim (@thierespaimtattoo) on Oct 23, 2018 at 11:49am PDT Legs Neymar has many tattoos on his legs, most notably a Champions League trophy. Neymar won the Champions League in 2015 with Barcelona.            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by 3n310ta ???????? ???? neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Oct 6, 2018 at 11:49am PDT

How the team at Fan The Flame Comics partnered with one of football’s biggest stars to transform his love of comics into an entire comic universe at Neymar Jr Comics.   Neymar Jr’s tattoos sit on the surface, symbols of the inner thoughts of one of the biggest football stars in the world. For the outside world, the tattoos are the only insight into the mind of someone who has reached the top of his game. Within the universe of Neymar Jr Comics and its first digital series, “Inked,” they are so much more. Neymar Jr. is one of the top footballers in the world, a Brazilian whose name can be whispered alongside modern-day legends such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and heroes of decades past like Romário, Ronaldo and Pelé. Covered from head to toe in tattoos, Neymar Jr.’s body art has captured the imagination of fans around the world. From a lion on his hand to his sister on his shoulder, the prolific forward quite literally wears his heart on his sleeve for all to witness. But his tattoos have taken a new meaning, a new significance. His tattoos are giving him superpowers in our landmark comic book series “Inked.” Image: Alt Text: Cover art for Inked: Art Animates Life #1 from Neymar Jr Comics Image Title: Inked: Art Animates Life #1   Two of the most common dreams of youngsters around the world are to become a famous athlete or a superhero. Neymar Jr. was no different. In addition to the Romários, Rivaldos and Ronaldos that Neymar Jr. grew up idolizing was a hero of another kind: Batman. With Neymar Jr. Comics, a collaborative effort with Fan the Flame Comics, Neymar Jr. has joined the ranks of the masked crusaders, caped wonders who are superheroes because of a priceless inheritance or a privilege bequeathed upon them — be that from an accident or a lab experiment gone wrong. In our comic series “Inked,” Neymar Jr. — or rather his alter ego, “Junior” — gains superpowers, not through the bite of a radioactive spider or having been born into immense wealth, but by the very ink with which he is tattooed, albeit a special ink, after landing in the hospital trying to protect his sister. “Inked” is just the beginning for us here at Neymar Jr. Comics, a digital platform created just for the football star. It’s also a bit of a dream come true for a man who thrills fans with his creativity and skill on the pitch while hanging out with some of the world’s biggest celebrities off the pitch. “I had two dreams growing up, like many kids, to be a professional footballer and a superhero,” Neymar Jr. said. “I've always been in love with comics, always liked them and getting involved with it, having my name, my face, my tattoos, the story ... I'm absolutely thrilled.” Comic Book Guy When Neymar Jr. signed his contract to become the richest transfer in the history of the sport in 2017, he was wearing a Batman T-shirt. A couple Halloweens ago, he dressed up as the Joker, comics are a part of who Neymar Jr. is, just as much as the tattoos on his body. Neymar Jr even has a Batman and Spiderman tattoo on his back.   Joker  A post shared by EneJota   neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Oct 31, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT //   Neymar Jr.’s love of comics brought him to Chris Flannery, now the president of Neymar Jr. Comics, and the team at Fan The Flame Concepts, along with Jason Burns, a New York Times best-selling author and the editor in chief for Neymar Jr. Comics. Flannery and Burns developed the concept for “Inked,” in which Junior, a character created in Neymar Jr.’s likeness, is tattooed with mystical ink that brings the tattoos to life. “As far as the core concept — the idea of a mystical ink that brings tattoos to life — that had been percolating in my head for years, but it wasn’t until the partnership with Neymar Jr. that it all came together from a storytelling standpoint,” Burns said. “Because of his own interest in body art, one that continues to grow as he adds new pieces, it was a seamless and natural fit for a character in Neymar Jr.’s likeness to be married to the concept itself.” Neymar Jr., for one, loved the idea, and the series took off. But it wasn’t just a matter of throwing Neymar Jr. into a comic book series and making him into a superhero. Neymar Jr. Comics wants to be about more than just a famous athlete selling his image rights. It’s about gritty, modern storytelling, relating to his audiences and their interests in the world of comics or tattoos and building a global community — all the while attempting to bring attention to Neymar Jr.’s charitable work with the Neymar Jr. Institute (INJR). “As a kid who grew up with Batman as a hero, I hope that these stories and characters can inspire and entertain people around the world,” Neymar Jr. said. “The studio will be creating original content and stories that in some cases are influenced by my life and character and in other cases stories that I’ve helped develop.” Insert Video Embed Of Neymar Jr With The Comic Inked Jason Burns, the story creator for “Inked,” knows the importance of tattoos, both in world culture and in his own life, with countless tattoos covering his body. Indeed, he makes it clear in the first episode of the comic — which, like all episodes of “Inked,” is free for readers. “Inked” takes place in a gritty, fictionalized Brazil where cartels fight for power and tattoos come to life to do the bidding of their masters. Junior, Neymar Jr.’s alter ego, is pressed into action through tragic circumstances and becomes a reluctant hero for the powerless. Junior’s first tattoo he learns to bring to life is Baysan, a lion tattooed on his left hand.   Mais uma no craque @neymarjr  Muito obrigado pela confiança meu brother!!! E obrigado a todos que estão acompanhando essa viagem e amanhã partindo para @nauticatattooroma  #neymar #nj #paris #psg #france #grupoamazon #viperink #nauticatattoosantos #nauticatattoosp #nauticatattooroma A post shared by Thieres Paim (@thierespaimtattoo) on Oct 27, 2017 at 12:38pm PDT // The tattoo is a fairly recent one, with Brazilian tattoo artist Thieres Paim creating the skin art in October of 2017. We decided to make him the centerpiece of our early issues. The lion inspired his Diesel fragrance “Spirit of the Brave,” which launched in May of 2019. Thieres and Adão Rosa have combined to do most of Neymar Jr.’s tattoos, Adão himself responsible for more than two dozen. Adão, of Nautica Tattoos, has such a following that one father of a hopeful Brazilian athlete seeking stardom sought out the tattoo artist believing him to have mystical powers capable of taking the youngster to the next level — not unlike the Junior character in the comic. Tattoos are a huge part of Neymar Jr.’s life. He’s got tattoos honoring his son, his father, his sister and his god, plus one that says “Life is a joke” to remind him not to take life too seriously and to enjoy every moment. Recently, Thieres inked a tattoo that says “Gigante por Natureza” (Gigantic by Nature), with an eagle flying over a football pitch.   A post shared by Adao Rosa Tattoo Artist  C/S (@adaorosatattoo) on Mar 27, 2018 at 6:59am PDT // Art director Dustin Evans and the rest of our team at Fan the Flame have studied Neymar Jr.’s body more than opposing coaches and players to find the perfect translation onto the pages of Neymar Jr. Comics. That said, even with the extensive number of tattoos on Neymar Jr.’s body, we aren’t necessarily going to limit ourselves to tattoos Neymar Jr. currently has. “As Junior gets deeper and deeper into the thick of things, … he’ll realize that he doesn’t need weapons because his body actually is the weapon,” Burns said. “Think it. Tattoo it. Use it. That’s kind of the mantra he’ll fall back on because when the odds seem stacked against him, all he has to do to even those odds is imagine what tool he’d like to pull from his toolbox … his toolbox being his skin.” Video Embed Of Inked Preview TBD – YouTube of Arik Video Fanning The Flame While the tattoos represent the basis for the story — and a link to Neymar Jr. himself — what we hope keeps you interested in “Inked” is the story. Neymar Jr. has had no hesitation accepting the studio’s comics expertise, giving him the freedom to create a world that will appeal to a widespread audience, not just fans of Neymar Jr.’s goal-scoring exploits. The story in "Inked" is not your typical athlete crossover like Shaq Fu. The world of “Inked” is not for the faint of heart; people get hurt. The studio will also be releasing in the coming season new stories for all ages, ones that are family oriented to ensure that all of Neymar Jr.’s fans will have stories that appeal to them and are appropriate. Our innovative digital platform makes it easy for everyone to access and digest. And it’s accessible to fans around the world, no matter where they live or what backgrounds they come from, translated into half a dozen languages. Plus, all of our comic content is free for fans – although if you want the ability to download the content for an ad-free experience, as well as to collect physical graphic novels with the content, we offer those for sale as well. [Link to purchase page.]   Image: Alt Text: Cover art for Inked: Art Animates Life #2 from Neymar Jr Comics Image Title: Inked: Art Animates Life #2 Football Hero In An Expanding Universe Neymar Jr. is a football player first and foremost. He’s won league titles, Champions League trophies, international cups, Puskás Awards and Player of the Year awards. At 27, he’s got 60 international goals, and Neymar Jr. is on pace to shatter Pelé’s all-time record for Brazil. Neymar Jr. is nowhere near finished on the pitch. Off the pitch, we’re just getting started. Whether it will be as a superhero fighting crime in Brazil or any of the other iterations yet to come from us, Neymar Jr. is already a real hero to many through his charitable contributions and regular tithing. But we hope to bring the footballer to a new audience of digital comic fans all while providing additional fan service to his already devoted followers. “I think with any fictional work, the originality or the interest and relevance of the story is what draws people in,” Flannery said. “I think given his great popularity and following, people will be intrigued. This is beyond the normal arc of the hero type stories. “However, we’ve worked really hard to develop something that is authentically linked to his life, that is important to him and will reveal and give insight into that side of his life that maybe people don’t know too much about.” Keep an eye out for future series in different universes with new casts of characters – all built around the life and persona of our star, Neymar Jr.