By Sophia Garcia and Anthony Vidal

Eating a healthy diet is a fundamental requirement for a healthy life, this is the message that Grubsters, a comic book brand, is trying to drive with their energetic designs. 

Processed foods, ripped of most nutrients and often substituted with chemicals that can gravely harm, is often the easiest meal for many. Fast food has many benefits— it requires no prep time, it is fast, and it is convenient. The overconsumption of it, however, does more harm than anything else.

So the diet culture began. Once people started to tie the negative health effects of fast food on its consumers, people became obsessed with ridding themselves of all the toxins that entered their body through this food. While this is a good idea in theory, the extreme that supporters of this culture push it to is what often leads to eating disorders. Grubsters, however, knows different.

Grubsters is a self-published comic book by authors Jimmy Deglace and Rocky Marshall, whose mission is to spread more information on the importance of eating a very healthy & nutritional diet. Their first publication of their comic features characters such as Adhara, based on dragon fruit, and Hata, based on broccoli. Holding a grand multitude of characters, Grubsters promotes healthy diets and how to fight off diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and anorexia.

“We wanted to tell this story about war over your body between the foods that are great for you, vs the foods that are harming you,” explains Marshall. “[We] selected characters to represent the healthy fruits and vegetables, and did the opposite to represent the unhealthy side,” he continued. 

Marshall was the kickstarter to the publication, having done most of his research prior to even thinking of promoting this information to the public. After the fatal diagnoses of both his mother and daughter, he began searching for natural, alternative ways to help them recover. “Out of that journey doing research, the Grubsters were born,” said Marshall. 

Marshall, while a big part of the project, does not take all the credit. Deglace acts as manager of the business’ marketing, allowing them to reach new heights. 

“It’s a perfect fit[…] Without Jimmy the brand would have never had an opportunity to make its mark,” says Marshall. 

‘Grubsters’ is not limited to only comics, however. The publication also dabbles in animation, and they sell products of clothing based on their comics. Deglace and Marshall aim to reach as many people as they can, using their access to programs to do as such to their advantage. 

“We plan on expanding our visions beyond just comic books. We plan to release the official Grubsters Movie which is going to be crazy! We’re also planning on crossing over into other markets & industries, we’re creating technology, we’re working on our own streaming network, merchandising & gaming & few more areas we feel would be advantageous for the brand”- Marshall continued. 

Grubsters works in several joint projects along with other companies that have similar goals and purposes. For example, they work with Trap Water Co. to distribute dragon fruit and pineapple-infused fruit water. In addition, they are also with Vegan Hood (VEHO), a company that creates 100% alkaline-based products, and they are working with Grubsters on infant foods. 

Grubsters is also working on a second volume to their comic book which introduces new characters and a new storyline. They are also building a website to centralize all of their works. 

This comic book company that started as a small idea continues to expand and grow with high dreams and hopes for the future.

“We see ourselves becoming a Powerhouse in the comic/animation industry. We see Grubsters Comics as a never seen before Universe that’s about to reveal itself for the first time,” stated Rocky Marshall.