Psychologist’s

Superheroes, extreme villains and a world of fantasy are what make up Lauren Bianca’s happy place. As a teenager she was swept off her feet by stories of superpowers, wonder women and gallant defenders of the planet.

This is where Ms Bianca finds her solace and gets a break from the stresses of daily life. The young counselling psychologist from Chatsworth is comic-obsessed and was driven by passion to write her own comic book, The Shadower.

Ms Bianca, 26, said she fell in love with Marvel comics and Cosplay, when she was 19 and years later comics still play a huge role in her life.

“My favourite comics are the Marvel type – superheroes who save the world,” she said. “I love Natasha Romanoff (of the Black Widow – Marvel) because she is always willing to do whatever it takes to help anyone and do what's right. I also love Wanda Maximoff (Marvel) because she loves family, and family comes first.”

Ms Bianca said she was introduced to comics on SABC 3 when said she watched her first comic-inspired movie, Iron Man 2, on a Saturday night. For years she toyed with the idea of writing a comic book, until her friends and family eventually inspired and motivated her to just do it.

“The Shadower was published last December. It took me about a month to write the story and six months to find a publisher, Bevan Groups in Cape Town,” she said.

“My characters are not fictional; they are actual people in my life. My family and friends are the characters in the comic (and) their actual personalities and traits have been incorporated in their character.”

Bianca matriculated at Queensburgh Girls’ High School and has a higher certificate in event management from Varsity College, as well a degree in psychological counselling from UNISA (University of South Africa). She said comics help people de-stress and encourage children, teenagers and adults to be imaginative. It's a form of escapism from the hassles of daily life and just enjoy the fiction, she said.

“Those who are familiar with Marvel comics will find the references made in the storyline are linked to psychology. A lot of it’s based on unity, the sense of what is right and wrong – in this way I use my skill as a counselling psychologist to get my message through to my readers.

“The aim of writing this comic book is that one day I can become part of the Marvel cast and family, this is my dream. I wrote this book with the hope that Marvel bosses will hopefully read it and give me a call,” said Ms Bianca.

In The Shadower, Bianca plays the lead character Chasi Avens (who is The Shadower).

She said the book not only shows people the difference between good and evil but also how to work together.

Ms Bianca lives by the belief that one should “put God first in anything and everything you do”.

So far, her comic has been well received in South Africa and America and we can expect a sequel soon, she noted.

Ms Bianca also writes poetry and encourages others with big dreams to “never allow negative words to blind your positive actions.”