>> Ted: THE U.S. HIT THE DEBT CEILING TODAY AND A LOOK AT HOW THAT COULD IMPACT THE ECONOMY AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW ART EXHIBIT AT THE PHOENIX ZOO AND NOT MANY BLACK SUPERHEROES IN THE COMIC BOOK HERO BUT THEY'RE AIMING TO CHANGE THAT.

NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

THE U.S. OFFICIALLY HIT THE DEBT CEILING AND THAT CEILING SET BY CONGRESS HAS A BORROWING LIMIT OF $31.4 TRILLION AND THAT NUMBER WAS HIT THIS MORNING.

AS A RESULT, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SET TO BEGIN WHAT IT CALLED EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO AVOID A DEFAULT AND CONGRESS HAS THE ABILITY TO RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT AND HAS DONE SO IN THE FAST BUT HARD-RIGHT REPUBLICANS SAYING IT WON'T HAPPEN THIS TIME AROUND AND MITCH MCCONNELL, ALSO A REPUBLICAN.

>> THE DEBT CEILING HAS TO BE LIFTED AND ALWAYS RATHER CONTENTIOUS.

THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS AMERICA MUST NEVER DEFAULT ON ITS DEBT AND NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL AND SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION OVER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONDITIONS OVER WHAT THE DEBT CEILING IS TO BE RAISED.

>> Ted: VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS ARRIVED AT LUKE AIRFORCE BASE AND THIS IS DESIGNED FOR THE PHOENIX AREA AND SOUTHERN AREA IT IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR AND JOINED BY DEB HAALAND ANDJENNIFER GRANDHOME.

AMBALDWIN POINTED A PISTOL SETTING UP A SCENE OUTSIDE OF SANTA FE AND THE GUN WAS LOADED AND WENT OFF AND THE CINEMATOGRAPHER WAS KILLED AND THE FILM'S DIRECTOR WAS INJURED.

THE SANTA FE DISTRICT ATTORNEY EXPLAINED WHY SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING ON THAT SET WAS NOT A SURPRISE.

>> WELL, THAT THERE WAS SUCH A LACK OF SAFETY AND SAFETY STANDARDS ON THAT SET AND LIVE ROUNDS ON SET AND MIXED IN WITH REGULAR DUMMY ROUNDS AND NOBODY WAS CHECKING THEM CONSISTENTLY AND THEY SOMEHOW GOT LOADED INTO A GUN, HANDED OFF TO ALEC BALDWIN AND DIDN'T DO ANYTHING HE WAS TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WAS SAFE AND POINTED THE GUN AT HE'LL HE'LL HUTCH HALYNA HUTCHINS.

>> Ted: BALDWIN AND ANOTHER MEMBER CHARGED WITH TWO KINDS OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WHO HANDED BALDWIN THE GUN RECEIVED A SUSPENDED SENTENCE AFTER AGREEING TO A PLEA DEAL.

>>> CALIFORNIA IS NO LONGER TO BE, QUOTE, UNDER EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS THAT THE DROUGHT MONITOR HASN'T GIVEN AN EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT RATING AND MORE THAN 90% OF THE STATE IS STILL UNDER A DROUGHT DESIGNATION.

>>> AS WE MENTIONED, THE U.S. HIT THE DEBT CEILING TRIGGERING THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO CALL EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO PREVENT A DEFAULT.

JOINING US NOW TO HELP EXPLAIN AND WHAT TO EXPECT, WE WELCOME JAY SPECTOR FROM BARTON SPECTOR AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE STATUTORY LIMIT THE GOVERNMENT CAN BORROW UP TO AND THE CONGRESS HAS SET A LIMIT OF 31.4 MILLION AND THE U.S. TREASURY CAN ISSUE UP TO THAT LIMIT.

>> Ted: HOW OFTEN HAS THE U.S. DEBT CEILING BEEN HIT AND NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED?

>> IN THE LAST DECADE OR TWO, IT'S BEEN REACHED QUITE OFTEN AND SINCE WORLD WORLD WAR II, THE DEBT CEILING HAD TO BE RAISED TWO TIMES AND THEY HAD TO RAISE THE EXPENDITURE OR DEBT LIMIT OVER 100 TIMES.

>> Ted: AGAIN, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW, HARD-RIGHT REPUBLICANS, CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THAT'S ENOUGH, WE DON'T NEED THIS ANYMORE.

SHOULD THIS NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED EARLIER AND IT WAS RAISED THREE TIMES UNDER DONALD TRUMP.

>> THEY HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO ADJUST THE DEBT LIMIT AND WHAT THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRYING TO TO HOLD OUR ECONOMY HOSTAGE, WHAT THEY'RE NOT REALIZING IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT US ALL IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

HOPEFULLY AS SENATOR MCCONNELL SAID, WE WON'T DEFAULT ON OUR DEBT OVER THE SUMMER.

IF WE GET CLOSE OR PASSED THAT DEFAULT, LOTS OF ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS WILL OCCUR.

SECURITY SECURITY CHECKS MIGHT BE DELAYED, MUSEUMS AND NATIONAL PARKS MIGHT BE CLOSED PARTICULAR YOUR TAX REFUND MIGHT BE DELAYED, GOVERNMENT STAFF WILL BE FURLOUGHED.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE U.S. ECONOMY IS CONCERNED, JUST IN GENERAL, HOW MUCH OF ALL OF THOSE THING YOU MENTIONED, HOW MUCH OF A HIT WOULD THOSE BE?

>> A VERY BIG HIT.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT RELY ON THOSE SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS EVERY MONTH, THEY TAKE THOSE SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS AND THEY GO SPEND THEM AT LOCAL STORES.

IF THAT SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK IS DELAYED, IT WILL HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY.

IF WE DEFAULT ON OUR DEBT AND I EXPECT WE WON'T, YOU WOULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC IMPLICATIONS.

YOU WOULD HAVE AN INCREASE IN U.S. TREASURY COSTS OR THE COST OF INTEREST TO THE GOVERNMENT TO BORROW AND YOU WOULD SEE ON THE CONSUMER LEVEL MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES GO UP, CAR LOANS GO UP, BUSINESS LOAN INTEREST COSTS GOING UP.

SO IT WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY.

WE'RE ALREADY POSSIBLY TEETERING IN A RECESSION, NOT IN A RECESSION AND WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE PASS WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE AND THIS COULD GUARANTEE THAT WE GO INTO REAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL.

>> Ted: AGAIN, YOU MENTIONED THE RECESSION COMING UP HERE AND JUST THE TALK ABOUT THIS, COULD THAT TRIGGER A RECESSION SHOULD IT COME?

>> I HOPE THAT JUST TALK OF THIS WON'T DO THAT.

WE NEED TO SEE MORE DEMONSTRATIVE THINGS RECUR FOR A RECESSION TO HAPPEN.

DON'T FORGET, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE DEBT CEILING LIMIT BEING REACHED IS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVE.

APPROVED.

CONGRESS APPROVED THE SPENDING AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT TAKING IN ENOUGH RESOURCES OR RECEIPTS TO COVER WHAT THEY'VE OBLIGATED AND THEY HAVE TO GET TO A POINT THEY DO THIS.

HAVING TO CUT THE BUDGET OR CUTTING OTHER EXPENSES SHOULD HAPPEN BUT SHOULDN'T BE TIED TO THE OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.

>> Ted: AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED HERE, RAISING THE DEBT CEILING DOESN'T ADD NEW DEBT.

IT'S JUST PAYING WHAT YOU GOT TO PAY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING OUT TO YOUR VIEWERS AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC IS THAT THIS IS FOR EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS, MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT OR JUST TRYING TO PAY THE BILLS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY AUTHORIZED AND SPENT.

>> Ted: THE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SAID AND WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

>> WHAT THEY MEAN BY EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REDEEM EARLY TREASURY OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE IN SOME OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RETIREMENT PROGRAMS.

THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DELAY CONTRIBUTIONS TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT FEDERAL PENSION PROGRAMS.

THUS REPURPOSING THAT CASH TO PAY CURRENT DEBT OBLIGATIONS ON A DAILY AND MONTHLY BASIS.

SO THEY'RE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE STREET UNTIL THEY GET TO A DATE WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS THE "X DATE" AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DATE IS YET, BUT SOMETIME MID TO EARLY SUMMER WHERE THEY HAVE THAT INCREASED TO HAVE THAT PAYING THE DAILY BILLS OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> Ted: I THINK I SAW JUNE 1st OR SOMETHING.

>> JUNE 5th IS WHAT THE SECRETARY TREASURER MENTIONED TODAY BUT DEPENDING HOW THEY WORK, IT COULD BE A FEW WEEKS SOONER.

>> Ted: LET'S SAY THIS CONVERSATION CONTINUES AND THERE'S STILL NOTHING HAPPENING AND THE DEBT CEILING IS NOT RAISED, IS THE IMPACT -- DOES IT IMPACT THE ECONOMY, THE GENERAL ECONOMY, THE WORLD ECONOMY INCREASINGLY AS WE GET CLOSER NO THAT DATE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE WILL GET SKITTISH.

THE FULL FAITH OF THE UNITED STATES IS CALLED INTO QUESTION.

WE ARE THE STRONGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD AND PEOPLE RELY ON US.

WE'RE BENCHMARKED FOR THAT AND SO, I THINK THEY'RE PLAYING WITH A POLITICAL FOOTBALL THAT REALLY IS TOO HOT FOR THEM TO HANDLE.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND FOUR DOING THIS FOR US.

>> SURE.

>> Ted: WILL THEY DO THIS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER OR IS THIS A GAME OF CHICKEN THAT WILL GO ON ALL YEAR?

>> BULKLE UP, TED.

THEY WILL GO ON LATE MAY, EARLY JUNE.

THEY'LL NEED TO COME TOGETHER -- CONGRESS WILL NODE TO NEED TO GET TOGETHER WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

IN 2011, THIS WAS THE RECENT DISCUSSION, BUT DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION, THEY SUCCESSFULLY IF A BIPARTISAN MANNER RAISED THE DEBT LIMIT AND IT CAN BE DONE, BUT I THINK WITH THE NEW CONGRESS, I THINK THEY'LL TRY TO EXACT SOME THINGS OUT OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

SO I THINK IT'S A BUMPY RIDE THIS SPRING.

PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION AND I HOPE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CAN GET THIS DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> Ted: THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET.

TED UP >> Ted: UP NEXT, AN OPENING OF A NEW GALLERY AT THE PHOENIX ZOO.

>> Ted: THE PHOENIX ZOO IS FEATURING A NEW EXHIBIT, BETWEEN RIVER AND RIM, HIKING ACROSS THE GRAND CANYON AND SHOWCASES BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CANYON AND JOINING US NOW AND THE GALLERY IS JEAN BINGHAM AND PETER McBRIDE AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: JEAN, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT AND THE NEW GALLERY AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> IT'S AN EXCITING THING AT THE PHOENIX ZOO AND ALWAYS EXCITING AT THE PHOENIX ZOO.

ART'S COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR A FEW YEARS TO BRING BEAUTIFUL ROTATING ART EXHIBITS TO THE ZOO WITH THE INTENTION OF INSPIRING PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD.

SO ALL OF OUR EXHIBITS ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON ANIMAL AND HABITATS AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE GRAND CANYON TRUST AND HELPING US TO BRING THIS TO LIFE WHICH WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE OPENING OF OUR GALLERY AND "BETWEEN THE RIVER AND RIM" WITH WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETE AND KEVIN AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ON FEBRUARY 2nd.

>> Ted: PETE McBRIDE, THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THIS CHRONICLES A JOURNEY THAT YOU AND YOUR COAUTHOR, WHAT, 800-MILE JOURNEY.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> IT'S TRUE, 800 MILES.

THERE'S A THIRSTY AFFAIR AND WE WORKED, BASICALLY, FROM THE EAST ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE CANYON, INSIDE THE CANYON AND BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE RIMS.

AND WE DOCUMENTED IT FOR "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" TO SHOW THE BOOST AND BEAUTY AND FRAGILITY AND THE PRESSURE AROUND IT, DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES THAT CONTINUE TO BE HAPPENING.

>> Ted: WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE AND A SUNSET COMING UP AND A STARRY NIGHT.

WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE, EVERYONE THINKS THEY TAKE A GREAT SHOT OF THE GRAND CANYON AND YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND YOU HIKED THROUGH THIS THING.

DO YOU PICTURES JUMP OUT AT YOU AND HOW DO YOU FIND WHAT TO SHOOT?

>> IT WAS CHALLENGING.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED LANDSCAPES IN THE WORLD AND I HAD TO FIND IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

I SPENT OVER 100 NIGHTS OUT THERE AND GOT IN SOME SPOTS THAT I THINK FEW PEOPLE HAVE EVER STOOD, AT LEAST WITH A CAMERA.

THINK THAT HELPS.

I JUST TRIED TO DOCUMENT SOME VERY SPECIAL PLACES, SPECIAL NOT JUST TO TOURISTS AND NATIVE AMERICANS THAT LIVE IN AND AROUND THE GRAND CANYON.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS AN EXHIBIT THAT INSPIRES AS FAR AS NATURE AND ANIMALS?

>> IT'S TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD AND BY COLLABORATING WITH THE GRAND CANYON TRUST PRESERVING THE COLORADO PLATEAU INCLUDING THE GRAND CANYON, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL COLLABORATION TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT TO US IN OUR STATE, THE ANIMALS AND HABITAT AND COMBINING THAT WITH THE WILDSIDE CAPITALLERY WITH PETE'S WONDERFUL PHOTO EXHIBIT.

THE GALLERY ITSELF IS A WONDERFUL PIECE OF ARIZONA HISTORY.

>> Ted: TALK TO US ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE WASN'T IT WARM UP OF THE ORIGINAL EXHIBITS AT THE ZOO?

>> BUILT IN 1970 AND A TYPICAL MIDCENTURY 1,970,000,000,000 1970 BUILDING AND IT IS THE ORIGINAL AUDITORIUM AND MEETING FOR THE ZOO.

IT'S FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR AND OUR VERY VISIONARY CEO SAID LET'S MAKE THIS INTO A PERMANENT ART GALLERY.

WE'RE ON THE ART COMMITTEE AND THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

WE'RE RESTORING IT TRUE TO MIDCENTURY MODERN STYLE AND OPEN ON FEBRUARY 2nd WITH NOT ONLY A PRESENTATION BY PETE AND KEVIN SADARCO IN THE NEW AMP AMPTHEATER.

>> Ted: ANY VIDEOS OR PHOTOS.

>> IT'S CALLED END OF THE GRAND CANYON ON DISNEY+ AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FILM SNIPPETS AND HUMOR AND KEVIN AND I LOOK TO POKE FUN AT ONE ANOTHER AND WE'RE A BIT LIKE A TIGGER AND EYEORE TEAM.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER, AN 800-MILE JOURNEY AND ANY SURPRISES THAT YOU FOUND DURING THE JOURNEY?

>> MANY SURPRISES AND ONE ELEMENT THAT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD -- AND I'LL GIVE TWO AND TALK ABOUT MORE ON FEBRUARY 2nd, AS WELL, HOW AMAZING THAT NIGHT'S SKY IS IN THE GRAND CANYON AND HOW RARE IT'S BECOMING IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S HARD TO SEE THE NIGHT'S SKY AS CLEAR AS WE CAN IN PLACES LIKE THE GRAND CANYON.

THE SECOND ONE, WHICH WAS SURPRISING BEING A VISUAL PERSON IS THE LEVEL OF SILENCE.

IT CAN BE TENSE AND THIS BLANKET OF SILENCE AND THAT HANGS IN THE LANDSCAPE AND WE'RE LIVING IN A NOISIER WORLD AND WE'RE LEARNING THE VALUE OF SILENCE FOR THE ELEMENT OF HEALTH.

IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.

NOW I REALIZE THAT IT'S ANOTHER REASON TO PROTECT THESE PLACES.

>> Ted: LIKE LIVING THE WAY PEOPLE DID HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, HUH, WITH THE LIGHT AND THE SOUND AND EVERYTHING.

JEAN, ONE MORE TIME, WHERE CAN PEOPLE WATCH THIS AND EXPERIENCE THIS?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE OPENING FEBRUARY 2nd AT THE PHOENIX ZOO AND THEY CAN GET TICKETS THROUGH PHOENIXZOO.ORG AND A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION BY PETE AND KEVIN, AS WELL AS THE GALLERY OPENING AND FOOD AND BEVERAGES.

IT'S A WONDERFUL EVENING AND THE GALLERY IS OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WITH GENERAL ADMISSION.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS, PHOTOS WERE STUNNING AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪♪ >> Ted: AN AUTHOR DEVELOPING A COMPANY THAT FEATURES BLACK SUPERHEROES AND A LABOR OF LOVE TO ALLOW BLACK KIDS TO ALLOW THEMSELVES IN THE PAGES OF COMICBOOKS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS.

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN THIS?

>> WELL, BOTH OF MY PARENTS WHEN I WAS 14, ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO AND MY DAD GOT INTO ME INTO THE LOVE OF COMICSBOOKS AND MY MOM INTO WRITING AND I WANTED TO BRING BLACK SUPERHEROES INTO THE WORLD.

>> Ted: DID YOU MODEL YOUR HEROES AFTER ANYTHING IN.

>> I?

>> I WOULD RUN AROUND THE HOUSE YELLING OUT THINGS AND I WANTED TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING.

>> Ted: THIS WAS INSTANT?

>> YES.

>> Ted: TALK TO US ABOUT "INSTANT."

>> I AM "INSTANT," THE SUPERHERO AND I GET POWERS AFTER STRUCK BY A CAR AND A SCIENTIST GIVES ME POWER ANDPOWERS AND I DON'T WANT THEM.

>> Ted: WHEN YOU SAY IT'S YOU IN THE COMICBOOK AND YOU ARE THE SUPERHERO AND WHAT MADE YOU MAKE THAT DECISION?

>> I THOUGHT I HAD THE POWER TO MAKE MYSELF ONE AND WHY NOT.

>> Ted: NOW, YOU'RE DOING THE WRITING AND WHO IS DOING THE ILLUSTRATING?

>> DONEPYDONE BY AJ SEREZO ON INSTAGRAM.

>> Ted: AND HE DID IT, HUH?

>> PRETTY MUCH, YEAH.

I JUST EXPLAINED WHAT THE STORY WAS ABOUT AND I TOOK INTEREST IN HIS ARTWORK AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING IN THE PHILIPPINES COMMUNICATING THROUGH INSTAGRAM AND IT WORKED OUT JUST FINE.

>> Ted: BEING THE STAR, IS IT EASIER OR MORE DIFFICULT TO WRITE THE STORY?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS CHALLENGING AT FIRST, BUT IT BECAME EASY.

I JUST HAVE TO TAKE MY HEAD OUT OF THE SUPERHERO PART AND COMPLETELY LOOK AT THIS AS A WRITER AND IT WORKED OUT.

>> Ted: WHEN AUTHORS ARE ON THE PROGRAM, WE TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTERS AND OFTENTIMES THEY SAY THE CHARACTERS DO THINGS I'M NOT READY FOR AND THIS TIME, THE CHARACTER IS YOU.

ARE YOU DOING THINGS ON THE PAGE THAT YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING?

>> I TRIED TO BRING AS MUCH OF MYSELF AS I COULD INTO THE HERO BECAUSE I WANTED TO BRING THAT SENSE OF RELATABILITY AND EASY TO WRITE A FICTIONAL CHARACTER WITH PROBLEMS AND I WANTED TO BRING MY REAL LIFE PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE COULD SAY, IF I MEET HIM IN REAL LIFE, WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET.

>> Ted: RELATING IS A BIG PART OF WHAT YOU DO AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK SUPERHEROS.

>> IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE JOE ON THE STREET, SOMEONE MAY NOT KNOW.

AND TO NAME FIVE MIGHT SUPERHEROES, THEY COULD DO AND AND NAME FIVE BLACK SUPERHEROES, THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T.

I WANTED TO BRING SOMEONE PEOPLE TO LOOK UP TO AND DRESS PLAY FOR HALLOWEEN.

>> Ted: ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK KIDS, THERE'S A SUPERHERO THAT LOOKS LIKE ME AND ESPECIALLY THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU AND THAT IS ME.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BLACK LEADERS AND BLACK KIDS.

>> NO, I DON'T DISCRIMINATE ANY RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

ANYONE IS WELCOME TO LOVE MY CHARACTER, SEE THEMSELVES AS MY CHARACTERS AND RELATE TO THEM IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

>> Ted: THAT WAS YOUR BOOK ON AMAZON AND YOU STARTED A COMICBOOK COMPANY, AS WELL.

>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I RETAINED OPENERSHIP OF ALL OF MY WORK AND SEEING EVERYTHING THE WAY I WANTED TO AND SO THAT MY WORK CAN GET PUSHED OUT TO THE WORLD THE WAY I WANTED TO AND I PUSHED MY COMICBOOKS FURTHER.

>> Ted: HOW DIFFICULT WAS THAT PROCESS?

>> IT WAS CHALLENGING AT FIRST AND GETTING TO LEARN THE IN'S AND OUT'S AND BECAME EASIER OVER TIME.

>> Ted: ARE YOU BRINGING PEOPLE IN?

>> I'M DOING THE COMICS MYSELF AND STARS AS FAR AS STORY-TELLING, THAT'S ME GOING FORWARD.

>> Ted: THAT'S A CHALLENGE AND THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

>> IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND KIND OF INSPIRING WATCHING ANIME AND MONGA AUTHORS AND THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE IN JAPAN.

THEY DO THE ARTWORK THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE IT REALLY HARD AND THEY DO A LOT OF WORK.

I SAW THAT AS INSPIRATION AND I WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING AS MUCH AS I COULD.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, GIVING CREDIT TO THE ARTISTS.

>> Ted: HOLLYWOOD, TV, ANYONE STARTING TO NOSE AROUND A LITTLE BIT?

>> NOT YET, BUT I HAVE PLANS IN THE FUTURE AND I WANT TO PLAY MYSELF IN A LIVE ACTION MOVIE, ANIMATED AND I KNOW ONE DAY THAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT I'M WAITING FOR THAT.

>> Ted: SOME OF US WERE KIDS A LONG TIME AGO AND WE REMEMBER OUR COMICBOOKBOOKS AND HAVE THEY CHANGED?

>> I THINK THE CORE OF THE SUPERHEROS STAY THE SAME AND REVAMPS AND RETELLINGS JUST TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE MODERN TIMES.

>> Ted: IT'S STILL A PANEL AND ACTION IN THE PANEL AND A STORYBOARD?

>> STORYBOARD ACTION, 22 PAGES PER ISSUE AND MINE RAN ABOUT 77 PAGES FOR THE FIRST ISSUE AND THREE TIMES LONGER AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF I WOULD TELL AN ORIGIN STORY, IT WAS DONE RIGHT AND YOU DIDN'T FEEL YOU WERE LEFT OFF TOO EARLY.

>> Ted: CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF THE YOUR SUCCESS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

COMICBOOK CREATOR OF "INSTANT."

>> I'M IN CASA GRANDE AND PEOPLE CAN KEEP UP WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM.

>> Ted: THANK YOU, SIR AND THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.