About AESA
AESA follows the grieving Mills-Mendoza family after they bring home Runt, an awkward rescue puppy with anxiety, depression, and plenty of emotional baggage of his own. What these unsuspecting humans don’t realize is that some animals are part of a secret organization called AESA (the Agency of Emotional Support Animals), dedicated to protecting people — especially children — during their most vulnerable moments.
There’s just one problem: Runt was never supposed to have this assignment, and he is nowhere near prepared to provide anyone with emotional support. As the Mills-Mendoza kids struggle with the loss of their mother, Runt is thrust into a responsibility he may not be capable of handling... forcing a deeply imperfect dog to confront whether someone who is struggling himself can still help others through their darkest moments.
Our Mission Statement
AESA follows the grieving Mills-Mendoza family after they bring home Runt, an awkward rescue puppy with anxiety, depression, and plenty of emotional baggage of his own. What these unsuspecting humans don’t realize is that some animals are part of a secret organization called AESA (the Agency of Emotional Support Animals), dedicated to protecting people — especially children — during their most vulnerable moments.
There’s just one problem: Runt was never supposed to have this assignment, and he is nowhere near prepared to provide anyone with emotional support. As the Mills-Mendoza kids struggle with the loss of their mother, Runt is thrust into a responsibility he may not be capable of handling... forcing a deeply imperfect dog to confront whether someone who is struggling himself can still help others through their darkest moments.
The Creators!
Mike "Spike" Scarberry is the creator and writer of AESA and founder of Fractured Castle Comics. A lifelong storyteller with a passion for comics, film, and emotionally grounded genre stories, Spike created AESA to combine an entertaining adventure with meaningful conversations about youth mental health. He writes about creativity and the entertainment industry as a contributor to Pipeline Artists, and is a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers.
Jeferson Sadzinski is a Brazilian comic book artist. His interest in sequential art began in childhood, inspired by reading manga and watching cartoons. Fascinated by visual narrative, he developed his skills in drawing and storytelling and went on to pursue a career in comic books. Throughout his career, he has worked on a variety of independent comic book projects and collaborated with publishers such as Mad Cave Studios and DC Comics.
Melinda Timpone is the colorist of AESA and a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design. She previously worked with HiFi Colour Design on titles including Teen Titans and SpongeBob, and has also created two webcomics and two coloring books of her own. A lifelong animal lover, Melinda shares her home with two cats and has previously cared for guinea pigs — and even a flying squirrel.
