Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Casello and Nora Bengel.
Hi Kyle and Nora, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The creation of Noggin Comics occurred in 2017 as an Instagram account and blog. Noggin Comics can be considered our journey of expressing a love that Kyle and Nora share between each other and comic books. Before meeting Kyle, Nora was barely exposed to the medium outside of her brother’s Adventures of Tintin & Calvin and Hobbs collection, whereas Kyle has been exposed to comics his entire life thanks to animated films, video games and film. We quickly realized that we were venturing into reading comic books outside the visual medium and after work or school, we would find ourselves sitting on this small couch in a studio apartment reading collected volumes of classic comic runs together.
The idea behind the name is a little embarrassing, We were a year into dating each other and instead of saying “I love you”, we would say “Noggin” and the other would reply back with “Dude”. Yes, we stole that from Finding Nemo. One day, Kyle’s personal Instagram was hacked (he became an Instagram model in a few minutes), so we decided to take Instagram and just turn it into comic book related page, but we did not know what to call it, until Nora left for work one day and uttered the word “Noggin”. Noggin Comics was born initially as Noggin Entertainment.
At first, we had no traffic and our social media was pretty lackluster. It was not until we met a local artist and his wife at a small show in Saint Paul that we started to understand social media and grow the blog into a positive space for comic books and pop culture. Noggin Comics may not be here today if it was not for the support of Jaime Coker and his wife Trisha, almost 5 years later and their impact on us is still being felt.
Now after a couple of years of posting on Instagram, creating our own website to randomly write blogs, as well as when Kyle took on a comic book review position at Twin City Geeks (Not his full time job but wishes it could be). Noggin Comics has become a small YouTube channel that produces weekly videos. By creating the channel, we feel like we have achieved the goal of creating a space and a voice in the comic community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
At first, there were zero obstacles or challenges. But after attending comic conventions and comic book shows, we wanted more from it and realized that there was something there. Once the realization of being able to turn Noggin Comics into something that could have a following, some obstacles occurred. One of the earliest challenges was finding an audience, having issues understanding Instagram and social media proved to be challenging especially when that is the main platform.
Since moving to YouTube and turning that into our main focus, the challenges that we face have grown. Finding time as Nora has grown into a successful role at Mind’s Eye Comics in Burnsville. Kyle works in Human Resources and Finance at a university, and with other commitments in the comic community like help organize a comic show, finding time is the biggest challenge.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Noggin Comics has turned into a blog on every social media site (excluding Twitter) and is a growing YouTube channel about comic books. Noggin Comics is our second job outside of main jobs, but we are proud of the connections that we have built over the last couple of years. I do believe that the pandemic really helped out with allowing time to build a focus on what we wanted to turn Noggin Comics into. As for what sets us apart from others, it has to be the dynamics that we bring when working together on a video or how as a couple we may share different opinions on something and allow our voices to be heard.
What makes you happy?
Connecting with other creative minds and interacting with people that recognize us as Noggin Comics. The first time we were referred to as Noggin Comics was weird yet it brought us so much joy to see our work being noticed. We are happy with the opportunities that have come because of Noggin Comics, being able to go to New York Comic Con and C2E2 (Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo) and expand beyond Minnesota. Also interviewing creators is probably the most fun we have with our YouTube channel.
Honestly, Noggin Comics makes us both happy as it has turned into something that we created together and hopefully can be something that we do for a long time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://noggincomics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noggincomics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noggincomics
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoO6nDWqYpRm2Ogv0ucfInQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@noggincomics
Image Credits:
Jaime Coker Creations (logo)
