Creator Spotlight: How a Star Football Player Funded His Comic Book on Kickstarter
A conversation with Notre Dame running back and anime and Manga-inspired comics creator Jeremiyah Love
Jeremiyah Love is the number 1 running back in college football.
This year the Notre Dame standout was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, widely recognized as college football's top honor.
What you may not know, is that he also makes comics.
In fact, during the 2025 college football season, one where he was excelling on the field, he also launched and successfully funded a comic book through Kickstarter. It's called Jeremonstar, and it's the first sports comic book by a Division 1 athlete.
Love collaborated on the anime and Manga-inspired Jeremonstar with his father, who'd introduced him to comics when he was a child.
The project, which funded in December with 307 backers, focuses on a world where super-powered athletes, known as Olympians, dominate the Power Leagues, where competition has evolved beyond human limits. As Love puts it in his project description, "Think Dragon Ball Z meets college football."
Being a D-1 athlete take a lot of time and effort, as does dreaming up and publishing a comic. We were curious about what brought Love to this moment, how he managed his time, and what he thinks of as success and failure, among other things. So we asked him a few questions.
What path led you to where you are today, as both an athlete and a comic book creator?
My path has really been about following my passions. Sports, especially football has always been my love. The discipline, the competition, comradery and the work ethic. But I’ve also always loved anime and Manga. My father helped me realize that I could do both—be an athlete and tell my story of being an athlete through my love for Manga. That’s how Jeremonstar was born, out of wanting to express my love for sports through comic storytelling.
Mixam
Being an athlete is a full-time endeavor. How do you make time for creative projects like Jeremonstar?
It definitely takes balance. My schedule is crazy, so I just carve out little pockets of time even 20 or 30 minutes to work on the story with my creative team. You don’t need hours if you’re consistent. If you show up every day, even in small ways, the progress adds up. And honestly, it’s a great mental reset from practice and games.
Comics and anime give me a totally different vibe than football. Football is super structured—learning plays, defensive and offensive reads, responsibilities you’ve got to be locked in. But when I’m working on my comic, it’s way more open. I get to blend my story with football and turn it into something fun and action-packed.
Working on Jeremonstar made me realize I’m not just an athlete. I’m actually creating something. I’m building a world, imagining characters, connecting with people in a different way.
What’s been the most surprising thing about putting your comic out into the world?
Honestly, the biggest surprise is how many different people connect with it. Some folks love the football angle, some are into the anime vibe, and some just think it’s cool that I’m doing something outside the sport. I didn’t expect that kind of range. It’s wild seeing something you made actually resonate with people.
What’s it like collaborating with your father on Jeremonstar?
It’s been really fun, honestly. Me and my dad have always been close, but working on something creative together is a whole different experience. We bounce ideas off each other, argue a little, laugh a lot—it’s just a cool process. And it’s taught me how to listen better and trust someone else’s vision. It’s made the comic better, and it’s brought us even closer.
How does collaboration fit into your life as an athlete?
Football is basically one big collaboration. You can’t do anything by yourself not as a running back, not at any position. You’ve got your O-line, your coaches, your teammates, everyone working toward the same goal. It’s like its own little community. Working on the comic with my dad feels similar in a way. Different setting, but same idea: communicate, trust each other, and build something together.
What do you consider success?
For me, success is growth and being better every day. If I can look back and see that I’ve improved as a player, as a creator, as a person that’s a win. It’s not just about stats or attention. It’s about impact. If something I do inspires somebody or makes them feel seen, that’s real success.
What do you consider failure, and how do you find success in it?
To me there is no such thing as failure, it’s just a part of life. Things happen in football, in art, in life. This year we were robbed from playing in the college football playoffs and I didn’t win the Heisman. But I don’t see it as failure, it’s more like feedback. Some of my biggest jumps came right after something didn’t go my way. If you’re willing to learn from it, failure actually pushes you forward.
Brandon Stosuy
