Tony Weaver, Jr. is a storyteller that creates diverse worlds where every person can find their place. After racism and bullying led to a suicide attempt in his teens, the pages of manga and graphic novels gave him the courage to continue living. As an act of gratitude, Tony made a commitment to tell stories that offered acceptance, hope, and inspiration for anyone who’s ever felt left out. He’s the creator of The UnCommons, an award-winning webcomic series with over 2.5 million readers. Plus, he’s the founder of Weird Enough Productions, a national nonprofit that uses diverse comics to improve social emotional wellness for over 400,000 students annually. His writing has landed him on the TED Stage, attracted coverage from NBC, The Huffington Post, and The Mary Sue, and landed him honors from organizations like Microsoft, Gucci, and Coca-Cola. Shortly after launching his first series, The UnCommons, he made history as the first comic writer to ever be selected for Forbes’s “30 Under 30.” Since then, his momentum hasn’t slowed down for a moment.

Due to its major impact, excerpts of The UnCommons are currently on display at The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture, and it’s being developed into an animated series. He’s also the author of Weirdo, a middle grade memoir chronicling his childhood battle with suicide, which was acquired at auction by FirstSecond Books, making him the first black male to publish a book with the imprint in over 20 years. His writing has been so impactful, he was named a Global Barrier Breaker by Marriott International, a History Shaker by Coca-Cola, Warner Media honored him with The Aspire Award, and CNN selected him as a Champion for Change. Earlier this month, MIT awarded him the Elevate Prize for Antiracism in Technology, making him the first African American male to win the award. Tony’s writing prowess has not only garnered him institutional accolades but has built him a loyal following of over half a million fans on TikTok. His positive influence in the nerd community is so strong, that recently Funko selected him to be the first public figure to ever be profiled on the side of a Funko Pop Figure Box.

Tony knows what it’s like to be lost in the dark, so he’s made it his mission to be a lighthouse, using his writing to guide young people through tough times and situations. By being open and vulnerable about his childhood experiences, and telling new stories that uplift underrepresented voices, Tony hopes to show everyone that as long as you pursue your personal truth you’re never too weird, you’re just Weird Enough.