Drawing is a natural stage of development for each and every person, but uniquely, Branch Sword recounts himself being an inspired five year-old, creating complex comic book-style characters influenced by his friends, and making stories to give them as birthday presents. Nowadays, you can find Sword’s comic, Joey and Friends, on the Maroon and White website.

Sword’s mother, Katie Sword has always been strikingly aware of Branch’s fascination with superhero comics. It’s held true since he could articulate ideas, and even before he was able to put them on paper himself.

“He really wanted to color superheroes and he wanted me or his dad to draw superheroes so he could color them,” Katie Sword said. “So we started tracing. We would draw Thor and Iron Man and Spiderman then we’d give them to Branch to color.”

Fortunately, this wasn’t just a family activity for Branch, it became a passion driven by hundreds of different comics. Near the end of his elementary school career, he became interested in taking things to the next level.

“He said, ‘If I make a whole comic book, will you print it and go copy it?’” And I was like, yeah, sure. And so he went to town and wrote his first Appalachian Zombies,” Katie Sword said.

Upon the release of his first volume, Branch Sword was met with overwhelming support.

“I made ten copies, and I put it on social media with a little picture of him with the copies that I made,” Katie Sword said. “Like a whole 30 or 40 people responded, and I was like, I gotta go to Office Depot!”

Branch continued with his series Appalachian Zombies for another two years, eventually finishing the series at volume five. After the long winded efforts of Appalachian Zombies he found himself ready for something new.

“I had been kicking around the idea of Joey and Friends for a little bit,” Branch Sword said. “I had just gotten done with my other comic series, Appalachian Zombies, and I was so burnt out on the story.”

In the fall semester of 2024, Sword joined Maroon and White, the platform that brought Joey and Friends to life. But writing and illustrating Joey and Friends has come with its own set of challenges.

Working for the publication added new expectations and deadlines.

“I need to figure out what the flaws are as quickly as possible, so I just learn from it and move on,” Branch Sword said.

Two key experiences have shaped Branch Sword’s artistic development in high school. The first one was art teacher Shawn Graham’s class.

“One of the biggest things I like about Branch is how much he’s evolved. You know, when Branch got over here, he was still doing all black and white,” Graham said. “Color was a big transition for him, and now that vibrancy he creates out of color is a massive strength to what he does.”

The second key experience that molded the way Branch creates is the Interlochen Art and Design summer intensive, where Branch was met with an eye-opening experience. He became immersed in an environment with young artists just like him.

“I got so used to waking up and being inspired by everything around me,” Branch Sword said. “With the environment of the kids I was around, my stuff instantly got better. I’d be like, ‘Hey, how do you do that thing I like?’ And they would tell me.”

Interlochen also greatly improved Branch’s ability to see past his flaws, and even embrace them.

“His timing was so slow because he’d overthink stuff and freak out,” Katie Sword said. “And now he’s not afraid to sketch things out, move on and then return to it instead of obsessing over one thing. Not getting spun out is worth every penny of tuition.”

As Branch Sword’s senior year approaches, he and his parents face the big question of college.

“We cautiously say, maybe you should have a backup, or when we were thinking about colleges and programs, maybe you should have something that you could do while you pursue [art]” Katie Sword said.

While his parents air on the side of caution, Branch is confident in his path. He looks up to an abundance of comic artists who have done what he wishes to achieve like Tennessee High alumni Scottie Young, and Eric Powell who built a successful independent career without college.

“Branch is like, ‘See, I could do it by myself.’ And I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m sure his mom and dad could probably help him a little bit’” Katie Sword said.

Branch’s dream is to follow in the footsteps of his family member Sam Brumbaugh, a film and TV character designer, and attend Rhode Island School of Design.

“I know [RISD is] what he wants, but I don’t know if he can get in, I don’t know if we can afford it” Katie Sword said. “But RISD has a summer intensive and we talk about it all the time.”

But no matter where Branch ends up, whether that’s the Rhode Island School of Design or next door at King University, he will continue to do what he loves and inspire others, all with endless support along the way.

“The one thing I think you could learn from Branch isn’t even artistic,” Graham said. “it’s more about finding a passion for something you enjoy doing.”

This story was originally published on Maroon and White on October 10, 2025.