Best of the Bronx: Disabled comic book artist draws with mouth

<p>Bronx-born comic book artist Louis Cruz suffers from a disability that doesn't allow him to use his arms or hands, however, it hasn't stopped him from doing what he loves; the 45-year-old uses his mouth to write and illustrate comic books.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 19, 2017, 11:53 AM

Updated 2,690 days ago

Share:

Bronx-born comic book artist Louis Cruz suffers from a disability that doesn't allow him to use his arms or hands, however, it hasn't stopped him from doing what he loves; the 45-year-old uses his mouth to write and illustrate comic books.
"I actually wanted to be a police officer when I was young. But my doctor told me I couldn't do it because of my disability," he says. 
Born and raised in Morris Heights Cruz has a love for all things sci-fi.
"My parents encouraged me to do writing and drawing."
Encouraging him because Arthrogryposis is a condition when joints don't move as normal.
"I used to write with my hands. And this teacher in high school was writing so fast I couldn’t keep up so I said you know what, let me put a pen in my mouth and I kept going from there."
And at the age of 14, he figured if he could write with his mouth - he could draw too.
"I picked up writing better because it easier to describe a character than to draw it and I've been doing it ever since."
Cruz works with other artists to draw what he imagines. And he has a pretty packed resume.
He has been published twice and has produced titles like 'Cursed and the Damned,' a werewolves vs. zombies comic, and a five-page anthology for art comic. 
"Don’t let anyone tell you that you can't do anything. Your imagination is what gives you the energy to do what you want," he says.