Jefferson Native Wants To Fight Bullying With Comic Books

JEFFERSON, NJ — After being bullied so badly she dropped out of high school, one Jefferson native knew she needed to address it somehow. Using comic books, 18-year-old Abbey Sager is fighting back against bullies.

Sagar launched the nonprofit Diverse Gaming Coalition as a way to speak out against bullying, and is currently developing a comic book where a bullied main character learns to ask for help. The first sketches were unveiled earlier this month at Flame Con in Brooklyn.

“It’s a lot about self-help, telling a peer, telling a teacher that you’re having these
issues and they need to be resolved,” said Sager. “This comic book is something fun and engaging, and maybe a bully might read it and relate to the story and stop bullying someone because of it.”

Sagar began the initiative after she dropped out of Jefferson Township High School before her senior year, where she said she was the victim of physical and verbal bullying. She turned to video games as a release, but found bullies there as well.

“Being bullied is something I wouldn't wish on anyone in any form. It's something that is so emotionally draining that it wears you down physically as well. For me, it was skipping school, staying in bed, not eating right, and getting below average grades," Sagar said.

Sagar said the bullying took a toll on all aspects of her life, not just school.

"When you do that to someone, it makes them give up their will to do a lot of things, especially things that they love, and that's what bullying did to me. It made me give up video games, friendships, and so much more. But, it's not to say that you have to give up and give in. Once you realize that you're more than enough, you can power through a lot," Sagar said.

The Coalition is in the process of becoming an official 501(c)(3), and has received $2,000 in grant money from the Allstate Foundation Good Starts Young Rally. Sagar is hoping to raise an additional $3,000 for a first printing of the comic book, which will be illustrated by Jack Smith. Sagar said the book is on track to be finished by the end of 2017.

For more information, visit Diverse Gaming Coalition's website here.

Image via Abbey Sagar