Pixels & Panels: A Show About Webcomics

This week, we were joined by our interns Bee, Mike, and Reni, who were a part of Glow's inaugural summer 2024 internship class. They did an incredible job coming up with 3 amazing visual novel games in a matter of weeks, and we sat down with them to talk about how the internship went and what their experience was. Follow them and Glow on social: @glowartcompany @sketchi_bee @mzo.art @rosy.renirooo Hope you all enjoy the listen!

This week we chat with Meki, the creator of Teddy & Bear on Tapas! She's an amazing guest and an even better storyteller (both on the pod and at telling comics, heh) and we know you'll love listening to her! Follow Meki's work: https://tapas.io/series/Teddy--Bear/info

We chat with 66 of City of Blank this week! Follow us on Instagram. Follow 66 on Instagram.

Today's chat is with the lovely Nick Seluk, the creator of The Awkward Yeti. We chat everything from his foray into comics, the earliest days of the comic before it become the mega title it is today, and how he continues to adapt around the always-changing industry. Follow Nick on IG Follow Us on IG

Hello beloved listener. We're SO excited to be back for another season! We're joined this episode by Ksenia, who works with both Chapters and Spotlight to make engaging interactive stories. Ksenia tells us about how they work, why they're such a big business, and what you can do to create the next hit series in this format.

Hi everybody, we have a special episode today, where we're joined by the executive team at Tapas Media, one of the largest webcomic publishing platforms globally. Michael Son is the VP of Content and works closely on the studio side and turning webcomics into tv and film adaptations, and Isabell Castro is a creator-turned-community-director who focuses on making Tapas a great home for its creators. You don't want to miss this episode because we'll be covering topics such as learning about Tapas' origin story leading into becoming such a powerful platform it is today, discuss how it's different from Webtoon and what you can expect as a creator when you work with Tapas, get Michael and Isabell's opinions on the recent issues of creator burnout, learn about the behind-the-scenes working behind a webcomic becoming an original and getting cross-adapted into other formats, and finally what to expect from Tapas moving forward as it continues to invest in content and creators.

Hi everybody, we're joined today by Madamka, the massively talented Hungarian creator behind the webtoon canvas series Diamond Dive. We had a great time unpacking Madamka's story, learning about how working on Diamond Dive has led to her learning more about herself, how fragments of her personality as it developed over the years are sprinkled in throughout her characters, a special tier that she has on Patreon and the hilarious backstory behind it, and about what she's up to after Diamond Dive. Check out Madamka's work: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/diamond-dive-gl/list?title_no=268118

Hi everybody, we're joined today by Aki, the trilingual creator behind the webtoon canvas series Villainess for Hire. She has lived in China, Canada, and Japan, and is no stranger to making comics that elicit deep thought and emotion, like her viral short comic Nine Lives you might have come across on Tumbler in the past. It was a blast to unpack Aki's story, learning about how her knowledge of Eastern and Western cultures informs her approach to shaping stories, her involvement in the Tonari no Young Jump competition judged by Assassination Classroom's Yusei Matsui and how it kicked off her creative portfolio in comics, and her pragmatic approach to making comics that you can potentially use to have fun and enjoy the work. Check out Aki's work: https://akimiya.carrd.co/

Hi everybody, we're joined today by Alissa, the German creator behind the webtoon canvas series To Be Honest. The story follows Leon as he lands in an orphanage and finds himself roommates with Gilbert, the most hated kid in Leon's new school.   We had a great time learning about Alissa's story, from her professional work in animation and how it has impacted her comic, to her passion for her story and how it drives her to do her best work regardless of the size of the audience, and about how to deal with anxiety around being good enough in art, and how to combat it. Check out Alissa's work: https://linktr.ee/alissacolors

We're joined today by Mae, the creator behind the webtoon canvas series First Ones Out. The story follows a cast of six soon-to-separate friends in their last few months of high school in Bangkok, a time we can all recall as hectic and a bit scary to internalize. It was a blast talking through Mae's story, learning about how she carved out a path forward in art by getting a scholarship to animation school, how what she learned in uni has helped improve First Ones Out in both story and art, and how to maintain a good headspace through the challenging journey that is storytelling. Check out Mae's work: https://www.instagram.com/m4eph/?hl=en  

Hi everybody, we're joined today by Bang Grim, the creator behind the Webcomic adaptation of the iconic Wattpad series, Play the Game. We had a great time unpacking Bang's story. We learn about her gorgeous art style and what influenced it, unearth the backstory behind adapting an existing written hit series and getting the original creator excited about the adaptation, and discuss how she manages to juggles her busy life as a civil engineering fourth year student with her comic work, among so many other passion projects. Check out her comic: https://linktr.ee/banggrim  

Hi everybody, we're joined today by Uche, the creator behind the wildly hilarious Webtoon Original, Vibe Check. And as personal updates, Akhil has been traveling across the world and I've been relocating cross country so we appreciate everyone's patience as we've been away the past few weeks. But we have so many amazing episodes in the queue so we're excited to be back.   We had a lot of fun unpacking Uche's story, including what it's like to portray himself as a squishy, imperfect lead character in his series and the resulting vulnerability, discuss the loving support he's gotten from his fans who aren't afraid to also be hilarious, and talk through the underrepresentation of black creators on Webtoon and what can be done about it, and so much more. Check out Uche's work: https://www.instagram.com/ucheomaaa/

Hello everybody, we're joined today by Professor Scott, the co-creator behind the new fantasy webcomic FAIRHOME. We had a lot of fun unpacking Scott's story, whose comic FAIRHOME has been over 15 years in the making. We chatted about him working with multiple illustrators before finding the incredible Damian who illustrates Fairhome in the current style, learn about how his investment into LOST and subsequent disappointment upon the completion of the story cemented his philosophy on writing a story fans will feel good about beginning, middle, and end, and talk about why important it is for him for his comic to be a safe space for its fans. Check out FAIRHOME: https://linktr.ee/fairhomecomic  

Hello everybody, we're joined today by Izy, the creator behind the BL webcomic REEDS. We had a really insightful discussion with Izy, and to preview the episode, Izy talks about his love for visual storytelling and how it has led him down the path of creating comics, discusses the ongoing research he's done to create an accurate representation of Hmong people and what it's like to see so many people interesting in learning about it through his comic, and shares his data-centric approach to growing his IP and his simple but effective philosophy of failing forward that we were inspired by. Check out Izy's work: https://linktr.ee/zzsleeps 

Hi everyone! We have a very special episode for you today. After many months of begging and persistance, our hard work paid off and we're pleased to bring you Steph Yeoh, the creator of Reunion on our pod. Her series has been one of the scintillating stars of Webtoon, rocketing to over a million subs in less than a year, and cementing its place as the one of the most successful Originals series launched in the past year. Despite her success, we were impressed by her grounded attitude, her voracious desire to improve, and of course her amazing story. Hope you enjoy the listen. Check out her work: https://linktr.ee/stephattyy 

We're joined today by Mina, who creates the webcomic GEN Z on Webtoon Canvas. In the story, we get to watch four members of the band ‘Gen Z' Akira, Moon, Zuke, and Avian chaotically living together as they come of age. We're excited to share the conversation with had with Mina, where we discussed topics such as design and fashion inspirations for the distinct and well-dressed characters she's created, how she sources many of the episode plots from things that have happened around her, her positive experience creating plushies for GEN Z fans, and when we can expect the comic to return from its hiatus. Check out her work: https://linktr.ee/animrac

Hey everybody, we're joined today by Kris Nguyen, whose work Cape of Spirits won the 2018 Webtoon Discover contest. She currently produces Fictional Skin for Webtoon Originals, a drama series told from the view of Finn, a closeted nerd who loves drawing comics and his cousin Vivi, an outgoing student who jarringly finds that the new guy at school is just like a character out of a video game, and may be more than just a lookalike. We had an amazing discussion with Kris, and to preview the episode, Kris talks about the beginning of her career working with Monty Oum on the acclaimed web series RWBY, gives us a behind the scenes account of what it was like to win the Webtoon contest, divulges her weekly process for Fictional Skin, and also gives us an honest assessment of how working for Webtoon Originals has changed since her first Originals series in 2018, and what creators should know before becoming an Originals creators. Check out Kris' work: https://linktr.ee/hukaka  

Hey listener, today's guest is Sarah, an outstanding animation student who also produces a warm princess story called The Princess Plot on Webtoon Canvas. This enthralling series is about a princess who wants to experience freedom for just a bit longer ahead of her upcoming marriage to a prince she's never met before, and the princess' maid who finds that pretending to be someone you've known all your life is still not very easy. We have a packed agenda for you today, but previewing the episode, Sarah shares her philosophy on making something you love without thinking too much about numbers, the notable evolution of her art style within the series, why comics don't necessarily need dialogue to tell a good story, and future of the series as she enters her final year as an animation major in uni. Check out Sarah's linktree here: https://linktr.ee/skyhuas

We have two guests we're delighted to present, a veteran novelist and comic creator mccull, and her jovial editor rowdy. We're excited to talk about their current BL comic The Leg Less Traveled, where we follow Fletch and Judas' cross-country roadtrip and the music, the diversity, and the romance they find along the way. We'll learn about the friendship mccull and rowdy cultivated over the years, from a writer/reader bond to eventually becoming mccull's indispensable editor. We'll also chat about a beautiful episode they worked tirelessly to portray Judas' emotional musical performance for Fletch, and discuss why you should be reading The Leg Less Traveled right now. Check out TLLT: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/the-leg-less-traveled-bl/list?title_no=605385

Today's guest is Robin, a supremely talented 21 year old art college student. We're excited to share with you the story behind their BL webcomic Chainlinked, where we follow the sometimes awkward but always heartwarming encounters between the lead characters Danny and Hunter .   We'll chat about the genesis of Chainlinked and why it was important for Robin to portray happy representation of queer characters, how they learned to stockpile buffer episodes and adjusted to the vertical webtoon format, and discuss how to stay ahead of trends and leverage animatics as a way to build an audience on TikTok. Check out Robin's work: https://linktr.ee/rainycacti/

Today's guest is Secret Pie, a creator of many talents, including entomology, making music, and of course making comics. We're excited to share with you the story behind her offbeat webcomic Broccoli Soup, where we follow a young Broccoli's life in a void with their best friend Doris.   We'll chat about her dynamic and unforgettable art style (which makes you feel like you're in a new art exhibition every week), her passion for music and how she incorporates it into her comic, and discuss why she wants to see more weird comics in an industry dominated by romance and action genres. Check out her work: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/broccoli-soup/list?title_no=625936

Today's guests are Laundromat & Lawnmower, two talented sisters behind one of my personal favorite webcomics, Poor People Go to Hell. In this gripping fantasy webcomic, we follow our protagonist Agnes' pursuit of the truth as she investigates the sudden disappearance of her parents and the mysterious cult that may be behind it all.   We'll learn about how their mad scientist-turned writer keeps the audience on their toes with her layered approach to storytelling, how their illustrator has found incredible success developing such a unique art style, how they negotiate and sometimes fight through an ultimately  robust creative process, and how they've magically unlocked TikTok as a channel to market their work. Please check out there work here: https://msha.ke/laundromatlawnmower/

We're joined today by Cecilia, a talented creator and animator based in Canada. Her current comic, Lemon Soda & Coffee is a heartwarming romance where the lead character Axel falls in love with a stranger he runs into in a street, and against all odds, serendipitously becomes her new neighbor. We discuss her foray into comics starting from growing up in Hungary to attending animation school in Canada, her regimented work style and its ramifications, positive and negative, and shares some honest advice for up and coming comic creators.   Check out Cecilia's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/made_by_cecilia

Today's guest is Soy, a rising creator from Hong Kong. She's the genius behind the comic Stare Down, where a seemingly innocuous stare down turns into a fun romance between two high school students. We discuss her foray into comics, and her interesting methods for character design, such as reverse engineering from myers briggs personality types. Having grown her comic on Canvas to nearly 200,000 subscribers and Patreon to nearly 400 users in the year and half since launch, she also shares some tips and tricks for growing your comic.   Check out her wonderful work: https://linktr.ee/soycisoy

Today's guest is Xhioqi, a young, talented creator from the Philippines. Her lead comic, The Onion Villainess, follows the story of a high schooler who one day wakes up as the tragic character from the novel she was reading, a villainous empress who was killed by her own kin. We talk about her foray into comics, from initially using art as an escape, to disproving the notion that readers wouldn't want to read an amateur's work, to building a webcomic with over 100,000 subscribers while still in high school. We loved her hustle in learning the craft from watching YouTube, and making creative TikTok videos to market her comic. She also has a refreshing mindset that helps her avoid burnout while juggling multiple comic projects.   Check out her work here: https://linktr.ee/Xhioqi

Today's guest is Mongie, the creator of the Eisner-award nominated romantic comedy webcomic Let's Play, a story that follows Sam's life as her video game development career collides with unexpectedly budding romance. In today's episode, we talk about how Mongie pivoted from playing the tuba, to developing software as a programmer, to finally taking the leap and starting Let's Play. We also discuss Let's Play's meteoric rise to webcomic fame and what that meant as a digital creator, and learn about how Let's Play is crossing over into print and into television. She even shares some practical tips for creators looking to add more heft to each episode, so don't go anywhere. Check out Leeanne's work: https://linktr.ee/mongrelmarie

Today's guest is Plastic B, the creator of the hit fantasy webcomic 21st Century Knights, a story that follows the journey of Theresa, a croc-wearing knight whose quest to find a mysterious white-haired knight reveals the darker truths about the world she lives in. We delve into important topics such as the representation in comics, where she discusses the striking absence of black characters webcomics, and the powerful feedback she's received in shaping black characters in her own stories; we learn about her journey working on multiple Canvas comics before becoming an Originals creator; and we receive some honest advice for early comic creators looking to sustain their work. Oh, and did you know she teaches an amazing class for those looking to learn how to illustrate and create compelling characters and stories? For access to her class and her work, check out: https://linktr.ee/plasticbottru

Today's guest is FaintSayu, the creator of the hit slice of life comic Shark Girl Umi, where we follow the life of the affable girl with 3 rows of teeth and how she turns the life of the aloof protagonist upside down. We discuss her journey in making comics, her secrets for success in amassing and engaging a loyal audience, and learn tips for maintaining a positive community.   Check out FaintSayu's work: https://linktr.ee/FaintSayu

Today's guest is Liz, the creator of the hit comedy webtoon, Finding Fiends, a story chronicling a Steve Irwin-like Finn as he hunts cryptids with his cameraman mothman on his way to internet vlogging fame. We had a great time unpacking Liz's story, learning about how she harnessed her love for telling stories through her comics, why cryptids fascinates her so much and underpins her story, some smart advice on using Instagram to build your rolodex, and some advice for rising art students if they are contemplating comics as an art teacher herself. Check out Liz' work: https://lizardxlizard.carrd.co/

Today's guest is Tom Akel, one of the most connected and influential leaders in the comic industry. The projects he's touched over his career have come to delight fans over every medium imaginable, from producing Jersey Shore at MTV, to leading Webtoon's  stunning expansion as its former editor-in-chief, and now helping digitally native comics physically get into the hands of fans all over the world as the CEO of Rocketship Entertainment. We talk through his decorated experience in the media space and how it has shaped how he thinks about content and helping creators today, learn about what it was like in the earliest days of Webtoon when it was forming its identity and he was shaping its portfolio of content, and talk through Rocketship's mission and what to expect from it this year and beyond. We learned a ton from our conversation with Tom, and hope you enjoy it too.   Check Rocketship Entertainment: https://rocketshipent.com/

Today's guest is Jjo Lee, the creator of the popular webtoon original Lost in Translation, a story set in Korea that follows the K-pop group Mayhem's rise to fame. Underneath the cover of success, not everything is as it seems with Mayhem, and Jjo Lee wonderfully narrates through the darker sides of the ostensibly glamorous industry. Today, we talk through her unorthodox career pivot out of pharmacy, her journey starting Lost in Translation as a hobby to an original with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, and her unique approach to breathing life to Mayhem through cool projects such as music production and social media.   Check out her work here! https://www.webtoons.com/en/drama/lost-in-translation/list?title_no=1882&page=1

Today's guest is Are-chan, the creator of the hit romance comic we all loved and enjoyed LUFF, and her new comic Senorita Cometa, a more serious story about a girl living in corrupt and crime-ridden Latin America that decides to take matters into her own hands by becoming a phantom thief. We cover meaty topics such as her backstory for becoming a comic creator, her entire journey creating LUFF, starting from originating the idea at a stoplight to recently concluding with over a million subscribers, and tackling a more serious and personal topic through her new comic.   Check out her work here: https://linktr.ee/arechanga

Today's guest is Jess Herron, the creator of one of our favorite sports comics, Midnight Furies. It's a dynamic sports drama about Zoe Maxwell, a teen who's dropped out of school to support her family and joins a supernatural, underground basketball tournament. We cover big topics such as writing a story that is underrepresented with confidence, how she came to develop such a strong, energetic art style that fits the notoriously difficult sports genre, and defining one's own success for creators slowly advancing their comic. Check out Jess' amazing work here: https://linktr.ee/jpherron 

Today's guest is Robin Dassen. His slice of life comic Twin Dragons follows the daily lives of the twin dragon hybrids Kai and Kaya, as they navigate and find their place in the human world. We talk about the creation process that allows him to continue to keep the comic interesting after many years, how he creates entertaining spin-offs, and what his techniques are to build and service a tight-knit community. Hope you enjoy the listen.   Check out Robin's work: https://www.twindragonscomic.com/

We're delighted to host Teo Ferrazi as our guest today, the creator of one of iconic Webtoons, Adventures of God. We talk about his fortuitous foray into the wonderful world of comics, learn about how he met his illustrator Corey, and get some words of wisdom for new creators. We loved talking to Teo and hope you enjoy the listen. Check out Teo's work: https://www.webtoons.com/en/creator/v25xr  

We're delighted to host Purpah as our guest today, the creator of one of our personal favorites, Suitor Armor. We talk about her journey in becoming a comic creator, learn about the amazing origin story of Morpheus and Lucia, discuss the meteoric rise of the comic and what that has meant for Purpah, and even get a sneak preview of the future of Suitor Armor. Check out her work: https://linktr.ee/Purpah  

Our guest today is Jonathan Lareva , who you might recognize as the author of the enthralling zombie comic, Zombie Wife. While most zombie series are filled with utter nihilism, Zombie Wife took us for a surprise with its optimistic angle. We talk through Jonathan's foray into comics and the many inspirations behind Zombie Wife, and talk through an exciting new series he's working on next called Ancient Airwaves, and when you can expect it next. Check out JD's IG: https://instagram.com/jonathanlareva Read Zombie Wife: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/zombie-wife/list?title_no=316272  

Our guest today is Dirk Vanover, a lawyer with extensive experience in the entertainment sector and in helping protect comic creators. He also authors a helpful blog called comicslawyer.com and has written a book called Comics Startup 101 that's free to read via Amazon Kindle. With Dirk, we demystify what a comic lawyer actually does, talk through why it's important to consult a lawyer as a creator, and talk through where you can get legal help, even for free. One free legal resource that Dirk mentioned is Lawyers for Creative Arts https://law-arts.org/, which he's a part of. Don't be afraid to reach out and consult if you think you need legal help and are financially constrained. We didn't get to Dirk's top 3 comics on the podcast, but he tells us it's collected work of Claremont's X-Men run, The Death of Superman, and Invincible.  

Our guest today is Monica Gallahger, a decorated veteran when it comes to all things comics. Her impressive body of work spans over two decades and most recently includes Assassin Roommate, The Black Ghost, and her upcoming comic adaptation, Anti Stepbrother. Today, we talk about why she believes attending comic conventions are vital as a creator, her expansive portfolio and the behind the scenes stories behind them, and where she's headed next. Check out her work at http://www.eatyourlipstick.com/  

Have you ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes at Naver Webtoon? Or what a comic editor does? Want to know why it's so important to have an editor for your work? We will answer all of those questions and more today with our guest Dayna Broder. Dayna was one of the earliest editors at Webtoon, having worked with many Originals projects such as Blades of Furry, Four Leaf, House of Stars, and Witch Creek Road. Check out her portfolio at daynabroder.com  

Horror comic fans, we have a special treat for you today. We're joined by Garth and Kenan, the duo behind Witch Creek Road, which is one of the most popular originals series on Webtoons. We talk today about working effectively as a writer and artist combo, learn about what kind of support you can expect as a Webtoon Originals creator, and even get some advice on how to become one. Please check out their work on witchcreekroad.com  

We're joined today by Felix Lu, an agent representing dozens of top comic creators and a massive comic collector. His knowledge of the industry is second to none, having been an enthusiast of the industry for over five decades. Today, we learn about why he collects comics, how he helps comic creators as their agent, imparts some must-hear advice for newer creators, and talks through some of the shifts he's seeing in the industry. You can check out Felix's company and the artists he represents here: https://linktr.ee/felixcomicart

Our guest today is Boredman, one of the earliest Originals creators on Webtoons. His many enthralling projects include UnDeadEd, Apocalyptic Horseplay, and the currently live Blacksmith.  Today, we talk about how his decision to sign up for DeviantArt to support a friend led to his webcomic career, why it is so important to make a comic you want to read, and some tips to work your way to becoming an Originals creator. 

This week, we are excited to host Dimabelle, one of our favorite furry art creators. When she's not animating for famous companies in the day, she also creates a fun slice of life comic called CopyCat. We talk through her journey since she started in early 2021, and her many lessons learned along the way. Hope you enjoy today's listen! Check out Dimabelle at: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK4dvAddfZdzy1BUPfQjGXA Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/dimabelle Webtoons: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/copycat/cover/viewer?title_no=642554&episode_no=1

This week, we are excited to host Magrave Offline, who has probably recommended many of your favorite webcomics. We talk about: his origin story, how he views his role in the community, and future projects planned. You can follow MagraveOffline at https://www.youtube.com/c/Magrave/videos.

This week, we are excited to host Chris Robinson, Exclusives Partnerships Manager at Tapas Media. We talk about: what he learned starting as a comic editor at Marvel before moving to Tapas, the exciting new partnerships project he's working on and how you can get on his radar, and some tips for aspiring webtoon creators. You can follow Chris @chrisrobinson on Twitter and check out his portfolio at https://www.crob.info/about.

This week, we are excited to host Inma R. You may know her from her acclaimed series The Violinist and the Nerd, and her new series Wild Beast Forest House. We talk about: her journey from printing comics early in her career to becoming a digital comic creator, how BL has found a large home in the webcomic community, the backstory behind 'The Violinist and the Nerd', and why it's so important to her to give back to the community. Producer's note: We recorded this a few months ago at the onset of Wild Beast Forest House.  Please check her out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/InmaPollito And read her excellent comics by visiting: https://inmapollito.com/  

This week, we are joined by the creator of That Witch is My Sister, Rishala. We talk about: how she pivoted from pursuing a career in neuroscience to becoming a webcomic creator, how to use social media to stack the odds in your favor, her experience being a critiquing voice in a typically silent industry, and the IP business she's looking to build next. Please check her out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/c/rishala And read her comic at: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/that-witch-is-my-sister/list?title_no=672941&page=1

This week, we are joined by the creator of My Masochistic Boss, ArisasArt. We talk about: what she learned while studying webtoons that built sizable paying audiences on Patreon and practical tips that you can use to convert your audience, why you should give yourself the opportunity to fail, the next series she's working on, and changes she'd like to see in the industry. Please check out her work at: https://linktr.ee/ArisasArt 

We chat with Yuuning, the creator behind Dear Alice and Roommates about her journey as a webcomic creator. We dive into the genesis of her comics, learn how she spends her time when on and off the job, get some personal tips on being successful as a solo creator, and learn about what she's working on next. Check out her work at www.yuuning.com.