How to Be Comic Book Cartoonist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Aug 26, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The rise of comic book cartoonists has been a direct cause of the increased popularity of comic books. This rise can be attributed to several factors, such as the advancements in digital technology, which have enabled artists to create highly detailed illustrations with ease. the emergence of streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime have allowed viewers to access a wide range of comic books, making them accessible to a larger audience.

Furthermore, the rise of social media has made it easier for comic book cartoonists to reach out to potential fans and promote their work. All of these factors have contributed to the increasing popularity of comic books, resulting in more opportunities for comic book cartoonists.

Steps How to Become

Develop Your Story Ideas. Start by creating a concept for your comic book. Think about characters and plot lines, and develop your stories into scripts.
Learn to Draw. If you want to create your own comic book, you'll need to learn how to draw. Consider taking a class or investing in some books and tutorials to help you learn the basics of comic book art.
Create Your Art. Once you have your story ideas, it's time to start drawing your comic book. Use pencils, pens, markers, and other tools to create your panels and illustrations.
Write Your Scripts. You'll need to write the script for your comic book as well. Think of your comic as a movie, and write down the dialogue and action that will appear in each panel.
Get Professional Help. If you're struggling with any part of the process, it's a good idea to hire an editor or other professional to help you refine your script and art.
Publish Your Comic Book. Once you've finished creating your comic book, it's time to get it out there. Consider self-publishing options or look for publishers that may be interested in your work.

In order to become a reliable and efficient comic book cartoonist, it is important to be creative, organized, and dedicated. Creativity is essential because it allows the artist to come up with original ideas for stories and characters. Organization is key when trying to make sure that deadlines are met and that art is kept up to date.

Dedication is also necessary, as it enables the cartoonist to put in the hard work and time needed to create high quality content. These three elements can help ensure that any comic book cartoonist is reliable and efficient.

You may want to check Graphic Novel Cartoonist, Flash Artist, and Visual Development Supervisor/Director for alternative.

Job Description

Storyboard Artist: Responsible for creating storyboards for comic book cartoons based on scripts, visuals, and other creative direction.
Penciler: Responsible for sketching and inking the pencil drawings of the comic book cartoon.
Colorist: Responsible for adding color to the comic book cartoon using various painting and digital tools.
Letterer: Responsible for lettering the comic book cartoon, including the placement of text, balloons, captions, and sound effects.
Layout Artist: Responsible for designing the overall look and feel of the comic book cartoon, including the placement of panels and other visual elements.
Digital Artist: Responsible for creating digital versions of the comic book cartoon, including coloring, lettering, and layout work.
Editor: Responsible for overseeing the creative process for the comic book cartoon, including proofreading scripts, approving artwork, and coordinating with writers, artists, and other personnel.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Drawing skills: The ability to create illustrations that are visually appealing and accurately depict the desired subject.
Storytelling skills: The ability to create engaging storylines and develop characters for comic books.
Creative problem-solving: The ability to come up with new ideas and approaches to solving creative challenges.
Research skills: The ability to find and incorporate relevant information into comic books.
Attention to detail: The ability to notice small details in both drawings and stories.
Color theory: The ability to understand and use colors effectively in comic book illustrations.
Layout and design: The ability to create interesting page layouts and compositions for comic book pages.
Digital art software knowledge: The ability to use software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create digital art.
Self-promotion: The ability to promote oneself and their work in order to gain recognition and new opportunities.

Being a successful comic book cartoonist requires a wide range of skills, but among the most important are creativity, storytelling, and artistry. Creativity is essential for coming up with original storylines and characters that will draw readers in. Storytelling allows the cartoonist to capture the attention of their audience and to convey the story in an engaging way.

Artistry is also paramount as it allows the cartoonist to turn their ideas into visual representations that bring the story and characters to life. All three of these skills are necessary for a successful comic book cartoonist, and working hard to develop them can lead to a thriving career in comics.

Character Designer, Character Technical Director/Lead, and Animation Character Designer are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What inspired you to become a comic book cartoonist?
How would you describe your style of art?
What does storytelling through visual mediums mean to you?
How do you come up with ideas for new comic books or cartoons?
What techniques do you use to bring your characters to life on the page?
What challenges have you faced while creating comic books and cartoons?
Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring comic book cartoonists?
How do you stay motivated when creating a long-term comic book series?
In what ways have you adapted your style of artwork to suit the changing times?
What do you think is the most important element of a successful comic book or cartoon?

Common Tools in Industry

Pencils. Used to draw and sketch the panels of a comic book, (eg: Tomb Raider pencils).
Inking Pens. Used to outline and add detail to the pencil drawings in a comic book, (eg: Sakura Pigma Micron Pens).
Markers. Used to colour and shade the drawings, (eg: Copic Markers).
Digital Drawing Tablet. Used to draw digitally on a computer, (eg: Wacom Intuos Pro Digital Graphic Drawing Tablet).
Pen Tablet. Used to draw digitally with a stylus on paper, (eg: Wacom Cintiq 13HD Creative Pen Display).
Computer Software. Used to create digital art and colour comic book pages, (eg: Adobe Photoshop).

Professional Organizations to Know

The American Association of Editors
The National Cartoonists Society
Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
The Black Artists Association
The National Association of Comic Art Educators
Digital Media Licensing Association
National Cartoon Art Gallery
Society of Illustrators
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Arts Council

We also have 3D Modeler/Texture Artist, Animation Technical Director/Lead, and Compositing Supervisor/Director jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Pencillers. Comic book cartoonists who draw the initial pencil artwork for a comic book.
Inkers. Comic book cartoonists who take the penciled artwork and ink it with pens and brushes.
Colorists. Comic book cartoonists who provide the colors to the inked artwork.
Letterers. Comic book cartoonists who provide the lettering and sound effects for the artwork.
Writers. Comic book cartoonists who provide the story and dialogue for the artwork.
Layout Artists. Comic book cartoonists who design the page layout for a comic book.
Cover Artists. Comic book cartoonists who design the covers for a comic book.
Storyboard Artists. Comic book cartoonists who create visual storyboards of the action in a comic book.
Concept Artists. Comic book cartoonists who design characters, settings, and props for a comic book.
Digital Artists. Comic book cartoonists who create artwork for a comic book using digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Stan Lee?

Stan Lee was a renowned American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He was the former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and co-created popular characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and the Incredible Hulk.

What year was the first Marvel Comic published?

The first Marvel Comic was published in 1939 and was titled Marvel Comics #1.

Who is Jack Kirby?

Jack Kirby was an American comic book artist and co-creator of Marvel Comics. He worked with Stan Lee on numerous iconic titles such as Fantastic Four, X-Men, and The Avengers. He was also responsible for the creation of the Marvel Universe.