#marcusto

The Toronto Comics Anthology has always been an ongoing platform to showcase veteran as well as up-and-coming creators. In addition to featuring work from unpublished writers and artists in our fourth volume (now on Kickstarter), we conducted a series of short interviews to share helpful tips and insights with new creators.

We spoke to Marcus To about his experience working and comics and advice he’d give to newer creators. To is the artist on Joyride from BOOM! Studios, and the current Nightwing series at DC, where he splits artistic duties with Javier Fernandez, and which will be ending with issue 12

In To’s experience, getting work wasn’t as difficult as staying in comics. He is a self-taught artist, so for him drawing has always been the fun part, and staying motivated on late nights, trying to hit tight deadlines is more difficult than originally getting his foot in the door.

To is grateful to be surrounded by artists who motivate him at Toronto’s RAID Studio. Growing up in Alberta, To found there wasn’t much of a comics community, but that changed when he came to Toronto. Joining RAID, he met other artists who became some of his best friends, and who encouraged him to further develop his drawing skills. To is grateful for his studio mates’ encouragement that he persevere and learn by inking over his own work, and he’s excited to be a part such a vibrant comics community.

For the future of the comics industry, To says that more variety leads to a healthier industry. He’d love to see more comics created specifically for kids—there are more books than ever before, but they’re mostly aimed at adults. He reflected on the past, when comics were selling in higher numbers, but noted that there were fewer choices for comic readers. Today, there are more books and more variety, so To urges readers to fight for want they want to see either with your dollar, or by making comics yourself.

For creators preparing to share their comics for the first time, To stresses the importance of professionalism. He knows that some creators start out with the mistaken belief that they’re taking a hobby and trying to make it a job, but stresses that it should be treated like any other job. Especially with increased pressure to use and interact with fans (and other creators) on social media, it’s important to maintain professionalism other writers, artists, editors, and to fans as well. Even conventions have changed, To notes that they’re no longer “some guys rifling through dollar bins in a basement,” and believes that some creators are still catching up to the new landscape. 

While conventions are fun, they’re also an opportunity to meet your peers, and it’s important to make a good impression.

For more from Marcus To, you can check him out on Twitter, Tumblr, or at his website.