An Interview with Mike King!

Mike King is perhaps most well known for his comic, Teen Wizard, in which the escapades of Dave--an armless, teenage, magus-in-training--are portrayed. King recently released Teen Wizard volume one and two, with more comics to be expected in the coming year. I had the pleasure of interviewing the artist about his comic, life, and creative processes. Read below!

+++
THE INTERVIEW
+++ 

Have you always been artistically driven?

I didn't really draw until I was legally an adult for a few years, and have not been a particularly driven or motivated person until more recently. All of my childhood experiences with art were frustrating and miserable.


What came first for you, comics or street art?
My first drawings ever were on postage labels. Philadelphia used to have a lot of fantastic artists who drew little cartoon guys on stickers and post them everywhere.

Are there any artists who have influenced your work throughout the years?
I haven't been at this for very long but I am best friends with all of my favorite artists. I find myself striving to get on their level and make work that is of similar quality. It's hard to suck at drawing when you have to show people like Rachel Dukes and Benji Nate.
  


I understand you attempted to attend a school to study art, however that didn't work out. Nonetheless you appear to have a sense of drive that many non-students (and many current students/graduates) seem to lack. Can you comment on this? What keeps you focused and how do you set and maintain those goals?
I am able to continually produce work because I love making comics more than anything else I have ever done. I don't play video games or do a lot of the things people seem to struggle with because I would honestly much rather be drawing.

I have actually been forced to leave school twice for financial reasons. I really do have a fantasy of one day figuring it out, but I am in my mid twenties now so the window is definitely closing. One of the few things I was lucky enough to experience with my brief attempt at higher education was seeing a talk called "Your Comics Will Love You Back" by Alec Longstreth. I would say that was one of the more important things that has ever happened to me as a person.

Walk us through your creative process. What do you use to create and what inspires you?
I don't really know how to answer this, and feel like people's answers to this and similar questions are usually silly. I spend as much time as possible making things and try to make each thing better than the last one. I also try to consume good things that have nothing to do with comics and try to apply what I like about them to what I do. I am not sure it has changed my work at all though.

I draw with a lot of different tools, but the tools really aren't important. You can make a great comic with anything that will lay down a consistent black line. I always draw on Strathmore 300 smooth paper though. It's cheap and has never let me down.

You recently published the first volume of Teen Wizard, which must of been quite exiting. How did you come up with the idea for Teen Wizard and when did you begin creating it?
I am actually in the middle of drawing the third book right now. I have been doing it monthly, but I may have to go bi-monthly because getting books printed and shipped eats up so much time that I would rather spend drawing.

Teen Wizard happened when I woke up one day this year and realized school wasn't going to be a possibility and I needed to keep myself going somehow. It's just the first thing that happened when I sat down to come up with a concept.

Did you create any comics before Teen Wizard?
Yes. Please don't look for them.

Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring comic book artists out there?
If you love it do it, if you don't stop. Take care of your body. Stop playing video games. Don't ever take advice from anyone who isn't better than you or isn't Ray Bradbury.

+++
RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS
+++

I like to ask a couple of random questions that don't really pertain to anything. That way fans and readers can get to know you a little more. These are like rapid-fire questions--it's all about your gut response--so don't think about them too long!

If you could hang out with any modern-day mythological creature (i.e. Big Foot, Nessie, Yeti, etc.) who would it be and what would you do?
Maybe Bigfoot. I don't know what I would want to do, but I had a pretty strange obsession with it for a while as a kid.


Dinosaurs or Transformers?
Dinosaurs.

Favorite film?
Wild Strawberries.

Would you rather control time or the weather?
Time. I could always use more.

If you could hop a plane right now and it could take you anywhere in the world, where would go?
Right now I need to finish this book and I am actually very happy drawing in my apartment. If I can bring someone with me I could go for breakfast, but it doesn't really matter where.

Do you possess any odd skills?
I have a good grasp of how plumbing works and can fix a leaky sink.

Ultimate meal?
Anything vegan with anyone I like.

+++

To get your own copy of Teen Wizard, you can purchase a volume from Mike's online store or read the comic online.  Also, be sure to follow Mike King on Tumblr to keep up with his latest escapades.