Nerdy Mewzings

Brandon Mendoza joins Nerdy Mewzings, going from a viewer and supporter, to featured guest! He is a Marvel Snap artist, character designer, cover artist, and teacher who is currently finishing his first sequential comic work on an upcoming, soon to be announced, project.
Brandon talks about chasing his sports dream while pursuing a basketball career, how a knee injury changed his trajectory and helped him in rediscovering his love of art. He reflects on the comic book that pulled him back into the art world, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s New 52 Flash.
He talks about his regimen of nightly practice, YouTube and magazine drills, landing production work on Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur during the pandemic, and getting a Marvel Snap assignment after an art director reacted to his art on an Instagram story!
We also talk about digital pencils versus traditional ink, influences from Brett Bean, Eric Canete, Kim Jacinto, Humberto Ramos, and Carlos Meglia, and the impact Daniel Warren Johnson’s livestreams have had on both of us.
Keep an eye out, as a preview of his new comic project is aimed at New York Comic Con this coming weekend!
Leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, & Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Brandon:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bmendoza_art
X - https://x.com/bmendozart
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brandon.mendoza.art
Patreon members get episodes early, a shoutout on the show, and can submit questions for upcoming guests! Join here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Welcome & basketball before comics
4:00 - Jordan, Derrick Rose & drawing on cards
7:00 - Digital tools vs the feel of watercolor
10:00 - Cartoons, an uncle’s Spawn stack & the Flash rack
15:00 - Meniscus injury & leaving engineering
21:00 - Graphic design, practice sheets & homework after midnight
27:00 - Character design & Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
34:00 - Pandemic silver linings
37:00 - Marvel Snap from an Instagram story
41:00 - Style: Bean, Canete, Ramos, Meglia
45:00 - DWJ, erasing & the mental side of drawing
51:00 - First sequential job with Juan Castro & Garrett Gunn
56:00 - Dream books: Flash, Batman Beyond, Daredevil
1:02:00 - Where to follow Brandon & outro

Writer Maya Kurita stops by Nerdy Mewzings and talks about the different kind of pressure that comes with calling yourself an author, working with a literary agent, and conquering deadlines leading up to publishing. Maya’s book in progress features monster hunting in Sengoku-era Japan, drawing inspiration from two of her favorite series, The Witcher and Shogun. It involves creatures from folklore, real historical figures in an alternate history, and a warden named Raiko who will not stop until he gets his brothers back.
She recalls a first middle-grade manuscript she wrote for her daughter, a year of drafts after being told Japanese fantasy “has no market,” then finding her agent through Alex Tamaki’s The Book of Fallen Leaves.
James and Maya compare comic deadlines to going on sub, talk the difference between comic and book conventions, meeting Matt Dinniman, the importance of writing groups, paying artists, and why AI covers and digital-only media make her want people to keep buying real books.
Leave a 5 STAR review if you want more creators outside the usual comic-artist lane, and remember, Keep it Nerdy! 
Follow Maya on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mn.kurita.writes
Patreon members get episodes 48 hours early, a shout out on the show, and can send questions for upcoming guests, join them here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Early mornings, MMA nights & warmup timing
4:00 - Pressure from fighting vs pressure from writing
7:00 - WorldCon, Rose City & book-community support
12:00 - Meeting Matt Dinniman (and not following him)
18:30 - Family in film, early reading & fantasy roots
21:00 - Elevator pitch: Witcher meets Shogun
23:00 - First manuscript, “no market,” finding an agent
27:00 - Deadlines: books vs monthly comics
33:00 - Who owns the work: indie vs Big Five
36:30 - Covers, paying artists & William Thompson
41:00 - Friendships, Japanese history group & feedback
47:00 - Basics over flash, drafts vs edits
53:00 - Online groups, resources, AI art & physical books
1:03:00 - Where to follow Maya & outro

Eric Canete returns to the Nerdy Mewzings Podcast following a trip to SuperManila Comic Con, which included a visit with family in the Philippines, and a year that saw him return to the world of comic books on Absolute Batman, featuring the debut of Absolute Poison Ivy! Eric talks about leaving a 15-year video-game job, getting pushed by longtime friends Matteo Scalera and Shawn Crystal to treat comics as the full-time gig, and how Ivan Brandon and Nick Dragotta opened the door for his return at New York Comic Con.
We talked about the process of finding his rhythm on the project via sample pages he made while sick after the show, designing Absolute Poison Ivy as a monster first then using the “pretty construct” as a rug pull, as well as the one line from Nick Dragotta that unlocked his ability to properly portray Absolute Batman.
He also covers his approach to using Otomo style screen tone, why he would train a new artist on six- and nine-panel pages before splash pages, creating Youngblood variants for Rob Liefeld, Skinbreaker variants with David Finch and Robert Kirkman, the possibility of Arc Athena collected editions, his time at Iconic Comics, and how storyboarding taught him to cut detail down to what the reader actually needs.
Leave a 5 STAR review and share with a friend if this kind of process talk helps you, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Eric:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ericcanete
X - https://x.com/EricCanete
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eric_canete
Subscribe to Eric's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ericcanete
Patreon supporters get episodes early, have their name shouted out on the pod, and can submit questions for upcoming guests for only $5 per month! Join here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome back & SuperManila Comic Con
2:30 - Family, academics & choosing comics
7:30 - Getting back in after the game-studio years
11:00 - NYCC, Nick Dragotta & Scott Snyder
16:00 - Sample pages, Poison Ivy design & the construct
23:00 - Drawing Absolute Batman like the Hulk
29:00 - Deadlines, pressure & finding a rendering approach
34:30 - How Eric would train a new storyteller
40:30 - Youngblood variants & changing his mind on Liefeld
45:00 - Skinbreaker, Kirkman & David Finch
48:30 - Arc Athena editions, Iconic Comics & Patreon Questions
54:30 - Animation habits on the page
57:00 - More Absolute? Terminal? Current Marvel covers
1:01:00 - Where to follow Eric & outro

Concept and Comic Artist Jin Han joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his career which has spanned comics (Spawn coloring and fill-in work), McFarlane Toys (lead concept artist), animation, and running Yellow Tracksuit Entertainment, which consults and designs for Hasbro, Mattel, Jazwares, Playmates Toys, Disney, Universal, and Sony.
Jin and James talk about the importance of creative diversification, how original art collecting taught him scale and the penciler-inker relationship, and why he’s been moving back toward traditional work after years of digital. They cover Whilce Portacio’s early digital pioneering, Brian Haberlin’s advice to hide brush strokes, Travis Charest’s constant evolution, Mike Mignola’s economy of form, and the realities of the original art and collectibles markets.
The conversation closes with a discussion about Marvel Studios laying off nearly its entire creative team, Disney’s AI partnerships, and how creators need to be prepared to pivot in ever changing times!
If you work in comics, toys, or concept art — or just love hearing how artistic veterans stay working — Leave a 5 STAR Review, share with friends, & Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Jin:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jinhan.art
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@jinhan_art
Official Website: https://www.yellowtracksuit.com/
Patreon Nerdy Insider Members receive each week's episode 48 hours early, a shoutout on the show, and other perks. Join them there for only $5 per month: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Why Diversification Matters
4:00 - Original Art Collecting & Learning from Pages
10:00 - Traditional vs Digital Process
17:00 - Whilce Portacio, Brian Haberlin & Adaptable Artists
21:00 - Travis Charest, Mignola & Artistic Evolution
25:00 - Artists Jin Collects
29:00 - Emotional Value vs Market Value
35:00 - Collectibles Speculation, FOMO & Human Nature
44:00 - Yellow Tracksuit Studio & Going Independent
51:00 - Marvel Studios Layoffs, Disney & AI
1:02:00 - Where to Find Jin & Outro

Independent Comic Book Creator Raymar Brunson ( ⁨@artofbrunson⁩ ) returns to Nerdy Mewzings more than a year after his first appearance with a packed slate: Ghost Man Haunts Again (issue 3, 56 pages, out October from Cosmic Lion Productions), self-published Gatling Boy with Kevin Anthony Catalan, Pickle PI, Damu, and an upcoming flip-book collab with Erwin Papa.
Raymar talks about jumping into comics in 2023 after years of photography and music videos, living at home to grind, networking with people already doing the work, and treating Ghost Man as a fun testing ground for his art. He breaks down digital pencils + traditional inks, tight thumbnails inspired by Chris Samnee, favorite tools, and influences from Bruce Timm and James Harren to Frank Miller, Jordi Bernet, and Alex Toth.
We also cover printing for self publishing, saying yes to almost everything, and why he still loves the Punisher-inspired vigilante at the heart of Ghost Man (now with sidekick Head Hauntcho).
If you love indie action comics, black-and-white storytelling, or creators who just keep shipping — Leave a 5 STAR Review, share with your friends, & Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Raymar: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/artofbrunson
X - https://x.com/artofbrunson
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@artofbrunson
Buy Raymar's Comics: https://cosmiclionproductions.com/comics-shop/ols/search?keywords=brunson
Snag Raymar's original art: https://www.panelpunk.com/collections/raymar-brunson
Join the Nerdy Insider Club on Patreon for early episode access, a shout out on the pod, and bonus content: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Raymar Brunson Returns
2:00 - Ghost Man 3, Gatling Boy & Current Work
8:00 - Collaborations, Mixam Printing & Kickstarter Plans
15:00 - Process: Digital Pencils, Traditional Inks & Tools
22:00 - Speed, Quality & Working Multiple Projects
28:00 - Art Origins, Influences & Switching from Film
36:00 - Photography/Cinematography Influence on Comics
43:00 - Ghost Man Premise, Head Hauntcho & New Issue
50:00 - Distribution, Upcoming Projects & Saying Yes
56:00 - Dream Big Two Characters & Composition Tips
63:00 - Where to Follow Raymar & Outro

Artist Colm Griffin stops by Nerdy Mewzings and becomes the fourth Irish comic creator on the show! We talked about how he is balancing a thriving film directing career along with his lifelong passion for comic books.
Colm shares about growing up in a small Irish town with limited comic access, the chance encounters that sent him into animation instead of fine art, and how versatility (penciling, inking, coloring, Adobe After Effects, editing) opened every door for his career.
We cover his 225-page self-made comic he worked on during a production lull, early IDW work on Beast Wars, the game-changing Radiant Black “Tron cover” for Kyle Higgins, current Power Rangers and upcoming Ninja Turtles covers, and a newly signed (still secret) project.
He also discusses studying artist editions, real-time feedback from Irish peers like Danny Earls and Declan Shalvey, treating art like a blue-collar job, and why he still draws for himself after a long day of directing.
If you love variant cover artists, Irish comics talent, or creators who wear multiple hats — Leave a 5 STAR Review, Share with a Friend, & Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Colm:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/artofcolmgriffin
X - https://x.com/Colgriff84
Currently nominated for a Ringo Award (Best Cover Artist – Power Rangers)
Become a Nerdy Mewzings Patreon member for early episode access, a shoutout on the show, and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/NerdyMewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Colm Griffin Joins Nerdy Mewzings
3:00 - Directing Career vs. Comic Passion
10:00 - Animation Path & Chance Encounters
16:00 - Early Comic Influences & Limited Access
22:00 - Artistic Influences & Style
28:00 - Breaking Into Comics: Beast Wars & Radiant Black
35:00 - Versatility in Film & Animation
42:00 - Studying Artist Editions & Mentors
50:00 - Storytelling from Film to Comics
55:00 - Upcoming Work, Ringo Nomination & Where to Follow
59:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings

Nate Myers joins Nerdy Mewzings to talk about his creator-owned series 'Predation', the joys and challenges of doing every creative role yourself, and launching successful Kickstarters from the Pacific Northwest. Nate shares childhood inspirations from Batman ’89, Ninja Turtles, ThunderCats, and Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man/Spawn, plus later influences like Andy Kubert and Erik Larsen. A lifelong doodler who taught himself through practice and YouTube, he walks the long path from a 2000s Kinko’s made comic to finally feeling ready to publish.
We dive into Predation’s story (hero Talis vs. overlord Ramus in a sci-fi/fantasy world blending Conan and ThunderCats vibes), his full-size thumbnail-to-Bristol process, traditional pencils/inks into digital color and lettering, and the lessons from his first successful Kickstarter.
Issue 2 is nearly complete, with a new Kickstarter planned right after Pacific Nerdwest and ashcan editions ready for the show https://pacificnerdwest.com
If you love solo creator-owned comics, process talk, or the indie comic book scene — Leave a 5 STAR review, Share with a friend, & Keep it Nerdy! 
Follow Nate:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/natescottart
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nate.myers.942
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealrealmcgarymyers
Become a Patreon Nerdy Mewzings Insider and receive each week's episode 48 hours early, a shoutout on the show, and more perks to come: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Nate Myers Joins Nerdy Mewzings
3:00 - Childhood Influences: Batman, Turtles & McFarlane
10:00 - Favorite Artists & How Tastes Evolve
15:00 - Early Drawing Days & Self-Taught Path
20:00 - Deciding to Create Predation
25:00 - Elevator Pitch for Predation
30:00 - Solo Creator Process: Pencils, Inks, Color & Lettering
38:00 - Page Layout, Eye Flow & Tools
45:00 - Digital vs Traditional & Procreate Tips
52:00 - First Kickstarter Lessons & Issue 2 Plans
58:00 - Pacific Nerdwest, Printing & Where to Follow
61:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings

Writer and Comedian Ryan Crowe joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his new comic book 'This Land Is Old and Dark', a three-issue horror miniseries from Invader Comics featuring stunning art by Abel Garcia.
Set in the late 18th century during westward expansion, the story explores themes of land ownership, the untamable wilderness, and humanity’s folly against primordial nature — all rendered in a striking black, red, and sepia palette born from smart creative constraints. Ryan shares how Scott Snyder mentored him through the Substack community, the economic and artistic choices that shaped the book’s unique look, discovering Abel Garcia on Instagram, and landing variant covers from legends like Michael Kaluta and Simon Bisley.
We also delve into his comedy background (Drunk Theater), lifelong love of writing and comics (from Superman and Spawn to Moebius and underground work), and what’s next after issue one (releasing late August) already broke sales records for the publisher!
If you love indie horror, thoughtful storytelling, or Scott Snyder — Leave a 5 STAR Review, Share with a Friend, & Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Ryan:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/doctorcrowe
Publisher - https://www.instagram.com/invadercomics
Become a Nerdy Insider on Patreon and receive each week's episode 48 hours early, a shoutout on the show, and more to come: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Ryan Crowe Joins Nerdy Mewzings
2:00 - Abel Garcia’s Art & Limited Color Choices
7:00 - Elevator Pitch for This Land Is Old and Dark
11:00 - Meeting Invader Comics & Choosing the Path
16:00 - Early Writing Roots & First Comics
22:00 - Comedy Career & Finding Time for Comics
28:00 - Collecting, Influences & Favorite Artists/Writers
35:00 - Release Plans, Covers & Kickstarter Trade
42:00 - Future Ideas & Advice for Creators
48:00 - Where to Follow Ryan & Outro

Maddax Mendonca (maddaxdraws), the young comic art prodigy, joins Nerdy Mewzings for his first podcast appearance to talk about starting to draw as a toddler, putting in endless hours of practice, and creating his own comic Infimind inspired by his brother's health struggles.
Maddax shares how Marvel, DC, Invincible, X-Men, and artists like Ryan Ottley, David Finch, and Todd McFarlane shaped him. He details putting in eight-hour drawing days as a kid, mastering colored pencil pieces that take 25–30+ hours, and studying Bridgman the way David Finch recommends.
We cover his SDCC booth experiences (including news coverage since age 11), meeting pros like Todd Beats, Jim Lee, and Wil Shrike, art trades, live TikTok streams every night, and the inspiration behind his creator owned comic book Infimind — a story about his brother gaining superpowers after an eye-surgery mishap. He’s already writing AND drawing the interiors for issue two!
If you love inspiring creators, colored pencil art, Invincible, or original comics — Leave a 5 STAR review & Keep it Nerdy!
Follow Maddax:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maddaxdraws
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@maddax.draws (LIVE most nights around 7:30pm)
Subscribe to Maddax on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maddaxdraws
Grab Infimind at https://www.maddaxdraws.com/
Become a member of the Nerdy Mewzings Patreon and get each week's episode 48 hours EARLY, a shoutout in each episode, and more to come: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Maddax Mendonca Joins Nerdy Mewzings
2:00 - Marvel, Invincible, Ottley & Finch Influences
8:00 - Starting Young & Putting in the Hours
14:00 - YouTube Learning, Mediums & Colored Pencil Focus
20:00 - SDCC Booth, News Clips & Meeting Pros
28:00 - Creating Infimind & Brother’s Inspiration
35:00 - Anatomy Study: Bridgman, Finch & Visual Library
42:00 - Comic-Con Experiences & Art Community
50:00 - Current Comics, Commissions & Second Issue
55:00 - Where to Follow Maddax & Outro

Rob Duenas (Sketchcraft) joins James on Nerdy Mewzings for a wide-ranging conversation about his self-taught path, major career breaks from having a presence on DeviantArt and Instagram, to drawing Spawn Kills after a direct DM from Todd McFarlane!
Rob shares about his childhood, growing up in San Diego with comics from Circle K and 7-Eleven racks, learning by watching portfolio reviews at Comic-Con as a teen, and how Gnomon Workshop DVDs (especially Scott Robertson’s perspective) transformed his skills. He details landing Toys for Bob work on Crash Bandicoot and Spyro from a single DeviantArt post, the unexpected TMP outreach, and going wild designing endless Spawn variants for the book.
His influences range from Carlos Meglia and Bill Watterson to early Image and Mirage Ninja Turtles. He is currently streaming on Whatnot, prepping an art book, and stockpiling creator-owned scripts, Rob offers honest insights on Artist Alley changes, consistency, and never quitting!
If you love Spawn, game art, self-taught journeys, or Whatnot creators — Leave a 5 STAR REVIEW, share with a friend, & Keep it Nerdy! 
Visit Rob's Official Website: https://www.sketchcraft.com/
Subscribe to the Sketchcraft YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/Sketchcraft
Follow Rob AKA Sketchcraft:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sketchcraft/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RealSketchcraft/
Whatnot - https://www.whatnot.com/user/sketchcraft
Become a Nerdy Mewzings Insider on Patreon and gain access to each week's episode 48 hours EARLY, a shoutout on each show, and more to come: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro & Rob Duenas (Sketchcraft) Joins
2:00 - San Diego Roots, Circle K Comics & Early Influences
8:00 - Self-Taught Path: Portfolio Reviews & Gnomon DVDs
15:00 - Mad Engine T-Shirts & Early Freelance Comics
22:00 - DeviantArt Break: Toys for Bob & Crash Bandicoot
30:00 - Todd McFarlane DM & Drawing Spawn Kills
38:00 - Carlos Meglia Influence & Artistic Identity
45:00 - Whatnot Streams, Artist Alley Changes & Consistency
52:00 - Art Book, Creator-Owned Plans & Upcoming Covers
57:00 - Where to Follow Sketchcraft
59:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings