Yevgeny Sokolov Returns: Creating Pro Comic Book Covers and Teaching Fine Art

Yevgeny Sokolov Returns: Creating Pro Comic Book Covers and Teaching Fine Art

Yevgeny Sokolov (fine arts instructor turned pro comic book artist) joins Nerdy Mewzings once again to discuss his transition from traditional fine art and high school teaching, drawing professional comic book covers, and the creative process behind his work. Yevgeny shares how he started drawing as a child, pursued fine arts in college, and made the leap to comics during the pandemic by studying David Finch tutorials and building comic-style fundamentals. He talks about his creative process, using photo reference for hands and poses, and why planning thumbnails is crucial. We chatted about influences on his style, including Mike Mignola’s use of heavy blacks, Frank Miller studies, and the importance of dramatic lighting in comics vs. fine art. He also opens up about balancing commissions, teaching, and professional cover gigs for Ripperverse, the value of community (Uncanny Art-Men streams), and advice for aspiring artists: draw every day, study masters, and don’t be afraid to scrap work that isn’t right. If you love comic process breakdowns, artist stories, or art tutorials — Leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Yevgeny: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yevgeny_sokolov_art [https://www.instagram.com/yevgeny_sokolov_art] X - https://x.com/YVSokolovArt [https://x.com/YVSokolovArt] Become a Patreon member to receive each week's episode 48 HOURS EARLY, a mention on the show, and more: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings [https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings] Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Yevgeny Sokolov Returns to Nerdy Mewzings 1:30 - Towering 6'10" Artist & Con Reactions 5:00 - Early Art Love & Fine Arts Background 9:00 - Pandemic Pivot: David Finch Tutorials & Comic Fundamentals 13:00 - Workflow: From Rough Thumbnails to Traditional Inking 17:00 - Influences: Mignola, Frank Miller & Dramatic Lighting 22:00 - Ripperverse Covers & Pro Break 27:00 - Balancing Teaching, Commissions & Personal Projects 32:00 - Advice for Aspiring Artists: Daily Practice & Community 37:00 - Comic Convention Plans & Where to Follow Yevgeny 42:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings

Noah Goins on Showcasing Comic Book Artists, Writing, & Social Media Success

Noah Goins (TikTok and Instagram comic artist spotlight creator, writer on I Feel Doomed) joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his path from childhood comics fan to building a massive following by celebrating artists, his writing journey, and heading to Heroes Con. Noah shares how comics were always part of his life through Mark Bagley, Humberto Ramos, and Batman: The Animated Series, and how rediscovering them as an adult led him to start creating content that highlights the unsung heroes behind the pages. He talks about his process for researching and scripting short videos, balancing humor and insight, and why focusing on artists (not just covers) filled a missing niche. Noah also opens up about writing his first comic story in the I Feel Doomed anthology (launching at Heroes Con), his love for deep-cut characters, and the thrill of discovery through channels like Cartoonist Kayfabe and Robservations. If you love comic artist spotlights, indie comics, or creator hustle stories — Leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Noah Goins: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/noahgoinscomics/ [https://www.instagram.com/noahgoinscomics/] TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@noahgoinscomics [https://www.tiktok.com/@noahgoinscomics] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@NoahGoinsComics [https://www.youtube.com/@NoahGoinsComics] Become a Patreon member to get each week's episode 48 HOURS EARLY plus bonus perks: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings [https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings] Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Noah Goins Joins Nerdy Mewzings 1:30 - Childhood Comics Love: Mark Bagley, Umberto Ramos & Batman Animated 5:00 - Starting Social Media to Spotlight Artists 9:00 - Video Process: Research, Scripting & Highlighting Deep Cuts 13:00 - Influences: Cartoonist Kayfabe, Robservations & Jim Lee 17:00 - Writing I Feel Doomed & Heroes Con Debut 22:00 - Balancing Content Creation with Day Job 27:00 - Advice for Aspiring Creators: Just Put It Online 32:00 - Current Projects & Future Aspirations 37:00 - Where to Follow Noah Goins 40:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings

Jordan Morris on Writing for Comic books, Animation, and Comedy

Jordan Morris (writer of Predator: Bloodshed with artist Ruairi Coleman) joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his path from childhood comics fan to writing for Marvel, animation (Teen Titans Go, Jellystone), and creator-owned work. Jordan shares how he discovered comics through Spider-Man and X-Men, learned the craft via Brian Michael Bendis’ Words for Pictures, and broke into comics with the graphic novel Bubble (based on his podcast). He talks about writing for animation, the joy of playing in the Spider-Verse with Spider-Versity (teaming younger spiders like Miles, Gwen, and Spider-Boy for a training camp story with big bad looming), and crafting brutal action in Predator: Bloodshed (an underground fighting tournament gone wrong). He also opens up about balancing funny character moments with high-stakes adventure, why he gravitates toward deep-cut characters, and advice for aspiring writers: just write something and put it online — no gatekeepers needed. Jordan’s passion for blending humor, heart, and wild action shines through in every project. If you love Predator, the Spider-Verse, animation tie-ins, or creator hustle stories leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Jordan Morris: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jordandavidmorris [https://www.instagram.com/jordandavidmorris] Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/jordanmorris.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/jordanmorris.bsky.social] Pickup Jordan's Current series: Predator: Bloodshed (Marvel) and Spider-Versity (Marvel) Become a Patreon member NOW and get each week's episode 48 hours EARLY: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings  [https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings] Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Jordan Morris Joins Nerdy Mewzings 1:30 - Childhood Comics Love: Spider-Man, X-Men & Archie 5:00 - Discovering Writing Through Podcasts & Animation 9:00 - Breaking into Comics with Bubble Graphic Novel 13:00 - Predator: Bloodshed – Underground Tournament Mayhem 17:00 - Spider-Versity: Younger Spiders Training Camp Adventure 22:00 - Animation Work: Teen Titans Go & Jellystone 27:00 - Balancing Humor, Heart & Action in Comics 32:00 - Advice for Aspiring Writers: Just Put It Online 37:00 - Current Projects & Future Aspirations 42:00 - Where to Follow Jordan Morris 45:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings

Thomas Healy: Writer and Editor-in-Chief of Todd McFarlane Productions & Spawn

Thomas Healy (Editor-in-Chief of Todd McFarlane Productions) joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his journey from comic shop manager to running the Spawn universe, his love of original art, and writing projects like Black Ritual and Scorched. Thomas shares how he discovered comics through Avengers and Daredevil, worked at shops like Samurai Comics, and made the leap to TMP after a call from Shannon Bailey. He talks about the realities of managing continuity across multiple ongoing titles, giving feedback to creators, and finding new talent at conventions. Thomas also opens up about his writing process, the challenges of balancing editor and writer hats, and why patience and taking critique are essential for breaking into comics. He geeks out over searching for grail art pieces like a Transmetropolitan page and Rex the Wonder Dog #4, his admiration for creators like Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson, and the thrill of the hunt in collecting. Current highlights include Scorched #51 and plans for more stories in the Spawn universe, plus his desire to one day write a Judge Dredd tale! If you love Spawn, behind-the-scenes comic industry talk, original art collecting, or creator journeys — Leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Thomas Healy: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thomashealy/ [https://www.instagram.com/thomashealy/] Become a Patreon member to gain access to each week's episode 48 HOURS EARLY, plus other perks: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings [https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings] Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Thomas Healy Joins Nerdy Mewzings 1:30 - Comic Shop Life & Discovering Spawn 5:00 - Transition to TMP & Becoming Editor-in-Chief 9:00 - Managing the Spawn Universe & Continuity 13:00 - Writing Black Ritual & Scorched 17:00 - Original Art Collecting & Grail Pieces 22:00 - Advice for Aspiring Creators: Feedback & Persistence 27:00 - Judge Dredd Dreams & Future Projects 32:00 - Convention Life & Discovering Talent 37:00 - Balancing Editor & Writer Roles 42:00 - Current Spawn Titles & What's Next 47:00 - Where to Follow Thomas & Outro

Comic Creator Edison Neo: Snake Claws, Godzilla & TMNT Covers

Edison Neo (Singapore comic artist, creator of Snake Claws and No Brainer) joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his journey from doodling in school to becoming a full-time comic creator, landing covers for IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Godzilla, and launching his new art book Ink Trooper One on Kickstarter. Edison shares how he discovered comics later in life, learned fundamentals through YouTube (Jim Lee streams, David Finch), and dove deep into martial arts action inspired by Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Shaw Brothers films. He talks about creating Snake Claws during the pandemic as a personal challenge, expanding into the anthology No Brainer with its mix of long-form stories and fun short pieces, and the emotional impact of Daniel Warren Johnson’s Murder Falcon. He also opens up about going full-time after a layoff, his tradigital workflow (digital pencils/roughs → traditional inking), and why he loves the freedom of creator-owned work while still enjoying mainstream gigs. Ink Trooper One collects years of his hero and villain commissions (including many Big Two pieces) with commentary and is available to back on Kickstarter NOW: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/neocomicart/ink-trooper-vol-1 [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/neocomicart/ink-trooper-vol-1] If you love martial arts action comics, Southeast Asian creators, or seeing the full creator process — Leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Edison Neo: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/neocomicart/ [https://www.instagram.com/neocomicart/] X - https://x.com/neocomicart [https://x.com/neocomicart] Become a Nerdy Insider member on Patreon and watch each week's episode 48 hours early along with other perks: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings [https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings] Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Edison Neo from Singapore 1:30 - Weather, Humidity & Daily Life in Singapore 5:00 - Early Doodling to Discovering Comics 9:00 - YouTube University: Jim Lee, David Finch & Learning Fundamentals 13:00 - Snake Claws: First Creator-Owned Project 17:00 - No Brainer Anthology & Mixing Long & Short Stories 22:00 - IDW Opportunities: TMNT & Godzilla Covers 27:00 - Daniel Warren Johnson Influence & Emotional Storytelling 32:00 - Trdigital Workflow: Digital Roughs + Traditional Inking 37:00 - Going Full-Time After Layoff 42:00 - Upcoming Art Book Ink Trooper One Kickstarter 47:00 - Advice for Aspiring Creators in Small Scenes 52:00 - Where to Follow Edison Neo 55:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings