Nerdy Mewzings

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 X - 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 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

Join host James for an in-depth chat with veteran comic book inker Marc Deering (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Immortal Hulk, Hunt Kill Repeat, The Adventures of Lumen N from Dark Horse)! Marc shares his journey from discovering inking via Wizard Magazine in the pre-internet era, landing his first gig in 2003, favorite tools (Raphael brushes, Hunt 102 quills, even old Rapidographs), hybrid traditional/digital workflows, and what an inker really brings to pencils (texture, tone, lighting, readability). We geek out over Star Wars (inking Darth Vader was a career highlight!), Transformers, GI Joe, the old-school production grind vs. today, embellishment vs. finishing, and why collaboration duos are rarer now. He also opens up about co-founding Flipside Comics — a hub for serialized web comics, public domain gems, creator-owned projects, and even an 80s/soundtrack radio station for artists. Plus: —killer advice for breaking in today —make your own comics, use social media, focus on direct-to-fans —and why passion beats luck Whether you're an aspiring artist, comic fan, or just love the craft, this one's packed with stories, laughs, and real talk. Watch/Listen/Subscribe/Follow/Comment/Review Now and Keep it Nerdy! Checkout the Official Flipside Comics Website: https://ontheflipsidecomics.com/en/ Follow Marc and Flipside Comics: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marcdeering and https://www.instagram.com/flipsidecomix X/Twitter - https://x.com/Marc_Deering and https://x.com/FlipsideComix Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Back (Again): Technical Difficulties & Shoutouts 02:30 Marc Deering’s Origin Story: Army Days, Wizard Magazine & Breaking In 04:51 Early Inking Tools: Brushes, Quills, and Learning from Pros 07:14 RapidoGraph Love/Hate: Cleaning, Collecting, and Old-School Gear 10:05 Traditional vs Digital Inking: Choosing the Right Workflow 11:50 Inking Over Pencils: Blue Lines, Hybrids, and Nerve-Wracking Pages 17:21 What an Inker Actually Does: Clarity, Texture, Tone & Readability 20:39 Embellisher vs Finisher: Classic Collabs and Why They’re Rarer Now 24:40 Shared Nerd Passions: GI Joe Tattoo, Transformers, and Collecting Talk 28:42 The Pandemic Pivot 29:28 Transformers & Star Wars Fandom: Prequels, Sequels, and the Disney Era 31:51 Inking Highlights: Doctor Aphra, Vader Pages, and Immortal Hulk 35:13 What an Inker Looks For: Tight Pencils, Team Chemistry, and Workflow Changes 39:13 How 'Adventures of Lumen N' Happened: Tryouts, Twitter, and Becoming Co-Owner 43:21 Launching Flipside Comics: Website, Merch, and Serialized Releases 46:47 Public Domain Characters: What You Can (and Can’t) Do With Superman, Conan, and More 49:34 Flipside Radio + Writing Slate: New Projects and Creative Direction Beyond Superheroes 53:32 Breaking Into Comics Today: Direct-to-Consumer, Social Media, and “Just Make a Comic” 56:11 Wrap-Up: Where to Follow, Current Projects, and Final Thanks

Join James in the Nerdy Mewzings Podcast studio as he sits down once again with comic artist Todd Beats for an inspiring, no-filter conversation about persistence, artistic evolution, and staying true to your creative voice! Fresh off conventions and exciting new cover projects (including The Maxx, a Darkness variant for Marc Silvestri, and VeeFriends for Gary Vee), Todd opens up about: -Why daily practice and feeding your “truest self” matters more than chasing trends -How he’s evolving his inking and rendering style in real time -The mindset shift from perfectionism to joyful expression -Closing commissions to make room for sequential storytelling in 2025 -Advice for aspiring artists: just show up, put in the reps, and let your unique voice emerge If you’re an artist grinding toward your breakthrough or just love honest talks about the creative journey, this episode is pure motivation! Follow Todd: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddbeats YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddBeatsART Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toddbeats.art Website & newsletter: https://toddbeats.com Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter 01:09 Weather Talk and Regional Differences 02:35 Convention Experiences and Social Media Impact 04:29 Artistic Evolution and Inspirations 06:34 Persistence and Artistic Advice 10:19 Finding Your True Self Through Art 16:38 Influences and Developing a Unique Style 28:29 Live Streaming and Community Engagement 31:44 Fan Encounter and Artistic Journey 33:44 The Importance of Humility and Continuous Learning 35:34 Future Plans and Evolving Skills 38:26 Balancing Commissions and Personal Growth 42:32 Exciting Projects and Collaborations 49:53 Reflecting on Success and Future Goals Tune in every Monday for a new episode featuring another amazing creator! Enjoying the podcast? Please considering following and giving a 5 star review. It's FREE and the easiest way to help ensure more people get to experience the show :) Thanks and Keep it Nerdy!

Join James once again in the Nerdy Mewzings Podcast studio for an epic, nostalgic deep dive with acclaimed cartoonist & writer Derek Laufman — the ongoing artist on Skottie Young's hit series I Hate Fairyland from Image Comics! In this must-watch interview, Derek shares his wild journey through the comic industry: -Growing up obsessed with 90s Image Comics legends like Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, and Rob Liefeld -The highs and lows of animation school at Sheridan College -Heartbreaking early setbacks in comics; pivots into video games and freelance -Rediscovering his passion through forums like Digital Webbing and DeviantArt -And finally landing the dream gig on I Hate Fairyland after years of creator-owned work. We geek out over GI Joe, Spawn speculation, the magic of old-school forums (shoutout to Ryan Ottley, Ryan Stegman, and the "cool kids" like Scotty Young), finding your artistic voice, the importance of fundamentals over flash, and why it's never too late to chase your comic dreams — Derek was 47 when he went full-time on Fairyland! Plus, Derek talks about his own incredible creator-owned books like Ruinworld, Bot-9 (wordless graphic novel inspired by Miyazaki), The Witch of Wickerson, Crimson Fall (Hellboy + Witcher vibes), and his current project Rats of Ironwood. If you're an aspiring artist, comic fan, or just love hearing real stories from the trenches of the industry, this one's for you. Drop a review: What's your favorite Image Comics era? Or which Derek project are you grabbing next? Follow for weekly comic creator interviews, art talk, and pop culture deep dives! Follow Derek Laufman: Website & Shop: https://www.dereklaufman.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dereklaufman X - https://x.com/laufman (check his bio for all links!) Support Nerdy Mewzings: Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/nerdymewzings Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerdymewzings X - https://x.com/nerdymewzings

Join James in an EXTRA packed Nerdy Mewzings Podcast studio as he welcomes Ridge Kiley (President/CEO of Rising Empire Studios and Creator of Alpha Clash TCG) and writer AJ Light (Alpha Clash Co-Creator) for an energetic chat about building a new comic + trading card game universe from the ground up! The guys share: -How the pandemic sparked the idea for a wizard battle royale video game that evolved into a full multimedia franchise -Turning graphic novels, novels, and comics into core drivers for the Alpha Clash trading card game -The surreal journey of teaming up with legendary writer Mark Waid (Flash, Kingdom Come) to co-write a new 3-issue comic arc -Upcoming Kickstarter launching January 20, 2026: Alpha Clash: Rising Empires – 3 issues, tons of variant covers, ultra collectibles, and digital options -Lessons on comic scripting, collaborating with artists, and balancing superpowers for both story and gameplay Perfect for comic fans, TCG players, and anyone inspired by indie creators building their own universe! Support the Kickstarter (pre-launch page live): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alphaclash/alpha-clash-rising-empires-by-mark-waid-and-aj-light-1-3 Official Website: https://alphaclashtcg.com/ Follow on Instagram: Alpha Clash - https://www.instagram.com/alphaclashtcg Rising Empire Studios - https://www.instagram.com/rising_empire_studios Ridge Kiley - https://www.instagram.com/kiley_wrestling AJ Light - https://www.instagram.com/ajlightwriter Mark Waid - https://www.instagram.com/markwaidwriter