Comics can start working their magic from an early age. Many of us can surely recall reading them as children, often by clandestine torchlight under the covers long after our official bedtimes.

For writers, poets, artists, illustrators and many other creatives, comics are a lifelong source of inspiration whether it began in childhood or not. They can move us and spark ideas in so many ways, whether it’s through characters, themes, the artwork and layout, even the lettering. Of such things are entire careers made. You don’t even need to be working in comics to have them influence your own creations.

Discussing how comics have inspired them are author and Spider-Man fan Nikesh Shukla; novelist and mega Manga and Marvel fan Zoe Marriot; journalist and comic collector David Barnett; and Emma Vieceli, whose work includes the ‘Vampire Academy’ and ‘Alex Rider’ series.

About The Authors

David Barnett

David Barnett is an author and journalist based in West Yorkshire. His latest novel is Calling Major Tom, published by Trapeze. He writes mainly for the UK national press on books, culture and general topics, and is published regularly in the Guardian, Independent, and several magazines and online platforms.

 

Zoe Marriott

First published at just twenty-four, Zoë Marriott has written eight critically acclaimed YA fantasy novels which have earned a USBBY Outstanding International Book listing, a Junior Library Guild Selection and the prestigious Sasakawa Prize. She lives on the English East coast with two cats, a dog, and far too many books.

Nikesh Shukla

Nikesh Shukla has experience of both traditional and non-traditional publishing routes. He is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Meatspace, the Costa shortlisted (and crowdfunded) novel Coconut Unlimited and the award-winning novella The Time Machine. He is the editor of the award-winning The Good Immigrant, a collection of essays about race and immigration. He wrote the short film Two Dosas and the Channel 4 sitcom Kabadasses.

About The Artist

Emma Vieceli

From self-publishing, to some of the biggest publishers in the world, Emma loves telling stories with pictures. Her work includes the New York Times-bestselling ‘Vampire Academy’ graphic novel series (Penguin Random House), ‘Doctor Who’ (Titan Comics), ‘Alex Rider’ (Walker), ‘Jem & the Holograms’ (IDW) and critically-acclaimed independent web series, ‘BREAKS’.

Contributor

Mike McKenny

Mike McKenny is the co-author of ‘The Marvel Studios Phenomenon: Inside a Transmedia Universe’. He lives in Bradford, where he works with children and young people in various capacities. He believes that today’s youth will shape tomorrow’s world, and that today’s popular culture is incredibly important to the development of that youth.