Peter Nguyen on the pros of being a comic book illustrator

“I love D-list characters! Red Tornado is never going to be as famous as Superman, so they don’t come with that kind of pressure, and it gives me a lot of freedom to play artistically. When we design characters for them, the story line takes priority.”

One of Peter Nguyen’s creations
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Peter says the job potential as a comic book artist was unknown when he was growing up, and his parents wanted him to be an architect as he loved drawing. He attended a talent search competition helmed by his hero, comic book artist Jim Lee, and was one of the four finalists who got to go on stage.

“We were asked to share our first sequential storytelling experience there. Most comic book artists tend to imitate what they have seen in books. I had always tried creating something new, even though it was a last-minute decision to enter the competition.”

“I didn’t win, but that day, I realised I could do this as a profession. Besides, an editorial staffer at DC Comics noticed my work, and it got my foot in the door.”

“There was so much I did not know about the job, but once I knew it was a job, I wanted it,” says Peter.

As an artist

The illustrator considers himself a sequential story teller. “As an adult, I love seeing what being an artist entails. When I work for a publisher, I feel like a draftsman, so lately, I’ve been exploring what being an artist means to me personally.”

Peter Nguyen
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“I used to believe drawing comics was an introverted activity; I had no idea it would give me the chance to travel the world and meet so many people. It has enriched me in so many ways. The coolest part is that something as simple as comics can unite people.”

On Comic Con 2025

Peter says story telling is different all around the world, and Comic Con events offer a chance to experience that craft from various parts of the world. “As artists and individuals, we are all unique storytellers. At Comic Con, we get to collaborate with Indian artists on the panel or do a sequential storytelling exercise. We get to bounce ideas off each other.”

Describing Comic Con as a “high school reunion”, Peter says, “It’s like teleporting around the world with friends and peers. We get to bond, meet new people and connect with the community. We all read or draw by ourselves, enjoying a little solitude, but then to meet somebody who loves a character as much we do, brings a human connection to that activity.”

“Comics are done by themselves, but conventions allow us to make that experience connective. That is what makes conventions magical.”