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Comic Illustrator

Everything you need to know about the job of a Comic Illustrator including required skills, responsibilities and salary.

Student work by Glenn Allen

What does a comic illustrator do?

Comic illustrators create images for comic books and strips. This genre uses visuals in a series of sequential panels to tell a story. Most comic art includes text not written by the illustrator, so they must learn to incorporate the text and font as part of the overall design.

Illustrators of comic strips tend to be the writers as well as illustrators of the series. Comic books or graphic novels may have authors writing the text, but it is ultimately up to the illustrator to integrate the text into the graphic.  

Cartoons are another form of comic narrative, they are usually comical or satirical in nature and can be presented as single panels of image and text. They can pack a punch in expressing a powerful idea or keen observation, such as in political cartoons. Fumetti use photographic images in the comic book style to tell a story.

Comic illustrator job description

The role of the comic illustrator is to create the illustrations for comic strips, books and cartoons. They must express ideas, story, situation and character very clearly and effectively. The Comic Illustrator has a talent for dynamic visual communication because this genre is highly expressive and designed to pack a punch in terms of message, especially in the case of single-panel cartoons.

The role responsibilities of a comic illustrator may include:

  • Liaising with the author regarding the design brief
  • Writing the text, joke, caption, dialogue if the work is entirely their authorship
  • Drawing the comic images, producing a series of drafts before final artwork is approved
  • Incorporating text with graphics as required
  • Working quickly to meet tight deadlines, especially for strip comics in daily publications
  • Plotting out storylines 
  • Creating storyboards of key points of action or plot
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How much does a comic artist make?

Well-known syndicated comic strip authors can earn very well, as can comic artists who create superhero comics for big-name publishers.

The average wage of a Comic Illustrator runs between USD $54,000 for a junior position to USD $95,000 for a senior position. (Source: Glassdoor)

To learn more about this field, visit: What is Digital Illustration? or What is Concept Art?

$54k Jnr. comic book artist
$95k Snr. comic book artist

Skills required to become a comic illustrator

Comic Illustrators who author their own work tend to have a strong sense of humor or for the absurd. They must have a sharp-witted mind to produce social or political commentary, and a keen sense for storytelling if they create comic books.

When working with a writer the ability to collaborate effectively is key to a successful comic. These partnerships can be very lucrative and influential, especially when working for big brands such as Marvel or DC Comics. 

Publishers may look for the following skills in comic illustrators:

  • Training in illustration, fine arts or graphic design
  • A strong portfolio of original work
  • Talent for visual communication, strong drawing skills
  • Understanding of visual storytelling
  • Familiarity with comic genres
  • Awareness of socio-political issues and current affairs
  • Keen comic or ironic outlook 
  • Ability to express concepts visually
  • Writing skills
  • Storyboarding skills 
  • Solid understanding of visual language - texture, color, dimension, scale, perspective, shade, composition, depth of field, proportion, spatial awareness, etc
  • Good communication skills, ability to explain concepts and support artistic choices
  • Layout skills
  • Knowledge of typography

What software and tools do comic illustrators use?

Many Comic Illustrators work with pen and paper to sketch out their illustrations, these are then imported into software which is used to finish the artwork and deliver to publishing houses or newspapers. 

Comic Illustrators may need knowledge of a combination of the following software:

photoshop
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Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe for Windows and macOS. It was created in 1987 by Thomas and John Knoll

illustrator
TOUCH

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design software developed and marketed by Adobe

indesign
TOUCH

Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing and page layout designing software application produced by Adobe and first released in 1999

quarkxpress
TOUCH

QuarkXPress is desktop publishing software for creating and editing complex page layouts in a WYSIWYG environment

corel
TOUCH

Corel Painter is a raster-based digital art application created to simulate as accurately as possible the appearance and behavior of traditional media associated with drawing

autodesk-sketchbook
TOUCH

Sketchbook is a raster graphics software app intended for expressive drawing and concept sketching also for making animations

How to become a comic book illustrator


Download software 

Download free digital art software like Gimp, Krita, Sketchpad, FireAlpaca, and ArtWeaver to start practicing. 

Practice 

Sharpening your skills helps you grow and become more confident and reliable. 

  • Develop a solid understanding of art fundamentals—line, color, light, values, shape, composition, and perspective.
  • Be observant of real-world references like people, creatures, and places which you can use as inspiration. 

Build skills

Build the skills companies are listing on job sites. For more support, enroll in a reputable course. CG Spectrum’s illustration courses include mentorship from award-winning industry pros, an industry-led curriculum, and career services. 

  • Learn how to interpret a brief and execute feedback
  • Regularly practice art fundamentals and digital painting techniques

Watch trends

Online tutorials, webinars, etc., can keep your skills fresh. 

Attend conventions 

Use conventions to network, meet likeminded people, and be inspired. This is how award-winning Illustrator Eric Wilkerson got his first professional book cover illustration commission after college graduation. 

Network

Networking is vital to getting your name and skills recognized and meeting experts who can offer advice or even jobs. Familiarize yourself with the industry and build your community—publishing houses, authors, and illustrators. 

Share work

Social media is great for showcasing work, building an audience, having your work shared by others, and seen by potential clients and collaborators. 

Presentation

Your portfolio is how you will market your services. Make your work presentable and user-friendly to impress prospective clients. 

Collaborate

Know someone who needs character art? Collaborating with your peers is not only fun, but it can also help you create more polished work for your portfolio. 

Intern

Internships at publishing studios can help you break into the industry. It’s one way to gain hands-on experience, network, and experience studio life. 

For further info on the skills and qualifications that will help you become an illustrator, why not check out our comprehensive guide?

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Ready to Start Illustration Journey?

Download our course guide to see how we can help you on your pathway to your dream career.

Tips to break into the illustration industry

Your portfolio should show you understand the foundations of art while also establishing your own personal style. According to professional Illustrator Eric Wilkerson, your portfolio needs to demonstrate consistency while ensuring it’s tailored to the right audience.  Other tips include: 

  • Quality over quantity! Revise older work to meet your current standards
  • Only include your best. Work in progress is fine
  • Seek inspiration from professional artists’ portfolios
  • Center on one art genre for cohesion
  • If using a PDF, add chapters for easy viewing
  • Use a platform that allows you to update your work easily (e.g., ArtStation, The Rookies, or Behance)
  • Aim for a clean, intuitive, gallery-style website with enlargeable thumbnails
  • Don’t overcrowd your homepage —5 images max
  • Optimize your images and ensure they load properly
  • Present each piece with a brief explanation (concept, rationale, brief)
  • Show process, sketches, roughs, and reference
  • If necessary, create mockups of how your art would look in various formats
  • Triple-check for errors (layout, framing, spelling, etc.)
  • Get feedback from at least 3 mentors or industry pros before publishing
  • Feature both your commercial and personal art
  • Keep your ‘about’ page concise; it can be less formal
  • Share your finished portfolio on your social channels


Additional resources to help you get started as an illustrator:

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Industry Pathways

Tyler James, Curriculum Manager and Mentor of Concept Art & Illustration at CG Spectrum talks about his 18-year journey in the game industry. Passionate about fantasy from an early age, Tyler tells us about his early roles as a 3D character artist, to concept artist, and art director on projects like Neverwinter Nights 2, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Rift, and Hex. Tyler also shares invaluable insights about building characters, facing imposter syndrome, and collaborating with world-class teams. !