Here I am shortly before the start of the event. In addition to the Q&A, there was a small gallery of Mike Mignola’s original inked illustrations.

Friday the 13th is often associated with bad luck. But on Friday, April 13, 2018, I felt extremely fortunate that I was able to attend “A Conversation with Mike Mignola and Karen Green” at Society of Illustrators in New York.

As a comic book fan and a quasi-professional illustrator, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mike Mignola’s career, process, and philosophy.

Below, I have listed half a dozen of my favorite memories from the event — but you can watch the discussion in its entirety on the Society of Illustrators YouTube channel.

1.) A TERRIBLE INKER

Around 1982, Mike Mignola relocated from California to New York. He wasn’t confident in his drawing abilities and loitered in the halls of the Marvel offices waiting for work as an inker. Mignola would often be called upon when Marvel was “desperate” and a quick turnaround was required. When asked if an artist had to live in New York to work in comics during the 80s, Mignola said;

“…You didn’t need to be [in New York], unless you were terrible. If you were terrible it was a very good thing to live here… When you’re terrible, it helps to be close.”

2.) INFLUENCES AND APPROACH

The work of Frank Frazetta was Mike Mignola’s primary artistic influence. When Mignola met Frazetta, he was flattered that Frazetta was aware of his work.

Mignola does not fixate on creating realistic lighting effects in his work. Instead, he strives to give his drawings “weight”. In case you were wondering, Mignola uses Higgins Black Magic ink in his art.

After Frazetta, Bernie Wrightson was the artist that Mike Mignola most admired.