This week on the T&D Podcast, we have prolific comic book artist, Tomm Coker.

I’m really excited about this episode. It’s one of my favorites yet. Tomm has been a working comic book artist since he was 17 years old, and has worked for Marvel Comics, D.C. Comics, and Dark Horse Comics, among others. He has drawn just about every major character that you can think of.

Ironically, he’s even drawn me!

Here’s a before and after drawing of me with actress and photographer Maria Tornberg for Marvel Comics Secret Wars as Dr. Doom and The Fantastic Four’s Invisible Woman/Susan Storm (and no… I don’t normally look quite like this!).

If you look closely, you’ll also see that it’s actually me as “The Vision” for Marvel Avengers here.

Tomm and I talk for longer than usual (about an hour and a half). Although, I like to keep the podcast at around an hour or so, I have no concrete rules for this, so this is an occasional when it was so good, we just let time get away from us and went longer.

Tomm goes in depth on what it took for him to get to this point. He doesn’t even believe in talent, and while referred to the 10,000 hours rule, he estimates that he’s put in some 75,000 hours of drawing in his life himself. Amazing.

He’s also been involved with writing and developing scripts for Hollywood, and tells nightmarish but also hilarious and educational stories about the process of directing his feature film, Catacombs.

Here are some of the comic art references that I mentioned had a big impact on me as a kid:

Star Blazers

Frank Frazetta

Wizards (and Ralph Bakshi)

Here are some more examples of Tomm’s work in no particular order:

This was what our unseen handshake that you hear on the podcast looked like here.

I really enjoyed this conversation, and I found it information and inspirational, regardless of your chosen field or endeavor. I hope you enjoy it, too.

If you do, please consider reviewing us on iTunes, and share what we do here with your friends.

Thanks for being a part of Triumph & Disaster.

Cameron McHarg – Creator and host