Nerdy Mewzings

James Foster
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Weekly

A weekly comic book interview podcast where host & artist James chats with comic industry pros, collectors, creators, & average nerds about all things comics, art, & more. Keep it nerdy! Website: nerdymewzings.com/podcast Video version of episodes: youtube.com/@nerdymewzings Patreon: patreon.com/nerdymewzings X (Twitter) - Instagram - TikTok @nerdymewzings

  1. 2d ago

    Artist Carlos Mendoza III on Animatronic Design, Toys & Responsible AI Usage

    Multitalented Artist Carlos Mendoza III dropped by Nerdy Mewzings to talk designing for animatronics, toys, and what it actually takes to turn a cool drawing into a real product people can buy! After 20+ years in toys (Spin Master, SpongeBob, & more) and nearly five years as art director for animatronics, Carlos shares how he learned the hard limits of factories, motors, weight, and cost so the finished piece matches the art. He also breaks down his practical take on the use of AI in creative industries: How ever changing industry standards have influenced his use of it as a productivity tool for quick corrections and creating style guides based on his original artwork, but not to generate finished work, or copy other artists. Our conversation also covers why versatility (a “web” of skills across toys, pinball, animatronics, and vehicles) has kept him working when single-lane careers get hit by layoffs. If you're enjoying the episodes please take a moment to leave a 5 STAR review, share with a Friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Carlos: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carlos3art Support Nerdy Mewzings on Patreon, get episodes 48 hours early, submit guest questions, and more here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps 0:00 - Intro, Jin Han connection & Texas move 3:30 - Giant skeletons, year-round displays & collections 10:00 - Funko saturation vs supporting friends’ toys 14:00 - ’80s cartoons, Nicaragua roots & brother’s shapes 20:00 - T-shirt shop, Top Cow visit & Michael Turner 26:00 - Jada Toys 2005 & Spin Master with Jin Han 32:00 - Mike Rayhawk’s brutal critiques 36:00 - Four years chasing Blizzard style 42:00 - Animatronic design & real-world limits 48:00 - AI as tool vs replacement 56:00 - Teams, burnout & one-thread careers 1:12:00 - Career web: pinball, animatronics, toys 1:18:00 - Where to find Carlos & outro

    Artist Carlos Mendoza III on Animatronic Design, Toys & Responsible AI Usage

  2. Oct 12

    The Fellowship of the Beats: Comic Book Artist Todd Beats Returns

    Todd Beats is back, completing a TRILOGY of Nerdy Mewzings Podcast appearances, fresh off a much needed art getaway with his friend Joey Lee Cabral, and in the middle of prepping for New York Comic Con! We chatted about why school felt like torture for him, how creativity gets trained out of people, and why he posts the hard life lessons under the process videos instead of closing the door after a win. Learn the story behind why Todd keeps an overflowing change cup in his studio and how comfort in mediocrity is easier than another failure. By the time this airs he will have finished New York Comic Con (Dungeon Crawler Carl covers, Fox Mask Killer, retailer variants), with LA Comic Con (Oct 29–Nov 1), ChainKata covers in November, and a Japan/Singapore trip with Ryan Benjamin and Whilce Portacio still ahead. Honing his sequential art skills is the 2027 target! If you are enjoying the podcast please take a moment to leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, & Keep it Nerdy! Visit toddbeets.com and the newsletter for drops: https://www.toddbeats.com/ Follow Todd: WhatNot - https://www.whatnot.com/user/toddbeats Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/toddbeats TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@todd_beats X - https://x.com/toddbeats_art Subscribe to his YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddBeatsART Patreon members get episodes 48 hours early, a shoutout on the show, and can submit guest questions! Join here for only $5 per month: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps 0:00 - El Paso trip with Joey Lee Cabral 6:30 - Kids, wonder & creativity getting boxed in 11:00 - School, shop class & homeschool 19:00 - Why he posts the hard stuff 22:30 - Rob Liefeld, closed doors & going to the audience 32:00 - Marvel house style, Image & Absolute copies 44:00 - Positivity that makes people angry 51:00 - Self-belief, world titles & lonely winning 1:01:30 - The change cup & chasing failure 1:07:30 - NYCC, LA, ChainKata, Japan 1:12:00 - Patreon questions: content, camera, up-angle heads 1:19:00 - Outro

    The Fellowship of the Beats: Comic Book Artist Todd Beats Returns

  3. Oct 5

    Artist Brandon Mendoza: Marvel Snap, Character Design, and Creating Comic Books

    Brandon Mendoza joins Nerdy Mewzings, going from a viewer and supporter, to featured guest! He is a Marvel Snap artist, character designer, cover artist, and teacher who is currently finishing his first sequential comic work on an upcoming, soon to be announced, project. Brandon talks about chasing his sports dream while pursuing a basketball career, how a knee injury changed his trajectory and helped him in rediscovering his love of art. He reflects on the comic book that pulled him back into the art world, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s New 52 Flash. He talks about his regimen of nightly practice, YouTube and magazine drills, landing production work on Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur during the pandemic, and getting a Marvel Snap assignment after an art director reacted to his art on an Instagram story! We also talk about digital pencils versus traditional ink, influences from Brett Bean, Eric Canete, Kim Jacinto, Humberto Ramos, and Carlos Meglia, and the impact Daniel Warren Johnson’s livestreams have had on both of us. Keep an eye out, as a preview of his new comic project is aimed at New York Comic Con this coming weekend! Leave a 5 STAR review, share with a friend, & Keep it Nerdy! Follow Brandon: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bmendoza_art X - https://x.com/bmendozart TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@brandon.mendoza.art Patreon members get episodes early, a shoutout on the show, and can submit questions for upcoming guests! Join here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps 0:00 - Welcome & basketball before comics 4:00 - Jordan, Derrick Rose & drawing on cards 7:00 - Digital tools vs the feel of watercolor 10:00 - Cartoons, an uncle’s Spawn stack & the Flash rack 15:00 - Meniscus injury & leaving engineering 21:00 - Graphic design, practice sheets & homework after midnight 27:00 - Character design & Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur 34:00 - Pandemic silver linings 37:00 - Marvel Snap from an Instagram story 41:00 - Style: Bean, Canete, Ramos, Meglia 45:00 - DWJ, erasing & the mental side of drawing 51:00 - First sequential job with Juan Castro & Garrett Gunn 56:00 - Dream books: Flash, Batman Beyond, Daredevil 1:02:00 - Where to follow Brandon & outro

    Artist Brandon Mendoza: Marvel Snap, Character Design, and Creating Comic Books

  4. Sep 28

    Author Maya Kurita: Writing, Importance of Art, & Ghosts of Ikari

    Writer Maya Kurita stops by Nerdy Mewzings and talks about the different kind of pressure that comes with calling yourself an author, working with a literary agent, and conquering deadlines leading up to publishing. Maya’s book in progress features monster hunting in Sengoku-era Japan, drawing inspiration from two of her favorite series, The Witcher and Shogun. It involves creatures from folklore, real historical figures in an alternate history, and a warden named Raiko who will not stop until he gets his brothers back. She recalls a first middle-grade manuscript she wrote for her daughter, a year of drafts after being told Japanese fantasy “has no market,” then finding her agent through Alex Tamaki’s The Book of Fallen Leaves. James and Maya compare comic deadlines to going on sub, talk the difference between comic and book conventions, meeting Matt Dinniman, the importance of writing groups, paying artists, and why AI covers and digital-only media make her want people to keep buying real books. Leave a 5 STAR review if you want more creators outside the usual comic-artist lane, and remember, Keep it Nerdy!  Follow Maya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mn.kurita.writes Patreon members get episodes 48 hours early, a shout out on the show, and can send questions for upcoming guests, join them here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps 0:00 - Early mornings, MMA nights & warmup timing 4:00 - Pressure from fighting vs pressure from writing 7:00 - WorldCon, Rose City & book-community support 12:00 - Meeting Matt Dinniman (and not following him) 18:30 - Family in film, early reading & fantasy roots 21:00 - Elevator pitch: Witcher meets Shogun 23:00 - First manuscript, “no market,” finding an agent 27:00 - Deadlines: books vs monthly comics 33:00 - Who owns the work: indie vs Big Five 36:30 - Covers, paying artists & William Thompson 41:00 - Friendships, Japanese history group & feedback 47:00 - Basics over flash, drafts vs edits 53:00 - Online groups, resources, AI art & physical books 1:03:00 - Where to follow Maya & outro

    Author Maya Kurita: Writing, Importance of Art, & Ghosts of Ikari

  5. Sep 21

    Eric Canete on Absolute Batman, Designing Poison Ivy & Coming Back to Comics

    Eric Canete returns to the Nerdy Mewzings Podcast following a trip to SuperManila Comic Con, which included a visit with family in the Philippines, and a year that saw him return to the world of comic books on Absolute Batman, featuring the debut of Absolute Poison Ivy! Eric talks about leaving a 15-year video-game job, getting pushed by longtime friends Matteo Scalera and Shawn Crystal to treat comics as the full-time gig, and how Ivan Brandon and Nick Dragotta opened the door for his return at New York Comic Con. We talked about the process of finding his rhythm on the project via sample pages he made while sick after the show, designing Absolute Poison Ivy as a monster first then using the “pretty construct” as a rug pull, as well as the one line from Nick Dragotta that unlocked his ability to properly portray Absolute Batman. He also covers his approach to using Otomo style screen tone, why he would train a new artist on six- and nine-panel pages before splash pages, creating Youngblood variants for Rob Liefeld, Skinbreaker variants with David Finch and Robert Kirkman, the possibility of Arc Athena collected editions, his time at Iconic Comics, and how storyboarding taught him to cut detail down to what the reader actually needs. Leave a 5 STAR review and share with a friend if this kind of process talk helps you, share with a friend, and Keep it Nerdy! Follow Eric: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ericcanete X - https://x.com/EricCanete TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@eric_canete Subscribe to Eric's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ericcanete Patreon supporters get episodes early, have their name shouted out on the pod, and can submit questions for upcoming guests for only $5 per month! Join here: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps: 0:00 - Welcome back & SuperManila Comic Con 2:30 - Family, academics & choosing comics 7:30 - Getting back in after the game-studio years 11:00 - NYCC, Nick Dragotta & Scott Snyder 16:00 - Sample pages, Poison Ivy design & the construct 23:00 - Drawing Absolute Batman like the Hulk 29:00 - Deadlines, pressure & finding a rendering approach 34:30 - How Eric would train a new storyteller 40:30 - Youngblood variants & changing his mind on Liefeld 45:00 - Skinbreaker, Kirkman & David Finch 48:30 - Arc Athena editions, Iconic Comics & Patreon Questions 54:30 - Animation habits on the page 57:00 - More Absolute? Terminal? Current Marvel covers 1:01:00 - Where to follow Eric & outro

    Eric Canete on Absolute Batman, Designing Poison Ivy & Coming Back to Comics

  6. Sep 14

    Artist Jin Han on Diversifying Across Comics, Toys & Concept Art

    Concept and Comic Artist Jin Han joins Nerdy Mewzings to discuss his career which has spanned comics (Spawn coloring and fill-in work), McFarlane Toys (lead concept artist), animation, and running Yellow Tracksuit Entertainment, which consults and designs for Hasbro, Mattel, Jazwares, Playmates Toys, Disney, Universal, and Sony. Jin and James talk about the importance of creative diversification, how original art collecting taught him scale and the penciler-inker relationship, and why he’s been moving back toward traditional work after years of digital. They cover Whilce Portacio’s early digital pioneering, Brian Haberlin’s advice to hide brush strokes, Travis Charest’s constant evolution, Mike Mignola’s economy of form, and the realities of the original art and collectibles markets. The conversation closes with a discussion about Marvel Studios laying off nearly its entire creative team, Disney’s AI partnerships, and how creators need to be prepared to pivot in ever changing times! If you work in comics, toys, or concept art — or just love hearing how artistic veterans stay working — Leave a 5 STAR Review, share with friends, & Keep it Nerdy! Follow Jin: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jinhan.art YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@jinhan_art Official Website: https://www.yellowtracksuit.com/ Patreon Nerdy Insider Members receive each week's episode 48 hours early, a shoutout on the show, and other perks. Join them there for only $5 per month: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Why Diversification Matters 4:00 - Original Art Collecting & Learning from Pages 10:00 - Traditional vs Digital Process 17:00 - Whilce Portacio, Brian Haberlin & Adaptable Artists 21:00 - Travis Charest, Mignola & Artistic Evolution 25:00 - Artists Jin Collects 29:00 - Emotional Value vs Market Value 35:00 - Collectibles Speculation, FOMO & Human Nature 44:00 - Yellow Tracksuit Studio & Going Independent 51:00 - Marvel Studios Layoffs, Disney & AI 1:02:00 - Where to Find Jin & Outro

    Artist Jin Han on Diversifying Across Comics, Toys & Concept Art

  7. Sep 7

    Ghost Man Haunts Again: Comic Creator Raymar Brunson Returns to Nerdy Mewzings

    Independent Comic Book Creator Raymar Brunson ( ⁨@artofbrunson⁩ ) returns to Nerdy Mewzings more than a year after his first appearance with a packed slate: Ghost Man Haunts Again (issue 3, 56 pages, out October from Cosmic Lion Productions), self-published Gatling Boy with Kevin Anthony Catalan, Pickle PI, Damu, and an upcoming flip-book collab with Erwin Papa. Raymar talks about jumping into comics in 2023 after years of photography and music videos, living at home to grind, networking with people already doing the work, and treating Ghost Man as a fun testing ground for his art. He breaks down digital pencils + traditional inks, tight thumbnails inspired by Chris Samnee, favorite tools, and influences from Bruce Timm and James Harren to Frank Miller, Jordi Bernet, and Alex Toth. We also cover printing for self publishing, saying yes to almost everything, and why he still loves the Punisher-inspired vigilante at the heart of Ghost Man (now with sidekick Head Hauntcho). If you love indie action comics, black-and-white storytelling, or creators who just keep shipping — Leave a 5 STAR Review, share with your friends, & Keep it Nerdy! Follow Raymar: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/artofbrunson X - https://x.com/artofbrunson TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@artofbrunson Buy Raymar's Comics: https://cosmiclionproductions.com/comics-shop/ols/search?keywords=brunson Snag Raymar's original art: https://www.panelpunk.com/collections/raymar-brunson Join the Nerdy Insider Club on Patreon for early episode access, a shout out on the pod, and bonus content: https://patreon.com/nerdymewzings Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Raymar Brunson Returns 2:00 - Ghost Man 3, Gatling Boy & Current Work 8:00 - Collaborations, Mixam Printing & Kickstarter Plans 15:00 - Process: Digital Pencils, Traditional Inks & Tools 22:00 - Speed, Quality & Working Multiple Projects 28:00 - Art Origins, Influences & Switching from Film 36:00 - Photography/Cinematography Influence on Comics 43:00 - Ghost Man Premise, Head Hauntcho & New Issue 50:00 - Distribution, Upcoming Projects & Saying Yes 56:00 - Dream Big Two Characters & Composition Tips 63:00 - Where to Follow Raymar & Outro

    Ghost Man Haunts Again: Comic Creator Raymar Brunson Returns to Nerdy Mewzings

  8. Aug 31

    Artist Colm Griffin on Directing, Radiant Black, & Variant Covers

    Artist Colm Griffin stops by Nerdy Mewzings and becomes the fourth Irish comic creator on the show! We talked about how he is balancing a thriving film directing career along with his lifelong passion for comic books. Colm shares about growing up in a small Irish town with limited comic access, the chance encounters that sent him into animation instead of fine art, and how versatility (penciling, inking, coloring, Adobe After Effects, editing) opened every door for his career. We cover his 225-page self-made comic he worked on during a production lull, early IDW work on Beast Wars, the game-changing Radiant Black “Tron cover” for Kyle Higgins, current Power Rangers and upcoming Ninja Turtles covers, and a newly signed (still secret) project. He also discusses studying artist editions, real-time feedback from Irish peers like Danny Earls and Declan Shalvey, treating art like a blue-collar job, and why he still draws for himself after a long day of directing. If you love variant cover artists, Irish comics talent, or creators who wear multiple hats — Leave a 5 STAR Review, Share with a Friend, & Keep it Nerdy! Follow Colm: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/artofcolmgriffin X - https://x.com/Colgriff84 Currently nominated for a Ringo Award (Best Cover Artist – Power Rangers) Become a Nerdy Mewzings Patreon member for early episode access, a shoutout on the show, and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/NerdyMewzings Timestamps 0:00 - Intro & Colm Griffin Joins Nerdy Mewzings 3:00 - Directing Career vs. Comic Passion 10:00 - Animation Path & Chance Encounters 16:00 - Early Comic Influences & Limited Access 22:00 - Artistic Influences & Style 28:00 - Breaking Into Comics: Beast Wars & Radiant Black 35:00 - Versatility in Film & Animation 42:00 - Studying Artist Editions & Mentors 50:00 - Storytelling from Film to Comics 55:00 - Upcoming Work, Ringo Nomination & Where to Follow 59:00 - Outro & Support Nerdy Mewzings

    Artist Colm Griffin on Directing, Radiant Black, & Variant Covers
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A weekly comic book interview podcast where host & artist James chats with comic industry pros, collectors, creators, & average nerds about all things comics, art, & more. Keep it nerdy! Website: nerdymewzings.com/podcast Video version of episodes: youtube.com/@nerdymewzings Patreon: patreon.com/nerdymewzings X (Twitter) - Instagram - TikTok @nerdymewzings

Information

  • Creator
    James Foster
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    131
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Nerdy Mewzings

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