Interview with MK_Wizard creator of “Word is Bird” – All Ages of Geek Tapas Reviews

Hello, All Ages of Geek community! Welcome to another episode of the Creator Spotlight series, where we shine a light on some of the most talented and creative minds in the world of webcomics. Today, we have a special treat for you as we are joined by the multi-talented Mary, also known as MK_Wizard. She’s a housewife, a mother, and most importantly, a webcomic author with three amazing works to her name. So, sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the world of MK_Wizard’s webcomics!

Note from the Creator

I am MK_Wizard though you may call me Mary. I am a housewife, a mother, and most relevantly, a webcomic author. I have three works to my name.

• MK’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Completed): https://mksjekyllandhyde.thecomicseries.com/ 
• Cupcake War Machine: https://cupcakewarmachine.thecomicseries.com/
• Word is the Bird: https://wordisthebird.thecomicseries.com/

What initially sparked your passion for creating comics, and how did that desire evolve into the work you produce today?

I have always loved creating comics since I was a girl, but I started posting a webcomic online upon finally getting the courage to show my adaptation of Jekyll & Hyde to the world. Now, I write comics as a career and I want show everyone EVERYTHING I can imagine.

Can you walk us through your journey as a comic creator, starting from the moment you first decided to explore this medium?

As I said before, I officially started writing comics ‘professionally’ when I decided to post Jekyll & Hyde online. I didn’t even expect it to be that popular because there were multiple Jekyll & Hyde webcomics going on with some being especially popular at the time, but it wound up being a big hit. Originally, I intended it to be a one time thing, but the webcomic became a three book series, I then started writing my gag a day comic Word is the Bird, and near the end of Jekyll & Hyde, I already knew what I wanted to write next and it was even in the works (Cupcake War Machine). After that, I realized, I was living my dream of writing comics, so I have been running with it since and I intend to create comics for as long as I live.

Your work touches on various themes and subjects. How do you choose which stories to tell, and what do you hope your readers take away from them?

All art acts as a vehicle for a message, but my main focus is to always tell a good story that anyone can enjoy. I have a long list of stories in mind, but the ones that wind coming to fruition are the ones I can come up with a story for, the story is enjoyable to read and I actually enjoy writing it. I hope that my readers find joy in what I create and that I left with some positive food for thought.

What led you to choose Tapas as the platform for sharing your comics, and what aspects of the site do you find most appealing for your work?

I use Tapas as my main go to mirror for mobile devices because I am no good at building my own websites, so Tapas is a book to people like me. I also love that they treat all creators with respect and the community is very kind. What I really like is that Tapas is open to diverse genres which is great because I like to explore all kinds of genres, so I am sure that everything I create will be liked by the Tapas fans.

Tapas has its own unique features and community. Are there any aspects of the platform that you feel could be improved, or perhaps have been challenging to navigate?

For a UI point of view, I would like it if there was a “dark mode” because it would be easier on the eyes. I would also think it would be to the site’s benefit if it added “supernatural”, “fan fiction” and “adventure” to the main genre list and “food” to the secondary genre list.

In your opinion, what distinguishes independent comics from mainstream comics, and why do you think the indie scene is important for the overall comic industry?

The main thing, and best thing about independent comics in my opinion, is that they are not concerned with current trends or politics. The author has complete and total creative freedom to write how they want and thanks to that, we wind up with a higher chance at getting good quality comics rather than just making products to consume. Also, with independent comics, the author is more likely to be genuine, so they tend to get important details like inclusions and represent right.

As a comic creator, what are some unique storytelling techniques you’ve developed to set your work apart from others in the genre?

I only write what I enjoy writing. If I don’t like what I am writing and/or cannot finish what I start, I stop and move onto the next project onto the list. I truly believe great art can only be made with love. Also, I confess that I make my stories weird on purpose because I don’t like doing what has been done. In my experience, weirndess is an asset not a flaw. It is what draws in attention and it makes people want to see how a story is going to be played out. It is what got me into a lot of the comics and cartoons that shaped my childhood and standards in storytelling.

Apart from your comics, what other avenues do you explore to engage with your audience, such as social media, live events, or merchandise?

I am very active on Twitter and Instagram. I also do blogs on Tumblr where I review medias, analyze characters and give my two cents about other medias. I also do commissions, sell art, sell my comics in PDF and print format in the Storenvy. I also run a Patreon and a Ko-fi account.

Creating comics can be both rewarding and challenging. Can you share some of the struggles you’ve faced along the way, and how you’ve overcome them?

My biggest hurdle to jump was finally getting my first comic in print format because I lacked funds and always failed to reach the monetary goal. I failed three Kickstarters before finally having a success on my fourth try. It was because I was still new at webcomics and running a crowdfund, but once I gained enough experience and really listened to all the advice I was given, I finally reached my goal.

Are there any comic creators, artists, or writers who have been particularly influential or inspiring to you? How have they shaped your creative journey?

My biggest influences are Stan Lee and Rebecca Sugar who were big on writing on their terms and only bringing the finest of their work. Stan Lee’s Marvel heroes were my introduction to comics that had deep plots, complex characters and heroes who were heroic because they wanted to be. Rebecca Sugar’s work is something I enjoy in my adult life because it has a lot of positivity behind it while also still being deep and intelligent.

For aspiring comic creators, what are some practical tips and advice you would give to help them find their own voice and style?

Only create what you want to write not what is “cool” or might be popular. People want to see YOUR work not a copycat of someone else’s. Also, be open to learning new artistic techniques that will make your art cleaner and better like shading, proper backgrounds, proper perspective and proportions. Also, practice drawing things beforehand.

Can you tell us about your creative process, from brainstorming ideas to the final execution of your comics? How do you stay motivated and consistent throughout?

Once I decided upon a story, I take note of the beginning and the end first, then I bounce between the two on how I’m going to get there while writing the manuscript. Once the manucript is done, only then do I move onto making comics. If the webcomics series is more than one book long, I finish the manuscript of book 1 first, then I start making comics while writing manuscript of the next book. In the comic phase, I complete a chapter at a time to make sure I have filler in between chapters. If I am near the end of a series, that is when I get to work on my next big project.