Meet Liana Kangas

We recently connected with Liana Kangas and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Liana, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

Having a lot of different jobs and collaborators over the years has given me a toolset for my job that is extremely invaluable. I used to work in marketing and outreach before comics, as well as retail, food service and other jobs that gave me an upper hand at problem solving, customer relationships and bringing the general vibe up!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a comic artist, illustrator and writer on genre-bending, neon lensed stories, founded in sci-fi, horror, film and music industry. I’ve collaborated with publishers like Boom Studios, Image, Vault, and Dark Horse, co-creating series such as Know Your Station, TRVE KVLT, and She Said Destroy.

My work also includes a contribution to the Godzilla 70th Anniversary anthology, which received an Eisner nomination this year, and I’m proud to have been part of HBO’s Fantasmas, which recently won a Peabody Award.

What excites me most is connecting with readers is resonating with niche and marginalized communities, both through narrative and supporting them. Right now, I’m processing a huge trip I took to Japan for Star Wars Celebration, expanding my Patreon community, and wrapping up several new projects I can’t wait to share!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, resilience has been by far my biggest strength both before and during my career. Comics is an inherently difficult and unstable industry to grow in, so staying grounded—especially by connecting with peers—has helped me not only persist but also build community as a support system.

I’ve had to navigate shifting genres, Intellectual properties, projects, tools, and timelines, all while keeping creative momentum. Project management and adaptability is probably what allowed me to visualize my career growth, ask for help, (and hire assistance!) and learn new experiences.

And finally, community-building—through collaboration, fan readership, Patreon (patronage), or just showing up for others—has turned this career into a shared experience with my colleagues and friends.

Surround yourself with people who remind you why you started, WHERE you started, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. We as creatives are all stronger than we think.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

One of the most impactful things my parents and grandparents did for me was give me the space to unapologetically explore who I was. My grandpa was a fine artist, my mom a singer-songwriter, my grandma a multifaceted and skilled tailor and seamstress—and my dad, a stoic yet hilarious reminder not to take myself too seriously.

My parents and partner never questioned my shift to comics; instead, they encouraged my willingness to leap into something entirely new. Their support gave me the confidence to push boundaries and trust my own voice to create—something I’ll always be grateful for and credit as a start to my career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lianakangas.com/
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/lianakangas
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/lianakangas

Image Credits

Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary
9798887241494 | IDW Publishing