Meet Michael “gecko” Adams

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael “gecko” Adams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael “Gecko”, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I don’t think imposter syndrome ever really goes away completely. There are times when what I’m doing feels natural, like it’s exactly what I’m meant to be doing. Then there are other times when that nagging voice of “am I really good enough?” creeps in. It’s tough to shake off, especially in the world of comic book creation, where creativity and competition go hand in hand.

For me, holding on to those moments when fans genuinely enjoy my work is crucial. When someone comes up to me at a convention or sends me a message saying how much they love my comic, it’s like a lifeline. These interactions remind me that my work has value and that my stories matter to someone. It helps keep that imposter syndrome at bay, even if just temporarily.

I’ve also learned to shift my focus away from the end result and more towards the process of creating. It’s easy to get bogged down by sales numbers, social media metrics, or critical reviews, which can all feel out of my control. Instead, I remind myself that I make comics because I love it. There’s something magical about crafting stories, building worlds, and bringing characters to life. That passion is my anchor.

Interacting with other creators and fans is another huge part of what keeps me going. The comic book community is full of inspiration. Engaging with fellow artists helps me grow, while fan feedback gives me a sense of purpose. Hearing from people who appreciate my work is incredibly rewarding and keeps me motivated to keep pushing forward.

I also try to celebrate the small victories. Finishing a page, wrapping up a storyline, or just having a good day at the drawing board are all wins in my book. These little milestones remind me of my progress and help fend off those self-doubts.

It’s also comforting to know that I’m not alone in feeling this way. Every creator, no matter how successful, goes through moments of doubt. Reading about other artists and writers who’ve faced similar struggles and seeing how they’ve overcome them gives me a lot of reassurance. It’s a reminder that self-doubt is a common part of the creative journey and that it’s possible to push through.

Ultimately, it’s about finding balance. While imposter syndrome might never fully disappear, I’ve learned to live with it and even use it as a motivator to improve my work. By focusing on my love for storytelling, cherishing those fan interactions, celebrating small achievements, and drawing inspiration from the community, I continue to pursue my passion despite the occasional bouts of self-doubt. It’s this journey, with all its ups and downs, that makes the creative process so rewarding.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am, first and foremost, a Soldier in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, where I work full-time. Beyond that, I am a comic book artist and creator. My first book is called Kung Fu Legume. It is a story about a Kung Fu-fighting bean that teams up with a little girl genius named Monkey and her robot grandpa. I completed the first 24-page issue before sending it to any publishers. I think having a completed work helps comic book publishers feel more comfortable about taking a chance on a new creator. Chris at Keenspot Comics liked the book and agreed to publish it. Within that same year, I completed the five-issue miniseries. Once the book was complete, Chris contacted me about putting together a pitch deck he planned to send to his representative at Zero Gravity Management.

After doing a deep dive into what a pitch deck was, I sat down with my wife, and we did a lot of brainstorming. Slide by slide, our first pitch deck was done. Chris had a few suggestions that I implemented, and then he sent it to Zero Gravity. He also asked if he could send it to Richard Pursel, who has a prolific career in writing for animation. He’s worked on SpongeBob SquarePants, Ren and Stimpy, I Am Weasel, Tom and Jerry…the list is long! I was incredibly nervous about someone of his standing seeing my work, but he loved the characters and the story and immediately agreed to be our showrunner. Needless to say, I was ecstatic!

From there, Zero Gravity introduced Kung Fu Legume to Kheng Hua Tan, who is best known in the United States for her role in Crazy Rich Asians. She loved the characters and was particularly drawn to the idea of what a family is in the story. She became our executive producer and the voice of Monkey, one of the main characters. Later, Kheng introduced the story to Sherry Cola, a hilarious comedian and actress best known from the movie Joy Ride. She signed on to voice Bean, which is a perfect fit! So now we are in the process of finding this awesome project a home. We are hopeful that Hollywood will be interested.

Once Kung Fu Legume was complete, I teamed up with Keenspot Associate Editor, Rob “Potsy” Potchak, to do a three-issue miniseries called ZOR. It’s about a little girl who loses something precious down the sink. She cries and wishes for it to come back, and as her tears flow down the drain, something magical happens. The tears come to life in the form of ZOR. He now travels the realm of the Undersink to retrieve the lost item. Along the way, he meets friends and overcomes many obstacles. It is a very touching story written and co-created by Rob.

Now, I am working on another co-created story from Jeff McClelland called Hero Hiro. It is about a pompous, corporate-sponsored superhero simply called “Hero”. He eventually crosses the wrong guy who puts a curse on him so that the next person he touches takes all of his powers. Days go by, but he eventually saves a little boy named Hiro from a high fall. His powers are transferred to the little boy, so now Hero has to keep up the charade that he still has his powers so he can keep his corporate sponsorships. This leads to Hero eventually learning some humility and Hiro learning what being a superhero is all about. The first issue is coming out in January 2025 from Keenspot Comics.

Beyond these three stories, I have many more floating around in my head that I am planning to work on.

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

Artists often get trapped in a cycle of self-doubt, feeling that their work isn’t good enough. This can lead to endlessly reworking pages or even complete paralysis. If there’s one piece of advice I could give to anyone, it’s this: “Just finish it.” Don’t stress if that hand you drew isn’t perfect. Can readers tell it’s a hand? Then it’s probably fine.

I’ve managed to push past this hurdle myself. The key is to complete the page and move on to the next one. Acknowledge your flaws and strive to improve from page to page, rather than getting stuck or shutting down. It’s important to remember that every artist is their own worst critic. We all have a love-hate relationship with our work. The trick is not to let that hinder your productivity.

Finishing a book is like climbing a hill. You take it one step at a time, and eventually, you’ll reach the top. Don’t look back and retrace your steps—just keep moving forward.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

This might sound a bit corny, but my wife, Angela, has been incredibly important in helping me overcome many of my hesitations about creating my own books. She’s not only a sounding board for ideas but also someone who pushes me to pursue my passion. She’s contributed to every project I’ve done so far, helping me untangle the web of ideas clogging up my chaotic brain. Often, she’s had key ideas that made my books better or more fun, and I really enjoy brainstorming with her.

Angela is also incredibly supportive when I go into creation mode. She knows I’ll be at my drawing table for days, cranking out page after page, often after work and on weekends, leaving me with zero free time. I deeply appreciate her giving me the space and time to knock out these projects. Having a supportive spouse is crucial for anything deadline-based. This isn’t just my project—it’s our project.

She also helps me at comic conventions, setting up and greeting people who come by the table. Often, I’m busy working on a commission or drawing something, so having her there is invaluable. I’m not sure any of this would be possible without her.

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