We were lucky to catch up with Moy R. Marco recently and have shared our conversation below.
Moy, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is something that needs to be nurtured and kept alive, like a flame. I believe that constantly feeding on cultural content such as music, cinema, literature, or comics is essential to keep your mind active—not just as entertainment, but by studying it from a perspective that helps you understand the “why” behind all those artistic decisions.
For me, the key lies in surrounding myself with a circle of people involved in art in all its forms. Most of my friends work in comics, my partner is a concept artist and singer, and I know many writers and people involved in the audiovisual world. Each of these individuals belongs to very different sectors related to art, and that helps me gain a broad perspective on how art functions in all its forms.
This also allows me to learn different ways of working in other fields and apply them to my own. When you open your mind and study others’ work, you start to realize that composing a captivating song isn’t all that different from creating a comic with dynamic and engaging pacing.
Surrounding yourself with artists not only enriches you but also opens doors to new and exciting projects, which helps you learn even more and grow as an artist.
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?
Like everyone else, I drew as a kid, and it’s always been something that made me happy. When I was 15, I decided I wanted to turn that passion into my way of life, which led me to study comics at Escola Joso in Barcelona, where I now teach as an instructor. I started publishing professionally at 23 with Zenescope Entertainment, and since then, I’ve worked with companies like Marvel, Ubisoft, Hasbro, Boom! Studios, and Dynamite, among many others. Currently, I’m the artist for the series *Nothing Butt Nightwing* for DC Comics.
Drawing characters that have been with me throughout my life makes me feel fulfilled and accomplished (and let’s be honest, it’s super cool too!). It’s fun and keeps me connected to the entertainment industry, which in turn enriches me as a professional—it’s a bit of a virtuous cycle! I also strive to bring dynamism to my work and create a hybrid between the American superhero style and manga.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A professor once told me that to be a professional in the world of comics, you need to follow three rules: be good, be fast, and be pleasant. And by fulfilling just two of those three rules, you can already succeed in the industry: if you’re good and fast, it doesn’t matter how difficult you are to deal with. If you’re good and pleasant, it’s okay if you’re a bit slower. And if you’re fast and pleasant, people will still want to work with you even if your skill level isn’t exceptional. It’s the perfect plan! However, I focus on developing all three qualities and trying to maximize them.
I aim to create quality work that, even when conditioned by deadlines and tight schedules, meets a minimum standard and is both technically functional and aesthetically appealing.
I strive to be fast and maintain a pace that is interesting for companies, which is why I believe it’s crucial to work hard—especially when starting your career—and to be able to produce at least one page a day to prove to publishers that you can meet deadlines.
I also try to be pleasant and always show optimism, resourcefulness, and strong communication skills. I aim to uplift my editors and colleagues with my attitude and solve problems whenever I can. Unforeseen issues always come up, but they’re much better received when, instead of presenting them with a heavy heart, you address them with practical solutions.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Lately, my biggest enemy has been impostor syndrome. Working at a big company like DC is amazing, but being exposed to the opinions of so many people can often be psychologically challenging—especially when you’re someone who constantly questions the quality of your work and always strives to improve. It’s a demon I battle every day, but I try to face it with a clear mind and remind myself of a few key things.
First, perfection doesn’t exist. While holding yourself to high standards is essential for professional growth, you need to rein in that feeling so it doesn’t consume you. I also remind myself to trust my editors, writers, and colleagues—they wouldn’t choose to work with me if my work were subpar.
And, of course, having a close support network is crucial to help you climb out of that mental pit on especially tough days. I think it’s important to put things into perspective. For me, drawing comics is my entire world, but I try to remind myself that it’s not everything. Beyond being an artist, there are so many other facets of my personality and value as a human being. That helps me take some of the weight off my shoulders and makes this battle a little easier to manage (most of the time, haha).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moy-r.jimdosite.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moy.r.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moyr456
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moy-r-4b8446170/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Moy_R_
- Other: Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/moy-r.bsky.social
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