In this Issue:

Cover: “Seeing Legends” – artist Jonathan Koelsch

“Couch Kids in ‘Mistaken Identity'” – artist Shelby Soto

“The Library of Doom” – by Marissa Pruett & Rachel Brown

“A Timely River Tour” – artist Mathew Brendle

“A Scene of the Dust Bowl” – artist Ellis Goodson

“Zooklahoma: Route 66 Ex-scavenge-aganza!” – artist S.A. McClung

“How to Move a State Capitol” – by Ofelia Ochoa & Charles J. Martin

“Boomers 2: Rumble at the Club” – artist Tanner Feuerborn

“Mayhem at the Memorial Marathon” – by Nana Marchae & Carleigh Foutch

A word from the editor…

Two years ago, I had a bad day. This wasn’t just a “feelin’ rough” bad day or even one of those “can’t do anything right” bad days. This was a “shaken to the core, not sure what to think of the world around me” bad day. I understood the road I was on led to nowhere. I had to make a decision to make a turn.

There have been lots of things I’ve wanted to do with my life: travel, tell stories, build something new. One secret ambition had always been to be part of the Marvel bullpen in the early 1960s. Time-travel impossibilities aside, it’s the environment I imagined: working close-quarters with a team of talented creators, some new to the game, others with decades of experience; making stories that thousands would read to enjoy and maybe even become inspired.

That day two years ago, I decided I’d do it. It took a lot of sweat, some tears, and even a little blood. I’ve met folks I’d otherwise never had known and helped mold stories that will keep people talking for years to come. I hope Okie Comics continues to make our world better.

You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma – Jeff Provine

 

Meet the Artist – Jonathan Koelsch

When did you start drawing?
I started drawing at age four on walls, on paper around five.

What are your favorite things to draw?
I love drawing stories the most. Drawing humans and expressions, realistic or cartoony is most fun, but close second is conceptualizing and storytelling all genres of characters, beasties, vehicles, spacecraft, armor, tech and — okay just whatever appears in a comic book. And the occasional mermaid or unicorn for my daughter.

Who are some of your artistic inspirations?
Yikes, more than I can list! Formal illustration: Norman Rockwell, Drew Struzan, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Mark Fredrickson, Tim Jessell, Mike Wimmer, and Cameron Eagle. I learned how to draw mostly from comics, especially from studying Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Michael Golden, John Byrne, Jim Lee, & John Buscema. More recently it’s Bryan Hitch, Clay Mann, Stuart Immonen, Alex Ross & Esad Ribic. And OK’s own Jerry Bennett!

Any projects you’re working on or looking forward to working on?
Aw, all the coolest future work is still under NDA until I’m allowed to say! My art will be featured in a film with well-known actors soon, plus great fun doing storyboards for a LEGO Voltron ad and Dreamworks Trolls animations. While I love my daily gig illustrating, presently it’s most fun writing my own stories and finishing sample scripts and pitch requests from Marvel, Aspen, the BBC, Hasbro and others. More fun stuff ahead!

What’s a good way for fans to check out your work?

@jkArtsy on Instagram, @jkArts on Twitter, Facebook.com/jkArts. At jkArts.com, you can see my fan art and some of my published comic book work, including Luther, a graphic novel, available at lutherstudy.com.