About Bernie Gonzalez
I grew up with 80s cartoons, Universal Monsters, comic books, Twilight Zone, Night of the Living Dead, mystery pulps, Kurosawa samurai films, spaghetti westerns, John Carpenter movies, The Shadow radio show, Kolchak: The Nightstalker, Samurai Jack, & Batman: The Animated Series
Interviews
(2/17/2021)Wayne’s Comics Podcast #472: Interview with Bernie Gonzalez (2/7/2021)
"This week in Episode 472, I’m happy to welcome back Bernie Gonzalez, the driving force and the writer/artist behind Midnight Mystery, a terrific self-published series that is one of my all-time favorites!"
"This week in Episode 472, I’m happy to welcome back Bernie Gonzalez, the driving force and the writer/artist behind Midnight Mystery, a terrific self-published series that is one of my all-time favorites!"
Creator Talks Podcast: Bernie Gonzalez's Midnight Mystery Back in Print (3/11/2021)
Ezekiel “Zeke” King is back for another Midnight Mystery! Returning guest Bernie Gonzalez is the creator, writer and artist of his horror noir comic Midnight Mystery.
Ezekiel “Zeke” King is back for another Midnight Mystery! Returning guest Bernie Gonzalez is the creator, writer and artist of his horror noir comic Midnight Mystery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which artists have influenced you the most?
Jack Kirby, Darwyn Cooke, Jordi Bernet, Bruce Timm, and Robert McGinnis have all been big influences in my work. But when I think of influence, I consider approach alongside art style. That being said, Alex Toth stands out.
Like most comic book artists, I looked at the artists that were popular at the time I was a young fan and artist. Legends like Art Adams, Mike Mignola, and Neal Adams. But when I discovered Alex Toth's work, it immediately became Toth followed by everyone else. Everything he did in comics and animation was, and continues to be, a revelation to me. So when I'm feeling down about my art, I always remember this terrific Toth quote: "I spent the first half of my career learning what to put into my work, and the second half learning what to leave out." I'm still in the first half but I'd like to think I'm making progress.
Like most comic book artists, I looked at the artists that were popular at the time I was a young fan and artist. Legends like Art Adams, Mike Mignola, and Neal Adams. But when I discovered Alex Toth's work, it immediately became Toth followed by everyone else. Everything he did in comics and animation was, and continues to be, a revelation to me. So when I'm feeling down about my art, I always remember this terrific Toth quote: "I spent the first half of my career learning what to put into my work, and the second half learning what to leave out." I'm still in the first half but I'd like to think I'm making progress.
What was the best art advice you've ever received?
Hands down it's a quote by Thomas Jefferson: "If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done".
I wanted to tell stories, so I learned how to draw comics. Then I taught myself how to ink. First with Sharpies, then Micron pens, and now I use brushes. I wanted to add color to my art, so I taught myself Photoshop. I needed a website to feature my comics, so I learned to code. I'm not saying: "Hey, look at the list of things Bernie's done". Rather: "Look at just a few of the things I had to learn to tell my stories". Making comics is hard enough even if you're a good artist. But if you don't have the willingness to continuously learn, to quote Jack Kirby: "Comics will break your heart".
I wanted to tell stories, so I learned how to draw comics. Then I taught myself how to ink. First with Sharpies, then Micron pens, and now I use brushes. I wanted to add color to my art, so I taught myself Photoshop. I needed a website to feature my comics, so I learned to code. I'm not saying: "Hey, look at the list of things Bernie's done". Rather: "Look at just a few of the things I had to learn to tell my stories". Making comics is hard enough even if you're a good artist. But if you don't have the willingness to continuously learn, to quote Jack Kirby: "Comics will break your heart".
What was the first comic book you ever bought?
As a kid, I remember forcing my folks to buy me random Spiderman and Batman comics here and there at 7/11 or Walgreens. Same with the TMNT series by Archie Comics. But Infinity Gauntlet #1 was the first comic book I remember buying where I was actively engaged in the story. Here was this epic crossover featuring all these awesome superheroes, steeped in Marvel mythology, and with unbelievably high stakes. It didn't feel like a kids comics. And considering I was in junior high, I didn't feel like a kid. I wanted something mature and intelligent. Infinity War #1 delivered. Plus it was in glorious newsprint!
In hindsight, this comic was even more influential because I didn't find issue two on the same newsstand where I bought issue one. And that's how I discovered comic shops which introduced me to even more comics and further fueled my fanboy flames.
In hindsight, this comic was even more influential because I didn't find issue two on the same newsstand where I bought issue one. And that's how I discovered comic shops which introduced me to even more comics and further fueled my fanboy flames.
