New York’s Philippe Labaune Gallery has been hosting exhibits with many of the hottest comic artists, and this week sees the opening of a brand new exhibit with living legend, Frank Cho. To mark this milestone, we caught up with Mr. Cho to ask him a variety of questions spanning his career.
Between your comic book art, classic comic strip art, ballpoint pen work, and your paintings, you have mastered more artistic styles and formats than many of your predecessors and contemporaries. Which of these styles did you learn first, and what inspired you to continue to branch out into different types of art? How does your artistic process differ when you are working in different formats?
Frank Cho: I’ve always held a deep passion for all art forms. The comic book style drew me in first, as I encountered it at a young age. From there, my curiosity and relentless drive to develop as an artist propelled me beyond the confines of panel grids into diverse artistic disciplines and genres.
It may sound strange, but when I view my art, I see all of the flaws, struggles, and missteps. I always see room for improvement. My hypercritical eye and drive to improve keep me grounded while helping me grow as an artist.
Each art medium produces a distinct visual result. Comic art is basically line art, while painting explores tone. I strive to capture the strengths inherent in each medium.
Whether it be Liberty Meadows or your sketch cover commissions, humor plays a big role in a portion of your artistic output. Who are your favorite comedians, what are your favorite comedy movies, and how have they directly and indirectly influenced your work?
Cho: Humor is very important to me. For me, art and humor often go hand-in-hand. My inspirations for humor come from everywhere, ranging from early MAD magazine to silent films of the bygone era. I especially loved Laurel and Hardy movies, and later on, the absurd and satirical comedy of Monty Python and other British humor shows. Growing up, Bloom County and Calvin & Hobbes newspaper comic strips were great inspirations to me on how to tell a long, humorous story within a limited format.
Your finished comic book art pieces (especially your covers) tend to be larger than the standard comic book art board size. Why do you prefer larger art boards for your comic book art and what impact do larger boards have on your finished work?
Cho: I’ve always drawn big. From the start of my comic book career, I tried drawing on the standard 11”x17” paper Marvel provided, but I just couldn’t do it. It felt unnatural, as if I were caged in. So I started buying and using my own paper and cutting it to a comfortable size. Once I found my optimal paper size, everything just clicked, and my drawings improved.
You have plenty of experience working with established characters for Marvel and DC, but also have a lot of experience creating original properties such as Jungle Girl and Fight Girls. What are the pros and cons of working for the big publishers on existing properties versus creating your own? Do you prefer one over the other? If so or if not, how come?
Cho: I prefer creating my own characters—one word: freedom. Working for Marvel and DC comics offers great benefits like exposure and nostalgia. At this point in my career, though, the negatives, such as editorial censorship, corporate politics, and lack of profit sharing and credit, outweigh the positives.
You have a reputation for interacting with your fans through a variety of formats, such as conventions, social media, artwork sites and apps, and more. What are you hoping your fans will be able to experience at your Art Exhibition at the Philippe Labaune Gallery that will be new and different from how they are used to experiencing your work and your traditional artist/fan interactions?
Cho: This whole Philippe Labaune gallery experience is completely new to me. My curator, Nathaniel Pallant, has an incredible network, especially in international media and publishing. Together with Philippe Labaune, we’re looking at ways to expand this collaboration globally, which I’m really excited about. I’m hoping my fans, new and old, will enjoy this new journey together as I explore new artistic pathways.
At this point in your career, it’s hard to think of something in the art world that you haven’t accomplished. What are some goals you have for your work and career going forward, and what are some upcoming projects you have that you’re really excited about?
Cho: I believe this marks a new stage in my artistic journey as I continue to evolve as an artist. I still have many projects in the works, but unfortunately, I can’t disclose the comic projects just yet. I can, however, reveal the art books in progress. I have several art books in the works with Flesk Publications, including a new art book on ballpoint pen drawings, a Franklin Booth-inspired ink book, and an art book devoted to all of my Sherlock Holmes illustrations.
The Frank Cho exhibit at New York’s Philippe Labaune Gallery will run through October 25th, 2025. Stay tuned to Conskipper for complete coverage of Frank Cho’s upcoming projects as soon as they break!