Illustrator Marcus Williams.
The annual event known as Baltimore Comic-Con is an opportunity where a cult of artists, creators and writers come together to not be judged. Marcus Williams, an Atlanta, Georgia based illustrator is one of those unique individuals. His work is a representation of a diverse outlook on life.
At Baltimore Comic-Con, you get a chance to dress like your favorite fictional character, or even as your alter-ego, in a no-judgment zone.
Williams, 34, is a single Black father of two from San Diego, California, who currently resides in Atlanta. He once attended The Art Institute of Atlanta, but soon put his college life on hold to follow his dream as an illustrator. For the past 16 years he has been a professional freelance illustrator for comics and children’s books. In addition, he creates his own original characters. “My life has become drawing…that’s all i do,” said Williams in an interview with The AFRO. “I’m pretty much drawing all the time. When I’m eating, when I’m sleep and when I’m spending time with my kids”
Williams added: “I illustrate things that I am passionate about. It’s just me drawing what I feel is cool, or what I wish I could see.”
Williams maintains a blog at marcusthevisual.tumblr.com. One of Williams’ works on his blog is a comic he created called “Black Panther & Storm Heritage.” While not officially sanctioned by Marvel, the owner the Black Panther intellectual property, Williams’ creates his own story where the two main characters, who have a child and get divorced in the licensed comic book, stay together.
“Those writers made them get a divorce, so I wanted to create a fan fiction that portrayed them still together,” said Williams. “It’s just the imagery. The imagery of showing a super hero black family that is powerful.”
Williams is currently working on a comic called “Super Natural,” and “Super-Natural Boy.” No date is set for Super-Natural Boy yet, but his newest comic book called, “Super Natural Book 1,” will be published on September 28.
“She’s going to deal with the police, she’s going to deal with the government, she’s going to deal with the media,” said Williams. “She’s new to our culture here in America, but since she’s powerful she’s going to be able to handle those entities much differently. I want to speak to that frustration.”
This will not be Williams first time at the Baltimore Comic-Con convention. He will be drawing cats for guests and fans as he’ll turn their cat into a “hero cat” based off his illustrations he does for creator and writer, Kyle Puttkamer, called “Hero Cats of Stellar City.” The book allows an extensive group of cats with abilities to save their city as each cat gives off a distinct personality. “There’s not a lot of cat comic books out there…but there is a huge, huge, huge eagerish market for them, said Williams.”
Williams also said: “We really don’t have to sell cats. People walk by our stand and say “Omg, hero cats!” Fanatics love cats already…we really don’t have to work too hard.”
For more on “Hero Cats Of Stellar City” go to herocatscomic.com. Williams’ official website is marcusthevisual.com Baltimore Comic-Con will take place September 25-27.