He’s a 15 year veteran in making comics with a DIY attitude from the UK that also dabbles in Youtube as a way to help new Comics creators. Joining me today is the one and only Matt Garvey!
1. Hello there, and welcome to the Mind Meld here at IndieComiX! For those who may not be aware of you and what it is you do, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Its Matt!
Hi, I’m Matt, a comic writer from the UK. I also have a YouTube channel where I help people make their first comics.
2. You’re about to launch a new Kickstarter for the 4th issue of I Took A Hammer To Hell, what is the book about over all and what can fans expect to see with the 4th issue?
Well, it was originally an idea for a Ghost Rider story, but I can’t wait forever for Marvel to discover me (he-he-he), so I tweaked it into a creator-owned series. It’s about Jake, a guy who sells his soul to the devil (original, I know… but I think I do it in a unique way). Instead of waiting for the evil to come and collect, he tapes a massive hammer to his hand and runs into Hell to kill the devil.
3. How long of a series is ITAHTH going to be? Or is the 4th the final issue?
Issue #4 wraps up the first arc, but we’re already working on the next, and I have an idea for a third. If people keep liking it, we’ll keep making more!
4. You’ve been creating comics for 15 years largely by yourself in addition to doing a YouTube channel, how difficult would you say it’s been being a solo act?
It’s a labor of love, and I have an amazing support network, including my incredible wife. I’ve also been fortunate to work with so many talented collaborators who bring these stories to life, so I’ve never truly been “solo.” It’s very much a team effort—without my artist collaborators, all I’d have is just letters on a page. They are the real heroes. Plus, I’ve built a great community of regular supporters who buy my comics (and that community is constantly growing). They genuinely want me to do well, so I’ve never felt alone in this journey.
5. For that matter, why stay solo?
A publisher to help with distribution would be amazing, but I just haven’t had the chance to get one interested in my work. So, I’ve got to do it myself!
6. What advice would you give to those looking to be on the solo path?
Plan and be realistic about what you want from making comics. It’s a lot of work, and I’ve seen so many people run successful Kickstarters only to take years—or never deliver—on what people backed. There’s nothing wrong with having big ideas, but when people are paying you for a comic, you MUST deliver. Otherwise, your reputation is ruined on your first book, and that bad smell will follow you.
7. As mentioned previously, you have a YouTube channel, what can you tell us about that?
When I’m at comic cons, I get inundated with questions (which I love answering!):
“How do you write a comic?” “How do you find an artist?” “How do you print your comics?”
Then lockdown happened, and I realized there were still people out there with these same questions. So, I started recording myself, trying to give as much process advice as I could—essentially answering the questions I wished I had known when I first started.
Its Hammer time, boys!
8. What’s next for you after the kickstarter for ITAHTH is over with?
I’ve got a few more comics coming down the pipeline:
Chances Are #2
Gangsters Versus #3
ITAHTH #5
And a new heist comic I’ve written called The Skim.
9. Any potential pitches your way for adaptations for your works?
It happens every now and then, but nothing has ever come to fruition. But honestly, I’m not fussed—I just love making comics.
10. In over 15 years of work, what’s been a personal favorite of yours?
I know it sounds incredibly pretentious, but ITAHTH is particularly special to me. There’s a lot of emotion on the page in the first arc—even cried at one part while writing it.
11. Who is someone you haven’t worked with but would like to?
There are so many great artists in the indie scene, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to hand-pick the collaborators I’ve worked with based on the stories I’ve written. For me, it’s less about who I want to work with and more about which story I’m writing next and whose art will bring that vision to life. I could name a big artist, but if their style doesn’t fit the story, it would be a disservice to their art.
12. When it comes to Print vs Digital, where do you land?
Both! I love floppies, but being an avid comic collector for 30 years—with over 6,000 comics—storage is a challenge. I don’t buy trades anymore because I just don’t have the space, so digital is awesome. Plus, I can read them at night without disturbing anyone.
13. Stance on AI?
We all use AI every day, even without realizing it. But people get so angry… and I say this as someone who is directly affected—not in comics, but in my day job in video production, where AI is coming after the industry hard. Am I worried? Nope. AI is only as good as the humans using it, and most people can’t use it well. Yes, there will always be people who abuse AI to make a quick buck without paying artists—that’s always been the case with new tech, and it’s not right.
But if publishers start cranking out AI-generated comics, they’ll alienate their core audience. People will always appreciate real art created by humans. That won’t change. Let’s all agree: stealing art is wrong. Don’t do it. But AI isn’t going anywhere, so we need to find a way to integrate it into our lives—responsibly.
14. With the recent news about Diamond, how much of an impact do you think this is going to have on the Industry as a whole? And for you as well for that matter?
It shows that monopolies in comics will eventually fall. Diamond squeezed publishers and local comic shops so much that they’ve now… lost it all. It’s just greed—you can only abuse your customers for so long before they look elsewhere, and in today’s world, alternatives can be found easily. It doesn’t affect me personally, but I hope these new distribution networks help LCSs, because they deserve the support.
15. If you could go back and do anything different, would you?
Nope, because every mistake was part of the process that made me who I am today. I’d happily make them all again—just ideally quicker!
16. As for my final question, what advice would you give to those looking to get into the Industry?
Just make comics.
It’s great to have big aspirations, but be realistic about your expectations. If you’re happy just making comics, then you’ll never feel upset or resentful if your career doesn’t skyrocket the way others’ do. I see a lot of creators who are bitter, jealous, and filled with negative energy—that doesn’t help. Stay happy, stay positive, and make comics.
Editor’s Note: Huge thanks to Matt for taking part in this interview! ITAHTH is currently at 2,160 dollars of its 624 dollar goal with 43 days to go. Leaving those who have yet to do so, plenty of time to make their pledge! Including opportunities to get the first 3 issues as well! You can also find more of Matt’s work here!
Interview by: Rob Wrecks
