Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jamar Nicholas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jamar, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

One thing that has followed my career, is that somehow I’ve been the first to do several things. Discovering doors that weren’t there previously, I’ve opened and gone through several of them.

This is usually kickstarted by simply finding a need for something and then creating a solution, or having the right key at the right moment.

My motto for the last decade has been ‘Nothing is impossible’ and I move through the world believing that to be true. When you have that mindset, nothing is unrealistic! This is coupled with another affirmation I say to myself daily, to ‘Make things happen’. These two phrases have served me well over my career.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

An almost 30-year professional cartoonist, I began freelance work in Philadelphia in the early 90’s, doing illustrations and branding, always trying to find a way to do comics in the margins. In 1997, I began self-publishing comics and doing early webcomics projects and freelance comics.

By 2010 I began long-form storytelling, beginning with adapting educator Geoffrey Canada’s memoir, FIST STICK KNIFE GUN into a graphic novel, which changed my output from weekly comics or monthly 22-page booklets, to 100+ page comic stories.

In 2017 I self-published LEON; PROTECTOR OF THE PLAYGROUND, which garnered praise, and some awards. It won the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in 2018.

In 2022, Scholastic Graphix published the first volume of my multi-book series, LEON THE EXTRAORDINARY.

My newest volume, LEON: WORST FRIENDS FOREVER was released October, 2024.

I am also deeply entrenched in the professional cartoonist’s community, holding a seat on the board of directors in the National Cartoonist Society, as well as being Philadelphia chapter chair.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an author-illustrator / cartoonist is being able to share my stories with the world in book form. In my series, published by Scholastic Graphix, LEON THE EXTRAORDINARY, we meet a kid who lives in a super world who has to solve problems using his wits, smarts and heart. Leon’s voice is very much an amalgamation of how I thought and spoke as a 10-year old, and wanted a character that kids could easily relate to.

Having young readers tell me that Leon is their favorite book and even show me their ripped-up, well-loved copy is the greatest feeling in the world.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I feel that a lot of people don’t really understand how hard it is to make a book! In theory, it should be easy, but on paper and in execution it takes a lot, along with the help and support of a LOT of people behind the scenes to get a finished book to your hands. As an author-illustrator, I’m in a way, doing double the work, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I like to use the iceberg in talking about creativity–whereas we may only see the ice above the surface, but underneath the water, it may go on for miles! That is where the ‘work’ you don’t see, lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jamarnicholas.com
• Instagram: @jamar_nicholas_cartoonist
• Linkedin: @jamarnicholas
• Twitter: @jamarnicholas
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/penciltopencil

Image Credits

author image: Brian Gambescia