Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julio A. Guerra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julio A. , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
When I fully decided to tackle my creative path, I knew that I wanted to do comics, but how. I started off doing art galleries because in college that’s what I was really exposed to. Like I been to comic cons and stuff but didn’t know the “rules” so I went with what I knew. Galleries led to art vender shows and then that led to finding artist and shows geared towards my “style”. During none show and location I found my brothers in arms, Adam Farster and Ben Miller. A bother blossomed from there and then a small comic artist community started to form. However, we were all going separate paths but on the same road. After some time documentaries and more things were being released on the history of comics and some things on a company called Image Comics. This company really influenced me when I was younger and here they are again pushing me to do a risk. During this time Adam, Ben, and I were getting rejection after rejection from all the companies and some of us wanted to throw in the towel. Then one night one of the documentaries came on. I was in awe like a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. It hit me. I asked to meet with my buddies for a special meeting. It was here the risk was taken. I asked him who are Marvel and DC to tell us we can’t create that we aren’t good enough. That screw it, let’s do a company ourselves lets officially team up and take the area by storm. My risk was presenting this idea to my brothers who are now my business partners and Guerrilla Publishing Group has been running since that day in 2018.
Julio A. , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an illustrator from Northwest Indiana who is also a Co-Founder of a independent comic publisher called Guerrilla Publishing. My day job is doing illustrated designs for Prowrestlingtees.com and for ALL ELITE WRESTLING (AEW). When I’m not at work I’m creating comics for example The Epic Misadventures of Deathbag and run Guerrilla Publishing. I really nose dived into the creative pathway when it was time for me go to college. I had to pick a major that made sense for me. I picked art. It was always a passion for me but nothing I took seriously. I thought music was gonna be it but I was wrong. College was a great learning experience for me I had made some great friends and got to learn from some amazing teachers like Martin Martinez and Wes Berrier. Those two really pushed me to my limit and did not let me give up. They really got me going with exposing me to various mediums of art and how to use them for things I was interested in. They gave me the training and pushed me out into the world. During and after college the hunt was on. I started doing gallery shows and small art vendor events. I pushed on to do more and more. I had goals every month and those month goals turned into what can I do in a year and so on. During this time I was confused because I didn’t fit in with the fine art crowd I wasn’t what they were into. The vendor events were ok but nothing until 18th street brewing open their doors. That’s where I found my “home”. I knew I wanted to do comics. Comic books have been in my life since as long as I can remember and it’s all my uncle’s fault. He had the plan for me once he knew my mom was gonna have a boy. 18th street would do vendor events and drink and draws and that’s where it all slowly started happening. I found people who were in the same boat I was in. Those people became friends, family, and business partners. It was there were doors started to open. NWI Comic Con started and that’s where ball really started to roll I became more of a regular at my local comic shop Creative Comics, and I was finding people who were in the industry and I was able to ask all these amazing people for advice. In 2018, Guerrilla Publishing started to take shape and we had three original titles ready for the world. In 2019, I was able to gain employment with ProWrestlingTees and have grown from there. Since 2018 I have gotten to work/create for Marvel/Upper Deck, AfterShock Comics, ALL ELITE WRESTLING (AEW), work with wrestling legends and current stars, have my original comic published, teamed with other creators on their books, won various awards and got to travel doing various comic cons. In 2022, I was able to be a featured guest at the biggest comic con in our area C2E2 and I got to do it with my brothers Adam Farster and Ben Miller. So many people didn’t let me give up and man being a creative it’s rough you have moments of what am I doing, I shouldn’t be here, I’m not good enough, you get rejection after rejection but you have to keep going and man if it wasn’t for Lisa, Miguel, Derek, Ray, Jim, Flex just to name a few pushing me and helping me, I wouldn’t be doing what I do.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
So for comic artists there some books they swear by one that’s really talked about is How to draw the Marvel Way. Which is a great book I own a copy of it and still refer to it till this day. However, there is one book that really got me, that’s Eisner/Miller its a novel by Frank Miller and Will Eisner. This book to me truly breaks down the comic art philosophy and it’s just two super talent legends how shaped and influence so many just talking about everything and breaking it so far down and telling you what works for time and why. This to me is a most have for all comic artist.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding thing outside of having my own original IP published and available for the masses is having the conversation with those who are seeking to get in the industry as well and sharing with them. I think playing it forward is the real reward. Inspiring the next generation and helping them.
Contact Info:
- Website: guerrillapublishinggroup.com and laguerradearte.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artedeguerra/ and https://www.instagram.com/guerrillapublishing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guerrillapublishingpage and https://www.facebook.com/laguerradearte726/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Guerrilla_Pub and https://twitter.com/LGDA726