Bill Nichols’ Prescription:
Comics 10ccs of the Process with
Flops!

What inspires you to create and keeps you going?

I’m lucky to get flashes of inspiration from people I adore every time I go on social media- Those websites can be wonderful if you spend a little time muting 250,000,000 words connected to anything negative.

Do you have a set routine? 

I’m lucky to be in a place where I can stick to office hours. I’d love to get in the routine of warm-up sketches to start the day… But the bursts of energy that involve drawing for fun mostly come around 2am.

What kind of output do you try to achieve?  

I’m just glad to be working in comics full-time, every day is an adventure. Deadlines are the main factor with my output, but I try to self-publish something of my own (whether a zine or prints) every couple of months.

What inspires you WHEN you create? Music? Noise? Silence? 

I’m big on stuff like Comics Youtube channels- Channels with folk like Michael Fitzgerald Troy and JerkComic offering fun interviews or an in-depth analysis of different titles are great background content to absorb. If I’m feeling a music day it’ll be stuff like Megan Thee Stallion, RATM or Fiona Apple

Who was the first comic book creator that influenced you to pursue this?

Being a kid in the 90s meant I was surrounded by influence! As soon as I was reading the UK reprint editions of the Big Two titles I knew I wanted to draw superheroes

When did you realize you could follow this path yourself?  

It took far too long. I spent 10 years being content in an illustration job, never even considering any attempts to reach an international audience. I lost that role as the pandemic hit, and I took the opportunity to dive head-first into comics- I’ve been very lucky with the opportunities and I’m thankful that I’ve managed to see some dreams come true in such a short span of time.

What do you find to be a challenge in creating?  

I’ve been having troubles with focus lately. I’m an ideas machine, but I’m constantly kicking myself for not being able to bring those ideas to life in a timely fashion. 

What else do you have to learn?  

I’m currently making an effort to re-learn colour; I was really happy with my colour abilities, but I stopped trying new things. This is my next big push!

What keeps you motivated to get better? 

Through the entire history of the comics industry, people have been constantly raising the bar. Seeing new styles, smart ideas and creative drive hitting the funnybooks on a weekly basis is a huge push for everybody else

Can you turn your brain (creativity) off (and on)?  

Not at all. Gift and a curse. The challenge is making my drawing hand keep up with my brain

Booster Shots  

What advice do you have for aspiring creators?  

-Be patient. 

-Spend time making something of your own! Drawing Spider-Man for the portfolio is fun, but it’s nowhere near as satisfying as displaying your own stories in there too.

-Don’t spend too much time/money on a website. It doesn’t need much. I’ve seen too many creatives fall into this task and then wonder why they’re not getting views- Just focus on displaying your portfolio wherever is available/convenient and updating as frequently as you can. Remember, people are only going to see your website if they’ve seen your work elsewhere already!

-With AI and social media reach presenting increasing challenges, I always encourage everybody to spend time focusing on bringing some personality to things online… People want to support people. Post stuff that helps your audience feel like they’re getting to know you!

-Make sure that your socials include a clear way for people to contact you. Editors aren’t going to slide in your DMs! 

How do you feel about the industry?  

In terms of work, I’ve been very, very lucky that I haven’t seen a negative side of it. I’ve worked for and with some amazing people. As a reader, I’m always thrilled to see publishers (big and small) trying new things and providing more opportunities for unique voices. 

Do you have a website or link to promote your work?

I’m @flopscomics on Insta and Twitter

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed by the above creator are theirs. This interview may not 

be reprinted or reposted without permission.