Library plans Mini Comic-Con
Nina Matsumoto has been drawing for as long as she can remember.
She’s also been watching The Simpsons for as long as it’s been on television.
As a child, she never knew those two facts would somehow merge to become her career but now, as an award-winning comic-book artist, the woman known as Space Coyote has found a career.
It’s one she loves, Matsumoto said from her home in Vancouver, because she can work from home and create at her own pace and that has brought her plenty of recognition in the manga-art community.
Matsumoto will be the featured guest as the Kamloops Library holds its first Mini Comic-Con on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at the downtown branch.
The event is open to teens and will include an art contest — with Matsumoto as judge — for works by teens in comic or manga style on any topic and in any media.
Submissions should be no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches and need to be dropped off at the children’s desk at the library by Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m.
In addition to Matsumoto’s judging, there will also be voting for fan favourite at the event.
The Comic-Con will also have a costume contest.
Matsumoto said she uses computer software almost as much as she does pencils in creating her images.
She got involved more intensely in digital drawing 14 years ago, at age 13, and made her professional break into the business in 2007, when she was first published.
Since then, Matsumoto has produced two volumes based on characters she has created but also does art for Bongo Comics, which produces comics based on the Simpsons show.
Even her nom de plume, Space Coyote, comes from the show in an episode in which Homer eats too much chili, starts to hallucinate and meets a talking coyote that introduces itself as his spirit guide.
Matsumoto said she’ll have some of her books at the event for sale and signing and will spend some time talking about her work.
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