A HERO’S JOURNEY (clockwise from top left): early drawings of SpiderMan and Hulk; a drawing of the Hulk that Gunnar’s biological father drew for him for his birthday; a notebook sketch of The Super-Fruits by Gunnar’s biological father; a black-suited Spider-Man, Marvel’s latest take on Spider-Man, and Batman, by Gunnar Cierley.
Drawing from
INSPIRATION Wildcat staff writer Gunnar Cierley reflects on his creative influences and evolution as a comic book artist. story and illustrations by GUNNAR CIERLEY
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here’s a certain “high” that I experience when I draw. I pick up a pencil, choose a reference (Bruce Timm’s Mad Love Batman comic, for instance), plug in my earbuds (blasting ‘80s playlists), and time flies. Soon, I’m illustrating Spider-Man shooting a web-line across the bustling streets of New York City and Venom’s contorting tentacles, each detail and crosshatch fighting to fill the white space. My love of drawing stems from both my passion popular culture and my creative DNA. Almost all of my relatives are artistically inclined, originating with my grandfather, who illustrated pirates, airplanes, hot-rods, and portraits of elderly
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FEATURE February 2019
people. Also artistic are my uncles and my parents (more on that later), all of whom contributed to jumpstarting my love of art. Before I could even talk, I was entranced by the adventures of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, felt the rush of wind as Spider-Man swings through Brooklyn, and laughed for hours at Michelangelo’s dumb jokes while battling Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These classics kept me busy for hours while at my grandma’s house, with piles of action figures and comic books. Most importantly, the comics, toys, cartoons, movies, and my artwork (especially the artwork) were necessary distractions while I was being adopted.
Yes, true believers, I was adopted at the age of five. My biological father and mother weren’t able to take care of me as a result of issues which, to this day, I haven’t fully been enlightened to. My Uncle Chris and my Aunt Maria stepped up and adopted me, becoming my parents, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. While my family was shifting around me and while living in a small apartment in La Habra, my Uncle Chris received reprints of early Amazing Spider-Man comics, starting with Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man’s first appearance. Now it’s my prized possession in a growing comic collection. At five years old, I fell in love with the webslinger -- his wit, his
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Before I could even talk, I was entranced by the adventures of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, felt the rush of wind as SpiderMan swings through Brooklyn, and laughed for hours at Michelangelo’s dumb jokes while battling Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
