Cliff Chiang
How newly empowered comic characters inspire artists…
Your cover for issue one of Ms Marvel with Kamala Khan has become an iconic image. What was important to you when you drew this cover?
Ms Marvel is such a great, empowering character, and it was important to show her strength and determination. The basic idea came from the book’s editor, Sana Amanat, and I tried my best to draw a hopeful and inspiring image. When I first started working in comics, I never would have imagined I’d be drawing a Pakistani-American girl on the cover of her own comic.
What’s your overall view on the greater diversity in comics that we are seeing?
It’ll be a rocky road for the near future, as we try to push towards greater diversity. We’re used to the way things were, and change is always difficult for some. Our stories need to reflect the world we live in. Creatively and financially, it just makes sense to acknowledge diversity.
Do you think there’s enough diversity in the industry?
Currently, no. But you can see the audience changing, and the books are changing, too. And I’ve seen so many hopeful young artists at shows, and they’re not the usual faces anymore. I have no doubt that the industry will look very different in 20 years, but it’s mostly a question of how quickly companies embrace real diversity, which will speed up that timeline.