Healing Through Art with Alex Krokus of Alex Krokus

Today on Pixel Retentive, I had the privilege of chatting with the talented Alex Krokus - an established cartoonist in comics and animation whose work has appeared in Vice, BuzzFeed, and The New York Times. His recent collection Loud and Smart in Color and In Color debuted in February via Silver Sprocket, and his deeply personal, watercolor-illustrated graphic novel Talking to My Father’s Ghosts is set for release from Chronicle Books in August. Over our one-hour conversation, we dive into the profound role of creativity in healing, especially in the aftermath of loss.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• How channeling grief into art can become a powerful healing tool.

• The emotional and logistical shift from quick gag comics to a 200-page graphic novel.

• The importance of structure, pacing, and consuming the medium when switching creative formats.

• Alex’s journey from early webcomics to securing a literary agent and a traditional publishing deal.

• The value of agency representation and clear communication in negotiating projects.

• How collaboration, whether with family or guest artists, nurtures creativity and emotional processing.

  “It doesn’t have to be 200 pages… It probably shouldn’t be. Whatever it takes, right? Get it all out.”

Alex’s words remind us that art - no matter the format - is primarily about emotional truth. It doesn’t need to be long or polished; it only needs to be real. What matters is the release and honesty you bring to it.

In this episode…

I’m Carl, and let me tell you - this chat hit me right in the heart. Alex and I, both sons who lost our fathers, shared deeply resonant stories: mine about posthumous watercolor collabs and synchronicities that nearly brought me to tears; his about using structured seasonal vignettes to tell the first year of mourning. We explored how our dads’ encouragement shaped our artistry, and how stepping from three - four panel webcomics into a traditional, 200‑page format requires both discipline and reverence for process. Alex’s journey - from an online webcomic creator to securing an agent and launching a debut graphic novel - is packed with lessons about creative pivots, mentorship, and giving yourself grace in long-term projects. It was a raw, real, and uplifting conversation about using art to heal and hold onto memory.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

• Transatlantic Agency – Special shout-out to Alex’s agent Ed Maxwell, who helped shape and champion his graphic novel.

• Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud – A go-to book for anyone exploring the medium of comics.

• The Animator’s Survival Kit by Richard Williams – A foundational guide for storytelling through movement.

• Creative Block (podcast) – A great interview series spotlighting artists in comics/animation, started during the pandemic.

• Alex Krokus – Visit his site at alexkrokus.com; follow @alexkrokus on Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, and TikTok. His new graphic novel drops August 5.

Thanks for tuning in! This episode is a reminder that art isn’t just what we create - it’s how we understand ourselves, our past, and each other. If you or someone you know is navigating loss, perhaps pick up some paper, some color, and just start. All you have to do is begin.

Catch you next time,
 - Carl Cleanthes

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Epic Made.

Epic Made creates memorable animation, digital art, and graphic design to elevate brands.

They are a collective of talented artists across a multitude of disciplines who can handle the creativity and communication of any project.

Epic Made has created commercials, key art, social content, and more for leading entertainment brands such as the SYFY Network and Nickelodeon.

To learn more, go to www.epic-made.com or send an email to hey@getepicmade.com.