Local Comic Artist Suzi Blake Discusses Working with DC Comics, Jacksepticeye and More
Blake has held book signings at local Fairview Heights Shop Fantasy Books and Games, as seen above (Photo provided by Suzi Blake)
By Zachary Daum
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Local darling comic book shop Fantasy Books and Games, is a multi-award nominated shop in the Fairview Heights area that features both comic books, board games, card games and more. Something many may not know, however, is that employee Suzi Blake, a comic artist and colorist originally from Maryland, has worked on numerous comic book titles such as Batman: Wayne Family Adventures for DC Comics and Rick and Morty for Oni Press. Her credits also include projects like Skullgirls and Aggretsuko, along with cover work and collaborations with popular Youtuber Jacksepticeye.
Blake studied Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. Sequential art is a form of visual storytelling that uses images in sequence to create narratives, most often seen in comics, graphic novels, and storyboards for film or television. Her education gave her both the skills and the industry connections to launch her career.
Her first major opportunity came when publishers visited SCAD to review student portfolios. That led to work with DC Comics, drawing backgrounds for Wayne Family Adventures. The lighthearted series was DC’s first collaboration with Webtoon, a massive, and growing, digital comics platform. “It was supposed to just be online, but people liked it so much they decided to print it too,” Blake said.
In 2020, Blake relocated to the Metro East during the height of the COVID pandemic. A former college roommate invited her to move to Illinois, offering affordable housing. “Rent was going to be cheap, and I figured I could spend COVID in the cornfields,” she said, laughing. Because her work could be done remotely, the transition allowed her to continue drawing for national publishers while adjusting to a new environment. Although she moved to the area for cheaper rent, she has stayed in the area.
After a few years of working exclusively from home, Blake began looking for more social interaction. That led her to Fantasy Books and Games in Fairview Heights, where she now works. “I just really wanted to go outside,” Blake explained. “A lot of people recommended this place because it is a local favorite. I have made great friends here, and it worked out perfectly since everything is still about comics.”
Fantasy Books and Games has been a cornerstone of the local comic scene for decades. The store has also earned international recognition, being nominated several times for the Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, most recently this year. This award honors excellence in comic book retailing worldwide. “It is wild that this place has been nominated three times,” Blake said. “Stores from all over the world compete for it, so it has been an honor to be part of something like that.”
Blake’s own workload has varied throughout her career, from penciling and inking full issues to providing backgrounds and coloring. One of her favorite projects has been working on the Rick and Morty comic books. “It is always fun to work on something you were a fan of,” Blake said. “I used to watch Rick and Morty in high school with my brother, so getting to add little Easter eggs from the show into the comics has been really special.”
Blake likened the feeling of adding easter eggs to the comic covers to preparing Christmas presents. “It is like recreating that Christmas magic for the next generation of readers.”
Suzi Blake, fifth from the left, appeared with Youtuber Jacksepticeye, second from the left, and several others who are involved with the creation of “ALTRVERSE” at the 2024 New York Comic Con. (Photo provided by Suzi Blake)
Her work with Jacksepticeye opened up a different kind of experience. Jacksepticeye, whose real name is Seán McLoughlin, is one of the most popular YouTubers in the world, with more than 31 million subscribers.
Blake discussed the experience as one very different from working within the comics industry. “That was brand new to me,” Blake said. “I would post something on Instagram, and within seconds it would be screenshotted and posted on Tumblr. At New York Comic Con, people recognized me in the hallway and even asked about my cat. It was strange at first, because usually with comics you stay behind a screen, but everyone has been super kind.”
She added that Jacksepticeye’s community has been especially positive. “I am lucky it has been such a wholesome fandom,” she said. “I cannot imagine how different it would have been if it was tied to a toxic personality, but thankfully he has been nothing but supportive.”
Though her work reaches audiences worldwide, Blake remains grounded in her local community. “I love promoting this store,” she said of Fantasy Books and Games. “It has become kind of a home for me too.”
For Blake, comics are more than a career. They are both a creative outlet and a way to connect with people, whether through the adventures of Batman, the humor of Rick and Morty, the devoted fans of Jacksepticeye, or the welcoming atmosphere of Fantasy Books and Games.
Blake’s most recent comic release, “Rick and Morty vs. the Universe: Beth ‘Til Death #1” released on Sept. 10, where she contributed inking to the book.
Fantasy Books and Games often features free events at their store, including a Local Comic Store Day on Sept. 27, a LARP (Live Action Role Play) event, also on Sept. 27 at 10:00 AM, Warhammer 40K Apocalypse in Support of Extra Life on October 4, which will raise money to support local children’s hospitals and learn to play Warhammer 40K event at 5:30 PM on October 6.
