Meet Kristian Herrera | Comics Creator, Editor, and Publisher.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristian Herrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristian, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has always presented itself for me in my comic career. Whether creating my books from scratch or traveling to multiple states to grow my readership one trade show at a time, it’s all been risky. Unfortunately, I’ve had to get more comfortable with that as the years have gone on. The fear of the “what ifs” used to paralyze me to the point where I would get nothing done. My mind would run wild with every scenario, and most were worst-case. What if it became a complete failure? What if I lost all my money and never recuperated a single cent? What if my stories weren’t good? All this and more still go through my head today.

Nowadays, I live with those doubts and fears by embracing risk. I make a plan if the risks don’t work out, and I take what I’ve learned to avoid the same failures I’ve hit before. Risk can be scary, but in a short time, I’ve realized that if it feels risky, a bigger reward is waiting for me if I succeed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
A lot of what I’ve created has been self-published. I’ve had a few stories published by other people, but I’ve enjoyed creating and being a part of every step myself. I want to know how it’s being made from the idea step to the printing stage. It’s not the easiest thing in the world, but I try to surround myself with people I trust and ask them questions every chance.

Communication is key in every aspect of my life and career. I want people to remember my stories, but I also want them to know how much effort and collaboration it took to create something high-quality. I’m only as good as the people I surround myself with, and I want to be around the best.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Atlanta, I will usually take my friends anywhere near the beltline. There is tons of driving when you are in the city, and I want to do a minimum amount of it. One of my favorite restaurants is Bab’s in Midtown. It’s a great brunch and lunch spot. They usually have something new every time I eat there.

In Five Points, I show off Criminal Records because they have a killer comic sections, too.

Outside the perimeter, I’ll show them Marietta Square or any downtown area. There are usually live shows happening with plenty of options for drinks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are tons of people who have supported me to get to where I am today. The best part of this community is that almost everyone I’ve interacted with has graciously supported me in one way or another. Whether that is in a mentor way like Alex Morrissey, Robert Wilson IV, Joe Corallo, and John Cirami. A few people I’ve met on the convention scene have given me advice, and now I’m lucky enough to call my friends. Shadia Amin, Matthew Starling, Denzel Draws, and Braxton Cosby are all people who’ve made my life better in multiple ways. The other person who deserves the biggest shout-out and has supported me every day in my life and career is my wife, Corrina. I don’t believe I would have gotten this far without her.

Website: kristianherrera.com

Instagram: @yesthatkristian

Twitter: @YesThatKristian