For Wizard World’s New Orleans Comic Con, dozens of professional comic artists and writers descended upon the city in a celebration of the comic book world. One of those artists was University alumnus J. G. Jones.
Jones has done artwork for Marvel and DC Comics, including cover art for books of some of the companies’ biggest characters.
Some of Jones’ notable career accomplishments are drawing covers and interiors for the comic book series “Wanted” with writer Mark Millar, providing most of the art on Grant Morrison’s “Final Crisis” and doing all of the covers for DC Comics’ ambitious year-long “52” project.
At Comic Con, Jones created commissioned art of superheroes for fans, including pieces with Superman, Dr. Strange and Hellboy.
Jones said that he’s always had a passion for comics, and that his penchant for them started at an early age.
“I was a comic nerd from a young age, like most of us,” Jones said.
Jones said that his love of comics came from his aunt, who worked in a publishing company and would send him copies of old comics with the covers torn off.
“It’s sort of ironic that I became primarily a cover artist. It may have something to do with replacing those missing covers from my childhood,” Jones said.
After graduating from LSU with a degree in fine arts, Jones spent years working for a newspaper in New York City and tried to become a professional painter before comics came back into his life.
“We would go down to the comic shop every Wednesday. One day I realized that I could really do this,” Jones said.
After drawing a five-page story with a coworker, Jones brought his work to New York Comic Con hoping to gain recognition. Jones was offered a job on the spot by the first person he showed his work to, the famous writer and former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics Jim Shooter.
Jones’ career started by creating art for Defiant Comics and quickly ascended from there.
Jones said that when working with some of the industry’s most talented writers, collaboration is the most essential part of making a good comic.
“It’s always a process of making decisions,” Jones said.
Jones works hand in hand with writers to make sure that the essential parts of the story make it into the final piece.
Though Jones is generally known as a cover artist, he said he loves doing both covers and interior work and never wants to do just one.
“You have to kind of sum up the whole work while drawing attention to the project. I also love film and sequential art, so I love the different ways of storytelling,” Jones said.
While attending LSU, Jones studied art and lived in the dorms in Tiger Stadium. He has fond memories of his times there.
“I had a great time at LSU. I learned a lot of things that helped me become a better artist,” Jones said. “I used to love exploring the campus. I even found a back way into the stadium at one point.”
Jones said that the most important thing for students who want to become comic creators is that they get a good education to help them along their path. Jones said everyone who gets into the industry follows a different path and that any person can become the next great artist.
At New Orleans Comic Con, Jones spent hours a day meeting fans and creating original artwork. Jones said he loves meeting his fans and spending time enjoying the food and culture of his home state.
“I had a great time at LSU, I learned a lot of things that helped me become a better artist.”
LSU Alumnus J.G. Jones has done illustrations for both Marvel and DC Comics along with other various comic book cover art.
