We always love seeing new and up-and-coming artists with an impeccable sense of humor. Given how many successful comic artists have been featured so far on Bored Panda, we thought why not introduce you to yet another rising star? Today we’d like for you to meet Zena, whose comics have been previously featured on Bored Panda quite a while ago (you can find them by clicking here).

Curious about how Zena started making comics, we reached out to her to ask this exact question.

“I started making these comics as a pandemic hobby. It was just a way to connect with my friends and family during the height of social distancing. I wanted to see if I could make them (and myself) laugh. It was a good distraction!”

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#1

Image credits: zenacomics

We also took the time to ask the author of the comics about the characters she portrays.

"I created my characters after I realized it was a lot easier to draw comics without having to come up with new character designs each time. I wanted my comics to have a slightly manga-inspired look, just because I love that style, and the black and white color scheme seemed easier to start with."

#2

Image credits: zenacomics

#3

Image credits: zenacomics

"I also had just finished reading Sarah Andersen’s book 'Fangs' and Cassandra Calin’s 'Still Just Kidding' and loved their styles as well. I’ll never be as good as either of them, but I aim to reach their levels of artistry and humor! So my designs are definitely influenced by their amazing work. In the end, I just wanted to make some recognizable characters who could essentially 'speak' for me. I feel like they do."

#4

Image credits: zenacomics

#5

Image credits: zenacomics

When asked about whether the artist has always been working in the art field, here’s what she told us: "Yes! I’ve done art since I was a little kid. I used to cartoon quite a bit in high school. I even drew a short comic book for a college scholarship application! Art is one of my favorite things to do and I only wish I had more time for it. It’s hard balancing a webcomic with a full-time job, but I try my best."

#6

Image credits: zenacomics

#7

Image credits: zenacomics

Zena's stories reach a lot of people on social media so we were curious how the artist felt about that.

"It’s amazing! Getting to share a laugh with a lot of people is one of my favorite parts of drawing a webcomic. I’ve made a ton of online friends this way. It really did a lot to help me get through the pandemic!"

#8

Image credits: zenacomics

#9

Image credits: zenacomics

When asked about what advice she’d give to people starting out with comics, here’s what the artist said, "Go for it! Find a supportive friend and start sharing your comics with them through social media. It will help you get over any shyness or fear. I can’t tell you how much I owe to several friends and family members who encouraged me to start posting my comics. They made all of this possible for me because of their continuing love and support. And likewise, support your friends and their work! It’s an amazing thing to hear words of encouragement."

#10

Image credits: zenacomics

#11

Image credits: zenacomics

"Overall, I just hope my art rings true and can provide some welcome humor when needed. It’s the best feeling when you can forget your troubles for a moment and laugh. So that’s what I aim to do."