Growing up, reading the comics page in the newspaper was as much a part of my morning routine as brushing my teeth. It had a big impact in turning me into an avid reader. Not to mention, for a time, I was very much interested in becoming a syndicated cartoonist.
Sometime in the last decade, I discovered Wallace the Brave. From a single strip, it’s clear that Will Henry is a seminal talent. While newspaper readership may be on the decline, the future of comic strips are bright with creators like Will Henry.
Growing up in the 80s, I also couldn’t help but be a fan of He-Man. So when I saw that Will, along with fellow comic strip creator Stephan Pastis (the wonderfully original Pearls Before Swine) were collaborating on a He-Man book, I was sold. Skeletor Ate My Homework? I mean come on!
The Adventures of He-Man and Porter: Skeletor Ate My Homework is an illustrated middle-grade novel. Written by Stephan with art by Will. It just came out. Will’s latest Wallace the Brave collection, All Hands On Deck comes out September 22nd. Do your kid a solid and pick up both!
Why comics? (What compels you to create in this medium?)
I feel like it’s always been comics. Ever since I was a kid, copying Garfield comics word for word in second grade. I think the root of it has to do with my personality. I enjoy telling stories, and I enjoy drawing, so comics are the perfect melding of the two. People also tell me I’m pretty funny, but looks aren’t everything.
What is it that you want people to take away from your work?
The baseline is humor. Humor is the starting point for comic strips, at least in my genre. But beyond humor, I’d like my audience to feel something positive while reading my work, especially with Wallace the Brave. I try to write these comics with as little character bashing as possible, finding humor in a positive way. I absolutely love making these comics and put as much effort as I can into them. I hope that comes through, too.
Wallace the Brave 4
Wallace the Brave 3
Wallace the Brave 2
Wallace the Brave 1
What has (pleasantly) surprised you about creating comics that you didn’t anticipate when you first started out?
I did not expect my audience to be so awesome! I mean, truly awesome. You hear horror stories about online trolls and ultra-critical readers, but I gotta tell you, I haven’t experienced much of that. I don’t know if I’ve just gotten lucky or if the work attracts a certain personality that mirrors my own. I also didn’t anticipate the enthusiasm of my readers. It’s so refreshing, and it fuels the fire for me to create better work.
He-Man and Porter 4
He-Man and Porter 3
He-Man and Porter 2
He-Man and Porter 1
Find Will and his work online at:
Wallace the Brave: All Hands On Deck
The Adventures of He-Man and Porter: Skeletor Ate My Homework
