K.R. Whalen

K.R. Whalen is an independent comic artist and colorist whose credits stretch across some of indie comics’ most respected anthologies and publisher imprints. Working primarily in pencils and colors, Whalen has built a reputation as a versatile contributor who can adapt his style to suit different storytelling tones — from the optimistic sci-fi of All We Ever Wanted to the dark crime beats of the IF Anthology series.

His contribution to All We Ever Wanted: Stories of a Better World, the Ringo Award-nominated anthology published by A Wave Blue World in 2018, placed him among a roster of over 50 creators working on 24 stories of utopian science fiction. The anthology, edited by Matt Miner, Eric Palicki, and Tyler Chin-Tanner, was featured by The New York Times and praised for presenting “a road map toward a brighter future” through comics. Whalen’s color work on the project contributed to the anthology’s polished, cohesive visual identity across its diverse stories.

Before that, Whalen provided art for Hero Camp, an Image Comics series written by Greg Thompson with art by a rotating team including Robbi Rodriguez and Franchesco. The series, which debuted in 2005, showcased Whalen’s ability to work within the superhero genre alongside other emerging talents of the era. That same year, he contributed a flip cover to The Iron Ghost, a World War II pulp adventure from Chuck Dixon and Sergio Cariello, also published by Image.

Whalen’s collaboration with writer Brian Level and letterer Chas! Pangburn on “Citizen Scorn” — a standout story in Alterna Comics’ IF Anthology: Crime — demonstrated his range in the crime genre. The story, which follows a cyborg cop taking down corrupt officers, was highlighted in reviews by TheNerdyGirlExpress and The Splintering for its kinetic art and compelling character design.

He also contributed art to “Fallen,” a story by Tim Daniel in the 2016 free Star Wars fan anthology Tales From The Far, Far Away, alongside colors by Axur Eneas and letters by Adam Wollett, as covered by Big Comic Page. This project connected him with Daniel’s circle of collaborators, further cementing his place in the indie comics network.

Whalen maintains an active portfolio on DeviantArt with hundreds of pieces showcasing his range from sequential pages to character designs and cover work. Connect with him on Twitter for updates on his latest projects, or visit his Tumblr for his creator-owned work.

Perfect for fans of indie comics anthologies, creator-owned superhero stories, and the collaborative spirit of the independent comics community.