KR Whalen

KR Whalen is an independent comic artist who has built his career through a combination of creator-owned projects and collaborative work in the indie comics space. With a presence spanning over two decades on DeviantArt, where he has amassed over 800 deviations and attracted 786 followers, KR has established himself as a consistent and dedicated creator in the independent comics community.

His original creator-owned comic represents the heart of his artistic vision. Chapter 1 of his unnamed series has been serialized through his Tumblr, featuring original characters including a memorable Chupacabra antagonist. The pages showcase his skill for atmospheric storytelling, character design, and sequential art that draws readers into his unique world. Unlike many creators who focus solely on established properties, KR’s commitment to building his own fictional universe demonstrates the true indie spirit — creating stories that are entirely his own.

Beyond his personal projects, KR has contributed to the broader indie comics ecosystem through anthology work. His contribution to “All We Ever Wanted: Stories of a Better World” placed him among a collective of creators working together to tell diverse stories in the sequential art format. Anthology work like this is a cornerstone of the independent comics community, providing emerging and established creators alike with opportunities to reach new audiences and experiment with different styles.

KR’s professional experience extends to published work with established indie publishers. His contributions to Adamant from Loophole Comics connected him with writer Mike Exner III’s ambitious superhero saga. The Adamant series, which ran from 2015 to 2021, brought together a rotating cast of artists across its six-issue run, with KR joining collaborators like D.C. Stuelpner, Dann Franco, Fernando Pinto, and Ian Waryanto in bringing the time-displacement superhero story to life.

His collaborative partnerships highlight the team-based nature of comic creation. KR has worked with colorists including Darrin Moore and Danimation, whose contributions helped bring depth and atmosphere to his linework. Letterer @chasexclamation has handled the crucial task of text integration on his sequential work, ensuring readability and professional presentation. These collaborations demonstrate KR’s ability to work within the broader ecosystem of indie comics production.

Fan art and cover work round out KR’s portfolio, demonstrating his versatility across different genres and properties. His renditions of characters like Miss America Chavez and Logan (X-23) showcase his ability to translate established characters into his personal artistic voice while maintaining the essence that makes these characters recognizable. This type of work — creating images for characters you don’t own — is a common pathway for comic artists to build skills and portfolios before launching their own properties.

Working primarily with traditional art techniques, KR brings a classic sensibility to his sequential storytelling. In an increasingly digital industry, his commitment to physical tools gives his work a distinctive quality — bold, confident lines that capture the larger-than-life nature of superhero storytelling while maintaining the intimate, hand-crafted feel of independent comics.

Connect with KR Whalen through his Tumblr to follow his latest creator-owned work, check his DeviantArt gallery for hundreds of examples of his art, or follow him on Twitter for updates on his projects.

Perfect for fans of independent comics, creator-owned series, and traditional art techniques in sequential storytelling.