Tess Fowler

Tess Fowler draws like she lives — with unflinching honesty, fierce emotional clarity, and a willingness to go places most people are afraid to explore. From the high-fantasy adventure of Rat Queens to the raw vulnerability of her autobiographical comics, Fowler’s work has always been about connection — with readers, with characters, and with the truth of what it means to be human.

The Rat Queens Era

Fowler’s breakthrough in mainstream comics came with Rat Queens, the beloved fantasy series from Image Comics. After contributing to the Braga Special #1, she took over as series artist with issue #11, joining writer Kurtis J. Wiebe and colorist Tamra Bonvillain to form one of comics’ most exciting creative teams. Her dynamic character work and expressive storytelling brought new life to the series’ diverse cast of warrior women.

“I’m excited to be returning to explore the world of Rat Queens with Kurtis,” Fowler told Image Comics at the time. “The fact that I’m wading in with Tamra by my side makes the adventure that much sweeter.” Her run on the series earned critical acclaim, with her interpretation of characters like Betty — “the emotional glue between the girls” — becoming fan favorites. As she explained to Major Spoilers: “Betty is my favorite to draw. You can see it in the way she physically relates to all of them, and vice versa.”

The collaboration wasn’t without its challenges. In 2025, Wiebe released a public statement addressing the complexities of their creative partnership, acknowledging that “we lacked a lot of creative chemistry” while affirming that Fowler “has earned well over six figures for her seven issues of work and receives and will continue to receive income from her contribution.” The transparency about the business realities of comics creation was rare in an industry that often keeps such matters hidden.

The Autobiographical Voice

Beyond mainstream comics, Fowler has found her most personal expression through autobiographical work. Her webcomic The Rascals, which she describes as “a gentle building of force that will take ages to explore,” represents her most personal creative vision — a world where she’s “driving and I have my own glove compartment of maps. No ticking clock. The world is my oyster.”

But it’s in her memoir comics that Fowler truly shines. Take the Fall chronicles her experiences with cancer, autism, and survival with unflinching honesty and dark humor. Her diary comics, available through her shop at tessfowlerart.bigcartel.com, document daily life with a rawness that has resonated deeply with readers facing similar challenges. As she describes herself on Bluesky: “Autobio comics from a 44 yr old cancer survivor with autism and 20 years in the freelance comics world.”

Anthology Contributions and Legacy

Fowler’s talent for emotional storytelling has made her a sought-after contributor to anthologies. Her work in All We Ever Wanted: Stories of a Better World, where she illustrated Lucia Fasano’s story “The Inventor’s Daughter,” demonstrated her ability to bring intimate character moments to life within the constraints of short-form comics. Her contributions to other anthologies from A Wave Blue World and other publishers have further established her as one of indie comics’ most distinctive artistic voices.

Her advice to aspiring creators, delivered to Major Spoilers, captures her philosophy: “Stay true to your own voice. That’s the most valuable currency you have. And make comics. Now. Don’t wait for some person out there in the comic book verse to give you permission you think you need. You have everything you require to make your own stories. Just do it.”

Perfect for fans of fantasy comics with heart, autobiographical storytelling, and anyone who believes that vulnerability is strength.