What if your childhood doodles turned into a real-deal career before you could legally order a drink? That’s exactly what happened to Ethan Castillo. From tabling at conventions at just 8 years old to working with Marvel, DC, and now directing his first video game (HERO BOY), Ethan’s journey is a masterclass in following your passion and bringing your art to life with the right tools (hint: Wacom’s been there since day one).
We caught up with Ethan to talk Comic-Con memories, creative routines, game dev dreams, and what’s in his go-to art pack. Spoiler: It’s not complete without a Wacom. Note: the following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You’ve had such a unique career trajectory — from fan art to working with industry giants like Marvel and DC before you even turned 21. When did you realize this could actually be your career, not just a passion?
I find that I’m constantly having that realization! I feel very lucky to be able to work with characters and licenses that I grew up loving. Whenever a new opportunity comes up, whether it be a contract role or internship, I feel very lucky and pinch myself a bit to make sure it’s real.
Who or what inspired your initial love for art? Did you always gravitate toward comics and entertainment?
My love for art definitely came from my family. My dad was an avid reader as a kid, so the second I started showing interest in comics, he knew where to look! As a family, we would visit local comic conventions – WonderCon in San Francisco, and eventually Comic-Con in San Diego – and getting to be around so many of my favorite artists was genuinely mind-blowing. I absolutely gravitated to comics, movies, and video games early on, and none of that has changed. I’d say 90% of my favorite memories have to do with me playing some video game or meeting some artist hero who inspired my work!
You’ve been exhibiting at Comic-Cons for over a decade now. What keeps bringing you back to Artists’ Alley?
Artists’ Alley has genuinely been a second home to me for more than half my life. I spend almost all of my shows behind the table simply because of how much fun I get to have meeting new people and making new friends behind my booth. There are some people who frequent shows like Comic-Con who have literally seen me grow up from age 11 to 21. I can name at least 10 people who I’ve known since my first show at Big Wow! Comicfest. I was 8 years old then, and to see them grow up has genuinely meant the world. I feel very grateful to the countless volunteers and staff members that spend their weeks, months, even years preparing for Comic-Con so that Artists’ Alley can be as wonderful as it is. The con family is some of the strongest around. I owe so much to them.
What was a highlight of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con?
I took one break from my table this year at Comic-Con, because a friend of mine was able to introduce me to Neil Druckmann – studio head of Naughty Dog! – after his Dark Horse Comics signing! He was genuinely the nicest person ever and so giving with his time. We got to chat for about 10 minutes and I got to give him a Post-It drawing I did for him! I was starstruck the rest of the weekend.
How has your creative process evolved from the early days to now?
My creative process is very, very similar to how I started out! I spend a lot of time consuming art before or at the same time as I’m starting a project! I recently got to work on a new property that I grew up loving, but had never done professional work on. I spent a few days reading some of my favorites from the IP, as well as re-watching some movies I hadn’t seen in a long time. I spend a lot of this time also building mood boards or write-ups to help align myself (or other people I’m working with) on some vision.
After that ideation phase, there’s a LOT of revision, usually getting some kind of feedback from peers or giving it some space, returning to the project after a few hours, sometimes even days! I think the biggest thing I’m learning is how to pace myself at the beginning of a project before turning the first idea into the final.
What new tools, software, or techniques have you incorporated into your workflow?
With my recent game projects, I’ve been spending a lot of time in project management software and Unreal Engine. I’m working with some really talented creative teams, who’ve been incredibly patient in teaching me the basics of game engines, and I’m loving every minute of it! In the same way, I had almost no experience with any task-tracking or production processes before this past year, but have been getting some really great help from my friends and mentors for incorporating these tools into my daily creative life.
You’ve been using Wacom products for a long time. Can you talk about how your tools have changed and what role Wacom plays in your daily workflow today?
If you ever see me traveling, I guarantee you I have some Wacom product on me. My Cintiq is my baby, and stays at home! It’s continued to serve me well after at least a decade. My Wacom One is usually my traveling pad, though it may now be dethroned with my new MovinkPad 11!
Every Wacom product has been easy to use and even easier to configure and personalize!.All of my tablet pens have “pan/scroll” mapped to the top button and “option” mapped to the lower buttons, and it’s so nice to fall back to muscle memory when trying to quickly throw my ideas onto the page.
What was your overall take on the new Wacom MovinkPad 11?
I absolutely loved the new Wacom MovinkPad 11! I’ve never really been a tablet computer user, but Wacom made it very, very easy to hop right in and get to work. I was in the middle of moving back to LA when I got my hands on the device, and it was such a blessing to be able to jot down creative ideas the second they popped into my head. I spent the next weekend with my girlfriend’s family in San Diego, and was able to get so much done in so little time because of how user-friendly the MovinkPad is.
What do you carry with you when you have to work on-the-go?
On the go, I always make sure I have some kind of water bottle, a pocket notebook, and my laptop! I try to have some type of literature on me, but it doesn’t always happen. I was abroad in the UK for about six months, and had a ton of free time to explore, so I ended up backpacking to a handful of countries with the exact same to-go pack. Now, I can add my MovinkPad to the list, and replace either or both of my devices!
What is your project Hero Boy about and why are you excited about it?
“HERO BOY” is the first ever video game I’m writing, directing, and producing! For the last four months, I’ve been working with a truly wonderful team of friends and mentors to develop this single-player, narrative-driven game. The adventure stars two versions of the aptly named Hero Boy, split across time, stuck between their shared dreams and nightmares. This project is incredibly personal to me, and I’ve been so grateful to work with such an amazing team on this love letter to our younger selves. I can’t wait to share more soon!
About the artist
Ethan is a creative producer and storyteller whose journey began at eight years old, tabling at conventions and sharing his superhero art using Wacom tools. Now 21, he has been exhibiting his work at San Diego Comic-Con for 11 consecutive years. Ethan has since evolved into a producer, freelancing for major entertainment IPs while deepening his passion for independent storytelling through games. Currently, he is writing and directing his first title “HERO BOY” and producing “The Guardian” in collaboration with USC Games, bringing bold visual storytelling and thoughtful production leadership to the world of independent gaming.
Follow him on Instagram.
