Longtime comic book fans know the name Adriana Melo—the incredible artist behind titles like Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy, Ms. Marvel, and Doctor Who. With a career spanning some of the biggest publishers in the industry, her dynamic storytelling and expressive character work have made her a fan favorite.
Now, Melo is celebrating her artistic journey with The Art of Adriana Melo, a stunning collection that launched on Zoop on February 11th. Edited by Erica Schultz (Daredevil, Hallow’s Eve), this book showcases a range of artwork from fandom sketches to pinups, intricate inks to vibrant full-color pieces—featuring characters from Marvel, DC, Titan Comics, Comixology, and more.
The Beat reached out to Melo over e-mail to talk about her newest project and what went into this celebration of her work!
DIEGO HIGUERA: Adriana, you’ve had an incredible career in the comic industry, can you share how you first got started as an artist, and what initially drew you to comic book art?
ADRIANA MELO: I’ve always loved drawing, since I was very young, and comics have always been a part of my daily life. I used to read comics all the time, whether it was during breakfast or before going to sleep; every night I would fall asleep reading my favorite comics. So, from always, working as a comic book artist has been my dream. I started reading superhero comics only in my teenage years, and what made me fall in love with comics was discovering the variety of different genres that comics could bring (comedy, horror, adventure). For me, it was a discovery, because until then, I had only thought of sequential art as something childish and light, without much complexity. Still, in high school, we were assigned as homework to copy a comic page, in any style we wanted. I chose Excalibur, drawn by Alan Davis, who became my favorite artist, my number one example, and influence. Using Excalibur as inspiration, I began studying Davis’s line work, as well as the narrative, backgrounds, etc. After attending a comic convention here in São Paulo, I had my portfolio reviewed by two Brazilian professionals who were working for Marvel at the time. They liked my material and put me in contact with their agent, and after a few months, I landed my first comic book, an issue of Iron Man.
HIGUERA: Your art style has evolved over the years. How would you describe your artistic journey, and are there any key moments or projects that helped shape your current style?
MELO: Its evolved because my style ends up being influenced by movies, books, travels, and basically everything add to my artistic evolution. I am extremely curious to explore new styles, materials, and artists, and I tend to hyperfocus on new poses or new markers that im trying out, new papers, new pens, new tools all made me unconsciously improve my work in a sort of “ah ha” moment…. even if it takes a few warm up sketches.
HIGUERA: You’ve worked on iconic characters before, how do you approach designing these well-known characters, and do you ever feel any pressure to live up to the expectations of fans or creators?
MELO: Oh, it’s like that with every project I start! Lol I think I’m the hardest person to please with my own work, that feeling that I can always improve a pose, a detail, a background, and finishing a page means more about letting it go than actually feeling like I’ve completed a piece of work. So imagine when a story comes along, and I’m going to draw characters I met and fell in love with during my adolescence. It’s part of the experience to feel that little flutter in my stomach when I think about the story and the importance that, let’s say, the Trinity has in DC and has for me, as a comic book fan
HIGUERA: Your upcoming book, The Art of Adriana Melo, gives fans a glimpse of your creative process over the years. What was it like to put this book together, and what do you hope fans will take away from it?
MELO: “Putting this book together was more complicated than I imagined because that’s when I realized how much artwork I had simply stored away in drawers at the studio, artwork that had never seen the light of day. I think if I had included everything, the book would have four times more pages than it does today, lol. What I can say is that I included in this book some of the pieces that are dearest to me (fan art of movies/characters I love). There are also several sketches I made on commission at shows and pieces I did simply… because I felt like it, because I wanted to add something from that character to my portfolio. That’s why I think it will be interesting for fans to get to know these pieces compiled in this book.”
HIGUERA: This book showcases a wide variety of art, from sketches and pinups to fully colored pieces. How do you approach creating a piece from start to finish, and what is your process for transitioning between sketches, inks, and colors?
MELO: “My process is usually the same for covers, pages, or even warm-up sketches: I start the process by watching an anime, browsing through books of artists I admire, and making a giant cup of coffee. All of this is to get the work started feeling inspired and energized. I usually draw 3 or 4 different camera angles for each illustration, and then I choose the one that best fits the dynamic of that initial idea, the one that formed in my head while reading the script for the first time. It’s always the one that ends up being the most interesting.
HIGUERA: You’ve collaborated with notable writers and editors, such as Erica Schultz, on this project. What does collaboration mean to you as an artist, and how does working with an editor influence your process?
MELO: Really, I think collaboration is essential for a cohesive look in an art book, comic book, etc. Every book I’ve ever been a part of that, in the end, brought me the most joy and pride, were the ones where I had an open line of communication with my writer. The idea is to build the book together, exchanging ideas, and letting the story develop through the partnership of writer + artist. I’ve been friends with Erica Schultz for a long time, and I love her work. I knew she would help my brain stay focused on what was important to include in this book.”
HIGUERA: For aspiring comic artists who look up to you, what advice would you give them about building a career in this competitive industry?
MELO: “What I can say is that, although it is an extremely competitive market, it also keeps an antenna tuned to the search for new styles, and work that shows personality will always catch attention. I would say that keeping an open mind for constantly improving your technique, updating your style, and trying to bring new techniques into your day-to-day is crucial to staying relevant in such a dynamic market as comics. Consistency in communication with editors and colleagues, and meeting deadlines while maintaining quality, is also super important.”
Check out the The Art of Adriana Melo below! And If you’re interested make sure to check out the campaign here before its gone!
