Comic Creator
Hayden Cockrill is an artist and a writer, as well as a lover of all things comics and metal. He is the creator of the biweekly web comic, The Adventures of Metal Dude, as well as having done art work for clients such as Fox Sports and Sanctuary International Matrix, among others. Having been captivated by the first Sam Raimi Spider-Man when he was four years old, Hayden has been in love with superheroes and the deep, meaningful stories that can be told through them. In this world that is so often overshadowed with darkness, tales of heroism and good versus evil can help us cope with our reality, allowing us to see a glimpse of light, which is what he hopes to do for others through his storytelling.
How did you get started as a comic creator?
Honestly, I have always been drawing and always wanted to make comic books but never really felt equipped. My senior year of Highschool i just really fell in love with it and started taking it serious. I followed a creator named Will Robinson who documented his whole process and I was like oh its possible. I talked to, at the time, my mentor and pastor and he really encouraged me as well. I just started Drawing all day everyday, and listening to all my favorite artist interviews and podcasts and things like that. Getting encouragement from family members and church friends. Eventually the opportunity for the Crimson Six came around by meeting Bob and I didn’t want to do it at first because I didn’t feel qualified but then I was encouraged to do it. Then Boom, I am here, even though it felt really awkward and had imposter syndrome!
What are your artistic influences?
I love movies, I love the old Sam Rami Spider man Movies, I love Quinton Tarantino movies, not all of them but I love the passion you can see. I love Christoper Nolan movies, comic books so, Greg copoulo, Scott Snyder, Jim Lee. I also really love Heavy metal and thats also a big influence on my life, Megadeth, Metallica, Disciple.
I really look up to Lecrea and how he has built his business, not even being a huge hip hop guy, I really enjoy seeing how he documents his process and hearing him and all the wisdom he has.
How do you know when a comic is finished?
When its done! Luckily the thing with comics is I can write the script, and then I do all the art and it takes awhile. So as I am doing the art i can take time to refine the script. So by the time I get done with the drawing its pretty clear that its done. All the hardest stuff is in the writing and honestly when I am writing it doesn’t necessarily feel completely good but I know when I go in to draw it, I can go in and change some other things.
Have you ever faced any challenges or criticism for your background as a Christian making comics?
Not with Comic books but we do another thing called “Adventures of Metal Dude” and we did adventures of metal dude where Metal Dude was depressed and Jesus reached out to him and I found that that got shared in a Metal heads group but an Anti Christian group and they were all crapping on it haha but nothing too crazy.
Follow Hayden on Social Media and check out her website below!
“I am free because of what Christ has done for me, to love my neighbor in this way using the talents He has given me.”
What role does faith play in your comics?
For me, I want to be able to share hope. My goal isn’t about making explicitly Jesus comics but I believe in the doctrine of vocation, where we are forgiven and now God uses us to bless others and love others and sometimes thats through explicit gospel preaching but sometimes its just through taking care of peoples needs. What I love about stories is that they can give us hope and they can give us relief from real life and they can help us relate to hard things.
I am free because of what Christ has done for me, to love my neighbor in this way using the talents He has given me. Thats how my faith has impacts it, obviously I want people to be able to understand the Gospel and for people who read the gospel can be encourage by what i make and for people who are not familiar with it can see a glimpse of the gospel and be encourage by the good book at the same time.
How has your faith influenced your comic style over time?
The one big one is, I am not sure how far to go with violence. If you read the first book you can see that certain things that happen but its not rated R or anything like that. That is still something I am wrestling with, the main thing is it has to be with a purpose and not gratuitous. Really two big things that my faith has influence while making comics is if you ever look at comics you can see women are drawn very sexualized and making them look unrealistic. I try my best to avoid that. The other thing, sticking on the same topic, I have a really hard time watching or taking in violence against women and how it is kinda a big theme in a lot of media right now.
When you watch movies alot of times its women who are being brutalize and killed, obviously sometimes it happens in story points and such. I try my best to be mindful of that and respectful, in the same way portraying diversity. Obviously story is the most important part but since i am creating my own stuff I get to represent other people!
