Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
If you would like to be a guest on the Indie Comic Exchange, please follow this link and fill out the form kurtbrugel.com/indie-comic-book-creator-exchange
In this episode of the Indie Creator Exchange, comic artist and storyteller Corinne Halbert discusses her journey from a traditional Catholic upbringing and high school goth culture to becoming a prominent voice in underground comics. Corinne shares how seminal works like Charles Burns’ Black Hole reshaped her mind, leading to her self-publishing over 35 zines and her acclaimed project Acid Nun. Her fictionalized, auto-biographical narratives blend horror, tarot, and esoteric spirituality into "healing elixirs" framed as fun, mythic adventures rather than heavy, self-pitying journals. Corinne breaks down her highly structured physical art process, detailing her reliance on Arches watercolor hot-press paper, meticulous hand-drawn line work, and an unyielding commitment to traditional hand lettering. Finally, she highlights the realities of indie survival, emphasizing relentless self-promotion and navigating social shifts.
3 Educational Points
1. Reframing Auto-Biographical Pain into Mythic Fiction: Corinne notes that while her work is deeply rooted in real-life struggles like anxiety and depression, she purposefully packages it as a fun, mythic adventure story. This design choice ensures that readers remain engaged and are better able to absorb the underlying "healing elixir" without getting bogged down by a tedious, heavy tone.
2. The "Confidence Rule" of Cross-Hatching: Drawing on inspiration from masters like R. Crumb, Corinne stresses that successful cross-hatching relies entirely on absolute confidence. Approaching the page hesitantly results in a sloppy appearance, whereas committing to the line work ensures clean, intentional textures.
3. The Importance of Hand Lettering for Visual Flow: Despite the speed and ease of computer fonts, Corinne firmly advocates for traditional hand lettering. She explains that digital fonts can break immersion and look distracting, while organic, hand-penned dialogue—even if slightly imperfect—harmonizes perfectly with an artist's custom line work.
Links to Mentions
Corinne Halbert's Official Website: corinnehalbert.com
Silver Sprocket: silversprocket.net (Publisher of Acid Nun)
Forbidden Planet: forbiddenplanet.com (NYC comic store Corinne works at)
PowerPulp: powerpulpcomics.com (Platform where her Scorpio work is available)
Instagram: instagram.com/corinnehalbert
Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast: (Industry events and comics podcast referenced) youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling
If you would like to be a guest on the Indie Comic Exchange, please follow this link and fill out the form kurtbrugel.com/indie-comic-book-creator-exchange
In this episode of the Indie Creator Exchange, comic artist and storyteller Corinne Halbert discusses her journey from a traditional Catholic upbringing and high school goth culture to becoming a prominent voice in underground comics. Corinne shares how seminal works like Charles Burns’ Black Hole reshaped her mind, leading to her self-publishing over 35 zines and her acclaimed project Acid Nun. Her fictionalized, auto-biographical narratives blend horror, tarot, and esoteric spirituality into "healing elixirs" framed as fun, mythic adventures rather than heavy, self-pitying journals. Corinne breaks down her highly structured physical art process, detailing her reliance on Arches watercolor hot-press paper, meticulous hand-drawn line work, and an unyielding commitment to traditional hand lettering. Finally, she highlights the realities of indie survival, emphasizing relentless self-promotion and navigating social shifts.
3 Educational Points
1. Reframing Auto-Biographical Pain into Mythic Fiction: Corinne notes that while her work is deeply rooted in real-life struggles like anxiety and depression, she purposefully packages it as a fun, mythic adventure story. This design choice ensures that readers remain engaged and are better able to absorb the underlying "healing elixir" without getting bogged down by a tedious, heavy tone.
2. The "Confidence Rule" of Cross-Hatching: Drawing on inspiration from masters like R. Crumb, Corinne stresses that successful cross-hatching relies entirely on absolute confidence. Approaching the page hesitantly results in a sloppy appearance, whereas committing to the line work ensures clean, intentional textures.
3. The Importance of Hand Lettering for Visual Flow: Despite the speed and ease of computer fonts, Corinne firmly advocates for traditional hand lettering. She explains that digital fonts can break immersion and look distracting, while organic, hand-penned dialogue—even if slightly imperfect—harmonizes perfectly with an artist's custom line work.
Links to Mentions
Corinne Halbert's Official Website: corinnehalbert.com
Silver Sprocket: silversprocket.net (Publisher of Acid Nun)
Forbidden Planet: forbiddenplanet.com (NYC comic store Corinne works at)
PowerPulp: powerpulpcomics.com (Platform where her Scorpio work is available)
Instagram: instagram.com/corinnehalbert
Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast: (Industry events and comics podcast referenced) youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling
