Bored Panda reached out to the artist with some questions. When asked about what inspired him to start blending everyday life with pop culture in his comics, Justin reflected, "I started to make comics about pop culture when I joined Dorkly as a full-time illustrator in 2015.
I primarily drew comics about the Pokémon Games, but expanded to include all forms of popular media with a nerdy slant—like comic book movies and sci-fi TV shows."
His familiarity with these cultural touchpoints guides him when deciding which themes or topics to tackle, as he added, "I usually focus on topics I am familiar with, like the MCU and Pokémon, that have plenty of material to use for jokes."
His journey from a CollegeHumor and Dorkly illustrator to his current line of work involved both adaptation and perseverance. "When Dorkly/CollegeHumor shut down in 2020, I began working as a social media manager, and then as a designer and writer for Cracked. Currently, I am back drawing monthly comics at Dorkly and contributing art to Dropout, the VOD service from the same folks that made CollegeHumor great."
Balancing humor and relatability, especially in comics that feature pop-culture scenarios, can be tricky. However, Hall shared how he keeps his humor engaging: "I maintain a balance between humor and relatability by staying true to my comic sensibilities. I try to find the humor in the absurd, and I'm lucky enough to share my work with an audience of similar sensibilities."
Social media plays a pivotal role in reaching that audience, but the online landscape is ever-changing. "Social media has been important in growing my personal brand, but unfortunately there are diminishing returns lately. Younger audiences aren't using Facebook as much, and Twitter has become very unreliable since Musk bought it. I encourage everyone to follow me on Bluesky @Jhallcomics. Twitch is a great way to connect directly with an audience not only through my art, but also personally by playing games and having discussions with chat."
Looking ahead, the artist remains committed to creating. "I'm still finding my way in this online space. I am also illustrating books that will hopefully see physical releases. I look forward to always making art for an audience that appreciates it, no matter the size."
