Bored Panda was interested to learn more about the cartoonist and his series, so we asked a few questions, to which Johnathan kindly responded. First, the artist elaborated on the recurring themes in his work: “A lot of my comics explore the absurdities of modern life—workplace nonsense, interpersonal dynamics, and those universally relatable small moments. However, Finding Flamingos also delves into themes like anxiety, loss, self-abuse, addiction, depression, loneliness, and desperation—words not typically associated with humor comics. I think this mix allows for a therapeutic voice in the comic, helping me (and others) laugh at ourselves and the realities of our own work and personal lives.
The protagonist has never been named, aged, or given an exact job title. That ambiguity is intentional—I wanted the character to feel as relatable as possible, allowing readers to see themselves in these situations.”
When asked about the biggest challenge of being an artist in today’s world, the cartoonist shared: “Breaking through social media algorithms is easily one of the toughest challenges. When I started making comics, webcomics were still a new medium, and the internet was less centralized. Back then, having your own website, building your community, and managing your own brand was all part of the process. These days, most comics live exclusively on social media, where visibility can be entirely algorithm-dependent—even for followers who intentionally chose to follow your work.
To navigate this, I’ve learned to create comics for the love of the craft rather than focusing on metrics like reach or engagement. Staying motivated and finding joy in the process has become the key to overcoming these challenges.
There’s also the reality of online negativity—sometimes people seem to enjoy tearing you down more than celebrating your work. Balancing that with the positive feedback from fans can be tricky, but the love of creating always wins. And of course, carving out the time and energy to keep producing content is an ongoing challenge, but one that’s worth it.”
We were also curious about which artists have influenced Johnathan’s style and whose work he particularly admires. Here’s what we found out: “My earliest influences were the classics: Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Peanuts, and Foxtrot. I learned to draw by tracing Foxtrot, and its influence is evident in all of my work.
For contemporary inspirations, I highly recommend Kira Rasure’s Earnest —if anyone enjoys Finding Flamingos, I’m certain they’ll love her work too. I also love butlikemaybe; her style has directly influenced Finding Flamingos. I’m a big fan of Lucy Knisley and Kate Beaton, whose work always inspires me.
Recently, I’ve fallen in love with Rachel Smythe’s Lore Olympus. It’s completely different from anything I’ve read before, and I’m currently working my way through all the books.”
Lastly, the artist revealed what he finds most rewarding about sharing his work with an audience: “The most rewarding part is seeing how people connect with the comics in their own unique ways. Whether it’s a laugh, a comment about how relatable it felt, or even fan art, these interactions remind me how humor can act as a universal language. Knowing that something I created could brighten someone’s day—even just for a moment—is incredibly fulfilling.
It’s also a huge motivator. While I love drawing for its own sake, there’s something extra gratifying about knowing your work resonates with others and makes them smile. That connection with an audience keeps me inspired to keep creating.”
