Acclaimed artist Chad Hardin is preparing for his fourth hardcover art book, The Art of Chad Hardin Volume 4, going live on February 28, 2024, only on Zoop!
Before the crowdfunding campaign’s launch, Hardin caught up with The Beat to discuss his newest release! We touched base on Hardin’s history with the comics industry, his inspiration for the art book, and more.
Diego Higuera: Can you share with our readers a bit about yourself and your journey in the comic book industry over the past two decades?
Chad Hardin: I started collecting when I was 12, and the second I saw comic books, especially when I picked up the new Mutants Annual Number 10 by Arthur Adams and Chris Claremont, that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It took me from when I was 12 to when I was 30 to break in.
Higuera: Congratulations on the upcoming launch of The Art of Chad Hardin Volume 4! What inspired you to create this hardcover art book, and how does it differ from your previous volumes?
So, each of my volumes has a theme, and the first one was Harley Quinn, and Harley changed my life completely. I think a lot of people didn’t know I existed at the time until I did Harley. Don’t get me wrong, editors knew me, people in the industry knew me, and I had some fans, but when I did Harley, all of a sudden, everyone knew who I was. After Harley, there were times I would be at my artist alley booth, and there were times when they would shut the lights off on the show floor, and I still had a lot of people. Artbook 2 was Wonder Woman, book number three was my first creator-owned attempt called Temerity, and that led to book number 4 which is more creator-owned projects.
Higuera: Are there any other projects you are currently working on?
Hardin: I am doing an untitled project for PaperFilms that’s like Nancy Drew Meets the Walking Dead, but that’s about all I can say for now!
Higuera: Any characters you’re excited to be working on right now?
Hardin: I am thrilled to be working with the Spider-Man team at Marvel; that is always a lot of fun. Then my creator-owned project, Deathwatch, it’s fun, but it also a lot of work because I’ve never written before, and I’m co-writing it with friends and writing is tough for me, especially as someone who has a learning disability.
Higuera: Your previous three volumes were successfully funded on Kickstarter. What do you think has been the key to your crowdfunding success, and how does it feel to have such strong support from your fans?
Hardin: I am always thankful for my fans I cannot stress that enough, If it wasn’t for my fans I don’t know what I would be doing. I just don’t. Working in comics is something I wanted to do my whole life, and if it weren’t for the people who would show up at shows and ask for commissions and buy my books and support my stuff, I would probably be watching the news at a stop light. I express my gratitude to everyone, and the biggest thank you that I can give them, I always want to acknowledge them and their support. That is the coolest part for me, just making people happy.
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