Julia E. Marshall is a cartoonist and singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR in the apocalyptic Autumn of 2020. Her warm and down-to-earth line-based style is influenced by her passions: vintage manga, hardcore punk, and classic video games. Julia expresses her thoughts on music and femininity through comic-based art that emphasizes musical narrative and strong-minded characters. Julia’s illustrations are dedicated to anyone who is passionate about comics and music.
Over ten years ago, Julia developed a group of three characters who perform in a band together called Born Too Late. She features her imagined band throughout her comics, short stories, and illustrations. These characters include Ronda “the Rebel” on vocals and guitar, Melvie “the Misfit” on vocals, and Chip “Don’t Trip” on drums. With Born Too Late, Julia weaves songwriting and music theory into her comic pages, emphasizing how music should also be enjoyed for its visual qualities. Born Too Late encapsulates Julia’s inspirations and past experiences, as well as her goals and dreams for the future of music. Like playing an instrument, kindness needs practice, improvement, and diligence. Through her cast of characters--who are loyal and inspire each other--Julia shows how comic art, music, and kindness are intertwined.
Her materials of choice include India ink, Bristol paper, and gouache. Digitally, Julia works best in ProCreate and Clip Studio Paint. Her comics are “loud” with bold line art, heavy cross-hatching, and gritty textures. But sometimes, a good cup of tea and her guitar is all the fuel she needs to make comics.