A superhero is typically someone who possesses supernatural powers and is dedicated to fighting crime, protecting the public and battling villains. But real-life superheroes are the unsung champions of everyday life like comic illustrator Joyce Chin.
The busy mother has been working in comics for more than 20 years, beginning her career with DC Comics – penciling several issues of “Guy Gardner: Warrior.”
Since then, Chin has gone on to work on many titles, interiors and some covers on stories for the Hulk, Red Sonja, Vampirella, Green Lantern, Xena, Spider-Man, Superman, and Witchblade, with a variety of publishers.
"I do lots of random cover assignments for Marvel,” Chin told CGTN Digital. “The last thing I did was ‘Thor,’ ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘Captain America.'"
Currently, her work can be seen in a variety of books including, “All New Wolverine,” “Deadpool the Duck,” “X-Men '92” and “Hellcat.”
From its inception, working in the male-dominated comic book industry has been a career path women rarely choose. But for Chin, it was a deliberate decision.
Chin's comics:
“I always read comics,” Chin said, adding that her Chinese immigrant mother used to read comics to her when she was growing up.
Today the comic book industry looks a lot different than when Chin first started.
“It was an unusual situation because there were very few women working in comics,” she said. “Culturally it has changed and now there are a lot of women.”
CGTN Digital spoke to Chin in between juggling her duties as a mom and comic book artist – a balancing act she seems to have mastered. Chin was returning from dropping off her son at school when we spoke.
Her work has appeared in hundreds of comics seen around the world, yet Chin jokes about the opportunity she has yet to get.
“Not opposed to working for overseas clients, just haven’t got that phone call or email,” she laughed.
Regardless of where she has or has not gotten to work, Chin admits:
“It is a pretty cool job. I like this job.”
With the rise in comic book-based movies over the past decade like “Deadpool,” “Ant-Man,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the comic book industry and Chin appear to be on a path to longevity.
“I can do it until I go blind and my hands start shaking,” she said.