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After Marvel‘s Silver Surfer: Black, Tradd Moore says everyone assumed he wanted to draw comics about weed
Silver Surfer: Black illustrator Tradd Moore says comic book artists are often typecast based on their most recent project (and artists need to stand their ground)
NewsbyJoshua Lapin-Bertone, Contributing writer
Published on Mon Aug 03 2026
Popverse’s coverage of Comic-Con International: San Diego 2026 is brought to you byDark Horse Comics.
Artists are more versatile than some people give them credit for, and Tradd Moore wants more editors to remember that. When people talk about typecasting, they usually think about it in relation to actors. For example, Jim Carrey is commonly thought of as a comedy actor, but the movie The Truman Show showed audiences that he could also do dramas. Tradd Moore, the artist behind Silver Surfer: Black and The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, says this is the type of problem comic book artists have to deal with, and he encourages all of them to check their editors when they do this.
“One thing I did learn is that people only know what you show them of your work,” Tradd Moore says during a panel at San Diego Comic Con. “It sounds obvious, but basically, offers that would come in work-wise, it was all within the assumption of Luther Strode is violent, you always want to draw violence. So, I had to learn pretty early on to stand my ground in terms of, this is what this book is, but this is not what I am. Each time I finish a book, it seems the offers that come in are with the perception of my taste being contingent on that one book.”
“When I finished Silver Surfer, everyone was like, ‘[Stoner voice] Yo, you like drugs?’ And they were only asking me to do stuff for their weed. It is one of these things where you have to draw what you’re drawing, but you will pigeonhole yourself with other people’s perceptions, so you kind of have to check people every single time and be very curated with your guesses on those.”
I’m glad Moore stood his ground, but I’m really curious about some of those drug-related projects he was offered. That would’ve been interesting to see.
Interested? Here’s where to find your closest local comic store, courtesy of Sweet, and here’s a guide to how (and where) to read comics online. If you’re looking for the best comics in recent memory, check out the Eisner Awards winners and the Harvey Awards nominees. And if you like free comics, here’s everything we know about Free Comic Book Day 2027.
About Comic-Con International: San Diego
Comic-Con is the premier event for all things comics and related popular art, including movies, television, gaming, interactive multimedia, and so much more! Enjoy cosplay galore and take part in unique programming, exclusive previews, and presentations, not to mention the expansive and diverse Exhibit Hall featuring merchandise and displays representing all fandoms.
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Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.
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