Behind the Panels

Behind The Panels: Emi Burdge | Olive & Popeye

By Alex Garcia

Welcome to our exciting new series at King Features, Behind the Panels, where we dive into the creative minds behind your favorite illustrations and comic strips! Join us on this artistic journey and discover more about the people behind King Features’ beloved comics.

Today, we’re spotlighting Emi Burdge, the brilliant artist currently working on Olive and Popeye.

Meet Emi Burdge

Emi’s journey into the comic world is as inspiring as it is relatable—filled with a love for creativity, a fascination with history, and a desire to share joy through their art. In this interview, Emi gives us a glimpse into their world, from their ideal superpower to their dream travel destinations, and even some valuable advice for aspiring comic artists. Let’s dive in!

  1. What would your superpower be?
    • If I had to choose, it’d probably be teleportation! There’s so much in the world I want to see and experience and so little time. To be able to blink and just be where I wanna be sounds like a dream!
  2. What fictional character would you like to be friends with?
    • This is the toughest question for me, haha! There are so many characters I’d love to be friends with. Snoopy from Peanuts is a big one from when I was really little. I love that beagle so much.
  3. What is the #1 thing on your bucket list?
    • Visiting Rome and/or more of Europe. I spent some time in France while in college and loved being exposed to so much history and art! To live my life without seeing more from the masters would be a tragedy.
  4. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
    • I would be happy as long as I was played by a nonbinary actor.
  5. What advice do you have for aspiring comic artists?
    • Never give up on what makes you happy.

One last thing: Can we get a look at your workspace?

To wrap up the interview, we hope you enjoyed getting to know Emi Burdge and their creative journey. Be sure to follow Emi’s incredible work on Olive & Popeye, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Comics Kingdom.

Stay tuned for more insightful conversations in Behind the Panels as we continue to explore the creative minds behind King Features’ iconic comics!