Our Creator Interviews for Creator Appreciation year-round continue today with Kevin Keane and Alfredo Murillo of Krakom Studios. Recently rebranded and with many new projects in the timeline, we decided to sit down with two creators on the team for LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT. The series just released Issue #3 today, with more goodies on the way in future months. But for now, let's sink our teeth into the interview, shall we?
GlobalComix: Hello Kevin and Alfredo, and thank you so much for doing this interview with us.
Kevin Keane: Hi, thanks for having me. I’m Kevin Keane, an illustrator from Ireland. I make stories, comic books, storyboards, and character designs. Some of my most recent work includes covers and interiors across the Spawn Universe with Image Comics.
Alfredo Murillo: I’ve always been close to art. Since I was a kid, I was fascinated by comic book covers and the use of color in fantasy illustrations. I started out self-taught, then went through many academies where I studied everything from animation to airbrushing. Later, I continued exploring digital techniques and collaborating on independent projects. Step by step, I found my way into the industry thanks to my passion for color and visual storytelling. Though I’ve always been a bit of an outsider.
Covers of LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issues 1-3 and Scrapbook #1
GlobalComix: So Kevin, can you share the moment when you realized you wanted to make comics professionally? We all love a good origin story.
Kevin: I was 8 when I realised my love for comics. I collected all of the Panini reprints of the Marvel and DC series back then, as well as the original Ultimate Universe at Marvel, all through my teens. I discovered Spawn earlier as a kid and loved the animated series, so years later when I found a local store that stocked the comic, it was a no-brainer for me to start collecting that too. I took some years away from art, but then returned after discovering Haunt from Todd McFarlane and Robert Kirkman. At the time, I was considering taking the leap into doing art for my career and Haunt pushed me towards pursuing comics primarily. 10 years later, I got to draw Haunt on a cover of Scorched.
GlobalComix: Alfredo, is there a particular reason you ended up being as a colourist and is it your ideal role in the industry?
Alfredo: I have a brain injury that neurologists have never been able to determine exactly when it started. That condition makes my mind perceive the world much more in terms of color and light than lines. For me, color has always been the most emotional part of a piece—it’s what sets the atmosphere, the tension, or the calm, and it can completely change the way a story is experienced.
Working with incredible artists like Kevin Kean has been something very special, because it means being part of a team—writers, artists, letterers—where I get to bring light and mood to what the artist imagines. At Krakom, I’ve been given an amazing level of freedom, and that feels almost magical. So yes, I see comics as art, and I want to make it clear: I’m not just a flatter, I’m an old-school colorist with an artistic vision.
From: LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issue 3
GlobalComix: Kevin, you’ve worked with multiple publishers, does your process shift when creating for different teams or audiences?
Kevin: Yes, every project and publisher are different. In my experience, some have broad plans with loose outlines that need figuring out, some have tight schedules and scripts. Time and experience are invaluable to adapting well to different projects, don’t sweat if things don’t always go as planned, just stay curious and flexible, while trying to learn as much as you can. Taking time to reflect on past projects is great too, it helps keep things in perspective.
GlobalComix: For both of you, do you have a particular project you’ve worked on that made a greater impact on you as a creator or that you’re the most proud of?
Kevin: Too many to discuss. Getting to do this as my job at all is pretty wild. I love the craft of character design and storytelling to my core. I truly value the power of a good story or a character that stands the test of time. Best job ever.
Alfredo: I’ve done many different things: collections for digital galleries, collectible card projects, concept art for statues, even a graphic novel about a very well-known singer (though I’m not sure it will ever see the light of day—it’s complicated when labels get involved… joking, but also not!).
But without question, LOVE. DEATH. EAT. REPEAT. (LDER) has been the project that shaped me the most. It allowed me to bring together influences ranging from classical painting to contemporary horror. Karen and Karl gave me so much creative freedom, which is incredibly rare in this industry. I’m truly proud to be part of this team, and I can’t wait to see how readers react to the visual universe we’ve built at Krakom Studios.
Left: Kevin Keane — Right: Alfredo Murillo
From: LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issue 3
GlobalComix: Kevin, are there recurring themes or ideas that you find yourself exploring across your different works?
Kevin: Yes, in recent years I find there is a decent overlap in ideas and themes that come across my desk. It’s cool to see the individual interpretations too, people are fascinating with how differently they can express certain cornerstones of particular genres. That’s the most fun part of creating to me, finding cool ways to interpret previously familiar cliches and tropes. The classics are classics for a reason, after all.
GlobalComix: So moving to focus more on Krakom and how you two got started together, how did you first get involved with Krakom Studios? Also, how has your creative journey changed since your early days with Sficool to now with Krakom as it’s evolved as a publisher?
Kevin: I was contacted by Karl online about collaborating a while back and we stayed in touch. At the time, I was busy working elsewhere but eventually the stars aligned and we managed to put together some comics!
Karl, Karen and Alfi have huge passion for the craft of making comics, it’s always refreshing and exciting to work with people as enthusiastic as I am for the craft. My hope is that, that passion carries through to finished product. Issue 3 of LDER has some great scenes and panels that I am personally very proud of. The Hammer is metal AF too.
Alfredo: It started through creative and personal affinities. We shared references, aesthetic tastes, and the desire to tell stories that didn’t follow the easiest paths. That connection slowly grew into what Krakom Studios is today.
From the very beginning it felt more like joining a family than a publishing house. We’ve always been able to talk openly and share our creative visions. With LDER, the idea was to experiment with different styles, but still allow me to maintain my own visual identity. That kind of trust is priceless. I’m here because Krakom prioritizes what is hardest to find in this industry: telling great stories beautifully, putting art and storytelling above everything else.
From: LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issue 3
GlobalComix: LOVE. DEATH. EAT. REPEAT. is such a gruesome yet artistically stunning horror comic, is there anything specific that inspired your approach to working on it?
Alfredo: Honestly, everything—from my love of classic horror like Polanski’s The Fearless Vampire Killers to Baroque and Renaissance painting, where light and shadow tell stories without words. I wanted to bring that dramatic, painterly feeling into comics, blending raw horror with visual beauty. My goal was to take readers from the most delicate pages to the most brutal ones, as if the blood could spill right out of the book.
GlobalComix: Are there any dream projects, characters, or genres you’d love to tackle in the future?
Kevin: Plenty. That’s the best part of this job, one week you’re in a western fighting monsters, the next you’re drawing zombies fighting witches! There’s always plenty to look forward to.
Alfredo: Yes. I write a lot and imagine new characters constantly. One of my dream projects is a narrative arc that begins with a dark, haunting lullaby—told without speech balloons or dialogue, only with art and poetic narration, something almost torn out of Beckett. I’d love for it to see the light someday, and I can’t imagine a better place than Krakom to make it happen.
From: LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issue 3
GlobalComix: Out of curiosity, Alfredo, do you see differences between indie publishing in the UK versus other regions you’ve worked with?
Alfredo: Yes, absolutely. The key differences are creative freedom and respect for the artist’s vision. I’ve never been asked to make my work more “mainstream,” or to simplify or flatten the colors. That level of trust makes a huge difference.
GlobalComix: Alright, lastly, what advice would you give to creators who want to break into indie comics, either in general or as a colourist?
Kevin: Make your work and presentation undeniable. Study the craft and focus on what has worked previously, then add your own personal interpretation to things. Don’t sweat what is popular right now but rather focus on the elements and themes that endure and last over time. Lastly, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. It will show in your pitch if you have done the work and if you have not.
Alfredo: Never underestimate the power of consistency. Talent is important, but what truly opens doors is to keep creating and keep sharing your work. And for colorists specifically, my advice is this: color isn’t an accessory. It’s pure storytelling. The sooner you realize that, the stronger your work will become.
Covers of LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issues 1-3 and Scrapbook #1
Now that was a hearty interview with some great insights into the inner workings of Krakom Studios. Thank you so much to Kevin Keane and Alfredo Murillo for taking some time our of their busy schedules to answer our questions. After speaking with Karl and Karen Hemming ourselves, there's a lot of amazing projects in store for the team at Krakom Studios. We've also interviewed Karl and Karen Hemmings in our Creator Interviews series, and you can find the link to that interview here.
LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT Issue 3 just launched today and you can find the links to it and all their series, as well as their social media, below.
- Follow Krakom Studios on GlobalComix here
- Start Reading LOVE . DEATH . EAT . REPEAT here
- Find all nine comics by Krakom Studios here
- Check out their website, audiobooks, and even more titles here
- Follow Krakom Studios on Twitter here
- Keep up with Krakom Studios on Instagram
- Add their Facebook Page to your feed