Nina Matsumoto (a.k.a. “space coyote”) is an illustrator, designer, award-winning comic book artist, and first generation Japanese-Canadian born in Vancouver, BC. She creates video game merchandise such as apparel, accessories, and home goods, sometimes providing artwork for vinyl record packaging and book covers.
In 2007, she uploaded a manga-style image of the Simpsons titled “The Simpsonzu,” not expecting anything special. It went viral overnight. Suddenly she was being featured in numerous newspapers and magazines from all over the world and within a week, she got a call from Bongo Comics. They had a manga-style Simpsons story written and wanted her to draw it. It became her first art job, and she went on to pencil 40 stories for Simpsons Comics and Bart Simpson Comics and illustrate pieces for the Vault of Simpsonology book series.
In 2009, penciling the Death Note parody “Murder She Wrote” (Simpsons Treehouse of Horror #14) earned her an Eisner Award for “Best Short Story,” one of the most acclaimed awards in comics. She also created the graphic novel Yokaiden for Del Rey Manga and illustrated The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story.
In 2011, her favourite Japanese TV show Game Center CX visited Los Angeles for an overseas trip special. Though she couldn’t attend, she drew a commemorative piece and had a local fan gift it to the host as a poster print. The show’s producer was so impressed with her art, he made it the cover to the DVD release of that very episode. He has since hired her to draw a birthday gift for the host, and a variant poster for Game Center CX: The Movie. They collaborated on a children’s book in 2016, which has since been released as I’m Stuck In A Video Game with an English translation by Nina (who is fluent in Japanese).
Nina went on to collaborate with friend and comedian Ian Boothby (writer of the Eisner-Award Winning “Murder She Wrote”). Together they created Sparks!, a childrens’ graphic novel published by Scholastic in 2018, which won multiple awards, including a 2019 BC Book Prize in the illustrated children’s literature category. Two sequels, Sparks! Double Dog Dare and Sparks! Future Purrfect were released in 2020 and 2022.
Today, she is busy working as a full-time artist and designer for Fangamer, an Arizona-based video game merchandise company. Through Fangamer, she has designed shirts, pins, hats, plushes, and other apparel and accessories for numerous video games hits such as Undertale, Deltarune, Hollow Knight, Okami, Dark Souls,Ace Attorney, Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, Persona, and more. She also illustrates posters for Rifftrax on a regular basis.
As of 2022, Nina still lives in Vancouver with her husband Bob Mackey (co-host of the Talking Simpsons and Retronauts podcast) and pet parrot Louie. Her dream job is to draw something for Beck, her favourite musical artist.
nina matsumoto
comic art & illustration • vancouver bc, canada
Artist & Designer at Fangamer (2017-present)
Designer of apparel, prints, and merchandise. Creates illustrations and designs for client IPs based on own vision. Works within a creative team to provide feedback to other projects.
Freelance Artist (2007-present)
Self-employed illustrator hired for T-shirt design, book covers, book interior art, promotional posters, and more.
Penciler at Bongo Comics (2007-2018)
Regular penciler for Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson Comics, and other offshoot titles. Illustrated books tied into the Simpsons franchise.
Past and current clients:
Adult Swim Games
Capcom
Conatus Creative
Famitsu Weekly
Game Center CX
Iron Circus Comics
Konami
Mega 64
Polygon
Sterling Publishing
Supergiant Games
Terrible Toybox
The Yetee
Rifftrax
WayForward
awards & recognitions
| Chocolate Lily Award Winner | BC’s Best Chapter Book/Early Novel Sparks! Double Dog Dare | 2021-2022 |
| Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Winner | Best Grades 4-6 Graphic Novel for Sparks! | 2019-2020 |
| BC Book Prize Winner | Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize for Sparks! | 2019 |
| Ontario Library Association | Best Bets pick for Sparks! | 2018 |
| Canadian Children’s Book Centre | Best Books for Kids and Teens pick for Sparks! | 2018 |
| YALSA “Great Graphic Novels for Teens” Pick | Yokaiden 1 & Yokaiden | 2010 |
| Winner “Best Short Story” | Eisner Award for Murder He Wrote | 2009 |
| Winner “Best New OEL Manga” | About.com for Yokaiden 1 | 2008 |
| Winner “Outstanding Science Fiction Comic” | WCC Awards for Saturnalia | 2004 |