The MSPaint Comic: Painting North Korea Red

Like many people, Kevin Tracy’s first exposure to computer art was Microsoft Paint. He later graduated to more advanced software, but when he was in the US Air Force with hours to kill before missions, Paint was the only recreational software on the classified computers. He began creating small pixel art comics personifying the U-2 and Global Hawk spy planes. Eventually, his comics were included in mission briefings and they were a hit with pilots and crews alike. In 2005, at the request of the Airmen he served with, Kevin began drawing an unclassified webcomic entirely in Microsoft Paint. The art continued to grow increasingly elaborate until Kevin was unable to keep up with the weekly deadlines. Although he stopped drawing comics in Paint in 2007, he continued to develop a complex and powerful story for the heroes in his webcomic. By 2010, the story was complete and work had begun on The MSPaint Comic: Volume 1. The launch was such a success that Kevin was able to quit his day job and launch his own business focused on pixel art, with The MSPaint Comic as the backbone of his success. He calls his 5 volume pixel art series his ＂abstract autobiography＂ from the years 2004 through 2008. Kevin Tracy is attending comic conventions across the United States meeting fans, signing books, and talking about his work.