Inside the Mind of El the Devil: The Unstoppable NJ Artist Turning Chaos Into Masterpieces

How a Genre-Bending Artist Is Redefining Indie Comics

Some artists create for fun. Others create because they have to - because if they didn’t, their thoughts, emotions, and stories would eat them alive.

El the Devil is the latter.

Raw, unapologetic, and bursting with intensity, El the Devil is a storyteller, a world-builder, and a walking contradiction wrapped in ink. Their work is gritty yet beautiful, dark yet humorous, chaotic yet deeply intentional. It’s not just something you view, you feel it. It’s like staring into the mind of someone who has seen too much, felt too deeply, and lived to tell the tale.

From anime-fueled childhood obsessions to the rebellious persona of ‘El the Devil,’ their journey is anything but ordinary. They’ve fought their way through the brutal, unforgiving world of comics, navigating self-doubt, industry gatekeeping, and the grind of independent publishing. But through it all, they’ve stayed true to one thing: art as an extension of self - raw, unfiltered, and impossible to ignore.

This is El the Devil’s story.

And trust me, you’re going to want to read every word.

Source: @ elthedevil

The Origin Story

Every artist has that one moment - that split second where something clicks, and they realize that creating isn’t just a hobby - it’s who they are.

For El the Devil, that moment came early.

As a kid, their imagination was relentless. If they weren’t doodling in the margins of notebooks, they were lost in animated worlds, completely absorbed in the magic of storytelling. Shows like Naruto and Avatar: The Last Airbender were portals that helped them escape reality yet experience the same emotions that come with being human. When they discovered manga? It was game over.

The world of comics suddenly cracked wide open.

But it was one film, in particular, that changed everything.

At just eight years old, El the Devil watched Akira (1988), Katsuhiro Otomo’s dystopian cyberpunk masterpiece. It was one of the most visceral experience El had ever experienced, and to experience that at such a young age opened a world of concepts that only adults truly know. Something about the animation, the raw emotion, the way the world felt so chaotic yet beautifully crafted - it hit them like a gut punch.

"That was the moment I fell completely in love with art, comics, and animation."

From then on, there was no turning back. What started as a childhood obsession became an unstoppable drive to create. They weren’t just consuming stories anymore - they were writing, sketching, and world-building.

Art was no longer just a passion; it was a necessity.

And that was just the beginning.

The Artists That Built El the Devil

If you look at El the Devil’s work, you’ll notice something: it doesn’t fit into a neat little box.

It’s chaotic yet controlled, playful yet haunting. There’s a mix of absurdity, raw emotion, and a kind of beautiful messiness that keeps your eyes locked in, trying to decode every detail. So where does it come from? A whole lot of influences, obsession, and maybe a little self-inflicted suffering.

First up, Kaneyoa Sachiko. If you don’t know her, fix that. El has been following her since middle school and for good reason. She’s got this insane range, bouncing between silly, simple characters and hyper-detailed, dissociative fever dreams. There’s one character she constantly draws: a black-haired guy with glasses who’s always in some kind of crisis.

And honestly? Same.

Even as a 14-year-old with no real-world problems yet, El saw themselves in that character.

Then there’s Allesandro Taini, a video game concept artist whose work doesn’t just tell a story, it screams it. His ability to build a whole world in a single image? Unmatched. And of course, the heavy-hitters of manga: Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Go Nagai (Devilman), and Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto). These artists carried El through the early stages of their art journey.

"I think I always felt like that guy in Kaneyoa Sachiko’s drawings even if I had no reason to."

That’s the thing about influence - it’s personal.

It’s not just about liking someone’s work; it’s about feeling it in your bones. And when you look at El’s art today, you can see those roots. The storytelling. The emotion. The rawness. It’s all there, just wrapped up in a style that is 100% their own. That’s the best part! They’re still evolving.

The ‘El the Devil’ Persona: A Mask or a Mirror?

Let’s get one thing straight: El the Devil is a whole damn persona.

But like most personas, there’s more beneath the surface.

"I’m pretty hard on myself. Maybe it’s the struggle of being an artist, or just someone who feels things too damn much."

In their early 20s - when chaos was the norm and their frontal lobe was still under construction - El the Devil was born. The name started as a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of the wild choices, the mistakes, the reckless moments. They personified their inner demons in their art, drawing the devil as a little creature on their shoulder stirring trouble, talking sh*t, and leading them into madness. But as time passed, the meaning of the persona shifted.

Now, El the Devil isn’t just a symbol of rebellion…it’s a mask.

The world sees an intimidating, rowdy, doesn’t-give-a-damn artist. Someone who’s unapologetically bold, loud, and reckless. But that’s just one side of the story.

"In reality? I’m docile. I’ve got a lot of love in my heart, and I carry regrets that I mourn."

The contrast is stark: the persona vs. the person. The chaos vs. the calm. The devil vs. the artist who feels everything too deeply. But that’s the beauty of it. El the Devil isn’t a lie, it’s just one layer of the truth.

You just have to decide if you want to look past the mask.

Source: @ elthedevil

The Creative Process: Chaos, Music, and Controlled Madness

Here’s the thing about El the Devil’s creative process: it’s not neat. It’s not structured. It’s a goddamn whirlwind.

But somehow, out of the chaos, something incredible always emerges.

"It all starts with a thought that I get lost in. More often than not, I’m fueled by whatever song’s playing in my ears at that time."

Music is the heartbeat of their art. A lyric, a melody, a bassline - it’s all fuel. The second inspiration strikes, it’s GO TIME. Sometimes that means scribbling down a single line or writing out entire paragraphs of ideas, letting it all spill out before it vanishes into the void.

Once the idea sinks its teeth in, it’s time for the real work. Scripts come first. Then, a brutal round of self-critique and ego-stroking…because let’s be real, being an artist is a constant battle between "this is genius" and "this is garbage."

For full-length comics, the next step is storyboarding - mapping out the chaos before it becomes something solid. Then it’s sketching, inking, scanning, and the final digital touch-ups in Photoshop. This is where everything comes to life, where those initial sparks become full-blown worlds.

But not everything follows that process.

"Lately, I’ve been making a lot of fanart for an old video game, so it’s been really lax. No storyboarding, just messy scripts and straight execution."

There’s freedom in that. When it’s just for fun, the pressure is off. But whether it’s a meticulously planned graphic novel or a spontaneous burst of fanart, the driving force stays the same: Create. Tell a story. Make people feel something.

That’s the real process.

Source: @ elthedevil

The Struggles of Breaking Into Comics

Making a comic is hard. Getting people to care about your comic? That’s a whole different beast.

"As insane as it sounds, sometimes making the comic is the easy part. It’s the rest of it that’ll break you."

El the Devil has faced every hurdle in the book. Getting their name out there? Brutal. Fighting through self-doubt and imposter syndrome while putting their work (and soul) on display? Overwhelming. Navigating the publishing world without a map, a guide, or a wad of cash to burn? Damn near impossible.

The industry is a labyrinth of gatekeeping, financial roadblocks, and mental exhaustion. Want to go through a traditional publisher? Better have connections or a miracle. Want to go independent? That’s gonna cost you. Even with modern options like Kindle Direct Publishing, the process is grueling, especially when balancing a full-time job and an unshakable art obsession.

"People don’t realize how much time, patience, and sheer manpower goes into this. And when you’re the only one powering it? It’s daunting."

But here’s the thing: there’s always an audience.

"For any artist who thinks no one would care about their work - trust me, people are ready for something new. They WANT to see what you’re creating. Especially in the age of social media."

It’s a fight. It’s exhausting. And El the Devil is still in the trenches, still figuring it out, still pushing forward. The struggle is real, but the story is always worth it.

Speaking of audience...

The Love-Hate Relationship with Social Media

Ah, social media. A blessing. A curse. A necessary evil.

"It can be daunting, discouraging, and make you feel like you’re losing your mind. But at the same time, it’s a great way to connect and share my message - whatever that may be."

For artists, the internet is both a megaphone and a minefield. One day, your work is going viral. The next? It’s screaming into the void. Algorithms change, engagement tanks, and self-doubt creeps in. But El the Devil has cracked the code…

Be cringe. Be real. Be loud.

"Cringe culture isn’t real. There are no rules. Use all the tags, promote yourself like you’re the biggest thing on the planet, and follow the artists that inspire you. The key? Just have fun with it. At the end of the day, it’s all just numbers."

That’s the mindset shift that makes all the difference. You can’t force engagement. You can’t beg the algorithm to love you. But you can show up, post what you love, and find your people.

And for those trying to grow their audience?

"Fanart and hot topics will always bring in more eyes. Maybe that’s not what people want to hear, but it’s a great starting point. Give people something familiar, and once they’re in, hit them with your original work."

El the Devil has rebuilt their audience multiple times, constantly adapting, constantly learning. Their motto is: Big energy, zero fear, and leaning into discomfort.

"The beauty of social media is the connection it brings. So be creative, be you, and don’t take it too seriously. Good things will come."

Source: @ elthedevil

For the Aspiring Artists: A Reality Check & a Rally Cry

So, you wanna make comics? Good. Now buckle up, because this industry isn’t for the weak.

"Just keep hammering away at it. It’s a competitive industry, but it’s not the biggest one either. There’s fear in that, but also empowerment."

Most people do nothing. They sit on ideas. They let self-doubt win. They dream, but they never execute. So if you’re out here actually making something - drawing, writing, creating - it already puts you ahead of half the competition.

"People tell me all the time that making comics is no joke. And honestly? I forget that. I downplay it. But the fact that you’re doing it, or did it, says a lot."

So give yourself credit. Own it. When you’re at a comic book shop? Tell people you make comics. Meeting new people? Mention that you make comics. You never know who knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy.

Want in? Then immerse yourself.

• Go to conventions.
• Join comic book communities.
• Follow breakout artists and actually engage.
• Be loud about your work.

This isn’t about waiting for an opportunity. It’s about making noise until the right people can’t ignore you.

The world needs more stories. Why shouldn’t one of them be yours?

Turning Pain into Art

"I can’t sugarcoat it - everything I create is a reflection of me. My thoughts, my feelings, my experiences. It’s all in there."

Their work isn’t just about cool visuals or badass characters. It’s raw, it’s vulnerable, it’s uncomfortable. It’s laughter in one panel and gut-wrenching intensity in the next. It’s a mirror of the human experience: messy, painful, and real.

"People tell me I’m strong, but it’s mostly because I’ve been through a lot and lived to tell the tale. So, I tell the tale. Sparing no detail."

This is the beauty of their art, it doesn’t flinch. It leans into the ugly, the chaotic, the heartbreaking. And in doing so, it connects.

El the Devil isn’t interested in pretending. They embrace embarrassment, vulnerability, and discomfort. Because the truth is, life isn’t all neatly wrapped narratives and happy endings. Life is brutal. But through that, there’s growth.

"If my art can make someone feel less alone, if it can help someone get through their own shit, then I’d like to think I’m doing what I was put here to do."*

And that’s why their work matters.

Source: @ elthedevil

What’s Next?

Since we already know El the Devil doesn’t just make art, they live in it, they’re in a full-blown creative frenzy right now.

"I sort of jumped the gun mentioning it earlier, but yeah - I’m making a fan comic for Fallout: New Vegas. Super random, I know. The game is like 15 years old at this point. But it has my heart, and I’ve been caught up in creating a story around it."

And honestly? That’s the best place to be as an artist. Creating for the love of it. Not for deadlines, not for clout - just because the idea won’t leave you alone.

But that’s not all. There’s something bigger brewing.

For the past five years, El has been slowly building their true passion project: a graphic novel called Generator. This is the one. The project that feels like their magnum opus.

"I’d like to declare it my masterpiece, but let’s be real - let’s just finish the first book first. Should be done by 2026 at the latest."

Between posting weekly updates of their Fallout fan comic, tackling Generator, and juggling everything else life throws at them, El the Devil is in full grind mode. And they’re just getting started.

El the Devil: The Artist Who Won’t Be Ignored

Art is easy to forget. El the Devil isn’t.

"Every day is a gift or a lesson. And that’s a gift within itself."

El the Devil isn’t waiting for permission. They’re making the work, telling the stories, and pushing forward no matter what. Whether it’s a fan comic that’s bringing them back to life, a personal project years in the making, or just another wild sketch thrown into the world, they’re creating.

And if there’s one thing you should take away from this?

Never stop. Never hold back. Never wait for the “right” time.

Do the work. Make the art. And let the world catch up.

El the Devil is just getting started.

Are you?

📸 Follow the legend on Instagram: @ElTheDevil

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