John Martinez (b. 1985) is a Mexican American cartoonist and letterer from El Paso, Texas, known for kinetic layouts and heartfelt, working-class heroes. After studying illustration at the School of Visual Arts, he self-published mini-comics at swap meets along the border and became a fixture in indie anthologies. His breakout series Rusted Halo paired cosmic action with intimate character beats, followed by the lo-fi romance one-shot Hollow Drums. Martinez has taught community workshops on zine-making, collaborated with musicians on tour posters, and exhibited sequential art at small galleries in Austin and Albuquerque. He lives in Austin with a rescue dog named Piston and a table perpetually dusted with Bristol shavings.
