Drawing your own success.

By Troy Baker

The roots of Mirror Comics extend far beyond their freshman endeavor Ghost King. In
fact Dominic Bercier has been grooming himself for a career in the industry since high school.
Now roughly two years into the business Bercier, and his business partner Kris Waddell have
multiple hot titles and a beloved book.

They have orchestrated numerous panels, including one for Ottawa Comic-Con this year.
Building off the momentum they established at the inaugural Ottawa Comic-Con, the duo have a
full slate of comics they hope to publish this year, starting with Mission Arizona 3. What
makes the story of Mirror Comics unique is the road it has taken to establish itself as a legitimate
comic company.

Bercier has shown potential since his first venture into illustration when he won a school
wide contest to be the featured artist on a school Christmas card. It was kind of a big deal to
me, here I was a first grader competing against eighth graders and I won! Hoohah! said
Bercier.

Berciers has come a long way from his first comic Super Ninja a Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles inspired comic published in 1990. Having met and shown his portfolio to Jae Lee,
of Marvel Comics at a small Montreal convention in 1994, Bercier was encouraged to contact
Marvel. However, being only 17 years-old Bercier didnt realize the magnitude in the
opportunity placed in front of him, he never called Lee. So thus a chance to illustrate for a
leading company slipped through his fingers and he is now left wondering what if?

A few years later Bercier attended the pinnacle of comic conventions where he showed
his portfolio to Dave McKean, an accomplished illustrator who encouraged Bercier to be a real
artist, and not limit himself and his abilities as a penciler.



Knowing that he would have to pay his dues first Bercier ventured to Toronto to start his
career as an artist. Between 1996 and 2002 Bercier works hard to make a name for himself
doing background pencil work for top companies such as Dark Horse, Image, Top Cow, Chaos!
Awesome, and Playstation Magazine

After becoming disgruntled with the lack of movement in his career Bercier decided to
venture on his own and for the next few years he expanded his portfolio by doing freelance
work, but he couldnt ignore the passion for comics.

Drawing on the support of Chris Staros, whom Bercier met at a Baltimore Comic
Convention. Bericer polished and finalized his manifesto Ghost King, though he still found it
difficult.

It was beyond frustrating, I had this amazing book that I had professionally fixed up and
I couldnt get it sold, said Bercier. I had worked so hard on this book, I wasnt about to let it
go to waste. So I did something about it. He took an idea he had in high school and established
his own comic book company. Creating Mirror Comics gave us carte blanche, and my intent
wasnt to be selfish, I wanted to build comics from a grass root level, he said.

In 2006 Bercier picked up a job doing storyboards, creating a sample comic book and
poster illustrations for the film, Defendor staring Woody Harrelson. The film about a man who
believed he was a crime fighter, his relationship with his psychiatrist and a teenager he befriends

Thought Bercier was surviving as an independent artist he still had a almost completely
polished comic book sitting on his shelf waiting to be published and after having no luck getting
his work published he decided it was time to make his own path.

So in early 2010, with the help and tutelage of Allan Ifsan, Bercier created Mirror
Comics. It has been born off of an idea he had in high school, Mirror Studios and with the name
previously taken he adopted Mirror Comics.



The first official title released under the Mirror Comics banner was one of his last
freelance works, the film Defendor premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where
is was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures.

After some conducting research with publishing digitally Bercier decided to publish
Ghost King through the site MyDigitalComics, and after over two years Mirror Comics saw its
first original release, volume 1 of Ghost King in April of 2011. In the following months volumes
two and three were released, Mirror Comics was working towards notoriety.

Around the same time that Bercier was working on Defendor and starting up Mirror
Comics, Kris Waddell had entered a Shadowline/Image comics contest Who wants to create a
super-heroine. Out of a staggering 5,000 submissions Waddells submission Challenger
finished an impressive second, amongst fan voting. Though ultimately neither of the top two fan
choices were selected for distribution, Waddells now had a taste for publication.

I had met Dominic at a convention in the past, but we had never really spoken at great
length, said Waddell. After spending so much time developing, Challenger I didnt want to
give it up, so I met with Allen and Dom to discuss releasing Challenge on Mirror. Dom and I
had a spark, we got along like a house on fire.

The initial conversations yielded not only a deal to distribute Challenge through Mirror,
but a foundation for Waddell to assume a void at Mirror as Editor-In-Chief.

As strong as my connection was with Dom through our love of comics, Allan and I
share something on the other side. We both equally share a passion for storytelling, creator
driven comic books and graphic novels, said Waddell. With Waddell now on-board the trio
would build a strong local following and they could strengthen their fan base and expand the
Mirror Comic catalogue.



Starting in 2011 the grass roots comic company aggressively began to hit the convention
circuit. Waddells first act with Mirror was attending Wizard World Toronto Comic Convention
in Toronto.

Kris went to Wizard World for Mirror, it was his first official appearance as Editor-In-
Chief, it was super basic. But he was able to establish some contacts, said Bercier. With
Waddell assuming the storytelling and business side of Mirror, Bercier was left to illustrate.

Prior to bringing Waddell on board Bercier had connected with his mentor, Bernard
Poulin to bring his script Please Daddy Hold my Hand. A touching story of a circle of
fatherhood and the power a father hands with a simple gesture. With the goal of publishing and
distributing at the first Ottawa Comic Convention, it was a thank you from Bercier to his one
time mentor.

Ottawa Comic Con was not only a launching pad for the new collaboration, but the first
time Bercier would see his manifesto Ghost King in print. Both would prove hugely successful
and sell out in their hometown convention.

Within two years Mirror Comics had become a well-known and respected comic book
company in Ottawa. Waddell and Bercier planned to launch a full slate of new graphic novels
over the course of 2012, as well as the companies first foray into a serial comic.

Sunset Coast started in February of 2012 and featured Waddells writing and art done
by Keith Grachow, whom had previously worked with Waddell on Challenger. Sunset was the
story of a group of retired and semi-retired heroes trying to live a normal life. The comic would
be well received and run from bi-weekly from February 2012 to February 2013.






In July of 2012 Mirror released the first graphic novel collaboration between Waddell
and Bercier. Mission Arizona: Volume 1 was released in July, and tells the story a mysterious
man, Professor Boone who arrives to Mission Arizona to entertain the village, but something
doesnt sit right with the local padre and his son. The novel is released in time for Mirror
Comics to hold a meet and greet at Ottawas premiere comic store, The Comic Book Shoppe.

The next stop on the Mirror Comics summer tour was Fan Expo Canada, an annual four-
day convention that showcases all sides of fandom and boasts a guest that would make the most
hard core of geeks blush. Mirror is well represented and sells out of stock by the final day.

Hoping to branch out to another province, Mirror attempts to break into the difficult
market at Montreal Comic Convention in September. Placed in a less then ideal spot Bercier and
Waddell manage to do well, but receive no where near the reception they had received in Ottawa
or Toronto.

Quebec, well Montreal specifically is hard to break into. It is not really indie friendly,
said Waddell. They love comics and the culture is there, but as an independent publisher you
arent taken very seriously, its really cliquey

The lack of success in Montreal didnt deter Bercier or Waddell, the continued their
march and a few weeks later they we at Can Con in Ottawa, and again a felt a warm reception.
However this time the team was eager to share their experiences and hosted a panel to discuss
the evolution of Mirror Comics.

Mirror Comics closed out their 2011 appearance in mid-October with a table at the first
Ottawa Geek Market, and last releases, Mission Arizona: Volume 2 the second book of the
Mission trilogy. Delving deeper into the story of the Mission pastor and Professor Boone. And
the single run graphic novel The Bird Caller, about a man sent to evaluate a deserted earth
soon to discover that he isnt the only one there.


February of 2013 marked the year anniversary of the web serial Sunset Coast.
To mark the success of the comic Mirror published a compilation of the series and released
Sunset Coast Volume One.

The following month Waddell, Bercier and Garchow found themselves, at Toronto
Comic Con. Knowing they have had great success in Toronto in the past they found the
reception to be good and again sold out of titles by then end.
Work is beginning to build at a feverish pace for Mirror Comics, having just singed a
deal to create an eight page prequel to the independent Canadian/European film Eddie the
Sleepwalking Cannibal, the final chapter of Mission Arizona and the highly anticipated Big
Box Apocalypse.

Mirror Comics now has a loyal following and a strong vision, they are always looking for
another artist or writer to showcase. They are hoping 2013 will yield continued support and new
opportunities.