Vapin Ape Comic Series: Built with Mute Illustration

Vapin Ape has always lived at the intersection of culture, product, and character—and this comic series is our way of making that world official. We teamed up with Mute Illustration (Nathaniel Rueda) to develop an original, chapter-based comic that expands the Vapin Ape universe with a distinct visual language: bold linework, game-inspired energy, cinematic layouts, and the kind of panel-to-panel momentum that feels made for collecting.

From logo to protagonist

The goal wasn’t to “make a comic.” It was to build a character and a world that can scale—across chapters, product drops, and future campaigns. Early in the process we locked on key character traits (including signature round glasses and a product-forward vape detail in the default look), then evolved the universe outward with “suits” and opponents that change chapter-to-chapter while keeping the hero instantly recognizable.

A real production pipeline (not a one-off illustration)

To make the series consistent and printable, we treated it like a proper production—concepts first, then layout, then clean linework, then full color. Each chapter follows a structured cadence so we can iterate without rework, keep feedback tight, and maintain quality from page 1 through the back page.

A few highlights from the workflow:

• Character + antagonist design upfront so the story reads visually before it reads in text
• Composition sketches and splash moments to create high-impact pages (and reusable assets beyond print)
• Print-first files built to spec, with enough resolution headroom for larger-format uses later

Designed for print, built for more than print

The comic is formatted for a physical run, but we intentionally developed it in a way that supports broader use—digital panels, teasers, posters, product inserts, and future packaging moments. In other words: this series isn’t just narrative, it’s a content engine.

Why we’re doing this

Vapin Ape is building a brand universe you can recognize instantly—whether you’re seeing a box on a shelf, a panel on a page, or an animation on a screen. This comic series is one of the clearest expressions of that strategy: original story, collectible energy, and art direction that feels unmistakably “us.”

Explore Mute Illustration

If you want to see more of Nathaniel’s work (and why we chose him for this series), visit Mute Illustration: https://muteillustration.com/

To read the comic online click here.

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