Michael Watkins is a comic book creator, illustrator, publisher and the founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Highburn Studios.

Watkins founded Highburn Studios in 2000 and created the company’s signature series, Guardians. Over more than two decades in the industry, he has built a career spanning creator-owned comics, major publishers, licensed properties, promotional illustration and entertainment.

His professional comics work has included projects for Marvel, DC, Image, Dynamite, Dark Horse, Archie, IDW and Upper Deck, with credits on titles and properties including Femme-Noir, Transformers, Sonic the Hedgehog, M.A.S.K., Avengers Assemble, Pantha and Villains Supreme. His illustration work has also extended into promotional projects connected to major entertainment franchises including Star Wars, Iron Man 2, Suicide Squad and Transformers.

Beyond comics, Watkins has worked as a voice actor for Marvel and Disney-related productions, lending his voice to characters including Venom, Scorpion, Mole Man and Magneto.

Watkins is also an accomplished martial artist with more than four decades of training. He holds master rankings in multiple disciplines, including Hak Dari Shon HapKiDo, Tiger Shark HapKiDo and Kenpo, along with high-degree black belts in additional martial arts systems. That experience has also influenced his approach to action, movement and storytelling in his creative work.

Through Highburn Studios, Watkins continues to develop original comics, characters and creative projects while bringing decades of experience in illustration, publishing and storytelling to the next generation of creators.