Out of college, Smith's first job was as a production assistant on season one of American Idol. His first entry into the comic book world came in 2004 when Smith and Dan Hipp were noticed by Image Comics. Image Comics would go on to publish their work, The Amazing Joy Buzzards. Smith is also the co-creator and editor of the PopgunComics anthology. Smith wrote the original graphic novel Aqua Leung, published in April 2008. Aqua Leung was nominated for a Yalsa award for best graphic novel for teens. Also in 2008 Smith wrote Kill All Parents, a 38 page one shot about superheroes whose parents are killed by a secret government program, drawn by Marcelo Di Chiara, also for Image Comics. In 2009 Smith released The New Brighton Archeological Society stemming from a series of short stories in Popgun with artist Matthew Weldon. The New Brighton Archeological Society follows a group of children whose parents are the greatest archeologists in the world. When their parents are lost on an expedition, the children must finish their parents' work, collect the books of magic, and defeat their parents' nemesis. The New Brighton Archeological Society was selected as "Best All-Ages Comic" of 2009 by MTV Splash Page. The New Brighton Archeological Society received two Harvey Award Nominations in 2010. Smith has been published in a number of anthologies such as the Belle & Sebastian Anthology, 24Seven Vol. 1, Space Doubles, Paper Museum Vol. 3, and Popgun. 2011 saw the release of Smith's Gladstone's School for World Conquerors by Image Comics with artist and co-creator Armand Villavert which centers on a super-villain academy. Gladstone's School for World Conquerors won the 2013 American Library Association Award for 'Great Graphic Novels for Teens'. Smith released Sullivan's Sluggers, a baseball horror graphic novel drawn by James Stokoe, in 2012. Sullivan's Sluggers was published by Dark Horse Comics in 2018. In 2015 New Brighton Archeological Society Volume 1 was published as a hardcover by 'Maneki Neko Books' along with volume 2 titled 'The Sword of Azure', both were drawn by Matthew Weldon. In 2016 Gladstone's School for World Conquerors Volume 1 was published as a hardcover by 'Maneki Neko Books' along with Gladstone's School for World Conquerors Volume 2 which is drawn by frequent collaborator Matthew Weldon who was filling in for co-creator Armand Villavert on art duties. In 2019 Smith released Gladstone's School for World Conquerors Book 3 with artist and co-creator Armand Villavert.
Honors and awards
Smith has received recognition for his work on Popgun. Volume 1 won the 2008 Harvey Award for Best Anthology. This was followed by Volume 3 winning the 2010 Eisner Award for Best Anthology. Gladstone's School for World Conquerors won the 2013 ALA Awards for 'Great Graphic Novels for Teens'.
