A film major at the University of Texas, Wagner began his comic strip Hepcats in 1987, and published it as a comic book until 1998. A critical success but a financial flop, Wagner gave up the comic after many years unsuccessfully self-publishing and a failed revival attempt by Antarctic Press. In 1999, Wagner produced some early conceptual drawings for director Robert Rodriguez (who had been a cartoonist at UT at the same time as Wagner) for his film Spy Kids, though he did not work on the film during production or any of its sequels.
Following his departure from the comics industry, Wagner illustrated children's books for an Austin-area author and began a new career working in Austin-area film and television commercial productions.