Comic Mania
Salt Lake City Library hosts comic book convention
By: Adam Fifield
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Redux
Given 24 hours to produce 24 pages of comics, with plenty of caffeine and a troupe of comic-book aficionados crammed into the same room, some bizarre things are sure to happen.
For example, take the following premise: two young boys owe more than $200 in quarters -- to whom remains a mystery -- but following their run-in with "Bearclaw" and other members of the Pirate Club (and, inexplicably, a giant, mechanical worm), the boys meet their ultimate demise. Work in some drama, splattered blood and some pretty twisted rhymes -- "Punch this, moron, 1-2-3! Then kick 'im in the balls for me!" -- and you have an idea of what can emerge from a day spent in the aforementioned work room.
This particular comic was the result of local cartoonist Derek Hunter's valiant effort for the annual 24 Hour Comics Day, put on by local comic book retailer, Night Flight Comics, on Oct. 20. The comic is available for viewing at Hunter's website, www.pirateclub.com.
"It was a new exercise in creativity against all odds," said Hunter, who has published several graphic novels under the Pirate Club theme.
Hunter used the same characters he employs in his graphic novels but was surprised by the results of this event, because it was "completely stream of conscience," and the atmosphere was charged by the presence of so many writers and artists "hopped up on caffeine."
In the past seven or eight years, "comics have really started to come into their own," said Mike Justice, assistant manager of Night Flight Comics.
Justice, who has been an avid reader of comic books for 30 years, has watched comics evolve from the "campy," 1950s Batman series to the graphic novels of today. Now, he said, the genre is experiencing an artistic renaissance fueled by major Hollywood movies such as "Sin City" and "300."
An indicator of the raising popularity of graphic novels, Justice said, is that the Salt Lake City Library's graphic novel section has the highest circulation in the entire library.
For example, take the following premise: two young boys owe more than $200 in quarters -- to whom remains a mystery -- but following their run-in with "Bearclaw" and other members of the Pirate Club (and, inexplicably, a giant, mechanical worm), the boys meet their ultimate demise. Work in some drama, splattered blood and some pretty twisted rhymes -- "Punch this, moron, 1-2-3! Then kick 'im in the balls for me!" -- and you have an idea of what can emerge from a day spent in the aforementioned work room.
This particular comic was the result of local cartoonist Derek Hunter's valiant effort for the annual 24 Hour Comics Day, put on by local comic book retailer, Night Flight Comics, on Oct. 20. The comic is available for viewing at Hunter's website, www.pirateclub.com.
"It was a new exercise in creativity against all odds," said Hunter, who has published several graphic novels under the Pirate Club theme.
Hunter used the same characters he employs in his graphic novels but was surprised by the results of this event, because it was "completely stream of conscience," and the atmosphere was charged by the presence of so many writers and artists "hopped up on caffeine."
In the past seven or eight years, "comics have really started to come into their own," said Mike Justice, assistant manager of Night Flight Comics.
Justice, who has been an avid reader of comic books for 30 years, has watched comics evolve from the "campy," 1950s Batman series to the graphic novels of today. Now, he said, the genre is experiencing an artistic renaissance fueled by major Hollywood movies such as "Sin City" and "300."
An indicator of the raising popularity of graphic novels, Justice said, is that the Salt Lake City Library's graphic novel section has the highest circulation in the entire library.
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