Comic creators convene on campus

SAM SAVELL
THE SIGNAL
Leaping off the pages into real life, comic book professionals will assemble Sept. 21 to present “comiCulture: From Creation to Consumption.”

The free symposium will bring artists and writers from Houston-based comics such as Mental Diversions Studios and After Twilight to UHCL. Attendees will have the chance to catch a screening of James O’Barr’s “The Crow,” observe panels on art and writing, and even show their own artwork to the pros for critique.

Sandria Hu, professor of art, envisioned comiCulture. Hu is excited about comic books, having fond memories of herself and her siblings enjoying them when they were younger.

“Everyone reads comic books at some point,” Hu exclaimed.

In the spring of 2012, Garrett Gainey enrolled as a student in Hu’s drawing class. Hu was intrigued when Gainey explained that at the time he worked as a comic book illustrator for Terry Wagner, the owner of Mental Diversions Studio in League City, whom she needed to realize her vision of a comic arts event.

“All of a sudden, she started asking me for more, and Terry is big with a bunch of the artists in Austin and Dallas, and we got everyone together,” Gainey explained.

Hu’s confidence in starting comiCulture was solidified after a visit to Comicpalooza, a large annual comic convention in Houston. Hu was able to see how the convention operates, as well as Gainey’s work.

“After that I decided we could do a comic exhibition and panel discussion at UHCL,” Hu said.

Terry Wagner became the volunteer event coordinator for comiCulture. During the next year, he worked with Hu, Gainey, Stuart Larson, associate professor of graphic design, Jeff Bowen, UHCL Art Gallery coordinator of audience development, and Karen Fiscus, gallery assistant. A network of students and faculty also helped form the comiCulture team, which Hu credits for the organization, grants, publicity and functional details of the symposium.

Wagner hopes the event will expand attendees’ interest to go beyond just the comic books.

“There are creative people in comics who are overlooked,” Wagner said.

The comic industry has many roles in addition to graphic artists. It also includes storywriters, printers and others involved in the publication process.

Two panels will be held: one for art and one for writing. The panels will discuss how aspiring artists can improve themselves artistically and develop creative ideas.

The art panel will include speakers like James O’Barr, the creator of “The Crow.” The topic for discussion is finding what kind of talent is needed to break into the comic industry.

“A graphic artist has to know how to draw everything,” Wagner stated regarding what an illustrator needs to be strong in the comic industry. “People, scenery, perspective. If something isn’t right, it could blow the entire picture out of the water.”

The writing panel will feature guests such as Gary Watson, author of “After Twilight.” Creating characters and story development will be the highlights of this panel.

“If you start with a good, solid story you’ll find success,” Watson said.

Watson believes a well-built story helped “After Twilight” reach success across mediums and wishes to share this advice with future authors.

A portfolio review, led by Wagner and O’Barr, will let participants present their artwork for critique from the pros. This will provide attendees the opportunity to receive feedback if their illustrations, writings, paintings and related media have a place in today’s comic industry.

Vendor tables for local comic studios and artists, a reading room for comic books, a spot for gaming and a showcase of cosplayers will also be featured at comiCulture.

A screening of O’Barr’s film, “The Crow,” will take place and be followed by a Q&A session led by O’Barr as part of UHCL’s Film and Speaker Series. The film will officially kick off comiCulture on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.

The writing panel on Sept. 21 will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the art panel at 11:30 a.m. The portfolio review will close the day, starting at 2 p.m. and ending comiCulture at 4 p.m.

Be sure to check out the comiCulture exhibits on campus such as The Art of Sequential Storytelling, in the UHCL Art Gallery, and the UHCL Student Illustration Exhibition on the second floor of the Bayou Building in Atrium I. Both exhibits are currently on display through Oct. 17.