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Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Comic proves to be superhero to boys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It had been a good day.
We’d spent Saturday morning viewing “Galaxy of Heroes,” an exhibit in the Children’s Gallery of the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth.
The exhibit’s name says it all. It’s a nearly 70-piece display of superheroes. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Incredible Hulk are represented in fine shape and form.
And then there’s Galaxy Man and Cosmic Girl, a newbie among the traditional league cast. Galaxy Man,the good guy in the child-friendly comic story, is an astronomer with super powers. He’s looking for his lost wife. With the help of Cosmic Girl, he fights dangers both in space and on Earth.
The comic is the creation of Kyle Puttkammer, an illustrator who owns Galactic Quest Comic shops in Buford and Lawrenceville. He hopes to take Galaxy Man national one day.
On Saturday, Puttkammer gave visitors a tour of the exhibit. He knows most of the contributing artists, and because of that, he was able to note nuances and explain techniques. He expressed his love for comics, talked about the art and how now, as a family man, comic retailing helps him pay the bills.
He did something else, too, something he may not even have realized.
In those few short minutes, he turned on two light bulbs — those of my son, Miles, and his friend, Benjamin Ashby. And for that, I thank him.
Spending a Saturday morning at a gallery holds little attraction for 10-year-olds. They’d rather watch cartoons on TV, not get dragged to a lecture and how-to show on drawing comics. The topic offered promise, though. And Puttkammer’s passion brought it to life.
My kid hears it from me all the time, how he can do most anything with a little creativity and determination. I don’t know if any of it sticks, but I know this for certain: Puttkammer’s message struck a chord with the boys. Made them want to tap their creative sides.
I heard proof of it after we’d left the gallery and headed to Gwinnett Place mall to check out a store that sells Yu-Gi-Oh cards. On the way, Benjamin started reading the script aloud.
“He needs more villains,” he said, noting that there are only two evil characters — Dr. Ross Rex and Cosmonaut Sirus.
“Man, he drew his own comic book when he was 10,” said Miles, amazed by the possibility. “When we get home, I want to draw.”
That night, after Benjamin had gone home, dinner had been eaten and all was quiet, Miles and I sat at the kitchen table. We popped in a Marley CD and poured some ginger ale. He got out some colored pencils, a sketch pad and a few pieces of plain, white paper.
He sketched out his own super hero, “Sindrome.” And a good day ended like it had started.
Miles hasn’t written a script for his superhero yet. Who knows, it may never evolve into one. But anything is possible.
Decades ago, it happened to a kid named Kyle. When he was 10, he wrote and designed his first comic book about “Star Wars.” Two years later, the Wisconsin native created his first comic-book story line, Metela Man. Both comics are part of the “Galaxy of Heroes” exhibit that runs through Sept. 2.
Take your kids. They may walk away inspired.
For more information about Puttkammer and his local appearances, visit www.galacticquest.com.
