IDW's San Diego Comic Art Gallery

San Diego comics publisher IDW wants you to know about them and what they do. So they've opened a free museum, called the San Diego Comic Art Gallery, where you can be informed and entertained. 

In addition to statues of their popular characters, they've also got vintage arcade games you can play. Decades ago, I'd line up my quarters on favorites like Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga, and leave the arcade with a full heart but an empty wallet. At the San Diego Comic Art Gallery, I can pit my wits against ghosts and spaceships, devour all the fruit I want, and it won't cost me a penny!

On a recent visit, I enjoyed a focus on Sh*t My President Says, a book devoted to the twitter account of Donald Trump. It provides a glimpse into artist Shannon Wheeler's creative process. As you can see, he starts with a range of possible expressions, before progressing to the U.S. President's posture and background. Before long, he has a complete drawing, bringing The Donald's latest tweet to life.

"Join me at 4 PM over at the Lincoln Memorial with my family."
--dated 1/19/17

Here's a finished example of his work. The drawing accompanies a tweet, or quote, in which Mr. Trump invited his followers to join him at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., after he had been sworn in as President.

In addition to displays on their most popular franchises, there is always art on display, such as this sketch from a Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover. 

Perhaps the best reason to visit the museum is to give you a glimpse of an artist's mind. Take for example Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the famous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As this recreation of his home studio suggests, the creative mind is not necessarily an uncluttered one. If artists draw on their surroundings for inspiration, Kevin Eastman certainly has plenty of influences to draw upon.

So the next time your parent, spouse, or significant other tells you to clean your room, tell him or her that you're just being creative. Yes, you really need everything in your room to inspire you to greatness! 

Dragon Dave

Links To Follow for greatness!
San Diego Comic Art Gallery

Chuck Dixon: A Precursor to 9/11

Chuck Dixon's "Airboy" series for Eclipse Comics remained controversial through its fifty numbered issues, and in over a dozen specials. Like the 1940s series, it mixed contemporary action with a rich texture of fantasy, and remained popular until the end. Unlike the original, it never belittled people of other nations, races, or cultures. Instead, it showed us the way forward. While the original Airboy might have been manipulated into selling arms to bloodthirsty dictators, he chose to have his son raised by Hirota, a former Japanese fighter pilot, who acts as the boy's teacher, mentor, and friend. 

In Chuck Dixon's hands, the series discussed contemporary events many Americans might not have been aware of. For example, in one four issue story, published in 1988, Airboy travels to Afghanistan, and helps the locals in their fight against the Soviets. He befriends a younger boy-genius who, after graduating from a prestigious British university, returned to his country to organize Russian opposition. The young boy's efforts bear fruit, and he believes that Russia will eventually pull out of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, he fears his country will grow increasingly fundamentalist, and become a hotbed for terrorism.

"Do you realize that the leading anti-Soviet faction among the Mujahedeen plans to put to death all women who do not wear the veil?" the young revolutionary asks. "Is that the freedom I fought for?"

"With the Russians gone, we will have a slim chance at an honestly elected government. But a moderate one? I do not know. World opinion can place a lot of weight behind our cause. I hope to show the world that Afghanistan is not merely the place where Soviet ambition was humbled. It is also a country which needs to join the world community as an equal partner."

"I'll arrange a flight to the states for us," Airboy says, "but I've got a hunch you're gonna have a tough time convincing American politicians that human rights are more important than just having an anti-Communist government in charge."

Sadly, Airboy's cautious view of human nature triumphed over his younger contemporary's idealism. America and the world community forgot about Afghanistan, if indeed, many people here were ever aware of it. If Chuck Dixon had been President, things might have been different on September 11, 2001. They might be better today, all around the world. 

At least one thing is certain. If Chuck Dixon had served as President of the United States, more people would know about Airboy. As his stories talked about how we ought to live, and the role we ought to play in the world, that would be a good thing. Our airline industries might even be healthier, with Airboy's plane Birdie in the public consciousness. For, as the young Afghan revolutionary says, Birdie is "the darnedest plane in all the world!"

Dragon Dave