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Friday, April 25, 2003

By Sarah Lolley

It all started 40 years ago in a small town in Greene County, when a mother would read comic books to her son for bedtime stories. There was not much to do in a community surrounded by woods so the boy continued to retreat into the colorful pages of comics.

Now that boy is a novelist with one recently published book, "King of Summer" (PublishAmerica), and two others on the way.

	Event Preview Pittsburgh Comicon WITH: Dawn of the Dead 25th Anniversary Reunion, Terry Austin, Femmes of the Force, Terry Moore, Erin Grey and more. WHEN: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. WHERE: Pittsburgh ExpoMart, Monroeville. ADMISSION: $17; $45 for 3-day pass; under 8 free.

"I learned to read through comics," says Wayne Wise, who will appear at the Pittsburgh Comicon this weekend. "I honestly don't remember comics not being in my life."

For more than a decade, after leaving a career in psychology, Wise has worked in the comics industry as an inker, illustrator, writer and store manager at Phantom of the Attic. He was 32 in 1990 when he and a friend, Fred Wheaton, won the first Xeric Grant established by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creator Peter Laird. They produced one issue of "Grey Legacy" with the $7,000 they won, but weren't able to continue the series. Even back then it was difficult to break into the comic book industry and often when you did find steady work your style would not be popular in a decade. So Wise started writing, using skills he learned from comics.

"When I wrote comics I pictured how to place the camera angle," he explains. "When I'm writing scenes [for a novel] I see the scenes very vividly. I can see it all so all I have to do is describe it."

"King of Summer" is a horror/fantasy tale about 12-year-old Artie, who discovers an ancient evil in a lake the summer before he becomes a teenager. The setting is a small town and the main characters are all kids of various ages battling the forces of good and evil.

"Evil acts take place all the time," he says, elaborating on the book's theme. "People can be monsters, but when you're a kid you see monsters. As an adult I recognize people do monstrous things. It's a metaphor [in the book]." The tales of King Arthur and Camelot also influenced the story. Excalibur becomes a pocketknife and the Holy Grail is a baseball trophy.

By participating in this year's Comicon, Wise hopes to attract attention for his next two books. His second novel is already written and set in the same setting with different characters. Ultimately, Wise wants to set his work to illustrations again.

"King of Summer" and 10th anniversary issues of "Grey Legacy" will be available at the Comicon.

COMIC BOOK KID

In fourth grade Kristoffer Smith bought his first comic book and the world of Spider-Man became an escape from family arguments and the poverty that surrounded him growing up in Homewood.

Now in 12th grade he has created his own comic book series, "The Guardians," and will be promoting himself along with friends Channing Loftion, 18, and Brandon McFadden, 17, at this year's Comicon.

What started as a way to keep himself occupied has developed into a vocation and a mission to lure others to pick up comic books again.

"Controlling a whole other world makes me feel great about myself," Smith says in the basement of the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty. "I feel it stimulates creativity in people and I think comic books are good because it promotes literacy."

In the past two years, Smith matured from copied sketches to using a printer for small press publications out of Virginia. To fund his project he asked local businesses to buy ad space in the back. The experience has taught him about marketing and striving for a better life.

Growing up in a rugged violent community, Smith didn't have video games or a father. At 13, after turmoil with his mother, he moved in with a family friend until finally moving in with his grandmother in Point Breeze. His brother, sister and mother moved to Virginia two years ago while Smith stayed to graduate from CAPA High School in May.

Setting him further apart from people was Smith's slight frame, long hair and boyish features that contrast his family's athletic characteristics. He was shy and kept to himself. But when he started taking care of himself and taking his illustrations seriously, something magical happened -- he found confidence. Eventually, he also found his place among the hip-hop community that supported his work by commissioning his murals and flier designs. Now, not only does Smith draw with a distinct style, but he breakdances as well.

The five characters in his stories overcome obstacles in their lives and reflect Smith's deep concern for diversity. Each person is from a different ethnic background and they all work together to save the world from demons. Damocles is the Arabic leader of the group that includes Johny Polo, a boy with bionic legs and arm. Sick is a stubborn Hispanic, Arson is a renegade Italian, and there is Spif, an 8-year-old African-American boy who loses his mom. They all have special powers they must master as they deal with their own reality. The mix of drama and fantasy in "The X-Men" series inspired "The Guardians."

"Mixing fantasy and real-life issues is more interesting," Smith explains. "Most of my friends stopped reading comic books at 13. I had to ask myself if I'm a dork or is there something interesting about it." Integrating his own experiences and observations into his work helped him develop his own stories. He is quick to say, however, there is a lot he has to learn about the world and comic books. "Right now I don't feel I'm developed enough to produce a comic book with my own opinion."

Instead, he is eager to meet as many people who can help him break into the world of illustration. He currently works with Urban Interview Magazine, which is published by the Warhol Museum every year and participates in the ALPS leadership program through the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild. Next year he will attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh to study media arts and animation.

In the meantime, Smith and his friends are holding a hip-hop event with local groups to promote their comic books and sell merchandise on May 31 at The 1877 Project at 4805 Penn Ave. The building where the show takes place has been given to graffiti writers to paint, a perfect setting for a boy inspired by the creative world around him.