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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 29, 2006 - 33 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006 Comic book hits shelves of Kerr St. bookstore By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A local 16-year-old's first published comic book is now on the shelves of Kerr Street's Comic Connection. More Adventure Comics is hot off the press ­ well, the photocopier. For Will Erskine, a self-professed comic fanatic who has been visiting Comic Connection for years, seeing his own work on the shelves is a major accomplishment. "This is the triumph," he said, pointing at the first installment of More Adventure Comics, which, with its black-and-white cover, stands out amongst the other glossy and colourful comic books on the shelves. "It's really exciting to see it here." Erskine started coming to Comic Connection years ago to buy Pokemon trading cards, but it wasn't long before he discovered comic books. "I started getting the '50 centers' and then I moved on to more modern day," he said. "I was definitely hooked." That eventually led Erskine, who has been drawing "ever since I could hold a pencil," he says, to start drawing onepanel comics about a year ago using a paint program on his computer. "My friend Jesse was the only fan of those comics," he said, laughing. "They were sort of weird." But those `weird' comics ignited his passion. "There's a special type of storytelling comics can get across to you, which is what I like," he said. "It's a really unique style, and you can tell people enjoy writing them." Erskine and three friends ­ Gabe Jenny and Spencer and Jesse Coons ­ started putting the first paper issue of the comic together back in August under the name RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER PUBLISHED: Will Erskine, 16, has just self-published his first comic book. He is editor in chief of Clover Comics and its new publication entitled More Adventure Comics is comprised of some other aged 13 and 14-year-old contributors' work, along with Erskine's cartooning. Clover Comics, of which Erskine is editor in chief. They wrote More Adventure Comics a while before that, though, to distribute on May 6: Free Comic Day. "At first, we put it together and just e-mailed it to our friends," said Erskine. "It started as just a digital thing." After that, they put it on a disc and gave it to friends that way. "Then I decided, let's go for it, let's print it. Why not," said Erskine, who's responsible for most of the cartooning inside the book, as well as the cover. And when he approached owner of Comic Connection Rich Stokes to get his comics on the shelves, Stokes says he was more than happy to make that happen. "I have no problem supporting local talent, you never know what could happen," Stokes said. "You need to start somewhere." The first issue of More Adventure Comics costs $6.49, mainly to cover the cost of printing. "We've got to keep it at this price to keep going," said Erskine, "to cover this issue and the next." The comics are intended for ages 13 and up because, "We've got some violence and mild language," Erskine said, adding, "It's pretty tame." The subject matter includes humour, intrigue, fantasy, "strange and off-the-wall stuff," says Erskine. One of his installments in the first book is a comic called 2239. "It's set in the year 2239 ­ it's a sci-fi story," he said, adding, "It starts in this issue and it will continue in the next." That should leave the reader hanging until issue two hits the shelves. Not only is More Adventure Comics available in Oakville, it's also being sold at a few stores in British Columbia. Until the boys find a publisher, More Adventure Comics will stand out among the glossy and colourful comics at Comic Connection. That suits Erskine just fine. "I kind of like the black and white, personally," he said, smiling. "It's crisp." For more on Clover Comics, visit http://clovercomics.com. -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com. Open Winter 2006 ­ Reserve your suite now! 905-521-0888 300 PLAINS ROAD W., BURLINGTON, ON L7T 1G4 www.burlington-gardens.net © 2006 H R Corp. 1984