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ArtScape

Space cadets

story and photos by Dan Shellenbarger

Comics is a loose term. For most people it evokes easy gags or overly earnest superheroes. But the comics featured at last weekend's SPACE expo in the Aladdin Shrine complex near Easton are far evolved from serial stories involving capes and spandex.

SPACE, the Small Print and Alternative Comics Expo, was the brainchild of Bob Corby. Originally started as a place to showcase his own work, it's expanded to include dozens of independent comic artists and small publishers.

Here you'll find stories that deal with the emotional aftermath of a father and son losing their wife and mother to cancer (Mother Come Home by Paul Hornschemeier), or the simply drawn but elegant tale of lost love (Laundry Day by Justin Madsen). The stories are dense and emotional and filled out will lovely lines and inking.

Several series chronicle everyday life, sometimes referred as "autobio" comics. Snake Pit, written and illustrated by Ben Snakepit, is just that—Ben draws a three-frame comic everyday that records his punk life of eating burritos, partying with his friends, sleeping and getting drunk or stoned. It's remarkably interesting as well.

There are also occasional superheroes, a fair share of animals with human tendencies for violence and semi-naked—well, entirely naked—women that are part of various comics.

Uko Smith of Columbus was manning a booth and working on some of his sketches of the aforementioned skin-baring variety. He specializes in pin-up artwork and his works appear on several book covers. He's often asked to make illustrations for models to help enhance their "brand."

"Women don't usually complain about my work because I like to draw curves," Smith says. "I love doing my work. My brothers are jealous of my job."

Many of the artists work on their comics as side projects while holding down freelance illustration or temp jobs. "It takes up all my free time," says Amory Abbott, who creates the web comic RogueRobot. "But it keeps me drawing."

Check out the S.P.A.C.E. video documentary in the new Alive TV section of our multimedia page

May 18, 2006