The comic book has had an undeniable influence on the cultural identity of the media we enjoy today. Before television ever came along, comic books offered fantastic, episodic tales told frame by frame, with artwork and words. The comic book boom of the ’50s and ’60s came with the success/rivalry of Marvel and DC Comics coming to a head. The era also influenced the Saturday morning cartoons of the ’80s and ’90s, and now, the feature films of today.
A local couple, Cheryl and Ted Maddux, have shown a small collection of original comic book art and animation stills in their Nipomo McDonald’s restaurant for years. Currently, that franchise location is being renovated, so the two decided to share the artwork with the community via the Allan Hancock College Ann Foxworthy Gallery.
The show, which opened Oct. 22, is already popular on campus, explained Allan Hancock art gallery director Marti Fast. Fast is also a Fine Arts instructor on campus, and the exhibition has been very exciting for arts students, she explained.
“I took my life-drawing students the first morning it was open, and their faces all just lit up, and they all ran over and were taking selfies with their favorite characters,” Fast said. “It’s not something you get to see every day; we are really lucky to have this here.”
The Madduxes have a good relationship with the college, Fast explained. The couple owns several area McDonald’s restaurants in which original artwork is featured. A series of original children’s book paintings is currently on loan in the Allan Hancock College library from the Madduxes as well.
“They’ve always had artwork in their restaurants,” Fast said. “So they offer a live art experience, support the artist while doing it, and in an unexpected location.”
Superheroes and Other Marvels shows in the Ann Foxworthy Gallery though Dec. 10, and includes work by Tom Smith, Nelson DeCastro, Jimmy Palmiotti, George Perez, and Mark Romanoski. There are also five Reuben Rude trading cards and two Warner Brothers Women of Batman animation cels from the 1992 Batman TV series.
Traditional comic book creation involves several layers and different artists. There are pencil artists, ink artists, and painters involved in creating the characters and setting of each image, as well as a letter artist for the dialogue and narrative. Many of the works in Superheroes and Other Marvels are clearly production originals, with marks and notes made by production directors on the margins.
“Pencilers, inkers, and painters all have to be involved to make a comic book happen,” Fast said. “And every one of those people involved has to be an artist and have such control and artistic application of the media.”
Each different artist gives a unique perspective and insight into the fantastical worlds of Marvel or DC Comics. Some, like Perez and Smith’s work, embody the bright, crisp feel of the 1980s comic book style, which is unlike the dark, brooding Batman of Romanoski. The few animation cels also illustrate the leaps and bounds that animation has taken within the short span of the last 30 years.
All the works share characteristics in common—whether it’s a hero or a villain, each lets you know the essence and spirit of whoever is depicted.
The exhibition offers a glimpse into more than just a segment of American art, but also depicts a space in time when comic books were receiving a kind of feedback message from the media it helped create: television. Many media and art instructors have found the exhibit valuable as a teaching tool, but teachers outside the arts department are also using it, Fast explained.
“Some of the sociology and English departments are coming in and acknowledging it as well,” she said. “Those are just a few departments
I have heard of where the teachers find it useful.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne’s love affair with comics began with Calvin and Hobbes. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 6-13, 2014.