A comics scene can take on many shapes and sizes depending on where you are and what you are looking for. A staple to this scene, no matter what the pretense, will be the local creators.

These local creators can come in all shapes, sizes and flavours. Specifically, in the comics world
we have writers, artists, colourists, letterers and on and on including people that do more than one
or even all the jobs themselves! People that are self-published, published through small press
companies or even working for the biggest names in the comic industry can all be local creators.
Saskatoon’s own Tom Grummett has been working on some of the biggest comic books in the industry
all the while still very proudly calling Saskatoon home and being a visible local presence.

The Sask Expo this year, as in years past, plays host to many local creators who are following their dreams of creating comics and sharing them with an audience. Prairie creators like Canadian Corps  writer Andrew Lorenz, Daisy Blackwood; Pilot for Hire creator Ryan Howe and Edmonton’s Jeff Martin all bring a soaring level of passion to their work which overflows into their interactions with other creators and fans as  well. They share freely of their experiences which in turn can help others who want to follow their own dreams of creating comics but are unsure of how to do that. Supportive attitudes like this are part of why these three are among a new group of Canadian creators,
called the Canadian Comic Book Alliance or CCBA, which originated here in the prairies and has
members from across Canada, all of whom are passionate about creating comics and about helping
spread the word about all the great comics being made throughout Canada! This is one of the major
roles local creators play in the comics scene…they inspire others to follow their dreams and their passion for the medium fuels other’s passions too which in turn generates more quality works and
dedicated fans because these high  levels of passionate engagements are infectious!

Local creators can bring in a ‘taste of home’ to their work, take for instance Jason Loo’s Pitiful Human Lizard which is set in Toronto. It is very easy to recognize locations and settings and that helps to set
the feel for the book and people can relate to that more. Closer to home works by Elaine Will and
Jason Sylvestre also are infused with Saskatchewan flavours which people connect with and will be drawn towards. Even non-comic readers or regulars can be attracted towards a title if they can see that type of connection there as I have discovered with my own comic The Adventures of Auroraman, which is set in my hometown of Humboldt. People love to support local talents and the comic scene is no different! This sense of pride in local creators can not only help support them but the industry as a whole as it can bring in new fans and readers and reach into areas that may not have much exposure to the medium since the decline of mass availability of comics through newsstands and other outlets. The local creator can become that vital first step into the world of comics, an entry point to a whole new adventure for readers!

The Saskatoon Entertainment Expo is filled with local creators showcasing a wide range of works so make sure you take your time to check them out, you never know how their passion my inspire you to embark on a new adventure!