Educational Comic Strips Illustrated by Art Education Student: [unit], Indiana University at Bloomington

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Last Updated: Tue, Mar 21, 2006

Educational Comic Strips Illustrated by Art Education Student

The men of Omega Psi Phi are using black heroes in weekly comic strips to inform people about black achievements. Dennis J. Perkins, IV, the creator of the comic's story line each week, said the comics are called Que Comics, dubbed after the nickname for Omega Psi Phi members. Perkins said each week he researches the people behind black achievements who are not typically talked about, such as the founder of Black History Month, Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

Perkins draws rough sketches of what he wants the comic to look like, then scans the images and sends them to fraternity brother James L. Townsend, Jr., who draws the final characters. Townsend, an art education major, said once he has the sketches, it only takes 25 to 30 minutes to draw the comic. He gathers inspiration from his own search of books, the Internet and traditional comic books.

The Que Comics appear in the form of a traditional comic book, Townsend said, instead of a Sunday cartoon format. "We wanted to tell these stories ... and give people a quick way to read about black history," Townsend said. "Hopefully it will inspire people to read and research."

"I think it gives a different spin than what most people are doing," Perkins said. "It's not as funny, but informative." The comic reaches five states, including Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Minnesota and Wisconsin .

Relevant Web link: http://mypage.iu.edu/~dejperki/ZE/omegainformer.html