Review of Annumpa Luma

Comic's First Issue Tells of World War I Code-Talkers

By Charlie SherpaThe comic book "Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers," recently released by the Indigenous Narratives Collective, Austin, Texas, helps introduce readers to a rich history of Native American soldiers on 20th century battlefields.

The comic is written and illustrated by Arigon Starr. A series and/or collected volume of comics is planned.
Arigon Starr's ANNUMPA LUMA--CODE TALKER

By Debbie ReeseStarr's comic reaches back to World War I. In Annumpa Luma, she deftly provides readers with a solid chunk of history. The comic opens with Choctaw soldiers in the trenches. They're talking Choctaw to each other... and the idea of their language as a code begins to take shape. They wonder if anyone will be open to their idea, because in government boarding schools, they were punished for speaking their language. Meetings take place, a test is devised, and the code is implemented. This is all conveyed through the perspective of Corporal Solomon Louis. His reunion with his wife, when he returns home, is heartwarming.

On the final pages of her comic, Starr lists the names of the Choctaw soldiers, and says that in 2013, the Choctaw Code Talkers received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.New Indigenous Superheroes Save the Day

Speaking tribal languages is just one superpower among heroes gracing the pages of comic books.

By Taté Walker“One of the main goals, to be sure, is Native folks are at the center of these stories. They aren’t the sidekicks, not some shaman helping the hero,” Lee insists. “We want to make sure we’re representing in a way that is respectful, appropriate, and real, and comics is a medium where we can change a lot of the negative stereotypes that proliferate mainstream entertainment, because comics is where young people read. Native kids are searching for heroes who look like them… And here comes Captain Paiute, who screws up anyone who comes trying to hurt the rez–that’s his job.”

Information about Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, Vol. 1, and other titles, including Captain Paiute, Pueblo Jones and Kaui (Indigenous Fairy Tales), can be found at the INC Comics website, www.inccomics.com. The group also invites and encourages indigenous writers and artists to join INC Comics. Inquiries can be made on the site’s Contact page.Comment:  All this is good, but $5.00 is a steep price for a 12-page comic. You can find the information online in many locations--for instance:

Choctaw code talkers

Choctaw Indian Code Talkers of World War I

Choctaw Code Talkers Association

Choctaw Code Talkers

Therefore, I can't recommend the comic except for Native-comics aficionados like me. For most people, it's a pricey way to learn about the codetalkers.

Update on Indigenous Narratives Collective

A Native American Comic Book Industry

By Rich JohnstonINC Comics was founded by Arigon Starr and Teddy Tso at the Phoenix Comic Con in 2011, along with several other Native American comic book artists and creators. They wanted to get a group together to collaborate and strengthen the presence of Native people in the comic book world/industry

In 2012, Lee Francis came on board as publisher and they produced their first collaborative publication, INC’s Universe. This past April, they released their first teaser issue, Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, a preview of their 70-page graphic novel featuring 6 original stories of Native American Code Talkers, from World War One to Korea. They will release this in October of this year and expect to produce two additional titles before the end of the year: Pueblo Jones and Kaui (Indigenous Fairy Tales).

They are currently working with a number of Native American artists and creators and are currently developing a number of other titles for 2015.Comment:  For more on the subject, see INC's Universe #0 and Indigenous Narratives Collective.

INC's Universe #0

Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo) writes:

Fresh INCI'm please to announce my participation with the Indigenous Narratives Collective ("INC") on a comic book collaboration.

Here's a blub from Arigon Starr's website, http://superindiancomics.com/:This is the cover of the brand new "INC's Universe" comic book just published by the Indigenous Narratives Collective. Concept and artwork by Arigon Starr. "INC's Universe" also features work from Roy Boney, Beth Aileen Dillon, Spider Moccasin, Jonathan Nelson, Michael Sheyahshe, Ryan Huna Smith, Theo Tso, Marty Two Bulls and Arigon Starr.The INC comic is to be distributed at the Wordcraft Circle, “Returning The Gift” Conference in Milwaukee (Sept. 5-9) and the Southeastern Indian Writers Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina (Sept. 12-14).Comment:  For more on the subject, see Wordcraft Circle Honors Arigon Starr and Indigenous Narratives Collective.

Wordcraft Circle honors Arigon Starr

Wordcraft Circle Annual Honors and Awards 2012!LF3 Memorial Award (Wordcrafter of the Year): Arigon Starr
For her work with the Indigenous Narratives Collective in trying to bring more attention to the work of Native American comic book artists and graphic novelists and connect with our youth and communities by tapping into the artistic spirit coupled with good storytelling.Comment:  For more on Arigon Starr, see Indigenous Narratives Collective and Bitch Media Interviews Arigon Starr.

Indigenous Narratives Collective

I've reported on Arigon Starr's SUPER INDIAN before. Here's the latest from her:

A Chat With Arigon Starr, Creator of ‘Super Indian’ ComicsYou’re publishing a comic for free, online, in small installments, then selling a collection on paper—this is a model that would have been unfathomable to comics creators 15 years ago. How’s it working out—what advantages or disadvantages does this process offer?

Offering anything for free is a disadvantage. Your audience expects to get the print version for free, and that is not going to happen with Super Indian. This model is like those folks at Costco or Sam’s Club offering tasty bites in-store—then letting you know the full version is available for a price. The real test for a printed version of Super Indian was at the recent Phoenix Comic Con. It was gratifying to know there is still a segment of the audience that wants a printed book.

What the print version offers that is totally different from the free online webcomic is that you’ll see full pages of artwork, as opposed to the half-page version online. I also created special extras, including a series called “Real Super Indians” that feature spotlight art and biographies of Native superstars like Maria Tall Chief and Jim Thorpe.

It seems there are several interesting American Indian writers and artists producing comics today—do you have the sense there is a community of Native comics creators?

A resounding YES! There is now a group of Native comic creators called the “Indigenous Narratives Collective” (INC), a division of the non-profit group Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.

Jacques La Grange, who’s the creator of Shadow Wolf and a member of the San Carlos Apache tribe, worked hard to curate a “Natives in Comics” panel for two years running at the annual Phoenix Comic Con. At this year’s convention, we had a group booth that featured the newly designed INC logo created by Navajo comic artist/designer Jonathan Nelson. Also participating were Jon Proudstar (Tribal Force) and Ryan Huna Smith. The panel was a huge success that had a standing-room only audience that made a big impression on the Phoenix Comic Con organizers. We also had lots of Native community members attend the panel and stop by the booth who were thrilled, amazed and grateful we were out there being a voice for the people.

We are planning on taking a group of Native comic creators around the country to more Comic Conventions and will be hosting a free Native Comics Workshop at the Heard Museum in Phoenix on July 28th.Comment:  For more on Arigon Starr, see Bitch Media Interviews Arigon Starr and SUPER INDIAN Webcomic.

Bitch Media interviews Arigon Starr

I've posted many items on Arigon Starr and her Super Indian comics over the years. These interviews cover some old ground but also provide new information. I'll share a few tidbits from them.

Beyond the Panel: An interview with Arigon Starr of Super Indian, Part OneRMJ: How did you get into comics?

AS: I grew up on comics and by the time I was old enough to hold a crayon, I was drawing them. When I say “comics” I mean the Sunday funnies, “Archie,” “Mad,” “Creepy” and “Eerie,” plus the worlds of DC and Marvel. Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Dave Gibbons, Neal Adams, John Byrne, Berni Wrightson, and Mort Drucker are some of my all-time favorite artists and gave me lots of inspiration.

RMJ: What drew you to the superhero genre?

AS: The thing I love about superhero stories is someone normal transforming into the extraordinary. How would Wolverine or Wonder Woman be different if they came from an Indian nation? The superhero genre lets you explore the fantastical and have fun while you’re doing it.

RMJ: Technology and nerd culture is a big part of Super Indian what with Tillie's tech geeking, Hubert's blog, Uncle Chester's radio show, the Leaning Oak fan girl club, and the regular Star Wars, Star Trek, and Battlestar Galactica references.

AS: I really wanted to show folks this side of Native America. I know I’m not the only Native American who’s attended a comic convention, watched every Battlestar Galactica episode, or debates the worthiness of the Chakotay character on Star Trek: Voyager. Geek culture is alive and well in Indian Country!

RMJ: What would you like people to learn about Native American culture from Super Indian?

AS: I want people to know that Native people exist and thrive in the contemporary world. Generally, Native folks are stuck in amber, always on horseback wearing leather and feathers. Often, we’re depicted as magical shamans or hyper-alert scouts. Even comics like “Scalped” have us looking like rejects from The Sopranos. We’re more than that.Beyond the Panel: An interview with Arigon Starr of Super Indian, Part TwoRMJ: Super Indian began as a radio series broadcast in 2007 and then made the jump to the web in 2011. Can you tell us a little more about the journey this character has made?

AS: As with a lot of enduring projects in my life, it all started as something that made me laugh. The characters were there from the start—a buffed-out Native American super-hero with a goofy, butterball sidekick and a broken down car.

RMJ: The webcomic community tends towards being overwhelmingly white and male. How do you experience being Native and a woman in an industry that can be racist and sexist?

AS: Right now, I’m invisible. However, that’s partly by choice. It’s taken a long time to get to the point where I feel like “Super Indian” is worthy of a significant promotional push. Now that I’ve got almost a year’s worth of work online, I’m feeling better about it.

RMJ: You’ve got an impressive career that stretches over several media—comics, film, television, and music. Can you tell us a little about your current projects outside of Super Indian?

AS: “Super Indian” has taken priority in my career at the moment. However, I’m working on a new play and still doing gigs around the country. I’ll be heading up to Nez Perce country soon to perform at Lewis & Clark College and work with some of their community on producing new radio/audio theater plays. I’m also collaborating with one of my favorite writers Robert J. Conley on a couple of projects. Comment:  Arigon Starr told me that Bitch Media contacted her after reading about her on my blog. Arigon may have meant my Blue Corn Comics page on Facebook, since I mentioned her more recently there. Either way, I did my part by sharing the Native news.

For more on Arigon Starr, see SUPER INDIAN Webcomic and Frybread Queen at University of Montana.

Below:  Arigon's self-portrait.

SUPER INDIAN webcomic

Like many comic-book creators, the multitalented Arigon Starr is eschewing print and taking her series to the Web. Actually, she's been producing it as a webcomic since September 27, 2010, but no one told me about it. She has a few dozen episodes online, so check it out:

Super Indian Comics

For more on the subject, see Sample SUPER INDIAN Covers and Making Progress on SUPER INDIAN.

Frybread Queen at University of Montana

Arigon Starr starring in 'The Frybread Queen' at University of MontanaThe Autry National Center, the School of Theatre & Dance, and the Montana Repertory Theatre are proud to present the newest production from Native Voices at the Autry on the UM-Missoula campus. Native Voices at the Autry is America’s leading Native American theater company.

The Frybread Queen, by Carolyn Dunn (Muskogee Creek), is the winner of the nationwide Native Voices development competition held each year at the Autry and is the first to be mounted in collaboration with The University of Montana and Montana Rep. It is the spirited story of three generations of Navajo women bound by marriage and family ties. They come together to Lake Powell for the funeral of a beloved son, and in their grief, they confront long-simmering tensions and family secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

The Frybread Queen will be mounted in the Masquer Theater on The University of Montana campus September 16-19, and 23-26, starring professional stage actors Jane Lind and Arigon Starr, The University of Montana and Montana Rep alumnus Lily Gladstone, and current UM student Tiffany Meiwald.Comment:  For more on The Frybread Queen, see Developing The Frybread Queen and All About Carolyn Dunn. For more on the subject in general, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Native Radio Theater to end?

The last of the radio plays

Audio theater is the missing link between San Diego, Native Alaskans and Queen's Brian May

By Dave MaassCurrently director of San Diego State University’s College of Theatre, Television and Film, Reinholz has served as Native Radio Theater’s artistic director since 2003. He also directed The Red Road, a one-woman play by Arigon Starr, herself a San Diego alum of Patrick Henry High School. The two plays comprised Native Radio Theater’s 2009 season, which may be the organization’s last.

Funded by the Ford Foundation in partnership with Native Voices at the Autry in Los Angeles and Native American Public Telecommunications, the radio-play series aims to expose Native American talent to a larger and more rural Native American audience. Since 2006, the group has produced two to three programs per year by artists from a wide range of tribes: Hopi, Navajo, Kickapoo and, of course, Athabascan.And:Radio theater is still an honored tradition in England, where television programs such as Flight of the Conchords, The League of Gentlemen and The Mighty Boosh were first aired on BBC radio. In the U.S., radio theater is a dying art form. Like many arts nonprofits, Native Radio Theater (www.nativetelecom.org/native_radio_theater) has seen funding dry up in this recession. Reinholz says that if the programs do return in 2010 or 2011, they will be in the form of public-health soap-operas designed to educate impoverished populations.

“They would be radio serials, and once the audience is hooked on the characters, then the health issues become the center of the plotlines,” Reinholz says. “The health issues different communities are dealing with become part of the fabric of the story.”Comment:  Read the article for more on Raven’s Radio Hour, a production I covered in 2008.

For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Below:  "Native Radio Theater actors perform the Super Indian radio program."

The Red Road hits the airwaves

A posting from Arigon Starr on Facebook:

The Red Road Hits The Airwaves!Hey y'all:

I'm so excited to let folks know that my one-woman stage play "The Red Road" has been adapted for radio. The folks at the Native Radio Theater and Native Voices at the Autry brought together a fantastic crew including live sound effects artist Tony Palermo and award-winning BBC director/producer Dirk Maggs to the Nebraska Education Television Studios back in July 2009. Under the kind guidance of directors Randy Reinholz and Dirk Maggs, lovely Jean Bruce Scott, my pals at NAPT (Shirley Sneve, Eric Martin, George Lee, John Gregg), plus the amazing Wacky Productions' CEO/Producer Janet Miner--"The Red Road" is now a radio play! Woot-woot-yeah!

The show has already aired on KUNM-FM in Albuquerque/Santa Fe and on KRGS-FM in Claremore/Tulsa. More airdates are being added and I'll make sure you know about them as I get them.Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Red Road on the Radio.

Below:  "Backstage at the NET in Lincoln. I had to get Desmond Tsinajinnie's voice just right....AAAY!"

Sample SUPER INDIAN covers

Arigon Starr is hard at work writing and drawing her SUPER INDIAN comic books. But on SuperIndianComics.com, the "official website of Arigon Starr's unconventional Native American superhero," she's posted some sample covers.




For more on the subject, see Making Progress on SUPER INDIAN and Creating the "Super Indian" Comic.

The Red Road on the radio

Arigon Starr to Stir Up MidwestThe Red Road is based on a real truck stop owned by a Red Lake Chippewa man along Interstate 5 in Washington. The characters are composites of friends and relatives and people who Starr has met along the way. Starr developed the play with Native Voices at the Autry, the only professional theater company in the U.S. devoted to developing and producing new plays by Native Americans. Native Voices at the Autry produced The Red Road world premiere in 2006 at the Los Angeles-based Autry National Center.

The Red Road is being recorded live for NAPT’s Native Radio Theater, a project created in 2005 in partnership with Native Voices at the Autry. The Lincoln production will be directed by award-winning television and audio producer Dirk Maggs of London. Principally known for his work in radio, Maggs pioneered the use of Dolby Sound in BBC radio and has evolved radio drama into “audio movies,” which involves combing scripts, layered sound effects, cinematic music and cutting-edge technology. From 2003 to 2005, he produced new radio episodes of The Hitchhicker’s Guide to the Galaxy.Comment:  For more on Arigon Starr, see Native Voices Takes Australia and Super Diva. For more on plays in general, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Review of Red Ink

Mixed Blood’s 'Red Ink' offers moody mixed bag by Native American playwrights

Some of the 10 plays are good while others aren't short enough

By Quinton SkinnerWriter Yvette Nolan contributes a couple of the stronger snippets, both featuring Anderson, who lends a mature gravity to a night that often comes across with more energy than cohesion. In the first, he's portaging a canoe through suburbia past a startled homeowner, noting that it's his backyard, too. In the second, Anderson is in the backseat of a police car, subject to the whims of an angry cop (Ernest Briggs), while explaining his status as a City Hall insider by dint of his position as a Native representative in a sea of white faces.

From here the mood shifts at a whiplash pace, and you'll either give yourself over to the experience or feel as though you're witnessing something half-baked. (The show, directed by Sarah Rasmussen, seems to be working out the question for itself. It seeks small truths in a sprawling format and tries for mood over precision, which might well be the smart gambit).

Arigon Starr, also an ensemble performer, pens a riff on American Idol, in which George Keller emotes through a warbling "Cry for My Reservation," leading to a controversy over blood purity. (That theme is also explored earlier in a piece by Drew Hayden Taylor, in which a single woman straddles the paradox that she will only bear children with pure Native men while commenting that pure-bred dogs are nothing but trouble). Starr later also contributes a parody of Native casino culture that only just gets off the ground.Comment:  I guess the show is called Red Ink because Natives wrote all the pieces. Okay, but that's not much of a unifying theme.

Moreover, there's a well-known collegiate Native magazine called Red Ink. Mixed Blood gets no points for co-opting its name.

For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Arigon Starr in Red Ink

An e-mail from singer/actor/playwright Arigon Starr:For those of you who have been following my travels, I've been in beautiful Minnesota for the past three weeks. The kind folks at the Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis asked me to be a part of their current production, "Red Ink" which runs from April 23-May 10.

What is "Red Ink?" "Red Ink" is a compilation of plays from seven Indigenous playwrights about contemporary Native issues. Featuring new work from Diane Glancy, Tomson Highway, Drew Hayden Taylor, Darren Renville, Yvette Nolan, Rhiana Yazzie and yours truly, "Red Ink" takes on everything from gaming to reality shows to blood quantum. Additionally, there is a mix of traditional and contemporary music that adds a punch to "Red Ink."

About two years ago, Rhiana Yazzie asked me to contribute two pieces to the show....and I happily obliged. For me, it felt like being asked to sit with the big people after years hanging at the kids' table. AAAY! Seriously--those names on the list are BIG time in Native theater. My favorite part of the assignment was to write as if the audience were completely "Native." At last...a chance to not have to explain what a "49" is or why not all Indians live on reservations. AAAY! It was a honor just to be included in a project like this.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows.

Arigon Starr's Indian name

A real Indian with a real Indian name!Despite all the encouragement from all of these mentors, I’ve always felt there was something missing from my life. In the Kickapoo tradition, you’re given an Indian name when you’re a baby. My sad little tribal enrollment card has always been blank where it says “Indian Name.”

As many of you know, I’m a member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and my Mom is an enrolled Muscogee Creek. My father, Ken Wahpecome, was a full-blood Kickapoo, raised in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Since Dad was a Navy man, we moved around the country a lot and didn’t spend much time in Oklahoma. However, he had always intended to return to Shawnee with my sister and me so we could get our Indian names, but sadly it didn’t happen while he was living.

When I was home in Oklahoma last year, my Aunt Sue Alford and my cousin Paula Willits and I visited the Kickapoo tribal offices to get people excited about coming to see me in “The Red Road,” which was finally coming to Oklahoma thanks to the Gilcrease Museum. While there, I re-connected with my Aunt Cecelia Okemah Frye, who was one of my Dad’s best childhood friends. I told her about my Dad’s request for his daughters to receive their Indian names. A few visits and phone calls later, Aunt Cecelia (with many thanks to her son Martin and his wife Joyce) arranged a special ceremony for me in June, right before my appearance at the Creek Nation Festival.

The ceremony was amazing and I’m proud to be able to announce my Indian name to the world-–Makateodecua-–which means “Black Buffalo Walking.” I definitely felt the presence of my Dad and the ancestors there. It meant so much to be so warmly welcomed by my Kickapoo family.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Super Diva.

Making progress on SUPER INDIAN

A MySpace blog posting from super-diva Arigon Starr:

Super Indian Rocks!Hey Everyone!

Sorry for being so out-of-the-loop the past few months. It's been a crazy whirlwind of activity--including a bunch of out-of-town gigs, new projects, working out, getting sick, getting well and just traveling a whole heck of a lot. The other project that has taken precedence is my SUPER INDIAN graphic novel, which is still very much in the drawing/inking/coloring stage. I'm doing all the work myself, so it's slow going. I'm going to put up one of the recent images in my photo area so y'all can take a look.

The Graphic Novel will loosely follow the 10 episode radio comedy series. I've been having a great time looking at other people's art and finding a way to tell the story of Hubert Logan and his oddly gained super powers. Yes, he ate tainted commodity cheese and gained super powers. Could happen to anyone on the Rez or eating commods. AAAAY!

Hope everyone out there is happy, well and has some extra change in their pocket. More soon.....really......I promise!Comment:  For more on the subject, see Comic Books Featuring Indians.

Native Voices takes Australia

Native Voices at the Autry Takes The Red Road to AustraliaNative Voices at the Autry Takes The Red Road to Australia

to represent the United States at the ASSITEJ World Congress in Adelaide, Australia, May 9–18, 2008,

followed by a Native Voices artist residency at the Originals Festival at the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane, May 18–23

Native Voices at the Autry is in demand at two international events in Australia, where Native Voices artists will showcase their creative talents and exchange ideas with diverse groups in workshops, panels, and performances.

First, the Native Voices production of The Red Road by Arigon Starr has been selected from among 200 international entries to represent the United States at the 16th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young People (ASSITEJ 2008). The festival is a celebration of performing arts for young people by the people who make, administrate, research, and experience its creation. “It is a huge honor to be representing the United States and also Native America and to be doing this in a contemporary way. I’m proud to be showing my people in a modern setting, in situations everyone can relate to,” says Starr.

“ASSITEJ 2008 aims to bring together diverse people from diverse cultures with diverse stories to share, experience, and celebrate this diversity,” said ASSITEJ Artistic Director Jason Cross. The festival’s theme, Old Knowledge, New Word, provides a departure point for this framework with shows from the Asia Pacific; shows by Indigenous artists; diverse practice in form and content including dance, musical theater, spoken word, puppetry, and large-scale and smaller works; shows for all age groups from 1 to 18 years; and works that demonstrate collaborations between companies and artists from different countries or cultures.

Humor at the FAITA awards

With Charlie Hill as the host, there was a lot of humor at the 16th annual First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) ceremony, naturally.

Hill did a bit of his standup routine and got off some good jokes. For instance, he said it was nice to see all the brown faces in the audience so he wouldn't go snowblind. He said one of the themes the show considered was "Russell Means: Bad Dude or Bad Actor?" And he finished with some political hits. For instance, "America's going, 'Gee, are we ready for a black president?' I say why not? We already had a retarded one."

Hill later came out wearing a "I Hate the Environment" t-shirt. His rationale was that the Bush administration opposes everything that Indians value. He hoped his t-shirt might spur the administration to take global warming seriously.

Hill and actress Kateri Walker produced a video to commemorate the show's actual theme: The Long Walk to Hollywood. In it they took a long walk through Hollywood to look for signs of Indians.

They found stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Will Rogers, Jay Silverheels, Johnny Cash, and Kay Starr (Iroquois). (They drew a star for Will Sampson.) They posed in front of the studios where movies such as Dances with Wolves were produced. They visited the American Indian National Center for Television and Film, a resource center for Natives in the biz, where they met Arigon Starr in disguise. They stood in a church where Silverheels taught the first Native acting workshop, and the Bob's Big Boy where FAITA's founders first gathered. They met a passerby who just happened to be Navajo, and they passed a street named Cherokee Ave.

Note:  If they had included Indians or part-Indians such as Wayne Newton, Jonathan Winters, Burt Reynolds, and June Foray, their star search would've been more successful.

Drew Hayden Taylor told a joke from his book Me Funny. An Indian woman named all her 10 children Lloyd. When asked how she told them apart, she said she calls them by their last names.

Hill and Keith Secola did a live game-show bit titled "Name that Lyric," in which contestants had to name a song to win a prize.

Incidentally, Hill shook my hand as he walked by. I think he kind of recognizes me as the guy who works with Victor Rocha at PECHANGA.net.

For more on the subject, see First Americans in the Arts.

Creating the "Super Indian" comic

Q&A with diva Arigon StarrICT: Been cartooning long? Do you also create fine art?

Starr: I've cartooned since I was a child. I was a fan of "Archie" comics and loved the DC and Marvel superheroes. The dramatic, scary comics "Creepy" and "Eerie" fascinated me. They had great stories and creative black and white artwork. I also work with oil, acrylics and another favorite medium, gouache--a type of water color. My cartoons are part of the current "Rock Art" exhibit on Alcatraz Island--images of leaders of the 1969 Occupation--Atha Rider Whitemankiller, Richard Oakes and Belva Cottier. My work has also been used on promotional postcards for Native Voices productions.

ICT: Describe your graphic process and how you learned it.

Starr: Trial and error, trips to the library, Borders Books and Amazon.com. Marvel has a wonderful method for learning to draw super heroes, and DC Comics has an entire series on producing comics from pencils to final coloring. It also helps to be computer proficient. I'm a big fan of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I've also found great sites online, such as Comicraft.com for tips on lettering and word balloons. I start with a rough sketch and a typed document describing dialogue, scene and action. From there, it's a tighter pencil drawing, then pen and ink, and a quick computer scan. I use a Mac to color and insert lettering. It's a lot more detailed than the sketches I used to do when I was bored in class. AAY! When finished, I'm going to self-publish.Comment:  For more on "Super Indian," see Native Plays and Other Stage Shows. For more on Native-themed comic books, see Comic Books Featuring Indians.

Update on Super Indian

From Arigon Starr:The week prior I was privileged to participate as a writer in the Native Voices at the Autry's Festival of New Plays. "Super Indian" was brought to life by a talented group of actors including Kalani Queypo, Zahn McClarnon, Michael Mattys, Gil Birmingham, Robert Greygrass, Rob Vestal, Delanna Studi, Tonantzin Carmelo, Thirza Defoe, Tom Allard, Joe Sanfelippo and Kevin Sifuentes. I wrote ten five minute episodes--and I was definitely helped in the process by director Bill Dufris, Carolyn Dunn, Sue Zizza, David Shinn, Janna Lopez and musicians Charlie Otte, Vincent Whipple and Dean Mora.

Whew!

We worked for a total of fifteen hours to polish the script and performances. We had a rockin', rowdy crowd on a Saturday night at the Autry National Center. I'm so glad that folks responded positively to the story of a Reservation Boy who gains super-powers by eating tainted Commodity Cheese!