In September, local artist and Arizona State University student Paul Golfen began collecting entries for "Amazing Ink," an exhibit of comic book covers he planned to display at ASU's Step Gallery. Tuesday, the deadline for submissions ended, and Golfen had more than 30 entries from about 20 artists.
Some were what he expected, some were surprises, and some were just, well, hard to explain (i.e.: a unicorn that fights for the environment; an electric banana that fights corn; Dick Cheney; and a superhero created by speed cameras and monsoons who fights Joe Arpaio).
Check out some of the submissions and find out when to see the show in person after the jump...
When Golfen began taking submissions, he established that entries must present some form of social relevancy. He admits now, that he's bending slightly on the requirement.
"There's some that deal with an issue, some that just have it for fun, some that don't have it at all," he says.
Maybe the environmental unicorn (above left) is on shaky political ground, but others, like "the Vandal," deal with cultural topics like the question of graffiti being art.
There's also a submission titled "Adventures of the Gulf," (below) which takes a surreal approach to commentary on the BP oil spill.
Still, "The Adventures of Anti-Flow," a superhero based on a woman's menstrual cycle, is pushing the limits of "social relevancy."
For "Amazing Ink's" reception on November 9, Golfen is trying to set up some activities that go beyond art-watching.
Draw-your-own-hero handouts will be given to visitors, "BAM" and "POW" comic book action bubbles will line the walls, and Golfen is hoping to find actors to dress up like superheroes and patrol the Step Gallery.
"They're comic books, and they need to be a big happening," he says. "And even if it's not, I'm going to dress up in a costume."
The "Amazing Ink" comic covers exhibit runs at ASU Step Gallery from November 8 through 12, with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on November 9.
