One of Canada’s comic book superstars is dropping by the St. Albert Public Library for a little spring break visit.
Tony Cliff, creator and illustrator of the Delilah Dirk graphic novel series, is hosting a one-hour talk tomorrow afternoon. It’s listed as being suitable for children in Grades 4 and up, but the artist and writer suggests that he has a wider age range for his audience.
“It’s a weird little comic. It’s not very clear which age it’s targeted toward,” he began. “I recently did a presentation down in L.A. to a crowd that was one of every demographic. There were some six-year-olds and 30-year-olds and older attendees. It was really difficult to know how to steer the discussion and make it interesting to everybody.”
The Vancouver-based Cliff works between animation and comic projects, one fueling the other. Fortunately, he said, the skill set between the two is pretty transferable. “I’ve spent some time on the animation rollercoaster. You make some money in animation and then you blow it all making comics. Rinse and repeat.”
His personal project is Delilah Dirk, a kind of adventurer from 200 years ago who he dubs the “international mistress of swordsmanship.’ He created her to fill an “Indiana Jones-shaped hole” in his heart. She also fulfils a lot of other creative inspirations to him.
“I spent a lot of the ’90s reading a lot of Image Comics. They were exciting and engaging and colourful. They had that crunchiness to them. I wanted Delilah Dirk to take the best parts of those superhero comics which were so dynamic and the best parts of newspaper comic strips like Calvin and Hobbes which are really approachable and insightful and funny, and take the best parts of literary graphic novels where there’s a theme and substance to the story, and throw them all into a blender and see what we get.”
The first book, Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant, came out a few years ago to popular appeal. Delilah Dirk and the King’s Shilling, the second in the series, was just released a few weeks ago and has already counted up some critical acclaim. A third is already in the works.
“I’m just trying (and hoping and praying) that DD [the author’s nickname for his heroine] has something to offer.”
As for his presentation, he can offer some interactive drawing activities to show attendees the process of how to design a character and how that can help the story. He also has some thoughts on his creative process and helpful hints for those who might be making their own comics or have an interest in doing so.
The event runs tomorrow at the library from 1 to 2 p.m. Attendance is free but people are asked to register in advance if possible as seating is limited. Call 780-459-1530 or visit www.sapl.ca for more information.
