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Jules<\/strong>: So, a while ago I read this intermediate-aged book called Billy Hooten: Owlboy<\/strong><\/a><\/em> (Yearling; released in July of ’07). Have you read it yet? It’s good stuff, the first book in a fantasy-comedy series for children, all about a misfit kid who becomes an unlikely superhero. Billy Hooten is what most people would call a nerd and gets picked on a lot at school. But after he tries to help someone in need in the cemetery bordering his back yard, he stumbles upon bizarro, creature-ridden Monstros City, which lies underneath Billy’s hometown of Bradbury, Massachusetts. When he finds out that, indeed, the residents of Monstros City believe him<\/em> to be the next Owlboy — their revered superhero and the protagonist in a beloved, old-skool comic book series — he has to determine for himself if he can live up to the name. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thought it was a great read: very funny, action-packed (giant talking fireflies and Rot-toothed Hopping Monkey Demons, anyone?), and quite empowering for the one-picked-on-by-bullies in us all. It was written by novelist, comic book writer, and pop culture journalist Thomas E. Sniegoski<\/a><\/strong> and illustrated by comic book writer and artist Eric Powell<\/a><\/strong> (probably best known for his original, critically-acclaimed dark comedy series, The Goon<\/a><\/strong><\/em>). I thought it’d be great to feature some of the first book’s illustrations by Eric Powell at one of our 7 Kicks lists. That’s the way we roll at our Sunday lists: We email and kindly harrass the illustrators with whom we are currently enamored (there’s been one exception to that, but I won’t get into it). I also thought it’d be great to feature a Monstros City inhabitant around Halloween (hence, Eric’s drawing below — mwahahahahahahaha!). But Eric, apparently, is slammed with work, which we can understand (and, hey, according to this Wikipedia link<\/a><\/strong>, he is practically my neighbor, as he lives in Lebanon, Tennessee. Who knew? I could have stopped by in person to ask him to share some illustrations, if I were so bold). Since Eric had so many deadlines, according to Owlboy’s<\/em> author, he — Tom, the author, that is — “I am not Eric Powell.<\/p>\n My name is Tom Sniegoski and I\u2019m the writer of the Owlboy<\/em> books, Billy Hooten: Owlboy<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and Billy Hooten: Owlboy — The Girl With the Destructo Touch<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, which Eric Powell just so happens to be the illustrator for. <\/p>\n Typically, this site has illustrators pop by and say a few things about their work, but in this instance you’ve been blessed with me instead.<\/p>\n You see, Eric is busy.<\/p>\n I know that probably sounds like a big, fat, lame excuse, but trust me, Eric is really busy.<\/p>\n I first met Eric around a hundred years ago . . . well, it seems that long. But anyway, I first met our busy illustrator \u2014 who at the time wasn\u2019t all that busy \u2014 when I was doing a comic book store signing in Tennessee. He appeared to be one of the crowd that wanted to have their comic book signed, but instead, plopped a portfolio down in front of me and asked . . . ‘Do you think I have a chance?’<\/p>\n See, I told you he was busy.<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s Billy Hooten: Owlboy<\/em>. <\/p>\n Anybody can see that Eric has brought his love of comic books, monster movies, comedy and good old fashioned nostalgia to the illustrations for these books, and has managed to get it all down on paper. He has taken the craziness percolating inside my brain and has managed to put it to paper, which is no easy task.<\/p>\n But not until he finishes the illustrations for Billy Hooten: Owlboy-Tremble at the Terror of Zis-Boom-Bah<\/em>. <\/p>\n Did I mention that Eric is busy?”<\/font><\/p>\n Thanks to Eric, who is probably being reallyverybusy some where and not reading this. But extra thanks to Tom for saying a few words in his stead — and for an intrepid, new misfit hero of children’s lit. We really appreciate Tom stopping by. And many thanks to Little Willow<\/a><\/strong> for help in contacting Tom!<\/p>\n By way of explanation for any new folks (who we hope will leave their lists), our weekly 7 Kicks list is the meeting ground for listing Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week (whether book-related or not) that happened to you. <\/p>\n 2). Taking a walk with my girls in this gorgeous weather. At first, my 3.5 year old said, after walking a while, “I reeeeeeeeeeally like the car” (we actually had a destination, so she was pointing out how cars are faster). But then we talked about why walks are better (yes, I’m an Enviro-Snob), while I simultaneously and inwardly berated myself for not walking more often with her, and now she gets it (that you can go slow enough to actually<\/em> hear the birds sing and wave at neighbors and other little joys like that, which are impossible in a zoomy fast, stinky ‘ol car). <\/p>\n 3). The very talented illustrator Sean Qualls has a new blog<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Owlboy42.jpg\")
Power to the nerds and all that (there’s even DODGEBALL in this one. Gasp. We all know how that goes when you’re a nerd). This series, I think, will attract budding comic book fans like a magnet. And anyone who likes a good story. And it has one of my favorite lines from children’s lit this year: “That’s the smell of evil . . . {m}ixed with a hint of grape.” And I’m not gonna explain. You’ve got to go read it to decipher that one. <\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Owlboy31.jpg\")
stepped up to the plate to tell us a bit about Eric’s great illustrations from the series. Here’s what Tom had to say: <\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/Owlboy51.jpg\")
Since that day Eric has worked for just about every major comic book publisher (Marvel Comics<\/a><\/strong>, DC Comics<\/a><\/strong>, Dark Horse Comics<\/a><\/strong>), bringing his unique art style to such characters as Batman, The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy — and has just recently finished a stint on DC\u2019s Action Comics drawing the comic book icon, Superman<\/a><\/strong>. And while doing all this, still found the time to create his own Eisner-Award-winning<\/a><\/strong> (kind of like the comic book Oscar) character The Goon<\/strong><\/a>, which he continues to write and draw for Dark Horse Comics in his copious amounts of free time. <\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/owlboy1.jpg\")
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I really want to tell him to take a break, spend some time with his kids, catch a movie or two, or maybe catch up on his sleep. Yep, I\u2019ll probably do this real soon.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/blaine.org\/jules\/run1.jpg\")
<\/a>1). I saw author Ann Patchett<\/a><\/strong> speak at the Nashville Public Library<\/a><\/strong> on Saturday. She is the obscenely talented author of Bel Canto<\/strong><\/a><\/em> (and many other beautifully-crafted books), and an excerpt of that fine novel has always graced the top of our “About Our Blog”<\/a><\/strong> page. To boot, I purchased a copy of Ann’s new novel, Run<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (HarperCollins; September ’07), and could I possibly try to convey how excited I am to crack open this novel? I think not. And you want to know the lovely inscription she put in my book when I got it autographed? At the last minute, I decided to have her autograph it to my daughters — and not myself — in the hopes that when they get older, they will read beautiful fiction such as hers, if they’re so inclined. And all she had<\/em> to do was write their names, but she added, “From your mother, who loves you. Have beautiful lives. Ann Patchett.” That made my whole flippin’ day. <\/p>\n