REAL LIFE COMICS >>>

Readers of the Weekly Volcano, be you man, woman, child, beast or alien, I am quite sure that whomever you may be, you have all thought about creating your very own comic book or cartoon. Well, would be painters, artists, geniuses and future Alan Moores of the world, it seems that the fez wearing, secret handshaking and world domination task force known as The Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians, or C.L.A.W., have just the opportunity for you. Wednesday, Feb. 27, this brilliantly tongue in cheek cult like group will be teaming up with the lovely, local cosplay group Super Sirens for an event at King's Books that will likely shake the foundations of the world, as we know it. The event entitled "Real Life Comics" will give the public the ability to create its own cartoon creation based on the models of the wonderful ladies of the aforementioned Super Sirens. To provide more detail on this event and C.L.A.W. in general, I sought to prove my worth and contacted the evil genius mastermind behind this event - and one of the high council members of CLAW - Michael Daley and fellow member Mark Monlux.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What's the C.L.A.W. story?

MICHAEL DALEY: The C.L.A.W.'s primary purpose is to unite cartoonists and inform the general public of the common truth that art is the voice of the community; that creative expression holds fiscal as well as emotional value and that the Robotic Overlords are on their way. To that end the C.L.A.W. avails upon the talent of its membership to engage with the public in ways that dare and strain comprehension. We also like to give a scholarship to art students learning the ways of cartooning, because, boy, they sure need the money. 

VOLCANO: Was C.L.A.W. born from a secret society in Tacoma's Chinese Tunnels?

DALEY: No, C.L.A.W. was founded by Electric Elliot Trotter, RR Anderson, Mark Monlux and James Stowe above ground - finding a common ground chalking at Frost Park.

MARK MONLUX: More than anything else I think we were all looking for an excuse just to sit down with other artists and have fun doodling. Oh, that and wear a fez and have a secret handshake.

VOLCANO: What's the story behind the Real Life Comics event?

DALEY: I wanted to do a live drawing - not in a traditional sense.  I contacted Nemrac the Destroyer of the Super Sirens about possibly using the Sirens cosplay group for a live drawing session. Why not have people make a comic page utilizing live models to build their stories?

SUPER SIRENS: Photo courtesy of Facebook

VOLCANO: Do you need to know a secret handshake to participate?

DALEY: It absolutely is open for anyone to come down and participate.  We encourage others to come and draw along side us and partake in the fun that is a C.L.A.W. Open Swim.  Our Open Swim's take place every fourth Wednesday of the month at King's Books. We utilize the Swim's to meet new potential members and, at this particular event, we are inducting Travis Bundy as a new member of C.L.A.W.

VOLCANO: Does the winner receive an encoder ring?

DALEY: Typically, there isn't. For this particular event, we do have prizes.  Everyone - models included - will be able to cast their vote for their favorite pieces. I won't say what the prizes are - but there definitely are prizes.

The event will commence at 7:30 p.m. and will continue into the evening. Everyone is welcome to come, create his or her own piece of art and witness the beginning of a new modern era lead by the elite CLAW. I for one, will be there, and will be shaking the hands of the cartoonist overlords looking for a clue to their secret handshake.

KING'S BOOKS, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27, 7:30-9:30 P.M., FREE ADMISSION, 218 ST. HELENS AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.8801