Program News 2008
Creating Superheroes
"I grew up creating my own comic book characters and envisioning different worlds, but I couldn't draw" said 12 Comics Founder and CEO Mark Hair, "It turned out that was my particular learning style."
Hair drew on these realizations to create a unique learning support program where young people create individual superhero characters and work in a group together to develop and write a story involving all the characters. The book is then published following illustration by professional graphic artists, and students receive a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the comic books and related character merchandise. Good Shepherd has partnered with 12 Comics, and our ACCESS GED program recently celebrated the publication of The Golden Emperors.
The 12 Comics program gives young people a chance to engage in subjects such as history - through time-traveling ‘missions' (the term Hair prefers to ‘homework') - as well as civics, which naturally arises when creating alternate world, and creative writing. "A lot of kids are absorbed by fantasy life," an ACCESS teacher commented at the special event for the launch of the book, "and this allows them to learn in a whole new way."
"I never thought I'd make a comic," said Christian, one of the participating students, "but now I can show this book to my daughter and say ‘I did this in school.' It's very special to me."
November 3, 2008
