Worldly acclaimed comic book artist, writer and novelist James Owen passed along life lessons to Kyrene Middle School students during a presentation of his work last month. His most recent works are part of a series called The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica.
The group of about 30 students met in the library to see Owen, who began the presentation with notes from his childhood.
Students sat in awe, as Owen took them on the adventure of his personal life, self-publishing comics, running a comic book store eventually writing and illustrating his own series of novels with artwork resembling his unique style.
Owen said he went into comics at 6-years-old. Later, he recalled watching one of his childhood comic creation’s auction on EBay.
“There were five people willing to pay over $50 for a 16-page comic book drawn by a 6-year-old,” he said. “That doesn’t happen very often.”
Owen said he made his career choices after a realization hit him when he was hospitalized for most of his fifth grade.
“Sometimes you have to make those choices in the worst possible circumstance. I had to start making choices when I was in fifth grade,” he said. “I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that made me allergic to everything – everything I smelled, touched and tasted.”
Spending days reading comics in Phoenix’s Good Samaritan Hospital, Owen found the motivation to overcome his illness, which the doctors were not able to cure.
“The one thing that I learned is that none of us know how long we have in this life,” Owen said. “I realized I didn’t want to waste any of my time doing things I didn’t love, and I wanted to go start my work right then.”
As he spoke about his aspirations that led him to where he is today, Owen frequently reminded students of a simple life lesson that became the overall theme of his presentation.
“If you really want to do something, no one should stop you,” he said, pausing for students to contemplate. “But, if you really don’t want to do something, no one can help you – It’s your choice.”
Owen was set back again when he was older, after crushing his right hand (his writing and illustrating hand) in a car accident. He said he had to relearn everything, training his muscles to draw similar lines. Owen’s motivation for what his love of comics and writing prevailed, once again, encouraging students to find their true passion.
Owen, who now wears a superman ring for his lost wedding band, ended his presentation by drawing of a dragon, a version similar to ones with which he illustrates the cover of one of his latest books, Here, There Be Dragons, on a large poster-size sheet of paper. Students gasped in awe as the final picture of the dragon came together. One lucky student, who was eager enough to ask, brought home the drawing, autographed by Owen. Afterwards, students lined up for a small book-signing.
