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The Savannah College of Art and Design is one of the few colleges in the world to offer a sequential art program — ­but that isn’t the only reason the department is growing and gaining a strong reputation in comics and related fields. Professor John Lowe, a graduate of the SCAD sequential art program and now in his fourth year as chair, has aggressively sought to expand existing opportunities for students and create new ways for them to catch the eyes of industry professionals. "Most comics artists don’t get their first professional job until their mid- to late 20s,” Lowe said. “But a year or two after graduation, a lot of our students are getting work.”

An increasing number of them are graduating with contracts and even publications in hand. This is due at least in part to the department’s two annual events, Comics Art Forum and Editors’ Day, which bring professionals to Savannah and provide students with the chance to show their work.  Comics Art Forum, held for the 13th time in November 2006, was started by professors Bob Pendarvis and Mark Kneece as a way for artists, illustrators, editors and others to share their insights with SCAD students. Each year, a growing roster of professionals visits SCAD to conduct workshops and panel discussions.

“One of the things I’ve tried to do is have new artists come in each year, so the students have opportunities to take workshops with different people,” said Lowe, who worked as a freelance inker in New York City for several publishers, including DC Comics, prior to graduate school. “What helps me out with that is my experience. I know a lot of people from the editorial side and from the art/freelance side.”

For Editors’ Day, which takes place each spring, editors and art directors visit SCAD to view portfolios created by students. They provide specific feedback and direction, and sometimes they even award contracts. “I aggressively pursue editors to come down, and the students really impress them — the way students handle themselves, how professional and courteous they are,” Lowe said.

Traditionally, freelance comics artists and writers have been able to connect with professionals at conventions, such as Comic-Con, held in San Diego every year. However, Lowe said that trend is changing, making Editors’ Day even more valuable to students. “Editors’ Day is a really important opportunity,” he said. “It’s very rare now that you can go to conventions and see editors. It’s a unique experience for our students.”

Fortunately, finding new guests to participate in Comics Art Forum and Editors’ Day each year isn’t a problem. Along with regular faces — such as Bob Schreck, Batman group editor at DC Comics; Axel Alonso, group editor at Marvel Comics; Chris Staros, editor-in-chief and publisher of Top Shelf Productions; and Mark Schultz, illustrator and writer for DC Comics — a growing number of SCAD alumni have made appearances at the events. Nick Dragotta (B.F.A., 1997), illustrator for children’s how-to comic Howtoons; Mike O’Sullivan (M.F.A., 2004), editor at Devil’s Due Publishing; Tracy Yardley (B.F.A., 2001), who pencils the Archie Comics series Sonic the Hedgehog; and Phil Craven (M.F.A., 2002), storyboard artist at Dreamworks SKG, all have returned to their alma mater to share their experiences and insights with other students.

Good word-of-mouth reviews from participants in Comics Art Forum and Editors’ Day also have helped expand the pool of prospective guests. “Both artists and editors have such a good time and are so impressed by the student work that they give a lot of feedback to their peers,” Lowe said. “It’s sort of an ever-expanding, concentric ring of enthusiasm.”

These events aren’t the only aspects of the department that are growing. Approximately 300 students currently are pursuing a B.F.A. in sequential art, and approximately 40 are pursuing a graduate degree in the discipline. The program also has expanded to SCAD-Atlanta where, during Fall 2006, students worked with alumnus Matt Milberger (B.F.A., 1995), chief production manager/art director at White Wolf, to develop illustrations for one of the company’s World of Darkness books.

Another initiative Lowe recently spearheaded is an annual anthology. Centered around a specific theme each year, the anthology is published by SCAD and distributed nationally by Top Shelf Productions. “It’s a good overview of [the program, from] sophomores to grad students to alumni,” he said. “The anthology is open to all SCAD students and alumni, not just sequential art majors — anyone who wants to try to write and draw a story.”

The first anthology, released in 2005, was called Senses. Last year’s edition was Science, and for 2007, the theme is Discovered. “We try to give a general theme that’s broad enough for several interpretations,” Lowe explained. “The anthology gets us a lot of attention from comics publishers, and it’s a great recruitment tool. The strength of student work is important to prospective professors and students.”

Lowe foresees continued growth, not just for the department, but for sequential art as an academic discipline. “I think you’ll see, over the next 10 years, emerging sequential art programs throughout the nation,” he said. “There’s a growing interest, and people are starting to see comics as ‘valid’ art. When it’s taught properly, I see it as a hybrid between literature and art. It’s a rigorous discipline.”

Article by Monique Bos