THE IMAGINARY GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #1

Circa 1973, comics legend John Byrne was an aspiring young talent looking to break into the industry as a professional artist. to this end, he produced a 30-page try-out story to showcase his abilities featuring the Marvel Comics characters, the FANTASTIC FOUR. The pages featured full pencils done in a style mimicking that of Jack Kirby, as that was the approach being taken by the then-current artist for the title, Rich Buckler. 

“ If that’s what they want,” Byrne noted, “I can give it to them.”

The story was never finished in terms of being inked, lettered, and colored. Over a decade later in 1985, fanzine COMICS INTERVIEW published the pages along with an interview with Byrne in its 25th issue.

in 2004, on the Network 54 website’s message board dedicated to the artist, which Byrne himself frequented, the try-out pages were posted and discussed. board member and Byrne fan Matthew Hawes suggested a challenge to the other artistic fans of the forum, with Byrne’s blessing: 

Take the pencils and plot and finish the story. 

The inking, coloring, and lettering would be divided up among several board members, but one person was chosen to script the entire tale to make a consistent narrative. Mike O’Brien volunteered to do the scripting chore, and fellow board members Stephen Bertrand, Bill Dowling, Matthew Hawes, Aaron Leach, F. Ron Miller, James Pipik, James Stewart, Darren Taylor, James C. Taylor, and Bill Wiist handled finishing the artwork. 

Early 2005 the project was completed and given the artificial designation of (The imaginary) GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #1. (The first Fantastic Four Giant that Marvel published was actually titled GIANT-SIZE SUPER-STARS #1. It was renamed to GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR with its second issue, meaning that no GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #1 was ever actually published.) 

Since super-stars was actually published in May of 1974 and featured the same Fantastic Four lineup as shown in Byrne’s try-out tale, this fit perfectly within the era.

On the subject of that lineup, in 1973’s fantastic four comics, Susan Richards, the Invisible Woman, took leave from the team and was replaced by the Inhuman known as Medusa for the next year or so of stories. during this same period, Susan’s brother, Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, had taken to wearing a new outfit with the colors red and yellow. This is the way they are presented in the imaginary GIANT-SIZED FANTASTIC FOUR #1.

The completed version was posted on byrnerobotics.com, the new forum for John Byrne fans which had just recently been launched in late 2004.

Byrne’s synopsis:

“...Altho the High Evolutionary prevented super powers happening on Counter-Earth, he did not interfere with the basic genetics, so the strain that produced Medusa and Crystal as Inhumans produced them as mere mortals. 

"...There is also a duplicate Johnny Storm, who meets and falls in love with Crystal there.

"...Reed has determined that the female Torch is too volatile to be allowed to remain on Earth, so he decides to duplicate what happened on Counter-earth, when (Crystal’s) father launched her into space in suspended animation. Reed swears he will do what he can to find a cure, but offers little real hope. A dejected Johnny (our Johnny) wanders off as Ben observes Johnny is 'the only guy ever to have lost the same girl twice -- on two different worlds!"

The 2004 version of the imaginary GIANT-SIZE FANTASTIC FOUR #1 was a fun project and came out fine, but unfortunately, due to upload and image restrictions on the Byrne Robotics site, the images were never presented in high resolution. Being fan-fiction, there was never any plan to actually publish the finished comic. Also, with so many contributors involved, and so much time having passed since the completion of the story, it is no longer really possible to get all the pages in higher resolution. This has been disappointing, but the only way for there to be a higher resolution of a finished version would be for someone to go back and ink, letter, and color the entire comic again. So... I did that.

I decided I would use Mike O'Briens script, but make some changes here and there. I set about inking the entire thing, even re-inking the three pages I have contributed before in 2004. I re-lettered and colored the story, and even drew a new cover for this 2021 version. Below is the results of these labors, and after those newer pages I also share the original pages from the message board collaboration for posterity. 

Enjoy! 

THE CASE OF THE MISSING PEP JUG: A True Story!

Over the course of the past year, I have not have not had a lot to write here that would be considered very positive about my history with my alma mater, Evansville, Indiana's Central High School. However, since the whole matter concerning the Evansville Vanderburgh School System and Central giving me public credit and acknowledgement for my drawing of the bear mascot has finally been amicably resolved, I am more in a mood to share more pleasant stories about my experience with Central.

Interestingly, like that bear tale, this story also begins with the late David Koehler, former long-time and respected CHS faculty member. Mr. Koehler was one of the biggest boosters of Central, himself having been a past student in addition to his many years as a teacher there. In fact, he was so passionate about the school that when a graduating student from the class of 1985 took the school's beloved "Pep Jug" as some sort of parting prank, Mr. Koehler was the fellow determined to find the culprit and return the jug to its rightful home.

THE PEP JUG appears in this photo taken from the CHS Yearbook for 1977. I added the color enhancements to emphasis the jug.

Now, I'll be honest and note here that to this day I am not quite sure what the overall purpose of the Pep Jug was supposed to be. Near as I could ever fathom, it was simply used at pep rallies as a symbol of school pride. And, frankly, it seemed that most of my fellow students were not quite sure what a "Pep Jug" was. However, the whole situation fascinated me, and I decided to create a series of comic strips in my position as cartoonist for the school's newspaper "The Centralian" that would playfully satirize the mystery.

So, for your amusement I present here the harrowing serial of "The Case of The Missing Pep Jug" (NOW IN COLOR!), which ran in "The Centralian" way back in October of 1986:

NOTE: The caricatures of faculty members include (From left to right): Mr. David Koehler, Mr. Jim Wootton, and Principal Joan Finch. The gag here being that even the principal is not aware of what a "Pep Jug" is.

 The rumor as to had taken the jug had made the rounds at the school, and so I decided to "cleverly" add some clues in that final strip. As noted above, the Pep Jug was recovered, and I assume it's likely still placed somewhere within Central High to this day. As likely is that most people there still ask, "What's a Pep Jug?"


-- Matt

HEY! The Facebook page I created to help get the word out about my Central bear art credit is now being used to showcase different items of interest relating to the history of Evansville's Central High School. If you have any interest in the matter, check it out, "like" and follow the page:

History of The Central Bear: Credit Where Credit Is Due

Thanks!!

THE BATTLE IS WON!

On Friday, January 20, 2017 I viewed the  "Central Bear Through The Years" displays at Central (yep, "displays," one in the hall by the media center, the other hanging in the gymnasium). 

I wish I could say I felt proud to finally see my public credit and acknowledgement, but after the battle I fought, the resistance I met, to simply get the EVSC and Central to simply just admit the bear they used for all these years was my artwork, the actual feeling I have is that of vindication.

My mother accompanied me to the school, and when we both entered the school I noticed immediately that the "Welcome to Central" banner, which had been hanging there at the beginning of the school year -- The banner which featured my drawing -- had since been removed.

I noticed online and such that school sites, social network pages, and other places that used my bear drawing have replaced it since I brought up my battle again this past year. As you will see in my photos of my trip, they weren't able to remove all traces (not counting the displays, natch).

When I spoke with the secretary, there was apparently no word given to the lady that I was coming to view the display. Paul Neidig and Pamela Hight did show up on time, however.

Mr. Neidig was cordial enough, but Ms. Hight was more obviously cold and short on words towards me or my mother. No surprise, there, as she was perhaps the most persistent at denying me credit st the August meeting I had with the EVSC over my art. Hight was almost ecstatic at the conclusion of that meeting when she thought I was going to accept their offer to credit me for a recreation of my older drawing. I'm sure it unnerved her when I ended up rejected that solution and continued my fight for crediting me for the actual artwork in question.

They arrived and took me to see the displays before Principal Andrea Campbell arrived. I asked Mr. Neidig if he would like to pose with me in front of the display, knowing he would almost certainly decline. Decline, he did, but offered to take my picture. I agreed.

Mr. Neidig did allow me to take pictures in the gym, and then he and Ms. Hight accompanied my mother and me back to the school offices, where he parted minutes after Principal Campbell showed up. She was nice and pleasant, in sharp contrast to Ms. Hight, who was still being distant. It was clear she really hated having to concede to me. Not that Neidig was much happier, but Hight wasn't doing much to mask her resentment at having to bow to pressure and give me my rightful credit.

I am sure Ms. Hight was also not too terribly thrilled that I spotted a fabric computer cover on a secretary's desk that sported my image of the Central bear. I asked Principal Campbell if I could taker a picture, and she cheerfully said, "why not?" Ms. Hight did not look so approvingly. Tough for her. She had sought to downplay how much the school been using my image over the years, after all.

So, it appears that except for a few stray examples, and now the displays, my drawing of the bear will be retired. I did not receive any official word on that, but it's pretty obvious. That's fine. I mentioned before that this ordeal to get the school and the EVSC to recognize me for my artwork has robbed me of any pride for the work.

I noted to both Mr. Neidig and Ms. Hight how interesting that Jon Sia, a famously North alumni and former North teacher was the co-creator of the new image of the bear commissioned in 2016. Ms. Hight seemed to bristle at my insinuation, noting the other contributor to the art, Scott Wannemuehler (creative director at Acclaim Graphics) was a former Central student.

Still, a North guy designed the new bear logo. Particularly interesting, as I brought up Jon Siau at the August EVSC meeting, noting how North has always been proud of him, and how sad that my own school and the EVSC was fighting to even credit me for my work and contribution.

So, even though the school seems to be retiring my artwork during the 30th anniversary of my having drawn it, it was used longer than any other image of the bear to represent Evansville's Central High School. I noticed that I am the only artist credited on the display who was still a student when the artwork was drawn. The other instances being professional graphic artists or a teacher who were commissioned for their work.

Excuse the length of this post, but this is obviously one of the final posts where I will have to discuss the matter, now that it has been resolved.

Let me finish this post by giving a huge, sincere, heartfelt THANK YOU to every single friend, family member, former classmate, and concerned individual who showed me support on this cause. I know I said it more than once, but I can't stress enough how much it has meant and how very appreciative I am that so many of you stood with me. 

Thank you.

Central Bear Through The Years display -- COMPLETED!

In this video I discuss the latest news, that the display of the history of Evansville Central High's bear mascot has been reportedly completed. I also discuss bullying and the tragic story of a Central student who committed suicide due to, in part, the pressure from being bullied :

Below is the display that is now at Central High School. On Friday, January 20, 2017, the day after this blog entry has been posted, I have been invited by the EVSC to come to the school and view the display in person. I will update with photos and such when that has occurred. Thanks.

The Central Bear Art Credit Proposed Resolution and Status

The last entry I entered for this blog concerning the status of my pursuit to get official, public credit and acknowledgement for the artwork I did of the bear mascot for Evansville Central High School (which the school used as the predominant image of the mascot for three decades) was the lowdown on the August 2016 meeting I had at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation building with officials of the EVSC. If you are not aware of the history regarding this situation, check out the earlier entries of this blog that detail pretty much everything up to the point of this entry.


THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION

On September 13, 2016, I received the following message from EVSC Chief of Staff, Paul Neidig:

Good morning Mr. Hawes,

I bring you good news...  We have decided to create a display at Central featuring the evolution of the Central Bear.  Celebrating the history of Central in this way will be a great way to pay homage to all that have contributed to the school's mascot over the years.  In that display you will be given credit for the version of the bear that you drew while a student at Central.

I am truly sorry that this has upset you.

Paul Neidig, M.A., C.A.A
Chief of Staff"

I informed Mr. Neidig that this would be satisfactory to resolving the issue for me if I am credited as stated. I further asked if there was some sort of time frame for the completion of the display, and asked if I would be invited to attend its unveiling.

After not getting a response to my questions, I waited another week and asked again, more insistent on getting a response. Having dealt with the EVSC for the past few years on the matter of my art credit, I have learned not to put stock into what the EVSC says without substantive evidence. Mr. Neidig responded after I pressed the issue, writing the following reply:

"We are moving forward with the creation display.  I will let you know when it is finished."

I wrote again for an update a month later, in October of 2016, and received the same basic response. I wrote again the next month, in November, and Pamela Hight of the EVSC responded this time with the following message:

"We are working on the final layouts and design. We will let you know as soon as it is done."

Yet another month went by, and I was not alerted to any new developments regarding the display, so I wrote the EVSC once more, before the new year, seeking an update. I once more asked when the display was planned to be completed, and also asked again if I was going to be invited to see the display at its unveiling. Mr. Neidig responded with the following message:

"Good Afternoon Matt,

I trust that you had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a Happy New Year.  I stand by my September 13, 2016 statement to you.  As you can imagine it is taking quite a bit of time to research the history of the Central mascot. We simply don't have a date set to complete and unveil the history of the Central Bear. I am sure it will be ready within the next several months.  We will let you know when it is completed.    

Paul"

I replied noting that I know all too well about the time it takes to research, having done plenty of research on my own (much of it on display in other entries in this blog). I challenged him on whether it should take them so long, though. I offered to assist in researching the display, letting him know that I am willing to go to Central and help go through files, etc., pertaining to the history of the mascot. I even offered to help with the construction of the display. Mr. Neidig has yet to respond again.

On January 5, I decided to be more public in my questioning, and asked about the status of the display on the Twitter page for the EVSC. This time I got a response from the EVSC (presumably from Pamela Hight, who handles the communication for the EVSC on Facebook, and I believe Twitter, as well):

I asked if the display would be completed within the 2017 school year, and was told "yes."

Noting that at the least the EVSC was responsive when asked in a public forum, I followed up be pressing the issue of my offer to help research and construct the display. This is what I got in response to that:

"Yes, work is almost complete." (EVSC, Twitter post, January 13, 2017)

Interestingly, looking back on this string of responses, Pamela Hight told me they were "working on the final layouts and design" in the email dated November 30, 2016, but the email from Paul Neidig on December 27, 2016 -- Nearly a month later -- makes it sound as if the are still in the midst of researching the display. Does the January 13, 2017 Twitter post really mean the work is almost complete, like sooner rather than later, or is it another stalling maneuver from the EVSC?

Going back to Paul Neidig's email to me from September, 2016, he mentions that the EVSC and Central, through the display, will credit me for the bear drawing I did for the school as a student. This, after the EVSC tried desperately to deny me any credit in my exchanges with them in messages and at the August 2016 meeting. If the EVSC is at the least not fighting me on whether the drawing is my work any longer based on that email, why is there such a hold up on putting out the display? Surely, they would be as eager to resolve this matter as I have been all this time?

I have been clear that all I am seeking is the rightful credit and public acknowledgement for my work. The cause for the recognition for my art has been something I have only become more steadfast in seeing through to its conclusion ever since the letter Mr. Neidig sent me in 2012 that sought to discredit me for that artwork. I have tried everything I can to settle this matter between us without having to seek out legal recourse. I simply want them to acknowledge publicly that the artwork is mine.

The proposal to give me that recognition in the form of a display detailing the history of the Central bear mascot was their idea to resolve things. I had already informed them that such recognition could be as simple as placing a framed document on the wall at Central with my bear drawing in it, crediting me for my work. Obviously, the EVSC has decided a display would benefit their interests more in some fashion, and as long as I get the credit for my art I have told them I am fine with that.

But, I do expect the EVSC to, you know, actually, truly, really go through with it. I also think it's more than generous enough to expect the display to be finished within five months time.

I remain hopeful that the next blog entry I make on this subject will be to announce the completion AND unveiling of the display. One thing is certain, until that happens, my cause will continue.



Central Bear Art Credit Facebook Page!

The Meeting With The EVSC Over The Central Bear Art!

If I were to accept what I was offered as the proposal from the EVSC for settling the matter over receiving proper, official credit and recognition for my bear drawing that Central High School in Evansville, Indiana has used for three decades now, the best it may be described as would be a sort of pyrrhic victory.

It appears that short of escalating the matter to a legal one, the best concession I can get from the school was pretty much a worthless gesture where the EVSC would continue its stance on refusing me official, public recognition for my contribution to the school, while I simply would have another, similar work displayed in a case at the school which it would most graciously acknowledge was mine and yet still not acknowledge the older work and its usages by and for the school.

On Friday, August 19, 2016, I met with Jason Woebkenberg, Chief Communication Officer for the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation, Pamela Hight, Director of Marketing and Social Media, and Paul Neidig, Chief of Staff/Director of Athletics at the EVSC Building at 951 Walnut Street in Evansville. I went there along with my mother, Charlotte, who was witness to the proceedings. 

The EVSC members that attended the August 19, 2016 meeting.

While they conceded that my artwork has been used by the school during this meeting, they still argued that the bear image they have used repeatedly is not my art in instances where it is clearly the same drawing to any objective viewer. And, moreso, even with the couple of instances where they would admit it was my drawing -- At least to me in person -- they would not agree to acknowledge this fact publicly.
All three EVSC employees asserted that since my work was based on the mural in the gymnasium, as I was instructed to do by teacher David Koehler in 1987, that somehow the use of the drawing on items where there was no signature present was somehow not my work. They reasoned that without the signature, it was just too close to say for certain.

Can YOU tell the difference between the bear drawing in the top row, far right from the other bears in that row? Jason Woekenberg told me he couldn't see any difference. The bottom row shows more images of the bear drawing I created. The second figure in the bottom row which is in color Paul Neidig said he colored on computer in 2005. That is also when he said he made other changes to the art. Other than the color, do YOU see any discernible differences between that bear and the black-and-white one to its left? 

 They raised a point that if a person recreated the Mona Lisa in pen and ink form that artist would not get credit for his or her work. This was simply an inane suggestion to which I quickly set them straight that indeed the artist would be entitled to receive credit for the recreation. Particularly in such an example when the medium was not paint, but pen and ink art.

To counter their position, I asked them if they knew of the artist Andy Warhol, which, of course being college-graduated school teachers they should. They said they were familiar, and I went on to point out that not only had Andy Warhol made a career of appropriating images from other sources for "pop-art," but that he had taken images straight from comic books, and there was no question he received credit for his works. 

What I did, based on instructions by my teacher David Koehler, basing my drawing on an existing mural at the school, was still done in a fashion that is actually more distinctive from the source of inspiration than the art Andy Warhol had done did in some instances, in fact. I maintain, the style of the bear drawing in question is mine, and distinct from that mural, in any case.

The creator of Batman was also brought up, which they sought to use to prove of another instance in which the original creator was credited, that other artists who have drawn the character were not credited. One shouldn't use comics books against a person who is not only a fan of the medium, but also has made his living from the industry for more than 20 years. 

I pointed out that most definitely later artists have received credit, I asked them if they knew the movie "Sin City." They did know of it. I explained that the man who co-directed that film and the comic on which it was based, Frank Miller, also wrote and drew "The Dark Knight Returns," one of the most celebrated Batman stories of all time. I pointed out that Miller is even credited from his contributions in the recent "Batman v Superman" film, and Frank Miller certainly received credit for his works on Batman, as well as great acclaim for it.

Behind the Central Honeybears in this photo is the mural commissioned by Central from artists Larry Johnson and Kip Husk in honor of the memory of Scott Cowen.

During the discussion about the mural, they mentioned the names of the artists that painted it, Larry Johnson and Kip Husk. The artists not only rightfully received their credit for the work, but was in fact paid for their services by the school.

I asked about that credit and why would the same not be applicable for me and my work? Pamela Height came back with the position that they were adults and were paid to paint that mural, as if that is an acceptable reason to deny me credit. This was something she stressed repeatedly when that mural was brought up in the discussion: They were adults, they were paid.

I shot back at her that just because the other artists were adults and paid for their work does not mean that somehow the school should have exploited a minor and took his work for free. Of course, she could not sufficiently defend her remark, though she did attempt to do so.

Ms. Hight then used the tragedy of a former Central High School student, Scott Cowen, to bolster the stance the EVSC was taking on the matter of my credit. Scott passed away in 1982, sadly, and the mural was commissioned in his honor. She tried to somehow spin this poor boy's death into reasoning why the drawing I did was actually, somehow, not my work, but the mascot and that it's continued use was in honor of his memory. 

Such obvious, disingenuous, and manipulative maneuvering I found to be VERY unseemly. To suggest that exploiting the image I drew by using it on all manner of merchandise over the years was somehow an extension of the reason that mural was created was a weak and frankly disgusting tactic to deprive me of credit for my art. My mother also could not believe that Ms. Hight actually used the death of this young man from over 30 years ago as fodder in the EVSC's attempt to deny me any acknowledgement.

Another shot of the mural with students in front of it.

There was the instance where my signature was left on a printed item from the school, that I recalled being a pocket folder, yet I was presented at the meeting with a basketball program sporting the drawing. Yet, later, after the meeting I realized that the scan I made back in 2003 or 2004 would have had the text at the bottom about basketball, such as the program book has in the picture shown below. Maybe both items were produced with my signature with the added "Evansville Central" illustrative text superimposed over my bear drawing? 

Regardless, it was proof they couldn't deny that showed I drew that bear image, even though they still continued to argue that the exact same bear image on other items could not be proven to be mine simply due to a missing signature.

The 2003-2004 Evansville Central basketball program which bears my signature (sorry for the pun). Even with this evidence, the EVSC will not acknowledge my contribution. This copy of the program was given to me by the EVSC at the meeting, meaning they don't contest that is my signature and it is on that cover. 

In further attempts to further their assertion that several bears images look too much alike, and therefore it would be much too difficult to assign me credit for my art without a signature present, I was presented with several scans of different bear drawings. I recognized more that came from that Walter Foster "How To Draw Bears" book mentioned in my past blog. I did spot my bear in that mix, and drew their attention to it. There was also something else I noticed that escaped their notice: Another instance where my signature was left with the drawing. It had been placed at a different spot by another artist that added a busted brick wall in the background, but there it was, with a reproduction of my bear drawing!

This CHS "Senior Activities" booklet from 1999 is another example of my art being reproduced with my signature. No, not an official acknowledgement, though. In fact, the EVSC members at the meeting didn't even realize my signature was on the piece until I showed them where it was.

The red circle I added to show where my signature is on the cover. Compare it with the cover to the basketball program booklet. It was cut and moved to a new spot by the artist that added the background, but it is there.

It's almost amusing, if sad, how they unwittingly had in their own evidence another instance of my signature left on a use of my bear art, which ironically supports my claim even more.

Jason Woekenberg was quick jump on the signatures as being proof that I have been credited before. But I pointed out to him and the others that the fact that there were at least a couple of instances where my signature did not get fully removed was not in itself an official public acknowledgement or credit for said work. 

The basketball program, according to Paul Neidig, had actually been printed for Central outside of the school, so maybe that is why the signature did not get removed in that instance?

And here's something to chew on: If Jason Woekenberg believes those signatures are sufficient acknowledgement, then why is it that the EVSC maintains a position where it will not recognize identical, yet unsigned reproductions as my work, and why would he tell me that the ESVC and Central will not publicly acknowledge my work now?

Another interesting thing was how he, and Ms. Hight, in particular dismissed my attempts to examine the history of the drawing as being in the past, and somehow not worthy of discussion, when to understand what Central has neglected to do here it is relative to discuss that past. 

Yet, if the past is irrelevant to them, then certainly giving me my recognition now, in the present for the use of my art which still graces the halls of Central would still be in order. Also, if Ms, Hight seeks to invoke the past herself by using the passing of a teenager in 1982 to justify not giving me my art credit, is she not also bringing up the past after deeming it not pertinent in the discussion of the credit?

Neidig and the EVSC claims they don't have possession of my original artwork. But, Neidig also tells me that he scanned the bear drawing into a computer in 2005 and "cleaned it up" and added color to it, too. The fascinating thing is that the two examples I now have that retained my signature both predate 2005, one being from 1999, the other from 2004. He said he had to clean up the artwork and darken it to make it usable for reproduction, yet these earlier examples prove that was not needed as he stated and I pointed this out to him. He could offer no suitable argument. 

Ms. Hight, when bringing up the painted bear mural again, said she was concerned that Kip Husk and Larry Johnson might take issue if I were credited for my drawings somehow. This was most confusing logic. If what she means is the EVSC fears legal action from those other artists, then what's it matter who is credited for the bear drawing that I know to be my art? First, the bear mural itself was obviously appropriated using the two bear images from the Walter Foster book, itself. Secondly, my version is distinctive enough from their work, even more than their work was distinctive from the Walter Foster publication. 

The arguments presented by the EVSC are simply without substance, and I think they know it. There was a lot of spinning and double-speak going on at that meeting. 

Here is the proposal they are offering me:


They have agreed that if I want to offer up a new drawing of my bear and sign it, that they would display it at Central High School in its "Hall of Fame." The catch is this: They basically are saying that, "Yep, that new drawing is from Matt Hawes, a former student of Central" Meanwhile, they would not be willing to publicly acknowledge me for the 1987 artwork and it's various uses by the school for going onto 30 years.


I asked Neidig what about having something stated in the frame from the new drawing that acknowledges my past contribution. He just replied, "We'll see what we can do," or words to that effect, but it was clear that the kind of recognition I am seeking would not be granted.

There is much resistance from the EVSC to grant what is really so simple a request. Is it the fear of opening themselves to a lawsuit from Larry Johnson and Kip Husk? They seemed to be wary that giving me credit would somehow do that, but what basis would exist for such a suit in that instance?

I have contacted Kip Husk on this matter by e-mail and at the time I posted this blog I await his response.

So, yeah... This looks like as far as I can take this short of seeking legal counsel. I have tried desperately to avoid escalating this matter. I nearly conceded to go along with their proposal, but on reflection I cannot do it. It's not right.

Credit where credit is due. Never give up, never surrender.

SUPPORT THE BEAR CREDIT CAUSE for HAWES!!!

BUY A BEAR SHIRT and Wear It To SHOW SUPPORT!

I have a Cafepress page where I put out an image of my NEW bear image on different items (I will NOT be donating that bear drawing to Central).

I MAKE NO MONEY WHATSOEVER FROM THE CAFEPRESS PAGE!

The cost of the shirts and other items are the base costs set up by CafePress. I am using this as a means to get the word out about my artwork, and not making money. 

Check with CafePress if you want to see how its' "base price" works. I have elected not to go beyond the base costs, as this has never been about the money. 

The price given is what Cafepress charges to print up the items.

I would like to raise awareness about the history behind that artwork. GET THE SHIRT THE EVSC DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO WEAR! It's 100% MY ARTWORK, and I own the copyright to it, so the EVSC has NO say in the sale of this shirt.

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION and TELL EVSC TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!


Thank you sincerely, with deepest gratitude, everyone who has supported me, and I hope will continue to support me on this issue!