McCloud entertained his audience of Middle and Upper School students with a rapid-paced visual journey, depicting his early career and the current trends in comics. At the age of 14, he knew he would make comics for a living, believing “it is our birthright to create new worlds to escape to.” Comics tell a story by moving us through space and time, in panels, but allow readers to use our imagination in a way that other media – like books and movies – do not, McCloud believes.

GFS students met with McCloud after his lecture in an art studio, where they could ask him questions and even show their own portfolio of work. Among many other things, McCloud revealed: His favorite Marvel characters were super-villains The Wrecking Crew. Comics on the Web create audience interaction which he welcomes, connecting fans with the artist. Like biodiversity, the variety of comics in Japan, Europe and North America is healthy for the art form. The “unprecedented level of enthusiasm” for Japanese manga is introducing a generation to all types of comics, and most members of that generation are women.

When a student asked whether he preferred a computer or paper for drawing, McCloud shared that he now does 100% of his work on a computer tablet. He has even turned the pen into a “time machine” that can travel back to the moment before he drew a line he didn’t like – or, in other words, erase it.

McCloud brought encouragement and humor to the young writers and artists in attendance who aspire to “create a new world” through comics.

The annual Art department lecture is presented in memory of Abigail Cohen, a graduate of the GFS class of 1991. Her life as an artist and photographer was dedicated to the pursuit of social and aesthetic concerns. This annual lecture series is made possible by the generous support of her brother, Jonathan Cohen ’88, and his wife, Julia Pershan.