Eagle River resident published as graphic novel illustrator

Signing event planned for Saturday

By DARRELL L. BREESE
Alaska Star

Brett Uher used to doodle on his homework papers while attending Gruening Middle School. Those scribbles on class notes were a sign of things to come for the 28-year old Eagle River resident, who recently completed the illustrations for a 192-page graphic novel, “Dark Moon Diary,” that will be released later this month. The story was written by Che Gilson.

Eagle River artist Brett Uher recently completed illustrating a 192-page graphic novel while splitting his time as the manager of the toy department at Wal-Mart and drawing in his Eagle River home. Photo courtesy of Brett Uher

“I always loved drawing cartoons, but it wasn't until I took art in junior high that I realized I had talent,” he said. “I never thought anything would come of my love of drawing until then.”

Uher was a fan of comic books growing up, especially the Ghost Rider, the Justice League and the Transformers. In fact, he lives with two ferrets named Optimus and Prime (names taken from the leader of the Autobots in the Transformer storyline).

After graduating from high school, Uher attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, N.J., graduating in 2001. He worked for a graphic design firm briefly before returning to Alaska in 2002, where he went to work for Wal-Mart.

But his love for drawing never left.

“I knew I couldn't pay the bills drawing cartoons when I came back to Alaska, so I had to go to work,” he said. “But I found the perfect job that allows me enough free time to continue to pursue drawing.”

He made good use of his free time, honing his craft until he sent in samples to publisher TokyoPop.

“I figured the worst that could happen was they would send me a note saying, Thanks, but no thanks,'” Uher said. “When they contacted me about doing the illustration for “Dark Moon Diary,” I couldn't believe it.”

“Dark Moon Diary” will be his first published graphic novel. His first published comic was a short story featured in the 2004 Gold Digger Annual from Antarctic Press.

Uher spent six months, working nights and weekends, drawing more than 160 images for the book. He was so diligent that he got all the pages done ahead of schedule.

“I've always been one to meet a deadline,” he said. “I managed to send everything off two or three days early. I hope that made an impression with the editors at TokyoPop.”

The graphic novel “Dark Moon Diary,” is scheduled for release this month Image courtesy of TokyoPop Publishing

“The author (Che Gilson) sent an idea of what she wanted in each panel,” he said. “But for the most part, it was up to me in how to present the story in the illustration and work my magic.”

Uher described the story he illustrated as a fish-out-of-water tale about a young girl, Priscilla, who was sent to live with relatives after her parents die.

“The twist is that her only living relatives live in a fictitious European town, Nachtwald, populated by vampires, werewolves, witches and more such beings,” Uher said. “And her relatives are also vampires.”

A summary of the story from TokyoPop says that “amidst the pandemonium, she turns to her diary, and slowly learns what it takes to survive first love, new friendships, and the anxiety of high school... all while living in an unfamiliar world.”

The story is scheduled to be told over at least three volumes, and Uher hopes to be the illustrator of those and future books.

“I guess they are working on Vol. 2 now,” he said. “I am excited about continuing the story. I really enjoy the characters and the type of drawing is exactly what I like to do.”

Working with a collection of colored pencils, a drawing pad and a computer, Uher hopes this book will be the launching pad for a career as an illustrator he can continue from home.

“That's that nice thing about doing illustrations, you don't have to go to the office,” he said. “I did all the work for Dark Moon from home and scanned it into my computer and sent it off to the publisher.”

Uher is hoping copies of Dark Moon Diary arrive in time for him to do a book signing at Wal-Mart this weekend and for the Aurora-Con comic and gaming convention at the Egan Convention Center Sunday.

“I'd love to be able to sign books at Wal-Mart on Saturday,” Uher said. “But I'm not sure if they will be shipped in time.”

He said that if the books arrive, a signing will be held at the Eagle River Wal-Mart Saturday, if not customers should watch for signs announcing the signing in the store.

Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, September 20, 2007.