Cartoonist competing online with ‘Araknid Kid’

BREWER – Cartoonist Josh Alves of Brewer, creator of “Tastes Like Chicken,” seen in The Weekly, is getting a second opportunity to create comics for DC Comics’ new imprint, Zuda. A participant in the December 2007 contest, Alves’ and his creation, “Araknid Kid,” have been invited to compete again for a contract in July’s invitational event.

Zuda, at www.Zuda.com, is an “American Idol”-style contest, where each month editors choose 10 comics from the submissions they receive worldwide. Those 10 are pitted against each other and the winner is determined by popular vote by visitors to the Web site.

Readers are required to register to cast a vote. Additional variables, such as favorites and comments, add to the ranking. The winning entry received a contract to provide 52 more “screens,” or pages, valued at $13,000, not including royalties.

“Araknid Kid” was part of the first user-submitted competition and was created and submitted for consideration when the Web site launched in November 2007.

Set in the Old West, the title character is the hero who triumphs over the villains of Obie City. Using spiderlike abilities and unique “Trapeze-Bar Web-Shooters,” the hero manages to find a way to transcend any obstacle. The unique element behind the concept of the comic is that the Araknid Kid does not “speak” – he uses a series of pictograms, or hybrid rebus puzzles, to communicate.

“I enjoy stretching my creative muscles and I thought that this would be a fun way to engage readers and get their gears turning. It’s a fun way to convey what the Kid is saying by using pictograms while making it understandable. Don’t worry about getting stuck. I have provided ‘answers’ on each page,” Alves said.

Readers are invited to view Alves’ comic at www.Zuda.com. Those who want to see the comic continue may register and click the “vote” button to cast a vote.

Alves is a graphic designer for the Bangor Daily News. His cartoons have been published around the world.

For information, call Alves at 989-3738, e-mail joshalves@gmail.com or visit www.joshalves.com/araknidkid.