Undercurrent Investigates...

Robert James Luedke
Author and publisher of Eyewitness.

A wonderful aspect of the worldwide community of Christian comic creators – is the enormous variety that exists amongst us.

Take as an example Bob Luedke – comic book creator, publisher, and retailer. His epic Eyewitness trilogy, of which the second part has now hit the streets, is a work of great love – and elbow grease.

I suspect that in some ways Bob and I are very different – in our approaches to comics, and quite possibly in our approaches to other areas of life too. But that really doesn’t matter – Bob Luedke makes great comics, and he is dedicated to the same cause as me – namely bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Bob is 48, married to “my one true love”, Sandy, and has two teenage children. He lives in Dallas, Texas, and has been part of the comic book industry since about 1989. 

He owned a pair of comic book specialty shops from 1989-1995 in the Dallas area, and then in 1995 founded Head Press Publishing, publishing comic books, including the science fiction-action adventure series, Template – which was voted one of the 10 best indy comics in 1998, by Combo Magazine.

But in 1998, after running out of operating capital, he left the industry to pursue other business opportunities before coming back in 2002, to begin creation of the first Eye Witness book, A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth.

Eyewitness is a great book, and I recognise in it clear hints to Bob’s personal approach to Christianity – so I wanted to know, what brought Bob to the place where he would write such a book?

“I was raised in a Lutheran home in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but never really had "gotten" the spirit of God.  Sunday Church was just like another day of school, as far as I was concerned.  In retrospect, I cannot remember even having a spiritual conversation with my Father.  He was a wonderful man, who is most responsible for shaping me into the ethical, honest and questioning person I am today, but he just never really stressed the importance of God in our lives.
 
“I roamed this world as a person who would best be described as a sceptic.  I believed there must be something out there, but I didn't really know what that would be.  I just didn't grow up to think it was enlightened or cool to believe or follow a God in the 20th century!   I thought educated people do not still believe in this day and age. 
 
“In 1999, over the course of six months, I had three people die who were very close to me.... my father, one of my best and oldest friends and a business mentor I was working with daily.  These events happening so closely together they basically overwhelmed me emotionally, and caused me to take stock in what I was and what I had accomplished.  I was especially rocked by the death of my friend, Pat, who like me had two young children.  He was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and after two years trying every possible cure under the sun, he was gone.  I made me think about what if that happened to me, what legacy would I be leaving behind for my wife and my kids?  And I did not like the answer.
 
“So I began I quest to check into the one part of life that I had never explored...the spiritual side.  Over the next 9 months I started to attend and check out various churches and houses of worship, began researching and reading books, (including the Bible for the first time in my life), and speaking to people who had experienced the same type of anguish and emptiness in their lives, that I was now feeling.
 
“In October of 1999, I publicly accepted Jesus Christ as my saviour and officially hung up my sceptic’s hat, and began to pursue a relationship with God through his son.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit now working within me, I rid myself of many of the poisons that were slowly destroying me both physically and emotionally, (Alcohol, Pot and Porn).  Over the next year, a constant part of my daily conversations, (or prayer), I asked God to reveal to me my purpose.  I had been gifted with special creative gifts that most people could only marvel at, yet I never had really utilized them successfully in the world and I just knew there must be some plan for all he had given and taught me throughout my forty plus years.
 
“The answer came in 2000 the form of an inspiration for a new kind of presentation of the Jesus' Passion story, that would resonate and attract young people to want to find out about it...even if they were not church-goers or Christians.  Even though at first I didn't think the project was right for me, (because at that time I was officially out of comics), over the next two years of working out and refining the concept in my head, (it was the proverbial mustard seed), it became obvious that this project was in God's plan all along for me.  So in December 2002, I sat down and started to put what became the first Eye Witness graphic novel, down on paper.”

So for Bob – Eyewitness was: “Divine inspiration, pure and simple.”

He explains: “I never sat down and tried to decide how my books would or should be different from anything else that had been published before me in the genre.  My story was my story.  I had conceived, or been inspired, to create this combination of an entertaining and enlightening presentation.  But the focus was always about trying to convey the story of the birth of the Christian faith and essence of the Spirit, not trying to hide or conceal what it was about.
 
“That being said, books and comics that present a more subtle message are great to have out there also...because God will always to appeal to each person in a manner they need to reached through.  Some may require a more overt narrative, while some appreciate the more subtle.  Think of it in terms of music.  Gospel music speaks to untold millions around the planet, but still Christian Rock has opened God's word to a whole new category of music lover, who would have never listened to Gospel music.”

My ever present question for people like Bob is whether we as creative Christians should be making stuff that A – is overtly evangelistic and out to tell a gospel story pure and simple, or B – just excellent.

I thought I already knew what his answer would be; I had guessed that he would go for A. Shows how wrong I can be.

“I’ll choose B.  I think no matter what type of format or direction the particular project is taking, it should strive to be the most professional it can be.  There is, (or will be), a place for all types of works within this genre: strictly evangelical, subtly evangelical, teaching/discipling, autobiographical or pure entertainment.  But unless the goal is to just touch those who know you personally, it must pass the standards of publishers in the secular world, (I.E., in writing, art, production, editing etc..), if it has any chance of wider acceptance.”

It’s fascinating (I think) to get a glimpse into the minds of people like Bob Luedke – talented, hardworking and productive people who have committed their hearts and hands to the Lord.

I always want to know what they are up to next…

“First of all to complete the Eye Witness Trilogy, which should occur sometime in mid-to late 2008. 
 
“Within this next year, writer Tim Lasiuta and I am putting together a book and DVD series, that will present some of the best known stories of the Bible in multiple illustrated styles, (from cartoonish, to manga, to fully detailed illustration).  This is designed to help bring modern art back into worship, as we will market the DVD's to churches, youth ministries and missionaries, that want cutting edge contemporary styled graphics to illustrate their presentations.
 
“My next graphic novel, will be as far opposite of Eye Witness as you can get.  Without going into too much detail, it is a story of spiritual awakening, repentance and the inner conflict all Christians wrestle with when it comes to violence and revenge.  The protagonist is a retired mob hit-man, and the antagonist is a serial killer-rapist.  Nuff said.”

Another killer question, which all comic creators in our field are faced with from time to time, is whether we need to make our comics profitable – or can loss makers honour God too?

“That is a very philosophical question that faces all artists and writers and which we could debate for days.  But I guess the answer would be based upon the goals of the individual project's creator.  Since I can only speak for me, I'll only speak for me on this point. 
 
“I created Eye Witness as a way to use my God given creative gifts to further Gods kingdom on earth.  I view what I am doing as very much my mission or ministry.  Should a ministry be able to support itself, or even turn enough profit to grow?  Given the history of the Christian Church, it certainly seems like this concept is not without precedent!
 
“I would very much like to see Eye Witness not only pay for its own production, marketing etc... but afford me the ability to do more in this genre in God's service.  For me, making profit, would mean I could bring in more professional quality assistance to make the books better and more professional and also allow me to potentially publish the works of other Christian creators with a story to tell.
 
“But if Eye Witness never reached that level of profit, could it still be considered successful?  Yes, absolutely.  Since I began, I've already had a number of people share with me, that the books have helped someone they know either: make a decision of faith, or begin to explore their local church, or just open their mind to the possibility of God/Jesus.  To me this is the real payoff...since this is what God commissioned me to do...to reach people that might otherwise not be reached.”

If you have read this far – then the chances are you are someone who wants to use their gifts in this field, with the same kind of success that Bob has seen. So I asked him, dear reader, for his suggestions on what one can do to make an impression on the comic world…

“Practice, practice, practice.  I've known people in my life who were naturally gifted, but none that came "ready made".  As an artist or writer, to hone our gifts we must continually be stretching ourselves in new directions, taking new risks, trying new techniques.  Just like God is continually honing our spiritual lives, (like steel in the fire).
 
“Just like any professional, buy, read and study a lot of books on your craft.  Now a days especially, there are so many more books out there with good practice lessons to help a creative person develop.  If you can, attend Comic conventions or art shows, and study the sheets of original art you find there, (this is my personal favourite), as you can learn a lot about technique by seeing the raw pages.  Talk to artists and writers who you can also meet at these events...don't be afraid to ask questions, (this is how I learned the whole concept of three point perspective and an easy way to do it on any panel on your page).  And finally, show your work to working professionals and then "listen to their critiques", without...and this is big...without, taking it personal and getting offended.”

Thanks Bob.