J: What about now? Is it still hard to have social
interactions (i.e., do interviews and stuff like
that)?
David: In this calendar year, I’ve cancelled on
family, friends and professionals numerous
times. I think I can have a lunch meeting but
cancel at zero-hour. I don’t even date my wife in
public because I have some difficulties. We went
to an aquarium this spring, and I left in a weeping puddle. New sights, sounds, and very little
help when I got lost only reinforced my decision
to keep to myself.
based upon your real life? (Aside from the
whole alien invasion thing ... I hope!)
David: I made a conscious decision to avoid
making the comic book about my therapy. Setting this firm boundary helped me; otherwise
every ex-girlfriend or former boss would be
eviscerated as a dastardly villain. No, I have a
great therapist who can help me sort out my
feelings without using the comic book as my
own mouthpiece.
----J: Who is your comic book idol (writer, illustrator or even character)
tell great
and why?
“
science-fiction stories
less fiction
more science
about autism and
non-medicinal
coping strategies.”
I like to talk about
My role is to
the comic book,
so that task isn’t
like real traditional
“work” for me. Dewith
spite these things,
and
I know that I have
a responsibility to
reach our fans, and
that means sticking out my neck.
For the kids, I can
do this work sometimes. I try. I much prefer to have interviews
via emails or even the telephone. It may sound
funny to some people, but I usually dress-up for
interviews, even if the other person won’t see
me. It just seems like something people do—
dress up for an interview—so I do, too.
----J: Are any of the storylines in the comic books
Dave and Angie Kot at a comic
shop an always favorite haunt.
50
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
David: I respect Geoff
Johns (Green Lantern
at DC). Despite a firm
rejection letter from DC,
he went on to make one
of the most iconic covers
in comic book history
(X-Men #1). Years later,
he bought the company
that once rejected him.
Johns heavily invests in
his characters, and my own writing style and
character development is modeled after his professional work.
----J: If you could give any message to the parents
reading this article right now, what would it be?
David: Presume more competence, and please
communicate with me. Sometimes I fear that
society mistakes us for a large comic book publishing and autism research team. You’ve asked
me more questions than we have people at Face
Value Comics/Autism at Face Value, Jay.
We have had amazing success in just two years,
including validation from Diamond Comic
Distributors as having a bone fide comic book,
a fantastic scientific review of our comics in a
medical journal (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders) and lots of television and
radio and printed interviews. This spring, we
Finally, I ask young people to DO good works.
helped influence public education in our special
While we discuss a comic book that features a
needs classrooms by adopting FACS into the
hero with autism, many kids are having a bad
curriculum. With just a few email exchanges,
day. They might need a friend. They might
the attention, awards and professional credits
need someone to share a game or new idea.
we earned helped us meet with legislators about
They might need to feel that they
better services
are an active and valued role in their
for autistic perIn
today’s
fluid
society,
world. We can help by being our
sons. Later this
best selves and offering the same
fall, we’ve been
we
can
be
whomever
kind of help we sometimes need,
invited to speak
and present
or whatever we want. too. In today’s fluid society, we can
be whomever or whatever we want.
research to the
Choose to be and do good, first.
United States
Congressional
Autism Caucus
as subject-matter experts and advocates!
“
Choose to be and
do good, first.”
Still, we are just parents and average people. My
role is to tell great science-fiction stories with
less fiction and more science about autism and
non-medicinal coping strategies. Bottom line …
reach out to us; we are here!
----J: What about us kids? What would you say to
those of us who are autistic comic book enthusiasts?
Jacob (J.) Fuentes is a 14-year old high school
freshman, a comic book connoisseur, member
of the drama club, a mean chess player and a
self-proclaimed man of the world. You can reach
him via his mom (Editor SHARON) by emailing zoomautism@
gmail.com.
A picture of Myra holding a simple “Hi” sign should remind
people to be themselves, and to be good.
David: Choose to be positive. Despite challenges, many people can help you. As an only
child living in the rural countryside, I didn’t
have easy access to help or even friendly visits.
I created a world where good triumphs over
evil. This mindset carried over into my adult
life, and I’m still make-believing that good CAN
overcome anything negative in life.
For aspiring comic book creators and fans, I encourage solid reading habits. I remember reading Marvel Comics’ “Thor” and understanding
their Nordic myths. Racing to the encyclopedia,
I learned more about the legends and could predict certain plot elements. In our books, every
character’s name has a very significant meaning. For example, did you ever wonder why our
character Duchenne always seems very happy?
Learn more about our characters’ names, and
readers will learn more about most of our characters.
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