A Sit Down with Dan Santat

"How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" Caldecott winning children's book author and illustrator, Dan Santat, said, "was my gateway drug" to a room full of teachers, librarians and book enthusiasts in Redmond three months ago. Dan explained his circuitous route from first generation Thai American foregoing microbiology to pursue independent illustration creating over 60 books in a distinguished career.

Santat delved into childhood quizzing audience on 80's evening TV lineup — including Dallas and Magnum P.I. — he'd watch with his mom. One night he stayed up until midnight copying an Incredible Hulk comic cover by Todd McFarlane for three hours. "If I put enough time and focus into art" Dan said pleased with the Grey Hulk sketch, "I can draw anything." Dan's carried this idea far for decades; being inspired to hear firsthand his journey into the world of captivating readers through story art.

After getting home, I pulled my copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema off the shelf my mom, Anne, bought me thirty years ago at Town Crier in Topeka, Kansas. Unbeknownst to her, she had just bought her third son his own gateway drug.