Being a fly on the wall at a high school is an interesting experience, and Westview noon-hour supervisor Susan Tedford sees some amazing kids.
Tedford has recently moved by the unique relationship between four boys.
One is Anosh Marchant, a Grade 10 student who is touched by autism, and works diligently to get through the regular grade program. He has a passion for comics, and super powers when it comes to drawing them. His pencil sketches of every hero this side of Spiderman could have come right off the desk of Stan Lee.
Tedford suggested he start putting his many doodles into an actual book form, which she could find an audience for, and the idea went through him like the venom of a radioactive spider.
Tedford also works as a monitor on a special needs bus, route 105 to Samuel Robertson Technical, with three Grade 8 boys who have cerebral palsy – Cam, Greg and Jay. Cam’s first and last words on the bus generally include Superman, Spiderman, Batman or some other caped crusader. Tedford thought they might like Anosh’s comics. Little did she know...
Anosh finished the first comic for the boys, and Tedford showed the trio an original edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was a huge hit.
“How did Anosh know I liked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” exclaimed Cam.
“You must be soul brothers,” Tedford replied.
“Yes, we are soul brothers,” Cam agreed.
That was many comics ago, each getting bigger and better. Each anticipated by the trio on the bus to SRT: Sonic the Werehog, Superman and the Wrath of Lex, GI Joe and others. Each is rendered with authenticity, but in a style that is Anosh’s own. A teacher suggested he try his hand at Hello Kitty, but Anosh would have no part of that.
Anosh knows when one of the guys is going for surgery or having a birthday, and whips up a special edition.
“I like to focus more on the action,” he said of his comic book stylings. “It’s no work to do, I do it for fun.” He’s a little apologetic about his slight breaches of copyright, and explains “I do plan on making ones based on my own characters.”
Anosh has never met the guys who love his comics, but knowing they look forward to them makes a difference in his approach. He never felt like he had a reason to finish a comic book off before.
“Now I find it more enjoyable.”
Tedford tells him that Cam has been labouring on a comic of his own, and is just about ready to send a copy to Anosh. “I’ll look forward to reading it,” he tells her.