Chad's Universe: "The Human that Endures."

My wife and I, very little extra cash between us ended our work day at the James Joyce on Stephen Avenue. Took our sweet time on the fish & chips, the wine and the pint - okay, pints ...people watching, chit-chatting, etc.

Still on 8th Ave (headed for the bus) we came upon, Steve Rozema, a guy whom I probably bump into once or twice annually. I know him from my grade 8 or 9 high school days.
Like myself back then, he too drew up a storm. His were mostly of the super hero, tights wearing, body builder sized variety.

It seems every time I our paths have crossed it would be asked, "Are you still drawing?" For Steve and I both the answer is always 'yes'.

But Steve doesn't a have proper place of his own ...possibly hasn't for a while I'm guessing. I suspected it, but never really wanted to pry.

My wife and I had stopped and after introductions, he began to explain the goings on in the (multi-layered, multi-dimensional) universe of his tedious, drawing, doodles, notes and scribbles.
After a quick show and tell, of EnduroMan his flagship creation, Steve began to give us a tour of a universe, populated by not just his Canadian/Calgarian super hero, but a mind blowing plethora of other characters.

My comprehension of comic lore (for someone wanting to be in the industry) is pretty weak ...but this man, with probably very nearly all he owned in a huge, weathered, and graffitied backpack...

...laid out something akin to the golden age of comics.
With dialogue, action sounds, brief descriptions, 4-5 hand written pages, and a few gestures like that of a great auditor, he kept my wife and I suspended for probably something like 30 minutes!
It was no wonder, this guy (without a proper place to live) had a following of readers ...asking for more.
According to Steve, there's a third volume of EnduroMan coming soon.
Sorry, I don't remember how many 20-something paged comics in each volume - but it seemed like a lot.

I've got to say, Steve's illustrations haven't changed AT ALL.
Now for me, it was great to reminisce. But others may not take so kindly to these late 80's, high school days, muscle man/super hero style drawings. Which would be a shame, considering the epic size the EnduroMan story.

Steve's 'presentation' over, (like anyone would be) I was left wondering, "What could I do to help this talent see it's true potential?" Well, okay - other than helping out, and illustrating the whole EnduroMan universe. Leaving Steve to the writing.
I haven't really been doing MYSELF any favours in the area of drawing and writing lately. So to promise something on that level (deep breath) it'd be a bit much. Besides if I was an individual with good salesmanship ...well, I'd no doubt be doing this blog from a much nicer PC, in a much bigger place (without the wife banging about in the background of our itty-bitty place, despite headphones turned up).

Didn't want to whip out my snazzy iPhone ...to capture an image of what the hell I'm even blogging about! Maybe a little to do with not wanting:
"Oh hey let me take a photo with ...oh, your drawings are wrapped in plastic, newsprint and elastics?"

Blogging about Steve and his EnduroMan comic book series, is a tiny step in the right direction. Because giving my phone number and email to someone who doesn't have either himself, wasn't.

Until I can get some images of his work (possibly even a few issues?) up online, you'll have to just take my word it. But apparently talk of EnduroMan has already found it's way on to the world wide web:

Taken from some NHL fansite (I think this was a player from some team):
"So a guest at the Seed, is getting closer to making his dream a reality. He created a prototype of a comic book called EnduroMan, a Calgarian super hero. (resembles Shazam and Doctor Who). Who wakes up from a Cryochamber deep underneath the Calgary Tower, only to find Calgary and Earth deserted. Were they destroyed? did Code's curing a Pandemic experiment cause a lock down, in which a security guard escaped?

EndroMan is summoned by a an overlord, tasked with finding pieces of an artifact...

Anyways, if Canadian Arts council decides to fund this project. It would be a ingenious production, and I would have been one of the first to see it. He's a very good artist, can't really give names."

Steve's creativity and drawing has endured, just as his character has, "the human that endures" ...and has inspired too.