Comic book to inspire kids in cancer fight

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This article was published 01/02/2021 (1833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mutual love for comics brought two unlikely partners together to create a comic book for kids going through cancer treatment.

Best known for the annual Grim Acres Scare Away Cancer haunted house fundraiser with wife Amber, Brian Sutherland came up with the idea a couple of years ago.

The resulting Superheroes Against Cancer Alliance comic book features superheroes joining their families and medical team in facing off to defeat evil cancer. It’s printed in black and white so kids going through treatment can colour it themselves.

“Kids going through cancer, they’re just looking for a smile — they’re looking for someone to give them hope and to believe in something amazing,” Sutherland said.

The only problem in creating the book is, he couldn’t really draw.

Although he grew up with superhero comic books and drew inspiration from local comic book artist Curt Shoultz, he hadn’t fine-tuned his skills enough to take on a project by himself.

So, he reached out to a friend — a guidance counsellor at Valleyview School — who recommended student Elina Garina, 13.

Coming in at 26 pages, Garina said it took her a whole year to finish, cheered on by her pet budgie Rosa, who accompanied her throughout the process.

“This project was really fun to make and I like the whole concept of it,” she said. “I think they’ll enjoy to read and look at something while sitting in a hospital, and I have a little sister — she took one of the comics to colour herself and she’s really enjoying that, so I think a lot of kids will enjoy that, too.”

Her father, Konstantin Garin, said he’s proud of his daughter’s effort, which he was at first reticent about due to its large, time-consuming scale.

The experience alone was worth it, he said, and the idea kids going through cancer treatment will find joy out of it is icing on the cake.

Sutherland said the comic book, “for kids, by a kid,” is exactly what he’d hoped it would be, and Elina’s work is “an absolutely amazing gift to the world.”

The book, he added, “is a true testament to the skill, the dedication and the abilities that our amazing Westman youth have, and I am extremely proud to see the product she has produced.”

The self-contained story’s key message, he said, is “strength, courage and victory, and through that we achieve hope.”

More than 100 copies of the comic book have been printed to be sent free of charge to kids through The Dream Factory Manitoba and distributed by other means both locally and globally. 

Meanwhile, Sutherland found himself facing extra spare time this past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he set out to learn how to draw and create a version of the comic book himself.

While Elina’s version was contained to a single issue, Sutherland’s version will ultimately make up a trilogy. The first issue has already been completed and is being sold alongside a Superheroes Against Cancer Alliance medallion for $20. All money received is being donated to The Dream Factory Manitoba and Westman Dreams for Kids.

Sutherland said he’ll be seeking sponsors to help pay for extra copies of the comics as stock runs out, shipping and other expenses.

Anyone interested in purchasing a copy or supporting the effort can contact Sutherland at sacaheroes@gmail.com.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB