HUMBOLDT — Teacher by day, and creator of Auroraman, Humboldt’s own superhero, Jeff Burton has been invited as a guest to the 2019 Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo.
The writer said he feels honoured to be considered guest-worthy.
“There are some big names in the comics industry as far as creators, writers and artists that have guest status at these shows,” Burton said. “To be considered a local talent of that caliber is a pretty big honour in my mind.”
He said that when he started he had no idea of the fanbase that would grow out of his creation.
“I was doing it because it seemed like a great idea, it let me do comic books I liked to read as a fan – just fun superhero stuff. To have the recognition from a local convention saying, ‘We feel that you’re just as worthy of being a guest as some of these big name artists that we’re bringing from across the country and the States, even.’”
Burton has three veins of release for Auroraman adventures: the comics, a bi-weekly comic strip, and audio comic books. His appearance at the Expo coincides with the release of the second Auroraman audio comic book.
The audiobooks follow unique adventures of Auroraman, that hasn’t been seen in the physical copies. Burton said he isn’t opposed to making physical comic versions of Auroraman’s audio comic book adventures in the future.
“It’s very similar to the audiobook with the exception of I have a narrator who will be narrating the visual parts and then we have people who are voicing the characters, then I add background music and sound effects to it all,” Burton said.
“I already planned episode two for the fall, and it just worked out once I was given guest status at the Expo it only made sense to gear the episode to be released then.”
He said being set in Humboldt, there are many recognizable landmarks in the series.
“People capture that familiarity and that Saskatchewan feel… that piece has been such a strong selling point – the whole local aspect to it. We describe events taking place in certain areas, or certain intersections, or certain parts. Like I said, the building parts. There are people that are recognizable people of Humboldt showing up, or local businesses — The Danish Oven has appeared in the background a few different times, because having it set on Main Street is a smart idea.”
When asked if Auroraman is really out there in his base in the old Humboldt water tower, Burton refused to give a yes or no answer and replied, “Some people will be watching, that’s for sure.”
Burton will have a booth to sell his Auroraman stories on both Sept. 14 and 15 at the Expo, and will be doing a presentation on Sept. 14.
“There are some fantastic artists... that have done work on comics I have read that I’m super excited to have the opportunity to meet, whether they’re local celebrities like Tom Grummett, who I have met on many occasions from Saskatoon, or getting into artists like Scott Collins, Mark Texeira or Rags Morales. These people have all worked on comics that I have loved for their artwork and stuff and now I’m listed alongside them as a creator guest.”
He said that additionally, as a big Star Wars fan he’s excited to meet Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian in the first three Star Wars movies.
Burton’s comic books can be found locally at 7-Eleven in Humboldt.
