Eau Claire’s Heroes
local comic artists aim to make local comic
Every city needs a superhero. With help from the fundraising website Kickstarter, a community member is taking saving the city into his own hands by creating a comic book that centers on Eau Claire.
Eli Bremmer, owner of When I’m Sixty Four, a music memorabilia and consignment shop on South Barstow in Eau Claire, wanted to make a face for the downtown. With the help of another community member, he created the Eau Claire Coalition, a quartet of locally themed superheroes, each representing a different downtown district. There will be Barstow Man, Water Woman, Wes Grandéll, and E.C. Phoenix. All of these mascots have a specific goal in mind to help make the downtown an even better place.
Bremmer chose to start a Kickstarter because it was a way for the community to become involved in the comic book. Not only is the Kickstarter a way to raise money, but Bremmer said he wants the community to be involved in creating the characters as well.
“I always think big, act big, do big, dream big, that’s who I am,” Bremer said.
Bremmer brought on board comic book sketch artist Mark Lone who has helped inspire the team. Lone said his favorite part of the project so far is the mystery that it holds.
“The characters can end up looking like anything and it will be a different experience for me doing character conceptualizing with the public to come up with a character,” Lone said.
One of the biggest struggles is gathering the money that it will take to create such a project. Bremer is asking for $25,000 on his Kickstarter and has many ideas of how he wants to raise money, but it is going to be a challenge.
“If the community shows their support, it’s going to be so much easier to get the businesses to sponsor,” Bremmer said.
To learn more or to donate, visit Kickstarter.com and search for “Eau Claire Coalition.” The campaign runs through Aug. 30.
