Rest up now to take part in 24 Hour Comics Day Saturday

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BY MICAH MERTES / Lincoln Journal Star

This weekend in Lincoln, 24 pages in 24 hours equals one comic book.

That’s the idea behind 24 Hour Comics Day, an annual challenge for cartoonists to produce a 24-page comic book written, drawn and completed in 24 consecutive hours. The international event has been celebrated by thousands since its official launch in 2004.

The official Lincoln event will take place from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday at the Hi-Way Diner, 2105 Highway 2. It’s free to participate, and the Hi-Way Diner will provide free drinks (coffee!) throughout.

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The Web site 24hourcomicsday.com promotes the international event of creating a 24-page comic book in one day. The Lincoln event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hi-Way Diner. (Screen shot)

The Web site 24hourcomicsday.com promotes the international event of creating a 24-page comic book in one day. The Lincoln event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hi-Way Diner. (Screen shot)

As the event’s Facebook page states, it will be a time for “comic book artists to come together to write, draw, cry, tear their hair out, go crazy ...”

People from all ranges of artistic experience and ability are invited to attend. And it’s not like you can’t leave or sleep or grab a bite to eat during those 24 hours. The important thing is that you finish your two-dozen-page masterwork in the allotted time.

Justin McDowell, organizer of the local event, has one recommendation for anyone thinking about participating:

“If you tend to grip your pencil tight, you’ll definitely want to cut your nails beforehand. Your hand gets really sore, anyway.”

Not everyone makes it through all 24 hours, said McDowell, who participated in one of these two years ago.

“By the end, everyone’s feeling pretty tired; some people are feeling pretty sick.”

But, he said, it’s worthwhile for many.

“There’s some nice serendipity that happens,” he said. “Some of the comics are really funny and good. It’s kind of surprising how people can work under the deadline.”

ComicsPRO, a comic book specialty retailer trade organization, is the international organizer for 24 Hour Comics Day. The event was founded in 2004 by Nat Gertler, publisher of About Comics.

Reach Micah Mertes at 473-7395 or mmertes@journalstar.com.