Oakwood Comic Book Program - Oakwood Healthcare System

Camilla Herod (Writer)
Writer, artist, photographer, and musician – it is the combination and interaction of
mediums that contribute to my artistic vision. I seek to open the minds and eyes and ears
of my audience to the world around them in new ways; to show them that, every day of
their lives, they are surrounded by art found in unlikely places.
Chris Houghton (Artist)
Chris Houghton is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist currently living in Detroit while
finishing up his schooling at the College for Creative Studies. Before coming to Detroit,
Chris grew up in the mint fields of St. Johns, Michigan. Living in the countryside with two
older brothers and a faithful dog, with woods and a pond to explore, Chris was able to
let his imagination get the best of him. More often than not, Chris relies on his childhood
experiences for his charming and humorous cartoons.
In the past few years working freelance, Chris has been able to participate in a variety
of fun projects with some really great people. He has had the opportunity to work on
gag cartoons, comics, animations, caricatures, and a bunch of other goofy stuff. Most
recently, he has been working for a children’s video game development company where
his assignments range from storyboards to concept art for some of the biggest children’s
entertainment and toy companies in the country.
Recently, Chris was chosen by the National Cartoonist Society Foundation as the winner
of the 2009 Jay Kennedy Memorial Scholarship.
Jesse Hughes (Artist)
It should surprise no one that my influences lean a bit more towards Bob Clampett,
Tex Avery and Chuck Jones and a little less towards Degas or Monet. I have been a
cartooning and comic book drawing instructor as well as cartoonist for the Henry Ford
Community College school paper, the Mirror.
Captain Calico/Cosmo is based on my own cat. Like any good superhero, the real Cosmo
has a collection of friends and foes. I have never seen him put on a cape or mask, but
wouldn’t be entirely surprised if he did.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this piece will help feed hungry cats at the
Taylor Animal Shelter.
Geneva Larrair (Writer)
Writing has come to me late in life. Unlike most writers who have kept journals and have
taken writing courses, I did not start to write until Oakwood offered the writing workshops four
years ago. I have studied the visual arts and enjoy painting, sculpting, and photography. I also
quilt, crochet and am an avid reader. I have been married for fifty-seven years and have two
sons and three grandchildren who bring me great joy. I have been an Oakwood employee for
twenty years. My philosophy of writing is to let all that is outside in, and all that is inside out.
My philosophy of life is to be honest with and considerate of all people.
Michael Madigan (Writer)
Michael Madigan is a Community Relations specialist in Oakwood’s Community and Public
Relations Group, and co-moderator of the Oakwood Creative Writing program. He is the
screenwriter of the 2006 feature film Perception: The Letter. He has written or co-written
screenplays and designed productions for short films including The Bigger They Are,
Freedom and Privacy, Game Face, Glimpses of the Moon and It’s A Jingle Out There. He
is the author of the novels Illusion of Light and Drowner’s Bliss, scores of short stories, a
collection of homilies, and Oakwood’s faith-based health education series, Stewardship of
Health. His poetry has been published in the Oakwood literary journal Poetic Resonance
Imaging. He is an enthusiastic amateur photographer, cook and gardener.
Michael Marcus (Artist)
After living most of his life in Florida, Michael Marcus responded to the clarion call of his
friends, “Why don’t you move up here and find a real job?” and moved up to Michigan, where
he finally found the sort of technical job that means plenty of cash – but not happiness.
Although he still consults as a web site designer, his main passion is designing games, which
he first did for himself at Jacques Treatment Labs and now here, through Hamtramck Idea
Men. He also handles the administrative part of the company, which he describes as “the
part of the job I don’t want to do in order to be able to afford to do the part of the job I do
want to do.” In past, he has been a radio talk show host, an actor, a theatrical producer, a
published short-story author, an assembly-line worker, a bookseller, a retail manager, a movie
propmaster, a camera man, and a breather of oxygen. Now, through Hamtramck Idea Men,
he works primarily on games, website design, the occasional painting or object d’art, and the
comic book MIS-TRANSIT that George encouraged him to write. He still breathes oxygen.
In “The Magic City,” Michael symbolizes hope and recovery as a place awaiting people
after they leave, featuring symbols from every age that represent happiness, freedom,
achievement, and satisfaction. By combining acrylic work with computer-assisted
assemblage, Michael assures a one-of-a-kind piece, its painted clouds adding a motion and
dimensionality to the piece, with the wisps of purple symbolizing transition and mystery.
28 29