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David
A Braveheart Story
By Josh Withrow
It was 1992 when I first wanted to be an X-man. In the back of my Eighth grade Biology class I was introduced to my first comic book hero: Wolverine. The Adamantium-wielding vigilante represented all that was potent and powerful, and all my pubescence screamed to pattern myself after the hero. It wasn’t long before I was enamored with other characters such as Gambit, Rogue, and The Beast. All wonderful. All extraordinary. All fake—even Wolverine. (Sorry, guys)
Comic book illustrators have always played on the daring wishes of young boys, and sometimes men, to bolster their profits and create a multi-billion dollar industry. Thankfully, there are artists who desire to tell stories of truth through their craft. It is in one these stories that we are reminded of a boy’s courage, honor, and passion. All the facets of a comic book juggernaut with one major difference: the story is real. The unparalleled story of an anointed child resounds in vivid truth in the new comic book series, David, written and illustrated by Mars Hill’s own Royden Lepp. When asked to describe David, Royden simple stated: “It’s a Braveheart story.”
Royden can’t remember the first time he picked up a pencil and started drawing, but he drew with his friends whenever he had the opportunity. Eventually, he began to look at his own drawings, and to his surprise he found that “man, I’m kinda good.” When the time came, Royden attended the Vancouver Film School, in Vancouver B.C., where he went through a rigorous seven-day-a-week course for a full year.
“I worked in the studio from the time it opened until they locked the doors at night. And after I left the studio, I went home and sat at my desk to draw more.” After a year, Royden left school with a certificate in Classical Animation.
With the finished product of David years down the road, Royden’s first attempt to get published was in the genre of children’s literature. Writing and illustrating his own story, he sent submissions in for review, but each new letter met the same fate. Companies weren’t interested in the story. In an attempt to clear his mind, Royden began drawing scenes from the life of David, which were inspired by the book David in the series Great Lives, by Chuck Swindoll. Frame by frame stories and sidebars filled Royden’s pages. Eventually, a comic breathed. While at work, one of Royden’s co-workers noticed his art and di-rected him to Alias Enterprise, a Christian based company in the mainstream market. Royden met with Alias, and the company was impressed by Royden’s work, and offered to publish his book if it were made into a three-book mini-series. Thus were the beginnings of the David series.
Like any good artist, Royden immediately changed his work. After corrections were made, one-third of the book had been revamped, and “creative laziness” was transformed into creative genius.
“Nothing was even planned out. I wasn’t even trying to make a comic book. I had guys come up to me who had been trying to get their illustrations published for years and ask me how I did it.”
Royden chose to illustrate the early life of David be-cause of the few details the Bible gives about the solitary shepherd, which gave Royden all the creative freedom he needed.
“It’s such an interesting story. I’m just trying to tell a good story about a well-established character. I’m trying to fill in the gaps to an already well-written plot. I like to think about what would have probably happened in those instances. I like to try to understand what David might have been like.”
Although the content of David is based on a Biblical character, Royden is reluctant to say that he wants to overtly evangelize through his art.
“I want to inspire young artists-to-be. I want them to be blessed by their enjoyment of the story. I want to have the experience of someone coming up to me and saying ‘I loved your book.’ That’s my ministry. That’s what my hope is. I seek God’s guidance in my art all the time, and I pray that God convicts me if I am doing something wrong.”
In a world of lies, there is a refreshing truth in the tale of David. This animated series brings the life of David to the forefront while deviating from the comic protocol of sex and grotesque violence. And like David, we too fight our own “Braveheart stories.” Though we wish we could fly over I-5 traffic, we can’t (or at least I can’t). All our lives are “gritty and rough” during some part of the day. And though David is drawn in reds and greens, the true medium is our lives. As the great Picasso once said, “Art is a lie which leads to the truth.” May we look at David, and all other art, and remember that inside each brush stroke, each chord, each monologue, there is truth, and that truth should ultimately lead us to the Truth—Jesus Christ
In Royden’s own journey he has experienced many set backs, but the Lord has proven Himself to be faithful and true, and now Royden is beginning to see the fruits of his labor. But he is quick to recognize the influential people in his journey: his wife, Ruth, and his father “(you too mom).” “I have to give credit to my wife. She has been so gracious with our time and money to allow me to work on my book. I love her very much. My father has also been both a great inspiration and teacher.
In parting humor, Royen revealed his secret identity to be none other than “Clark Kent, minus the tights.” We thank you for no tights.
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