I’m a little late with this but this past Monday, the Worcester Telegram and Gazette covered the 24-Hour Comic Challenge, which is held yearly at the Worcester Art Museum. Sixteen artists, who ranged in age from 9 to 57, participated. The goal of the event is to have each artist complete their own individual, fully written and illustrated comic book in the space of 24 hours. Artists used a variety of methods to complete their work, ranging from pencil to magic marker to electronic tablets. Jim Lee could learn a little something from these folks.

And one of the most awesome things about this event?

The artists’ work will be on display for a month in the Museum’s Higgins Education Wing. After that, it will be scanned into a computer and sent electronically to ComicsPRO.org, the comic book retailer trade association that sponsors the event, for possible inclusion in the 24-Hour Comic Day Anthology.

How great is it that comic books, and work by, primarily, new artists of comic books, is being celebrated with an exhibition at an art museum – and then gets their work in front of industry and retailers? Now people can have a reason to visit Worcester, MA that doesn’t involve visiting elderly relations or buying crack. Good work!