Scrapyard Detectives

The Scrapyard Detectives is a free comic book series created by artist Bill Galvan and writer Chad Denton devoted to promoting a union and cooperation of young people from differing cultures. [http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5790598 Stories about diversity propel artist to comic book stardom] ] This educational comic book series was created to present an appreciation of multiculturalism, ethnicity and diversity. The Diversity Foundation publishes The Scrapyard Detectives as an educational tool offered to libraries, educators and community groups. They are full-color, professional books [http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/11447815046798.htm From the Scrapyard to Riverdale] ] . Scrapyard Detectives has a lot in common with Three Investigators, which followed the adventures of three investigators in a junkyard [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=78115 BEST SHOTS: CIVIL WAR #3; JUSTICE LEAGUE #0; DOLL & CREATURE - NEWSARAMA ] ] .

Scrapyard Detectives has been contributed to by New York Times Best Selling Children's Book Author Jesse Leon McCann, [http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=37;t=008463 Diversity Foundation gives out over 130 K Comic Books] ] who wrote the storyline for the third book. McCann also donates time at the Comic-Con, talking about the message of tolerance in Scrapyard Detectives. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7765 SCRAPYARD DETECTIVES #3 DEBUTS AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL IN SAN DIEGO] ]

Scrapyard Detectives has had guest contributors in each issue.

Because of its independent publishing, Scrapyard Detectives classifies as an independent comic.

History

Scrapyard Detectives was commissioned by Dr. Dan Fischer to encourage tolerance and acceptance of others and thus prevent attitudes that lead to hate crimes.

Each comic is themed on how an appreciation of diversity would help avoid a bad situation and move someone beyond preconceived notions about others.

Scrapyard Detectives has been used by Dr. Robyn A. Hill, Teacher Educator, who included the series in a free online book, "Secret Origin of Good Readers". [Hill, Robyn A., [http://www.night-flight.com/secretorigin/SOGR05.pdf "Secret Origins of Good Readers"] , 2006.] The Secret Origin of Good Readers also organizes a panel on using graphic novels to promote literacy, which has run at Comic Con International and at WonderCon.

The first three issues of Scrapyard Detectives are collected into a graphic novel titled "The Scrapyard Detectives: Collected Cases, Volume One" (ISBN 978-0-9797193-0-1). This 104 page collected edition also includes an origin story written by Supernatural Law creator/writer Batton Lash, which details how the three main characters met and solved their first case. The introduction to the collected edition is written by J.M. DeMatteis, and also features pinups and artwork by Michael T. Gilbert, Jack Purcell and Derek Hunter. These collected volumes were created specifically to be sold to libraries, with all proceeds going back to the Diversity Foundation to produce more single issues of the comic book series.

Characters

* Robert Reilly: Robert is the brains of the operation. His father owns the scrapyard, which is filled with discarded items that Robert can make gadgets out of to help solve their cases. The scrapyard is just one of many salvage enterprises that Robert's father owns, and his business calls for him to travel extensively.
* Raymond Garcia: Raymond is impulsive, but brave in the face of danger. He usually is the first one to use Robert's inventions while they're in the testing phase. Raymond has three older sisters; Angie, Vera, and Henrietta.
* Jinn Lee: Jinn is the intuitive detective of the group, looking for the clues to solve the case. Jinn has a younger brother named Kahl, who likes to spend as much time as he can with his older sister. Jinn also has a pet spider named Rex.

Inventions and Gadgets

* The Detecto-Sled: The "Detecto-Sled" is a one person hovercraft vehicle that was invented and constructed by Robert. It was made from a variety of discarded parts found in the scrapyard, but the main pieces were salvaged from a vacuum cleaner, a small leaf blower motor and a snowboard. Two old metal cylinders from a fire extinguisher serve as the propulsion thrust. The handle bars are from Robert's old bicycle, and feature a brake system modified from the bicycle as well. Robert only got to ride it a short time, before Raymond started using it almost exclusively, bringing it back in for repairs from time to time. The engine appears to run on plain gasoline.

* REX 2.0 Robotic Spider: "REX 2.0" is a remote controlled surveillance device that resembles a robotic spider. The device is named after Jinn's pet spider, Rex, but Jinn was quick to point out that spiders have 8 legs, not four, so technically it does not qualify as a spider. REX 2.0 was created by Robert as a way to gather information the course of investigations, when surveillance in person can't be accomplished. REX 2.0 is guided by remote control in the form of a rewired video game system controller which controls its movements. Using special goggles, the user can see the environment that REX 2.0 is scrambling over via a small web camera installed in its central shell. In the case of "A Friend in Need", REX 2.0 was stomped on by Ben Crenshaw's father, a suspect in an investigation by Raymond. REX 2.0 has not returned to active duty, and is still awaiting repairs by Robert.

Issues

There are three issues of "Scrapyard Detectives".
* 1. The Case of the Missing Roses
* 2. Patriot Dreams
* 3. A Friend in Need

The Scrapyard Detectives: Collected Cases, Volume 1 Graphic Novel
* 1. Collects all three previous issues.
* 2. The Case of the Missing Junk (origin story)

References

External links

* [http://www.scrapyarddetectives.com Scrapyard Detectives]
* [http://www.thediversityfoundation.org The Diversity Foundation]