‘skyline’ puts Bedford indiana on the map + an interview with artist/author Chris resnick

BEDFORD — Many people grew up reading popular comic series such as "The Amazing Spiderman"; however, that was not the case for Chris Resnick, who always enjoyed creating art but did not develop an interest in comics until later in life.

"I haven’t always been into comic books, honestly, but I have always drawn and painted. Growing up, I assumed that comic books were pretty much just superhero vehicles, and I wasn’t interested. It wasn’t until my 30s that I discovered alternative, independent and autobiographical comics; those really spoke to me. I wrote and drew a few comics around then but didn’t pursue it any further. It wasn’t until quarantine of 2020 that I picked it back up," he said.

It was at that time that Resnick began developing "Skyline," a comic series that he both writes and illustrates based upon his childhood growing up in Bedford.

Originally born in Kentucky, Resnick moved to Bedford with his mother when he was around 3 years old. He would go on to graduate from Bedford North Lawrence High School in 1995, before moving to Bloomington after turning 21.

While brainstorming ideas for his next project, Resnick, who now resides in Chicago, said he began reminiscing about his adolescence, jotting down his various remembered stories and quickly he had the inspiration he needed.

"When I was about 6 years old, we moved into a mobile home park in Bedford and lived there until my mother passed away in my late teens. The people and scenarios from my childhood in that particular community are really what prompted me to do a comic set in Bedford. I just started writing down memories and then did sort of a storyboard and saw that all of the puzzle pieces fit to make one larger cohesive story," Resnick said.

He describes "Skyline" as a coming-of-age story similar to "Stand By Me" or "Now and Then," where he takes the reader on a journey, following himself and his group of friends as they deal with the everyday challenges that come with growing up.

Resnick seeks to bring the audience back to their childhood, invoking familiar feelings of happiness and uncertainty that many would associate with their teenage years.

I’m definitely looking to take the reader back to their adolescence, which for most people was a time in life that’s equal parts confusing, joyous and incredibly hard," he explained. 

"Most of my work up to this point has dealt with nostalgia in some way. I think regardless of the setting or even the specific event in each particular story, there’s something that’s relatable," the author and illustrator added.

Issue one of "Skyline," published by the Bloomington-based Pique Audio Visual, is available for pre-order online on the company's website currently and will soon be available on Comixology and Kindle, with the second issue likely to be released later this year.

"I’m currently working on issue 2 to be coming out later this year. It takes so long to do each issue because, sadly, drawing comics isn’t my main job, so I do this and other comics in my spare time," he said.

Noah Dalton is a reporter in Bedford, IN. He can be reached at ndalton@tmnews.com