God Loves Me Anyway -- The New G.A.R.D.E. at 10!

People are surprised when they visit my house that I only have one page of my original artwork framed on a wall. I’m happy with that, because it’s my favorite comic art page: Page Six of The New G.A.R.D.E. Special Edition!

The New G.A.R.D.E.’s premise is that yesterday’s heroes could show today’s cynical world what it truly takes to be a hero. Released ten years ago this month, The New G.A.R.D.E. was sponsored by the late, lamented Blockbuster Video, and it is currently the only comic of my work that’s been accepted in San Diego State University’s special collection for their Library.

G.A.R.D.E. stood for Genetically Altered Radically Different Entities, and despite being the only character that did not have a super-power, Tour de Force became my favorite! Not because she was an unusual cross between Batman and Annie Oakley, but because she was based on a very bon ami (good friend) who lives in France.

Tour de Force was cool because she was the only one on The New G.A.R.D.E. that could make a precision strike. That ability was helpful when The New G.A.R.D.E. had to capture a President of a foreign country wanted for crimes against humanity. While the other members of the team kept President Silec’s armed forces busy, Tour de Force sneaked inside his fortress to capture him personally:

I combined a Jackie Chan action sequence (TdF leaping past security lasers) with my personal thoughts on God’s Grace (“God loves me anyway”). That makes it special for me!

Even ten years on.