Sam Alden - WIcked Chicken Queen Sketch

I found this comic and it brought a whole story to my mind.

In 2014, I took my son to a comic and zine fest in Providence. George was five. I saw that Sam Alden was there and I was excited because I read his graphic novel on the Study Group website and loved it. We went to his table and he had a few self made zines and this comic Wicked Chicken Queen. He was selling all his products for five bucks. I picked Wicked Chicken Queen and he proceeded to draw what is here on the inside page. He did it quickly and it was fun to watch.

George watched this and said, "I want one too." Sam's response was immediate. He said, "Sure." He took out a white piece of paper and asked what George wanted him to draw. George blurted, "A lion."

Sam hesitated. "I don't do good lions. I will do it. But I don't know if you will like it. But you know what. I do good dinosaurs." George beamed and said yes. Sam stated, "I kind of draw rubbery dinosaurs like Land of the Lost."

I smiled now and said, "I just showed George the old Land of the Lost and he likes it."

With all that out of the way, George watched Sam Alden create a dinosaur in red pencil. It was great. George was so happy. I asked Sam how much and he said it was on the house. I was almost about to cry. So I bought all of his books. And I should say that Wicked Chicken Queen is amazing. It is a lovely picture book styled parable. His other zines were good too.

I framed the dinosaur sketch and even at the age of 17, George still has it on his wall above his bed.

Thank you Sam. We should all have such beautiful interactions with the artists we admire.