(December 17, 2024) Students at All City High debuted self-made comic books during a school-wide event, highlighting their creativity and storytelling skills. The initiative, spearheaded by Ms. Crystal Madsen and supported by Cooley Comics, provided students a platform to explore storytelling, character development, and cutting-edge AI tools.
“My character is based on me,” said Janiyah Hollins. “She is sensitive and learns to overcome the challenges of others. She reads people’s minds, feels what they feel, and had to figure out how to cope with pain or what everybody else was going through.” Hollins added, “My teachers made this experience fun. I am more of an inside person, but when I did this project, it made me so happy.”
Thanks to the generosity of Chris Cooley, owner of Cooley Comics, the students’ work went from imaginative drafts to polished, printed comic books. Cooley’s company handled the graphic design, layout, printing, and binding for the students’ creations. This past summer, Cooley and Jeff Bostic from the Central Library introduced the AI comic book experience to RCSD librarians and art teachers, inspiring All City High and Edison staff to bring this innovative project to their schools.
The journey began in pre-work sessions where students explored the art of storytelling by reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses, developing superheroes with unique traits, and inspiring mottos like “Believe,” “Transform,” and “Overcome.” Students also explored AI ethics and mastered prompt engineering to refine visuals that brought their narratives to life. “It was a great experience to see them be very proud of their work,” said Ms. Madsen. “They connected and laughed together and were excited about seeing themselves in their writing.”
With superpowers like combating negative energy and challenges such as overcoming self-doubt, the students’ characters reflected their journeys. The project culminated with the students proudly displaying their comic books for the entire school community to celebrate. Through this innovative partnership, students honed their creativity, gained confidence, and felt a sense of accomplishment seeing their work brought to life.
