Web comic takes on life of its own

November 10, 2008 by Tifani Tamayo 

Student writes Web comic as pastime

School of Education junior Keith Thomsen knows a thing or two about juggling school while keeping up with an inspired hobby. For the past three and a half years Thomsen has done all of the writing, art and Web-design for his Web comic, “The Peace Keeper’s Force.”

“If I never had to sleep, I’d be golden,” Thomsen said. “The Web comic is one of the reasons why I am never getting any sleep.”

Thomsen’s life may lack rest, but he has kept his head above water. The web comic usually comes in second or third to his schoolwork, friends and family. Whenever possible, he tries to combine tasks to ration his time out more effectively.

“I always carry my sketch pad with me to school in case I have time to get something done or I’ll work on scripts for the comic when a teacher is rambling about something I understand,” Thomsen said. Being that his hobby is rooted in school, the two can’t help but go hand-in-hand.

It began as a typical English class project his senior year of high school. The assignment required a two-page paper and an oral presentation about something that he could do or wanted to do in college.

“I really started the project on a whim,” Thomsen said. For as long as he can remember, Thomsen has been writing and drawing comics as a past-time but he decided to base his assignment on Web comics with no real enthusiasm.

He quickly realized that online construction and drawings of the storylines were amusing in ways he never could have imagined.

“I think it was just how much fun it was to see this story that I had been working on since the first grade come to life in a way I never really expected,” Thomsen said. It still surprises him to this day. “The characters don’t always do what I plan if that makes any sense.”

Most times the characters do what best fits a particular story, not necessarily what their personality would dictate. Knowing the themes of his Web comic, it makes perfect sense.

“The Peace Keeper’s Force” is based around three young friends and the struggles they face growing up. On top of many trials and tribulations, the PKF gang must battle an evil alien dictator who desires to conquer the planet. Surrounded by a cast of misfits, half-bloods and cynical characters, saving the Earth becomes an intricate task for them.

“When we were little, we would play tons of games in which we fantasized about being super heroes saving the world,” said Thomsen’s life-long friend, Heidi Capnerhurst. One of his characters is based on her. Keith has made it all come to fruition on the Web with amazingly detailed and precise artwork, she said.

Capnerhust, 21, has witnessed the evolution of the Peace Keeper’s Force over the years.

“I have seen Keith’s passion for the comic grow as the storyline continues,” Capnerhurst said. “He is constantly trying to better the comic by learning new writing and drawing techniques and even getting new computer equipment to help him create.”

The Web comic industry is a growing medium with many self-starters that have successful careers. Thomsen hopes to one day teach high school courses in literature. He does not intend to make “The Peace Keeper’s Force” his full-time job.

“It is just a hobby I wouldn’t give up for the world,” Thomsen said. “Of course I would like it to become a TV show or a cartoon, but that’s really more of a pipe dream than anything.”

For close to four years, Thomsen has not missed a step in the progression of his Web comic. He has been consistently updating it two to three times a week. With 150 to 300 people reading it online from all over the globe, forums dedicated to the Web comic and fan e-mails inquiring about what will happen next, he has no plans of slowing down.

“I like to think in the short-term and I want to reach the end of book two,” Thomsen said.

Today the comic is more than 430 pages long. He worked on the first book for two and a half years. It’s completely finished and sits in the archives of his site.

“There are four more books that I’d like to get through. After that it’s pretty much up in the air,” Thomsen said.

Check out Peace Keeper’s Force at http://peacekeepersforce.com/