Got comics? Anderson artist revives comic strip tradition across US

Deon “Super Dee” Parson is about to make history with his cartoon “Rosebuds.” After years of hard work and honing his craft, the 29-year-old cartoonist from Anderson, Indiana will see his comic series “Rosebuds” syndicated — or regularly published in local or national newspapers — in Sunday newspapers across the country Sept. 1.& “It’s so fun, like being able to do this, because, like, my career path is so weird,” Parson said. “Next year will be at least 10 years since I first started my first comic professionally. So, this has been a long time coming for everyone that’s been following me and my work.” Parson grew up in Elwood, Indiana — a former sundown town — in the early 2000s. His family was the only Black family living there, as Parson’s father was a retired marine and worked for Red Gold as a truck driver. As the only Black kid in his classes, Parson said the students and teachers were not very fond of him, and he had trouble making friends. Instead, he turned to art. Inspired by Jim Davis’ “Garfield,” he created original cartoons with gel pens and printer paper to make his friends laugh. Deon “Super Dee”...