Howard Grad, Cory Thomas' Strip "Watch Your Head"

[CrimsonTide4]

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site....news/thomas320

"Watch Your Head" set at Oliver Otis University, a predominately black University, chronicles the lives of six teenagers as they navigate their way into the unstable terrain of adulthood.

The characters in "Watch Your Head," according to Thomas, come from different backgrounds, cultures and countries and bring their unique perspective to Oliver Otis University, the supposed mecca for black intellectuals.

"College is the first time you’re away from home, parents, and ‘Watch Your Head’ basically means to be careful," Thomas said in an interview.

Thomas added that "Watch Your Head" was "very loosely" based on his undergraduate years spent at Howard, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in mechanical engineering.

2nd excerpt

According to Amy Lago, the comics editor for the Washington Post News Group, there is no way to predict which newspapers or how many newspapers will decide to buy "Watch Your Head," however, she remains confident that "Watch Your Head’s" mass appeal and well-rounded characters will bring Thomas’ strip recognition.

"Cory was able to create these six well-rounded characters in a great environment," Few cartoonist can master this," Lago told BlackAmericaWeb.com. "Similar to that of Schulz’s 'Peanuts,' [Cory’s] characters play very, very well off each other. Few cartoonist can master this."

Thomas began "Watch Your Head" for Howard University’s award-winning newspaper The Hilltop in 2003.

"The Hilltop wanted to run a regular comic strip, so I tried to do something that would appeal to Howard students. I wanted to do something that they could be familiar with," said Thomas.

In 2004, Thomas won first place for best editorial cartoon at HBCU Excellence in Journalism.

Looking forward to it. Howard grads, be proud!!