Columbus has two very well-known art schools; Ohio State, and the Columbus College of Art and Design. Between the two, they turn out a lot of talented and creative people.

Many of them are fans of the comic and graphic novel form. With all these people in town, Columbus has become a hotbed for this type of art.

At the forefront of the Columbus scene is Ferret Press, an independent publisher of a variety of titles. The press is the creation of Dara, a prolific Columbus comic writer who is featured in many of the publications.

Among their publications are seven volumes of the Columbus-talent anthology Panel. Panel is also the name of their loose affiliation of local artists.

Ferret Press also puts out a nice blog to keep readers up-to-date on local happenings and Press news.

I've been reading their pub Big City Blues, and am struck with the quality of the illustrations (by several different artists) and the sharp prose. I love the conceit, telling the stories of the citizens peripheral to the battles between superheros, and how they suffer from their involvement.

And no, the artist Dan Barlow is no relative, as far as I know. Unless he happens to be rich, in which case I could probably find a connection.

If you're in Columbus and looking for a Ferret Press magazine, I recommend The Laughing Ogre on North High Street as a great outlet for both local and national comics. They not only carry a huge stock; they can also answer about any question you might have about comics and graphic novels.