CUTV News Radio Spotlights Ray Billingsley, Creator of the Comic Strip 'Curtis'

Stamford, CT – Ray Billingsley is the creator of the groundbreaking syndicated comic strip Curtis. Curtis tells the story of Curtis Wilkins, an African-American 11-year-old boy living in the city with his mom, dad and younger brother, Barry. The strip will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this year.

“Whenever I work on a new strip, I gather up 365 ideas. If I can't get a year's worth of ideas, I won't move onto step two: drawing it,” recalls Billingsley. “With Curtis, the writing kept coming. New characters kept presenting themselves.”

Billingsley says the characters themselves come from his childhood growing up in Harlem. The character of his Curtis is based on Billingsley’s real life older brother, who would always devise elaborate schemes only to see them blow up in his face.

“The readers who are reading your work, don't care if you broke your arm, they expect to see your work,” says Billingsley. “But beyond that, if you really want to go worldwide, you've got to step outside of your boundaries. You have to be able to evolve on some level or you just won't make it.”

Given Billingsley’s distinction as one of only a few syndicated black comic strips, Curtis can engage topics other strips can’t touch. Curtis is well-known for its yearly Kwanzaa strips.

“I had no idea it would go this long. I'm most proud that I’ve been given an opportunity to be a part of so many people's lives over these many years,” says Billingsley. “I've made so many unseen friends doing this little strip. Curtis has taken me everywhere.”

For more information on Billingsley Art, visit http://www.billingsleyart.com.