TEZLON, created by Larry Lonsby Jr.: An epic fantasy that centers on a scarecrow named Jaak Tate.

MIDTOWN PRODUCTIONS, created by Tony D'Alesandro: A humorous series, which appears as a monthly strip in Blueroot, based loosely on events that happen to the Dark World Comix crew in real life.

THE DARK WORLD OF FANTASY, created by Chris Dunsmore: The misadventures of a black knight and his not-too-bright ogre, also available online or on DVD as a Flash animation cartoon.

QUITE THE COLLECTION: Larry Lonsby Jr., left, looks at fellow comic-book artist Tony D'Alesandro as he holds a self publication containing a collection of his monthly Blue Root comic strips.

The founding members of Dark World Comix have dreamed up some elaborate fantasies - intricate tales of ogres and magical scarecrow warriors - but one of their biggest fantasies has just come true.

At a comic-book convention earlier this year, Larry Lonsby Jr.'s Tezlon and Tony D'Alesandro Midtown Productions caught the eye of an independent publisher. Twisted Gate Entertainment of Cincinnati will be printing and distributing comics by the two Blue Water Area artists, who until now were doing small-press, self-publishing using copy machines.

"It's kind of what we've been working toward," said Lonsby of Port Huron Township.
While having an independent publisher does not guarantee fans will be able to find the books even at local stores, it's a big step up from what they had been doing.
"It's so much better not having to fold and staple it," D'Alesandro said.

The books will be collected editions of stories the pair has published in self-produced booklets. Lonsby said his is shaping up to be a 60-page book.
Ray Scott, owner of the publishing and entertainment company, said he doesn't normally do much scouting at comic conventions but was impressed with Lonsby's work.

"I liked his art style, the detail he puts into some of the costumes," Scott said. "While I was looking at his, I noticed Tony's. ... Basically out of all the books that I picked up, they were two of the best."
Lonsby and D'Alesandro had to scan their old drawings into a computer, digitally re-touch each frame, then send them to Scott.

The pair started Dark World Comix in 1992. The third member of the group, Chris Dunsmore of Port Huron, has been working on a new, comedic series called The Dark World of Fantasy.
Lonsby and D'Alesandro both work as import analysts for a brokerage, clearing shipments coming in from Canada.

"On days off, I'll sit and draw for a good eight to 10 hours," D'Alesandro said.

They hope their contracts with Twisted Gate will be the first step toward careers in the comics industry. They have been transforming Dark World Comix into a multimedia studio that would offer such services as digital coloring for other artists.

"Now we've got to keep going to where we can make money at it, where it pays the rent," Lonsby said.

Contact Bill Chapin at (810) 989-0741 orbchapin@gannett.com