THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200396
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
You've seen Busch Gardens coupons on restaurant place mats and the mushy ``Virginia is for Lovers'' tourism ads on television.
Well, get this: How about a muscle-bound dude wearing a skin-tight alien suit who fights for peace, justice and the environmental way?
Introducing politically correct - and hunky - Captain Nauticus, who now can be found on comic-book shelves nationwide.
Nauticus, or the National Maritime Center, probably is the first tourist attraction in Virginia to test its marketing skills in the comic-book industry, said Bruce Twyman, advertising director for the Virginia Division of Tourism.
``It's sort of unusual,'' said Corky Haisten, Nauticus' marketing director. ``But then, Nauticus is sort of unusual. Might as well stay in the mold.''
The center spent $80,000 to print about 200,000 copies of its first issue. It gave about half of them to Hampton Roads students and placed others in stores, including its own gift shop. But now, Captain Nauticus comic books are being distributed throughout the United States and Canada. The second issue probably will be out by month's end.
Owners of comic-book stores say they received their first copies this week but add that it's too early to tell how they'll sell.
``The publisher has several comics that do really well, so we were willing to take a chance,'' said Chris Miller, owner of Infinity Comics in Manassas, Va.
It's difficult to find out exactly what draws young comic-book readers, which is why Nauticus set up a panel of youths to nix and OK potential plots.
``In the first issue, they wanted six different villains,'' said 15-year-old Jessica Holmes of Virginia Beach. ``You just can't do that when you write a comic book. It's confusing. Readers don't have a clue what's going on.''
Instead, everyone settled on just one: Fathom, a green-skinned alien and corrupt politician who escaped the planet Aquamar before being locked up.
Jessica, part of the seven-member panel, also adores a new character who might be coming up in later issues.
``He is like a hulking mass, like an oil spill personified,'' she said. ``He's something that would take pollution and feed on it.''
Captain Nauticus isn't just a ``definitely sexy'' superhero, Jessica said. He's a man with a mission: to educate on environmental issues and the sea - and, of course, to advertise Nauticus.
It's no coincidence that Captain Nauticus' home base, of all the universes and planets, is the National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia, Planet Earth.
While focusing on pursuit of the evil Fathom, the plot also includes some of Nauticus' features, like the light show outside or Virtual Adventures.
If you still don't get the sales pitch, there's a two-page spread on Nauticus near the back of the first issue. And on the back you're given the chance to ``get four more exciting issues and a season pass to Nauticus for only $19.95!''
Despite all this adventure, there's something else some on the panel of youths wants: a little bit of love for Captain Nauticus or a member of his Ocean Force gang.
The adults, however, aren't so thrilled.
``They wanted a human-alien romance,'' said John Hickey, art director of Group III Communications Inc. of Norfolk, which helped develop and market the comic book.
``I don't think that's going to happen right now.''
But can Captain Nauticus tempt readers with a squeaky-clean image when comic-book heroes like Superman and Batman have developed character flaws over the years?
Twyman, of the state tourism division, has a few ideas.
``They could make him susceptible to something, like kryptonite,'' he said. ``He could suffer from illness if he ever travels out of state, and he gets energized whenever people come to Nauticus from outside.'' ILLUSTRATION: The mission for Captain Nauticus, besides keeping the seas safe
and clean, is to charm youths who read his comic book and to bring
legions of fans to the Norfolk landmark.
by CNB