Local authors Michael and Diego Mongue will appear at the New Lebanon Library on Thursday, September 26, at 3:30 pm, to talk about their quarterly comic book series, “Awesome Robot Science Fiction Action Comix.” The talk will be followed by Q& A and discussion, after which Michael and Diego will sign copies of the book.
“Awesome Robot” started as letters left in Diego’s school lunches. Messages of encouragement like, “Have a great day at school” or “Eat your lunch and work hard” soon morphed into stranger missives, such as “Don’t eat cake from the cafeteria garbage pail.” These notes were accompanied by illustrations that eventually became the “Awesome Robot” series, the story of Dennis the Robot and his anthropomorphic misadventures. The story and renderings marry the musings of a pre-pubescent boy and the satirical commentaries of his outsider artist father.
Michael Mongue is an artist residing in Williamstown, MA. His work has been shown at the Left Bank Gallery in Bennington, the Arts and Crafts Guild in Dalton, MA, the Flatiron Gallery in North Adams, MA, the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York City, the Deborah Davis Fine Art Gallery in Hudson, NY, and the Firehouse Cafe in Adams, MA. He is the author of M.Mongue: Acrylic Paintings from a Berkshire Artist, as well as the “Awesome Robot” series which he writes with his son. Diego, aged 10, who is in the fifth grade.
The public is welcome at this free event, which is most appropriate for school-aged children although interested patrons of all ages are welcome. For more information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.