About the Artist and the Series:

Best known to members of the Earthspirit Community for his hand sculpted leather masks, "the Mask Guy" aka "The Professor", or "the Guy with the Hat", Duncan Eagleson is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer currently living and working in Rhode Island.

A self-trained painter and former graffitti writer (his tags, "Daemon" and "Prof-23" appeared on walls and subway cars in New York City in the early 80's), Eagleson has produced many book and magazine covers over the years, and even posters for films like "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Blade Master". In comics, he has contributed to the long running Vertigo/DC Comics series "Sandman" as well as "Shade the Changing Man", the Paradox Press' "Big Books" series, and the graphic novel version of Anne Rices' "The Witching Hour".

He is also the creator of ArcMage, an online graphic novel about a journalist's encounter with real magic.

The Railwalker At Rites Series

Railwalker at Rites" was born when EarthSpirit's webmistress, Moira, and I first discussed the idea of replacing the Broadsheet's usual compliment of comics culled from newspapers with at least one strip created especially for Rites. Moira remarked that it could be both amusing and thought provoking to explore the reactions of a sympathetic outsider to the Pagan community, and I immediately thought of Brick, a character who seemed perfect for the purpose. She approached the EarthSpirit directors about it, and they responded enthusiastically to the idea.

When I first set out to bring Brick and the Crows to Rites of Spring, it never occurred to me at the time that their arrival would cause quite the stir that it did. I was amazed at the overwhelmingly positive reaction. Last year, Brick even surprised everyone (myself included) by stepping out of the comics page to make a personal appearance at the Guiser's Ball, complete with crow on his shoulder, and a bagel in his pocket.

Several folks remarked that the second series had less focus on humor than the first, but more polished artwork. That was quite intentional - the first series was missing not only the Fire Circle, but also some of the deeper - and more serious - aspects of the Rites experience. Not to worry - serious aspects or not, the crows are not likely to lose their sarcastic, carping style, nor is Brick going to move to the country, join a coven, and start calling himself "Rainbow Medicine Turkey", or some such.

Also, what I personally missed in the first series was the chance to breath a little more visual life into the stories - I was working at such a frantic pace back then that the art was pretty much visual shorthand.

Still, altho I got to lavish more attention on the art, and delve into the magic a little more, the second set certainly didn't exhaust the possibilities of either art or story. With the final series, Brick moves on from the Fire Circle to a few of the other aspects of Rites we haven't seen before - like the event formerly known as the Feast, and the Closing Circle.

Yes, I know I promised a book, but the book isn't here yet, so sue me - I'm doing this in whatever time I can cadge away from making a living. Actually, the book is nearly done, we just didn't have time to get it printed before Rites. I'll have some sample pages with me at the Shapeshifter booth, and will be taking orders.

Meanwhile, what we do have is the famous RailWalker Mug, which definitely has advantages over the thimble-sized plastic cups the dining hall normally stocks (or even the Styrofoam that showed up last year). And new this year, the RailWalker T-shirt. Check 'em out.

For more RailWalker stories, comics, and animations, see the Railwalker Website.

If you'd like to be placed on the Railwalker mailing list, and receive updates on further stories and strips, and on the progress of the book, and the website .

Duncan Eagleson
April 2002

Some of the Railwalker stories are true, based on actual incidents in his life, some are my own inventions, all are fictionalized to some extent.

Railwalker at Rites: