Union Square Main Streets

Every September Union Square pays tribute to Archibald Query and his invention of Marshmallow Fluff here in 1917. As part of the third annual festival learn the story behind one the festival’s beloved characters, Fluff Boy.

In this 32-page full-scale comic book Somerville graphic artists tell how Jimmy, a sweet youth in Union Square, is transformed into a Fluff-filled super hero and through struggles comes to terms with his new sticky super powers. Includes additional shorter tales inspired by the nostalgic foodstuff that is Fluff.

The main origin story is by Matt Reidsma. Matt publishes the daily comic High Maintenance Machine where he shares tender and funny meditations on his life in Somerville with wife Wendy and cats Monty and Elmer.

Cover art is by George Pfromm II. He's an animator, illustrator and comic book artist and renown for his colorist skills.

Liz Prince, Joe Quinones and Maris Wicks contribute shorter comics to fill out the book. Each in their own style runs with the theme of food, nostalgia and messy fun.

The artists also contribute real and mock ads that reflect the location and period of the main story -- 1917 Union Square -- and the sometimes odd-ball nature of comic book advertising.

Read more about the artists here.

Download the wicked awesome postcard by Joe Quinones.

See Details on Events around the Comic Book.

THE STORY BEHIND FLUFF BOY

	For the 2006 festival Laurinda Bedingfield contributed a photocollage for the Fluff gallery exhibit. Called "Dawn of Fluff Boy" the piece featured images of her nephew, Michael Legere, smeared with real Marshmallow Fluff wearing swim goggles, his bathing suit and a cape. Laurinda explained her series of images saying that Fluff Boy flies from Prospect Hill and over the city, leaving little tufts of Fluff in his wake.
Fluff Boy was invited to appear at the festival and was our guest judge for the cooking contest. Festival organizers quickly learned the limits of Fluff Boy's powers as 60 samples of sweet treats in an excited 8 year old's stomach did not hold.
	Despite his sugary weakness Fluff Boy was an instant celebrity as festival-goers clamored to have their photo taken with him and the media wooed for his attention.
With his aunt Fluff Boy came along on that first tour of the Durkee-Mower Fluff factory, in full costume of course. For the post tour refreshments he chose a hot dog as well as a special Fluffernutter Sundae from Baskin Robbins. In the picture here, that's Laurinda with her trophy on the far right; she won the Science Fair. Jill Downer, winner of the cooking contest is on the left. See more photos from that tour.
	For the 2007 festival Fluff Boy had some competition as other boys appeared in costume, lapping up Fluffernutters all day long and claiming their own super hero titles.
In 2008 Matt Reidsma, the local artist behind High Maintenance Machine leapt at the chance to tell the back story of Fluff Boy and created a multi-page comic.
	Matt enlisted his friends George Pfromm II, Liz Prince, Joe Quinones and Maris Wicks to join him. With the help and support of Hub Comics the publication is slated for release this September. See more on the artists here.

Gallery Exhibit of Original Comic Book Art

On display September 5 through October 31

Somerville Community Access Television, 90 Union Square, Somerville

Exhibit Opening Event