IT’S PEANUT MAN!

By day, new comic-book hero hawks snacks as not-so-mild-mannered RiverDogs' fan favorite

Anthony Wright

IT’S PEANUT MAN!
By day, new comic-book hero hawks snacks as not-so-mild-mannered RiverDogs’ fan favorite

Anthony Wright

Philip Simmons and Mayor Joe Riley are featured in a panel of “Peanut Man”

No, it's not a bird, it's not a plane. It's Peanut Man!

He's the character in a new comic book produced by Anthony Wright, better known around the Lowcountry as, well, Tony the Peanut Man.

Don't tell anybody, though. His identity is a secret so he can continue to help children and less fortunate people as they battle their daily trials and tribulations.

The mag, titled "Peanut Man," is due to hit the streets shortly. Plans are, according to Wright, to first distribute them at a Charleston RiverDogs baseball game where he will be featured June 13.

Wright is a well-known and well-liked character around town, hawking his variety of peanuts as he sings, dances and does whatever it takes for you to go for his parched, roasted and boiled goobers. He can be seen at all manner of public events, always wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with, what else, a peanut and a sweetgrass hat that has no crown. He's been a huge fan favorite at RiverDogs games for years. In fact, the whole thing got started at an early season RiverDogs game last year, according to illustrator Jon Proctor, 34, of Savannah, and a pal of scriptwriter Stephen Hoffius. "We went to a game and Steve told me about Tony, but Tony wasn't there. He's a legend in Charleston."

Wright said he had run into Hoffius, a local writer and editor, at an earlier game, and they discussed the idea for the comic book, something Wright said had been a dream of his for a long time. He said he was encouraged when Hoffius told him at the game that he respected what he was doing, making a living entertaining people and doing civic work.

Wright does charity work, gives motivational speeches and he works with children.

The comic book reflects Wright's take on life: the pursuit of success, helping others and education. A part of the book's storyline deals with the science of the peanut and the groundbreaking work of Dr. George Washington Carver.

Proctor, highly regarded in the industry, said of the theme: "It's sort of like a morality play." When describing how the book came together, he said, "Steve shot me a script a couple of weeks later (after the game). I did some character designs and he showed them to Tony. Tony approved the script and I started working on it."

The Post and Courier

Anthony Wright

Proctor, who has done work for DC Comics' "Batman," said it took him seven or eight months to draw the 14-page proof, an unusually long time for a book its size. "I wanted to get it right," he said.

Wright eloquently described his goals for the book in a recent interview. "I believe I can bring inspiration to younger folks, and regardless of where they start, it could bring them success." This after a heart-rending explanation of how he built a successful life from meager beginnings. He went on, "Carver is under-appreciated. Philip Simmons is under-appreciated.

"Like them, I said, I can make a difference."

Day to day, his mission with his customers remains the same. "If they're sad, I try to make them feel good."

Reach Jack McCray at 937-5519 or jmccray@postandcourier.com.