Gangbuster In The News!

GANGBUSTER FLIES ACROSS THREE STATES!

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL --
January 2008

The GANGBUSTER gang prevention comic book is now making simultaneous debuts in three areas: Palm Beach County, Rockford, Illinois and Utica N.Y.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department is distributing 5,000 GANGBUSTER books at the Palm Beach County Fair, which opens Friday, January 18.

The Rockford, Illinois CeaseFire program will begin distributing GANGBUSTER mid-January.

The Utica, N.Y. Compeer agency will also roll out the educational comic book mid-January.

GANGBUSTER made headlines across Palm Beach County last year when Boynton Beach Police Department Officer Robert Kellman ordered 2,000 copies for distribution. Creator Kulpa collaborated with Officer Kellman after a gang-related 2006 Christmas Eve shooting occurred at a local mall within yards of Kulpa's two daughters.

Parents, youngsters and educators snapped up copies immediately from distribution points across the city, resulting in a second printing.

GANGBUSTER is a revised, updated and color-enhanced version of the original book, first released with great success in Rockford, Illinois, in 1986.

Its highly enthusiastic reception from children, parents and counselors in Illinois inspired local youth-gang experts to mail 535 copies to every Congressman and Senator in Washington, D.C. One newspaper article declared GANGBUSTER "more popular than the (Chicago Bears') 'Fridge' and Walter Peyton combined" after a costumed Gangbuster superhero handed out free copies at a local middle school assembly.

The educational comic -- which was developed with extensive input from law enforcement and community counselors -- aims at children ages 8-14. In Rockford, a local corporation funded free distribution of 25,000 copies that became the rage among youngsters.

Since then, GANGBUSTER has been re-edited for today’s youngsters by renowned editorial specialist Robin Pendleton, and it has been approved by legal departments of police departments and social agencies.

“The books can now be regionalized to contain advice and crisis-line numbers for specific areas around the country -- and to display the name of the sponsor.

"They function as highly effective communications tools with -- or without -- counselors present, though Gangbuster's ultimate effectiveness occurs when counselors guide the kids through the story, and drive home its main points.”

A teacher’s guide is available to help instructors and community leaders.