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C1 It itl C3 6 'I 0 0 ill if 3 5'(? Illustrator and comic book creator -HOMETOWN: Toms River CAUSES Cartoonist draws his own reality Toms River artist creates superheroes 1 I JB, 1.1 I Jt Above, cartoonist Howard Bender works at drawing board In his one of his recent creations, called Billy TIM MC CARTHYStaff Photographer RAFFLE BENEFITS PROVIDENCE HOUSE TOMS RIVER: Two local businesses have joined forces to raise funds for Catholic Charities' Providence House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence-Saturn and WalMart, both of Toms River, are jointly sponsoring a $2-per-ticket raffle to win a 1998 Saturn, with all proceeds going to Providence House. Saturn of Toms River donated the vehicle, and WalMart has announced it will match all funds raised through ticket sales." Now through April 4, the car will be on display in the WalMart on Route 37, where tickets can be purchased. Providence House is the only comprehensive domestic violence program in the county. It offers emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline, advocacy services, information and referrals, support groups, court accompaniment and community education. All services are free and confidential.

Anyone who wants to buy a ticket can visit the WalMart or call the Providence House outreach center at (732) 244-6257. For more information about Providence House, call the hotline at (732) 244-8259 or 1-800-246-8910 for those in the 609 area code. FOOD AND TOY DRIVE SOUTH toms RIVER: The South Toms River Police AthleticActivity League will conduct a food and toy drive now through Dec 12. Drop-off sites are: Lucky Spirits, The Dance Center, Beachcomber Hair Stylists, and Big City Pizza and Pasta, all Atlantic City Boulevard; and Luigi Deli Meat Market Quick Food, Connie's Cafe, Seven-11, Dover Foods, and South Toms River Laundramat, all Dover Road; and South Toms River Borough Hall, Mill Street Call (732) 286-1551 or (732) 341-9309. TOYS FOR KIDS Manchester township: The Manchester Toys for Kids Program is seeking donations of new, unwrapped toys for distribution to needy children in the Manchester and Lakehurst areas.

Toys may be dropped off until Dec. 14 at the following locations: Edwards Super Food Store, Route 530, Jim's Crestwood Service Center, Lacey Road, and Crest-wood Family Restaurant all Whiting; Manchester Times, Union Avenue, Lakehurst; Manchester Municipal Building, Union Avenue, and Redeemer Lutheran Church of Manchester, Route 70, both in Manchester. Names of children in need are available from the "giving tree," at Shop-Rite of Manchester, Route 70, Lakehurst Monetary donations may be sent to: Manchester Township Holiday program, co B. Sloan, 1 Colonial Drive, Lakehurst N.J. New Jersey, 08733, before Dec.

5. Call (732) 657-8121 Ext. 270. CHURCH COAT DRIVE UKEWOOD: Christ United Methodist Church and the Lakewood Interfaith Council invite the public to join them in a coat and blanket drive for those less fortunate in the community. Coats and blankets will be accepted at the church, 678 Fifth St beginning immediately and continuing into the first two weeks of December.

Coats and blankets will be distributed in the Town Square along with hot soup on Jan. 3. Call the church office at (732) 363-8885. By ANTOINETTE ALEXANDER STAFF WRITER om Fitzwich's world is one where time has seamlessly fused together, forcing creatures from all eras to coexist in one chaotic world. A world where a full-time mechanic and part-time world-saver also known as Mr.

Fixitt is called upon to repair, whether the problem be with a carburetor or a nuclear bomb. The catch is that this red-haired superhero (who by day works at Roy-Boy's Good Gas) knows not how he fixes things nor how he finds himself entangled in his pre-dictments. But perhaps Howard Bender does. Bender, a Toms River illustrator, is not only Mr. Fixitt's creator but a well-known free-lance illustrator who, over the last 20 years, has helped bring life to many comic book characters, including the web-spewing Spiderman.

"Howard is extremely imaginative," said Jack C. Harris, a Toms River freelance writer and owner of Harriscript proprietorship who is collaborating with Bender on a coloring book and a syndicated Sherlock Holmes comic strip that runs overseas. "He always makes what we do together look terrific when we are finished," Harris said. Since beginning his career in 1973 as a staff production artist at Warren Publishing Co. in New York, Bender, 45, has dabbed his pencil into work for Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Bantam Books, as well as for newspapers, magazines and advertising agencies.

"I can do anything from Bigfoot to a straight superhero," said Bender, who works out of his Toms River home. "I try to be as adaptable as possible." But for Bender, who spends about 16 hours a day working in his cluttered studio with Super-girl, The Green Lantern and dozens of other superhumans quietly watching, it is not just a job. It's a lifelong passion. "I was smitten with comic books as a child," he said. "I was very much taken with the colorful characters." But like kryptonite weakening Superman's powers or The Green Lantern losing his mysterious ring, Bender's love for comics was powerless against homework-assigning teachers.

g- 111 1 -Mfc -1 'jL. Toms River homo studio. Below, and Pop. draw. And, like Mr.

Fixitt who "has a date with destiny," Bender's destiny seems to lie in his drawings. "Companies come and go but the dream still stays," Bender said. "When I was in school and would hand in a book report, the cover would be more elaborate than the actual report," said Bender, sitting at his drawing table in the upstairs of the home he shares with his wife, Joni, and their three children ages 14, 9, and 7. But one might argue that his love for the world where good conquers evil paid off. Bender, who grew up in Pittsburgh, decided to pursue his love of drawing.

In 1974, after graduating from the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh with an associate degree in art and design, he moved to New York. Just three weeks after graduation Bender landed a job doing production work for Marvel Comics, where he remained until 1979. For the next 18 years, Bender would spend time as a freelance illustrator for Children's Better Health Magazine, Lerner Books and Disney Comics, to name a few. He also did production work for DC Comics from 1982 to 1984. Bender, who moved to Toms River in 1985, continued his education as well, taking art courses at the Art Students League, the School of Visual Arts, Artist Guild, Comp USA and Ocean County College.

No matter where he was working, Bender, who claims to have 20,000 comic books tucked away throughout his home, stuck with freelancing for the "opportunity to araw more dooks. Today, in addition to undertaking various other projects, Bender also offers cartoon classes for those interested in learning to ASBURY PARK PRESS iWfebNESrJAY, DfeC l6, lW'.