When I first started working on the script for the upcoming next issue of Skateboard Heroes, I wanted to do some stuff with kids on bikes. It was a way to get some of the boys’ friends involved, and also a logical pool of antagonists. Kids on bikes would of course be natural foes of kids on skateboards. No brainer, right?

Thing is, I wanted a decent old school BMX style helmet with full face coverage. Mostly because I wanted to have a potentially unlimited pool of villains, and I didn’t want to have to buy scores of helmets or secure the services of dozens of kids. With some face coverage I coulld easily make one kid play the role of 10 or 12.

It proved difficult to find a helmet within my customary budget of EXCEPTIONALLY little, though. I tried bike helmets, motorcycle helmets, toy plastic things…you name it. I even considered a welding helmet. Finally, after much searching, I ended up with a World War II style motorcycle helmet with vintage-looking goggles.

The thing is, it is a fully padded motorcycle helmet for an adult. It actually looks great on kids because it covers their entire heads. On me, however (because I did hope to press it into service as my own safety helmet) it has a sort of Dark Helmet from Spaceballs vibe. All the interior padding makes it perch way high on my head. And it is BIG.

Oh well, there’s always Halloween.