Table of Contents RKYV # 48 {2011} RKYV ONLINE LOGO – David Marshall {current} r. j. paré {modified} Roy G. James {original} Virtual Cover # 48 - Art by Nik Poliwko - Design/Layout by David Marshall Interior Art - By r. j. paré, Mike Grattan, James ‘Jig-One’ Titman, Roger Price, Stephen Gibb, Amber
Bair, T. B. Hoopdriver, Josh Bowe, Nik Poliwko Editorial Column - “At the Outset: A Few Thoughts from the Editor” - By r. j. paré
Poetry - By Wanda VanHoy Smith, Frances Nichols Vargas & r. j. paré Pop Culture - “Manga Maximus” - By Darke Raven
Featured Artist Review - “Nik Poliwko” - By r. j. paré
- “Digital Scribbles” - By Darke Raven
Short Fiction - “A Certain Destiny” - by Pauline Paré
- “Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons” - By Pauline Paré
Jess B&W 5 –
by Josh Bowe
Blue Stone Scape {Páipéirance} -
by Tindersen Blacktree Hoopdriver
At the Outset: Wash: “This landing is gonna get pretty interesting.” Mal: “Define ‘interesting’.” Wash: [deadpan] “Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die?” -- Serenity
[Familiar to RKYV readers as one half of the dynamic-duo, along with Tom Nesbitt, that produced the Bob & Doug McKenzie newspaper comic-strip – reviewed in earlier issues of our Zine!] Read on, in order to enjoy the likes of: Mr. Poliwko’s fantastic art, which he has graciously shared with us in the Featured Artist of the Month column; our thoughtful & witty Columnists Darke Raven and Pauline Paré; and his is gonna get interesting’ certainly qualifies as understatement, at least it always did some new poetic verse from Wanda VanHoy Smith, Frances Nichols Vargas & yours truly – r. in regards to our intrepid friends aboard the j. paré – for you to [hopefully] enjoy. Firefly ship Serenity. And here at RKYV we strive, each and every issue, to do the same – keep things interesting for us as creators and for Pauline Paré has also penned an interesting you the readers. This month’s grab-bag of art-lit short fiction piece “A Certain Destiny”, inspired by one of our visits to S.P.A.C.E. con – which goodies is chock full of interesting and entertaining tid-bits for you to enjoy! [YES it’s a we’ll be serializing over the course of the next few issues. hyphen and I’ll use it as much as I damn-well please, thank-you-very-much!] Serious kudos, as well, to the talented artists We, here at RKYV are quite pleased to announce [credited throughout this edition] who continue to share their amazing work with us. Their this Zine has gotten back on schedule over the contributions are the starting point for every summer… and as such, starting next issue, we edition of RKYV’s design aesthetic! will return to printing the “month” of
A few thoughts from, The Editor… by r. j. paré ‘T
publication on the covers since we are no longer overdue! It is my pleasure to present this issue’s featured artist Nik Poliwko, a talented witty indie comic creator.
For more RKYV entertainment than we can fit into a PDF, look no further... LOL. We have got some fun and engaging sites set up for you by the ever-intrepid RKYV staff.
Darke Raven’s RKYV Blog & Pod Casts – vote for your favourite segments! http://rkyvrevue.blogspot.com/ Official RKYV Blog – send us your comments, questions & suggestions! http://rkyv.blogspot.com/ RKYV Editorial Video Blog – watch me act the fool and hype the Zine! http://www.youtube.com/user/RKYVONLINE RKYV ONLINE Facebook Group – post submissions and interact with other contributors! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2399067108 Until next time… A badee badee a badee a badee a THAT'S ALL FOLKS… Publisher’s Note: legal disclaimer* Mr. Paré does not represent RKYV when he infringes on Warner Bros. copyrights and he should exercise care when doing so, lest Yacko, Whacko & Dot pay him a violent [though, admittedly, amusing] visit late one night and instead concentrate henceforth on delivering, punctually, future editions of RKYV ONLINE.
Blood Rains –
by Amber Bair
Tat Art & Designs by Roger Price
Mad Faces
Batman putting on his cowl
The Joker
Kermit
Should you like to know more [or perhaps even have Roger lay some ink down on ya] you can e-mail Roger: moleman00x@hotmail.com or‌ Follow him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629478508
Preserving the Ego –
by Stephen Gibb
Featured Artist Review Yes. I started drawing at a very young age; living in small town Manitoba, there was little else to do! I did a lot of trying to copy Superman and Spider-Man, and creating little comic book stories. Looking back, I really didn’t get any good at it until I was around 12 years old. Something clicked at that age and there was suddenly a huge improvement in my skills – my drawings went from being outlined “blobs” to having some foundation and structure. The passion to tell stories is what drove my desire to draw comics, and I consider myself more a storyteller than an artist.
Nik Poliwko by r. j. paré SHORT BIO: “The busiest guy no one has heard of!” I’m primarily a comics artist, but have also done cartooning, illustration, storyboards, 3D computer graphics and animation. I’m also a budding screenwriter and filmmaker. In comics I’ve worked for a number of indie publishers, including Catfish Comics, A.C. Comics, Andromeda, Revisionary Press, Tree Frog Comics and Vortex among others. I was writer and artist on the official daily strip “Bob and Doug”, based on the SCTV “Great White North” characters Bob and Doug McKenzie. I also produced the book “Strange Brew” based on the MGM movie: “The Adventures of Bob and Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew.”
Nik Poliwko & Tom Nesbitt 2. Did you study or major in art while in school?
I was enrolled in the Graphic Design class at Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba; finding out quickly that graphic design is not what I wanted to do! I sent portfolios to the New York School of Visual Arts in New York and Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario (these were the only two schools offering courses in sequential arts at 1. Have you always known that you wanted to be the time). or, rather, were an artist?
I was accepted at both, which resulted in me only finishing the first year of Graphic Design at Red River College before going off to Sheridan in Ontario, which was more logical for me than moving to New York. I ended up completing only one year at Sheridan because I was doing great business as a freelance artist, and saw no need to continue studies there. I was far from being a star student, and you could say I studied art but majored in partying! However, I did take away a sense of respect and discipline for the craft, and met a lot of great people, many of whom are still good friends.
3. Who was your primary source of encouragement, as a child, in pursuing art? My mother, who was ever-encouraging; she was a bit of an artist herself and did oil paintings for fun and relaxation, but never pursued it as a career. 4. Do you use any special tools and techniques to create your art? I think my approach is somewhat like a method actor. I meditate on what I’m drawing and try and call up the appropriate energy for the task; I become a dark persona when I draw “dark” and so forth. I don’t like to do roughs since, in my opinion they sap the energy from the drawing. I’ll often have a firm visualization in my mind before it hits the page, so I guess I do my preliminaries in my head rather than sketch them out on paper. Sometimes rough layouts are a necessary evil though, especially if you're working with a writer, and I don't mind doing them if that's the situation. My preferred way of working is "Marvel-style" where I get a brief outline and then layout and draw the story, with the writer adding captions and dialogue based on the visuals. I find this approach to be a true collaboration. I don't mind working from a full script either; it's usually a lot easier!
Nik Poliwko Title: Abraxis
Artist’s Name:
[splash page for a graphic novel project] Media Used: Pencils on Bristol board. Size: 11 x 18 Date Created: (2000s)
The only writers I won't work with are ones that add all types of stage directions (unless completely necessary to the story) and are adamant that their script be rendered a certain way; I need some leeway to interpret the script as I see it, or I find I don't have satisfaction in doing the artwork. When I worked with traditional tools I used an HB pencil, a Gillot or Hunt steel nib and Winsor-Newton Series 7 #3 brush for inking. Now I work on a Wacom Cintiq 21UX drawing tablet. 5. What inspires you to create art?
If you're going to be influenced by other artists, why not the best in the business! Of course there are a lot more, I've also studied great European artists like Hugo Pratt, Moebius, Milo Manera and Bernet to name a few. As well as Japanese artists like Katsuhiro Otomo, Naoki Urasawa and Takao Saito. I really could go on and on. And that doesn't even get to illustrators and painters like N.C. Wyeth, Pyle, Coll and classical artists like Da Vinci, Michaelangelo -even Van Gogh! I don't believe in just studying artists who do comics; I think more can be brought to the table by pulling inspiration from a variety of great masters!
There are a lot of things I find inspiring! First and foremost is a good story! I'll often read something and visuals will start to flood my mind! Great artwork! Great movies! Most of the time it's hard getting through a day without being inspired by something! 6. Which famous artists / creators or styles have influenced you? Why? My primary inspirations are old school artists like Will Eisner, Frank Frazetta, Jim Steranko, Alex Raymond, Alex Toth, Jack Kirby and Wally Wood! They were all such master storytellers with the ability to beautifully illustrate their visions! Will Eisner had such control over subtle nuances of human gesture and emotions and a wonderful theatrical approach to his work, infusing a perfect blend of comedy and drama... and I admire his expert use of light and shadow. For pure visual power and energy you can't get any better than Jack Kirby. Alex Raymond had a certain "nobility" that exudes from his characters, and a lot can be learned from his fine draftsmanship! Jim Steranko for his innovative layouts and unique approach to using color and form. Wally Wood's attention to detail and his beautiful movie-inspired lighting! Alex Toth for his wonderful integration of design and masterful use of black, and an "economy" of drawing that gets the point of the scene across easily and effectively! Frazetta for the primal energy that comes through in his work, and his deftness with the brush, both in paint and ink work!
Nik Poliwko Title: Magneto
Artist’s Name:
[Š Marvel Comics] Media Used: Digital painting produced with Corel Painter 12. Date Created: (2011)
7. Would you rather have an engaged & loyal but, ultimately, small Indie readership or work on the latest Spidey, Wolverine or X - book? [The old Art vs Commerce question] When I was younger I was drawn more to superhero books, but as time passed and I matured as a storyteller I really had to take a close look at the types of stories I would like to tell, and these days that no longer includes most superheroes. If I had to pick a few, it would probably be characters like Judge Dredd, Batman, Wolverine or Spawn; dark characters that have little use for bullshit. Ultimately though, I think I would prefer an engaged and loyal indie readership that enjoyed the type of stories I have to tell, which may not include any superheroes at all.
Artists’ Names:
Nik Poliwko & Tom Nesbitt Title:
Bob and Doug McKenzie - the Comic Strip [these two strips were banned because of content and never published.]
Never let it be said that “the suits” make any sense when it comes to censorship… RKYV is quite happy to run these two and scoop the mainstream press!!
8. With advancements in computer graphic tablet technology, some artists are now creating their work directly in the digital medium and releasing it in purely digital formats... are the days of paper & pulp doomed to the realm of fading memories? For me, one of the best decisions I ever made was to invest in a Wacom Cintiq tablet. I love working in digital... it has allowed me to produce higher quality work at a greater speed. I haven't touched paper since I got my tablet.
Artist’s Name:
Nik Poliwko Title: "Blast(ed) from the Past" (page 3) which appeared in Sinnamon #11 Media Used: Pen and ink on Bristol board. Size: 10 x 15 Date Created: 1997
On the other hand, I do like to see my work in print, on paper. There is still the "collectable" factor to a material comic-book as opposed to the more "throw-away" nature of purely digital. 9. What do you think of the term "starving And literally anyone can "publish" a digital comic artist"? at very little expense, but not so with print. I do think that web-based or digital comics are a valid art form, and a heck of a lot of fun in terms of the pure variety of material available... not to mention a great testing ground for what can later become a print comic! Another good thing about digital web-based comics is the instant feedback from readers!
I have never embraced that statement since it has negative connotations and has never fit my mindset in terms of what I do; to me it seems to imply that the artist is a victim. And I've never been a victim of my craft.
10. Do you feel more a sense of community with other artists or a sense of competition?
11. I gotta ask: "Marvel or DC"? Marvel.
That's easy: community! I've never felt as if I've been in competition with other artists. The only competition I've ever had has been with myself. I find an artistic community as being invaluable to me; just for the wealth of things I can learn from other artist's experiences , and for the drive and motivation one can get from enjoying other people's work. I think the trick is to never stop learning from others.
12. Do you prefer to ink your pencils yourself? I've always enjoyed inking my own work, but I also don't mind other people inking. It's usually a pleasant surprise to see what another artist will bring to the work. But now with working digital I really no longer have any pencils... I go straight from roughs to finished art, so I'm not even sure how that process would work in a digital environment unless the inker re-inked my finished work, which I imagine would bring some interesting results.
Artist’s Name:
Nik Poliwko Queen
Title: [page from an upcoming graphic novel written by Mae Victoria] Media Used: Digital Date Created: (2011)
13. How do you market yourself? I've found the internet a valuable resource for personal marketing. With the ability to have a website, blogs and social media sites like Facebook, the marketing opportunities are endless, and also have a global reach. However I don't think much has changed, it still comes down to luck and having the right people noticing you, whether it be the art director in an agency or the equivalent online. I think the net has made a lot of things easier... such as the ability to reach a large number of potential clients and the viewing of portfolios, for example!
14. While traditional publishing and distribution has become a difficult goal to achieve for the modern Indie comic creator, what do you think of the impact that social networks and POD services have had as an alternate means of connecting you, your work and your audience? I think online comics and POD has given many creators a forum they may not have had previously, which in turn I believe leads to a level of creativity and innovation that we may never have seen otherwise.
Nik Poliwko Title: Guardian
Artist’s Name:
(page 5) from "The Guardian" story (written by Jerod Brennen) appearing in horror anthology "Fragments" Media Used: Pen and Ink on Bristol board, digital tone. Size: 8.5 x 11 Date Created: (2010) Another thing I love about the net is the ability to connect with people. Since I work in an entertainment medium, part of the equation for what I do is reaching an audience. I love having the means to get feedback on my work and project ideas instantaneously... social networks give me the ability to gauge the interest in what I'm doing as well as allowing my audience to let me know if I'm heading in the right direction or not with the stories I'm producing. I think that type of interaction is invaluable to an artist for improving their work. Of course I may not always apply suggestions I'm given, especially if I feel strongly about what I'm doing, but I'm always open to listening to constructive criticism. 15. What other interests do you have, besides art?
I'm a movie buff, so I watch a lot of movies, and also enjoy keeping up with scientific developments and archaeology, which are always great starting points for story ideas, by the way! Beyond drawing I also work on screenplays and have written, directed and produced a number of short films, and as a side business I produce promotional and presentation films for corporate clients. I also enjoy the outdoors, cooking and brewing the best coffee you'll ever taste!
Artist’s Name:
Nik Poliwko Title:
Zombies Preview panels from a strip to appear in "Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave" from Mosterverse Media Used: my first all digital work. Date Created: (2011)
In this editor’s humble opinion George Romero should tap this young man’s talent for his next film’s concept art & design..:)
16. Do you have any big plans, shows or Cons coming up? No shows or cons coming up, but I do have plans in the works for a couple of graphic novels which will likely debut initially as online comics. The problem is finding time to work on my own stuff!
--- BUT perhaps more importantly his ability to cinematically lay out the scene – tell the story – with such deft ease that it flows perfectly before any dialogue and/or narration have been added. It was also a great choice for Dave Marshall to adapt as this month’s cover of RKYV!
17. When should fans expect to see your next book in their local comic shops? Stuff will start coming out this fall! x
x x
x
Nik Poliwko Title: Last Survivor
Artist’s Name:
[page from "Last Survivor" written by Michael Leal to be published later this year] Media Used: Digital. Date Created: (2011) This piece, while visually stunning is also a great example of Nik’s strengths as a comic book creator. The all-in-one package of skills [line art, embellishments, colour] ---
x
x
I have a zombie strip I did with writer Michael Leal that will be appearing in "Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave" from Monsterverse A cover I did for a Shadow Chaser novel by Randy Belaire, A "Snowman" story I illustrated for writer Clayton Neal appearing in Red Carpet Comics from Popbox Entertainment, A strip called "The Guardian" written by Jerod Brennen appearing in the horror anthology
"Fragments", A story featuring an original character called Sherringford Khundalini which I created along with writer Angelo Furlan, appearing in a Jim Main Enterprises book early next year. I will also soon be starting work on a graphic novel project for Tree Frog Comics called "M.O.N.S.T.E.R. Home" with writer Dan Barnes.
18. How would you like your art, and by extension yourself, to be remembered? Hmm, how about that I brought a little fun and entertainment into the world and maybe a few shivers too!
Nik Poliwko Title: The Shadow
Artist’s Name:
© Dynamite Entertainment [currently] Commission Media Used: Pen and ink. Bristol board. Size: 8.5 x 11 Date Created: (2010)
RKYV Online would like to thank Nik for taking the time to answer our questions [we do pester don’t we? LOL] and for sharing with us some of his truly amazing work. For more on Nik Poliwko and to follow him online…
LINKS: Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/the.art.of.nik.poliwko Art of Nik Poliwko Blog 1 (Recent and Current projects): http://poliwko.wordpress.com/ Art of Nik Poliwko Blog 2 (Retrospective and film work): http://poliwko.blogspot.com/ deviantART: http://niknova.deviantart.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/poliwko
The very last Bob and Doug strip published for Messrs. Poliwko & Nesbitt! x
and a fine a way to ride off into the sunset for this month’s Featured Artist Review!!
My Thoughts are Transparent –
by Stephen Gibb
Digital Scribbles by Darke Raven Failure is usually not an option, but in this month's digital batch are the reads that failed without a shadow of a doubt. Titles I had such a poor opinion of I didn't even want to humour spending any further money on their reviews, in one case sure to draw ire as the publishers insist that the title is quite good... even if I say otherwise. So let the fail begin...
Super Human Resources #1 Publisher: Ape Entertainment Originally Published April 2nd 2009 Writer
Ken Marcus Artist Justin Bleep 1 temp out of 5
Taking place in the Human Resources dept of Super Crises International, they are the people the super people rely on for just about everything from the sublime to the mundane. Basically The Office if it's rights was bought by a really, really boring super hero comic company. It's that lacklustre. The entire issue introduces the sadly drawn slash written set up as a new temp shows up for work and is given the 4-1-1 on his new working environ, all the super human slash alien slash tech slash whatever hi-jinks going on even as the seconds remaining to live tick away as he has been poisoned by a out of work ninja... yeah that actually sounds a lot better than it is, trust me on that one.
Now don't get me wrong, I like me a good super hero parody as much as the next reviewer, yes I do, but when the parody comes like this? Me not like so much.
The artwork isn't something to get excited over, I could write a better script (being as un-humble as I could be this moment, sorry) and I have zero interest in reading anymore. No, no, no, no, no. This gets a sad 1 poisoned intern out of 5.
Next?
Finally...
Ninja Town
Grimm’s Fairy Tales:
Publisher: Devil's Due Originally Published August 20th 2008 Writers:
April Fool's Edition
Art Balthazar & Franco Aureliani Artist:
Shawn Smith 1 Ninja Fail out of 5 Another thing I like me a load of is quirky humour comics. Be it classics like Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbs, or new age stuff like Raising Amy, I like me my funnies... this, not so much. Supposedly a fun light hearted title it is just that... but not very interesting. How so? - In "Let Them Eat..." a flower loving ninja is harassed by crazy red splattered green ninjas which are taken out by ninja throwing flowers... until the last one convinces the hero to peacefully eat a giant muffin with him... you probably already know where this is going. - In "Feroshi's Day" a friendly fire breathing lizard just wants to join in everyone's fun! Stupid ending! I hate you! Finally in "Waffles" the ninja village is attacked by enemies using the power of waffle batter... guess how the ninjas defeat their enemies... go on... Without surprise, twist, or even humour this is a sad attempt to tickle my funny bone and gets only a single giant ninja waffle of doom out of 5... mmm... waffles.
Publisher: Zenescope Originally Published January 4th 2009 Writers:
David Seidman, Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco Artists: Various‌ Back in 2005 Zenescope popped out of nowhere and reinvented the classics. Classics like the works of the Brothers Grimm, Sinbad, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and more. So much so that there is no fence-sitting here when it comes to their works, you either are blown away by their bold new vision and love it, or turned off by their boldness and hate it. Me? I'm still out on that one.
Truth be told - I have only absorbed preview content amounts of their titles, not enough to judge, so I still have plans to do full reviews in the future. This, however, doesn't need to wait so long. I know exactly how I feel about this now.
In “Hansel and Grethel 2 Electric Boogaloo” there's dancing... talk of it, implications of it, and... Do Not Want. In “Reeferstiltskin” the king has some poor guy's daughter processing drugs, until she gets help... speaking of which HELP!! In “Jack and the Bromance”... uh... something about the bonds between a man and his giant. Then there's “Schizerella”... I think she might be a figment of Harley Quinn's deranged mind... People say if you have to be told why something's funny it loses its humour... well no thanks, I don't need to be told why this is funny, it already lost its humour to me the minute I read it... nice artwork though. A - 2 out of 5.
Next issue? How about some Doctor Who? It's all about the Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith as we look at Doctor Who Volume 2…
It's my fault, really, because I bought into the pitch that this would be a tour de force to the level of much beloved “Mystery Science Theater 3000”... yes, I do believe everything I read. Sad, huh? Basically just lifts of their regular comics with so called "humour" added in... and new endings... well, here. In “Red Riding Ho” Red is a genuine piece of work. Nasty, slutty (yes, her words not mine), the wolf is horny... everyone is and... It’s kinda too late to say “Do Not Want” isn't it.
… and the mini-series A Fairytale Life.
That's next issue so see you then.
Green Lantern [© DC Comics] –
by Naomi Randolph
Short Fiction It was the second day of V.O.I.C.E, the Eighth Annual Vaughn Ontario Independent Comics Expo, and Steven Clarkson was standing at his table for the 8th year in a row. Many of his fellow exhibitors had trimmed their tables with artistic banners and elaborate displays. These displayed professional looking comics that had been printed through online services, with full colour covers and quite often slick interiors as well. His fellow exhibitors sold glossy posters and t-shirts displaying the characters within. Steven, however, stood in front of eight neat piles representing the eight issues of his home printed mini-comic, Heroic Destiny. Each was 10 pages long and printed in black and white on folded printer paper- some with bent and mangled staples along the side. He had written and drawn one episode a year for the past eight years. Each comic featured a hero with different powers, and each character in the books looked, quite obviously, like Steven Clarkson. Steven was only a passable artist but he was a very distinct looking person. He wore his thick hair parted to one side and sweeping over one eye in a style of times gone by. He wore dark framed rectangular glasses and sported a thick dark moustache with no sign of a beard. He preferred polo style shirts to all other forms of clothing and was quite recognizable by all the other regular attendees of this event. Despite that fact, his booth attracted little attention and very few fellow exhibitors stopped to chat about their common interest in comic books. They found Steven Clarkson strange, an unusual assertion, considering the crazy costumes and even odder personalities present at the event. What made Stephen strange to them was his insistence, his rigid belief, that one day he would have super powers.
When Steven had been a small boy, his unfaltering belief that one day, HE would be a superhero that everyone would look up to made him the target of much derision and ridicule. His parents had been beside themselves with worry and in due course, they forced Steven to see a child psychiatrist. Eventually, Steven just lied to his parents and doctors and about what he believed but he never truly gave up his conviction that he had a super heroic destiny. He lied so that his parents would not take away his treasured collection of super hero comic books. Steven treated these books as if they were manuals on how to behave as a defender of the innocent. He tried each characters power on for size in his imagination, not knowing exactly what powers he would one day wield. That is why he tried to create his own comics, in anticipation of when these books would prepare the way for the city’s first true superhero.
“Oh…”she replied. “My name is Susan Law, some think that it is a good name for a superhero,” she laughed nervously. “The sign says one dollar each, I can’t afford all eight but I would like to buy the first 2 issues.” Pleased, Steven placed the two issues in an empty paper bag he brought for this eventuality and took her money. “Would you sign them for me? Susan asked while handing the paper bag back to Steven. He was quite taken aback and unsure what to do at first. He had imagined being asked this question but this truly was the first time. Feeling quite pleased and suddenly quite enamoured of Susan Law, Steven removed the books from the bag and signed them both then offered his hand to shake. Susan blushed slightly but took his hand in a firm grip and smiled. Steven cringed as a small spark of static electricity passed between them but Susan gasped and pulled her hand back in surprise. She gave him a stunned look. Business was slow at this con, as usual. Occasionally another vendor would purchase a book to be polite but most attendees just passed by his table in favour of a brightly adorned booth nearby. A pretty blonde woman wearing a blue Spiderman t-shirt and faded jeans stopped at his booth around lunchtime while he was eating his mushy peanut butter sandwich from a paper bag he packed this morning with an apple and 3 juice boxes.. She showed polite interest in his books and asked how he was enjoying the convention but he only managed to get out a sandwich muffled mumble. She waited politely while he finished his mouthful and asked the question again. “Good turn out this year I guess, better than 2 years ago when the weather was bad.” he answered. “I see… very interesting title for your comic series”, she said shyly. “’Destiny’” Steven looked at her suspiciously for a second but she seemed sincere, which was a welcome change. He did tire of being mocked and “Are you alright?” Steven asked with true was pleased to explain the theme of his work. “I concern. believe that some, who are destined for greatness, “I’m fine… it’s… I have to go now. Thank are aware of their destiny from birth.” He said you for the books…” quite seriously.
Susan gave him one last, less sincere, smile then wound her way through the winding aisles of the convention hall. Weeks passed since the convention and Steven was busy at work on issue 9 of his comic serial. He thought of Susan occasionally but finally dismissed it just an odd occurrence. He lived in a small apartment located above a convenience store- the same convenience store where he earned his rent money as a night clerk. It was a decent job with few customers and plenty of time to read comics and watch television. He would carry his PVR from his apartment and hook it up to the little store TV every night to catch up on all his favourites while at work. Being July, there wasn’t much to watch so Steve had the TV set to the news and weather ticker because the customers seemed to like it. On a Sunday evening, a customer paused while purchasing cigarettes to point at the screen. “Do ya think that’s a hoax, like for a movie or sumfin” He slurred, drunkenly. Steven peered at the TV but the news scrawl was saying something about the upcoming royal visit. “I am sure the Prince is visiting Yellow Knife, though I am not sure why” Steven answered conversationally. “Not that!” the drunken man yelled. “The super chick, I meant. The one who saved those people from a fire! Doncha watch the news, guy!” He mumbled something else incoherent and left the store with his cigarettes and most of his change. Steven scooped the errant change from the counter and sorted it into the change tray. The drunken guy was obviously a little nuts but Steven kept his eyes on the ticker regardless, curious to see just what the guy may have misinterpreted. The weather scrolled by, then the entertainment news, then world events. Steven yawned and nearly turned his head away when the banner scrolled “Mystery woman saves family from collision with streetcar. Saved 2 from burning building Saturday. Scientist say perplexed at alleged “super abilities” of woman media is calling ‘Amazing Woman.’” Steven put the ‘Back in 5 Minutes’ sign on the door and locked up while he ran to his apartment- to his slightly outdated PC- and to his trusty sidekick, Google.
His search for Amazing Woman pulled up thousands of hits on the search engine. He found a video clip from a reputable news site. The video featured a woman in a mask and hoodie appearing to be in deep concentration as a 9 year old boy floated from the fifth floor of a building on fire. Another story described witness accounts of a streetcar jumping over a car and landing safely on the other side while the same woman was present. Steven was shocked and dismayed. It was supposed to be him! He had KNOWN that he would develop super human powers and now it was someone else! Steven reviewed the facts as he tried to calm himself. This could just be a huge, amazing hoax, right? Steven knew he would be a hero but not necessarily the only super hero. Why, if others were gaining abilities that could only mean that his would materialize soon. He need only be patient and supportive of this Amazing Woman because she would soon be a colleague, a sister in arms. Steven went back to store feeling better than he had in ages. He was even able to completely ignore the glares of the irate customers who were lined up outside the store. Soon! All those who once teased and ridiculed will thank him for saving their sad little lives. SOON!
To be continued...
The Nest –
by Amber Bair
Manga Maximus by Darke Raven
Disgaea One Shot By Arashi Shindo Published by Broccoli Books 4 out of 5
My greatest excuse for reviewing this or that has got to be nostalgia. I'm feeling nostalgic so I'm going to review this. I am having a memory lane moment so I'm going to review that. Not the most practical way to review but given my budget you can probably understand why I would do it that way. Right? So take one of my favourite PS2 slash PSP slash DS strategy game, give me a Manga version of it, and you can just feel the full on nostalgia dripping from the coming review. Yes, yes you can. Some people can nap like the dead. Me, for instance... but this isn't a review about me. It's about Prince Laharl, who slept for two years... well technically it was an assassination attempt but you can read about it yourself. Anyway awakening two years later he finds out he slept through alot of happenings here in this crazy underworld, not at all the least of it being his father (King Krichevskoy) was assassinated while he slept, only the king isn't as dead as thought... he's just someone else now. Etna (loyal then not so loyal then loyal again when she beats to near death the person controlling her then gone when she changes locales to be in Disgaea 2) is the one who wakes the Prince up, setting off a chain of events where he quests to become Overlord of the Underworld.
Along the way he meets his new rival the Dark Adonis Vyers (aka Mid Boss), the angel Flonne who was sent to kill the king but who ends up helping Laharl when she finds out her target is already dead, the guy manipulating Etna (who she promptly beats), and so on. Smart and well written fun, great characters (especially Etna who returns for Disgaea 2 despite the fact it has nothing to do with what is going on here) and an overall satisfying delivery of story and art. I'm not a usual fan of tie-in series of this particular genre (mangas tied into a video game series) as they're usually easily forgettable shovel-ware, but this is a good read and I'm glad I had the chance to review it... uhoh... what the heck is Broccoli Books up to lately? I have to catch up with them and find out. Anyway this blast of nostalgia gets a nice 4 out of 5. If your a fan of the video games and/or the anime? Check this out. Next issue? Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances) Part 1
by Stephen Gibb
The Dutchess – A tribute to Sir William Tenniel and Lewis Carroll for sheer absurdity and sublime ugliness
Poetry Selected Poems by Wanda VanHoy Smith
CLOUD SEER My Scotch Irish grandmother reads tea leaves She tells our fortunes from loose leaves left inside our teacups. If Bubbles rise to the top of the cup when we stir our tea we can expect to get a kiss. If the tea is too strong that means a new love If it is too weak that means the end of love. She studies dregs in our cups cheerfully saying “I see a tree for good luck, a tent for a trip and a kite means you will get your wish.” She frightens us with whispers, “Be careful I see a bird of prey.” We believe the birds and beasts in Grandma's tea tasseography are true omens. I am not Lucy in the sky with diamonds but I believed I see my fortune in the sky. Clouds give bigger clearer images than leaves of tea I see a fish shaped cloud and Dad hooks a salmon. A fluffy white kitten appears in the cumulus overhead. The neighbor's cat has kittens and I adopt one. It is scrawny and gray but proof enough to me that I am a seer of clouds as scientific as tasseography.
During Cold war bomb drills we duck under desks in fear of an A bomb. One day, flat on my back on the lawn gazing up at the cumulus sky I see a big cloud evolved into a mushroom shape, the perfect image of the Atomic bomb. I run screaming in the house that we are all going to die and my sister declares I am crazy. Mom tells me “Get your head out of the clouds.” I stop watching for that bomb to drop but can't stop watching clouds for an image of his face. All I see are clouds shaped like a broken heart.
WATERMELONS ARE NO JOKE I hear that a watermelon is 92% water so I doubt that is a fruit with any food value. Not worth the room it will take in my Coldspot. But I am hot and crave a crispy piece of cold flesh so I walk my fingers through Google like a stroll through a health food store researching watermelon. I discover that this green and rosy fruit is not only loaded with vitamin C but is also very sexy even more than a Bloody Mary or a banana split.
This surprising piece of pleasure is related to the homely pumpkin, squash and cantaloupe The watermelon flesh comes in many colors, yellow, orange and even pale white which doesn't sound as appetizing to me as the bright red piece that I can almost taste just thinking about. A most surprising fact Watermelon Researchers find is that flesh of this popular food contains an Amino Acid by the name of Arginine. Arginine compound is used by Pharmaceutical manufacturers to enhance Viagra. If word gets out that watermelon contains something used in Viagra that may cause a run on Whole Food Stores. Since watermelon is no longer a trifle the farmer may guard his melon patch with Sarah Palin's rifle.
Wanda VanHoy Smith 2011
Selected Poems by Frances Nichols Vargas
And even a quick tourist visit to Central Park and a short visit to Strawberry Fields to touch the heart
NYC IN A HEARTBEAT
Catch an evening dinner and show on Broadway
Feeling inspired by life around me The hustle and the bustle noises are full of energy A bit of an oxymoron crazy surrounding life force
Can complete any day in the city Of course if more time allows there is always Times Square all lit up in neon flare
The energy draws you into a sense of being a part And for all the of some real big picture ladies and some men too And dwarfs your very existence all in a second Why not do a The smells of the pushcarts spiral the senses out bit of shopping of control in Macy’s to soothe the soul All while taking a stroll Bring your walking shoes and an open heart
The 24 hour 7 day a week constant pace is enough to fill any appetite
And the city will always offer a place to start
And yet can be too much to enjoy
Safely tucked away in my suburban home I yearn for another visit and another stroll The dank smell of the subway and the majestic city line views I desire the culture and miss the smell of the coffee shops
Don’t make a plan and keep an open mind
Luring me in for a quick stop The city always promises a great time The famous Carnegie Deli
ROADS Stopping to take a peek at the view Or even speeding to feel the breeze These roads stretch out before us Only to bring us places that have been well travelled And other times to places only once in a lifetime Some roads can be scary Some even daring Some roads come to an abrupt end And some have construction that seem to have no end Bumpy, winding and never ending roads They often make you dizzy and confused Sometimes the road leads to a dead end
Some roads can be beautiful Even peaceful But one thing is for sure
Other times it leads to an intersection Roads with no end All roads eventually bring you right where you Roads that go around in circle and back again belong
Björk –
by James ‘Jig-One’ Titman
Poetic Perspectives by r. j. paré
‘Twas the not so distant future ‘Twas the not so distant future, when all around the place Not a soul was stirring, in the whole human race. The stockpiles of weapons, poisons and chem, Left hopeless the destiny of thoughtless men No children were heard in such hazy silence, Brought low, too soon from this existence. And parents bereft, no time to mourn, As they too, from life, have been violently shorn. Who started it, really does not matter, So falls the blame, on all, with hardly a clatter Polluted Earth held on by a thin frayed sash, Until the bombs fell, ending it all in a flash. The moonlight wanes o’er fallout snow Faint lustre on memorial below. If one day, wandering eyes should appear, Learn from our folly, have pity - remember.
Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons by Pauline Paré
FAIRY TALES GROW UP Fairy tales were originally darker stories and not all had happy endings. Disney has a different view of what a fairy tale should look like but film and television are bringing fairy tales back to their darker roots with the recent “Red Riding Hood” and the two Snow White movies in the works. We have seen trends in superhero series, vampire series and fantasy series recently. 2011 is the year of the fairy tale series. Lost Girl may qualify… it is about a fairy in a secret world of fairy tales and monsters. I was intrigued by the ads and I gave the series a fair shake. Lost girl is a Canadian series being aired on Showcase. I think I saw 5 unexciting episodes.
The main character, Bo is not interesting enough to carry the series which would be fine if the rest of cast could make up for the slack. Her sidekick, Kensi is just plain irritating and the most interesting character, Trick, is rarely seen. It was renewed but I will not be watching season 2. I think I will try one of the new fairytale series premiering this fall.
Grimm is an NBC series premiering on October 21st. I found that the trailer showed too much. (It pretty gave you the entire first episode’s resolution) but the characters and effects seem quite amazing. The premise is that a homicide detective finds out that he is descendant from the line of Grimms and that he is able to see the true faces of people who are actually fairy tale characters. O.K… Now that I see it in print it seems a little corny. The trailer wasn’t the best trailer I have ever seen either. So why do I seem hyped on this show? Some of the images in the trailer were exciting and intriguing for one thing. I enjoyed the acting I saw in the trailer, even though I am not very familiar with the actors. I also like the twist-that the stories the Grimm brothers wrote were real. I will be tuning in to the show in October and I hope to report I will enjoy it as much as I hope I will.
Once Upon a Time by ABC has a different feel to it than Grimm. It has more classic fairytale elements and a hapless, trapped heroine. I thought I was more excited about Grimm until I saw that Robert Carlyle was to be a regular. Listen here all you SGU haters. I loved the show! So there! Carlyle’s character Rush was one of my favourite parts and I hope that he has a big juicy role in Once Upon a Time. The trailer for the show is well made but the character of Emma Swan did not intrigue me as much as the lead in Grimm. I will have to do a follow up once I have seen both episodes. The new seasons are starting soon and I am just now having TV withdrawals. I will be checking out some brand new shows and I am looking forward to seeing some favourites come back. Happy Fall Season folks and… …may your favourite shows stay cancel free!