RKYV # 49 {Sept. 2011}
Table of Contents
RKYV ONLINE LOGO – David Marshall {current} r. j. paré {modified} Roy G. James {original} Virtual Cover # 49 - Art by Edward Dennis - Design/Layout by David Marshall
Editorial Column - “At the Outset: A Few Thoughts from the Editor” - By r. j. paré World View - “IMO” - by r.j. paré Featured Creators Review - “Return of Jeremy Munroe” creative team - By r. j. paré
Interior Art - By r. j. paré, Mike Grattan, James ‘Jig-One’ Titman, Roger Price, Stephen Gibb, Amber Bair, T. B. Short Fiction Hoopdriver, GIO, Corinne Vuillemin - “A Certain Destiny” part II Josh Bowe, Larissa Gula, Brent Giles - by Pauline Paré & Edward Dennis
Jess b & w 7 – by
Josh Bowe
- “At Night…” part III - by CS Cartier Poetry & Art Challenge - By Wanda VanHoy Smith, D.a. Erb & r. j. paré Pop Culture - “Digital Death” - By Lars Swearington - “Comic Book Review” - by r. j. paré - “Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons” - By Pauline Paré
A flock of pelicans near the boardwalk at Virginia Beach – by
Larissa Gula
At the Outset: Don't give me no hand me down world I don't wanna take it and I really don't need it -- The Guess Who
A few thoughts from, The Editor… by r. j. paré “Hand Me Down World” is playing on YouTube while I type this. Gotta love the classic [Canadian] rock, eh? It was also the inspiration for this issue’s Art – Lit Challenge over in the Poetry section, skim ahead and you’ll see all the cool stuff our contributors came up with!
Pauline Paré continues her short fiction piece “A Certain Destiny”, inspired by one of our visits to S.P.A.C.E. con; while CS Cartier delivers the latest instalment in his Nightwing Fan Fiction story “At Night, There Be Darkness.” Heck we even convinced Lars Swearington, one heck of a talented indie creator in his own right, to share his thoughts on the emergence of digital publication in the comics industry. Applause, kudos, and salutations to all the amazing artists [credited throughout this edition] who’ve share their work with us. Their spectacular contributions are a joy to incorporate into each issue’s design.
BTW – you can now “follow” us on twitter @ http://twitter.com/#!/RKYVOnline and LET US This month’s Featured Creators Review takes a look at a talented team of Indie Comics Creators – KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. We’ll publish those responsible for the short story “The Return interesting comments, suggestions & critiques in our new letters column “RKYV POV.” of Jeremy Munroe” – I recommend to everyone who enjoys the medium to follow such creators And last, but not least, for more RKYV online and find out where to order their stuff… entertainment than we can fit into a PDF, look no Indie Creators work hard, create from the heart and don’t make a lot of dough. They usually have further... LOL. We have got some fun and a hard time even covering print costs [I know this engaging sites set up for you by the ever-intrepid from personal experience!] and can certainly use RKYV staff. every penny they can.
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 Tune in next time, same RKYV time, same RKYV channel… Publisher’s Note: artistic disclaimer* Mr. Paré is not nearly as witty as he thinks. Really, paraphrasing the old Batman TV narrator is not exactly going to win him any awards for journalistic excellence, now is it?
Inner Eye – by
Stephen Gibb
Tat Art & Designs – by Roger Price
tiger, tiger, burning bright…
zombie fairy?
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
Exotic Blue – by
James ‘Jig-One’ Titman
World View IMO… by r. j. paré In the face of global economic hardships, it seems that “Tea Party” politics are becoming an ever more pervasive part of our daily lives. Before we abolish the very protections responsible for our standard of living in western democracies – health care, environmental protection & the rights of labour to collectively bargain – we should perhaps examine the roots of this “swing to the right-wing.”
They have raised the banner of a bitter sci-fi author, Ayn Rand, as the patron saint of their, behind the scenes “uncivil rights movement” [lol]. No million man marches for these titans of industry, though. After all millionaires don’t march they fly in style… in this case, under the radar, if you will.
The wealthy elite are now effectively combining their ability to manipulate market economies with The anti-union movement is a disturbing study in the unfettered “liberty” to spend on leaders of corporate sponsored propaganda. For many years their choosing. They’ve successfully screwed us corporations have been trying to find ways to over in the world markets, drained pension funds keep the focus on growth rather than stability. and bankrupted entire industries & even They began by spending a couple decades on countries. The have manufactured such hostile takeovers and the splintering of old widespread economic collapse in order to enact companies. The, now, mega-corporations moved the legislative changes they desire: essentially an onto downsizing and outsourcing of the actual end to all labour related gains, protections and labour force. benefits in the past century. Their next focus became legislative power / influence / control as they won the freedom to spend as much as they like, on politics, as courts ruled they were "persons" under law and thus any infringement on a corporation’s ability to spend money in order to influence politics was akin to impeding and individual’s freedom of speech!.
This, of course has been followed by the very leaders these elite have bought / influenced enacting austerity measures / income roll-backs / benefit removal & union-busting. How Long before people say enough?
Talk about misrepresentative propaganda at its I say No! You cannot – finest, grade A+ Orwellian doublethink, if you will. YOU SHALL NOT take away my few meagre Now understand, conservatives [ie: right wingers, protections and benefits money grubbers, the suits – basically the folks just so you can afford a running the banks, hedge-funds and new yacht! corporations] have been complaining for years about the steady growth of our middle class, [basically about the benefits that allowed us a quality standard of living] as though only they, the wealthy elite, should enjoy the rewards of our society.
Digital Death, I think not!
Can Digital Kill the printed comic? The battle lines have been drawn, the line in the sand has been established. The question is, what side, do you stand on. No I’m not talking about a bloodied battle field I’m talking about comic books, a term that opens the eyes of the young and sparkles memories in the eyes of the older generations.
by Lars Swearingen If you’re like me than you remember walking into that little mom and pop corner store and seeing that first full color paper stock gift from the heavens. It was full of adventure, mystery horror, and humour. You felt the paper in your hands and you smelled that all too familiar smell of printed paper. Jump forward 30 years. The spinner racks are gone. You can no longer just find a magazine rack to pull your favourite printed titles. Everything is in a specialty shop. But wait, now I can type in a few lines in Google and find all the comics that I want.
There is an ongoing debate in the industry on whether the Digital era can kill the printed form of comics. I want to say first that anything I write is merely my opinion based on others in the industry and the profit and loss shown in the industry. Personally I don’t see where digital can kill printed. Not long term any way. It’s a simple matter of numbers. The larger companies understand the importance of those specialty shops, so much so that they have even started initiative programs for start up shops. The digital era has actually helped in some aspects of driving fresh blood to that comic’s castle of mortar and block. If we look at the media itself and then study every product that comes from it, then we can see for ourselves the importance of the paper format. It’s simple, all you have to do is contact your local theatre with pen and paper in hand. x
Now go to their listings and write down every movie that is currently being released that is based off of a comic book, graphic novel or trade paper back. The list will add up fast.
x
Now go to your larger retailer and go to the clothing department and jot down how many different lines of apparel are splashed with captain someone, or a web slinging wonder and a bat clad vigilante.
Ok so with all that aside in this world we are going to go to the gaming section of a certain large retailer. What’s missing? Over half of their titles are now off the shelves because they no longer have something to base them on. Ok so here you are thinking “That can’t happen because all of these are available on Digital Portable Devices!”
x
Wrong fan boy. By going, completely, digital we have decimated one of the most important pools of talent. Indy (Independent artists, writers, publishers and so on) is where the young talent is Ok wait I’m not finished yet. Now go to the born and bread, Where fresh ideas are fed to the toy dept and you will see an entire isle fans and where the industry has a wholehearted dedicated to just action figures. How many chance of gaining ground. The problem is most of those do you think are based off of that small press publishers would financially go belly print on paper? up because of the cost vs loss in a pure digital market.
My point is the industry isn’t just about the printed form. If we were to lose the printed form than the large companies know that it would hit them in the wallet hard. Let’s assume right now that all comics’ shops closed. Calm down, its ok, we are just pretending. Now let’s forget about the economic impact that would have when all of these shop owners, employees, distribution companies that would now be out of work and out of business.
Not just that but do you think that little Joe Johnson can afford a digital device when his dad and mom are working double shifts to feed the family. His small amount of earnings from doing yard work is the only thing that allows him to spend around $5 a week on his one favourite title.
We will fight for it like most will fight for there country. We wear the title of geek proudly. So let’s get to the point. There is only one way that the digital era can take over the printed market. Only one single way, if you the reader - stops reading. It’s up to you to get off the couch and support your local retailers. It’s up to us to continue bringing you cutting edge and thought provoking stories. It’s up to the industry to save the industry. Don’t be afraid of the digital era, be afraid of showing fear. This is our world and this is our generation. We can’t always pick our fights but we sure as hell can win ‘em. My name is Lars Swearingen III, I am the owner of Phoenix Fire Studios/Entertainment and I believe that we have more of a chance to pump new blood into an industry that isn’t dying but simply slimming down.
A standard digital reader can run in the low hundreds. Little Joe will now have to spend his money on anti zombie spray and a Kevlar vest to protect him from the hordes of undead that have spawned from the crash of the comics market. I will be clear I’m not a writer; I am not an expert in the industry. I am a small press publisher and a fan. All of us in the industry have a passion for what we do.
Keep writing, keep drawing, keep inking, coloring and lettering, and the fans will keep buying. CEO Phoenix Fire Studios Vigilante project, The Confessional: Assistant Editor in Chief Sr Art Director For VPTC Manager, Valley Print and Graphics www.phoenixfireent.com http://www.facebook.com/PhoenixFireEnt
Batgirl [© DC Comics] – by
GIO [Giovanni Medina]
Featured Creators Review
Mick Edwards, Brent Giles, Edward Dennis & Daniel Chan the creators of…
“The Return of Jeremy Munroe” The Return of Jeremy Munroe is a dark short story, told in comic form. In the traditions of Tales from the Darkside, Night Gallery or some of the best spooky shorts Stephen King has collected – this tale knows where you sleep. Grieving fiancé, Linda cannot let go of the memory of her Jeremy and one night while visiting his grave she learns how thin the veil between this world and the next can be. Here at RKYV we were fortunate to catch up with the creators of this fine short – writer Mick Edwards, lead artist Brent Giles & cover artist Edward Dennis – and ask them some questions about art, writing and the trials and tribulations of being an indie creator. They also, graciously, shared with us a few sneak peeks at some of their other up coming projects…. To paraphrase my favourite childhood TV monster movie host, Sir Graves Ghastly:
“Turn out your lights, pull down the shades, draw the drapes, cuddle up in your favourite spot by the computer [or portable device] and glue your little eyes to its screen… for today's tale of terror… …Neeeeeeye eeeaaaaaaa ahhhhhh ah ah ahh! --- Or just enjoy the following interviews and art!
I swore to myself, I'd be the best writer that ever lived, or at least close to it. To follow through with that goal, I decided to try comics first before dabbling in novels, film, & other projects. Comics have been a constant in my life. I used to have Pre-Crisis DC material, Silver Age Spider-Man, and the like. I figured that year (08) that I have an original voice, and that comics would be ideal to establish myself first. Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: Return of Jeremy Munroe, pg 1 Brent Giles: I drew a picture of a horse bucking a cowboy off when I was four and my mama kept it. I thought that was odd but it showed me she liked it. I believe it started there. When I was six I had to be in the hospital and my Aunt Linda gave me a Superman and a couple of other comics including a MAD magazine. That got me started in a medium I had no idea existed. I thought comic books were so cool. I still give sick family and friends a MAD magazine if they have to be in the hospital. r. j. parĂŠ: Have you always known that you wanted to be or, rather, were a writer or an artist? Mick Edwards: Initially, no, my past was full of conflict, emotional abuse by my mother who suffered the same abuse by her mother and father, rejection by my peers, and lots of problems due to being bipolar. When I was growing up, I had little inklings of what I wanted to do, but no solid plans. I often wondered why was I born? Nothing ever seemed to go right in my life, with girls, money, or having friends. Depression constantly held me down. Some people have always compared me to Eminem, people who strongly dislike me because I can be very opinionated and at times obtuse. Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: Return of Jeremy Munroe, pg 4 I didn't realize I wanted to write comics until 2008, conflict with a rival caused me to have a break (through), I realized I can't stand the situation I'm in. That I can handle the pressure, and I don't have to take people's shit.
Artist's Name: Edward Dennis Title: Ad for Return of Jeremy Munroe – in progress. Media: pencil Edward Dennis: Since a very young age I’ve always been a good artist. I still have all my artwork from birth pretty much thanks to my mother. I guess if anyone knew I was an artist it was my mother. I didn’t start calling myself an artist until a few years ago when I finally thought I was good enough to put that title out there. But I’ve always wanted to be an artist especially in comics. Daniel Chan: The idea of creating comic books as a career has always floated around in my mind. It was not until the last several years, however, that I have ever truly pursued a career in comic books. For a while I toyed with the idea of programming video games for a living, but after learning to program a bit and taking an AP Computer Science class in high school, I was put off from the idea. I did not like doing all the behind-the-scenes things involved in programming video games which, in the end, made me realize that I was probably not suited to that career unless I was only at the helm of the purely creative aspects of video game creation. Really, though, I am more of a graphic designer than I am a comic book creator. I just so happen to work mainly for clients in the comic book industry - though, I am not saying I do not chose those clients on purpose, haha. I do work on non-comic book projects such as identity design and other typical graphic design assignments whenever I get the chance.
Artist's Name: Edward Dennis Title: Ad for Return of Jeremy Munroe Media: finished pencils rjp: Could you tell our readers a little about Return of Jeremy Munroe? ME: Jeremy Munroe is about two lovers kept apart by death, their names are Jeremy Munroe and Linda Rivenport. They were to be married, but Jeremy died tragically in a reckless hit and run. Linda never got over his death; she visits his grave every year on the anniversary of his death. One day, something happens that allows them to be reunited briefly so Jeremy can encourage Linda to move on in her life. rjp: Did you study or major in art while in school? BG: Not until I graduated and went to the Art Institute of Atlanta. I studied lots of Superman, Spider-Man, Batman and Conan comics before then. ED: I went to private classes throughout my child hood, mainly painting classes. When in highschool I got even more into my art work. I took every art class in high-school and was in Art club, also won every art competition I entered. This made me even more motivated as I graduated to college. I already worked hard in my art but when I got to college I realized that I would have to work harder because as good as I thought I was there were many more out there better than me.
I went as high as I could in college in painting and drawing but found it useless because they were things I can learn on my own so I changed majors. During that time at Arizona State University I was accepted to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Ca. I was torn between wanting to go to California and pursue my dreams of becoming an artist or stay and change my major. I decided to stay and change majors to Art Education because I thought my time could be best spent with that. More recently I’ve changed my major to elementary/special education but have enough credits to teach art K-12 and get my Fine Arts degree and graduate next year.
I have never received an actual page of art to letter on and it would waste too much time to print out the pages I receive than to simply letter them in the way they came to me: digitally. rjp: Who was your primary source of encouragement, as a child, in pursuing art or writing? ME: Ironically, like most kids. I didn't pay much attention to the names of who wrote what, not until my early twenties. I found most of my favourite stories were written by John Byrne, Frank Miller, and Chris Claremont. Their work formed a sort of blue print that I based my writing method. My method has since evolved to include influence from a variety of film, novel, and comic authors. Bruce Lee was especially an influence I need to make I don't leave out. The Jeet Kune Do philosophy I felt could be applied to writing and life aside from martial arts.
Artist's Name: Edward Dennis Title: Ad for Return of Jeremy Munroe – in progress. Media: watercolour rjp: Do you hand letter or use software, like Adobe? DC: My lettering process typically involves Adobe Illustrator more than it does picking up a pen. It's simply much faster and allows me to finish projects on tight schedules with little to no stress on my end. The only time I break out the pens are when I want to create a font, for example, or for things like a special sound effect or logo. There is also the fact that it is simply more practical to letter digitally than to letter with pen and ink these days.
Artist's Name: Edward Dennis Title: Ad for Return of Jeremy Munroe Media: finished watercolour BG: My mama and daddy always encouraged me and I admired a commercial artist name Mason Rustin from middle Georgia because I could see a living could be made with art. Every year on the last day of school my mama would pick us up from school and stop by the grocery store on the way home.
I would ask her to buy me four or five composition books so I could take them home and draw comics and stuff for the summer. The clerk, Mrs. Eleanor, would ask if I had to go to summer-school because I was buying supplies and my mama would say that I was using them to draw. In fact, while going to church, other people would ask my mama why Brent Giles I drew in church and she would defend me saying that I seemed to listen better while drawing. I still draw in church to this day. Since He's still letting me live, I suppose God encourages me to draw, too!
rjp: Do you feel more a sense of community with other comic creators or a sense of competition? ME: Competition. I've experienced how cliques can influence just about every facet of life. Some popular guy will be a figurehead with a bunch of suck ups who praise all of his horrid work, and will hold anyone down that shows greater creativity and writing ability. I have always made sure I stood out among the crowd. To show I have principle (doesn't mean I can't be an ass when I stand by a belief, or conviction.)
ED: I would have to say my family has been my main source of encouragement. They have always bought me materials and backed me even when results were there. DC: My whole family actually encouraged me in anything I did while I was growing up. I made the decision to switch from pursuing a computer science major to a graphic design major in the few months just before my high school graduation. This meant that I had to apply to a whole slew of different colleges, have new recommendations written up, put together a portfolio and so on. No one batted a lash, though, and I did not feel like I was going to be persecuted for making that decision so late in the game. I am very lucky that my parents never tried to force me to pick up a path for a "real" profession such as becoming a doctor. I do not think it was such a shocking revelation that I wanted to become a graphic designer, however, which may have helped. I had been doing freelance graphic design throughout my senior year of high school for some extra pocket money and, long before that, I had practical knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and basic graphic design principles because of my ever-persistent interest in the arts.
Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: BACA’s PROTECTOR [cover] Publisher: Bikers Against Child Abuse BG: "BACA’s PROTECTOR" is a story I've written and am drawing about a man who is given directives in assisting young abused children out of their oppressed and painful lives. The story was written for the organization B.A.C.A. – Bikers Against Child Abuse – out of the Oklahoma area.
rjp: What is your favourite media to work with?
BG: I don't use brushes but I love using scrapbooking pens. Their inks are so black and BG: Pencils, pens and Bristol board. Love doing permanent. When I see a Michael's I usually stop black and white. The Walking Dead is probably and get a few Vellum Writers by ZIG Kuratake and my favourite book and part of the reason is the different sized Figma Microns. Then I pick up black and white. boxes of Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencils (awesome erasers) and a couple of 5mm Pentel mechanical ED: I love all mediums, most recently Digital media pencils at either Staples or Walmart. but my favourite will always be watercolour. ED: No just my imagination. rjp: When working on a comic script, what method do you prefer: do you send the artist the finished script or a page by page outline of the story? [In other words, do you write finished script, based on the visuals created or does the artist draw each panel based on precise descriptions form your script?] ME: I'm a minimalist, I write full script, but unlike the Alan Moore method - I keep my descriptions brief to help spur the artist’s imagination. I only add more detail when I want a script to be more precise on things I want included in said script. rjp: Which famous artists / creators or styles have influenced you? Why? BG: Ross Andru, Curt Swan, John Buscema, Ernie Chan, Frank Frazetta, Mike Hoffman and Eric Powell. Just great storytellers with such rich ways of capturing humans in actions. If you came across me at a convention and you were making the choice to buy a book from me or one of theirs... I'd steer you to them because you would definitely come away being thoroughly entertained. Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: Alien In a Strange Land BG: "Alien In a Strange Land" is a story I've written and am drawing about a doomed alien attack on a city, and in particular, a thirteen year old boy with something unique about him. rjp: Do you use any special tools and techniques to create your art?
ED: There’s a long list, Alex Ross is one I like because his watercolour stuff kind of breaking the mold of what comics should look like. DC: I get my inspiration from everywhere and am loathe to pin down any particular source. Sometimes I find interesting shapes in concrete sidewalks that I imagine to be intricate paintings or I will flip through a magazine and be hit by a wondrous inspiration to create something there's rarely any one place that will inspire me because I like all kinds of art.
I will say, though, that I believe the works of So, in reading that, I still have hope that comic Salvador Dali and the rest of the Surrealist painters books will make a come back. really opened up my imagination as a child. I do not remember it exactly but, in elementary school, I opened up a book and saw Dali's painting "The Persistence of Memory" and was changed for life. It was so different from anything that I had ever seen at that point. I think that painting really sparked my interest for the arts and things like that continue to inspire me today. Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: Jesus, character study BG: These are cartoons drawn here and there in my church notebook practicing and developing an easier, pleasing style (to me at least) that I can use to put together Bible accounts in comic book form. I'd like to draw some of the more fantastical accounts in a way that most people would not think about. rjp: 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 ED: Ohhhh I love this question, my answer is you, your work and your audience? mixed. I see artist all the time using digital, I’m one ME: POD is useless. It is a money pit because you of them. It’s cheaper to do digital and it’s also easier to cheat. Many other factors go along with are payin' for every single aspect. Promotion, it but I personally love digital. I got into digital art artwork, etc. If you don't have that kind of cash, you could say using Microsoft Paint in 4th grade, you are fucked. Unless you get some small moving to Photoshop in 6th grade. Now I use a publisher to notice. Social networks, I think are Wacom Cintiq with Corel Painter 12 to do my more helpful. You can connect with retailers, readers, publishers, and the like. It allows them to digital paintings and most of the time they start get a sense of who you are, what you are about, and finish as fully digital work. With that said I do think I spend more time doing traditional art and lets them know how they can get hold of because I honestly believe that in the not to your work if they find interest in your work. distant future that a traditional artist might be rare. rjp: With advancements in computer graphic tablet technology, some artists are now creating Who’s to say the future but I see more and more their work directly in the digital medium and releasing it in purely digital formats... are the days people doing digital art. I was trained traditionally and will always be biased towards the topic with of paper & pulp doomed to the realm of fading the belief that Traditional is the foundation of all memories? art but that will soon change. The reason why I BG: Unfortunately, that is probably true, but I just said it’s easy is you always have layers and the read a book called "One Second After". It is a story “UNDO” button you can hit, it’s a known fact that about three nukes being set off in the atmosphere traditional art is not that forgiving. The cover I did for The Return of Jeremy Munroe I did digital start and shutting down the USA and all electronics to finish so I’m not against it at all I just wish (would make a great comic). people would do more traditional.
Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: Danny the Dinosaur: The Big Boat BG: This is a page from the second book written by Kent Hovind and drawn by Brent Giles called "Danny the Dinosaur: The Big Boat". This page is depicting the beginning of the great flood of the Bible. Books one and two can be found at www.drdino.com in the children's section. DC: There is an energy that pen and paper works give off that you just cannot get with a wholly digitally created image. It is not that you can only create beautiful things with an analog tool, but there is a just something about the physically drawn line that gives off a raw power that you cannot duplicate with any digital means. There are benefits to both methods, however, and I am not one to put down any system of the creative process simply because the old way of doing things is "better." It is probably true that we will eventually move away from non-digital mediums, though I do not see that happening any time soon. There are still plenty of amazing artists out there that create with purely analog methods and some that even supplement digital art with analog creations! ME: Nope. See, digital has many inherent weaknesses. Battery power, not built to last, and costs. Aside from people with little to no money enjoying paper back books, I think that books will remain around 'cause if we ever ended up losing all of our glorious technology. Books will be the only way we can teach the generations that follow, and keep our civilization moving.
Artist's Name: Brent Giles Title: Danny the Dinosaur: The Big Boat BG: This is a page from the second book written by Kent Hovind and drawn by Brent Giles called "Danny the Dinosaur: The Big Boat". This page is depicting the ark as the salvation of mankind, foreshadowing mankind's salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and He being our ark of a sort. Books one and two can be found at www.drdino.com in the children's section. rjp: What do you think of the term "starving artist"? BG: I've never been starving. Too fat right now to ever own up to that term. I think people use that term to make themselves feel special. This country has always offered ways to capitalize on the talents we have and if someone isn't, I think they're being lazy. ED: That’s a tough one; I think it means being satisfied with your work and work ethic. 99% of us artist won’t make it rich and if you’re in this business to do that then your sorely misinformed, you should do something else. DC: I think it is true! Just take a few basic art courses and you will realize how much all these tools cost. Paints and paintbrushes are already ridiculously expensive, but program suites like Adobe's set of tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Dreamweaver, etc.) will make you faint when you see their prices. Heh, it is not easy to be an artist if money is a problem.
ED: I would love to work on Spider-man and everyone tells me I will soon be able to but that’s only because I grew up with Marvel comics all around me. I was brought up when the X-men, Spider-man and Batman cartoons were booming. But as I got older I realized how dried up the stories and characters have become. Artist's Name:
DC: I do not think either option influences me. I always made it a point that I just want to Brent Giles have work on things that I think are cool. Whether it is Title: the newest issue of Batman or a small indie Desperate publication, if it's something I like doing, then I will Chance do it.
BG: This is the first page of the second project between Mick Edwards and Brent Giles called "Desperate Chance". rjp: 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] ME: I'd love to have a broad readership. I think work for hire can be a bitch if you end up stuck with editors telling you to recycle decades old stories. I'd rather be offered a contract that would allow me to bring new ideas into the big two, then rehashing the same crap over and over. I have a lot of mental notes, and some written down ideas on how I would not so much revamp the big two's characters, but streamline them to make them accessible for every reader. BG: I'd love to try both...at the same time, but for me I'd go with the first option. I love drawing and getting a response from someone, even if it is just one. My dream has always to do an Amazing Spider-Man run. I sent a sample to Marvel back when I was 14 years old and was told to go back and practice...I'm still practicing I suppose...and feel I am still not there.
Artist: Brent Giles Letterer: Daniel Chan Title: Return of Jeremy Munroe, pg 11
Don't front, people can see through lies. Just be yourself, express yourself, and don't be afraid of other creators and critics slamming you for being yourself.
Letterer: Daniel Chan Title: [inside cover] Dusk DC: The inside cover credits page of the special 2010 Annual for publisher Dusk Comics' main title "Dusk." PS - I almost forgot. I've done a lot of work for Dusk Comics so it would be awesome if you could put their site as well: www.duskcomics.com They've been really good to me so would love to return the favour with a shout out if you could do that. rjp: there ya go! No problemo..:) rjp: What advice would you have for other indie creators, trying to break into the biz, today? ME: Don't try and be some one else. You don't have to follow pre-existing molds. We have had enough Grant Morrison's, Alan Moore's, and the like in our medium. We need comic innovators who understand that entertainment is a big part of the business. That intellectualism is passé.
Letterer: Daniel Chan Title: [Vol 2, pg 55] Dusk DC: This Dusk Short Story was published August 31 of 2010 and the story is called "The Endless Desert War." mini-bio: Daniel Chan is a freelance graphic designer from California. He loves to work in the comic book field, but he often picks up any project that allows him to exercise his creative juices. When he is not designing, lettering, or talking about himself in the third-person, he likes to spend time hanging out with friends, speedsolving Rubik's Cubes, writing, creating art, composing music, and, last but not least, eating brains. If you have a brain that needs eating, go ahead and let him know. rjp: mmm… brains – “Send... more... paramedics…”
rjp: Do you have any big plans, shows or Cons coming up?
ME: Not really. I don't have much in terms of money. A lot of this I am figuring out, as I go BG: The only show I do at this point is Fanaticon along. I have always prided myself on learning in Asheville, NC. Awesome little show while I am doing, being a aware of what is going www.fanaticon.org . on, and standing firm on where I want to go. If Return of Jeremy Munroe does well, I will Also, I am working on several projects and getting probably do a few cons. Probably local cons until deeper. I hope to have lots done before the end I can afford the bigger cons. of 2012. DC: Not quite. I am currently in the process of ED: No Cons, I wish I was that popular ha-ha, but I redesigning my website and updating my have a lot of work coming up and a GN I’m doing portfolio but nothing like attending a con or show with Return of Jeremy Munroe writer Michael any time soon. Edwards.
Artist's Name: Edward Dennis Title: [cover] Return of Jeremy Munroe Media: rough pencil layout
Artist's Name: Edward Dennis Title: [cover] Return of Jeremy Munroe Media: digital with Corel Painter 11
rjp: I’d like to thank the team behind the Return of Jeremy Munroe for participating this month as our “Featured Creators”. For more info on these talented creators and their works you con follow them online, via: Links:
Brent Giles www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715928080 Edward Dennis www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000588785370
Daniel Chan www.spiffup.org
Mick Edwards www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000297442093
Michaël STIPE – by
Corinne Vuillemin
Short Fiction
Part II Weeks turned into months and months led back
to the 9th annual V.O.I.C.E convention. Amazing Woman gained acceptance and popularity daily as she made Toronto a safer place on a daily basis. Her powers were determined to be a type of telepathy and her powers grew stronger. She began to levitate and she was able to lift heavier objects all the time. Sure, she had her dissenters; those who would wonder on Twitter why she didn’t save so and so; those with conspiracy theories of alien origins or secret experiments. Most loved her, however, and understood that she could not be in every place at the same time. They admired her, cheered her on, worshipped her… all the things that Steven imagined would be his reward; his prize for patience.
Steven began to doubt his convictions for the first time. He had difficulty with the new chapter because he did not feel inspired to dream about his own future powers. A week before V.O.I.C.E he shook off his misgivings and dove into the latest chapter of Destiny with zeal. This had to be a test, a lesson in humility. Perhaps he was to take example from Amazing Woman’s selflessness so that he would be ready. He packed a cardboard box with his wares and drive to the convention with a new determination. Amazing Woman would not the lone hero in Toronto for long! Steven set up his table, squared his bag lunch away and waited for the milling crowds. He did not have to wait long before a vaguely familiar feminine voice said his name. “Steven, do you remember me?” said the pretty blond with the blue Tardis on her t-shirt. “I’m Susan, you signed a book for me last year?” Steven was delighted because he did indeed remember Susan from last year. She was as lovely as he both remembered and imagined when loneliness would set in. Her hair was a little longer but her smile was just as disarming. He then noticed the handsome, 6 foot, blonde man with a rugged spattering of stubble at Susan’s elbow. Steven was slightly disappointed but he still needed to respond to his fans.” Did you enjoy the books?” Steven asked. “Very much so.” she replied earnestly. Steven tried not to blush or get flustered.” My friend, Curtis, would like to buy your newest…we both would.” Friend, Steven thought. Of course, he just didn’t seem her type with that chiselled jaw and those huge biceps. It was obvious she preferred intelligent men. “Could you sign mine?” Curtis asked. Brushing away any misgivings Steven had about Curtis, he signed a copy of his beloved mini comic and handed it to Curtis. Curtis looked at Susan and she nodded at him. Curtis held his hand out tentatively for a handshake.
Steven took the man’s large tanned hand in his own pale skinny one and felt a short surge of static electricity pass between them. Curtis however looked pale and dizzy. He let go of Steven’s hand and he stumbled back a couple of steps. “That was…” Curtis started looking at Susan in amazement. Susan interrupted quickly” Ssshh… I know. Not yet.” she said to Curtis in a low voice. She raised her head and gave Steven a particularly attractive smile. “Thank you so much, Steven” She said. “Do you have any original art here at the convention?” Steven instantly pushed the strange handshake out of his mind. “I did not bring any, did you want some?” Susan smiled again and this smile was no less brilliant than the one before it. She leaned into the table and said “If I had your home address and phone number I could stop by sometime to see your art and perhaps buy some from you.” Steven didn’t recall even pondering the request. Out came a pen and paper and before he knew it, he had written his name, address, email, Facebook link and twitter identity on a notebook page. When he tore out the page and handed it over to Susan, he felt his hand trembling. She took the note, read it over and thanked him before walking slowly away from his table, supporting the now weakened Curtis with her elbow. Steven was euphoric as Susan left his table. This feeling lasted for the remainder of the first day of the convention. He still did not sell much but he really did not care. Then, as evening was beginning to set in, there was a commotion among the conventioneers. Several were gathered around various laptop screens around the hall. Steven moved in to find out what was happening. “They are saving a group of seniors from a burning building!” exclaimed a small red haired woman, excitedly. “Who?” asked Steven as he tried to jostle for a better position in which to see the screen. “Amazing Woman and the new guy” the woman answered.
Just then Steven got a good view and saw Amazing Woman and a fit blonde man in a blue costume at the scene of a fire. Amazing Woman was using her telepathic abilities to rescue the elderly while the man appeared to be able to rip doors off their hinges in a manner quite more efficient than a fireman’s axe. So many thoughts were rolling about in Steven’s head that it took a few minutes for him to come to a realization. Amazing Woman was exactly the same build and colouring as Susan and the new hero was about 6 feet tall, blonde and had a rugged spattering of stubble. Could it be? Was Susan really Amazing Woman? From where had this new hero materialized? That is when a disturbing idea occurred to Steven. Amazing Woman had started saving lives and catching criminals shortly after he met Susan. Now that he met Curtis, this new strong hero starts working with her. Each had reacted strangely when he shook their hands. Steven was not a very social person and really, these two were the only human beings he had shaken hands with this past year. Could he be the one causing this? Could he be making heroes? Was this his power?
This couldn’t be! His doubts must all be part of an active imagination. Must be! He returned to his table and began pacing behind it. The only way to know for sure was for Steven to test his theory.
A painful knot started growing in his stomach. If that was his power, then he would never be in the spotlight. He would never catch a fleeing criminal or be filmed while rescuing a child from a raging rapid. He would have to stand and watch while the heroes received all the glory.
He called the first group of people he saw over to his booth. It turned out to be 3 young men. “I will give you a comic free if you shake my hand” proclaimed Steven. The men sniggered among themselves. “We will do it if you give us each the whole run, dude.” the tallest of the bunch joked. “Deal”, Steven answered as he held out his hand. “What do ya think?” the tall one asked the other two. “Why not? We could use them as kindling if they are stupid.” A hairy rotund friend replied. Steven shook the tall man’s hand first and watched as he reacted strangely. The man pulled his hand away quickly and stared at it as if to check for damage. “What did you do, dude?” He asked angrily. He went to take a step towards Steven but a nearly security guard’s glare stopped him. He scooped up his books and left hurriedly before his friends could collect on the deal. Now it was time for Steven to wait and see.
To Be Continued…
Goddess of Sea Food – by Stephen Gibb - Tribute to Botticelli’s Venus (most iconic nude of all-time) and Robert Johnson’s nasty blues lyrics
Comic Book Review the new 52 – part 1 by r. j. paré Unless you have been hiding under a rock these last few months – or could care less about comics [I utterly discount that option, as otherwise you would not be reading this comic book review] – you have heard about the bold and risky developments taking place a DC Comics. I am talking about DC's New 52 initiative -- in which they're re-launching their entire DCU line of books, once the mini-series “Flashpoint” concludes. This confirmed online rumours that had been speculating Flashpoint is indeed the story where we'll see the transformation of the old DC Universe into the new one. Not entirely unlike the major reboots which followed “Crisis on Infinite Earths” back in the 80’s. DC editors and creators have decided that current continuity is either too un-wieldy or too convoluted to attract new readers. One can argue these points, however in the end DC is moving forward and we are left to follow or walk away. I will say that the emphasis on “new readers” seems to indicate that their business model is not on solid ground by catering to “current / long-time readers.” I would love to ask Dan Didio and Geoff Johns why the storylines of the OLD DCU could not have been continued in some other fashion, perhaps a series of Graphic Novels for long-time fans, under some sort of “DC Classic,” imprint? Not to be overly cynical, but based on the several New 52 books I've read so far, I suspect this whole experiment most likely gets "wiped" by a new "EVENT" in a year or two [Flashpoint: The Return - LOL]. What will the New 52 look like? Some books and characters will seem almost unchanged while others will be hardly recognizable. Apparently some continuity has been preserved – but compressed in a 5 year window pre-ceding this dawn of the age of superheroes. This establishes a degree of back story for DCU characters but firmly entrenches Superman as the first recognized superhero [perhaps the only element fans have welcomed].
From what I have read so far, it seems the DCU now consists of a haphazard jumble of cherry picked continuity [from titles & characters I can only assume were more well liked by Messrs. Didio & Johns]. The rest has been ditched. Storylines, completely unresolved are now abandoned. Out with the old and in with the new. Considering most comic fans, at least the ones with money to spend aren't kids - DC may be committing financial suicide by driving those older readers away. You see, when it comes to episodic storytelling, whether on TV or in print - a big reason folks keep tuning in is to see what happens next to the characters they enjoy... by wiping them all out and in some cases replacing them with completely unrecognizable variations well on TV those sort of cast changes can lead to cancellation. To be fair, I’ll give the new books a read and decide their merits individually. To begin this 1st instalment I’ll take a look at the first title to be released: JLA #1, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee. We don’t learn an awful lot from this comic. Geoff Johns is writing in a very pace controlled, decompressed method. Which to be fair I am a So, what’s the downside to this issue? big fan of. There is no need to cram a lifetime of events into 24 pages. So let’s take a look at what Well, for starters, after showing the entire team on we do learn… the cover, only Green Lantern and Batman are featured in the issue [not counting a last minute Bruce and Hal [Batman & Green Lantern to the came by Superman – but we’ll get to that in a neophytes amongst you] meet for the first time. sec]. Why not have some additional scenes As a nod toward classic DCU continuity, these introducing the rest of the team? If that increases two really don’t like each other all that much. the number of pages for the story, big deal, this is They recognize that they are on the same team an event after all! It just makes no sense to show though, so no pointless hero vs hero fisticuffs ensue. The banter between these two characters the JLA on the cover and not have the JLA in the issue. is quite enjoyable actually, and I found myself getting into it. But what about that Superman cameo? We are then treated to a short segue introducing Glad you asked, since this was definitely the Victor Stone, the young man who one day becomes Cyborg, a founding member of the Teen weakest part of the issue and the point at which loyal DC fans may give pause and re-consider Titans. Since they intend on Cyborg being a member of JLA eventually, then I can see why the whether or not the New DCU need be a part of their monthly pull list. Superman, the beacon of added this. As for execution, I ca safely say hardcore Titans fans won’t complain as the scene plays Truth & Justice; the hero that inspires others to follow in his stead… is introduced as a “strike first, out in familiar fashion [ie: teenage athlete Vic ask questions later” angry anti-hero of the Image Stone, estranged from his genius father]. Comics variety.
Side note: as an older reader I have always been a big fan of the JSA. They have at times been a part of the DCU proper and at others been a part of an alternate universe [Earth 2]. Either way, a DC Comics without these Golden Age heroes would be a shame. With their continuity of being the mentors to the current gen heroes now retconned out of existence… have the JSA gone the way of the Dodo? Early reports certainly seemed to indicate just that. With Dan Didio going on record that they were going to “rest the concept.” Leaving many a disillusioned fan a-twitter [figuratively and quite literally texting their displeasure]. Well fret not fanboys and girls, apparently the JSA will return after all in the New DCU [yea!] -- James Robinson [best damn writer they could choose for them, check out JSA: The Golden Age, if ya don't believe me] will write the series with Nicola Scott providing the art! Set on Earth-2 – I gotta say, as a long-time fan of the multi-verse, I can't wait for this..:)
Without talking to Green Lantern or Batman he lashes out at Hal sending him crashing into some cars, which explode - yea property damage – hopefully they were unoccupied – or does killing civilians work for this new edgy Supes? The cameo, and issue itself, ends with Superman standing there, fists clenched, heat vision flaring & challenging Batman to a throw-down. Not your father’s Superman, for sure… While I am not on board with some of the characterizations, ultimately the success of the New 52 may rest with the publisher’s decision to go forward with day & date digital release. The younger generation of potential consumers are more accustomed to getting their fix online… by embracing ePub the DCU may just attract that shiny new generation of readers they covet so much.
Now while I loved Perez & Wolfman's COIE - as a spectacular tale. I never thought it should mean a multi-verse could or should never exist. Yes, it cleaned up old continuity but more importantly it told a thrilling tale, as all comics should. I am sure in a new multi-verse they can keep a better handle on continuity - since it won't be a patchwork of many decades of contradictions, they can build it from ground up. Perhaps this new multi-verse can even be used as the imprint I mentioned earlier in order to publish pre-New 52 storylines. Only time will tell. See ya next time as we look at some more of the New 52 books.
Zatanna [© DC Comics] – by
GIO [Giovanni Medina]
fan Fiction CS Cartier presents
- AT NIGHT THERE BE DARKNESS Part Three New York City, December 11th, 2:44
Nearly morning and I had bumpkins. <We didn’t hear from you. Kory was worried.>
<Kory must have just missed you. She went there and was attacked.>
I seen amazing things, been with amazing people and had my butt handed to be by some I’ve been trained by the best, and I’ve learn very skilled individuals. a thing or two since then. <Dick, she’s gone.>
I have had lovers that changed my outlook and beliefs and I have had friends that have challenged the definition of friendship. Kori is out there somewhere, and I haven’t found a trace, a clue, a hair fiber – notta. Bruce was right; I am not ready for the big leagues. I went on and on about how I didn’t need a babysitter any more. I hated how he hung over my shoulders like I was some half starved kid, looking for a pat on the head and a treat. The bastard never ever said if I was doing a good job or not. Everything was merely for self gratification, and I wasn’t getting it from The Bats. Hell no, I spilt blood and saved his hide on dozens of occasions, I didn’t need the big league – Hell, I was in it! Sure, at first I was only a student. Years of swinging over the city changes more than just your view. I think I spend more time on a wire than on my feet. I was raised to be in the air, the Bats only gave me a reason to stay in the air. ~Richard.~ The Flying Graysons, oh how they loved it. Mom and Dad, swing and tossing each other; and I Richard Grayson the young entertaining youth joined the duel. How everyone cheered and applauded, it was so exhilarating and so satisfying. The rush of danger and the satisfaction of walking toward becoming the thrills and the adrenalin was a drug that I was quickly becoming addicted to. I learned to push myself harder and attempting more daring and challenging feats just to dig out a little bit more awe and amazement. Some kids dream about growing up in a Circus, and I didn’t have to dream. It wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. It all came crashing down due to a cut trapeze. It all came crashing down, they came crashing down. My parents were the victims of greed, a simple example of what a whack-job was willing to do to prove a point. I sometimes dream about the Graysons again flying through the air. Time passes, and you learn that chapters in your life are not endings but beginnings. Bruce Wayne took me in, I am not sure if it was pity or his self inflated ego needing to save everyone and everything; including the poor boy in the circus that lost his family. Thanks to him, I did met Barbra, and Al; and thanks to him I did return to the skies.
It was just not in a way that I thought I would be. I don’t want to sound bitter, I am not, really. Bruce gave me more than I can ever say or admit to. He didn’t give me my parents, but he was a good fall back; rough around the edges but probably better than most if you could measure such things. The College years pushed me away from him, mentally and physically. Everyone needs to grow up and the bird must fly out of the nest eventually. The man I am is due to Bruce. I don’t like admitting that, but I am coming to terms with it. Independence brought something that this ward’s mentor never really had. Friendships! My friends may be strange to look at, or they may have colourful pasts and histories, but I would trust them with more than my life. Heck, when you team up to save the city or even the world, friendships are incredibly important. I suppose that they are just as valuable to the common person, but few cherish the special bounds that come from knowing you can die tomorrow. I need to get in as much as I can; when I can. Where did that come from? Self analysis and self doubt where confronted years ago. So that was simply a sign of how much I need some sleep. In this state, I am doing Kori no good. Bruce would have found her by now. Stop doing that! Unlike the mighty Bat, I know when to draw the line and when to turn for help. Donna was right, as always, I am starting to pull away. Sitting on rooftops looking down on the people distances the hero from the victim. How can we relate to their pain if we are up here? I wish I could say that the facts were vague, however they are super clear. I’ve got nothing. That again is not entirely true. Kori and the gang were concerned. They had a right to be. I’ve been an idiot. Why am I following down a path that I know is a bad direction? I’ve seen it many times. I know it to see it. I however can’t explain it but I have to. I would say I need a shrink but let’s face it, I am way pass the point of sitting down on a couch spilling my woes. I’m on a roof with a pair of thermal enhancement bio-filters, wearing tights praying that I can save the day from a bad guy. I don’t need a couch, I need a furniture store.
Conrad, what does any of this have to do with him? Hell, he’s small time trying to open up the doors for the big time. I keep moving the puzzles around and somehow the missing piece keeps getting bigger and further away. Kori missing just does not fit. Perhaps she simply left. She has done that before. And… not only am I thinking in circles, I just noticed that I doubled back from my search pattern. I have learned that when it came to women I really have a problem keeping it together, especially when it came to Koriand'r. She is not like anyone on Earth (aside from the fact that she is not from Earth). She is remarkable and fantastic and the nights we have shared… Well, pining over a woman does clear your head just a little. You decided it was time for some shut eye, so call it a night. I grabbed my Titan’s communicator and open the mike. Call in and report - that you failed to find her. I jokingly wanted to say whoever has taken Starfire, enough with your games? Where did you take her? Another sign of how tired I was, my mouth and my brain are on different roads. I must be missing Garfield or something. Not sure where that thought came from. That was very ‘unlike’ me. If only life was that simple, everyone could simply text what they wanted and presto… Static fills the air. No one spoke, but the line was open. Curiosity was peaked; the Titan’s communication system was a secure system. Perhaps Star was able to activate her… I began to answer my unasked question. The static mocks my attempt to search without any avail. I worked on the device triangulating the open signal. A couple of moments were all I needed as it was not coming from where I thought it would be. The open mike was literally right behind me. As I quickly turned a thought or realization came to me; Starfire is way too powerful to be taken lightly or easily.
Hands and arms lunge me into a continuous motion of several close calls as more energy baths the night sky. Years of training curled and twisted my position toward my adversary. My belt supplies me with equipment that is needed to gain the advantage. Smoke explodes and blinds the new comer from my well timed retreat as an eruption nearly makes me loss my footing. My hip spins to compensate the weight change and again my belt supplies me with my needed equipment. This time, offence is strongly needed. Pellets rain over my attacker’s location and I leap off the building knowing what is to come next. I am barely off the roof when the drumming of explosions echoed loudly of the builds around me. I barely see green fire cascading from smoke ~Richard.~ and building fragments. Blackfire, Kori’s sister, was looking as “Do we have your full undivided queenly as ever; I watched as she hovers over the attention?” The voice is familiar and it was not coming from… a snapping popping sound springs carnage and destruction. She is not pulling any punches today. Not that she ever has, but the my legs into action. The hairs on the back of my neck stand as the night air erupts into an emerald delay is strange beyond words. Blackfire would be bragging the instant she bested her sister. fire.
“Blackfire, I know you don’t let many details pass by you, but you just made a mistake. I haven’t been called Robin for years.” “Yes… of course…” I stunned her. How did I stun her? Might as well press the advantage. I need information, I needed to find Kori still, I still don’t have a clue as to who Blackfire was working with. “That’s a new look for you, the green Starbolts are way more ominous.” “Yes… of course… more ominous…” A boomerang was tossed at the same time that I leaped from the adjacent build. She wasn’t stunned, she was dazed. I hit my mark and the boomerang wrapped around her, I proceeded to yank the rope to secure the Tamaran. She lost focus and fell to some unyielding concrete. Discharging another rope, I employed physics and proceeded to pendulum up to Blackfire. I was expecting her to have broken free by that time. She was a strong as Star, but there she was – squirming like a worm. ~Richard!~ The image of Blackfire faded and my rope crumples to the rooftop. Did she teleport? What the heck was going on? I might not have expected Kori’s sister to “You are just delaying the inevitable, disappear but I most definitely was expecting the Robin.” shadows to move. Bruce taught me to expect the unexpected a really long time ago. Coming I stepped forward from the shadow, toward me is the woman in Shadow, the woman spinning weapons from both hands. I stop to that nearly blew me up the other night. deliver my words (Bruce spend many lessons and Finally this case is coming to a head, I just years on the proper deliverance of speech). It was hope that Kori is okay. important to get into the mind of you adversary. Alien of not, everyone had self-doubts.
To Be Continued…
Vanessa PARADIS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by
Corinne Vuillemin
Poetry Selected Poem by Wanda VanHoy Smith – art by Amber Bair SACAGAWEA SUMMER She has always been depressed by the magical few days called Indian Summer.. A few sunny afternoons touch her like his hands and lips but she knows those days will soon be gone. The loneliness of winter threatens its frigid ways. Warm moments before the wind chill can't last. With dread she faces reality of cold bleak weeks ahead. Love returns for a brief visit like Sacagawea's summer. Late love brings all of the 4th of July fireworks with it. Apples are ripe but leaves are turning the color of rust. His breath on her throat is exciting as Chinook West winds that stir undercurrents in the frigid Columbia River. Strong as September blasts turning arms on farms of wind machines marching the bluffs of the trail of Lewis and Clark. Her hair is turning white as the drifts that will soon cover Snoqualimi pass under a harvest moon. Her cheeks glow from the last kiss of the sun before she skids and spins on black ice of winter. No one is quite sure why this mild break that comes before sudden chill is called “Indian Summer” Native Americans are the last people on earth to cause Global Warming. They haven't owned casinos and Cadillacs long enough to cause a nuclear winter. Memories are all that’s left of her summer laughter but he never promised her a happy ever after.
Art – Lit Challenge: x
create a piece inspired by the phrase:
“Hand me down, tomorrow”
Hand me Down Words by Wanda VanHoy Smith
My poor grandmother had to wear her older sister's 'clothes that didn't fit so she hates hand me downs. Yet like Lady MacBeth she hands me down every old cliché known to man, like “a sorry sight.” I no doubt will hand these down to my children who will hand them down to their children Hand me down expressions from heaven above fit tomorrows situations like a glove
Words that appear to be new on today’s computers like Yahoo and Google are hand me downs from designers of Yesterday's newspaper. Barny Google was a comic strip character in the Sunday funnies with goo- goo - googly eyes. Yahoo was in Gulliver's travels. Shakespeare’s words never seem to wear out His classic lines like “there is no fool like an old fool.” are worn so thin it's a sin but still hang around and will be hand me down quotes tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…
“do unto others”
Idea Thief – by
Stephen Gibb
x
Note: Randy, on the subject of "Hand me down, tomorrow", I just wanted to throw this idea out to you - the notion of artistic talent being inherited, in my case, father to son.
Talent and inheritance: by D.a. Erb & D.a Erb Senior One good example would be the Kubert family [Comics legend Joe Kubert, founder of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, and his likewise talented and successful sons, comic artists Adam & Andy Kubert]. Here a sample of some of my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work along with a brief explanation. x
D.a.Erb Senior, (my father) was editor, artist, columnist and production designer for the "Berks free Press", an inmate created publication. It expressed ideas, commentaries, poetry and art. I feel the illustration on this issue deeply expresses the turmoil and torment of prison life. The "Berks free Press" hasn't existed for over 30 years. My father was shot to death by a police officer back in 1980.
What I find most interesting are the art styles a lot of artists seem to inherit. I have one brother who has no artistic talent at all, but I have a half brother (my fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son from his second wife) that has amazing artistic talent and has his own tattoo business. Note: an interesting fact: My father and I share the same Birthday, Both born on December 13th, on a Friday.
x
RKYV ONLINE: On the two pages following are examples of the similarities in art styles, between father and son D.a. Erb:
by D.a. Erb Senior
by D.a. Erb
poetic perspectives - by r. j. parĂŠ
by Corinne Vuillemin
Raised On Saturday by Pauline Paré Morning Cartoons WOMEN OF ACTION
10. Jennifer Garner: I am sure most of you would put Ms. Garner higher on your lists for her role in Alias but I am sad to say that I only saw one episode. This is one of those series that I plan on picking up on DVD because I liked what I saw. I am not really sure why I didn’t catch it when it first broadcast but better late than never.
When I was a young girl in the 70’s (hard to believe, I know) I watched Charlie’s Angels religiously. I loved the idea of women who not only take care of themselves but everyone else in the process. I found that there are many more examples of characters like this on TV than in the movies, which may explain why I have always been such a big television fan. With the re-launch of Charlie’s Angels this month, I have been thinking about this subject and the women of action who continue to thrill the 9-year-old girl in me. It was wonderful to have such strong and self-sufficient female role models while growing up. There have been an increasing number of such characters over the years and I certainly have my favourites! Here is my personal, top ten, list:
9. Farah Fawcett: I remember how excited I was to watch Charlies’s Angels every week in the 1970’s. I checked out an episode on youtube recently and found the series to be slightly corny but most shows were corny at that time in television history. Even though the action was not amazing, this was the first time I had seen woman this powerful. Although the details of the Angel’s adventures are foggy, the thrill I had at 9 years of age watching the show can never be forgotten. I am not certain why my favourite Angel, (as they were all awesome,) was Jill Munroe played by Farah Fawcett. I think it was the hair.
8. Maggie Q kicks butt as Nikita. This may be one of several incarnations of the same premise but Maggie Q’s portrayal of the character makes you easily believe that this woman can take care of anything or anyone that gets in her way. I am looking forward to the new season! Go Nikita! 7. Summer Glau was good in Firefly and even better in The Sarah Conner Chronicles. She can really work an action scene. I don’t believe we have seen the last of her and I am looking forward to any future projects by this talented actress. 6. Katee Sackhoff made me quell any doubts I had about Starbuck being played by a woman on “Battle Star Galactica”. Right from the first episode she owned the part and she only made it better as the series went on. Her short stint in “The Bionic Woman” remake was brilliant and showed her versatility as a female action star. We need Katee on the screen again, whether it is the silver screen or small.
4. Sarah Michelle Geller was amazing as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For 7 years she played the part of the tortured super powered heroine to perfection. There were actually several strong woman on that show who I am sure were role models for a whole new generation of young women. I have missed SMG on TV and I am thrilled that she is getting a new series this season: Ringer. I have read several reviews and while most describe it as a drama/thriller I have seen it hinted that there would be quite a bit of action as well. Go Sarah! 3. Marisa Hargitay: Yes, Law and Order SVU is a police drama and Olivia Benson rarely gets physical with her suspects, but a woman can kick butt in many ways. Her character is unrelenting, strong and cool under pressure. She is good at 5. Linda Carter as Wonder Woman: Again, I was a bringing the bad guys to justice. You just can’t young girl at this time and what 10 year old girl in help admire her. Marisa is able to show that an the 70’s did not watch Wonder Woman. She older woman can be beautiful and powerful in kicked butt and looked great doing it. She also her life and career. had amazing accessories. Those boots and that lasso? Awesome.
2. Lucy Lawless: Yes I admit it. I not only watched Xena: Warrior Princess but I also loved the show. Xena was sexy and tough as nails. Her mere presence inspired fear and respect. She even had a lovesick god following her about. This is a show that deserves rewatching just because it was so much fun! Note to self: Find a Xena box set.
1. Eliza Dushku: You may be wondering why I rated Eliza higher than Sarah Michelle Geller. For one thing, Eliza has been working pretty much steadily since Buffy ended and mostly in action oriented roles. Also, Faith was a delight to watch. The attitude and swagger she brought to the character of Faith was a delight to watch. All a series needs to do is announce Eliza as one of their stars and I am guaranteed to watch. I also love how the actress spends a lot of time with her fans and attends conventions on a regular basis. I hope that Eliza continues to work in this genre for a long time.
Well here is my list, yours will likely be different yet contain many of the actresses I mentioned. It is important for girls to have a variety of positive female role models and a woman who is beautiful yet so strong can only be a good influence on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girls (while also being incredibly fun to watch). Kudos to the boob tube for showcasing so many strong, heroic women over the years.
P.O.V. [ POINT OF VIEW ]
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Randy, As always a superb issue of RKYV-Online. Congratulations! Roy G James Wonderful Issue, bright and exciting. You should get some kind of award. Wanda in LA LA Land
To kick things off, here’s some of your feedback we’ve received over the last few months…
In ref to # 47… Finished up, that was an enjoyable read (especially the featured artist interview and the Stargrazer review, the art looks beautiful)! Yeah, definitely would be cool to contribute whatever I can =) Alvaro Cortes Ortiz Jr
Thanks guys, Wanda – it’s my pleasure. Roy – this Cool beans Alvaro, awesome having you take Zine owes its creation to the time and creative part in the Zine. BTW, fans of Buddha Monkey energy you provided way back in our Xerox days. take note: Alvaro is our new colourist! In ref to #45… I love the inky pen and passionate purple. It was a delightful surprise to find my litle poem included. Is there any theme you are looking for? My poems are about jazz, sailing the ocean, trees, and life in the crowded lane. I just finished a poem about a St. Pats parade. I love the picture of Ray Charles in this issue and all the Star Trek stuff. I will read it all tonight. Thank You, Wanda VanHoy Smith
I love it!! Beautiful and thank you for fixing my name!! Impressive artwork! Amber Bair Thanks for the phenomenal art treatment you gave my poems in RKYV # 47. Ray Bradbury is at home working on a book of short stories now 90 something. I love the Blue Marble guitar Wanda VanHoy Smith
That about wraps things up, if you want to see your POV in print then get them fingers a-tweeting and we’ll gather them up and publish comments, suggestions & critique. I’ll take my leave by sharing with you all the alternate cover this month’s issue, on the following page: See ya next time, r. . paré EIC RKYV Online eZine