Table of Contents RKYV # 37 {June 2010} RKYV LOGO - David Marshall {current} RKYV LOGO – r. j. paré {modified} RKYV LOGO – Roy G. James {original} Virtual Cover # 37 - Art by Ryan Claytor - Layout by David Marshall
Non-Fiction - “The Last Footsteps to 2012” - By CS Cartier
Interior Art - By r. j. paré, Josh Bowe, Engin Korkmaz, Ryan Claytor Editorial Column - “At the Outset: A Few Thoughts from the Editor” - By r. j. paré World View - “A Canadian, living in the USA” - By Tom Rossini Featured Artist Review - “Ryan Claytor” - By r. j. paré __________________
Poetry - By Stephen Campbell, r. j. paré Pop Culture - “Comic Book Review” - By Brad Bellmore - “Manga Maximus” - By Darke Raven - “Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons” - By Pauline Paré
Untitled – by Engin Korkmaz
At the Outset A few thoughts from the editor… by r. j. paré The cherished things are perishing And buried in their tomb There is no hope, no reasoning This rainy day in June The Kinks, 1966
Hello again, my fellow RKYVers and welcome to Issue # 37. As of this writing the last minute submissions for June have been pouring in and I am enjoying a beautiful Canada Day {July 1st}. I hope whatever holiday you celebrate, to kick off the days of summer, is going splendidly. This month we are pleased to feature cartoonist/comics creator Ryan Claytor. I hope everyone will enjoy learning a bit more about this creator and getting a look at his delightful work – as much as I have. We have some wonderful new material from returning columnists CS Cartier; Brad Bellmore & Pauline Paré for you all to digest at your leisure. [Of course, what else would it be? Y’er not exactly under any compulsions here - LOL.] I would also like to take a moment and welcome Darke Raven, RKYV’s newest columnist, to the fold as he presents “Manga Maximus.” As always, it has been my distinct pleasure to sort through this last month’s collection of art & writing submissions. I thank each and every one of the authors and artists [credited throughout] for taking the time to share their often thought provoking and always entertaining creations with RKYV ONLINE. Until next month, when I once again attempt to release this e-Zine on time, I hope to remain your favourite slacker… editorially speaking...☺ r. j. paré
“Deadlines! Who needs deadlines?”
RKYV’s top notch legal staff would like to clarify that any individual purporting to be the managing editor of a magazine, electronic or otherwise, that is enjoyed by many thousands of readers, does indeed need deadlines. And that Mr. Paré would be well served to remember that lest we enact “the penalty clause” addendum to his contract and confiscate his first born as outlined under the subsection “failure to perform”.
Untitled – by Josh Bowe
World View A Canadian, living in the USA by Tom Rossini
The Oil Spill in the Gulf... Summary of Events April 20 will no longer only be associated with the popular term 420 friendly. It will now have another meaning to many people throughout the southern USA and the Caribbean. April 20, 2010 began as any other day on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon. The drilling rig was owned by Transocean LTD. and was leased to BP PLC to drill through the ocean floor through 1 mile of ocean. But on this day the Deepwater Horizon exploded and eventually fell into the Gulf of Mexico. Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deepwater dynamically positioned, semi-submersible offshore oil drilling rig.
http://www.deepwater.com/fw/main/Deepwater-Horizon-56C17.html?LayoutID=17
When drilling at the Macondo Prospect, on April 20, 2010, an explosion on the rig called a blowout killed eleven crewmen and ignited into a huge fireball whose flames were visible from 35 miles (56 km) away. 2 days later on April 22, 2010, Deepwater Horizon sank 2 days later, leaving the well gushing oil at from the sea floor and has since caused the largest offshore oil spill in history of the USA. http://humidus.net/hot-news/transocean-deepwater-horizon-is-rock-and-burnin-so-hot.html
A summary of events Sunday, July 4, Day 75 of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that began with the April 20 explosion and fire on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, owned by Transocean Ltd. and leased by BP PLC, which is in charge of cleanup and containment. The blast killed 11 workers. Since then, oil has been pouring into the Gulf from a blown-out undersea well.
But how exactly did this happen??? April 20, 2010, at approx 9:45 am, a geyser of seawater erupted from what is called the marine riser onto the rig. This eruption was about 275 feet and was soon followed by the eruption of a slushy combination of water, sludge and methane gas. The gas component of the slushy material transitioned into a gaseous state and ignited into a series of explosions. An attempt was made to activate the blowout preventer but it failed. It is documented that there were 126 people onboard at the time of the fireball. The majority of the employees were from Transocean. Unfortunately, eleven workers were presumed killed with the initial explosion. The rig was evacuated with many being airlifted while others were rescued by ships in the area.
http://img.youtube.com/vi/7K-DEl42CTs/0.jpg
After burning for almost 2 full days the Deepwater Horizon succumbed to the heat of the fire and sank. The rig is now resting on the seafloor which is approximately 5,000 ft deep at that location, or about 1 mile and about 1,300 ft \ northwest of the well.
Today the oil from the ruptured well still continues to flow and attempts to stop the flows have been unsuccessful. The relief wells that are currently being drilled are unlikely to be completed for some time and that measures to fully curtail the flow are unlikely to succeed until at least August 2010[update], when the relief wells are completed. When the relief wells are completed at that time the plan is to perform another “TOP KILL”. Top killing is a process in which heavy drilling fluids is pumped through two 3-inch lines into the existing well thereby restricting the flow of oil, which then could be sealed permanently with cement. But this won’t be effective until sometime in August. In the meantime, burning, chemical dispersants, filtering offshore, and collecting for later processing is all that can be done.
Cleanup – manip by r. j. paré
The Spill – by r. j. paré; manip & dig paint
Featured Artist Review Ryan Claytor by r. j. paré BIO: Elephant Eater Comics is the comic book self-publishing venture of United States comics artist Ryan Claytor. Elephant Eater Comics, established in 2004, is committed to producing intelligent and entertaining comics for an all-ages audience. Ryan Claytor is a comics artist and professor living in Lansing, Michigan. He currently teaches Comics Studio courses at both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Flint. In 2007, he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University with an emphasis in multimedia, researching autobiography in comics. Claytor’s achievements have included a Cartoonist in Residence position at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, California, visiting lecturerships at the Dallas Museum of Art and Michigan State University, an internship with Marvel Comics in New York City, and judging the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award in 2007. In 2009 the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco featured an exhibition of his work and Claytor began teaching the first “Comics and Visual Narrative” class in Michigan State University’s history. As a creator, Claytor is most widely known for his self-published, autobiographical, comic book series And Then One Day. Although the series has undergone several format changes and incarnations since its inception in 2004, And Then One Day readers are consistently treated with Claytor’s thoughtful and entertaining personal anecdotes immaculately packaged with a designer’s eye for production detail. In the summer of 2008, he released a republication of his Master’s Thesis on autobiography in comics entitled Concatenations.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: The Collected And Then One Day [issues # 1 - 4] Media Used: Offset Printing Size: 5.75” x 4.25” Date Created: 2007 [collective reprinting of material original published 2004 – 5]
Claytor was also an artist and event organizer for the first 24 Hour Comics Day (24HCD) in 2004. Subsequently, his twenty-four hour comic about relationships with passed relatives was chosen from hundreds of worldwide submissions as one of the best stories of the day and included in the first internationally distributed 24HCD anthology, 24 Hour Comics Day Highlights 2004. Since this time he has participated in two other 24 Hour Comics Days. During the summer of 2007, Claytor embarked on the most ambitious tour ever organized by a self-publishing comic book artist. This North American In-Store Signing Tour took Claytor to eighteen states and two Canadian Provinces where he signed books, spoke about his work, and held art exhibitions at fifty different museums, bookstores, libraries, and comic book specialty shops. To date, he has held signings in half the states across America.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: page 47, The Collected And Then One Day [issues # 1 - 4] Media Used: Pen and Ink Size: 5.75” x 4.25” Date Created: 2007 [collective reprinting of material original published 2004 – 5]
rjp: Mr. Claytor takes a wry look at the mundane work-a-day routine and its numbing repetitiveness, while urging us to still take stock of those increasingly rare moments that transcend our routines.
rjp: Have you always known that you wanted to be or, rather, were an artist? RC: I was always artsy, but I certainly didn't know I wanted to be a comic book artist until pretty late in the game (my 20's). But I can remember drawing my Care Bears as a 5-year-old sensitive artiste. :) Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: And Then One Day #5, Sketchbook Media Used: Offset Printing Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2005 rjp: Did you study or major in art while in school? RC: Yes. I have my undergraduate degree in Art Studio from University of California Santa Barbara and my Masters of Fine Art with an emphasis in Multimedia from San Diego State University. I did a LOT of work in comics as I went through grad school, thanks to a growing number of open-minded professors.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: page 43, And Then One Day #5, Sketchbook Media Used: Pen and Ink Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2005
rjp: The power of confessional mediums like the stage, talk radio, the internet or [as in this case] autobiographical comics is used most effectively when the artist [be they a stand up comedian, shock jock host, blogger etc] connects with their audience in revelatory fashion. Ryan manages to do so quite effectively in his slice-of-life reminiscence.
rjp: Who was your primary source of encouragement, as a child, in pursuing art? RC: My mom. No question. My dad was fine with me pursuing art, but I'm not sure he completely relates to it. He has a great business mind, which I like to think I inherited a little of. But my mom is definitely the artistic one of my parents and thinks that everything I do is lovely. I'll always know I have at least one fan. rjp: What is your favorite media to work with? RC: Comics. rjp: Do you use any special tools and techniques to create your art? RC: Blue-leaded mechanical pencil, Pitt Brush Pens, and Prismacolor mono-width pens for cross-hatching and lettering.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: And Then One Day #6, Autobiographical Documentary Media Used: Offset Printing Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2007
rjp: What inspires you to create art? RC: Life. rjp: How would you categorize your artistic style? RC: Approachably awkward, but becoming more refined.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: page 86, And Then One Day #6, Autobiographical Documentary Media Used: Pen and Ink Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2007
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: And Then One Day #7, Autobiographical Conversations Media Used: Hand-Printed Silk-Screened cover Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2009
rjp: One of the things that I love about small press publications is the artistry that author/creators put into, not only the content [wonderful as it is] but also the varied methods of binding & presentation. There is more care & thought put into these individual works of art than what you can find in the mass-produced mainstream bestseller’s lists. rjp: Would you say that there is a "message" or "unifying theme" in your work? RC: The vast majority of my comics have been autobiographical, but that's going to change with some upcoming projects.
rjp: Which famous artists / creators or styles have influenced you? Why? RC: http://www.elephanteater.com/links#influences (Excerpt from website)
INFLUENCES A list of artists I’ve looked to for inspiration over the years, some as I was growing up and others more recently. • • • • • •
Sergio Aragones (http://www.sergioaragones.com) - My all-time favorite artist. The website is pretty stagnant, but the artist is not. Mark Evanier (http://www.povonline.com/) - Hard to sum up in a sentence or even two. He’s written for comics, television, cartoons, and Sergio Aragones. Manu Larcenet (http://www.manularcenet.com) - This European comics artist crafted one of my new favorite books, Ordinary Victories. Stan Sakai (http://usagiyojimbo.com/) - The prolific creator behind Usagi Yojimbo. Craig Thompson (http://www.dootdootgarden.com/) - One of those creators you both praise and curse, just for being so unbelievably talented. Andi Watson (http://www.andiwatson.biz/) - An artist from the UK with a keensense of design. Watson can throw perspective out the window and still make everything work beautifully. And he tells a mean story.
rjp: Would you rather have an engaged & loyal but, ultimately, small Indie readership or work on the latest Spidey, Wolverine or X - book? RC: I would rather have an engaged & loyal wide-spread following. Ha-ha! ...and I don't have much interest in working on superhero books. rjp: 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? RC: HECKS NO!!! Even if the big boys decide they're going to an all digital distribution system (which they're not), there will always be a contingent of art-focused comic-makers who will craft their unique visions out of tangible materials. Now-a-days, you're starting to see a regenerated interest in hand-crafted materials with all this digital bombardment. Just look at Etsy and think of all the crafters and artists you in your life. Tangible product is not going anywhere. It may become less dominant than it used to be (which is not necessarily a bad thing), but it's never going to die.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: page 4, And Then One Day #7, Autobiographical Conversations Media Used: Pen and Ink Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2009 rjp: What do you think of the term "starving artist"? RC: I have no intention of being one. rjp: Do you feel more a sense of community with other artists or a sense of competition? RC: Definitely a sense of community. If there is any competition, it's friendly. That sounds like a load of diplomatic prattle, but it's true.
rjp: How do you market yourself? RC: How much time do you have? Ha-ha! I market myself every possible way I can think of and every reasonable chance I get. Website, conventions, in-store signings, national distribution, tours and grassroots personal interaction. rjp: Do you find it difficult to stay motivated/inspired? RC: Nope. I find it difficult to find the time in a day to do everything I want to do.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: And Then One Day #8, Autobiographical Conversations Media Used: Hand-Printed Silk-Screened cover Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2010
rjp: With each new edition, Ryan’s increasing sophistication as a gifted cartoonist & self publishing artisan is revealed.
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 you, your work and your audience? RC: My feelings about social networks oscillate depending on the day and my mood. Ha-ha! Sometimes I feel like artists, myself included, focus too much on this new social networking craze and not enough time producing product. On other days/moods I feel like it reminds readers that I exist, even though it takes me longer than the average bear to produce a book. As an artist, it's good to stay in the minds of readers so they don't forget who you are and what you do. So, my personal jury is still out on the matter.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: And Then One Day #8, Autobiographical Conversations Media Used: Hand-Printed Silk-Screened cover Size: 5.5” x 5.5” Date Created: 2010
rjp: What other interests do you have, besides art? RC: Hiking, reading, long walks on the beach. This is starting to sound like a personals ad. Ha-ha! I dunno. I like fiber arts, like quilting, embroidery and things generally not associated with being a man. You can add dancing to that list. I'll leave it there before I dig that hole any deeper. (Although drawing Care Bears at 5-years-old probably doesn't help my case.)
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: Lucky Media Used: Letterpress Print Size: 14.25� x 20� Date Created: 2006
rjp: A truly poignant piece in which Claytor manages to balance the realities of aging with the sort of gentle good humour we all aspire to face it with. It is my favourite, to be honest, of the batch of material I have reviewed for this article.
rjp: What advice would you have for a young artist starting out today? RC: I have series of articles on my website targeted toward aspiring comic book artists. I call the series "Small Press Professionalism" and you can find them here: RC: http://www.elephanteater.com/resources (Excerpt from website)
SMALL PRESS PROFESSIONALISM A series of articles geared toward small press comic artists outlining ways to improve the image of your product and succeed as an artist. • • • • • • •
How to Organize a Tour - Ever wanted to promote your books with a series of in-store book signings? Here’s how to make it happen. Massaging your Quotes - Tips on how to make the price of printing your books a little more managable. How to Stay Productive - Tips for staying productive in the face of a busy lifestyle. How to Distribute Your Small Press Comic (Part 1 of 2) - A handy list of mini-comics distributors. How to Distribute Your Small Press Comic (Part 2 of 2) - A further exploration into distribution channels including direct-to-store sales, conventions, and web commerce. Publish Online First - Why you might want to consider an initial web-based release of your work. How to Pay for Your Books - Some tips to make this daunting task effortless. rjp: Do you have any big plans, shows or Cons coming up? RC: Two of them in the immediate future: 1) Comic Con International in San Diego, CA July 21-25, 2010. I'll be in the Small Press Pavilion at table P-15. 2) Starting July 30th, I'm launching a book signing tour. I'm making stops in 15 States, 5 Canadian Provinces, and 25 total stops. You can find out all about it here: http://www.elephanteater.com/2557 rjp: How would you like your art, and by extension yourself, to be remembered? RC: That's a good question. I think I'd like to be remembered as a humble go-getter with some thoughtful comics. ...and I'm still working on making that happen.
Artist’s Name: Ryan Claytor Title: Autobiographical Comic Book Art, Exhibition Postcard Media Used: Offset Printing Size: 4” x 6” Date Created: 2006 RKYV ONLINE would like to thank Ryan Claytor for sharing some of his thoughts & work with us for this article. For more information and to follow this creator online: Website: http://www.ElephantEater.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ElephantEater Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Claytor/604445331
Untitled – by Josh Bowe
Non-Fiction? The last footsteps to 2012 by CS Cartier
2012 –Footsteps to destruction I am not a scientist, though I would be the first to say they understood the nature of things. I have always leaned towards an understanding of the basics while not exceeding at any. I would get bored at the fine tuning of understanding. A tree is a tree after all, no matter if you called it a Maple or Elm. The small differences do not excite me, and mark little comment. So when I say to you that science, backed by some scientists, does support most of the 2012 theories, it is with a general understanding and an appreciation of the work that has been done on the subject. Mind you, scientists usually cannot agree on something, even after the results are clear. That, not withstanding, brings me here, introducing my second article on the approaching doom. The end-of-the-world mania, called by some the “Apoca-freaks�, is most definitely a real movement that has spread across the globe. Hollywood did a piss poor job throwing together a mediocre movie, with real world insight. I know I will not have a limo to dodge falling buildings so I will have my head tucked tightly between my legs kissing my ashtray good-bye. So, as I touched on earlier, understanding just the basics is all we really need. Death by fire is just as dead as death by drowning. But to inspect closer for entertainment purposes only, I will delve into the sciences and strongest beliefs of what may possible be the beginning of the end. Personally, topping my list is the planet reacting to our own greed and mistreatment of her plains, mountains, skies, and shores. I digress, and move on.
Theory One - Coronal Mass Ejection - CME (solar flare for those less scientific) these events have been on the rise in recent years. Solar maximum is the term for the maximum in solar activity that takes place approximately every eleven years; solar minimum is the lowest point of solar activity. The last solar maximum was in 2001. (Do the math). The largest ever recorded way back in 1859 was actually responsible for the telegraph system failing. Some systems back then sparked and spontaneously caught fire. Even disconnected from the power source, some continued to send and receive messages. Now, I have in the past, had speakers that received transmissions while unplugged from the wall, from CB transmissions that were so powerful, they somehow charge the unit independently. So, these old reports make sense and suggest the power of solar flares. A large solar flare did achieve real events and measurable effects. This is the core of what science is, measured and calculated and over a span of time. So, let us look at the sky one hundred fifty year later. The atmosphere is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases (we call this air) it surrounds Earth. The higher you go; the atmosphere becomes thinner until it eventually is so far from the planet that gravity can no longer hold it. Thus beginning space. Gravity is what holds our air against the planet, crushing it as close to the ground as possible. This is of course pressure, leading into weather (a different topic). The atmosphere is divided into five layers. The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. The stratosphere is the second (where the jets fly). Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere, the third layer. Followed by the thermosphere this contains the auroras. The space shuttle orbits in the thermosphere. The last layer is where air merges with space, it is the exosphere. Knowing the atmosphere, let us further look at what each layer does for us and our survival. Most people know what Ozone is, for those that do not hear is a small explanation. Ozone is made of three oxygen atoms. The oxygen we breathe is made up of two oxygen atoms. Where we find ozone in the atmosphere determines whether we consider it to be "good" or "bad"! Ozone found in the atmosphere's lowest layer in the troposphere is "bad ozone" because elevated levels lead to human health problems as well as damage to crops and forests. Ozone one layer up, in the stratosphere, is "good ozone" because it shields us from harmful, longwavelength ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
This was a long way of saying, in 1859, during the largest recorded geomagnetic storm the Ozone layer was intact and solid (doing the job it is suppose to). And still, the radiation penetrated the protective layer. One hundred fifty years later, we have computers; in fact most of the world runs on computers. Kids in Ontario, Canada do not even learn without them. They use calculators to do basic math instead of learning the basics. I pity the day that computers are not available. Oops, of topic again, sorry. Much of the X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun are absorbed in the thermosphere. The thermosphere gets hotter and expands or "puffs up". Because of this, the height of the top of the thermosphere (the thermopause) does vary. So 90 km up to about 500-1000km of protect stand been us and a really bad sun burn. Many of our satellites orbit inside the thermosphere. The first victim of a CME will be the satellites. Communication counts on the satellites. Land lines are becoming a thing of the past. The problem really begins with the simple fact that a major "thinning" of the ozone layer in Earth's atmosphere has been recorded and governments around the world are in no hurry to fix it. First noticed in the late 1970s, the hole appears in the winter over the poles. You can see it mark in blue. Various chemicals that humans release into the atmosphere help cause the hole. You can see what a couple of decades did to the ozone. The hole will be like a hole in a boat. Radiation and X-Rays will spill onto us in massive amounts (is spilling), but a CME will be catastrophic. Telegraphs could not withstand a CME, what would happen to the technology that we hold dear to our hearts. September 2nd, 1859, the largest recorded solar event caused an Aurora that was seen around the world, most notably over the Caribbean; also noteworthy were those over the Rocky Mountains that were so bright, the glow awoke gold miners, it was so bright they actually thought it morning. What could possibly be the effects of such an event of a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) with today’s conditions? Some speculate that these are the making of the dire 2012 predicated leading to the end as seen in the Mayan Calendar. The threats to our life on earth – including an all-out collapse of power grids and satellite systems resulting from solar flares are expected to climax with unprecedented fierceness in 2012. Incipient plagues, famines, droughts and unyielding global warming are also assessed for their catastrophic potential.
Personally, I think the planet is taxed and pushed to the brink of safety. The infrastructure of nearly every city is beyond reproach. Every problem that has risen since their inception has only been levied or fixed with band aid solutions. New Orleans is proof that we live in an unsafe environment and the problems that are there are being hidden from the public’s eyes. How many other problems are we unaware of, that will be shown during our darkest hours? Are we the architects of our own destruction - which may spring out sometime in the near future? The CME theory is only one theory, and there are many others. The underlying problems are the same.
In ending (closing would have been grammatically proper but I thought the pun would be appropriate), I should explain what a CME actually is. In short, ten billion tons of plasma erupts from the surface of the sun. It is the largest explosion in the solar system. Roughly approaching the power in ONE BILLION hydrogen bombs! The speed of the explosion is about 1000 km per second. Normal the suns radiation would take about 4-5 days to reach the earth. The largest CME only took a dozen hours. Intense events contain very high levels of radiation, more than a million times the daily norm. Weaken Ozone protection could possibly lead to radiation sickness to humans and all life. Our food, water supply and entire way of life would be affected. I am not a scientist. I am smart enough to know a hole in the boat does mean I will sink. We are all on the galactic boat called Earth, and there is a hole in our boat. And there are magnetic storms coming.
Incendiary, CME - by r. j. parĂŠ; manip & dig paint
Poetry Selected Poems by Stephen Campbell Walled Home now, never dared he wander Forth from garden wall unbidden. Seldom Ventured outside stricken, young and alone. ----- The child in tears, his heart afflicted, ----- Ate with fear his hearts now hidden. Grown, the man remembers old adventures, Hears childhoods past, still as simple pleasures.
the child inside – by r. j. paré
Child of the 90's Time was, we watched TV unafraid Of anything. The cartoons were manmade, The news ignored, the shows were new, TV adored. And in those days we viewed Things differently; now the world is spun On the endless fuel of fruitless reruns, The news can be ignored no longer, TV’s magic is dead, its hold is stronger.
idiot box, darkly – by r. j. paré; manip & dig paint
Selected Poem by Wanda VanHoy Smith THE VICE OF LIFE St. Cross By the Sea is my favorite House of worship’ The parish has a magnificent organ and fine choir. My other favorite place for Sunday service is the Lighthouse Cafe a few blocks away. The lighthouse bar has a jazz brunch on Sunday and serves cool jazz, hot bop and three dollar Bloody Marys. I am a believer that God created trumpets And tomatoes as well as church organs. Variety is the vice of life. While shopping for a bottle or two in the liquor department of Von’s market I am greeted by a handsome familiar looking man with a white beard who seems know me and asks “Did you have a good time on Sunday?” I search my brain but can’t place him So I fake it, “Yes, the Lighthouse is always fun.” “Oh,” he looks surprised. “did you go down there after the church bazaar?” Then I remember, he sings in the St. Cross choir I mutter something stupid about how inspirational It is to hear Amazing Grace and escape to the dairy section where I hope he watches me put a bottle of Soy Milk in my cart next to the bread and Sacramento wine.
La Sainte sur La Mer de Mes Rêves – by r. j. paré; manip & dig paint
Selected Poem by Tindersen Blacktree Hoopdriver Note to Self Before murmuring madness steals a breath from your mind Take a mouth full of soap and a skelp from behind Just the trick to hold to you, the great hand-me-down Taken time taken stood still for the sound By the walls built to keep you from prehistory All but nurturing mindsets of raging disease Almost blissful in knowledge if knowledge be theirs that the sky is the limit for these thunderous gated snares Lighting us up in the cavernous state as we imitate.
Mentor – by r. j. parÊ; photo & manip
Poetic Perspectives by r. j. paré poison The ichor sweet stank ---- of india ink mars -------- the cartoonist’s fare
Since he’s no captain ---- of rich industry -------- his spills harm no one
His errant hand grasped ---- lacking ill intent -------- the brush without care
But him and his art ---- not thousands of lives -------- all screaming and noisome
Now all his marvels ---- lie ruined ‘neath black -------- he must start fresh anon
After all ‘tis ink ---- alone that here stains -------- page, not a Gulf of Poison
poison - by r. j. paré; manip & dig paint
Untitled – by Josh Bowe
Pop Culture
Back in March (Issue #33) I did a review of Lucius Hammer, a great independent comic that I found at last years Wizard World Chicago. This is one of the better comics I’ve found and strongly recommend that you read it. It is a comic strong in quality and entertainment and happens to be very important on various social levels. Lucius Hammer and other titles, such as Harlem Shadow can be found at www.ravenhammercomics.com. With the next issue about to be released, I took time to interview Lucius Hammer creator, Brian Williams. RKYV: So what’s new w/ Lucius Hammer? BW: Lucius Hammer is getting ready for his second senses shattering issue in which we will get into some real honest to goodness superhero action. It’s taken us a almost a year but we released a Harlem Shadow Spin-off book that came with a Lucius Hammer Character Index back in May so hopefully the growing fans got their hands on that one to get themselves primed for this full length adventure we are about to drop on you. And believe me when I say this, most comic book fans are not ready for what’s coming.
RKYV: How did you come up with the concept for Lucius? BW: Lucius Hammer started out as a clever pitch for a Luke Cage Revamp. I was sickened by Azzarello and Corben’s take on Cage and still don’t have much love for Bendis’ Luke Cage either. The current Marvel Cage is a thugged-out, nerd’s version of what a super tough black guy is like. I get so pissed off when I see the Avenger’s laying the smack down on some cosmic threat and dumb-ass Luke Cage is standing there in a wife-beater and jeans. That’s just nonsense. Anyway, a buddy of mine was like “ Hey man…that story is way too good to give to Marvel and they probably won’t get it anyway. You should just self publish your own character.” So I came up with a hardcore, gangster name…something that just had that ethnic-soul ring to it….Lucius Hammer, and I began writing a story about this Black Superhero cat who was born in a rush of sixties black adventurers who were just hitting the global scene at the time and causing a ruckus. Kind of like mixing Luke Cage with Superman. The surprise that emerged from my writing method was that Lucius had an illustrious historical background that linked him genetically to John Henry, paving the way for me to introduce one of his main powers…a delayed aging process. This kicks the door wide open for all sorts of adventures throughout history and also leaves the door open for a killer JOHN HENRY Comic Book. It’s coming, so get ready. RKYV: What do you aspire to do with Lucius? With comics? BW: I want to make Lucius Hammer the first black superhero that’s a household name. It’s time. We have a Black President before we have a major fictional black superhero character!!!??? That’s preposterous! I want to challenge mainstream comics to do better. Create new legends. Don’t just serve us up the fifteenth incarnation of Batman or give us a New X-MEN title…use your brains and come up with contemporary and alternative heroes that will last for the ages like Stan and Jack and all those other guys at Mighty Marvel did in the 60’s and seventies. It can be done!
RKYV: Who is working on this project with you? BW: My crew consists of a few good men. Christian Colbert, first and foremost, is the man who makes the artwork pop off the Bristol board. The man was born to draw Lucius Hammer.
I mean anybody who can’t see an animated series or three being spawned from Christian’s pencils and on smash coloring is blind. He is the franchise. Derek King is our graphic design guy and sometimes fill-in letterer. He does it all; websites, trading cards, bar mitzvah invitations, etc. You name it, this guy does it with speed and professional flare. I have been down with Derek for ten years now and he is a graphic design genius…when we blow sky high he’s going to be the MVP because he just gets it done and has that eye for ridiculous design. I should also mention the inker of the first book, a very talented dude out of Michigan named Travis Reitman who I hope will also be inking issue two because he knows just how to embellish Christian’s lines without obscuring them. The only other person on the crew is Guttermouth…but he’s real low key and does not like drama. He asked me not say anything about him so I’ll just say he’s our regular letterer and logo guy and we’ll leave it at that. RKYV: What is your creative process like? BW: My creative process is to first locate the germ of an idea. For instance, I became captivated for the first time with Will Eisner’s The Spirit not too long ago. It occurred to me that there were absolutely no pulp black detective hero types during this particular age of comics, and I found that odd because of the presence of books like Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes. And then my next thought was what an interesting backdrop the city of Harlem would make for the emergence of the first black superhero…the Harlem Shadow who would go on to influence Lucius Hammer to try his luck at being a costumed do-gooder. It’s simple to me. God given ability. That’s how it all starts and blossoms. RKYV: How does your team work? BW: We argue. We bicker. We miss deadlines. We tell each other we’re quitting and that’s it. But at the end of the day, we put together some really dope comics. Comic books that I’m proud of. And that’s all I’m really trying to do. I write the best script possible. Christian and I discuss it. He may freestyle on some of the scenes or panels to encompass a quirky but elegant action sequence that I have stirred in his imagination…and then we have “synchronicity”…that rare moment where both writer and artist join together to form Voltron!!! Doesn’t happen to everybody but it happens to CC and I all the time! RKYV: What projects are there in the future? BW: Future projects! Hahahhahhahaaha! We got a little horror-action sci-fi epic called Ravens Hollow that is on deck. Hopefully we will be releasing it in time for Halloween 2010…and it’s got Indians, ghosts, demon worshipping football teams, time travelers, Bigfoot, UFO’s and little zombie Indians called Pukwudgies. All of this stuff revolves around a small Ohio town called Ravens Hollow. This was actually an original concept of Christian’s that I came in halfway thru and injected some of my brand name insanity into. I think CC wants to do it as a one shot graphic novel.
RKYV: What is coming w/ Lucius? BW: Lucius Hammer will hopefully conclude his first arc by December 2010. The resulting graphic novel will be collected and is called I, Hammer…The Autobiography of The African American Superhero. This will give you his complete background and fill you in on the more contemporary storyline we are going to be telling in the regular Lucius Hammer Ongoing Series. Get ready for some of the most interesting villains and superheroes you have ever seen of all colors. I have been thinking about this book since I was eight years old, you are about to see the kitchen sink in 3D!!! RKYV: Tell us about some of the villains and side characters to come in Lucius? BW: Bulldozer, Jack Hammer and Electrocutor will be making their entrance and painful exit in issue 4 of I, Hammer.
RKYV: Are you doing a con tour this summer?
BW: We will be appearing at the Onyxcon in Atalnta, The Cincinnati Comic Expo in the Queen City, Mid Ohio Con and hopefully The New York Comicon but of course it all depends on money and time. I am not yet independently wealthy and I do have a family that comes before any of these hi-jinks so these appearances can sometimes be a little sketchy. RKYV: How are the web sales going? BW: Web sales are ok. Not great. We still don’t have a full time advertising giant out there directing people to our little piece of cyberspace. I try and get folks tuned in to using the webstore by keeping the facebook page poppin with previews and new material but until we get that top spot in a Diamond or Wizard…we’re still playing the word of mouth game. RKYV: What has worked for you in promoting your book? BW: The artwork. And I believe the just badass character that Lucius is attracts people. All colors, shapes and sizes. They love him. As the writer I would like to think also that I have a little something to do with it as well. I could be mistaken. It might just be the art. LOL RKYV: I think you have a tremendous sense of voice, both in terms of regional and era dialects. How do you get such strong dialogue in your stories? BW: Listening to people and reading other writers who do great dialects.
RKYV: Did you study writing in school? BW: I was a communications major at Boston College and screenwriting was my focus. I wanted to do movies. So I have read Syd Field’s books cover to cover many times and have prayed on nights beneath a full moon that I would one day be a screenwriter. Hasn’t happened yet so I decided to write movies for the page…Comic Books!!! RKYV: When did you know you wanted to write comics? BW: When I read Spawn and Youngblood. I said to myself…damn, if Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld can get away with this garbage passing as comics then I know I can break in. That being said, I still bought multiple printings of the first twelve issues of Youngblood and Spawn. RKYV: Did you/ do you ever want to write for other media? BW: One time I wrote a little tagline for a Tallstacks Riverboat Ad to earn some jack to pay for a website but for the most part…comic book and movie scripts have been my forte. But writing is my thing so I could probably transition easily to other media, it would just depend on if I was interested. RKYV: Do you use art for self discovery? BW: That question is a little too deep for me…I use art to show you what I’m thinking…how about that? RKYV: Is there anything of yourself in Lucius Hammer? BW: I think if there is, it’s the fact that he is a talented black man in a world that enjoys the thought of him, and doesn’t mind using him for entertainment purposes but in actuality wants to keep him in his place because he might start some kind of revolutionary thought in the masses. I am a legend in my own mind. LOL RKYV: Will you ever show up at a con dressed up like Lucius Hammer? BW: Naw. I’m not big enough. Lucius is a big dude. RKYV: Who/what are you influences? BW: My childhood. All of the wonderful storybooks my mother hipped me to as a kid. Classic Trek. Alan Moore. Warren Ellis. Grant Morrison. Stan Lee. John Byrne. Chris Claremont. Billy Graham (the black artist who penciled Luke Cage in the seventies) Keith Pollard, Christopher Priest and his first six issues of Marvel Knights Black Panther, Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, Jack Kirby’s New Gods, Prince’s Purple Rain album, Led Zeppelin, Neal Adams and Denny O’Neil’s Green Lantern and Green Arrow, Quentin Tarrantino, Kung Fu Cinema, The Flinstones, Scooby Doo and Jonny Quest.
RKYV: What inspires you? BW: Great question. Bookstores. Coffee shops with books. Indie comics. Movies. Blaxploitation cinema. Alexander Dumas. Jimi Hendrix. My wife and kids. Rocky 1, Godfather 2, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, Gil Kane, The Great Gatsby, Spider-Man, Superman, great conversations, spontaneous creativity, and a blank piece of paper.
RKYV: What pissses you off?
BW: Marvel’s current version of Luke Cage, the depiction of African American characters in modern day comics, the collective I.Q of all the stupid people who paid in excess of 100 million dollars to see that ass-tacular Wolverine Movie, Hollywood directors who think they can re-write comics, The creators of the t.v show Heroes, Lady Gaga and L’il Wayne, reality t.v, event comics like Darkest Night and Brightest Day, alternate covers with higher prices, stupid questions, and corporate America. RKYV: What comics do you read? BW: I read Absolute Watchmen once every couple of months. This book is the Ark of the Covenant as far as comic book artistry is concerned…it gets no better. Right now I’m digging Jersey Gods…Spider Man has been exceptionally entertaining for me lately. Fantastic Four is trying to make a come back, a little Thor and Hulk. Oh yes…Daredevil is interesting. I am also nuts about Grant Morrison’s Great Ten. I collect all of Image’s POP-GUN collections. And Hellboy and The BPRD books are must buys for me when ever I see them on the rack. RKYV: What else are you reading? BW: I am currently reading Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes. Sort of a research thing for my Harlem Shadow story. RKYV: What are you watching /listening too? BW: Don’t watch a lot of t.v…too much brain drivel. Every now and then I’ll watch Paranormal State, Lost or True Blood. But I am not attached to any one t.v show in particular. TV is dead to me. I am currently listening to a lot of seventies r&b just to capture that flavor for the Lucius Hammer comic. RKYV: If Lucius had a soundtrack, what would be on it? Who would you want to do the music for it? BW: Actually Lucius Hammer does have a soundtrack being composed by a couple of fantastic musicians I am collaborating with named Tony Kelsey and Jeff Popplewell. But a dream soundtrack would be Curtis Mayfield, James Brown and Isaac Hayes…together!!!
RKYV: Tell us about the Lucius Hammer action figure. Where can you get them? BW: It’s still in its embryonic stage. I can confirm though that the prototype is finished and we are looking for financing…so it’s a ways off but further than I ever dreamed it would go. RKYV: What was behind having the action figure made? BW: I just saw the need for a really cool, black action figure that I could go out and market to a hungry black consumer community who want things like a Lucius Hammer action figure. I tell people this all the time, there’s big money in flattery. African Americans want to see themselves represented. They also want their kids to have heroes, real and fictional, that look like them. It’s elementary to me.
Comic Book Review by Brad Bellmore
Mirror Mind
Thumb solidly up Mirror Mind is another SPACE discovery. It is a graphic novel written and drawn by Tory Woollcott. If this isn’t the best book I’ve read in a while, it’s the most important. This book goes miles toward helping people understand dyslexia. The story of this book follows the life of the creator as she grew up with dyslexia in a school that just didn’t get it. The trauma she endured due to the stupidity of the adults around her is atrocious. Her parents scramble to figure out what to do while the experts misguide them and mistreat her. Finally, Tory gets the help she needs and her situation begins to improve. This is a great story detailing the events that happened and drawing us into the anguish and pain Tory experienced. Even the transition of her name from Victoria to Vicky to Tory is significant. Everyone deals with creating an identity and finding their place in the world and this book taps that basic experience in all of us while bringing us into Tory’s specific ordeal on that path. A tale very well told. The art in this book reminds me of Persepolis. It is simple at times, but that simplicity reveals a complexity that an overdrawn book could never accomplish. The look of this art captures the feel of childhood yet it makes the depth of emotion weigh more. Subtle effects like the lettering on all the packages in the book are designed to give the reader a feel of the dyslexic experience. Also the change in fonts used to define which language was spoken was quite clever. Find this book. Buy and read it. Then buy copies to donate to your library or school. This is a great book and it is an important book. Well worth the money.
Manga Maximus by Darke Raven Month 1 - Aria By Kozue Amano • •
Published by ADVManga (1st English Publication) and TOKYOPOP (2nd English Publication) Present Status - Limbo… again?!?
I checked it out in the dictionary, the term "Aria", and found this. •
Aria (n) - A vocal piece with accompaniment sung in solo; part of an opera.
Perfect for the title in my opinion, and while it is still not quite getting up to speed in publication as I would have hoped at least now you can enjoy both the Manga version (this review) and the Anime TV Series of this rare gem of a treasure not enough people, in my opinion, have been exposed to yet (thanks to TOKYOPOP in Manga and Right Stuff on Anime).
One hundred and fifty years have passed since terra forming of the planet Mars has turned it from a stark lifeless desert into a water world where 90% of the surface is covered with oceans, now renamed Aqua (the world of water), which might be an alternative title to find the series under according to amazon.com BTW. Life eventually flourished in the form of immigrants from Earth, and a human world albeit primitive in comparison to life on Earth took root. Now, at the 150 year anniversary in the year 2301, in a city called Neo Venezia, the story begins. This is the story of young Akari Mizunashi, and her dream to become a full fledged gondolier (known on this world as "Undines") navigating the watery canals of Neo Venezia on her gondola working for the Aria Company (seemingly from what I can see of it a small but hard working gondola company in Neo Venezia). It’s hard work becoming a full fledged Undine, but thankfully she isn’t going it alone (of course). First off there is Alicia, her instructor and mentor, who guides her through the paces on her quest to become a full fledged Undine. Then there's her best friend Aika, who works for a rival company, who also helps her but in a different way than Alicia (who Aika looks up to and admires since Alicia is one of the best Undines on Aqua). Finally there's company mascot "President Aria", the blue eyed cat like creature that is the company mascot. All Undine companies in Neo Venezia have a blue eyed cat as a mascot, and the mascot is always named "President (company name)", hence "President Aria". And of course there's the citizens of Neo Venezia, as well as those just visiting, who also for brief moments give her company as they board her boat and pass in and out of her life as briefly as a short rainstorm. Hence why the term "Aria" suits this book best if I got the gist of the term right. Like an Aria, a vocal piece sung in solo with accompaniment, thus is the life of trainee Undine Akari Mizunashi. It is her solo life, but it is made brighter and more complete with the "accompaniment" of friends, co-workers and the people she meets each and every day she lives and works in Neo Venezia. Aria is truly a pure and beautiful dream which is embodied well in the well crafted artwork, the lovely storytelling, and the overall package that flows like a softly running river with its beautiful dream from beginning to end of the Graphic Novel 1 to 4 (of which I have read to date). From beginning to end Aria is a visual treat, and a quiet yet enjoyable read that flows as quietly and calmly as the canals of Neo Venezia, promising a trip that takes it's time, and is beautiful because it does take it's time and doesn't rush it.
A must read in my opinion with a lovely score of 5 out of 5 to prove it.
Raised on Saturday Morning Cartoons by Pauline Paré Naughty and Nice Summer is here and so is the dreaded hiatus of several fav shows. Lately, we have been presented with more summer fare than ever, some good and some chillingly bad. One of the better ones so far has been “The Good Guys”, a one-hour police comedy airing on Fox. Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford (formerly of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) star as a pair of detectives, assigned to the most menial cases, who always seem to stumble on the big busts. In the first episode the two investigate a rock thrown through a window in a residential area only to find that the rocks true target was a street lamp. Eventually (and it actually seems to make sense!) the detectives bring down an international car theft ring. The show isn’t perfect but somehow it works and entertains in the process. It is full of laughs and the main characters are great to watch but I feel that some stronger background characters are needed. I do recommend checking it out fro some summer fun in front of the tube.
This summer brings some returning shows and a favourite from last season is HBO’s Hung. It features Thomas Jane as a down on his luck high school coach in a Detroit suburb who tries to cash in on his biggest asset to make some much needed cash. That asset happens to be his male endowment. Irreverent and funny with some great supporting characters, this is definitely a show to watch after the kids have gone to bed. Jane Adams is brilliant as Tonya, a poetess turned pimp. The dynamic between the characters is wonderful to watch and there are extremely funny moments as well as real insights into their lives. I find the kids to be the weakest part of the show but since the show is not really about them, I can live with that. I realize now that Thomas Jane’s talent was wasted when they tried to market him as an action star. His comic timing and charm bring so much to this HBO comedy. This show is truly a guilty pleasure. Speaking of guilty pleasures, my family and I have been enjoying Wipeout since it’s first season. It may not be even close to intellectual and it’s popularity is based on an enjoyment of human suffering but that can be so much fun! The hosts can be a little irritating at times but there is certainly some enjoyment to be had out of watching someone get bashed by a padded mechanical arm. The contestants are comical and the obstacle course is purposefully gruelling and next to impossible to traverse without some hilarity. It is a show the whole family enjoys together and every episode is full of laughs.
The best show of summer however is outside. Yes outside. You really can have fun out there and there is some evidence that sunshine (in moderate amounts with the right sunscreen) is actually good for you. There are times when nature can put on a really good show. But set that PVR because it does rain! (And there are a LOT of bugs at night).