Table of Contents

RKYV # 39 {August 2010}

RKYV ONLINE LOGO –David Marshall {current}r. j. paré {modified}Roy G. James {original}

Virtual Cover # 39- Art by Stephen White- Layout by r. j. paré

Interior Art

- By r. j. paré, Bob Labute, Belinda

Da Fonseca, James Santiago,Naomi Randolph, Fehim Zećiri,Mike Grattan, Stephen White

Editorial Column- “At the Outset:

A Few Thoughts from the Editor”- By r. j. paré

Indie Comic- “Different Unlike Us -

Heatwave”- Written by Darke Raven, Art byArif Gunawan, Lettered by RRDuran

Featured Artist Review

- “Stephen White”- By r. j. paré

Indie Comic

- “Double Dead”- Written by , Art by Lee Roy

Lopez, Lettered by r. j. paré

Literature- “Hominine” - review

- by r. j. paré

Poetry

- By Larissa Gula, FrancesNichols Vargas, Wanda VanHoy

Smith

Pop Culture- “Comic Book Review”- By Brad Bellmore

- “Manga Maximus”- By Darke Raven

- “Raised on Saturday MorningCartoons”

- By Pauline Paré

Cap © Marvel Comics – by Fehim Zećiri

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At the Outset

A few thoughts from

the editor…by r. j. paré

Welcome to issue # 39 of, RKYV ONLINE, your art / lit / pop-culture e-Zine.The summer doldrums are coming to an end and with them this season of TVre-runs, blockbuster action films and sticky heat waves. Time is running out

for splashing through the lawn sprinkler and soaking in some rays. The kidssense the approaching school year like a black cloud on the horizon. Fun time

is almost over, but not quite yet…

[August]

adj. – inspiring reverence or admiration.

Admiration is precisely what I feel towards RKYV’s contributors each andevery month. They dazzle us with their artwork – from deftly rendered penciland ink sketches to gorgeous painted canvases. This Zine owes its visual

appeal to the many artists who continue to share their latest creations with us.

I’ve said, “I’m sorry”, by now,at least once to just about everyone…

In August and Everything AfterI want somebody else to bleed for me…

Counting Crows

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They also intrigue us with their wordsmith – from insightful opinions andreviews to poignant and, often, engrossing works of prose and poetry. ThisZine derives its voice from the many writers who craft its content.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: many thanks to all of the contributors

who have submitted this month – you make my job [putting this whole she-bang together] a hell of a lot of fun…

r. j. paré

Note from the RKYV board of directors: Considering how much fun mr. paréis having surely he won’t mind having his current salary significantlyreduced, particularly in regards to the current economic climate. Meanwhile,

RKYV ONLINE is proud to announce that it has not been the recipient of onered cent of stimulus or bail out money, not that we’d say no if you twisted our

arms. Do you here that FED? Just show us the trough to plunge our porcinesnouts in…

Expenditure; Out with the Old – by Tindersen B. Hoopdriver

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Indie ComicDifferent Unlike Usby Darke Raven

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The Healer – by Bob Labute

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Featured

Artist

Review

Stephen White

aka ‘Stref’by r. j. paré

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rjp: Have you always known that you wanted to be or, rather, were an artist?

SW: I did… in a way, whether I

knew it or not! I drew my way

through every lesson in school, be

it an art class or a maths one! It’s

not something you think about at

that age, you just do what

interests you… that’s what’s great

about being a kid, ya have that

luxury!

rjp: Did you study or major inart while in school?

SW: No, I left school at sixteen…

before my art (or any other)

exam. I did do my art O’grade and

scraped through with the lowest

possible pass, whatever that

means!

rjp: Who was your primarysource of encouragement, as achild, in pursuing art?

SW: My childhood wasn’t perfect

and I used books and drawing as

an escape. My Uncles had left

many comic book annuals at my

Granny’s house where I stayed

most weekends. This is how I was

introduced to such classics as

Herge’s Tintin books and Oor

Wullie (which is a very Scottish

title for those not familiar!).

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rjp: What is your favoritemedia to work with?

SW: I am aware of the

technological advances of this

new digital era… but I still love

to scratch away with a pen on a

sheet of paper. Don’t get me

wrong, I scan in, composite,

colour and fiddle around with

everything I draw… but it’s nice

to start off with an actual

drawing!

rjp: Do you use any special

tools and techniques to createyour art?

SW: My work is extremely

varied, I approach every project

with a style I feel suits it best.

I’m not sure that I even have a

distinguishable style, or whether

that is a good or a bad thing! I

try to adapt myself to the work,

not the other way round… this

keeps the work interesting and

challenging for me also. My

graphic novel Milk+ is a

collection of short stories I

wrote and drew. It contains

seventeen (I think) stories, each

rendered in a different style,

both of writing and drawing.

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Artist: Stephen White

Title: Cover to Milk+ paperback editionMedia: Photoshop

SW: Originally published in 2009 as MILK, this new cover image was created in 2010

for a paperback version with a title change to MILK+. The cover was created in

Photoshop from various images taken from inside the book.

rjp: What inspires you to create art?

SW: It’s an inexplicable drive from within! A desire to have my say… an unbelievably

egotistical presumption that it is important for me to verbalise my point of view!

Also, drawing and writing makes the world, around you, melt away, which can be nice.

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rjp: How would you categorize your artistic style?

SW: It’s hard to categorize as it’s all over the place… changing from project to

project, from day to day… just like my mind! Some work is minimalist and expressive,

other work totally cartoon-y, and everything in-between.

rjp: Would you say that there is a "message" or "unifying theme" in yourwork?

SW: Milk+ is an extremely

themed book, it is adult and

artistically expressive. The

book I just finished

(yesterday – at the tie of

this interview) is in the

tradition of the three panel

daily cartoon strips you

find in newspapers. So far

as themes go, in some work

it’s important… but in other

work it’s all about the

laughs.

Artist: Stephen WhiteTitle: MILK+

Part One: “Sanctuary”

(page one).Media: Blue pencil line,

ink pen on paper, greysadded in Photoshop.

SW: Sample Comic Page -

Man in desert – from

MILK+

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Artist: Stephen WhiteTitle: MILK+:

“H2oo” (page two).

Media: Blue pencil line, inkpen on paper, gradients added

in Photoshop.

SW: Sample Comic Page - Alien

looking at light explosion thru

window – from MILK+

rjp: Which famous artists /

creators or styles haveinfluenced you? Why?

SW: My two biggest influences

are Herge (Georges Remi),

famous creator of Tintin, and

Winsor McCay, creator of Little

Nemo in Slumberland. It’s not

often that you open up a book

and the contents utterly floor

you… but that happened to me

with both these guys.

As far as the super-hero genre

goes, my favourite artist is Barry Windsor Smith, who’s work (other than just his

comic book stuff but including it) also floors me!

rjp: Would you rather have an engaged & loyal but, ultimately, small Indiereadership or work on the latest Spidey, Wolverine or X - book? [the old Art

vs Commerce question]

SW: I have no interest in working on popular super-hero titles… there are plenty

artists out there doing a better job of that than I ever could. I guess I’m indie all

the way… but getting some money for a change would be nice!

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Artist: Stephen WhiteTitle: MILK+:

The Need (page one).Media: Multi media

originals manipulated in

Photoshop.

rjp: A sample comic pagefrom Milk+ in whichStephen ventures into thecomic “noir” genre. What Iparticularly like about this

page is Stephen’s looseningof the page structure[panels, balloons, boxes] to

create a more illustratedtext presentation that truly

suits the material.

rjp: With advancements in computer graphic tablet technology, some artists

are now creating their work directly in the digital medium and releasing it inpurely digital formats... are the days of paper & pulp doomed to the realm of

fading memories?

SW: Maybe… how sad! No more original artwork! The tress, however, are delighted!

rjp: What do you think of the term "starving artist"?

SW: That’s me!

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rjp: Do you feel more a sense of community with other artists or a sense ofcompetition?

SW: Community! Join my Facebook group, “I love comic book art” and share/promote

your artwork or project!

Artist: Stephen WhiteTitle: MILK+: A Tail from the City (detail from page two).

Media: Blue pencil line, ink pen on paper, greys added in Photoshop.

rjp: The amount of detail in this single panel is astonishing. The attention paidto background, texture and figures is almost Perez-ian, [if Stevie will allow me

to make the comparison...]

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rjp: How do you market yourself?

SW: I’m a whole lot better at the creative side of things… hence the starving artist

lifestyle! However, the internet has made it easier to showcase your work and

connect to both the audience and potential publishers alike… so I’m trying to be

better at this side of things!

Artist: Stephen WhiteTitle: RAISING AMY: BORN TO BE WILD! (samples)

Media: Blue pencil line, ink pen on paper, colour added in Photoshop.

rjp: Do you find it difficult to stay motivated/inspired?

SW: Only when I’m too weak (through hunger) to drag my skeletal body to the

drawing board! Seriously though… I go through periods of mass production and then

periods of doing nothing. I worked on The Dandy comic for six years, producing up to

eight pages a week sometimes, and after I left, I never picked up a pen for two

years! I just finished drawing 250 cartoon strips for my new book, Raising Amy-Born

to be wild! This took four months of intense drawing… I got rid of my T.V. whilst

doing the book to minimalize distractions- much to the annoyance of my daughter,

but it worked!

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rjp: While traditional publishing and distribution has become a difficult goalto achieve for the modern Indie comic creator, what do you think of theimpact that social networks and POD services have had as an alternate means

of mass-connecting you, your work and your audience?

SW: The internet has made the whole world, including publishers and audiences

more accessible. I promoted and pitched my last two book ideas online and found

publishers without even having to spend money on a stamp! That is inconceivable,

when compared to the process this would involve before the mighty internet!

rjp: What other interests do you have, besides art?

SW: I play the guitar pretty badly, but well enough to sustain a drunken sing song at

house parties! I love books and movies; my favourite movie is still Blade Runner.

rjp: What advice would you have for a young artist starting out today?

SW: If certain essentials are important to you, for instance… food! Then give up and

get a real job! If you can live without the luxuries… then you are truly an artist! If

you fall into this category, then you have my sympathies… but I look forward to

hearing what you have to say!

Artist: Stephen WhiteTitle: RAISING AMY: BORN TO BE WILD! (sample)

Media: Blue pencil line, ink pen on paper, colour added in Photoshop.

rjp: Little Orphan Annie, she’s not. Rather, Amy is the wickedly delightful

product of Stephen’s warped, but oh so talented imagination...

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Artist: Stephen White

Title: Black Eagle,a Milk+ Poster

Media: Blue pencil line,ink pen on paper,

coloured in Photoshop.

rjp: A truly breathtaking

piece. The richly detailedscene combined with

Stephen’s command oflight and shadows – all setin an amber washedsunset landscape – madethis my favourite piece to

review for this article. Ofcourse, I simply had to co-op the image when laying

out this month’s cover,many THX to Stephen

White for sharing some ofhis insight, background

and amazing work withus this month.

rjp: Do you have any big plans, shows or Cons coming up?

SW: My first book, MILK was originally published by Insomnia, but I have since left

them and will be bringing out a superior softback version with different content

from a different publisher in the near future. My next book out will be “Raising

Amy-Born to be wild!” published by Markosia Enterprises. You can get a sneak peek

into these pages at the Facebook group, “Raising Amy”. The book will contain 250 full

colour strips, full of attitude!

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rjp: How would you like your art, and by extension yourself, to beremembered?

SW: Hopefully as someone who made you think and made you laugh- that would be

more than I could hope for!

rjp: For those who’d like to ‘follow’ Stevie and his work online, links areincluded below. Cheers!

I love comic book art ( Facebook group )http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541352675#!/group.php?gid=90709790781&ref=mf

Raising Amy ( Facebook group )http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541352675#!/group.php?gid=196439171613&ref=mf

Raising Amy ( Playstation Comics Interview )http://uk.playstationcomics.com/main/digital-comics/issue-detail.html?issue=Raising+Amy+%231_65479-GB-EN

Raising Amy (Playstation Comics Blog)http://uk.playstationcomics.com/main/blog/raising-amy.html

MILK+ ( Facebook group )http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541352675#!/group.php?gid=22420456975&ref=ts

ART SAMPLEShttp://www.facebook.com/album.phpaid=167089&id=541352675&l=4093adce79

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Tree Ballet – by De Tourist

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Indie ComicDouble deadWritten by Scott Hartman,

Drawn by Lee Roy Lopez & Lettered by r. j. paré

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30to be continued…

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Untitled – by Bob Labute

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Lit - CornerHominine – Reviewby r. j. paré

Lewis Evans, a talented artist & writer [whom we at RKYV were

privileged to review as our Featured Artist of the Month back in Issue # 22], isback gracing our pages this month as we offer up a ‘shout out’ for his first

novel – “Hominine – We Have A Choice”.

I just finished reading the book – here’s my thoughts:

Hominine is an interesting and timely piece of work - Zeitgeist meets Dan

Brown meets 24. Modern geopolitics and terrorism as seen through the eyes ofan aging, disillusioned hippie who's now very much a part of the

establishment he once railed against.

It is a tale about deadly next-gen weapon technology developed through "new

age" discoveries - but implemented without the corresponding "new age"wisdom. It's Einstein, Oppenheimer & the Atomic bomb all over again. Can

mankind's "higher awakening" empower them to exist beyond the confines ofmodern consumerism - before the powers [both governmental and corporate]

behind the status quo eliminate critical thought and the dissent it leads to?

Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hominine-the-novel/137874056248172?ref=mf

more info:

http://www.hominine.info/

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PoetrySelected Poetryby Wanda VanHoy Smith

ALL GRAY BLUES

The clouds are inside out

showing their leaden lining.The ocean dark as tarnished Turkish cymbalsnothing bright and shiningexcept our memories of his music.

Even the Cherokee Maiden's hairis now gray as pelican feathersand ashes.

His fans gather for his last solo to cross

the Light House bar in the good ship jazzHe is set free in a basket of rose petals in the sea.Be Bop Beverly's tears fall like drops ofsalty blues on the rose she holds.She tosses her grief among the jazzy

red blossoms that brighten dark watersin a line like the Saints marching in,

A patch of blue opens in the heavensand for a second a wave sparkles likethe white pearl shell on double bass drums

Tomorrow we will all cross over Nexus – by r. j. paréto our favorite bar.where we will hear future all stars

inspired by those who came before..

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Selected Poetryby Frances Nichols Vargas

Granted A Suprise

It is funny how life can pass by so fastSo fast in fact

Twenty years go by as fast as the ocean tideOne day, granted a surprise

Turn around and caught my eye

Blending In – by De Tourist

A smile

A winkChase takes place

Another year soon passesAnd a phone call tantalizes

Yet more time flies by

Granted another surprise

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A smileA wink

A date to contemplateLaughter gives way to feelings of comfort

And familiarityIt is the feeling of knowingThere is a thread that binds

Understanding all too well where each one has beenA desire to know where each one is heading

Shelter – by De Tourist

A smileA wink

And a drinkSome funny stories and promises take place

A wink, a smile and a hug goodbyeLooking forward to the next time

Some more time flies byAnother surprise

Another date to contemplate

A winkA smile

An all too familiar hugTime slows down

Only to be granted another...

Selected Poetryby Larissa Gula

Africa’s Name Is ‘Beautiful’

A stroll down our streets before the rains will take you pastA dusty shop on your left with a smiling caretaker waving;

A small house down on your right, its owner peacefully asleep;And a school that still stands at the center of our society.

When you arrive at my house, you will find me,Dark skinned, wrinkled, with hair pale from the aging process,

Always smiling out to the world in delight, in welcome.Over the years, we have learned to always smile; always.

Oasis – Life in the Harshest of Climes – by r. j. paré

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As the sun trails downwards, I perch and I weave and I observe.I watch our beautiful children kick a ball down the dirt streets,

As my youthful neighbors emerge with drums and guitars, instruments

Designed to take our dreams and convert them into a delightful display.

I watch the ones with heavy textbooks walk home, smiling, excited –And I smile back, hoping to always see those smiles, hoping

That as they age they smile with wonder at all knowledge, accepting

That the process will never end, until we are welcomed home above.

I call to them as they stroll home, late (as always), and offer the foodThat I spent the day harvesting and cooking with my two scarred hands.

I relish the conversation in moments that a sunlight bath made beautifulThe plain’s animal dust trails, the dirt, the weeds, the thirsty tree roots.

Surreal Landscape – by r. j. paré

OpeningTo Here

Sketchwork by Tindersen B. Hoopdriver

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Pop CultureComic Book Interviewby Brad Bellmore

In RKYV issue 28 I reviewed the comic

Genecy by Gerald Cooper. It is afascinating book that has been comparedto the Conan playing the Silver Surfer. It’scool. It’s cosmic. The art and storytellingwill blow you away. If you didn’t already

pick up a copy after my review, do so nowat http://www.invisioncomics.com/ or

at www.indyplanet.com .

Genecy issue 2 is about to be released so I

connected with the creator to get thelatest.

RKYV: So what’s new w/ Genecy?

Cooper: Issue number 2 is what's new!

There's going to be an eight page short story

in the back of issue number 2 explain what

life was like for the character prior to issue

number 1.

RKYV: How did you come up with the concept for Genecy?

Cooper: I thought of a grand scene and said, "How do I get there, and where does

it go from there?"

RKYV: Who is working on this project with you?

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Cooper: Diego Bernard, Carlo Dotson and Tony Pabone are

the artists and Oren Kramek is the colorist and letterer.

RKYV: How did you get connected with him?Cooper: I connected with Diego via the internet, through

Glass House Graphics. That’s the same place I found Eddy

Barrows who drew my first issue. Eddie got picked up by

DC and he’s now drawing Superman. I had to replace him so

I went with Diego who drew the cover of issue one.

RKYV: How has it been switching artists?Cooper: Diego has a amazing consistency and visual power. Nothing against Eddie –

he did amazing work on the first issue and has a power all his own. But Diego has a

Buscemi type of intensity and power in his art. Not that it looks like that, but it has

that intensity. So, I asked Diego to mimic Eddie’s style and slowly morph to his style

over a few issues. That’s what Marvel did when they brought in John Byrne to draw

X-Men. Oren, who, by the way, is the best colorist in the business, helps with the

morphing. The consistency of his work makes the book have its ultimate feel so that

helps.

RKYV: What is your creative process like?

Cooper: I’m a mad scientist locked away working on my project and then suddenly I

kick open the door, smoke pouring from my hair and shout “Eureka!” Basically, that’s

how I write the script. Then I send it to the artists, they send back the artwork and

I shift it all over to Oren.

RKYV: What projects are there in the future?Cooper: There is a spin off series in the works about a king on a distant planet ... so

distant I almost forgot it was there (LOL).

RKYV: What is coming w/ Genecy?

Cooper: Rathgar! I also plan to include 8 page shorts at the end of each issue that

give some back-story of Kaizaxx, helping the readers understand why this dude is

who he is. They will be titled Trials of Tanaan.

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Each short will feature a different artist each time. Diego will focus only on the

main story.

RKYV: Are you doing a con tour?

Cooper: Yep! I plan to be at New York and San Diego next year and everywhere

else.

RKYV: What has worked

for you in promoting yourbook?

Cooper: Screaming and

begging! I feel like Stan Lee

and Don King! People are calling

me Stan King now ... or is it Don

Lee? Whatever!

RKYV: Did you study

writing in school?Cooper: I had no choice.

What's funny is that I HATED

English class.

RKYV: When did you know you wanted to write comics?Cooper: When I accepted the fact that I couldn't draw. I don't know how they do

it.

RKYV: Do you use art for self discovery?

Cooper: I just discovered that I can do that!

RKYV: Is there anything of yourself in Genecy?Cooper: Oh yes. A lot. How I was and How I am. I'm in a lot of characters.

RKYV: What inspires you?Cooper: God, my wife, the people that help me, those that I help.

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RKYV: What pisses you off?Cooper: Burnt and undercooked food! YYEEEEEAAAARRRGGGG!!! And being late.

RKYV: Who/what are you influences?

Cooper: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Marv Wolfman Walter Simonson, Jim Starlin and the

bible.

RKYV: That’s a lot of classic stuff. Any reason for that?

Cooper: All the new writers were influenced by those guys so when you read them

your reading the classics. I also took a look at how Dc built their world and how

Marvel built their world. I’m in that same process so I draw more from the earlier

days when those guys were building their worlds.

RKYV: What else are you reading?Cooper: The bible.

RKYV: What do you aspire to do withGenecy? With comics?

Cooper: I aspire to send Genecy to the big

screen!

RKYV: What are you

watching/reading/listening too?Cooper: I'm so busy right now; I forgot that

I had a big screen TV.

RKYV: If Genecy had a soundtrack, what

would be on it? Who would you want todo the music for it?

Cooper: I'm actually getting close to finishing the Genecy soundtrack and it sounds

good! John Williams inspired.

RKYV: Are there any other projects on the way?

Cooper: Oh yeah! I’m talking with some friend about collaborating on a project. It

will be awesome.

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RKYV: When writing comics, do you find yourself creating with an eyetoward movie development? Video games?Cooper: Oh yeah! I wrote Genecy to as well be a video game and a movie. If you look

at issue one, the whole thing is set up like levels of a game, ending with the big boss

battle at the end.

RKYV: Do you feel that the comic industry is going down the toilet with therest of the print world? Or are they one segment that can survive?

Cooper: Man has always had physical books to read. I don't think that's ever going

to change. Comics aren't going anywhere. We just need to give people comics worth

buying, and Genecy is one worth buying. I'm so product based!

Comic Book Reviewby Brad Bellmore

Beast Legion

Thumb Partly Up

Beast Legion is an online comic created by Jazyl Homavazir. This is a trueindependent endeavor with Homavazir both writing and drawing the book

which is now on issue number 3. The book seems aimed at a slightly youngeraudience.

The story takes us to Lithopia land that has enjoyed three decades of peace.Prophecy warns that when the planets align the Shadow Nexus will return

and plunge the world into war and chaos. This event dawns when a mysticalitem is stolen form the palace treasury during the prince’s birthday

celebration. With the Shadow Nexus released, a horde of demons rush out tobring destruction on the world.

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This story’s concept in this rivals

some of the better fantasy work outthere, either in comics or prose.

The idea of trying to prevent aprophecy and dealing with itseminent fruition is a great conflict to

hinge a story upon; then followingthat with a classic struggle of good

verses evil where the good havebeen vigilant and are prepared for

this event. The dialogue and page topage storytelling are a bit rough attimes. Nothing that ruins the book

just leaves me scratching my head attimes trying to connect the dots.

Part of these storytelling issues stem

from the art. Occasionally I findwhat feels like missing panels, likesomething happened in between

that I missed and can’t puzzle out.

The issue is a mix of really solid art that fits the world and style of this kind offantasy and the audience. Other times the perspective is off enough to give me

a bit of vertigo, something like an Escher drawing. If that is intentional, it is awonderful tool to keep the sense of otherworldliness. However, I don’t believeit is.

Overall, I think this is worth taking a look at. Despite its rough spots, it is a

fun story. If you prefer a hardcopy, the print version to be shipped fromwww.Indyplanet.com; otherwise check it out online at www.beastlegion.com.

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Manga MaximusBy Darke Raven

This Month’s Experiment: Svetlana Chmakova’s DramaconPublisher : TOKYOPOP (2005 to 2007)

Considering that conventions and manga goes hand in hand it’s a wonderwhy more series are not set in the hectic unpredictable world of a

convention. Svetlana Chmakova’s Dramacon brings the conventionexperience to life wonderfully, making you wonder why other talents(on both sides of the pacific) are not giving this setting a shotthemselves. Also, as a bonus, she brings home her human drama with an

unlikely may never take off romance between it’s lead Christie and themysteriously dressed like Cyclops from the X-Men live action moviesMatt (and all the humor and drama you think you can handle and then

some).

Presently at three volumes the series is spread amongst the years of

Yattacon, the convention that is the centerpiece of the series. InVolume 1 it’s amateur writer Christie’s first convention, debuting her

independent manga Wary City at the con in the Artist Alley. This timeout she has come with her soon to be ex cos girl chasing anger

management deficient loser boyfriend slash first Artist, and thestrange pairing of miss cat girl and mr. dude (who sadly only appearin this one volume as far as I know). While trying to settle into thealien environment of her first convention Christie runs into Matt, andwhile it looks like they have no chance of hooking up by the night of

Day 1 they’re well on their way…

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…of course it won’t be easy since she still has her loser boyfriend who ends upbeing ex boyfriend after they break up when he tries to force himself on her ina drunken fit and thrusts her right into Matt (and his team’s) arms wrapping

up the first year with bright prospects between the two. Oh, and Christiemeets the series major Amerimanga talent Lida Zeff and begins to grow

as a writer (she is quite the sponge of info gathering writing down all theadvice given her in order to improve).

But the real score of the convention is getting Matt’s number in theend, which opens much possibilities. Which promptly die the minute she

tries to call him and a woman answers. After much crying and addictionto her PS2 she returns in Year 2 with a brand new (and female) artist

named Bethany (who is far better a character than the guy from Volume1, though now it’s Bethany’s turn to be creeped out by the alienenvironment of her first convention).

With brand new neighbors in the Artist Alley (Firebird Studio and the

catgirl duo of Hyu-Jeong and Monica (if Hyu is the artist does thismake their work Manhwa or Manhua instead of Manga?) and their

keeper slash boss Raj) as well as the return of Matt and his posse, alongwith his girlfriend -- which, yes, does seem to doom the relationshipbetween Christie and Matt. What, already?

Finally year 3 and the partnership between Christie and Bethany may be

doubly doomed. If she’s not recruited by Mangapop she might bedragged away by her own family who may not approve of her future as

an artist.

Oh, and if this wasn’t enough pressure for Bethany, Firebird Studio’s

Raj may finally be ready to begin forming a relationship with her…(while Christie and Matt's relationship is threatened again possibly

by the returning girlfriend)... which sadly all comes to an end as thevolume ends and the series wraps.

Or does it?

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At present there is word from the creator herself that, maybe afterher present series Night School, she might return to Dramacon and

bring forth Dramacon Volume 4 (and year four of Yattacon)… in thefuture. Stay tuned for more info and hopefully a interview with Miss

Chmakova (if she ever clears her inbox and accepts my email requests).

One of my favorite Amerimanga series to date, Dramacon is a beautiful

lovely mix of humor and drama, romance and strangeness, wrapped up ina convention that is as much a character as the engaging cast set

before you. Be you a convention veteran, newbie, or never been to aconvention before you should make time in your schedule to add this to

your reading list for the coming year. Highly recommended with fivemembers of Pocky Sticks Anonymous out of five. Enjoy!

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Raised on

Saturday

Morning

Cartoons

by Pauline Paré

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED

I love many things about summer but around August, I begin to miss my

favourite shows, some more than others. If a series does it job well, a viewerwill anticipate the next season. Like old friends, you may miss the characters

to some degree.

I do feel that Supernatural can be overlooked. It has delivered excitement andsurprises season after season. Last season, the Winchester brothers weretrying to stop an Armageddon that they may have inadvertently started.

There were sacrifices and surprises but now the brothers are separated again.

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I don’t want to give away too much for those who may be consideringpurchasing or renting complete seasons of the show but I will say that thefinale was quite exciting last year and one of the main reasons I eagerly await

it’s return. I honestly feel this series does not get the respect it deserves yetSupernatural has delivered excitement and suspense every season so far. I

love a show that has it’s own style and character which Supernatural has inspades with it’s kick butt soundtrack and it’s rock and roll approach.

Smallville is entering its final season and Iam looking forward to seeing if Lex Luther

returns (please!) and if Clark will finallydon the mantle of Superman. This is

Smallville’s 10th season and the show hasgrown with its audience. The producershave known from the beginning of filming

that this is the last season and I sincerelyhope it goes out with a bang.

I do love when a series hasenough notice to give us a great

ending and I am certainlyexpecting such an ending with

Smallville.

Speaking of bang, I can’t wait for Big Bang Theory to return. This show is justhilarious and I recommend anyone to watch this from the beginning if you

haven’t already. Between the cast, the writing and the characters, this is acomedic winner. Not to mention, the theme song rocks! The guest star listkeeps getting bigger and bigger in what seems like a promising new season of

Big Bang Theory.

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If you didn’t catch Stargate

Universe last season, you have noidea what you are missing. This

reincarnation of the Stargate seriesis unlike anything you have seenfrom Stargate before. This new

series is hard and edgy and hasmuch more in common with

Battlestar Galactica than theprevious Stargate series.

The acting is amazing and the writing is strong and suspenseful. HavingRobert Carlyle playing the self interested and sometimes dangerous Dr. Rush

is a stroke of genius. This is definitely a worthwhile way to spend an hour

The fall season is nearly here and there will finally be something worthwhileto watch on television. So enjoy those chilly nights snuggled with loved ones

on the couch and get into a favourite series.

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