Table of Contents
Editorial Column
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 - By r. j. paré
Da Fonseca, James Santiago,
Naomi Randolph, Fehim Zećiri,
Mike Grattan, Stephen White
Cap © Marvel Comics – by Fehim Zećiri
Literature
- “At the Outset:
A Few Thoughts from the Editor” - by r. j. paré
- By r. j. paré
Indie Comic
- “Different Unlike Us -
Heatwave”
- Written by Darke Raven, Art by
Arif Gunawan, Lettered by RR
Duran
Featured Artist Review
- “Stephen White”
Indie Comic
- “Double Dead”
- Written by , Art by Lee Roy
Lopez, Lettered by r. j. paré
- “Hominine” - review
Poetry
- By Larissa Gula, Frances
Nichols Vargas, Wanda VanHoy
Smith
Pop Culture
- “Comic Book Review”
- By Brad Bellmore
- “Manga Maximus”
- By Darke Raven
- “Raised on Saturday Morning
Cartoons”
- By Pauline Paré
 At the Outset
A few thoughts from
the editor…
by r. j. paré

I’ve said, “I’m sorry”, by now,

at least once to just about everyone…

In August and Everything After

I want somebody else to bleed for me…
Counting Crows

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 TV
re-runs, blockbuster action films and sticky heat waves. Time is running out
for splashing through the lawn sprinkler and soaking in some rays. The kids
sense 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 and

every month. They dazzle us with their artwork – from deftly rendered pencil
and 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.

2
They also intrigue us with their wordsmith – from insightful opinions and
reviews to poignant and, often, engrossing works of prose and poetry. This
Zine 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. paré
is having surely he won’t mind having his current salary significantly
reduced, particularly in regards to the current economic climate. Meanwhile,
RKYV ONLINE is proud to announce that it has not been the recipient of one
red 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 porcine
snouts in…

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

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 Indie Comic
Different Unlike Us
by Darke Raven

4
5
6
7
8
The Healer – by Bob Labute
9
Featured

Artist

Review

Stephen White
aka ‘Stref’
by r. j. paré

10
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 in

art 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 primary

source of encouragement, as a
child, 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!).

11
rjp: What is your favorite
media 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 create
your 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 edition
Media: 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.
13
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 your
work?

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 White

Title: MILK+
Part One: “Sanctuary”
(page one).
Media: Blue pencil line,
ink pen on paper, greys
added in Photoshop.

SW: Sample Comic Page -

Man in desert – from
MILK+

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 Artist: Stephen White
Title: MILK+:
“H2oo” (page two).
Media: Blue pencil line, ink
pen 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 have
influenced 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 Indie
readership 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 White
Title: MILK+:
The Need (page one).
Media: Multi media
originals manipulated in
Photoshop.

rjp: A sample comic page

from Milk+ in which
Stephen ventures into the
comic “noir” genre. What I
particularly like about this
page is Stephen’s loosening
of the page structure
[panels, balloons, boxes] to
create a more illustrated
text 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 in
purely 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 of
competition?

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

Artist: Stephen White

Title: 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 paid
to background, texture and figures is almost Perez-ian, [if Stevie will allow me
to make the comparison... ]
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18
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 White

Title: 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 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 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 White

Title: 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 detailed
scene combined with
Stephen’s command of
light and shadows – all set
in an amber washed
sunset landscape – made
this my favourite piece to
review for this article. Of
course, I simply had to co-
op the image when laying
out this month’s cover,
many THX to Stephen
White for sharing some of
his insight, background
and amazing work with
us 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!
21
rjp: How would you like your art, and by extension yourself, to be
remembered?

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 are
included 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 SAMPLES
http://www.facebook.com/album.phpaid=167089&id=541352675&l=4093adce79

22
Tree Ballet – by De Tourist

23
 Indie Comic
Double dead
Written by Scott Hartman,
Drawn by Lee Roy Lopez & Lettered by r. j. paré

24
25
26
27
28
29
to be continued… 30
Untitled – by Bob Labute

31
 Lit - Corner
Hominine – Review
by 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], is
back 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 of
an 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 of
modern 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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33
 Poetry
Selected Poetry
by Wanda VanHoy Smith

ALL GRAY BLUES

The clouds are inside out

showing their leaden lining.
The ocean dark as tarnished Turkish cymbals
nothing bright and shining
except our memories of his music.
Even the Cherokee Maiden's hair
is now gray as pelican feathers
and ashes.

His fans gather for his last solo to cross

the Light House bar in the good ship jazz
He is set free in a basket of rose petals in the sea.
Be Bop Beverly's tears fall like drops of
salty blues on the rose she holds.
She tosses her grief among the jazzy
red blossoms that brighten dark waters
in a line like the Saints marching in,
A patch of blue opens in the heavens
and for a second a wave sparkles like
the white pearl shell on double bass drums

Tomorrow we will all cross over Nexus – by r. j. paré

to our favorite bar.
where we will hear future all stars
inspired by those who came before..
34
Selected Poetry
by Frances Nichols Vargas

Granted A Suprise

It is funny how life can pass by so fast

So fast in fact
Twenty years go by as fast as the ocean tide
One day, granted a surprise
Turn around and caught my eye

Blending In – by De Tourist

A smile
A wink
Chase takes place
Another year soon passes
And a phone call tantalizes
Yet more time flies by
Granted another surprise

35
 A smile
A wink
A date to contemplate
Laughter gives way to feelings of comfort
And familiarity
It is the feeling of knowing
There is a thread that binds
Understanding all too well where each one has been
A desire to know where each one is heading

Shelter – by De Tourist

A smile
A wink
And a drink A wink
Some funny stories and promises take place A smile
A wink, a smile and a hug goodbye An all too familiar hug
Looking forward to the next time Time slows down
Some more time flies by Only to be granted another...
Another surprise
Another date to contemplate

36
Selected Poetry
by Larissa Gula

Africa’s Name Is ‘Beautiful’

A stroll down our streets before the rains will take you past
A 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

 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 food
That I spent the day harvesting and cooking with my two scarred hands.
I relish the conversation in moments that a sunlight bath made beautiful
The plain’s animal dust trails, the dirt, the weeds, the thirsty tree roots.

Surreal Landscape – by r. j. paré

38
 To Here
Opening

Sketchwork by Tindersen B. Hoopdriver

 Pop Culture
Comic Book Interview
by Brad Bellmore

In RKYV issue 28 I reviewed the comic

Genecy by Gerald Cooper. It is a
fascinating book that has been compared
to the Conan playing the Silver Surfer. It’s
cool. It’s cosmic. The art and storytelling
will blow you away. If you didn’t already
pick up a copy after my review, do so now
at 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 the
latest.

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?

40
 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.

41
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 your
book?
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.

42
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 with

Genecy? 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 to
do 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.

43
RKYV: When writing comics, do you find yourself creating with an eye
toward 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 the
rest 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 Review

by Brad Bellmore

Beast Legion

Thumb Partly Up

Beast Legion is an online comic created by Jazyl Homavazir. This is a true

independent endeavor with Homavazir both writing and drawing the book
which is now on issue number 3. The book seems aimed at a slightly younger
audience.

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 mystical
item is stolen form the palace treasury during the prince’s birthday
celebration. With the Shadow Nexus released, a horde of demons rush out to
bring destruction on the world.

44
This story’s concept in this rivals
some of the better fantasy work out
there, either in comics or prose.
The idea of trying to prevent a
prophecy and dealing with its
eminent fruition is a great conflict to
hinge a story upon; then following
that with a classic struggle of good
verses evil where the good have
been vigilant and are prepared for
this event. The dialogue and page to
page storytelling are a bit rough at
times. Nothing that ruins the book
just leaves me scratching my head at
times trying to connect the dots.

Part of these storytelling issues stem

from the art. Occasionally I find
what feels like missing panels, like
something 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 of
fantasy 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 a
wonderful tool to keep the sense of otherworldliness. However, I don’t believe
it 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 from
www.Indyplanet.com; otherwise check it out online at www.beastlegion.com.

45
Manga Maximus
By Darke Raven

This Month’s Experiment: Svetlana Chmakova’s Dramacon

Publisher : TOKYOPOP (2005 to 2007)

Considering that conventions and manga goes hand in hand it’s a wonder
why more series are not set in the hectic unpredictable world of a
convention. Svetlana Chmakova’s Dramacon brings the convention
experience to life wonderfully, making you wonder why other talents
(on both sides of the pacific) are not giving this setting a shot
themselves. Also, as a bonus, she brings home her human drama with an
unlikely may never take off romance between it’s lead Christie and the
mysteriously dressed like Cyclops from the X-Men live action movies
Matt (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. In
Volume 1 it’s amateur writer Christie’s first convention, debuting her
independent manga Wary City at the con in the Artist Alley. This time
out she has come with her soon to be ex cos girl chasing anger
management deficient loser boyfriend slash first Artist, and the
strange pairing of miss cat girl and mr. dude (who sadly only appear
in this one volume as far as I know). While trying to settle into the
alien environment of her first convention Christie runs into Matt, and
while it looks like they have no chance of hooking up by the night of
Day 1 they’re well on their way…
46
…of course it won’t be easy since she still has her loser boyfriend who ends up
being ex boyfriend after they break up when he tries to force himself on her in
a 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 Christie
meets 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 the
advice given her in order to improve).

But the real score of the convention is getting Matt’s number in the
end, which opens much possibilities. Which promptly die the minute she
tries to call him and a woman answers. After much crying and addiction
to 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 Volume
1, though now it’s Bethany’s turn to be creeped out by the alien
environment 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 this
make their work Manhwa or Manhua instead of Manga?) and their
keeper slash boss Raj) as well as the return of Matt and his posse, along
with his girlfriend -- which, yes, does seem to doom the relationship
between 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 be
dragged 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 the
volume ends and the series wraps.

Or does it?

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At present there is word from the creator herself that, maybe after
her present series Night School, she might return to Dramacon and
bring forth Dramacon Volume 4 (and year four of Yattacon)… in the
future. 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 in
a convention that is as much a character as the engaging cast set
before you. Be you a convention veteran, newbie, or never been to a
convention before you should make time in your schedule to add this to
your reading list for the coming year. Highly recommended with five
members 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 viewer
will 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 and

surprises season after season. Last season, the Winchester brothers were
trying 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 considering
purchasing or renting complete seasons of the show but I will say that the
finale 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 yet
Supernatural has delivered excitement and suspense every season so far. I
love a show that has it’s own style and character which Supernatural has in
spades with it’s kick butt soundtrack and it’s rock and roll approach.

Smallville is entering its final season and I

am looking forward to seeing if Lex Luther
returns (please!) and if Clark will finally
don the mantle of Superman. This is
Smallville’s 10th season and the show has
grown with its audience. The producers
have known from the beginning of filming
that this is the last season and I sincerely
hope it goes out with a bang.

I do love when a series has

enough notice to give us a great
ending and I am certainly
expecting such an ending with
Smallville.

Speaking of bang, I can’t wait for Big Bang Theory to return. This show is just
hilarious 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 a
comedic winner. Not to mention, the theme song rocks! The guest star list
keeps getting bigger and bigger in what seems like a promising new season of
Big Bang Theory.

50
If you didn’t catch Stargate
Universe last season, you have no
idea what you are missing. This
reincarnation of the Stargate series
is unlike anything you have seen
from Stargate before. This new
series is hard and edgy and has
much more in common with
Battlestar Galactica than the
previous Stargate series.

The acting is amazing and the writing is strong and suspenseful. Having
Robert 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 worthwhile
to 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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