Table of Contents
RKYV # 43 {Jan. 2011}
RKYV ONLINE LOGO –
David Marshall {current}
r. j. paré {modified}
Roy G. James {original}
Virtual Cover # 43
- Art by Doug Landis
- Design/Layout by r. j. paré
Interior Art
- By r. j. paré, Mike Grattan, James
‘Jig-One’ Titman, C.S. Cartier, Naomi
Randolph, Robert Quint, Roger Price,
Roy G. James, Russell Ashley, Stan
Nelson, De Tourist, Amber Blair, Marc
Olivent, Doug Landis
Editorial Column
- “At the Outset: A Few Thoughts from Urban Gallery
the Editor”
- By r. j. paré
World View
- “A Canadian Living in the USA”
- By Tom Rossini
Syndicated Comic Strip Review
- “Bob and Doug McKenzie - the
Comic Strip”
- By Nik Poliwko & Tom Nesbitt
Featured Artist Review
- “Doug Landis”
- By r. j. paré
Short Fiction
- “CERTIFIABLE - JUSTIFIABLE”
- by R. Patrick James
- “Grimoire – Act One”
- by Scott Claringbold
- Russell Ashley & Roger Price
Take That – by Mike Grattan
Indie Comic
- “Different Unlike Us - The New Girl”
- by Darke Raven, Art by Geraldo
Gonzalez, Lettering by r. j. paré
Poetry
- By Wanda VanHoy Smith, Stephen
Campbell, r. j. paré
Pop Culture
- “Racial Landscape of Comics” &
- “Comic Book Review”
- By Brad Bellmore
- “O.E.L.ove” &
- “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

“Everybody Partys on a New Year's Eve

Waitin' for the countdown
Make a lot of promises they never keep
Party with the lights on
Standing still, dressed to kill, holding a glass of champagne
Everyone having fun tryin' to get out of their brain”

--- Joe Walsh

Welcome to a new issue of RKYV and a New Year, a new canvas if you will, on which we may express our
creativity. Welcome to 2011…really?

Damn… I am certain we were promised jetpacks, flying cars and men on Mars.

Maybe the dreaded ‘powers that be’ have lost their sense of imagination and wonder. It seems our culture
dreams smaller than it once did. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The role of the artist in society can be a
powerful one. With pen, brush, canvas & keyboard we wield the mighty weapons of inspiration!

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them
ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”
--- Edith Lovejoy Pierce (Poet b.1904)

It is my distinct pleasure to invite you all to hurry past my blathering and enjoy this month’s selection of online
submissions. Our Featured Artist of the Month, Doug Landis, is an incredibly talented individual with an
amazing story. I thank Doug for participating in a bit of Q & A and for sharing his works with RKYV.

Our returning columnists Tom Rossini, Brad Bellmore, Darke Raven & Pauline Paré have plenty to say
about politics, entertainment & pop culture. They say with deft insight and often sly wit. I thank them for their
efforts in keeping this project alive. Brad begins an especially challenging series of articles this month as he
takes an in depth look at the Racial Landscape of Comics. Poets Wanda VanHoy Smith, Stephen Campbell
and yours truly share some of our latest musings and verse while all of the wonderful artists, credited
throughout, once more provide the visual tapestry that truly completes each and every issue of RKYV!
 Now you may notice a small change to the
“month” referenced on the cover of this
issue. In the past we have always posted
the calendar month prior to the release
since the submissions period for any given
issue is up to and including the month
before an issue is released. Thus, when an
issue is released in December, it would
state “November” on the cover.
Heading out – by De Tourist

This is at odds with the norms of the publishing industry; in which periodicals often have covers that reference
the month after they are released! Now I suspect that is done in order to try and increase sales by making an
issue seem “current” longer.

Sales are, of course not a concern here at RKYV, since we remain your 100% free Art & Lit e-Zine. However it
has been pointed out to me by some of our readers and that they would prefer if the issue referenced the month
of actual publication on the cover. Well, don’t let it be said that I am an anything less than a benevolent dictator.
Let them eat cake! [Of course, putting out 2 issues this past December, # 42 & The Holiday Special, made the
decision quite easy. It seemed silly to put out another issue still claiming to be for December!]

Read this month’s Syndicated Comic Review for more of

“Bob and Doug McKenzie - the Comic Strip” – by Nik Poliwko & Tom Nesbitt

[Wiki] Leaked audio from the RKYV Board of mass distribution Skype session:

“Heh… heh… heh… Our plan is almost complete. Downloads levels and exposure are reaching a tipping
point. Very soon RKYV will go viral! Then we will infect the Global Community with an unstoppable
Trojan Worm. Auto will be remote! Planes will be bumpy! Square pegs will be soundly wedged in round
holes! Nothing will be sacred [except cows]!!! A new age will dawn in which we reign…”

“Herman?” A voice from upstairs hollers “You had better not be looking at dirty pictures on the
internet. If I have to come down there your father will speak to you when he gets home. Now clean your
room!”

“Yes… Mother.” {AHEM} “None of you shall speak of this…”

--- End Clip.

  Concept Art by CS Cartier for
upcoming comic project…
“Sander’s New Syndicate”

by Naomi Randolph
 World View
A Canadian
Living in the USA
by Tom Rossini
[graphics by r. j. paré]

I hope you all have had a very happy holiday season and that you have a wonderful, healthy, and prosperous
New Year. First of all, I wish my article had more thought creativity but alas... I am so hung-over that my liver
has sent out an SOS.

This Christmas, about a week before the big day, my parents

told me that they wanted to take everyone on a cruise this winter
and that they wanted me to not only plan it but book it including
hotels, and airfare etc. They also wanted me to develop a
scavenger hunt for the kids to discover on Christmas Eve. So the
work began. I did some searching and being a cruising veteran
over 20 cruises I narrowed the options down. Based on price and
airfare etc we decided on the Carnival Dream for an 8 day
cruise to the Western Caribbean.

The trip is going to include a one night pre-cruise hotel in Orlando. So now for the creative part: I am not sure
if you have all seen the commercials about Disney World and how parents surprise the kids but my parents
wanted the same thing done. So on Christmas Eve the following happened: Envelopes were scattered around the
house and clues were given for them to find the answer.... Here are the clues:

“'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the first clue soon would be there.”
 – 1st Clue was inside the fireplace on a log

“The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of the surprise danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.”

– 2 nd Clue on the bed / pillow of the parents

“When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.”

– 3rd Clue was on one of the windows in the parents bed room

“The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.”

“With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!”

“Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away to the Laundry Room WALL!”
 – 4th Clue on a wall in the laundry room

“As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and some shoes too.”

– 5th Clue in a pair of shoes

“And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, heading to the kitchen for a snack.”

– 6th Clue in the fridge

“His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a peanut butter and jelly!”

– 7th Clue on the peanut butter jar

“He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know that I needed a bunk bed.”
 – 8th Clue on the bunk bed of one of the kids

“He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night from Omi and Papa!”

– last hint refers to the kids having to see

Omi and Papa so they could give them the final clue…

The best gift at Christmas is easy to see

It’s not wrapped in paper or under the tree
Cos' the best gift at Christmas and all the year through
Is having grandchildren as special as you!

So this special present that you seek

It is something that will last for just over a week.
But to find the answer don’t look for a scooter
But turn on your mom’s laptop computer….

They ran to the computer and a power-point presentation gave them the
reveal with 7 kids running all over the place screaming, hugging and
crying... it was truly a wonderful evening.

I hope you all had a wonderful time as we had.

Tom
 Featured Artist
Review
Doug Landis
by r. j. paré

BIO
Doug Landis wasn’t an artist until a high school wrestling
accident left him quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck
down. Concerned that Doug was spending too much time
in front of the television set, Doug’s brother, Monte,
challenged him to draw and placed a pencil in Doug’s
mouth. Doug practiced and with time and patience his
style, known for its fine, intricate detail, emerged.

To date his "Vanishing Breeds" series has been exhibited

in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, California, Las Vegas,
Nevada, St. Louis, Missouri, and Brussels, Belgium. Doug
has selected favorite pieces to print. In 2006 Doug was
accepted into the International Mouth and Foot Painting
Artists Association,
(www.mfpausa.com &www.vdmfk.com).

r. j. paré: Who was your main source of encouragement, in

pursuing art?

Doug Landis: My family and my wife of 26 years are my greatest

fans. After being released from rehab, I spent a lot of time
watching TV. My brother Monte who is a photographer / artist
stuck a pen in the mouth-stick I use for reading and typing and bet
me to a drawing contest. I won the bet. My mother is also artistic
and would bring me art books to work from. My wife Brooke has
been my rock, my lover and my soul mate. She is multitalented and
was a budding writer, but put that on hold while I pursued my art.
r.j.p: Did you study or major in art while in college / university?

[From his website]: Fine art had to take a backseat while Doug pursued his many interests. He earned a B.A. in
Media Studies from Webster University, in St. Louis, Missouri and went on to earn an M.F.A. in Motion
Graphics at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California, the school founded by Walt Disney. It was at
CalArts that Doug made two animated shorts. They were selected to be screened at the American Film
Institute's Film Festival and copies of each were requested by Cal Art to remain in the California Institute of the
Arts animation archives. Returning to St. Louis, Doug returned to fine art. He began to turn his concern for
wildlife into a pencil series.

r.j.p: What is your favorite media to work with?

DL: I love pencil, acrylic & watercolor paints. Pencils give me a style, feel and look I haven’t been able to
reproduce in paints. Acrylics let me explore new techniques and make mistakes I can cover up. Watercolors are
a constant challenge.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Aunt Duck’s House”
Media Used:
ball point pen

DL: The house image is one of my very earliest

drawings.

r.j.p: What strikes me about this early sketch is the clear

evidence of an attention to detail that would serve
Doug’s burgeoning talent quite well as he continued to
develop.

r.j.p: Do you use any special tools and techniques to

create your art?

DL: Not many. The pencils are regular artist pencils I hold in my teeth. The brushes are from the art store. I
sand the paint off to avoid anymore lead poisoning. I do have a cup strapped to my wheelchair chin control that
holds my pencils, an eraser and a dry paint brush to brush away eraser dust. I have a home made 2in ruler taped
to the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil for measuring with. The cup also holds my brushes in water when
painting. A friend in college made my easel to fit my lap tray and to bring the art closer to my face. An
adjustable clamp brings my pallet within reach of my brushes.

[From his website]: As he began studying endangered species, he felt confined by his limited reach. The power
and strength he wanted to express in the animals couldn't be conveyed as a small image. So the self-taught artist
taught himself again. Doug began to work on images upside down and sideways in order to create larger images
and to do the animals justice.
r.j.p: Where do you find your inspiration?

DL: Everywhere. In my dreams, from other artists, TV,

the internet, our zoo…everywhere.

r.j.p: How would you categorize your artistic style?

DL: My pencil work I’d say, “Spiritual Realism”. I

want to capture the spirit of the creature I’m drawing. I’m
still searching for my style in paints.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Little Hunter”
[Peregrine Falcon]
Media Used:
pencil

r.j.p: Would you say that there is a "message" or

"unifying theme" in your work?

DL: Definitely in my “Vanishing Breeds” wildlife series. I want to show how fragile these animals are and how
some of these and other species are at risk of dying off in the wild in our life time. As I mentioned before, in my
paint work, I’m still exploring and haven’t found my direction yet or style yet.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Oscar”
[Pacific Sea Otter]
Media Used:
pencil

r.j.p: If you could meet any living or dead

artist, who would it be and what is the one
question that you would ask him/her?

DL: I would like to meet Michelangelo and

ask him if I could watch him create La Pieta
from start to finish. It’s the sculpture of Jesus
in Mary’s arms after the crucifixion. His
sculptures are stunning.
r.j.p: What do you think of the term "starving artist"?

DL: I see two sides to this term. The first side; some of the people I went to school with, (including myself),
they only studied film, fine art or fine art photography and didn’t add any marketing/advertising/graphic
design/computer graphics/grant writing etc. classes or images to their portfolios. When they graduated, real life
smacked them in the face when they couldn’t make it as a fine artist and had to find a real job to support their
fine art work. Some were laughed out of interviews after showing their portfolios. The other side is those
traveling shows with assembly line created paintings, usually from Mexico. They may be real artists creating
those works to make money, (nothing wrong with that). What they’re producing doesn’t represent their own
voice. It is paint by numbers designs to appeal to a mass market. The general public buys a piece of “art” for
$20 and thinks they have great piece of art. This hurts real artists creating their own works and trying to make a
living. These “artists” may be under paid, but I don’t believe they are starving.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Tiger Eyes”
Media Used:
acrylic

r.j.p: What a beautiful and compelling illustration. The pencil version [available on Doug’s website] was
fantastic in its own right; however, this piece truly captures the viewer in the eyes of the feline predator.
r.j.p: Do you feel more a sense of community with other artists or a sense of competition?

DL: Definitely a sense of community. I love going to art shows and talking with other artist about how they
create their pieces. Most have been very encouraging and forthcoming in information. There are a few punks
out there, but by far, most are fun to hang out with and more than willing to share.

r.j.p: Do you find that the advent of internet exposure & distribution has "changed the game" for today's
aspiring artists?

DL: Yes! For the better. We now have a world wide audience and for those of us who find it difficult to market
our own works and traveling the art show circuit it’s great. The net allows us to open our own store fronts &
galleries as well as a multitude of other venues to list our works. Allowing us more time to create new works.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Black Wolf”
Media Used:
acrylic
r.j.p: 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 & canvas doomed
to the realm of fading memories?

DL: No. I think a similar statement was said when photography was created, then color photography. First,
people argued photography wasn’t an art form. Then color photography came about and some people argued
B&W photography would die out. It still remains strong today even with digital photography and Photoshop.
Once photography was widely accepted, I believe there were claims made about art created by pencil & paints
dying out. Graphic tablets are just another great tool for artists to use and there will always be artists who’ll
want to explore the “older” art mediums.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Courage”
Media Used:
pencil

r.j.p: This striking piece was

an easy choice, for me, to
adapt for the cover layout.
Once again Doug’s ability to
capture the eyes [the
windows to the soul if you
will] of the wildlife he cares
deeply about, captivates the
attention of the viewer.

This powerful raptor, majestic in life, is reproduced here, via Doug’s pencils, in all its fierceness. Without
getting too psychoanalytical about it, I suspect these nature illustrations represent a ‘freedom’ to Doug that he
has been tragically denied – thus allowing him to run & fly with them, in his imagination, and so poignantly on
his sketchpads and canvases.

r.j.p: What advice would you have for a young artist starting out today?

DL: Explore as many art mediums as you can. You’ll find playing around with other mediums will give you
new perspective on your chosen medium. If you plan on studying art in college, add some marketing /
advertising / architecture / graphic design / computer graphics / grant writing etc. classes to your knowledge
base. Also, add some “commercial art” images to your portfolios. I believe we all have hidden talents with-in
ourselves and to try new things to open our minds. Also, create art for your self first.
 Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Lavender Iris”
Media Used:
acrylic

r.j.p: Do you have any big plans or shows coming up in

2011?

DL: Nothing yet in 2011, but I hope to enter some work

in a show or two.

r.j.p: How would you like your art, and by extension

yourself, to be remembered?

DL: I hope people enjoyed my company and my art. I

hope people continue to enjoy my work.

Artist’s Name:
Doug Landis
Title:
“Silent Night”
Media Used:
acrylic

For more information on Doug Landis and how to

order prints of his amazing art please visit his
website:

www.mouthart.com
Through the Keyhole – by Amber Blair
 Short Fiction
CERTIFIABLE - JUSTIFIABLE
******************************

by R. Patrick James

It was a cold, dark, winter night. He walked

alone along the unlit street. Turning furtively from
side to side and then glancing nervously behind him,
he pulled his coat collar up around his ears as he
hurried on.

It had been so easy. She was sleeping, and

would have felt no pain from the muffled gun muzzle
at her temple. The silencer had been a good
investment. She deserved it he told himself. To learn
that she had been unfaithful was just too much for him
to bear.

No evidence was left behind; he made certain

of that. It would appear that someone had entered
through the basement window which he had left open
to remove the smell of death.

illustration by Roy G. James

His jumbled thoughts kept him moving along to where his car was parked, some blocks away. He knew
that there must be no sign of him having been at her building. Everything was going well!

He arrived at his empty apartment and turned on the lights. A drink or two would calm his nerves, he
thought. Then he fell wearily on the bed, the very bed they had both shared but two days ago...

THE PHONE RANG - jogging him from approaching slumber.

“Hi, honey,” she spoke softly, “Are you still mad at me? ... Honey, are you there?”

WHAT HAD HE DONE?

 Roscoe Karns had been in and out of state sanitaria now for over three years and had been pronounced
‘fit’. They said he had been ‘fixed’. He was ready to resume normalcy in today’s wacky society. He always
claimed that it wasn’t him, but them that needed fine tuning. Obviously they hadn’t quite believed him.

Roscoe was a man of thirty-eight, still well-toned and tanned, at the height of his sexual prowess. Yet
they told him he often behaved like a five-year old when he was there in the sanitarium, the reason he was a
‘guest’ of the state. It was common, although rarely out of control, among boys of that age to love their mothers
intensely, to the point of hatred for their fathers. They whispered the condition as something called the Oedipus
Complex.

Freudians hold that if the Complex is not worked out in childhood or by psychoanalysis, adult
relationships are, then, determined by feelings in the original situation. What the hell did they know anyways?
He loved his mother, yes, as he did all women, but he hadn’t hated his late father. Sure he was a stern
taskmaster and was strangely jealous of the attention his mother openly showered upon her son, but the gap of
affection between he and his dad was guarded and one of paternal respect, he told them at the ‘residence’.

Beads of cold sweat began to form on his brow and his temples began to throb. “What the hell could
have gone wrong?” resonated in his now aching head. He was sure he had covered all and every basis. The
telephone receiver felt like an anvil in his shaking hand, urging him to hang up. Yet he knew he couldn’t, or
rather, shouldn’t. The slam of the phone would surely signal that something was drastically wrong. So as
calmly as he could, he played along.

“Hello, Mildred. Of course, I’m here. Where else would I be? Am I still mad at you? Whaddya think I
should be? Wouldn’t you, if you were in my shoes?”

He quickly realized that his clipped litany of questions and responses had to sound cold and defensive -
after all, what did he have to be defensive about? It was his wife at the other end of the line. The sound of her
voice was indisputable; he’d know it anywhere.

So who in the hell had he murdered?

“I don’t really blame you if you feel that way. Try to understand, dear. You were away all that time.
You know, the... the... sanitariums.” There was a heavy, awkward, apologetic pause. “I made a mistake. I’m
truly sorry. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? I’d like to come home and start over again, kind of like
the way it used to be. I do love you, you know.”

“What do you know of love? What you did isn’t a very positive show of love. My mother certainly
can’t approve of your behavior. Why should I?”

“What the hell does your mother have to do with our relationship?” she demanded.

The doorbell intruded. Not now, goddamnit! “Hang on, someone’s at the door.”

He placed the receiver down gently without hitting the hold button. He strode to the door with shoulders
bearing the weight of his past, with feet sluggish and resisting the direction he pointed them. He peered through
the slice of curtain he pushed aside to see who could possibly be calling at this confounded hour. It was a
police officer! With his car sitting in the driveway and lights on in the house he didn’t dare not answer.
 The door scraped on the threshold and the hinges squeaked a thin, sharp penetrating sound like an
Elizabethan trumpeter heralding the opening of a tragic drama. The officer appeared somewhat remorseful, with
his cap in hand. “I’m sorry to bother you at this late hour. But are you Mr. Roscoe Karns, sir?”

“Why, yes, I am. What seems to be the problem, officer?” trying to appear as innocent as possible.

“Is your mother Mrs. Angela Karns?”

“Why, yes, she is. Is something wrong with her? Tell me!”

“I’m afraid I have some bad news, sir. And I don’t know how to say this any other way. It seems your
mother has been found murdered earlier this evening,” the officer ashamed for having to break the horrendous
news so directly.

“How could this be?” Roscoe blurted.

“Circumstances are still unclear; there were no witnesses, the neighbours heard nothing. Yet it seems
she took a bullet to the temple of her head while lying in bed from a muzzled gun of some yet undetermined
calibre. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Roscoe’s eyes widened from the shock of realization. He had done it!

“Mr. Karns, are you all right? Is there anything I can do?”

“Of course, I’m not all right, you bloody idiot! My mother has just been killed! Please, just leave.”

As the door closed to seal him in his confused confinement, he suddenly realized that his wife whom he
thought he had killed, motivated by revenge for her misadventures, was still on the phone listening to every
word. How could he have made such a blundering mistake? He hated her and loved her - hated his wife, loved
his mother. He wasn’t guilty of murder; he was guilty of gross negligence. Now he was orphaned, alone,
estranged from his wife whom he thought he had eliminated to wipe the proverbial slate clean. How could he
have gone to his mother’s apartment, instead of to his wife’s hotel room? How?

He heard the tinny sound of his wife’s voice emanating from the phone on the end table across the room.
He reluctantly and slowly picked it up. “Mildred,” he said not knowing what else to say.

“I heard everything, darling. I’m coming home right now.”

“No! Don’t do that! I’d rather be alone tonight.”

** *

The dread of night for Roscoe was fitful and troubled, as one would expect in his dire strait. When he
was able to succumb to sleep, those brief pauses were interrupted by sudden jolts of reality, jags of sweat, slams
of contradiction and confusion, tossing and turning, punching the pillow, twisted bed -clothes. He sat up stiffly
in a sudden jerk.
 This was a recurrence of those regretful days spent in the sanitarium battling a chorus of psychological
disorders, paramount among which was contradictory bipolar discord, in addition to the Oedipus Complex. It
seems Roscoe suffered from co-existing love and hate, sort of an out-of-control yin-yang predicament, never
quite knowing which and when one might tip the scales and what might trigger the dominance. Perhaps his
wife’s indiscretion pulled back the hammer on that loaded gun.

During his frequent euphoric moods he would often become angry or irritable with fits of hostility or
depression, his thoughts racing at high velocity, yet with impaired insight prone to increased risk-taking leading
to a cataract of failure resulting in even further depression --- a never-ending battle.

As he sat up in bed literally dripping in his own sweat, dawn stalked the escaping night with fingers of
light piercing the slats of the Venetian blind. Beyond the throbbing of his temples, he heard the ominous tap of
footsteps on his veranda, more than a single pair, one of heavy boots, two of the rubber-soled variety. The
doorbell rang, rather clanged, resonating in his temples. Roscoe descended the stairs on unsteady legs and
approached the door cautiously. “Who is it?”

“It’s Officer Kowalkowski; we talked last night. May we come in?”

“We???” he wondered to himself. As he spread the curtains from the window and its jamb he was
shocked to see the officer flanked by two well-developed orderlies dressed in the usual all-whites he recognized
from his sanitarium days - white slacks, T-shirt with ‘Homedale State Sanitarium For The Criminally Insane’
(‘For The Criminally Insane’ in much smaller print so as not to disturb) embroidered over their hearts, and
white surgical shoes.

“Give me a moment, will you. I’m not dressed.” he offered, and scurried up to his study. He had no
intention of meeting the trio downstairs face-to-face. Anticipating their objective, Roscoe approached his
antique desk, the sole remaining remnant of his father’s estate, opened the right-hand middle drawer and
withdrew the pistol there that he had used only the evening before. He couldn’t bring himself to return to the
damned sanitarium or any such prison. The psychological torment, anguish and misery had to stop now.

He placed the muzzle of the gun with no hesitation to his right temple and squeezed the trigger. No
cacophonous blast! No incendiary pain; only a hollow click of the firing pin. The chamber housing the bullets
was empty. As he hastily scrambled in the drawer with his left hand for even one of the miserable leaden
projectiles, none to be found, his hand touched some paper wedged against the rear panel of the drawer,
something he had never noticed before. Fingering it off the panel he discovered it was an envelope, still sealed
but somewhat yellowed with age, addressed to himself, no return address, no stamp, undelivered.

He slowly placed the revolver on the desktop in order to open the envelope. It was a single-page typed
letter that began with the greeting “Dear Son”. It was dated December 8, 1985, exactly two weeks before the
death of his father by cancer. He wasn’t present when his father died. He didn’t care. He read on:

I had always wanted a son. Happily you came into our lives eighteen years ago. Yet somehow I lost you
to your mother and we never spoke much after that. It’s tragic when a man and his son don’t share and
communicate. You were never a disappointment to me; yet I’ve regretted all the years we co-existed in the
family household, although respectful, quite distant as you clung to your mother’s side even in your adolescent
years.
 Now that you’ve reached maturity I want you to know the truth. I was seldom home recently because I
felt totally unwanted, excluded, if you will. Not because of your relationship with your mother, but rather
because of her ‘other’ relationships. Yes, unbelievable as it may seem, your mother would see other men while
I was at work and you were off to school. She was uncontrollably unfaithful to me, and consequently, to you.
Rather than make an issue of it for your sake and the family reputation, I chose to maintain some sense of
dignity. I went about my way in the work-a-day world. I am so sorry. You deserved better.

With deepest regards,

T.G. Karns

Roscoe stared at the floor for many long seconds, unaware of his out-of-focus surroundings. His
bipolarity was in a swirl. Love and hate melded into a sullen primordial conglomeration as realization took
control. “The truth shall set you free,” is the cliché he read somewhere. Never was that so true than at this very
moment.

He slipped on a plain white T-shirt and faded jeans with loafers and no socks, descended the stairs,
opened the door and spoke in a very controlled fashion.

“Gentlemen, I’m ready as I’ve ever been.”

– Fin –

colour by r. j. paré
 Grimoire
*************************************

by Scott Claringbold
Illustrations
by Marc Olivent

For Lisa
My better half

Chapter 1
Doctor Hugo Marks scurried along the street clutching the leather satchel to his chest, checking left to right to
see if anyone was following him. Someone, or more accurately something, was following him. The creature
used the dark to camouflage his gargoyle-like features. The thick leathery wings beat silently lifting him over
the rooftops.

Marks was a pioneering scientist in the field of genetic manipulation. His latest project was a genome that,
when injected, repaired any damaged cell in a body. The hopes were that this discovery would lead to cures of
diseases across the board. However Marks had soon realised that certain factions wanted the serum to be kept
from the general public and be made available to those that could afford it. Others, such as The Chimera
Institute, simply wanted the serum for themselves. The Institute was in fact a legit front for The Organisation, a
covert group with aims of world domination.

Tonight they would use any means necessary to take the genome.

***

Seven months earlier and Jordan Storm sat in the alley watching as the creature devoured some poor druggie.

He pulled the collar of his coat up around his neck. This was certainly a weird one. Storm had been offered one
million dollars to ‘baby-sit’ this freak. Jordan listened to the sickening sound of flesh being ripped from the
body. Apparently this thing had once been a man who had ‘volunteered’ for a series of experiments. Storm was
sure that this bloke wouldn’t have agreed to be turned in to this though.

He peered down the alley. The creature was hungrily gulping down its prey, blood dripping from its fangs and
down the tusks on its chin. Its huge wings were folded behind its back. The thing wore ragged trousers as if they
were the last remnant of the man he had once been.

Jordan shuddered, this wasn’t his usual type of gig but he had mortgage payments to make and he could quite
happily pack up and move back in to the city after all this was over.
Hazard City was the place to be and Storm could use the money to open up some offices and hire himself out as
a bounty hunter or bodyguard. He would do whatever anyone needed him to do really as long as the pay was
good.

Jordan had once worked for The Organisation and he had a feeling that they had a hand in this monster before
him but he didn’t really want to know the details. He had moved on from The Organisation after a bungled
mission that left his colleague, Tania Hyde, dead. Normally no one left The Organisation under their own steam
but the knowledge Storm possessed had proved too valuable to dispose of. So The Organisation had let him off
the leash on the strict understanding that if they came calling he did what was asked without question.

He had done just that for the past two years, a little investigating here, the odd murder there and a substantial
amount would be wired to his offshore account within moments of him confirming the deed had been done.

Jordan walked casually down the alley towards the creature. It lifted its head and snarled at the man
approaching.

“Ok Dracboy time to go bye bye!” Storm whispered. He flicked his visor down over his eyes and lit the
‘glow-stick’. The appliance fizzed into life surrounded by a green light. Jordan swung the stick and smashed the
creature across the jaw; the creature shook where it stood for a second before crumpling in to a heap before
Jordan.

The man kicked the thing where it lay to make sure it was unconscious before lifting it in to the back of the van.
He slammed the doors firmly shut.

Storm walked round to the remains of the victim and removed a vial from his pocket. He undid the stopper and
poured the purple liquid over the body from top to bottom. The liquid seeped into the bloody mess and within
seconds a gaseous cloud enveloped the body. The remains began to dissolve and a minute later all that could be
seen was a black smudge on the ground. Storm flipped his visor back up and headed over to the van. He slipped
in through the driver side door and silently pulled away from the alley.

***

A few weeks later and the creature sat quietly on the edge of the graveyard. Storm watched from the shadows.
The thing looked like a giant grey gargoyle sat there on the grass. It had stopped feeding on the city’s down and
outs and now it came here every night. The thing would sit for hours before dragging itself to its feet and
skulking around the graveyard. Jordan had an idea what it was looking for and he preyed for the moment that it
discovered it. That day would mean that Storm could be off to spend his money.

The night was cool with a light wind. The tips of the creature’s wings fluttered in the breeze. Jordan could see
the humanity creeping back into the monster. Its eyes showed remorse, sorrow and anger for the atrocities it had
committed. It seemed repulsed by its urges to eat a living being and it now stuck to snacking on stray cats, rats
and other vermin.

A couple of nights back Storm hadn’t even had to knock the thing out. It had trudged back to the van and
climbed in on its own accord. Sitting in the back of the van Storm could hear it whispering over and over in a
gruff voice “I remember.”
The thing stood and staggered among the gravestones. It reached its destination and collapsed on its knees.
Staring at the words on the stone it threw its arms up into the air with tears streaming down its face and again
shouted. “I remember!!!”

Jordan watched as the thing beat its wings and lifted into the night. Breathing a sigh of relief he pulled out his
cell phone and pressed the speed dial. The phone rang once at the other end before being answered with a hello.

“Your boy just got his memories back.” Jordan said.

“Thank you, your money will be in your account within five minutes.” The voice replied and cut the
connection.

***

Storm headed back to his home to pack. The place wasn’t exactly The Ritz but it had been his corner of the
world to hide in and he would miss it. Still with one million dollars in the bank surely he could find somewhere
in Hazard that would fit the bill. He checked his watch the whiz-tube would be leaving in an hour.

Jordan gave one last glance over the old place before he closed the door. Tomorrow he would start a new life.

Chapter 2
Hugo Marks entered the squalid little hotel and gingerly tip toed his way past the horrid little man on the
reception desk. Marks was used to the finer things in life, the hotels he usually frequented were of a much more
client friendly service. The fat little man in the string vest fast asleep at the desk was a disgusting parasite that
charged far too much for the filthy room and dealt with complaints by throwing his guests out on to the street
with a flea in their ear. Still Marks had to be careful; his grip tightened on the satchel as a couple walked past
him on the stairs. The man was dressed in black studded leathers and his hair was a bright red Mohican-style.
His girlfriend wore a short denim skirt and a skimpy t -shirt tied in a knot at her mid-riff.

“Wotcha staring at Gramps? The man asked referring to the older man’s white hair and beard.
Marks looked away and hurried past as the couple laughed and carried on their way down.

On his floor Marks crept past the adjoining room, not wanting to disturb his neighbour. He slid his key into the
lock and opened the door to his room. Fumbling with the light switch he was suddenly aware of something cold
pressed against his head.

“Leave the light off and step into the room.” A voice said.

Marks gasped but did as he was told, stepping further into the room.

The man in the shadows came forward he wore a black combat suit, boots, fingerless gloves and had a patch
over his left eye. The gun was pointed at Marks as the man quickly glanced up and down the hall and closed the
door.
The man strode forward and gave a wicked smile.

“Ok Doc hand over the case.”

“And if I don’t?” Marks replied his fingers turning red as he gripped on to the case for dear life.

“Well I’d like to say no one has to get hurt but the thing is I have to take you out whether you co-operate
or not so I don’t care if you put up a fight really.”

Marks shoulders slumped.

Suddenly the main window imploded, both men turned as glass and wood flew into the room. A large grey
figure came soaring through the window and a huge clawed foot kicked the gun from the attacker’s hand. The
man with the eye-patch gritted his teeth and swung round to face the interloper.

“Grimoire!” he snarled.

“Deadwood.” The creature acknowledged with a guttural growl.

Deadwood reached out for his gun but Grimoire slammed a foot onto his hand probably breaking a couple of
fingers by the man’s response. Marks stood gawping at the figure before him.

“Doctor Marks believe me I’m here to help you.” Grimoire said.

“Look at him!” Deadwood spat through gritted teeth. “Does he look like the kind of thing that wants to
help?”

Marks shrank back, flattening him self against the wall obviously terrified. Deadwood seized the opportunity to
jump to his feet and within a flash he had pulled his spare pistol and was across the room grabbing the Doctor
by the neck.

Grimoire roared and the smell washed over the two men causing them to wince.

“Actually he is one of the good guys. He’s just in a bad guy’s body.” Deadwood said to Marks
indicating towards Grimoire with the pistol.

Marks struggled to try and break Deadwood’s grip but the man held tighter.

“Ok so I’m going to take this case.” Deadwood pulled the satchel from Marks’ hands. Grimoire strained
as if ready to pounce. The muscles in his leathery hide bulged under the skin.

“Ah ah ah!” Deadwood grinned and jammed the pistol harder into the doctor’s head.

The men made their way to the window as Grimoire watched through narrowed eyes.

“So long Ryan.” Shouted Deadwood as he pushed Marks towards Grimoire; and pulled off a couple of
shots before disappearing into the night.
Grimoire moved to give chase but Marks gave a groan and slumped forward. Blood trickled down his arm and
onto the hotel carpet. The creature moved to grab the man.

“Take it easy.” Grimoire growled.

“I’ll be..fine..just shock…setting in.” Marks managed to stammer out. “I took the liberty of injecting
myself with the genome when I first discovered it, sort of an unofficial test subject.”

“Glad to hear it, I was hoping that I might make use of your discovery to help me too.” Grimoire said,
his eyes looking suddenly full of sorrow.

“The man called you Ryan.” Marks managed trying to sit up.

“Ryan Winters was my name. It’s a long story.” Grimoire rumbled. “I don’t have time to tell it now. I
have to get that case back.”

“I will be fine honestly, do what you have to.”

Grimoire stormed to the window and spreading his wings he lifted out into the darkness.

To be continued…
Reaper Goddess – by Stan Nelson
Syndicated Comic
Strip Review
Bob and Doug McKenzie
- the Comic Strip
by Nik Poliwko & Tom Nesbitt
[article by Nik]

Editor’s Note: Where we left off… last

issue Nik described how he & Tom had sent
in a ‘pitch’, to Quality Records, for a Bob &
Doug Comic Strip… which led to a phone
call from Dave Thomas… which led to he
& Tom signing contracts with Worldwide
Features Syndicate.

Tom penciled the strip and I handled the

inking and lettering, and we both wrote the
gags, with an assist in the beginning from
Dave and Rick; when they felt we had a
good handle on the characters, they left us
to write on our own.

Being young and lazy, Tom and I would

often wait to the last moment to work on the
strip and would write and draw 36 strips
over a weekend, to deliver them for the
Monday morning deadline.
"We had one helluva great time, working into the wee hours of the night, crammed into Nik's shoebox
apartment in Toronto and ALWAYS working right up to the deadline, ink quite often still wet as we
delivered the finished strips to the publisher." says Tom, adding, "Nik was just about the worst cook in the
world."

As the Bob and Doug fad was winding down, and the strip was coming to its end, Tom had to leave the team
due to other responsibilities and I did the final 50 or so strips to finish off the contract with Worldwide
Features.
Editor’s Note: Tune in next month as we continue to serialize Nik’s article and show off some more of his and
Tom’s work on Bob & Doug – leading into Nik’s featured artist appearance in RKYV # 45
by Thilonius Staudt [photo by Robert Quint from the
HARDER BUT STILL EASY gallery show]
 Indie Comic

Different Unlike Us
by Darke Raven
A Mermaid’s Sympathy – by Amber Blair
 Urban Gallery
Russell Ashley Art &
Tattoo Designs

Dragon on Tree with Skull Full Sleeve Samurai and Dragon

My full portfolio is at - www.russellashley.daportfolio.com

I am (always!) available for commission, contactable on this email address. plan.b.studios@hotmail.com

Cheers, Russ
Lost Childhood – by Russell Ashley
 Tat Art & Designs
by Roger Price

Boondock Saint Icarus

Should you like to know more [or perhaps even have Roger lay some ink down on ya] you can e-mail
Roger: moleman00x@hotmail.com or…

Follow him on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629478508

Cap, in the Shadow of the Red Skull – by Roger Price
 Poetry
Selected Poetry
by Wanda VanHoy Smith

WATCHING WHALE WATCHERS

Palos Verdes’ cliffs above the Catalina Channel
bloom with tourists in bright Hawaiian shirts
envied by January Hibiscus.

We watch the whale watchers boat below.

Hope to see a repentant captain Ahab wave.

An anxious mother pulls a small boy from the edge.

A Kansas watcher with a farmer’s tan and white knees
Points and shouts, “That she blows,”
mistakes foam breaking over a spiny reef
for the illusive pelagic mother of oceanic giants.

One night on these same cliffs,

you promised me Haley’s Comet,
I spot a small fuzzy speck in a jet filled sky.

Moby’s mother finally rises

fills our glorious expectations.
Leaps above the bottomless Redondo Canyon
On her journey to San Ignacio Lagoon to deliver
magic in the glow of a Mexican moon,
before the whale nursery is filled with oil.

Watching whale watchers, does the great gray fear

glistening binocular eyes, glint of camera lens
aimed to harpoon a memory?

In confusion,
I reach deep in the Pacific blue of your eyes
Seek reflection of comet tails and massive whales Classic Veronika… Perfect Muse – by Amber Blair
Did I really see the glorious survivor breech
Or was it all illusion?
 LEAPING FROG BLUES
The goal is straight ahead
but I leap sideways.
Mark Twain won his at Calaveras County
in the leaping contest, betting on a frog.
Artists splatter green paint
all over Angel's camp.
Render giant frogs on asphalt intersections
that leap from street corners onto
tourists T shirts under the message,
“KISS ME BUT DON'T TOUCH MY FLY”
I crunch fried frog legs
fifty cents each next to a sign.
WE SERVE THE LOSERS.
The prince is hiding on gift shop shelves
among green plastic creatures made in China.
I am not a frog princess
but say leap and I'll jump
I may lean forward
but I won't bend over backwards on a bet.
Must I croak to be heard.
Huck Fin is an endangered species.
but Samuel Clemens’ frog still leaps
in Angel's Camp
in the middle of Calaveras County.

by Udo Lindemann [photo by Robert Quint from the

HARDER BUT STILL EASY gallery show]
 Coming in waves to mark the gill sands
And applaud its own arrival
Eyes are sealed, for the hearing heals
on seat by still and grateful bows
feet from the border Selected Poem
Calm below the rolling clouds
by Tindersen Blacktree Hoopdriver
Sail caught in the downward breeze
and I've come away from a thrashed reality
and arrived at my island din At Bay
The rocks in the stream pass by
From start to finish, from left to right The only danger of possession
From hot to cold I take the dive Spun a blindness to their opportunity
till I reach the warmth again That ‘twas mine like never before
To mingle with a soul as hers.
Deep immersion sync
Time and observation Two men, one turn of the cheek
Lovescapes dropped my pangs of youth they had for the seated man had won
For the danger of possession  till he stood for the second in a strangers land
and screamed injustice had been done.
Distortions to rise the ape
Special titles to refute with gape Three strikes and ‘twas I, with the fist out
My channels crossed the eclipse with the coloured shards of glass in hand
for the Atlas' to assist Surrounded by the gatherers closing
Minus pitchforks thanks be the man
And so from my island din
Mounting shots with mission Who turned a mighty step my way
Momentary mind-swaps through jungle grass and snakes
With subject acquisition And the tongue he had learned, they say,
could speak down a score to the lake
 And keep them ...
Off the track and on an escape plan
through the brick adherence to the insane.
A lesson from this Incredulous mammoth
through a brush of its shiny mane.

Owlet Moth
– by De Tourist
Poetic Perspectives
by r. j. paré
 Pop Culture
Racial Landscape of Comics
by Brad Bellmore
The shelves of your local comic book store might suggest that the
racial landscape of comics is bleak with very few titles dedicated to
minority lead characters. A walk around a comic book convention
suggests otherwise, that the landscape is changing at the independent
level. Fifteen comic book creators, both writers and artists, provided
their thoughts to help clarify where comics are and where they are
going.

In defining the current situation, most of the people interviewed

agreed that multiracial representation is lacking. Comments ranged
from “not what it should be” to “terrible”. Some wanted more
minority characters, levelling the percentages between races
represented. Others concerned themselves less with quantity of
minority heroes as long as the quality of characters improved.
Ashley Woods, artist on Millennia War, said “It would be nice to
see more minority characters who also fail to follow the typical
stereotypes.” The fiercest complaints addressed the lack of new
minority characters. Recent trends involve rebooting an existing
white character as another race. While this provides a broader racial
representation, to some this approach feels like weak. A fresh face
and new character is preferred. Ashley Woods

When asked about existing minority characters, two

provided the most response: Luke Cage and Black
Panther. Black Panther reigned as the overwhelming
favourite, based mostly on T’Challa, the man behind
the mask. He breaks every possible stereotype. He’s
powerful, the leader of a country; he’s intelligent and
well educated, hanging with the likes of Reed Richards.

Luke Cage brings a mixed reaction. On one hand, he’s

tough, he’s cool, and he’s a badass. On the other hand,
he’s a personification of many stereotypes. Becoming
the leader of the Avengers hints at progress. But, as
Brian Williams, creator of Lucius Hammer and
Harlem Shadow, said, “Iron Man has his suit; Captain
America has his shield; Luke Cage has his wife-beater.
It’s embarrassing.”
 Is this representation of minority characters an indicator of the comic book
industry being resistant toward minority characters? The few minority title
characters and the absence of an all minority team suggest so. For those that
desire more of this, it can be found in the independent world. But as far as the
mainstream goes, these are rare. The interviews indicated two main reasons
for this.

First, the leadership level of the comics

industry is largely white. Khary
Randolph, artist on Starborn suggests
that the ranks of editors in the bigger
publishers are lacking in minority
representation; there is some racial mixing
but the majority of them are white. That
pattern holds true at higher levels in the
Khary Randolph companies.

Those making the decisions have been in the leadership of those companies
for awhile.They stick with what they know has worked. This is why,
according to Randolph, “even though it’s a small industry, it still takes a
long time for new ideas to move through.”

Second, as Genecy creator, Gerald Cooper said, “The color they are most
interested in is GREEN.” Money is their ultimate driver. The mainstream
publishers are in business to make money. If the current formula works to
make money then they will stick with that. It’s the old “if it ain’t broke” sentiment.

If this last thought is true, that money is the ultimate driver, is the current makeup in your local comic book
store an indicator that there isn’t a market for minority lead characters? SOMEONE said, “The independent
items you see on the shelf in any comic book store reflect the taste of the owner not the best of what is
available.” What about all the independent work being created that features minority title characters that are
sold at conventions? Does that indicate a market?

Larry Stroman suggests that this happens mostly because it can. “Used to
be, to get your comic out there, you needed to get picked up by a
publisher. Now, anyone with a computer can create a comic.”

Arguments can be made that if the market existed, comics with minority
title characters sell better and the decision makers would be happy to
continue making that money. Historically, black title characters haven’t
sold well. Occasionally, they have, but on a whole, they haven’t. Because
of this, the money people are scared of committing the cash to these titles.
They are sticking with the formula that they know works. However, as
former Batman editor Joseph Illidge points out, how many white title
character comics have failed in the same time period? Those failures have
Larry Stroman not scared them away from trying again with that same formula.
 What does comparing sales mean? Ryan Fraser of World of Black Heroes
helped figure this out. The standard number thrown about is that a comic must
sell 25,000 copies a month to cover its expense. After that, the publishers make
money. But even if a comic sold 30,000 copies a month, would be allowed to
grow? Or would it be compared to X-Men selling almost 300,000 copies a month
and be considered a failure?

Fraser went on to point out that comics are already a niche market. When you
focus a title to a specific submarket, you are looking at a niche within a niche.
Expecting similar numbers between mass appeal and a niche is unfair. Those
niches, though, they get the cult followings that are rabid and willing to commit
Ryan Fraser their money to what they love.

Another argument about the failure of minority focused comics looks to the intent
of the mainstream publishers. If they want a character or a title to flourish, they put
top talent on it, known names, the big boys. Other than those dealing with minority
characters in established groups, this is not happening. As good as Blade was, what
would have happened had Marvel committed top talent to the title?

Since the mainstream is committed to making money with that which has made
them money, they tend to focus on the formula and putting efforts there.
Horsemen creator Jiba Molei Anderson commented that “All black creators have
a yen to create characters of color; those working for the big two just don’t have
time.” Many minority creators have moved away from the mainstream to publish
independently so that they can focus on the projects that they want to do. JM Anderson

Is there value in changing this landscape? The obvious answer is:

killing stereotypes. It seems the best answer as well. Sanford Greene
said, “For minorities, stereotypes stick with us. One single
grammatical slip up proves decades of stereotyping.” How can comics
change that? By offering other options, characters like T’Chilla.
Illidge said, “People of all races need to see heroic examples through
cultural mirrors.” As with any art, comic books have the power to
create those heroic images, to change the world for the kids (or adults)
reading them. “These characters, we can’t do without them,” Williams
said, “They are our mythology.”

Editor's Note:

This topic is way too complex and involved to properly do it justice in

one article. Because so much more can be said on any of these points,
in the next few months, RKYV will continue to explore the racial
landscape of comics. Next month we will discuss the idea of rallying
to racial banners.

Brad Bellmore
sithric@hotmail.com
Biggie Smalls – by James ‘Jig-One’ Titman
Comic Book Review
by Brad Bellmore

Valkyrie

Thumb sideways

Marvel has released a new ongoing series, Valkyrie,

by Bryan Glass and Phil Winslade. I was excited about
this for two reasons. First, I love Norse mythology and
enjoy that comics occasionally venture into that realm,
trying to blend it into our world. Secondly, we can
always use more comics with female lead characters.

The core story is that the body that the Valkyrie

inhabited is killed, but instead of her moving to a new
mortal host, this one is revived by paramedics. The cycle
of her punishment is interrupted. Brunnhilde becomes
aware of who she is but not her connection with modern
Earth. It’s sort of a reverse amnesia sort of thing.
According to the book, Brunnhilde, one of the Valkyrie
was banished from Asgard for being insolent about love.

When she defies Asgard to defend a mortal that she

loves, she is punished again, this time being forced to
live as a mortal with no recollection of her divinity.

Occasionally that divinity comes out and we experience the super hero. But there has always been some degree
of separation of the mortal host and the spirit imprisoned there. Until now, Brunnhilde is the only one in the
body and she’s trying to figure out what is going on, where she is and why she seems like she should know all
these people who know her.

At this point, the story was pretty cool. Then they ruined it with the bad guy she fights. He’s a misogynist prick
called Piledriver. He may be a regular foe from her comic history of which I am largely vague. But as a choice
for the first issue it was a stumper. It immediately made this about Brunnhilde being female and not a lost god
trying to figure out what is going on. As I said before, I love that there is a new female title character out there
and I wish there were more. But once they made this story about her being a woman and fighting against those
who hate her for being a woman, it suddenly limited the story. I agree this is a crucial issue and that it needs to
be addressed in comics but by making it the issue of the fist issue, it almost defines it as “that kind of book”.
I want this title to succeed. I hope that the search for purpose and meaning in this book takes center stage and it
becomes more than just a book about men being scared of a powerful woman.
Alice – by Amber Blair
O.E.L.ove
by Darke Raven

Good day

This Month's Experiment:

Alex De Campi's

“Agent Boo”
and “Kat & Mouse”

O.E.L., Original English Language Manga, is what we used to refer to, in a rather limited sense, as
AmeriManga before we began to become more exposed to O.E.L. content from South America, the Pacific,
Europe and so forth. These days it's far more P.C. to refer to the genre as O.E.L. Manga since not all creators of
the genre are American, which is the case with our first creator Alex De Campi and her works for
TOKYOPOP before they derailed their line of OELs during their bankruptcy proceedings...

Agent Boo and Kat & Mouse.

Alex De Campi, a most learned and multi tasking individual, is actually quite a talent
as she not only is a filmmaker (does music videos) and Eisner award winning writer,
she also does OEL Manga too! Oh, she also writes stuff we haven't seen yet (released
in France) and she does children's TV in Europe... again not seen here unless you can
find it English subbed on Youtube that is.

The first book, Agent Boo, is less an OEL as it is an experiment that should be done
again. The mixture of prose fiction and manga artwork to create a young reader title
that is engaging and stimulating at the same time. Prose fiction sprinkled with
splashes of manga that (in panels or full pages) tells the story.

You are introduced to young Boo, a fourth grader who (while attending the graduation of seniors from her large
Elementary through to High School, campus) suddenly finds her life changed from a simple "Here comes Fifth
grade" outlook to suddenly become the youngest person ever to be picked to join the elite ranks of The Agents,
a multi-dimensional alternate world police force of her world. That day, it seems, the Agents had come for the
tradition of fallen Agents companions to pick from the senior (talking animal companions teamed up with
human partners) class graduating that day, each chosen becoming the next generation of Agents, however one
amongst their ranks (a rather rules breaking think outside the box talking cat named Pumpkin) finds the pick of
seniors rather... dissatisfying, and as if by instinct (perhaps a greater calling or purpose that I haven't seen yet in
story) he picks out the young Boo as his new partner.
 Perhaps he wasn't being so great to Boo, seeing how it's hard enough for a
full graduated Senior to excel in training to be a Agent, let alone throw a 4th
Grader into the mix, but when she's left home alone at the Agent HQ and
ends up saving it from a tyrannical evil lady named Queen Misery (as she
and her goons try to overthrow the base while sending the Agents on a cross
dimensional wild goose chase) with the help of a most special egg timer
(seemingly with cross dimensional abilities) she proves her chops and her
worth as an Agent before the end of the tale.

In Volume 2 you learn a bit more about alternate worlds, their lives and
"deaths", as well as Boo being given her first real assignment. But sent to a
jungle world whose entire male populace was wiped out during the
Arachnowars (whose eight legged nemesis might rear it's head again in the
series if a past interview I did with Alex De Campi is any indication) it's
ultimately laid upon Boo's shoulders to complete the mission, but is there
something more important than victory at any cost?

The story ends in a cliff-hanger, with Agent Kira (one of the two who became an
Agent with Boo and who bonded with her as a friend) captured, as well as a most
shocking revelation, you'll have to check out Volume 3 to see what happens next...
to be continued in a future review.

Kat & Mouse, on the other hand, is a bit of a fun mystery series in the vein of
Nancy Drew involving fish out of water Kat, newly moved to a new town and a
new private school full of rich snobs (complete with niche archetypes of the
standard school stereotype groupings as well as those who become rivals to
Kat/Mouse who, yes, happen to have their own engaging back stories going on as
well during the series).where she is having the hardest time making friends until she
bonds with school radical minded genius Mouse. Together they first tackle the
blackmailing of Kat's own father by a mysterious someone looking for better grades
(a plot which suddenly began to derail unexpectedly when the school's mysterious
Saint Tail like thief, codenamed "The Artful Dodger" suddenly became involved).

Volume 2 is all about the Artful Dodger as Kat has suddenly made it her life's
new mission to capture him (completely forgetting it was his intervention that
helped her father when he was in a jam last volume), which may not go over
well as his next strike happens during a field trip to a local museum while she
and her pal Mouse are presently having friend issues since Mouse thinks Kat is
trying to steal the teacher she has the hots for (who happens to be their art
teacher and strangely looks like Kat's father
for some unfathomable reason).

Both series are recommended, each to their own readership. Agent Boo is for
young readers of course, though I have to admit as an adult I found them rather
good myself... maybe if it's collected one day into a giant single volume I can
recommend it to adult readers as well looking to think outside of the reading
box. Kat & Mouse is a nice bit of mystery reading if you like a fresh approach
to the Nancy Drew style of story, though if you are also looking for the large
scope of cases like Nancy Drew you might be a little disappointed.
Both series get a nice solid 4 out of 5 each on their own merits.
Happy Reading!

CLOSING NOTE

Sadly the titles came out at the end of the OEL era of TOKYOPOP, and
while there is a third Volume of Agent Boo, as well as a third and possibly
fourth Volume of Kat & Mouse the series ended mid run. Next time I
come back to this (with my next review) I'll give you the present
disposition of both titles, and if they have any future. Stay tuned.

Next Month

It's February and Valentine’s Day... or is it March... well anyway romance

is in the air so we'll be reviewing another OEL from TOKYOPOP, this
time it's Amy Kim Ganter's romance manga Sorcerers and Secretaries.
Meanwhile in March we'll head over to Seven Seas and the harem comedy
Aoi House. Til then Happy New Year and take care!

Manga Maximus
This Month's Experiment:

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Manga

by Various Creators
Published by Del Rey

Mangas concerning video games is not that new a concept, but what got me particularly hyped about this one in
particular isn't what it's about as much as who put out the English version, mainly Del Rey's manga branch.

To be honest I am still a fence sitter concerning Del Rey (the Sci-Fi / Fantasy novel slash paperback company)
going into manga, even if they've got some years under their belt as of this date, but as we start the new year we
kick off 2011 by looking at the two present volumes of the Phoenix Wright manga now available, Volume 1
(Phoenix Wright) and Volume 2 (Miles Edgeworth).

Based of course on the Ace Attorney series of games for the DS (and seemingly for the Game Boy Advance
though I have little information on that iteration myself) and upcoming 3DS (the 3D DS launch coming shortly
in Japan) these mangas are based of course on the DS trilogy the Phoenix Wright series (and while I wonder if
the Miles Edgeworth volume has any ties to the recent spin off game starring Edgeworth I haven't played the
game so I wouldn't know). Each volume is focused on one of the two but that doesn't mean the other doesn't
appear in his "rivals” volume (Phoenix appears in Edgeworth's manga as well as Edgeworth in Phoenix's.
 The two of course focus on the star of the
game trilogy (Phoenix Wright), his assistant
Maya and his dead mentor (death apparently
not limiting her appeal in the series as she is
often channelled by her sister Maya, the
females of their family being strong in the
meta-physical realm of the supernatural and
communicating with / channelling spirits) Mia
as well as fan fave the spunky youngest
channeler Pearls (who premiered in Phoenix
Wright Justice For All, the second game of
the trilogy).

On the opposite end it also stars the greatest

of Wright's rivals and childhood friend Miles
Edgeworth, as well as a lot of the secondary
and incidental characters from the series in a
great many stories of both drama and abit of
humour... which is kind of a problem for the
series as this is not as much your first
introduction to the series as it is the end piece
of your collection once you play all the
games.

Unlike most series which are ideal companion

pieces to the games they're based on this is
clearly a series for die hard fans of the series.
A lot of the context and situations in the
stories will not really make much sense unless
you have played the games. They are follow
ups or lean heavily on prior knowledge of the
episodes of the games. Thus you will be a bit
lost or miss a lot of the context of the mangas
without that prior knowledge of playing most
of the games.

You don't need to have played Apollo Justice as that game at no times is referenced here. Also I doubt you
need to have played the new Miles Edgeworth side game though I still have to check on that myself to be sure).

So right off the bat the focus and target audience of this game is set in stone, mainly the cult following of
players of the DS (and recently WiiWare port) releases of Phoenix Wright, as it would be pointless to try and
hook new readers into this as it just won't connect in the same way (and in fact might actually contain a bit of
spoiler info that will actually ruin the series experience if you tried to read the mangas before playing the game
series).
So we basically drummed down what the series is targeted to, die hard fans of the series, so is it good?

Actually yes it's quite good. Told in a loosely set anthology series with stories bouncing back and forth along
the game's three game timeline, it's basically a fresh new chance to see Phoenix in action (as well as give you
more Edgeworth if you are a fan of the character), and is quite full of both dramatic and fun stories about the
characters and ties in here and there to the games... of course again that kills the appeal for new people to the
franchise but makes it solid for the fan.

Any complaints?

Hmm... I guess besides going back to the whole new to the series need not apply thing, and how this is only for
those who been through the whole series I guess my greatest gripe is that this series is rather... limited. I mean I
know I am sure I saw word of a third volume focused on whip wielding second attorney from Phoenix Wright:
Justice for All (Miss Von Karma) but that volume seems to -- well, not exist anymore.

Why?

Anyway all in all this was the end of the line for
me with the series when I bought it so it was fine
for me, and is on my ‘to own’ list if you already
played all the games of the series and are looking
for a nice way to cap off the experience...

While you wait for them to port the Anime Series

of Phoenix Wright to this side of the world, or
wait for the Nintendo 3DS and the release of
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright.

Give this one a 5 out of 5.

Next Month it's Valentine's Day so we're

celebrating by pursuing the foibles of love when
the facades of perfection are removed from
hindering a good relationship:

Kare Kano aka His and Her Circumstances

After that it's March and Spring so how about we

kick off spring by checking out another game to
manga translation, timely as we count down to it's
newest game on the Wii... yup, we're talking
Legend of Zelda the Manga. Check it out next
time.
 Raised on Saturday
Morning Cartoons
by Pauline Paré

On Boxing Day I watched the new Doctor Who Christmas Special on SPACE. These yearly specials are
quite a treat and have fantastic viewer ship numbers in the UK. The 2010 offering had the newest doctor, Matt
Smith, in a new interpretation of the classic "A Christmas Carol". It was unique, well written and much more
optimistic than many of the previous Doctor Who specials. In this year's offering, The Doctor needs to
convince a powerful miser from a different planet to allow a spaceship in trouble to land safely. Instead of
combating a bad childhood with visions of the man's life, the doctor goes back in time to interject himself into
the boy's childhood in hopes of making him grow into a better man.

I love this twist on the story! The old man gets introduced to the love of his life as a boy and together, the three
of them have the best Christmas adventures. When the man finds out that his love will die if not in stasis, the
doctor's plan is nearly ruined but the spirit of Christmas eventually overcomes all. I have been looking forward
to the doctor who specials since they began in 2005 with David Tennant making his debut as the Doctor.
Past Doctor Who Christmas Specials:

 "The Christmas Invasion" is a 60-minute special episode of the British science fiction television
series Doctor Who. It is Christmas, but there is little cause for celebration as planet Earth is invaded by
aliens known as the Sycorax. It's up to Rose and the newly regenerated Doctor to save humanity, with a
bit of help from her boyfriend Mickey and her mother Jackie. It began production in July 2005, and was
broadcast on Christmas Day 2005 in the United Kingdom and on Boxing Day 2005 in Canada. This is
the first full episode in which David Tennant appears as the Doctor, and also the first specially produced
Christmas special in the series' history.

 "Voyage of the Damned” was an epic episode, taking place on a spaceship version of the Titanic.
 "The Next Doctor" was playful and funny as our doctor meets a man who believes himself to be The
Doctor and has memories of The Doctor in his head.

 "The End of Time" was last year's special and it was a tearjerker. Just as David Tennant had his first
full episode as the Doctor in a Christmas special, this was his last appearance as the character. His final
scenes were emotionally charged and heart wrenching. In contrast, this recent special was funny, mostly
hopeful and only a tiny bit sad.
Episode Check List for Christmas Day every year since 2005 on BBC:

1. 2005 The Christmas Invasion – David Tennant’s 1st episode as The Doctor.
2. 2006 Runaway Bride – Catherine Tate’s 1st episode as Donna Noble.
3. 2007 Voyage of the Damned – Russell Tovey [George from Being Human] guest stars.
4. 2008 The Next Doctor – David Morrissey guest stars as a man who believes he is The Doctor.
5. 2009 End of time – The Last David Tennant Episode, a tearful farewell.
6. 2010 A Christmas Carol – Matt Smith’s Doctor helps and old miser change his ways and find the true
meaning of Christmas

Six specials so far - with great ratings in the UK!

Note: Viewers in Canada have had to wait until summer for the specials in some cases. ie: Runaway Bride

Cheers to the Doctor Who Christmas Specials.

May there be many more and may they continue to attempt outdoing each other!