Table of ContentsRKYV # 40 {Sept. 2010}

RKYV ONLINE LOGO –DavidMarshall {current}r. j. paré {modified}RoyG. James {original}

Virtual Cover #40- Art by Brian Typhair- Layout by r. j. paré

Interior Art- By r. j. paré, Bob Labute,Joey Maas, NaomiRandolph, De Tourist, MikeGrattan,

Editorial Column- “At the Outset:A Few Thoughts from theEditor”- By r. j. paré

World View- “A Canadian Living in theUSA”- By Tom Rossini

Indie Comic- “Different Unlike Us -Emotions”- Written by Darke Raven,Art by Geraldo Gonzalez,Lettered by RRDuran &r.j. paré

Featured Artist Review- “Brian Typhair”- By r. j. paré

Short Fiction- “Saviour”- by LarissaGula

Non-Fiction- “The last Footsteps to2012”- ByCS Cartier

Poetry- By LarissaGula, StephenCampbell, FrancesNicholsVargas, r. j. paré

Pop Culture- “Comic Book Review”- ByBrad Bellmore

- “MangaMaximus”- ByDarke Raven

- “RaisedonSaturdayMorning Cartoons”- ByPauline Paré

Spiderman© Marvel Comics – by Naomi Randolph

At the Outset

A few thoughtsfrom the editor…by r. j. paré

Summer has come and pastThe innocent can never lastWakeme up…

when September ends…Green Day

thanks • giving- noun

The act of giving thanks; a grateful acknowledgement of benefits orfavours.

Thanksgiving Day

A national holiday celebrated as a day of feasting and giving thanksobserved, in Canada, on the secondMonday of October.

I’m thankful.

Check that, I’m VERY #$%^&! thankful. You see, I’m a lucky guy. I’ve got twogreat kids and an awesome wife thatmanages to put upwith all mynonsense. The fact that I still find her sexy-as-hell, after 13+ years ofmarriage, is just gravy brother. The question is though, do I take enoughtime to acknowledge this? Do any of us?

Perhaps this is something you can consider for yourselves, in betweenmouthfuls of turkey and pumpkin pie, as you enjoy this Holiday weekend.

Here at RKYV ONLINE we are thankful for the writing talents of ourreturning columnists – Tom Rossini, CS Cartier, Brad Bellmore, DarkeRaven & Pauline Paré. Their thoughts and observations are always thoughtprovoking and oftenwitty. Aswell, our contributing writers [creditedthroughout] have, once again, provided uswith poignant and engagingpoetry & prose. They provide the varied and inclusive “voices” of this ‘zine.

RKYV would also like to extend hearty thanks to Brain Typhair for hisparticipation as September’s – Featured Artist of theMonth. I hope you allenjoy his fiendish “horror-inspired” art asmuch I have. Another thing I’mthankful for this month: The cover which, hopefully, grabbed your attention– right off. It was designed by our exceptional Assistant Editor, DavidMarshall [using Brian’s original art] whose work eachmonth provides a“face” for this ‘zine.

Of course, no issue of RKYV would beworth a damn without all of thewonderful pieces submitted by our contributing artists [creditedthroughout]. They provide the often beautiful and assuredly eclectic“flavour” of this ‘zine. All of these talented individuals make the task ofputting this rag together, eachmonth, an entertaining and rewarding one.For that, hell I’m always thankful. Now togo OD on turkey…

Disclaimer: RKYVmedical staff advisesthat while turkey may contain traceamounts of the chemical tryptophan,which can cause sleepiness in overly largequantities, it would be nigh impossible toactually Over-Dose on turkey. That beingsaid, we’d advise readers to avoid a Paré-family style Thanksgiving Day binge –trustme that sort of over-indulgence isnot only un-healthy but can be downrightscary to watch.[Last year, one stafferhad a finger bitten off while trying toreach for the bowl of sweet potatoeswhile this family devoured a27 lb bird !The trauma has resulted in severe PTSDfor the poor sod an inability toadequately type any future submissions– he just makes coffee for the officenowadays.] Harley Quinn ©DC Comics – by Naomi Randolph

World View

A Canadian Livingin the USAby Tom Rossini

Working FromHome vs Going to Work…Is it a Benefit toWork From Home?

I have been working for a health insurance company in the State ofMichigan in the U.S.A. for the past 4 years. Basically, my job as a nurse isto receive requests either by phone or fax where the Doctor, Surgeon,HomeHealth Company etc request services for ourmembers. I receivedthis data and determine if it’s a covered benefit and if so then see if itmeets Nationally Recognized Criteria to evaluate if this procedure /request is truly medically necessary. For the last 4 years I have been goingtoworkM-F and doingmy job to the best ofmy ability. Late last month, Ifinally was given permission to work from home.

The company I work for has about200 employees which is part of amuch larger company and then again another larger company. Overall thereare about 180,000 employees if I recall properly and we services over 75million members worldwide. The company initiated several years ago theability for any of their employees the ability to telecommute. I have beenasking for this benefit for the last few years since gas shot up to almost$4 a gallon but only lastmonthwas this request granted.

So here I amworking at home now for about 1 month and its goinggood overall but there are a lot of drawbacks for this. You may initiallythink that I have to be kidding but in reality working from hometakes a lotof discipline. Whenmy colleagues found out I was approved towork from

home, I was teased about being able towork in my underwear, not shower,watch TV and goof off on company time ... well that’s not the case. Well notcompletely… as I do work in shorts and a t-shirt and I may watch a bit ofTV while eating lunch. Some of thework drawbacks include: the lack ofadult communication and feeling part of a team, wondering if my bossthinks I am working enough, is my production just as good or even better…and then as your working you think I should do some laundry, or clean up thekids toys, ormaybe doing other home chores like cut the grass.

Working from home takes discipline. You need to be able to separatework from home. You have to be able towalk past the office when your dayis over or on holidays and theweekends. You have to be able to not answerthe office phone if it is ringing during non office hours and you have to keepfamily time as family time.

This past week I blew this all out thewindow as last Friday anothernurse retired and was basically doing double duty. Thursday I worked from9 am to4 am the next daystraight, then drove to work about30min away and faxed over 150authorizations from5 differentfaxmachines in the fax center/mail room. Came home and workedthrough on Friday until 3 pm. Ireceived an email from my bossthanking me profusely and at thesame time offeringme someserious comp time once the otherposition is filled. So, having theability to work from home does notmean it’s a benefit… it’s a lifestylechange.

Tom

Untitled – by Naomi Randolph

Cybil – by Joey Maas

Indie Comic

Different Unlike Usby Darke Raven

Featured ArtistReview

Brian Typhairby r. j. paré

< Gulliver Brimstone cover art, some ofBrian’s collaborative workwithSpeakeasy Primates - a cooperativecreators studio.

About Me:Hello everyone, meTypH

again, here’s a little run down, for thoseof youwhomight not knowme, I’m ayoung CanadianHorror comic bookartist/writer/creator, who workswiththe nice folks from McHozer comicshere in Canada.

I have one printed comic out from Mchozer I also did an Ash Can previewwithSpeakeasy Primates awhile back& I worked on a werewolf preview witha friend from Comicmonsters.com and hope to have that up soon. It's donein a more cartoon-y style. I am alsoworking onmy creator owned series"Tales Of Dusk"which will be in the vein of old EC comics such as "TalesFrom the Crypt" & "Vault Of Horror".

I am a self taught artist & only 20 years old. I plan onwriting a lot morehorror stories anmaybe even taking some of my comics anmaking theminto Book/Novel format someday to get more depth into the stories ansuch, but that’s a rough idea only time will tell seeing there’s somuch Iwant to do in the horror genre in general. Anyways feel free to stop by andleave comments if you like. stay cool boils and ghoulies!

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

BT: Yes I have, even as a kid I would spend hours& hours just drawing lotsof random thingsmainly weird monsters, it's always been something I haveenjoyed since I was young.

rjp: Did you study ormajor in art while in school?

BT: I took art classes up until grade 10 I think it was, the art classesoffered in school only had maybe4 drawing related projects a year if thatso& the teacher didn't really like what I liked to draw either so I stoppedafter grade 10

rjp: Whowasyour primarysource of encouragement, asa child, in pursuing art?

BT: As a child, it would have tobemy parents an family forsure, they would always buyme art stuff to draw with anencouraged me all theway, ananytime I would go to familymembers house I would alwayshave a sketch pad an pencilwithme for when I got boredha-ha…

Artist’s Name:Brian Typhair

Title: Frankenstein & BrideTribute piece [pencils]

Media Used:4H art pencil, PapermateWidemate 0.5 HB#2&Bienfang Sketch Book

Size: 11” x 14”DateCreated: Nov1/09

rjp: What is your favourite media to work with?

BT: Formy comic work I always useMech pencils an some other art pencils& 0.1 Staedtler pigment liner for inks an the odd sharpies here an therefor sketches, I’m not much for the digital stuff like tablets anwhat not.

rjp: Do you use any special tools and techniques to create your art?

BT: Not really to be honest, I use4H formost of my roughs I also like usingsome coloured mech pencil lead formy roughs to, cause it doesn't show upon greyscale scans, an then I use a papermatemech pencil to tight upmylines an add the details an such, I also use a couple rulers an erasers ofcourse& a kneaded eraser, as for inking I use a0.1 Staedtler pigment linerink pens an sometimes some fine tipped sharpies for sketches.

rjp: What inspires you tocreate art?

BT: It's something that Ihave always enjoyed doingand it always you toexpress yourself a littlemore with your creativeskills, also I watch a lot ofHorror movies an I like tospecialize in horror art sothat would count to. Alsowhen I would watch horrormovies as I kid I alwayswanted to draw thethings that I saw in themovies.

Artist’s Name:Brian Typhair

Title: Frankenstein & BrideTribute piece [inks]Media Used: 0.1

Staedtler Pigment LinerSize: 11” x 14”

DateCreated: Dec 03/09

rjp: How would you categorize your artistic style?

BT: I like to think of it as a dark edgy stylewith a good amount of blacksand detail in all my pieces and it's getting to become gorier too. I think allmy pieces for themost part have a nice horror feel and look to them.

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

BT: The theme in my work is usually horror and gory, as for being a messageI don't really think there is one other then letting others know that I am anall around horror fiend!

Artist’sName: Brian TyphairTitle: Art Of TypH [website] banner art [pencils]

Media Used: 4H art pencil, PapermateWidemate0.5 HB#2& Bienfang SketchBook

Size: 9” x 14”DateCreated: Feb 21/10

rjp: Which famous artists / creators or styles have influenced you?Why?

BT: There’s a lot that I look up to but I think themain ones would have to beBernieWrightson for sure. The detail that he does in his pieces and thestyle and look that he gets in his pieces are just amazing look there someof the best horror pieces out there. I also like Jack Davis & Johnny Craigfrom EC comics, the art work that they had back then was just amazing allthe images they did up were just amazing an shocking an just overall cooltoo look at. Also a big fan of Jeff Zornow, the horror designs that hecreates and the detail and style of his art is some of the best new horrorart out there. Gary Pullin is also another amazing horror artist that I lookup to; the detail and look of all his pieces are just amazing looking.

Artist’sName: Brian TyphairTitle: Art Of TypH [website] banner art [inks]

Media Used: Staedtler Pigment LinerSize: 9” x 14”

DateCreated: March 1/10

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

BT: I think for me it's a little bit of both, I think it would be awesometo do aissue of Spider-man some day but if that never happen it never happens,I'm perfectly happy working on small horror indie titles an having people likemywork. As long as I can dowhat I love and have people likewhat I’m doingthen that’s all thatmatters really, but I think I would be happier drawingFrankenstein& other monsters on the day to day basis then drawing aspider-man issue for a couplemonths. I just feel you get more freedom inthe indie style books then in the big name ones.

Artist’sName:Brian Typhair

Title: Black Spiderman©Marvel Comics

Media Used: 4H artpencil, Papermate

Widemate 0.5HB #2&BienFang SketchBook

Size: 11” x14”DateCreated:Jan15/10

rjp: Brian’s fullyrendered & detailedpencil work seems tailormade for mainstreampublishers like DC &Marvel. His attention tofine detail [ie: cracks insurfaces, etc] seemsreminiscent of an earlyGeorgePérez.

rjp: With advancements in computer graphic tablet technology, someartists are now creating their work directly in the digital medium andreleasing it in purely digital formats... are the days of paper & pulp doomedto the realm of fading memories?

BT: I personally don't think the paper days are done for, I hope not causethen I would be screwed ha-ha, I do all my work by hand, I think it would becool to try using a tablet someday, but I am perfectly happy doing thingsthe old way.

Artist’sName:Brian Typhair

Title: Uncle Creepy ©WarrenPublishingMedia Used: 4H artpencil, Papermate

Widemate 0.5HB #2&BienFang SketchBook

Size: 11” x14”DateCreated: Jan

13/10

rjp: What do you thinkof the term "starvingartist"?

BT: It pretty much tomemeans, that yougotta have themindsetthat your gonna havetowork your ass off anbe careful where youspend your money,cause you never knowwhen a project couldjust up an get cancelledan if you invested amonth work of timeinto it all goesdown thedrain.

I think if you have the rightmindset an will towork hard that over time youwont be a “Starving Artist” yeah youmight have towork two jobs forawhile or take on a lot of projects or work in other art fields other thencomics, but as long as you work hard an stay on track an get some goodprojects out there it should work out fine. Also if you’re a “rookie” artistdon't expect your first book to big a big seller or a huge hit. You have towork towards getting a fan base first for your book, before it becomesclose to being a hit.

Artist’sName:Brian Typhair

Title: Cousin Eerie &Friends© Warren

PublishingMedia Used: 4H art pencil,

PapermateWidemate0.5HB #2& BienFang

Sketch BookSize: 11” x14”Date Created:Feb 12/10

rjp: Do you feelmore asense of community withother artists or a senseof competition?

BT: I think there’s a hugesense of community,because all of the artists Iknow are always willing togive tips and pointers andsuch like that.

I guess there some competition sometimes if you see a artist you look upto do something awesomeyou always wanna keep pushing yourself to makethe next “wow that’s amazing” piece of art.

rjp: How do youmarket yourself?

BT: My self I have joined a lot of forum related sites an comic & horror sitesin the past two years, an I am always looking for new places to post my artso that people can see it, I always like hearing what others have to sayaboutmywork.

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

BT: Well there are sometimes when your just burnt out an you just want totake a day break or something, but I think we all get that now an then, butfor themost part I watch a lot of horror movies an they always keepmemotivated & inspired onmy art so it all works out.

Artist’sName: Brian TyphairTitle: ReturnOf The Living Dead Homage sketch© JohnRussoMedia Used: 4H art pencil, PapermateWidemate 0.5HB #2

& BienFang SketchBookSize: 9” x 11”

DateCreated:March 22nd/10

rjp: While traditional publishing and distribution has become a difficult goalto achieve for themodern Indie comic creator, what do you think of theimpact that social networks and POD services have had as an alternatemeans of connecting you, your work and your audience?

BT: I think social networks havemade a big positive impact on connectingartist to other artist writers an fans alike, pretty much on any site you goon these daysthere forums where you can upload your art an other thingsfor people to check out, I personally don't think if therewas socialnetworks an stuff I don't think anyone would really even know of my art asmuch asthey do as it is, so I think it's helped me out a lot to get me to thespot I am today.

Artist’s Name:Brian Typhair

Title: Heartland FarmTerror Cover [pencils]

Media Used: 4H art pencil,PapermateWidemate0.5HB #2& BienFang

Sketch BookSize: 11” x 14”DateCreated:April 3/10

rjp:What other interestsdo you have, besides art?

BT:Well I am a huge horrorfan as youmight alreadyknow ha-ha, I will prettymuchwatch any horrormovie there is, also I’m bigon collecting comics I haveclose to500+ I wouldguess, & as of lately I’vebeen writing a lot moreworking on some new comicideas, I also like animals alotmainly dogs not muchfor cats ha-ha.

rjp: You are a member of a cooperative creators studio, SpeakeasyPrimates, what is that like?

BT: It has been a pretty fun ride for themost part, fairly new to the teambut it's a good group of guys for sure.

Artist’sName: Brian TyphairTitle: Heartland Farm Terror Cover [inks]Media Used: 0.1 Staedtler pigment Liner

Size: 11” x 14”DateCreated: April 15/10

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

BT: Big plans, well right now I’m working onmy first creator owned serieswhere I will be going all the art an writing for it, it's going to be a massivehorror anthology series called “TalesOfDusk” the first story in it is called“Heartland Farm Terror” it's going to be pretty much like Texas chainsawMassacremeetsHills HaveEyes &Wrong turn, so if you got those 3together the creature bornwould be “Heartland Farm Terror” going to bemy goriest story to date. As for cons that’s sadly a touch and go arearight not but I would like to hopefully make it to Fan Expo if all goes well.

Artist’sName: Brian TyphairTitle: FidoHomage© LionsGatePictures

Media Used:4H art pencil, PapermateWidemate 0.5HB #2

& BienFang SketchBook, 0.1 Staedtler Pigment LinerSize: 11” x 14”

DateCreated: Apirl 20/10 [Pencils]April 21/10 [Inks]

Artist’sName:Brian Typhair

Title: Tales From TheCrypt: Bordello OfBlood Homage

©Universal StudiosMedia Used: 4H artpencil, Papermate

Widemate 0.5HB #2& BienFang Sketch

BookSize: 11” x14”DateCreated:March 4/10

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

BT: I think personally I just wanted to be seen as someone who did somereally kick ass horror art an art in general that peoplewill like for years andyears after I'm gone. If a couple people likemy work and it inspires them towork hard and do art themselves, then I think I did a good job. If I could beknown as one of the top horror artist ever then that would be a dreamcometrue. That being said I have a lot of work to do if I want to reach thatlevel, so now I will return tomy lair to draw some classic moviemonstersha-ha…

Artist’sName:Brian Typhair

Title: Tales FromThe Crypt:

Bordello OfBloodHomage

©UniversalStudios

Media Used:0.1 StaedtlerPigment LinerSize: 11” x14”DateCreated:March 17/10

rjp: This creepy &captivatingtribute to the oldEC Comics staple,HBO series andUniversal Studiosfeature film – wasa perfect choicefor AssistantEditor DavidMarshall to adaptfor thismonth’scover.

I’d like to extend many thanks toBrian Typhair for participating in thismonth’s interview and sharing some of his fantastic & spooky art withRKYV ONLINE. If you’d like to follow Brian online:

www.art-of-typh.blogspot.com

Untitled [CD Cover Art] – by Bob Labute

Short Fiction

graphics by r. j. paré

With a heave of effort, Mary slammed the church’s ash wood door intoplace by the handle. She sighed with melancholy on her breath beforestalking away from the evening service, adjusting the olive tote bag on hershoulder so that the cedar wood cross she had tied onto its handlesdidnot slap her chest with every step she took.

Her steps startled the herd of skittish does that had been grazing on thechurch garden, and four of the deer bounded off over the high fence. Thefinal, silly one slid underneath themesh like a dog. All of them disappearedinto the forest surrounding the town. Mary smiled at the sight of thegraceful animals and wondered if the stags in the woods had begun fightingformating rightswith the does. A few of themales had appeared aroundher house, displaying huge antler racks that impressed any traveler.Mary’s thoughts trailed back to the service that she had escaped. Sheknew her parentswere still reciting the Lord’s Prayer, and had startedshaking their heads at her empty seat. She knew they would ask God toforgive her for her thoughtless actions as soon as the silent prayer began.

Mary herself silently apologizedtoGod as she walked. Sheapologized for finding the serviceimpossible to sit through. Shecertainly had faith. Her faith wasjust not in man-written wordsthat had been reprinted over thecenturies, she argued in her silentconversation.

She kicked at the sidewalk withone of hermagenta flats. All shehad wanted this Halloweenweekend wasto be kind to herfamily. Now they would befighting, and she knew it was herfault.

She continued towalk down thestreet, her thoughts bouncing.She could feel through her flatsthat the heat contained in theconcrete during the day was stillbeing released into the earlyevening air.

She passed a hair salon and a bookstore before finding herself in front ofthe coffee shop. Its windowswere flattered with several black cats sittingby water bowls, and a dancing skeleton holding a full mug. For amoment shesaw her reflection in thewindows: tired blue eyes, gray v-shirt covered witha black hoodie, dark jeans that were lightening from the number of timesthey had been shoved through the laundry process.

The coffee shop’s door rushed open as aman in a business suit hustled out,key’s in the hand that held up his chirping cell phone. The radio inside of thesmall building began to play the song, “Mary, Did YouKnow?” Mary herselfsmiled, stepping into the coffee shop; for all of the grief that song had ledher peers to carry out on her over the years, it truly was a beautiful song.Somany artists had redone it over the years that Mary never botheredfinding out which one wrote it in the first place. It just existed. She didn’tneed to know specifics to know that.

“Mary!” Close associateDon wasworking behind the register. “You going tobuy anything or is this another one of your quiet nights?”

Mary smiled at him.When Don was working she could sit in the shopwithout spending her college change. “Hot chocolate tonight,” sherequested.

“Whipped cream?”“Go for it.”

Don raised an eyebrow as he began the order. “I thought tonight waschurch for your family.”

Mary scowled. “It is. I left.”

Don handed her the drink and took the $5 she handed him. “Keep thechange – it’s your tip,” Mary said. As she walked away to take a seat on oneof the old couches in the store, Don asked his coworker to take over for afewmoments. As he emerged from behind the counter, he carefully hung hisicing-flecked apron on a hook in the newly painted cream wall.

“Talk tome,” he commanded once he had settled himself besideMary.“Eh,” she shrugged, sipping her drink to buy time. “I don’t think there’s muchto talk about.”

Don scowled. “Yes, there is, and I’d hate to see you stressed. Last Ichecked, your parents are still telling you how to be a good Christian, andyou are still blatantly ignoring their requests – and somehow still wearingthis,” he added, extending an index finger to flick at the four-point stararoundMary’s neck. Her small necklace held a bead in its center that oncemagnified the Lord’sPrayer that was inside of it.

Mary lifted her free hand to knock Don’s finger down from her collarbones.“There is no reason for me to give into someone else’s religious beliefs,” shestated with a firm voice. “I love my parents, and I love the God I knowexists, but…I can’t conform to please. Not anymore.”

Don sighed, remembering the time a friend of Mary’s had discovered shewas pregnant. Mary’s parents had driven the girl from their liveswhen wordreached them that abortion was considered. They forbadeMary from everspeaking to her friend again.

Mary had snapped, and told her parents how she felt: that what her friendhad done was a right in the U.S. and people of the church needed tosupport the struggling family rather than humiliate them.

The door rang open asthe chipped edge knocked against the bell hung fromthe store ceiling. Mary and Don came out of reminiscing to see amiddle-aged man enter. His beard and short hair were brown, but peppered withgray, and he stamped his feet carefully to be sure all of the loose mud wasoff of his hiking boots and jean legs.

Mary glared at the orange hunter’s vest over his black sweater. Though theseasonwas not open for another week, twomen had arrived early. Shethought of the does that had run away from the church earlier and felt thehot chocolate swirl in her stomach at the thought of them being shot andgutted.

“Evenin’,” theman said toDon’s co-worker. “Black coffee, please,” he added.“Just one.”

“My partner’s still out in the woods, I suppose. Tookmy dang Jeep andwouldn’t say aword,” he stated, matter-of-factly, in what he thought waspolite conversation.

Mary tipped her cup back so that she had an excuse to look away.

“Anyway.” Don spoke carefully, trying to distract Mary from theman.“How’s your goal coming along?”

Her goal was to find a career that would not only carry her through life, butwould allow her to travel and speak with NativeAmerican tribes still livingon reservations. After meeting the younger son of a reservation chief, shefelt amazed at how forgiving he had been for America’s earliest inhabitantsdriving his people into tiny perimeters and away from their old land. Shewanted to repay his story with a display of love, and from there, shewouldbring their stories to theworld around her.

“It’s out of reach,” she said simply. “My parents are interfering again, theywouldn’t pay for such an education and I’m not ready to branch out onmyown.” She said, both bitterly and sadly, “They won’t even be alive long to seeme get tomy career, they’re so old…”

Don didn’t reply; to occupy the silence Mary downed the rest of herbeverage.

“I better go,” she said quickly as she heard one of the old clocks in the storechime that it was half past the hour. “I want to beatmy parents home andpretend that I was studying or something.”

“Hey,” Don said, grabbing her hand for amoment. “Relax. You’ll find asolution for everything in the end.”

Mary looked away, aiming her cup at the garbage can. It sailed into the bin.“Thanks, Don. Really.” Personally unconvinced, she gently pulled her handout of his and picked up her tote bag. “I’ll see you later.”

As her legs jerkily carried her behind the hunter with his full cup of coffee,she glared at his back. As he slowly turned, aware of something, she glidedfrom the coffee shop; in moments, she had left him behind.

For several minutes she briskly walked. The sidewalk came to an end whereit dipped into the road. The road took a sudden curve into thewoods, whereit eventually dissipated into dirt. Mary’s house was only half amile up thepath.

Tires screeched as Mary crossed the street. The odor of burning rubberreached her nose. A hard object clipped her shoulder. She heard a hard,“Clop!” as hard material hit the road. The noisewas muffled as the creatureraced across the dirt, into the darkened trees.

Mary looked back to see a black-haired woman sit back in her seat as shestomped on the accelerator, heading straight down the street.Maryshook her head, hoping the evening patrol would be in place. She looked backat the forest and realized the animal was still there. She took a stepforward and remembered the rain last night. The roads were dry; the grasswas not. She hadn’t planned on walking home from the service.

She reached down and hopped on one foot, then the other, removing herflats. She dusted them off with her own hands and slipped them into herolive tote bag. After securing it on her shoulder, she started towalkforward. Her hot feet cooled at the feeling of moist grass and leaves onher feet. Hoping her neighbor back across the street had not thrown a beerbottle over the road yet for her to step on, she walked forward.

The animal turned and trotted back off into the woods as shemoved. Marysmiled as its pale outline melted into the trees. It was all right.

She began to jog home on the grass, staying next to the edge of the dirt.She had made it a quarter of a milewhen she heard a car engine beingstarted. She slipped a little farther into thewoods out of the car’s path.A black Ford jeep bounced past her hidden figure. The driver jerked the jeepto a squeaky stop, unable to handle the bumps in the roads, even at fifteenmiles an hour. He had to be drunk, Mary thought; nobody would be thisinadequate a driver on this relatively decent road.

Unfortunately, he turned his eyesdirectly towards her. She could seegreen eyes underneath long brown hair, and the orange hunter’s vestcovering his shoulders. His pale eyesmet hers and took on a gleam behindthemask of influence; after several moments, they clumsily traced overMary’s body, a woman’s body visible through her well-fitted jeans andhoodie.

Mary shivered in fear and revulsion.

No. Not her.What sin had she committed to deserve that? To deservebeing placed on thisman’s most wanted list in his uncontrollable state?She fearfully began to run back along the road, determined to leave himbehind. She heard the engine rev as theman put his jeep in reverse.Whatever bump had ended its path down themountain was not stopping itnow. The jeep backed up rather quickly, nearly overtaking Mary before itlodged its wheel between the edge of a log and another muddy hole.

The man stumbled right out of his car. He fell and hit his head against oneof the overhanging branches Mary had ducked beneath. Yet he continuedon after her, the alcohol in his system masking the pain. Mary’s breathingcame faster as her eyes strained in the shadows that were darkening eachminute. Her homewas right over the hill. Unfortunately, running a hill wasnot one of her strengths. She wasn’t close enough tomake it!

She gasped in pain as sharp twigs dug into her callused feet. Her bag beganto thump her chest as she relinquished her hold on it, and tried to runfaster. She glanced over her shoulder and was shocked to see that for allof his stumbling, the hunter was actually catching up to her. He had hikingshoes on, she remembered – he wasn’t slipping barefoot through themud.Mary’s lungs began to feel as though they were the kindling for a midnightbonfire: tiny, weak, ready to give in to flames of pain. She gave up the uphillrace and plunged into the forest, looking for her childhood hideaway. Herfrightened mind begged thatmaybe she could huddle down into it longenough for the drunk to lose track of her. Her legswere giving at the knees;this was her last hope.

Even in the moments that her painfully simple and desperate plan emerged,she could feel branches pulling at her jeans. Bark slapped at her skin whereher shirt and hoodiewere already torn through. Sharp thornswere cuttinginto her unshod feet. Her hair caught onto every bush she passed; shenearly deliberately dropped her bag before realizing it might actually showthe drunken hunter which way shewas racing.

There it was: her hideaway, a wide, old hollow tree, suddenly a few feet awayin her peripheral vision. With an Olympic winner’s gasp of exhaustion, Maryfell to her stomach. She slid through the dirt into the base of the tree.Roots bumped her legs as she lifted herself through it, just barely able todraw her knees inside of the circular hollow.

She wildly grabbed for the leaves she hadmoved in her panic, and thoughunable to see outside of the tree, tried to rearrange them, like they were ajigsaw puzzle, and their picture would cover the slimy trail she had left.Then she pulled her bag onto her lap, stuffing her mouth against it tomuffle her breathing. Her eyes scanned it, and she realized her cedar crosscharmwas gone.

She silently swore. It had fallen off; it was out there, anywhere for thiscrazyman to pick up---

“You a nun or somethin’?” The hunter called out into the night. He had foundit! “Well, then, sweetie…maybe I ought to give you a little gift. If you haven’ttaken your vows yet, you might as well know what you’remissin’,” hesniggered.

In thatmoment, Mary nearly retched and vomited into her bag. The onlyreason she swallowed the bile back down wasthat it would surely give herposition away in this game.Was this how amouse felt when the cat was onthe prowl? Maybe an owl was a better comparison – because a mousecouldn’t see or hear an owl until it was too late. If he didn’t move away onhis silent wings, she would be found, carried off…oh, Lord, she cried outsilently.

The branches were still rustling nearby, too strongly for the culprit to bethe wind. A twig snapped. Mary tried to steady her breathing, though shecould swear that the man could effortlessly hear her heartbeat as itcontinued to gallop.

Another twig snapped, behind the hollow tree. Then the leaves around itsbase began to crunch.

“Come on out, honey,” the hunter drawled.

There it was, the smell of alcohol. She was done. Soon he would look downand see a foot – because one of her feet was probably sticking out of thetree, with her as tall as shewas now. Hewould grab her, and it would beover.

For the first time, she truly began to pray. She prayed for more than theAon the project, for no more family fights, for bettermeals on her table. Sheprayed for her very life, prayed for someone to help her now.

A hand, slickwith sweat and dirt, grabbed her bare foot. She screamed.“Gotcha, sweetie!”

He began to pull, so hard that her entire body moved and thumped the tinyhollow with a resounding crunch.

Therewas a crash of bark on leaves as what could have been a bush toppledover nearby.“What the---?”

Therewas another loud crack as something hard camedown on theman’sback. Now he screamed and let go of the terrified Mary’s ankle. Leavesscrambled up tree trunks as they were knocked aside by panicked hands.The smell of alcohol disappeared.

Mary listened intently as theman began to run away, tripping over everyobject in his path. She could hear snorting and grunting that seemed tofollow the hunter’s slurred shouts of, “Lemme alone! Lemme alone!”Within moments, the screams had vanished back down the trail.Something else wasthere now, though a good thirty feet from the hollow.It pawed the ground, andMary heard a soft huffing noise similar to anexasperated horse. Another deer? Thatmade no sense – deer ran fromhumans, not the reverse.

Mary slid her legs out under the tree’s bottom, then her torso and head.And then she could see her assistant. It was a stag. His antlerswereincredible, branching into twelve separate points, impressing even local girlMary.

But this stag was white, a wild target, with grey spots flecking his back.Yet his eyes were blue – not pink like an albino’swould be. By all means, thisdominating deer should not even be alive. And explaining his actions…The stag stomped the ground again, and the trembling Mary slowly sat upand stared at its kind eyes. So calming…the fear, the panic, it was all beingmelted away with the simple flash of turquoise.

This was bizarre. In the past she had heard of a lost boy who had fallenasleep in a snowstorm. Two elk had slept by his side throughout the night,keeping him alive. But this seemed even stranger to her; especially sincethe boy’s saviors had run themoment an adult had comewithin scentrange in the report.

With amajestic toss of hisantlered head, the stag began totrot off.“Wait---“

No deer would listen to her, and sheknew it. ButMary did not care.With her bag automaticallyclenched in her hand, she pushedherself to her feet. She swore sheheard clumps of dirt and mud dropoff of her to the ground, but sheignored the noise and chased thedeer.

The ground evened out the instantshe found her way back to the dirtroad. She had even reached the topof the hill. Her house waswaitingfor her. The porch was lit with amakeshift battery poweredlantern that looked like an antique.The stag was nowhere in sight.

Disappointed, Mary trudged the few hundred feet to her porch, where shedropped her bag onto a wooden rocking chair with a sigh. Standing on herporch, though, the calming effect of the beautiful stag’s eyeswore off, andthe fear returned. Her hands fumbled into the fake lantern until she hadfound the spare key to the house. She worked the lock with both hands andtrembling fingers.

She jumped insidewhen the lock clicked, slammed the door shut, and lockedboth of the installed locks. Her clothes, she realized, were still droppingmud with every step she took.

Trembling evenmore than she had at the sight of the stag, she stripped,swiftly; then she raced upstairs and yanked a towel from the rack,wrapping it around her body. She stomped her feet, the loose dirt on herlegs falling between the wooden planks.

The phone rang, and Mary jumped. She finally answered it aminute later,afraid of whom itmight be.

“H-h-hello?”“Mary? Dear Lord, are you all right?”“Mom…” Mary’s knees finally gave out, and she sank to the floor. “I…I thinkso. But one of those hunters, he…hewas drunk, he tried to…he tried to…”

“Oh, Mary!” Her mother screamed into the phone.“I’m all right, really!” she assured her, almost crying with relief. “I’m home,aren’t I?”

“The police picked the man up by the road home, and they won’t let anyoneup it until they figure out what happened. He’s drunk, but he’s beaten. Didyou…do anything? Is that how you got away?”

“No, Mom, I didn’t do anything,” Mary replied, sniffing.“Well, whatever happened…this is a miracle fromGod, and whateverhappened, you’re all right…Mary, please sit tight and lock all of the doorsuntil your father and I are home!”

The normally sarcastic responseMary would have given was gone from hermind. Instead, she replied, “Yes,mother.”

AsMary replaced her phone onto thewall, her jumpingmind suddenlylaughed, silently. What would her future NativeAmerican friends think of adeer, their main source of food, saving her life? Totem animals and spiritguides were usually bears, owls, eagles, and wolves - strong animals thatwere hunters or workers. A deer?

Therewas a loud, trumpeting call outside her house, startling her into ashout. After amoment, she could stand again, and she descended thestairs slowly until she could see out of awindow.

The white stag was watching her house from the edge of the woods. Heseemed to nod his head in satisfaction, that the girl in the window wassafe.

As the stag resumed a still pose, the years of Bible interpretationsuddenly returned toMary’s conscious.

The white stag was not specifically a NativeAmerican symbol. It had ameaning in many cultures. But Christianity believed that the white stagwas, quite literally, JesusChrist.

Mary stood in place, not daring to go onto the porch. She had towonder,would she ever see this amazing creature again after tonight?

The stag had no answer for her silent question. Hemerely turned, slowly,majestically, and as powerfully as any leader can. Mary remained still at herwindow, the towel beginning to slip from her warm and trembling hands, asher savior walked along the little trail behind her house, and vanished intothe shadows.

fin

Peter [2] – by Joey Maas

The Last Footsteps to2012by CS Cartier

Theory two – Death fromAbove

2012 and all of its doomsday theories are based mostly on hearsay andthe worse of theworst theories. Some of the2012 dire predictions aremore likely than others just like the CME’s (CoronalMass Ejections) whichcan be a cyclical event which can be predicted based on a cycle and mathwhich is fairly easy and predictable. We know that the earth circles the sunbecause every 365.242199 days, it returns from the trip, thus seasonsand thus a convenient use for the calendar onmywall. The inventors ofthat handy devicewere lucky in the numeric values. The truth is thecalendar was based on years of observing, any good scientist can tell youobservation predicts future once observation repeats itself continuously.

Any deviation of that repetitive nature usually means something new iseffecting the equations or the cycle is grander and more complex thanoriginally thought.

2012 is also rooted in anancient and remarkablyadvanced civilization that has adistinct advantage over us. TheMayan people have beenobserving the skies longer andthe longer youwatch, the biggerthe pool of knowledge that iscreated. It is extremelypossible that theymay havespotted an orbit that willculminate in a collision withEarth in 2012.

This is easily one of the more predictable disasters for 2012. We have allseen themovies, but do we understand what themost likely scenario isreally. I don’t think Mr. Willis or his likely counterpart will fly up the blow upthe coming disaster and save all of us. So let’s look and observe aswe arehit in every country every day by objects. I have a piece of meteorite onmydesk right now as amatter of fact. Every shooting star is somethingfalling to earth. Most never reach the planet and are incinerated from thefriction of the air upon entry. Speed and angle of entry play very importantparts to the amount of debris that survives the trip to planet side. Sadly,it is the size that should be the biggest concern. Howmany near-earthobjects have been discovered so far?

According to NASA (National Aeronautics andSpaceAdministration), as of October 2nd,2010 there were 7329 Near-Earth Objects

(NEOs) that have been discovered. Some818 of these NEOs areasteroidswith a diameter of approximately 1 kilometer or larger. Also,1142 of these NEOs have been classified as Potentially HazardousAsteroids (PHAs). Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currentlydefined based on parameters thatmeasure the asteroid's potential tomake threatening close approaches to the Earth. Specifically, all asteroidswith anEarth MinimumOrbit IntersectionDistance (MOID) of 0.05 AU orless and an absolutemagnitude (H) of 22.0 or less are considered PHAs.

In other words, asteroids that can't get any closer to the Earth (i.e. MOID)than 0.05AU (roughly 7,480,000 km or4,650,000 mi) or are smallerthan about 150 m (500 ft) in diameter (i.e. H = 22.0 with assumed albedoof 13%) are not considered PHAs. There are currently 1149 known PHAs.This ``potential'' tomake close Earth approaches does notmean a PHAwillimpact the Earth. It only means there is a possibility for such a threat. Bymonitoring these PHAs and updating their orbits as new observationsbecome available, we can better predict the close-approach statistics andthus their Earth-impact threat. It is the aim of NASA and the allies ofsaid organization to discover at least 99% (huh! Personally I would haveliked to hear the goal being100% but they are planning of missing someapparently).

Let’smake this real. I did not say likely, I just wanted everyone to seemostpredicted results. Oh, and insurance does not cover Act ofGod… but Ithought that thewhole definition of accident meant… beyond your controlas if by the hand ofGod. Sorry, digressing!

A 10km asteroid strikewould hit bedrock evenwith anocean hit. The earth ismostly water so hits usuallyhappen there. Tsunami results would occur withmosthits 51-500meters and larger hitswould flash boilthe water. A massive asteroid would createwaves inthe Earth’s crust higher than houses, and a blast of500ºC air travelling at 2500 kph.

Any creature within12 million sq kmwould be wiped out. (1) That’s roughlythe size of theUSA, Europe or Australia. That would be a really bad day,and no amount of sun block and preparationwould save ya.

500metre in size objects are something we (and by ‘we’ I meanNASA andthe like) do not discovermore than half of the asteroids and comets in oursolar systemwith a500meter diameter. The sky variable theperspective and depthmakes searching an astronomical undertaking.Just one of these would create a crater 10kmwide, and destroy all lifewithin 1,000sq km. (2)

100metre objects are so small, in terms of our ability to discover themthat only a few percent are likely to be spotted. If a 100m asteroidstruck Earth at 19km/sec the resulting crater would be 2km across, andit would destroy all lifewithin 200sq km. These hit Earth with an averagefrequency of one every 22,000 years. (3)

I personally cannot validate these numbers. I have seen probably twodozen falling stars so the possibility ismost definitely not zero. I am notgoing to go paranoid and where a hard hat in case something falls onme. Ido not think thatmagic bubble would be sufficient. Objects with a diameterof 50-60meters pass closer to Earth than theMoon is at least once aweek.(4) Aside from the famous Tunguska incident, a smaller asteroidexploded mid-air over eastern Siberia in 1947, leaving “122 craters up to26mwide and 5m deep.”(5) It weighed about 70 tonnes. I am not trying toscare anyone, but these things happen all the time. There is a biggerchance of being hit by lightning, or winning the lottery. It is well documentthroughout our history though. They strike the Earth and every planet allthe time. Look up at themoon as you can see the craters with the nakedeye.

Meteors domake it to Earth – here are some examples:

In 1965, a onemetre heavenly object hit Barwell, UK. Roughly half ofCoventry, a city of 300,000 that it passed over, saying they heard it.Those that could see it through the evening clouds estimated the tail tobe 20 degrees long. It broke up intomany pieces, and although some struckbuildings, luckily nobody was hurt. Astrophysicists from the HerzbergInstitute in Ottawa, Canada, have estimated that an average of 16buildings are damaged by meteorites each year, with a human being hitevery nine years, sometimes fatally.(6)

Recorded deaths by meteorites and asteroids:

588AD, 10 people, China1490, supposedly 10,000 people,China1511, Franciscanmonk, Cremona,Italy1650,Another monk (!), Milan, Italy1647-54, 2 sailors at sea1790,A farmer and cattle, France1825 ,Aman, India1827,A man, India

1874, Child, China1879, Man in bed, Indiana, USA1879, Farmer, France1897, Horse, West Virginia, USA1907, Entire family, China1908, 2 people reported, Tunguska1911, Dog, Egypt1929, 1member of a bridal party,Zvezvan, Yugoslavia

Buildings are stuck, and people nearly hit, most years. A recent example(June 2009) involved a German schoolboy, Gerrit Blank, who was left witha scar on his hand when he was grazed by ameteorite that left a 30cm-wide crater in the pavement.

In 1931, threeasteroid fragmentsstruck aBrazilianjungle and 1,300square kilometers ofrainforest weredestroyed by wall offire. (7)

Scene from “Armageddon”

On February 1, 1994, near theMarshall Islands in thewestern Pacific, ahandful of fishermenwitnessed a hundred-kiloton explosion (that's 10xHiroshima) that momentarily flashed brighter than the sun. This asteroidhas been estimated to be just 6-17 metres across, but plenty sufficientto decimate a city - so it was extremely fortunate (for humans) that itexploded above the ocean.

West of Ungava Bay in Canada, theMerewether crater is200m indiameter and was formed less than 10,000 years ago. More recent is theHenbury crater cluster near Alice Springs, Australia. The twelve cratershave been dated at between 2,000 and 6,000 years ago. The largest is180m across and 15m deep. According to Aboriginal legend, the site isknown as “sun walk fire devil rock”, suggesting that the event hadwitnesses.

Scene fromArmageddon 2

This is the greatest demonstration that the possibility is real are theNEOs of recent years. In1937 an asteroid called Hermes, with adiameter of one kilometer, became the closest recorded passage toEarth.When it crossed our orbit it was780,000kms away, twice the distance ofthemoon. In terms of time, it missed us by amere 5 hours. It was reported2 months later, with newspapers claiming we almost witnessed thedestruction of our planet. (8) In1989, a 300m asteroid (known as4581 Asclepius or 1989 FC) missed us by690,000kms and 7 hours. Itwas not spotted until after it had flown by. It is due to return in2012.Experts say it is not supposed to come as close but I still do not know ifeggs are actually good for me. “Experts” keep changing their mind. Around1991 another object, a100m asteroid (1991 BA) passed within170,000kms. And five years later a300–500 m asteroid, (1996 JA1_,passed within 450,000 km of Earth

In the near future, the number one concern is a 320m asteroid known as99942Apophis. Althoughwhen first discovered it was considered tohave a 1 in 17 chance of hitting Earth, it is now understood to only comeas close as 25,600 kilometres.

Again, these are simply 2102 theories. The unlikelihood does not meanweshould not keep aweather eye on the horizon. I’m probably not going towinthe lottery, but I still buy tickets.

Footnotes:

1. Peter Grego, Collision Earth (Blandford, 1998), 92.2.Grego, Collision Earth, 106.3. Ibid.4. Steel, RogueAsteroids and Doomsday Comets, 236.5.Grego, Collision Earth, 79.6. Ibid., 71.7. AustenAtkinson, Impact Earth (Virgin, 1999), 81.8.Grego, Collision Earth, 101.

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/faq/ NASA –Near Earth Objects Programhttp://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11683-giant-fire-ball-falls-from-the-sky-in-central-colombia.html

I did find this interesting, and it did notmakemainstream news. I havebeen reading about a media blocking but now I have proof that theremay besomething to it. The article is below.

Colombia: 'Giant fireball'was ameteorite

Monday, 06 September 2010 KirstenBegg

“Colombian authorities confirmed that a "giant fireball" that fell from thesky in theSantander department, central Colombia, was ameteorite.The Colombianmedia has been buzzing with eyewitness accounts of thefireball, which caused amassive explosion at 3:15PM local timeSunday.Andina.com reported that BucaramangaMayor Fernando Vargasconfirmed that the phenomenonwas ameteorite that left a crater 100meters in diameter when it crashed into the earth in the San Joaquinmunicipality in Santander.

Colombian air force helicopterswere commissioned to fly overthe area to try to locate thesource of the explosion. Thedirector of the University ofNariño'sAstronomicObservatory, AlbertoQuijano,told RCN Radio Sunday that hebelieved the object was ameteorite.

In rural areas of Santander, policereceived reports that theexplosion had shattered windowsin the area.”

Falling Star – by r. j. paré

Untitled – by Naomi Randolph

Poetry

Selected Poemby Larissa Gula

Lingering

As summer bows to autumnThe leaves struggle to hold their emerald crownsWhile they transform into an array of flames,Clinging to their branches, their kingdoms –Until they finally slip, neatly, accidentally,

And fall to the lands below

Where they are trod upon, and whereTheir breath is forced out with each step felt.

There they lie, as the flames begin to extinguish.Reduced, shrunken, shrivelling insignificant

Figures of the past, lingering, decomposing from thoughtLeaving no trace of the original gleaming crowns.

Sunflower – by De Tourist

Selected Poemby Frances Nichols Vargas

Morning Delight

Themorning sunlight barely shining throughBut –oh- I can’t get over the sight of you

The sound of traffic rushing byLife slowly wakening with the sunrise

The Birds are chirping for their daily mealAll I can think about ismaking a tastymorsel of you

Gently runningmy hand along and caressing allThat I want to kiss

Waking youwith the best surpriseAnd getting what I have wished.

JeanShrimpton – by Joey Maas

Selected Poemby Stephen Campbell

Long Distance

Tense phone calls, silence down the end,Listening anxious for my silent friend.Static, ripping soundstear up the airAround my receiver, I long to hearFrommy quiet lover, although I can’t say,I worry. Stilled mymouth stands at bay.

My sharpened tongue is loaded

Ready to utter heated words, explodedFrom the battery of my loose mind.

Such barbed wordsas these are blindTo the complexities of a voice linedWith silence. The line crackles,‘I love you’ breaks the manaclesOf quiet. Retreating, silenceTurns to catch a parting glance

Of two young lovers, a hundredmiles distant

Sharing time together, missingand listening.

Anne static copy – by Joey Maas

Poetic Perspectivesby r. j. paré

Metamorphe

Moments fraught with autumnal impulseWhilst revelling throughout an Indian solstice:

1.Tar-sticky pavement fades under a deluge of umber leavesSandals and swim shorts replaced with jackets and gym-bags

2.The transition to dutiful pursuits scholasticEased via distractions; from pigskins to pumpkins

3.That too-brief time ofwondrous freedomExtinguished, again at the hands of sage elders

Those grasping adults relinquished their unfettered youthFor shiny trinkets, expensive toys & the latest gadgets

Implementing an engineered metamorphosisExchanging innocence for…

The shackles of our obligatory consumerism

IndianSolstice – by r. j. paré

LadyGrinning Soul – byMikeGrattan

Pop Culture

Comic BookReviewsby Brad Bellmore

Slightly Damned

Thumb Slightly Up

Slightly Damned is an ongoing webcomic with new pages publishedevery Tuesday and Thursday. Thishas been happening since 2004.Odds are that with it being aroundas long as it has, that you probablyhave stumbled on this before.

But, perhaps likeme, you are just getting into web comics and this is newto you.This story, created by Chu, can be found at www.sdamned.com. Ithas fun art that is manga inspired but looksmoreWestern. Perhaps it ismanga with aWestern flavor. Either way, Chu accomplishes the blendadmirably. I enjoy the look of the characters.

The basic idea of the story is this: RheaSnaketail, a Jakkai (a kangaroolooking creature), has just died. Upon evaluating her life, she hasn’t beengood enough to go to heaven nor bad enough to be damned toHell. Shelacks enough potential to even be assigned to purgatory.

So, since she can’t be damned, she gets slightly damned and sent to TheRing of the Slightly Damned. Technically it is a part of Hell, but so few soulsare assigned there sincemost people live life enough to get assignedsomeplace else. From that point on, the story follows Rhea’s travels in hernew world.

I can take this comic in small doses. It’s fun and funny at times and as I saidearlier, I think the art is enjoyable. The story feels thin for me. Perhaps Ineed to press in and read a few more pages of (or years) of the comic toget hooked. It’s hard not to recommend this though since it’s free, which isa great appeal in this economy. Take a look. Read a few pages and see if ithooks you.

The Art ofFailing Buddhism

Thumb Partly Up

I discovered the Art of FailingBuddhism, a collection ofintrospective comics at theS.P.A.C.E. con back in April. RyanDow,the creator of this book sat acrossthe row from our table and his titleintrigued me. It was, frankly, one ofthe catchiest titles that I haveencountered in a long time. When Ifinally got a break, I boughtmy copyof the graphic novel and thenimmediately failed to read it forseveralmonths.

As the subtitle of the book promises, these are introspective comics. Theassumption being that these really look into the life and thoughts of Dowas he uses his art as ameans of both self discovery and self revelation. Theproblemwith this book lies in the fact that self discovery shouldn’t alwaysbe revealed. Not that he tells anything painful or too disturbing. Actually alot of the revelation is quite insightful. No, the real problem is that theseinsightsdon’t always translate universally. In other words, what was agreat personal discovery for Dow sometimes comes across as “So?” tome.

There is a point in the bookwhere he transitions to having an imaginaryBuddha guide him in life. This raises the book several notches. Part of theearly story’s slowness revolved around Ryan’s only foil being Ryan. Yes,that makes it more introspective, but the addition of the secondcharacter allows him someone else to dialoguewith. It also allowsdisagreement. The entertainment and profundity of the vignettes begin tosoar at this point.

The art is simple and cartoon-y. This is a comic strip collection after all andnot a true graphic novel so don’t expect it to have that overpowering styleof art. As a comic strip, the art works. It carries the story and leadsyouto the joke, sometimes delivering it, such as the great image on the frontcover. The pictures get their job done and let the revelation and discoveryhappen.

I’m glad I bought this book. I think most people will enjoy the read, althoughthey, like me, will find patches that just don’t connect well with them.Probably different patches than I did. If you do read this, stick with it whenyou hit those patches and look for the good ones to return as they will.Also, stick in there until Buddha appears. I think you will enjoy it more afterthat point.

If you are looking to get this book, you need to visit RyanDow’s website:

www.ryandow.ecrater.com .

Manga Maximusby Darke Raven

This Month’s Experiment : HellsingPublisher : Dark Horse (1998)

Ok. By now youmust be familiar with Van Helsing. If not by the listof movies in the past (not tomention that ghastly HughJackmanmovie)that featured the manHelsing, and the actorswho played him, thenperhapsyou're a Advanced Dungeons& Dragons player? Why is thatImportant? Because of AD&D'sRavenloft series, which had in it's"universe" a certain Van Helsing inspired character in it… but this isa manga review so if it’s Hellsing we’re talking Hellsing the horrorseries.

While Hellsing has nothing to dowith the man himself, Van Helsing, itis supposed to be his descendants who run a secret organizationsomewhere in theUK that protect Queen and Country from monsters ofall sort. Yeah, theUnited States, Japan and the UK seem to have amarket for secret organizations that fight the undead -- you need tocatch up there, Canada, can’t depend onAlpha Flight alone (sorry)!

The head of the Hellsing “family” is a woman named Integra. After herfather died and willed Hellsing over to her it seems she found herselfthe target of termination by her own uncle. Yeah, "ownership" of thosesecret organizations is just too nice to pass up, especially if he'swaited forever to have it passed to him only for it to get passed tosomeone else. While hiding from him and his goons, Intergra stumblesupon a corpse hidden within the depths of Hellsing HQ -- corpse? It'ssupposed to be her protection against the worst.

Turns out it IS her protection, afterit drinks a bit of blood, because itrevives into the ultimatework of over100 years of undead research,Alucard (which is basically Draculaspelled backwards. Whether or notit‘s the sameAlucard as inCastlevania : Symphony of the Nightfor thePSOne… never figured thatout).

Long story short Alucard deems theuncle unsuitable to lead, and --yeah –death follows. Integra becomes headof the family, and Alucard is her bestweapon. Of course having Alucardarmed with a big frickin' gun loadedwith silver bullets helps a lot. Andthat's where we arewhenGraphicNovel 1 starts.

The Graphic Novel startswith your basic kill the undead... except Alucardseems to pick up an "acolyte" after he pretty much shootsthrough apolicewoman hostage and then revives her as an undead new agent ofHellsing... whether she wants to be a new agent of Hellsing or not(though admittedly she‘s my favorite agent of Hellsing). Thenwe startto see things that used to be reserved for the residents of NorthernIreland... mainly Catholics vs. Protestant conflict. Or, in this case,Hellsing (Protestants/best in undead research spawnedmonster killing)vs. a hard hitting priest of the shadowySection XIII (Catholics/bestin technologically created monster slaying). Yeah, right. Ok. How didthis turn frommonster killing toCatholicsVs. Protestants anyway? Ihave no idea.

Apparently themonsters have been coming way too close to the "border"between Catholics and Protestants -- and yes, I don't get that either-- and Section XIII seems to think attacking their Protestantcounterparts and their vampiric resources is best. Yeah, ShadowyOrganizations, go figure. This rolls into Graphic Novel 2 requiring agathering of the Convention of the 12 over at Hellsing HQ to go overthe events of last volume, too bad during this theHQ comes underattack by an army of SWAT undead led by two freakish brothers calledthe Valentine Brothers -- once these two and their team iswiped outit means it’s time for Hellsing and Section XIII to come together andhave a little pow wow over what’s happening.

This leads to a trip to South America and a littleHellsing on Naziaction which turns into amedia circus of majorly bad proportions,whichmeans the ending rolling in is going to bemajor with vampireNazis, werewolves, the occult, major high end fights and a slam bangending (ohmy)!

I usually dread Halloweenwhen it comes since I am, by nature, not afan of the genre of horror… but here I was quite hooked on the DarkHorse Comics presentation of Hellsing from beginning to end. Nice andsolidly done, action packed and just the right amount of gore andhorror that even a mostly squeamish type likeme can get into itwithout being too turned off by it. Overall just my cup of horror: a 5out of 5.

This is hard? Nextmonth is worst… themanga thatmademe… thankful. Staytuned.

Raised onSaturdayMorning

Cartoonsby Pauline Paré

The Good and the Bad ofCanadian Television

Once upon a time, Canadian television had a bad rap. That is to say, themajority of it was just painful towatch. With low production values and amarked lack of writing and acting talent, Canadian television lacked whatitsAmerican counterparts could offer. There were rare exception ofcourse, but generally it tended to be difficult to watch. Over the years,Canadians became more talented and we started witnessing shows likeForever Knight or Corner Gas. Flashpoint is another example of a Canadianseries good enough to be viewed internationally.

Being Erica is a Canadian series setin Toronto and it is a joy towatch.Being Erica is internationallyacclaimed and is even beingmarketed in the US. The seriesfollows Erica Strange (played withcharm and grace by Erin Karpluk),as she examines the regrets in herlife that have led her to be lessthan she can be.

Erica meets an unusual doctor who somehow has her traveling throughtime; sometimes changing her worst regrets but mostly just learning fromthem.

Wewatch the character slowly change and become abetter person as she learns to reconnect with all thepeople in her life as well as pursue the career she hasalways wanted. Being Erica is smart, funny, warm andwonderfully written. It can also be quite real in its issuesand daring in its subject matter. The acting ability on theshow proves that Canada definitely has the talent tobring a show like this to life.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, is Todd andthe Book of Pure Evil. I must admit to being lured tothe first episode based solely on the name of theshow. Youmust admit, it has a pretty cool name.That is wheremy enjoyment of this series ends. Istruggled through the first episode and I have nodesire towatch another. The acting is consistentlybad and thewriting is very weak.

The production value is incredibly low and all the jokes fall flat. I always hateto bemean inmy column but I could not find anything to enjoy about theseries. I even found Jason Mewes to bewasted in the first episode. Theconcept is fun but I can’t agree with the execution.

Despite my painful experience withTodd and theBook of Pure Evil, I willnever dismiss a series just because itwas produced in Canada. In doing so, Iwould miss out on all the FlashPoint/Corner Gas/Being Erica/ Kids inthe Hall type shows that havemademe loveCanadian television this pastdecade. Somy Canadian Televisionfairytale has a happy ending as I enjoythe good that Canada has to offer andlook forward to a future of creative,quality Canadian television…and theylived happily (mostly) ever after.