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ARTIST ALLEY: NS Kane

November 19, 2015 Kate Kane

Kane cosplaying as Batwoman. Picture by George Wong

Sitting in a darkened room, with the sounds of Shrek creeping through a wooden door in Sydney, NS Kane is typing away at a keyboard, plotting a plot. New to comics, she is an aspiring writer from the Land Down Under and is hoping to become another Australia comic-success story, following in the foot steps of people like Tom Taylor (Injustice: Gods Among Us) and Nicola Scott (Black Magick).

What is your current project?

The project is called Seamstress, and it’s about two seamstresses who work for both heroes and villains in their world, creating the famous outfits that they wear.

What inspired you to work in comics?

Actually my partner Kate did since she is an actual seamstress in her spare time. When I was sitting in my lounge with a friend, he turned around while watching her run back and forth carrying cups of coffee and said “you are a human sewing machine that runs on coffee.” At that moment I bolted to the computer and started writing, two years later Polli and Cassi were born.

What is the piece you are most proud of?

Well I love my Seamstress very very much but I’m equally as proud of my next project coming up called Toxicity, which is outside my comfort zone, but challenges me as a writer to really think outside the box.

Who is your dream team to work on a comic with?

Greg Rucka, JH Williams, Dan Mora, Blond the colourist, Rex Locus, Nicola Scott, Marguerite Sauvage, Stjepan Šejić, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado. Lol and that’s just for a start!

What is a typical day in the life of you when working on comics?

Well I go to work, whine for half the day that I’m not writing comics, then I find a few minutes to jot down a rough outline of my ideas for either a plot line or a 22 page issue. Then I usually come home and start loading the notes into a pretty format that looks cleaner before I realize I have made so many spelling mistake and spend the rest of the night cleaning them up.

nyteowl comic cover — Nyteowl: written by NS Kane

How long does it take to do a single issue script?

Depends on the script, sometimes I’m not feeling the mojo and it takes weeks, and sometimes it could take me less than three hours to knock out the script. But nothing is perfect, so I like to usually take a week to have some time to read then re-read it making sure everything is sitting right.

What is the process?

Usually loads of coffee is a good start, but I don’t do anything without music, it’s definitely a must for me to be in the writing mood. Then I sit down with my templated format and my rough plan to start writing away.

Who are your inspirations?

Greg Rucka is my biggest inspiration followed by Michael Alan Nelson and Tom Taylor. All these men really do give me hope that you can do what you dream, that you can write what you want and that even being from Australia will not limit you to reach the biggest comic companies across the world.

What is your dream project?

To write for Batwoman. That’s my biggest goal in my life, since she started me on this comic journey, and she is where I want to be. I want to give her a new life and the passion that she restored back to me.

If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?

GREG RUCKA!!!! Yes if he would put up with my annoying pestering every five seconds I would love to have him, if only for a few hours, to give me that nudge in the right direction.

Have you done anything at a convention, as in had a table in artist alley or a booth or been a guest?

Not yet, but it’s still early days for me so I’m hoping to debut Seamstress next year down here in Australia.

Have people ever cosplayed your work?

Unfortunately, no. Though I hear down the grape vine that something might be in the works! But it would be amazing to see any of my works come to life.

How has the industry changed since you first started?

Since I found comics a few years ago, the industry has exploded with talent, so I’m really excited to be in the thick of it right at this moment now.

How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spider-Man and Batman vs Superman?

Well those shows have opened the world of comics up from being a child’s interest to a more adult scene. It’s nice to see people my age embracing this fantasy world and becoming more involved in it letting their inner child break free.

Tell us about Polli and Cassi:

Polli is a unique individual with light pink bubble gum hair. She only wears the latest fashion styles when she’s not doing business. Usually found in a sleek, seductive dress, she is the epitome of rich snob and knows it. With the cover of running a fashion house and magazine, Polli has no qualms about flaunting her decadence for the world to see, hiding in plain sight. But it is [that] confident high from her creations in front of the villain’s that boosts her thrill factor, having them only come back for more despite her rather unpredictable temper. Polli also has a quirk which is a considerable addiction to coffee.

Cassi, on the other hand, is a recluse. Only leaving her ‘Nook’ when she must, Cassi is usually found wondering around her hidden studio in just a baggy T-shirt and her underwear. She mostly avoids contact with her clients and all people in general, preferring to spend her time with machines more than man. A complete contradiction to her twin, Cassi is humble and caring with a stubborn sense of pride for her work. Cassi doesn’t care much for fashion and has a cheeky attitude that winds her sister up every time the topic is spoken of. Cassi also has a quirk which is a significant addiction to soda.

How long are you looking to have this series running?

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What is your favourite moment in what you have written so far?

Oooo, that’s a tough one, I have so many moments in each series I don’t think I can choose but one of my most heart wrenching is in a future issue of Toxicity when the main character Synner has to say goodbye to someone she loves, I cried while writing it and I still cry each time I read it.

Anything extra you would like to share:

The Kickstarter for Seamstress is running currently to fund the series. It’s been a long journey to get the book up and running and I just hope that people enjoy the rewards on offer as well as the story I want to bring to the world.

Fun time:

Who is your favourite comic book character?

BATWOMAN!! Everyone knows this!

Who is your favourite author (books)?

Mikhail Bulgakov

What is your favourite movie?

My go to movie is Spirted Away

What is your favourite band/music artist?

Heavy metal, give me anything with drums, guitar and screaming.

What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?

List making, lord I have a list for everything I even have lists for lists.

11067608_676999059075411_5944772717998020651_n — Synner: Toxicity

Pick-

Day or night

Night

Star trek or Star Wars

Oooo damn you. Star Trek if it has Janeway

Coffee or tea

Coffee

Summer or winter

Winter

Cats or dogs

Dogs

Batman or Superman

duh Batman!

Movies or a book

Movies

Pizza or Burgers

Burgers

Coke or Pepsi

Pepsi if I could drink it, lol

For those wanting to see more of NS Kane’s work you can find her on Facebook, Twitter and the Kickstarter for Seamstress

Next issue release date of current project: January 2016

Comics 101, Sections

The Never-Ending Battle Superman Didn’t Fight: A Review of ‘Superman: The War Years’

November 13, 2015 Nathan Joseph Sitton Marchand 1 Comment

The cover of “Superman: The War Years 1938-1945” by Roy Thomas.

Superman is so powerful, he could’ve ended World War II single handedly in ten minutes. Why didn’t he? What was he doing?

Those are the questions asked and answered by former comic book writer and editor Roy Thomas in Superman: The War Years 1938-1945, a large hardback book that is one part retrospective and one part graphic novel. To put it simply, this book is a collection of over 20 Superman comics—mostly Action Comics and his solo title—that pertain to America’s role in World War II, plus inspirational covers, a few comic strips, and even some ads. These are divided into four sections with introductory essays written by Thomas, which set the stage for the comics that follow.

As a nearly lifelong fan of the Man of Steel, I was excited to read many of his earliest adventures. However, as a critic, deciding how to evaluate this collection is a difficult one. At least 95-percent of this book is the comic material, all of which was published when my grandparents were in their youths. It’d be unfair, even a disservice, to judge them by modern standards. The artwork, pacing, and even layouts would be unappealing—or perhaps jarring—to present-day readers. Compounding the difficulty is the many “politically incorrect” terms and ideas presented in many of them, as noted by Thomas (more on that later). So, in light of that, I’m evaluating this volume more on its presentation of the material and not so much the material itself.

That being said, there are some noteworthy issues here Super-fans will want to read that go beyond the book’s theme. It begins with Supes’ first appearance in Action Comics #1 in 1938. Next is his full origin in the opening pages of Superman #1 in 1939. Later there’s a two-issue story that features the first appearance of Superman’s archenemy Lex Luthor (who had red hair!), though he was only called Luthor in that story. While this book collects highlights from the Man of Tomorrow’s first seven years of publication, I noticed a marked change in Superman’s characterization. He starts as a heroic though often harsh figure. He frequently threatens bad guys with violent deaths like ripping their hearts out, and he arguably kills soldiers when attacking a Nazi military base in one issue (which I guess lends a bit more legitimacy to him killing Zod in Man of Steel, but I digress). For readers like myself whose first image of Superman was Christopher Reeve, this might seem strange. But again, it was a product of its time.

Thomas’ essays, while short, effectively prepare readers for what they are about to read. He gives the historical and cultural context for what was going on at the time. As the United States’ stance on the war changed, so it did for Superman and his creators. The Man of Tomorrow went from forcing fictional warring nations—obvious stand-ins for European countries—to end their hostilities to fighting Axis saboteurs and invaders. Heck, in one issue Superman battles a mad scientist who uses sea monsters to invade America for Hitler! (It wasn’t as epic as sounds, sadly.) The classic comic strip where Clark Kent’s enlistment is denied because he read the wrong eyesight ledger thanks to his x-ray vision is presented, showing why he never joined the war. Interestingly, on several occasions in other issues, Superman says he didn’t go fight the Axis because he believed America’s fighting men could handle it themselves. He contented himself to battling the enemy if they came ashore. Some might call that foolish, but I find it encouraging. Superman knows he can’t and shouldn’t solve all of mankind’s problems. Plus, as Thomas writes, it was a way of boosting morale for soldiers by not cheapening their struggles.
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As noted, given the potentially controversial material included in this collection—like the infamous “slap a Jap” cover on Action Comics #58—it’s a good thing Thomas lets readers know what to expect. However, he insists that these are part of history, and so the comics remain uncensored. (Humorously, I did find a few typos in these unaltered 70-year-old comics). It should be said, though, that a series of comic strips are included that feature Superman helping a young woman decide which branch of the military to join so she can join one of her four “boy friends” in serving the nation. I think that counts as forward thinking.

Thomas’ final essay, however, is confusingly titled, “Part 5,” even though it’s what closes the book. It threw me off because it initially seemed like it could’ve introduced a new section or been an introduction to a second volume collecting some of Superman’s early post-war adventures. I realized as I read it that the “Part 5” is probably meant to reference the essays themselves as opposed to the sections of the book, but it was still confusing. Regardless, it does close out the book well.

Superman: The War Years 1938-1945 serves as a window into the history of both Superman and the United States. Those were years of drastic change for the nation, and they helped define the Man of Steel as a character. Not only that, this volume illustrates how art reflects life. Indeed, Superman served as both a propaganda tool and as a means of escape for soldiers and civilians alike at the time. For modern-day fans, it gives them a chance to see some of the milestones in Man of Tomorrow’s publication history.

And that’s pretty super!

Final Grade: A-

Tech World

Party Up With the Pocket Party

November 13, 2015 Kenneth Medford

Music is life. There is very little in life that can’t be made better with some good music in the background. With the increased storage space on memory cards, smart phones, and iPods, we’re carrying around entire festivals worth of music with us at all times. What good is all that music if you can’t share it with friends though?

The fine people over at 7×24 Technologies, Inc have the solution. The Pocket Party is a solid combination of portability and sound quality. Simply connect the speaker to your device of choice via Bluetooth, adhere the Pocket Party to any flat surface, and let the party begin.

The speaker comes with a carabiner (a belt clip), so you can soundtrack any stroll to the store with friends. They even include a bike-mount strap so you and the team can enjoy tunes while you ride. Portability is a strong half of the story with this one, and functionality is its tag team partner.

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https://youtu.be/CHqng57upXw

There is even a smart light system that synchronizes with the music being played to create an intelligent light show based on various aspects of the music (bass, treble, even the vocals).

My personal experience with this surprisingly powerful speaker has been pretty awesome. I strongly believe that a shower without music is sinful, so having a speaker like this is a gift from the heavens. Pandora, Spotify, and even YouTube play perfectly, or at least as well as the services’ normal sound fidelity would allow. Cooking has become quite the party as well and it’s nice to not have to use a cup to boost the sound on my phone anymore. Hey, don’t judge me.

If you’re like me and you don’t have speakers hardwired into every inch of your home, this is a must have for any music lover. It can easily turn any uncomfortably quiet situation into an event worthy of Instagram. Salute to 7×24 Technology Inc. for this one. Check out more on the Pocket Party on their IndieGoGo page and spread the word.

Game File, Games and Software, Industry Now

Cloud Storms into Battle!

November 12, 2015 Alex McCumbers

“I’d never thought I’d see the day.”

Truer words have never been said. With Street Fighter creeping into the latest Super Smash Bros, alongside the fan voting system that was finalized in October, there are some crazy things in store for the Nintendo celebratory fighting game. Sure, I’ve seen Cloud of Final Fantasy VII in just about any fan-made game ever, but to see him appear in an actual, professionally designed game leaves me in sheer awe.

This move to bring Final Fantasy back in cahoots with Nintendo after years of it being mostly a Sony franchise is huge. Of course, the franchise found its feet on the NES and made history with the SNES iterations, only to see its golden age on the PSONE. Will there be a resurgence of Final Fantasy games making it to the Nintendo marketplace? Remakes and spin-offs are abundant, but what does this mean for Square Enix and Nintendo?

Speculate in the comments below Giga Bytes! I’ll be sitting here stirring my tea with a phoenix down, while I wait for what other crazy things are coming to Super Smash Bros.
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Oh, and to add another octave to the squee of fans everywhere, think about this.

Cloud. Amiibo.

Boom.

Comics 101

Dark Moon Review (Issues 1-3)

November 10, 2015 Seany Flamingo

Combining two different elements into one can make for some amazing results. Put Wolverine and Spider-Man together and you get Deadpool. Mix burritos and deep fryers and you get chimichangas. (Yay!) Combine horror with comedy and you get Batman Forever. I think my point has been proven. Now introducing Dark Moon, a motion comic that combines horror and science fiction, created by Freematik with artwork by Benedick Bana.

The premise here is pretty interesting. Earth is about to be destroyed (allegedly) and in a last ditch effort to survive, seven(?) people teleport themselves to a moon where they are alone and possibly being hunted.

The addition of music and some sound effects is a very nice touch that definitely sets this digital comic apart from any physical comic. Most of the time the music does a beautiful job of keeping me completely immersed in the comic. However, there are a few times where the music doesn’t quite fit with what’s happening or doesn’t match the tone that the comic has set. For example, in certain parts, when the music leans a bit too far towards hip-hop, it snaps me out of the mood of the comic. Although, even with the few missteps, the music is by far the strongest part of Dark Moon.

Interesting indeed.

Another great aspect of the web comic is the art. Where the artwork really shines is in creating creepy images. The comic isn’t overly gory, but there are some very chilling moments, with some credit to the music as well, that will definitely get a reaction out of you. Bana does a great job of portraying the bleakness and hopelessness of the moon, using different shades of black and grey, with a splash of red or blue; however, there are a few backgrounds that are a bit plain or the same color as everything else in the panel. Also, an image throughout the first three issues shows a far away shot of our main characters surrounded by nothing. This constant image focuses on the fact that these people are trapped by themselves on this desolate moon. The first time was a cool picture, but after seeing it a few more times it became redundant.

This looks like a kid scribbled something in Microsoft Paint.

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The lovely character sheet.

Now the real problem with this series is the dialogue. Sometimes the dialogue is too cringe-worthy to even keep reading. When every speech bubble after the beginning exposition is something along the lines of “This sucks”, “Look at all of this technology” or ” What do you think? I don’t know what to think”, then there’s a problem. Although, the lack of giant word bubbles does help, a lot.

I don’t mind a horror story not being some deep and moving piece, but I do expect it to at least introduce me to the main characters. Again, unless you read the character sheet, then you will have no clue who anyone is. It’s not even clear at first how many people are in the comic. For most of issue one, I was convinced there were only four characters, and some weird artwork choices made it look like maybe seven or eight. To clarify, I’m pretty sure there are seven main characters. Don’t hold me to that.

Regardless of how good a story might be or intense the situations, if readers don’t care about the characters, or even know their names, then readers won’t care if something bad happens. There really isn’t a proper introduction until about halfway through issue three, and that’s only for about five of the characters.

Based off of the premise alone, if you’re into science fiction, horror or both, then you should definitely read at least the first issue. I love the inclusion of music into comic books. Like I said, the music is the best part of this series and it really helps to immerse you into the story. It would be the perfect experience if only there was actually a good story or at least decent dialogue exchanges to keep you interested.