Paradigm Shift: sheepdogs vs wolves

On this memorial day, after reading Paradigm Shift: Equilibrium and Paradigm Shift: Agitation, I’m reminded of this quote:

The retired veteran said: Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident… Then there are the wolves, and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy… Then there are sheepdogs, and I’m a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf.

On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs – Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

To all of our men and women in the armed services and police, thank you! Thank you for being the warriors that protect us from those who crave to destroy us!

Dirk Tiede has created a believable Chicago with endearing characters in Paradigm Shift. Kate McAllister and Mike Stuart are Chicago Police Detectives that work in the Violent Crimes division. They mercilessly and courageously hunt down violent criminals in Chicago. In meantime, the sheep are oblivious to what danger we are in. I go to Chinatown for breakfast and get some red-bean-paste sweet rolls and a green tea. Around the corner, Kate and Mike track down Triad gun traffickers in Chinatown! I hear the gun battle in the background, but I think “Oh! Fire crackers, must be near the New Year Celebration!” I go to a coffee shop to write in Old Town. A couple of blocks from the El that I just got off of, Kate and Mike are investigating a savage “man eater” or perhaps a serial killer case! I continue to write in peace. I’m so glad that we have police protecting us from the wolves that lurk just around the corner. But how do the sheepdogs fight their inner wolf and continue to protect us? It seems Kate must fight against this wolf within, will she win? I hope so. I hope to learn the answer to this question and many others when Dirk releases Paradigm Shift: Emergence later this year. If you can’t wait, you can read it on webcomicsnation.

Dirk exquisitely produces scenes from Chicago: his renderings of downtown, Chinatown, police stations, and the streets that lurk below the elevated train all create a familiarity and reality. I feel transported to where the action is – as if I’m a sheep watching the sheepdogs in action. Dirk also creates characters that have depth- you can see their broad range of emotions. For example, we see Kate tired and lonely walking home from work, later we see her an angry berserker smashing a gunman’s head against the wall, then later we see her baring her sarcastic fangs at Gina, the chief forensics investigator. Dirk also allows us to see into her mind and dreams on occasion, which creates empathy and concern for her. Dirk’s action scenes are very well done and the pace is fast and furious, they almost leave me breathless at the end of them. Amid the creation of realistic charters and backgrounds Dirk weaves a tale of mystery, suspense, and the paranormal. This work reminds us that our men and women in blue (a shout out to our armed services too) have a tough job, not only do they fight against the wolves that hunt us sheep, they fight against their own wolf-like nature to keep us safe.

Sensei no Otaku says: “If you want a manga that makes you think, laugh and occasionally look over your shoulder, then Paradigm Shift is a must read.”

Paradigm Shift is not rated, it would probably be rated 16+ for occasional language, violence and gore. However, the stuff isn’t too explicit or continuous, so it might be a rated 13+. Either way, teens and adults will enjoy.

Sensei no Otaku: rating scale 0 (rotten)-10(sweet)
Overall: 9 Story: 9 Art: 9

Positive: Mysteriously dark and familiarly funny.

Negative: You can notice a slight progression in skill level from the first page to the last, but artists should get better with time.

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ACEN 2009: A Phoenix Rising

Good news! My sabbatical from writing is over! 2008 wasn’t a good writing year for me – I spent all of my creative energies fighting inner demons and surviving work. 2008 wasn’t a good year for ACEN either: poor layout of programs was their death. However, 2009 was an amazing year for ACEN- the layout of programs was just the beginning.

Friday:

I wander into the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center with my mail-order badge and find an almost empty registration hall. The lines were so short, I go in and get my program books with no wait. I scout out the artist alley and vendors which was laid out right next to the registration, a very good idea! I waited for opening ceremonies, it started a bit late, but I don’t remember when it ever has started “on time.” It has to be a lot of work to get all 40 guests in one place. Afterwards, I ate lunch and watched one of my favorites: Samurai 7, a creative sci-fi epic that is based on Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece: the Seven Samurai. I attended Manga Publication: hosted by Fred Perry and J.L. Anderson of Antarctic Press. Most interesting concept I learned: the electronic format of comics might be able to save the industry if they can find ways of keeping it from being pirated once it is in electronic format. We need a cybermarine corp to surf the electronic ocean to destroy all those cyberpirates! Sensei no Otaku commands: “If you like something, BUY it! So the artists can continue to make more of it! Don’t be a freeloading thief!” I met Josh Elder an Russel Lissau at the Making Comics and Manga panel: very informative, and inspiring. At the Friday night Premieres I witnessed Romeo X Juliet, a fantasy adaptation of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. The scene were Romeo and Juliet meet eye to eye in the garden during the Rose Ball was so beautiful and touching- I cried it was so moving. Romeo X Juliet made such a strong impression on me that I don’t remember the other premieres I saw. A long windy-rainy walk back to Motel 6 ended the night.

Saturday:

I wanted to go to the Japanese and Mythology panel, however, I got to the room too late after my long walk from the Motel 6 in nearby Schiller Park. My disappointment faded when I wandered over to the video rooms and watched Hikaru no Go and Ramen Fighter Miki. Never seen Ramen Fighter Miki before and it was hilarious! Then I went to the ADV films panel: hosted by Tiffany Grant and Matt Greenfield. The panel was interesting: Matt talked about Switchblade films and new ADV releases. I won a Platinum Complete Collection of Neon Genesis Evangelion by winning a round of jan-ken-pon against Tiffany and the whole audience (thanks to my students for playing paper-rock-scissors with me at school). Then I went to the Funimation panel: I was glad to hear that Sgt Frog is finally getting worked on! I love that manga and the anime has to be just as fun! They showed some trailers: Romeo X Juliet is my favorite out of the series they are now releasing. They are also changing their mode of DVD sales. They will be releasing their anime in 12 or 13 episode box sets. The individual DVDs “take up too much self space” at stores. Saber Matthews was texting me during the panels so I don’t remember all the titles that they announced. Afterwards, my friend Saber met me outside the con. He had to work that weekend and decided to register at the con. I was thinking… man we are going to be in line forever, but his wait time was amazingly short (not even 20 min!). First we saw some tricked-out street racing cars. In the middle of the car show was a stage for the con’s DJs to do their thang. Cosplayers and norms were in a brake dancing ring. The most memorable performance was by a tall black dude with  a white mask and a red suit (possibly inspired by Kenichi Ebina). He began his dance with some pantomime moves and then started break dancing. I thought “That’s performance art for sure!” The artist alley was next. Dirk Tiede was the first artist we met. I was so glad to see him. He’s a great artist and a generous guy. He mentored a student of mine when I taught in Chicago. He has a produced a comic: Paradigm Shift and is working on volume 3…I’m so looking forward to it.  I purchased an amazing print of Kate and Mike enjoying a winter evening in Chicago from him. We wandered around and an amazing piece of art stood out: Kevin Yan’s rendering of Orihime- just breathtaking. At first glance I didn’t even realize she was Orihime until I studied the painting closely. Kevin Yan is an artist who has worked with some comic book studios and he shared a table with his lovely girl friend Jinny Liang who is also a very talented artist. Then I stumbled upon Megzie from Madison. She’s a cute new artist with a lot of talent. After a year of studying art she decided to change majors and is now studying Mathematics Education (Yeah! another math teacher!). Then we came to Josh Elder and Russell Lissau’s table. They were selling and autographing copies of their The Batman Strikes, Mail Order Ninja, and other great works… and they live in the Chicago area! Didn’t know you could write for a comic and animation series and live in Chicago… technology is great! To end our quest of artist alley we met Misako Rocks! She grew up in Tokyo and now lives in New York city and writes and draws for a living! She was signing and selling her own works: Biker Girl, Detective Jermain, and Rock and Roll Love (which sold out!). She asked us to come to her panel later that night, we said we would. Then we wandered into the vendors area…I went into the vendors area with a mission to find one DVD: Tenjho Tenge vol. 2, but epic fail! My only consolation was a Final Fantasy key chain from AnimeStuffStore.com and a tie-dyed phoenix tee (my favorite tee… I own two of them now) from OffWorldDesigns.com. I have to confess: after so many years I still have a crush on the owner of PurplePlum.com, now known as AnimeStuffStore.com, she is so gracious and lovely (she also remembered me -sigh)! Later, we went to a panel by Josh Elder and Russell Lissau about writing for the Batman Strikes. We, unfortunately, forgot to go to Miskao Rocks! panel and went to Otaku’s Guide to Philosophy, which was very sophomoric and limited in its approach. Saber told me that I should start my own philosophy guide… I plan on it. We are sorry Miskao, you Rock! We went to Denny’s for dinner…saw lots of con goers there and afterwards we went to the ACen Guys Present: Nobody likes you (and here’s why)- Socializing at Cons. It was funny… kind of like the late late late show with a slide show. Then we crashed in the video rooms, we watched a few episodes of Claymore: very good character designs and interesting story.

Sunday:

I have struggled with missing church for an anime conference. Some years I have left the con and went to church and sometimes I stayed at the con and prayed and read my Bible. Last year I prayed that there would be a worship service at the con. I thought that God’s presence made known at the con would be so life giving to everyone around. My prayers were answered this year. My soul needed the Sunday Worship service lead by Vic Mignogna and Catlin Glass. Vic sang and played a keyboard, Catlin joined him in song (she is so lovely and such a beautiful voice). Vic shared the gospel of God’s amazing love through the powerful work of Jesus. Catlin shared her testimony of God’s power to heal broken hearts. I wept, thanks Catlin for being so honest. I too suffer from a broken heart, healed by God. God heals our broken hearts so we can heal the broken hearts around us. Catlin and Vic encouraged us to befriend each other, no reason to be strangers in a crowd. So the audience shared names, prayer requests and of course, favorite anime titles. The service was refreshing and renewing- God used Vic and Catlin to spark the fire that this Phoenix need to rise again. Vic and Catlin, I’m praying for you! I attended Vic’s Q&A session later in the day, since I never really met him- I was curious to see how he carries the good news outside the worship service. God bless him, he does! I learned that he has recorded the Gospel of John (The Message) and gives them away at autograph sessions (it is also available for free download at his fan site: Risembool Rangers). He was very enthusiastic and loving toward his fans: he encouraged us to call our mothers! He often stopped during his Q&A to take pictures, give hugs, and record personal messages for fans that couldn’t be there. He was also very loving and gracious towards the tech crew that couldn’t find an audio cord so he could show some projects that he had worked on. Now for the bittersweet ending: I watched the Anime Central 2009: AMV contest and stayed for the closing ceremonies. The AMVs: very cool. The closing ceremonies: sad, but they are planning next year’s Acen as we rise and read and love.

Sensei no Otaku says: “Truth and love fuels the flame that helps a Phoenix to be born again.”

 

Master Keaton: Where the Past Comes Alive

Master Keaton: Excavation I contains the first five episodes of this series, it was animated by MadHouse in 1998 and was produced by Pioneer- now Geneon. It is an adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Hokusei Katsushika’s manga by the same name. Each of the episodes on this volume provide glimpses into Taichi Hiraga-Keaton’s past (survival instructor, master sergeant in British Special Air Service, archeology grad student, father) as well as entertains with suspenseful storytelling.

Mr. Keaton is a professor of archaeology in Japan and is routinely called on to investigate for Lloyd’s of London – the world’s leading insurance market providing specialist insurance services since 1688. The cases he receives are increasing with frequency- so we see how this shakes up his peaceful life as a professor and father. The series is episodic in nature- so the stories are concluded at the end of each episode which makes for enjoyable and casual viewing. This is a nice change of pace, considering that most anime series continue telling one story over a long set of episodes. The animation is fluid and realistic, but its age is apparent. The variety of realistic character designs and different locations throughout the world create a sense of adventure. The series also brings real history and events into the series to make the anime even more realistic and believable. The opening theme seems to be a tribute to Keaton’s English heritage with an orchestra and bagpipes and the ending theme seems to be a tribute to his Japanese heritage with a happy J-pop tune. The rest of the soundtrack varies in orchestration just as the locations in each episode vary. Most of the voice actors mimic a variety of different foreign accents, which is usually a challenging task. There are very few repeat characters, so that also presents many challenges for the actors; however the actors overcome these obstacles and the dub is surprisingly good (with a few exceptions).

In episode 1 (Man in a Maze), Keaton travels to Greece to investigate the death of a veteran. Real battles and historical events influence the outcome of the episode. Keaton also shows off how resourceful he is towards the climax of the episode. In episode 2 (Little Giant), Keaton travels to Germany and is hired by a woman’s family to rescue her from the life of being a terrorist. A bounty hunter, Stuart Pitock is also on her trail and pegs Keaton as meddling amateur; little does Pitock know the jokes on him. In episode 3 (Strange Tale of Lasagna), Keaton is hired to retrieve a nine-year-old girl from her cold and filthy rich grandmother in Italy and transport her to France. Here we see Keaton’s charming fatherly instincts deliver a happy and touching ending. In episode 4, (Immortal Man) Keaton is traveling on assignment in snow covered Poland. He runs over… into an elderly man who claims to be immortal. Keaton is dragged innocently into a conflict with the Russian Mafia! Keaton, of course, is resourceful as always and saves the elderly man’s life- or does he? He is immortal… Anyway the immortal man has a story that will amuse and surprise any history buff –especially Professor Keaton. In episode 5 (Paris Under the Roof), apparently all this traversing around the world leaves the college in Tokyo no choice but to fire Mr. Keaton. He gets a job in an adult education center in France and is pleasantly surprised by who he meets. This is a heart-warming conclusion to this action-backed volume. The Special Air Service motto: “Who Dares Wins” could easily serve as an overall theme of this volume and perhaps even the series.

Sensei no Otaku says: “Master Keaton is a sensei worth sitting under: he is clever, charming and always tells a good story.”

Master Keaton is rated 13+ most likely for realistic violence.

Sensei no Otaku: rating scale 0 (rotten)-10(sweet)
Overall… 10 Dub… 8 Story… 9
Animation… 9 Art… 10 Music… 8
Positive: The suspense and action are masterfully balanced with humor and charm.
Negative: Some of the accents are comically performed, but that’s unavoidable.