🚀 go-pugleaf

That�s right, folks, here we go. Another wild and wacky exploration
into the nether regions of my brain as I share my unwarranted opinions
with the masses of the net-comic writing crowd; all twelve of you.
Welcome one and all!

EDITORIAL: The numer of mistakes and mispelings in theze newgroups is
realy beginning to erk me. Its not like most of yu don�t have
spel-chek or nothin. I meen, you�ll never see a mispeled word in a
real story. Its just ridiculous. So kut it out! PROOFREED! That�s all
I hve to say about htat.

Without further ado: GRAFEK: RACC/LNH/SG Reviews #3

In this issue, we review:
SG: Armageddon #1 by Chris Woods
Blitz Boys #1 by  Randy Milholland and Don Cook
Indigo System #2


Spoilers space 
Brought to you by Bob Swersky and Mike Ditka...




































SG: Armageddon #1
Written by Chris Woods

I don�t know if Mr. Woods actually meant to post this article, as it
either 1) has the most abrupt ending of any story or 2) Woods was
forced at knife point to post the story without finishing it. In
either case, it leaves much to be desired. Of course it could also be
my newsreader, but I doubt it.

Where do we begin here, gentle readers? How about with a synopsis of
the plot so far:
Kathy and Linda have just finished with a lovely baby shower. Much fun
was had by all. Problem is, the gals, both in the throes of sever
pregnancy, miss their husbands, Mike and Dave respectively, terribly.
They also hate their husbands� boss, a man known only as "The
Senator." As it turns out, Dave, according to his wife, is planning on
running for the Senate seat during the next election year.

As the two are driving along the highway, they are accosted by a
strange light where they are, apparently, abducted by aliens who speak
an incredibly strange language. Later on, Herm Crenshaw, Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, apparently one of the many government suits
working on the as-of-yet unspecified "The Project," is bitching and
moaning about the hierarchy of the government and his particularly low
placement on the totem pole. Abruptly the story ends�

Once again, I don�t think Mr. Woods meant to post this article before
it was done, so I will keep my opinions of the ending to myself. What
we can deal with here is the prose that we are presented with.
Frankly, I see clich�s at 10 o�clock coming in fast, sir. We can�t
lose �em! They�re coming right at us! Evasive maneuvers! 

Woods prose definitely needs some work, especially in the areas of
plotting and dialogue. Instead of giving examples of why "The Senator"
is such a horrible person , and why Kathy and Linda hate him so, we
are just treated to their lengthy, muddled diatribes against the
unnamed monster! This is a problem that persistently rears it�s ugly
head throughout Mr. Wood�s first story. Case in point, consider this
excerpt from a conversation between Kathy and Linda:

"She never did like how the Senator treated her husband. He was always
making Mike and Dave do the jobs that he should do. But as the
senator's
assistants, they had to do what the Senator said. Dave was going to
run
for Senator the following year, so he could get away from the Senator,
yet stay in politics."

AIGH! If the word "Senator" was used once more in the last sentence, I
was going to take a hostage. Small tip to Mr. Woods: read your work
aloud after you have written it. If it sounds bad to your ears, it is.
It�s a common mistake in young writers- the tendency to tell rather
than demonstrate. Well, in the immortal words of Neil Peart: "Show me,
don�t tell me."

Wood has got some potential here with his ID4 meets the X-Files plot.
The pairing of paranormal activity and housewives is an as-of-yet
unexplored device from what this reviewer has seen. I encourage Woods
to keep at it, but don�t be afraid to wait a bit longer and do some
proofreading,  before he posts. The newsgroup will be here tomorrow. 

SG: Armageddon #1- 3/10



Indigo System #2
Extreme Shadows Press
Extreme Shadows/Legacy House co-production
Written by Marc Singer and Chris Gumprich

In the first issue of GRAFEK:RACC-SG-LNH Reviews, I issued a challenge
of sorts to both Gumprich and Singer to continue the wonderful
characterization and fast-paced plotting of their debut issue. With
some doubt, planted in part by the seemingly-cliched plot device known
only as the "Come-With-Me-If-You-Want-To-Live"-itis, I asked this team
of fine writers to continue to thrill me like they did with issue #1.

To a certain degree, they pulled if off. In #2 we learn the name of
the hyper-babe that rescued our curmudgeon-hero, Daniel. Zen, as she
is known, to friends and families alike, has a SERIOUS power of
suggestion and looks that kill. What�s better, she abhors violence of
all sorts, so Daniel is safe if he�s ever late picking her up for a
date. 

What�s wonderful about this issue is even with the omni-present danger
presented by the Enemy, a mysterious group that are more interested in
the current "system" than their ethical code of right and wrong, and
the even more frightening Black-in-Men, sort of like a limitless
number of Pulp Fiction�s Vincent Vega�s AFTER Butch offed him with the
Mac-10, all Daniel can think of is his ever-growing lust for the
mysterious Zen. It makes for wonderful reading.

In a near-perfect display of anti-heroism, Daniel, whether because of
Zen's orders or true fear, is not afraid to run from the hideous
Black-in-Men. Sure he may feel a twinge of guilt here and there, but
he's still looking out for numero uno, just like most of us would.
Singer and Gumprich have a great character here, and with hope, he
will continue to stand meekly in a world of superheros.

Plot-wise, a lot happens. Dr. Grant apparently has something to do
with The Enemy, though we are not sure what. In addition, Daniel's
little computer trickery in the first issue is slowly coming back to
haunt him, as the various flames he sent out worldwide through Dr.
Grant's account are slowly being returned, from some heavy hitters.
It's a number of threads that Gumprich and Singer will bring together
soon, I hope.  Also, continuing in the vein of strong women as a plot
device, we meet a combat-fatigued babe who is, at face value, a living
killing machine. Let's hope she's on our side�

Singer and Gumprich have something going here and, while not as
striking as their initial issue, System Indigo is wonderful reading.

Indigo System #2: 7/10


Blitz Boys #1 
Sacred Circle of Confusion, LTD.
Written by Don Cook Jr. and Randy Milholland

It all began when Four Guys Named Bob realized there was a traitor in
their midst, namely The Flaming Toddler, who among his other crimes,
was 100% guilty of not being named Bob. Therefore, said burning baby
takes off and along with his partner in crimefighting, Ol' Sweller the
super-sumo wrestler who wears diapers, and his butler GI Average Joe,
to form a new team of superheroes of their very own!

Cook and Milholland have a definite winner with this offbeat take on
superheroes and their ilk. In addition to some truly funny characters
(without revealing anything, one needs only to read GI Average Joe's
flashback to understand Cook and Milholland's timing and comic skill)
we have some new takes on a quickly aging genre: superhero parody.

Instead of some power-mad scientist or a planet-eating gargantuan the
nemesis for our series here is a televangelist! It's about time
someone exposed these vermin for the true rat-bastards they are. Of
course, our Mr. Pinocchio, as he is called, is not what he appears to
be (i.e. a man of the cloth) and quickly falls under the influence of
the obligatory "As-of-yet-unnamed-Higher-Force" who is working for a
darker evil.

Milholland and Cook cook (sorry) up some wonderful stuff here. Truly
funny. The superhero auditions come to mind immediately. Some truly
annoying characters also pop up including Martyr Miss and Skinnybutt,
who appears to be an enraged skeleton. With hope, we will never see
these characters again. While not much happens in this first issue,
the authors manage to keep the story a real "scroller." Here's hoping
they can keep the "Naked Gun"- feel to the rest of the series.

Blitz Boys #1- 8/10