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Just a quick mail to let those with an interest in anime, manga, Asian cult cinema and general Asian pop culture know that Neo magazine is on sale today.

Check out the website for more info, and if that isn't enough, the first issue features a six-page comic strip illustrated by PJ (Rogue Trooper) Holden.

Stu - Neo Editor

Link: http://www.neomag.co.uk" target="_blank">Neo mag website

I'm guilty of writing this Past Imperfect for Tharg earlier this year.

I haven't seen the finished piece as yet but am looking forward to what Cam Smith has come up with.

Glad that some of you seem to have liked it, but I must confess my ignorance to the play Gordon is hinting at.

As far as direct influences on the strip go, they were the original Alice books and my memories of Dennis Potter's movie based on Lewis Carroll's life... and wading through many, many books on the Ripper myth.

Link: http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

I've fond memories of a couple of strips that used to be serialised in the late Pulp anthology from Viz.

My memories a bit hazy and I don't have the back issues to hand, but...

Benkei - a series of self-contained revenge shorts of a hired assassin in a modern-day city. Very dark and twisted, but highly recommended.

Spiral - if you like Hideshi Hino, this is a far more disturbing (and more subtle) style of horror. Again, it's a series of shorts. They're set in an isolated village where people become obsessed and possessed by spirals.

I'm 99% certain both have been collected by Viz.

I've only seen the first handful of episodes this season and kind of get a bit bored, and will likely pick up the DVD boxset when it comes out (also didn't have easy access to Sky).

A friend called me last night to slate the ending as well - the whole 'them against an army of demons' didn't sound particularly original and a bit of lame-ass ending.

However, I have heard that there are plans to do a series of TV movies. It could be that the series end was a cynical cliffhanger designed to be continued in the first TV film. Or perhaps Joss Whedon was too busy plowing his best ideas into the Astonishing X-Men comic and the forthcoming Firefly movie?

If you're not into it already, Alias is still worth your viewing time. (season three is currently hidden away on Bravo sunday nights)

Stu Taylor

Link: http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

Blimey! Thanks for your help, guys. That's plenty to be getting on with as far as background goes.

Names will of course be checked if anything comes of the pitching.

Cheers,

Stu

Link: http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

Currently researching a pitch for Black Flame and would appreciate some help from the collective photographic memories of the Board.

Can anyone point me to essential Progs that give background on Brit-Cit?

I have stacks of back issues in my folks loft, but an idea of what to look for before I start plowing through boxes of comics would be grand.

Cheers,

Stu Taylor

Link: http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

Apparently she was surprisingly not crap on the recent Canterbury Tales series.

I'm hoping that they haven't just chosen her for some easy column inches.

Hmm that sentence, in hindsight, could be taken the wrong way... :-)

Stu

Link: http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

Yeah, KB was okay, and the jumping off buildings thing was nicely pulled off. In fact, the first 10 minutes wasn't too bad - hell, the concept itself was okay on paper...

...but I've just remembered the fur-less werewolves! The shaved gorilla look was a bit naff! Still, nobody has the same tastes.

Going by the clips I've seen, it looks like Roxburgh's going for 'Camp' Dracula.

Oh, and unless you are happy to waste two hours of your life, leave Underworld well enough alone. Not even Beckinsale in leather/PVC makes it worth your while.

Although, it was (unintentionally) funny when you could predict what cliched dialogue would come up next!

Stu Taylor

Link: www.stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

Phew! So Van Helsing may not be quite the turkey it was being trussed up to be.

I've read about seven online reviews completely panning the film - one compared Richard Roxburgh's interpretation of Dracula as being on a par with the main bad vamp from Underworld (anyone who's seen it will know that particular actor gave an oak tree a run for its money in the wooden performances).

I watched the three Van Helsing documentaries on the Universal Studios Monster Legacy DVD boxset, and it does come across that Stephen Sommers does have a love for the original monster characters. He even promises to have a new spin on some of the concepts... but then these docs are usually nowt more than extended trailers.

Still, can't be any worse than Underworld...

Stu Taylor

Link: stutaylorsflakjacket.blogspot.com

Just to clarify...

From what I gather, Toxic is a magazine aimed at a slightly older market than the under 5's (it's supposed to be for around 8-11 year-old boys).

2000AD fans might want to sneak a peek at the next few issues which will feature comic strip work from PJ Holden (Rogue Trooper), amongst others.

PJ is drawing 'Nanas & Custard - a one page strip I've written about a crap superhero and his chimpy sidekick.

Not quite in the same league as the original Toxic's Marshall Law, but...

Stu Taylor

Hi there,

I'm looking for a talented and professional penciller/inker to collaborate with on a British sci-fi/horror comic series, which will be pitched to a major American company.

My comic writing has appeared in a number of small press efforts like the late-1990s Octobriana mini series, and more recently in Warhammer Monthly and Inferno.

If you're interested, email me direct stoonami@yahoo.co.uk

Writer/self-publisher in search of talented and enthusiastic penciller/inker to collaborate on a pitch to major American comics company. The pitch will consist of character sketches, and the first 22-page issue pencilled, inked and lettered. Do you have a determination to break into the industry and a professional attitude that complements your talent? Please send examples of your best strip work to: Stu Taylor, 36 Castle Lane West, Moordown, Bournemouth, BH9 3JT. Alternatively, email: stoonami@yahoo.co.uk and check out http://uk.geocities.com/stoonami/index.html

Link: http://uk.geocities.com/stoonami/index.html" target="_blank">http://uk.geocities.com/stoonami/index.html