issue 7// volume 44 life & style // no. ‘Wi

Fan Expo

Vancouver's guest
list part two

> Taking a look at guest line-up

from the world of comics

Brittney MacDonald
Life & Style Editor

 

omic artists and writers may not

be as recognizable as TV and film
stars, but their followings can be just as
fanatical. With that in mind, Fan Expo
Vancouver has already announced many
of their featured guests from the world
of comic books and graphic novels!

At the tippy top of their line-up, we
have John Beatty and Tom Grummett.

Beatty is an inker who has been in
the industry since 1980. He has worked
for both DC Comics and Marvel Comics,
and has had a stake in many classic titles,
such as Captain America, Punisher, and
Secret Wars—but he is best known for
his work in Venom: The Madness.

Grummett is a Canadian penciller
that has worked for both Marvel and DC,
as well as working within a subsidiary
of Image Comics. He received an
Inkpot Award in 2015, an honor given
to exemplary contributors to the field
of comic books and related pop culture
areas, by Comic-Con International.
His works are extensive, and include
such fan favourites as Power Company,
Robin, Batman: Brotherhood of the Bat,
Secret Origins, Superman: The Man of

Tomorrow, Infinity-Man and the Forever
People, JLA, Teen Titans, Section Zero,
Avengers Academy, Chaos War: Dead
Avengers, Generation X, New Exiles,
Uncanny X-Men, and X-Men Forever.

Joining them we have Pat Broderick,
the artist behind Batman: Year Three—one x //
of my personal favourite works. It is the =! ; Lf]
origin story of the relationship between [_—_ ; [77 tu)
Batman/ Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake, ; f)
the third Robin. His other notable works
include Swamp Thing (another personal
favourite), Doom 2099, and Micronauts.

Even though this is just a sampling
of the many creators, writers, and artists
that will be available for you to meet at
Fan Expo Vancouver this year, hopefully
it is enough to pique your interest. |
know it’s gotten me super hyped.

Asa side note, since the publication
of the last article, four more voice actor
guests have been announced from the
world of video games. Charlet Chung,
the voice behind D.Va from Overwatch,
and Jennifer Hale, who has voiced many
video game character through the years,
such as the female Commander Shepard
in Mass Effect, will be adding some much
needed feminine flare. They will be joined
by Troy Baker and Nolan North, legendary
voice actors who both extended their
talents towards the Uncharted franchise.

TPE
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ic ats

Image via DC Magazine

 

Halloween’s forgotten meaning

> Come celebrate a witches’ New Year’s Eve

Katie Czenczek
Staff Writer

 

F” most, October 31 signifies candy
and costumes and possibly some
awful horror movies. It is a seemingly
meaningless holiday that acts as a buffer
between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If you've grown tired of the same old
Halloween tradition, it may be worthwhile
to participate in some events around
Vancouver that connect you to what some
call “the real meaning of Halloween.”
Though many know about Dia de los
Muertos in Latino cultures, many also
forget its Celtic sibling, Samhain.

Pronounced “sow-in,” Samhain is
a tradition that goes back 2000 years.

It signifies the end of the harvest

in the Northern Hemisphere, and
therefore the end of the year. People
gather together to celebrate the harvest
with food, which is shared with both
the living and their ancestors.

It’s believed that “the veil is thin
that divides the worlds, the seen from
the unseen, the day to day from the
mysteries,” taken from Enchanted
Feminism: The Reclaiming Witches of San
Francisco by Jone Salmonsen. In other
words, it is a time to celebrate loved ones
who have already passed on and relatives
to come. It is one of the most important

holidays celebrated in Pagan culture.
There is also a huge emphasis on death
not being something to fear; nor is it
believed to be the end of one’s connection
to their loved ones—because they get
to reconnect annually on October 31.
Self-proclaimed witches are not at all
like how one would imagine. They lack
the green faces and do not place hexes on
people. They are also nothing like what
you've seen in Carrie or in Sabrina the
Teenage Witch. Although they do have
broomsticks, they are used symbolically
rather than to fly around the city.
Besides, who would want to fly around
in Vancouver's awful weather anyway?
It is often difficult for witches to
be open about their spiritual beliefs
because Paganism predated Christianity;
as a result, witches were forced into the
shadows for fear of persecution and
ridicule and their practices are often seen
as barbaric. Even today there continues to
be many negative connotations with the
word “witch.” Despite all of the hardships
they have faced, practicing Wiccans

  

Illustration by Cara Seccafien

and Druids are alive and well today. The first 45 minutes will help Prepare any range from $15 to $25 and one is only
tradition of Samhain, though forgotten no comers and the official ceremony expected to pay what they can afford.
by many, is still practised in Vancouver. begins at7 p.m. It is recommended to If youre simply looking to
On Sun day, October 29 from 5:45 bring your own food to share as it is a change things up or are intrigued by
p.m. to 10 p.m. Vancouver Reclaiming communal event and also a blan ket and the spiritual aspect, be sure to check
Samhain will be hosting an all-ages event pillows for sitting, The ritual will start off out Vancouver's very own Samhain
by honouring those who have passed on celebration. Be prepared with an

held at the Maritime Labour Centre. The and will end with a spiral dance. Tickets open mind and a kind heart.