Shis thsue: (¥Y Chairman of the Board: I’m better than you (Y Comic Corner: Keeping it local (YW Crowded Bookshelf: Vampires, werewolves, and a grumpy wizard And more! Seen something worth sharing? Contact: Cheryl Minns, Arts Editor Marts@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca Kickstarter in the Community: Animals, artists, and the Vancouver comic scene » Cloudscape Comics launches eighth graphic novel anthology Cheryl Minns & Arts Editor M arts @theotherpress.ca he Cloudscape Comics Society brings together the comic community through published works by new and veteran artists and writers, meetings that are open to the public, and events that connect comic creators with their fans. On May 22, the society will host a launch party for their eighth graphic novel anthology, Mega Fauna, at Cloudscape Comics HQ in Vancouver’s Memorial South Park. “Attending the Mega Fauna launch is a great way for people to connect with the local comics/ graphic novel community,” said Bevan Thomas, who wrote “Hunt for the Unicorn” for Mega Fauna. “It’s good for people who like to read graphic novels, and especially great for people interested in creating them themselves.” Mega Fauna isa full-colour, all-ages anthology featuring 25 animal-themed stories done by more than 35 writers and artists. The book was partly funded : through a successful Kickstarter : campaign that ran during August : 2014. “It was very exciting to watch : the numbers go up, especially : after the numbers surpassed the : original target,” Thomas said. “We had run two successful Indiegogo campaigns previously, : and funded our last book : Waterlogged in the same manner. : In many ways, we were much : better at it this time,” said Jeff : Ellis, founder of Cloudscape : Comics and editor-in-chief of : Mega Fauna. The Kickstarter campaign : rewards included digital and : print copies of Mega Fauna and : previous Cloudscape anthologies, : graphic novel e-books by Mega : Fauna writers and artists, : colouring books drawn by : Cloudscape members, and pet : sketches done by a Cloudscape : artist. For a donation of $250 or : more, Ellis and Cloudscape : member Jonathon Dalton offered : to create a one-of-a-kind monster : : card of a donor’s real-life pet, : which would be included with : the Monster World-style trading : cards featured in the final pages : of Mega Fauna. The Kickstarter campaign : exceeded its original funding : goal of $4,700 by raising $8,718 : from 249 backers. Cloudscape : used some of the additional : funds to fairly pay the artists : and writers who contributed to : Mega Fauna, turning what had : previously been a labour of love : into a paying gig. The all-ages content of : Mega Fauna wasa slightly : different style for the Cloudscape : anthology, which in previous : years had included some mature : content. “I think the animal theme : encouraged us to go off in a more : all-ages direction by suggesting : certain stories more than others,” : Thomas said. “Certain stories in : previous anthologies had dealt : with such issues as religion, drug : abuse, and introspection at the : death of a loved one. The animal : theme moved us more into the : direction of pet relationships, the : : environment, wanting to belong, : and other themes that children : are more interested in.” “Many of our contributors : were eager to create stories for : young readers,” Ellis said. “In : some cases, we rejected stories : for being too simplistic. We : believe children are very clever : and tried to avoid stories that : talked down to them.” : “Harper’s Muse,” a science fiction : story set in a futuristic Vancouver : : where genetically modified pets: : have become the latest trend and : class structure has shifted. : was that anyone can be inspired : to make a difference in the world : around them,” Ellis said. “Tt : touched on themes about the : ethics of genetic modification : and ideas of class and privilege. I : also personally enjoyed including : : the concept of Vancouver going : full circle, with the Eastside : returning to affluence and the : West End falling into squalor.’ : wrote “Little Tiny Giraffe” for : Mega Fauna, found the all- : ages requirement a change in : style compared to her online : comic, Band vs. Band. While : illustrations, the content isn’t : intended for children. : different for me, since I don’t : do all-ages material very often,” : she said. “For Mega Fauna, | : had to shift gears a little to write : something actually appropriate : and appealing for all ages.” For Mega Fauna, he wrote “The message of the story Kathleen Jacques, who BvB features cute, colourful “This was something In “Little Tiny Giraffe,” a : woman saves a magical fish that : offers to grant her a wish. She : randomly asks for a pet miniature giraffe. “I've always liked giraffes. They’re so graceful and awkward : and weird,” Jacques said. “Td been thinking about the : Canadian PSA commercial with : the tiny house hippo, and how : often I've heard people say they’d : want a house hippo, and what : would happen if an absurdly : specific wish like that came true.” Jacques, Thomas, Ellis, : and Dalton will be appearing at : Cloudscape’s Mega Fauna launch : party along with other Mega : Fauna artists and writers such : as Colin Upton and Shannon : Campbell, who is the founder : of the Vancouver Comics Art : Festival. “T really think the lineup of : creators in this book is so good. : I’m glad I got to be part of it, : Jacques said. “Many of us will be : exhibiting at VanCAF on May 23 : and 24, so come and say hi!” The Mega Fauna launch : party will take place from 6 to 10 : p.m. on May 22 at Cloudscape : Comics HQ at the Memorial : South Park Field House, 5955 : Ross St., Vancouver. Old-school challenge gets next-gen makeover » ‘Bloodborne’ PS4 game review Alex Stanton Staff Writer OOOO idetaka Miyazaki’s Bloodborne is as close to perfection as video games get. It’s the most recent entry on my games of all time. However, the of its challenge level. The core combat mechanics paced compared to Miyazaki’s Souls games. The gameplay is fine-tuned to the point where, except for the occasional camera a mid-2oth century-themed, : Gothic village, Yharnham, and : its many surrounding areas. issue, the only thing you have to blame for dying in the game is a : lack of preparedness, experience, : : and skill. In Bloodborne, you will : die—a lot. While in-game : death is a learning experience : more than anything, it is also : incredibly punishing in this : game. You gain experience : points by killing enemies and : spending the points on items increasing shortlist of best video : or stats; but if you die while : holding said experience points, game is not for everyone because : you lose them all. You have a : single chance to go retrieve them : : from where you last died, butif | of Bloodborne are incredibly fast- : you fail to do so, they’re gone. : It’s painfully frustrating, but | : personally welcome it. Bloodborne takes place in : The villagers’ blood has been : infected and they’ve become : monsters. You wake up ina : clinic and are basically sent off : to learn the game as you go. This : game doesn't have a tutorial : or exposition—in fact, there : isn’t much lore to this massive, : mesmerizing world. Whether : that’s a good or bad thing totally : : depends on what you're looking | : for ina video game. It doesn’t Screenshot of Bloodborne : bother me in the slightest. The presentation of : Bloodborne is wonderfully : realized through its survival- : horror atmosphere, its detailed : world, and the enemy design. : Every single boss is such an : abomination and every area is : so fully detailed, it will make : your jaw drop every time you : discover a new one. Between : the established difficulty of the : game and the cosmic horrors : that make up your enemies, : every battle you win feels like a : triumph. In a time where we're only just breaking away from the : last generation of gaming, : Bloodborne has established itself as the definitive next-gen gaming : experience.