Chronicle The CNM
Volume 19 | Issue 6
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s u r r o u n d i n g
June 25, 2013
c o m m u n i t
7,000 B.C. saves the day for aspiring artists PHOTO BY DANIEL JOHNSON
Jenn and John Myers, board members of 7,000 B.C., are a married comic book creating duo based in Albuquerque. Go to typodmary.com to check out their self-published web-comics.
By Daniel Montaño Staff Reporter
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a Melvin Van Peebles reference! 7,000 B.C. might have chosen the name whimsically, the B.C. stands for Baadasssss Comics, in homage to Van Peebles’ acclaimed independent film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, but the group takes comic books seriously, Chuck Larantz, president of 7kBC said. 7kBC is a local nonprofit organization that supports current and aspiring independent comic book writers and artists in New Mexico while promoting an understanding of the cultural significance of comic art through seminars and workshops around New Mexico, Larantz said. The group rotates meeting locations between Albuquerque and Santa Fe on a monthly basis. The next meeting will be in Albuquerque, he said. Details about
the next meeting will be posted on the group’s website, 7000bc.org. “For five bucks, which is our monthly dues, if we ever collect them—we’ve been kind of lax about that— anyone can attend our meetings and we encourage anyone interested in comics to come out to one of our events.” Jenn and John Meyers are a comic book writing and drawing duo based out of Albuquerque, and the married couple also serve as board members of the group, and help organize events and projects, of 7kBC, they said. John said that the meetings have provided him with a good place to get another set of eyes on his work in order to improve it. “It’s a nice outlet to go to other people who work in the same field and get support, get help, get feedback and stuff like that. So it’s been a really rewarding experience,” John said. see
7,000 on page 7
The Vortex’s modern spin on Shakespeare By Jamison Wagner Staff Reporter
“Measure for Measure,” a William Shakespeare play, will be performed in
modern dress from June 27 to July 4 at the Vortex Theatre, director Denise Schulz said. According to the Vortex press release, this play has been
COURTESY OF THE VORTEX THEATRE
considered to be strange, dated and a problem play at times, but it is full of contemporary relevance and is guaranteed to entertain and engage. “This is a play that is about hypocrisy. It is about people trying to tell other people how to live their lives, which is very much an issue in modern times” said Schulz. A parallel to this play in modern times is how people are objecting to other people engaging in same-sex marriage. This play is saying that people are going overboard right now in making some decisions in how people should live, as well as attempting to make it into law, she said.
“I am working to not beat this idea over people’s heads but I think the problem of trying to tell others how to live their lives has come up a lot in the last few years,” she said. This play is a Shakespeare rendition but is the Vortex performance will be based in the modern era. The attire will be modern dress but the play will not be set in a particular city, she said. The audience members will be able to watch it and draw their own conclusions, she said. The play is a problem play as it is comedy that is not comedy, but it is drama at its see
VORTEX on page 7
‘Measure for Measure’ Show times: June 27 to July 14 Thursday through Saturday – 7:30 p.m. Sunday – 2 p.m.
• Matinee Thursday – $12 • Tickets for Friday through Sunday – $18 • Tickets for Students – $12 Vortex Theatre 2004 Central Ave. SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 For reservations: Call 247-8600 or visit vortexabq.org
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2 | The CNM Chronicle
CNM Chronicle Bulletins
June 25, 2013
To submit items for Campus Bulletins, please email news item with a maximum of 150 words to: jonathan.chronicle@gmail.com or call 224-4755. student organizations
cnm
events
ECOS Accepting New Members
Important parking information
Vortex Theatre’s newest production
The Executive Council of Students is accepting new members. ECOS meets every Friday at 4 p.m. in ST12-A. For more information,email smartos@cnm.edu.
Starting this week and ending on or before June 30, the Smith Brasher parking lot SB1 and the PPD lot 3 behind Ken Chappy Hall will be under construction, and parking may be limited. Any questions or concerns can be addressed at 224-4000 *51622.
Immorality, sex and power struggles. Come see what happens when an uncompromising leader tries to tame a lewd Vienna with an iron fist at The Vortex Theatre’s production of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. The performance, which will be held June 27 through July 14, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm, will run $18 for general admission and only $12 for students. All Thursday shows will be $12.
Student Film Club Looking for New Members DAT, a student film group, has just formed and is looking for new members. Students interested in making films are welcome. Students do not have to be in the film program to participate. Email Madison Coss at 11mcoss@gmail.com for more information.
Westside, Rio Rancho Writing Group Meets to Share Writing, Inspiration The Westside/Rio Rancho Writing Group meets twice a month to share a love of creative writing and to inspire each other. The group spends the one-hour meeting time doing short writing exercises and sharing their work with each other. Everyone who writes or loves writing is invited to attend. Writers of all genres are welcome. For more information contact Rebecca Aronson at raronson@cnm.edu.
Join Phi Theta Kappa Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Upsilon Chi chapter honor society is looking for new members. Phi Theta Kappa supports the Community College Completion Challenge by providing resources and encouraging members to stay in school and complete their degree or certificates. There is a yearly membership fee. PTK offers many sources to excel in college and future careers. The organization holds meetings once a month and requires members to maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. To learn more or to attend informational meetings go to ptk.org.
Come check out M.E.Ch.A. CNM’s chapter of el Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan meets every other Thursday search for “M.E.Ch.A de CNM” on Facebook, or email at mechacnm@ gmail.com for meeting locations and times. M.E.Ch.A. helps chicana/o students unite to build a community that’s a better place for future generations.
Veterans College Achievement Network (Veterans CAN) Working directly with CNM’s VetSuccess on Campus program, Veterans CAN is a near-peer AmeriCorps program designed to offer critical supports to stduent veterans and their dependents. The program offers specific, individualized gidance related to veteran benefits such as the GI Bill, transferring and appealing college credits, tutoring, housing, and/or any additional support you need to be a successful student. AmeriCorps member Nicholas Aragon is located in the Student Acativites Office at CNM’s main campus: (505) 224-4342 t_naragon@cnm.edu Stop in today!
Free Bus and Parking Passes Current students qualify for a free general parking pass and AbqRide bus pass. The passes can be obtained at the Main campus Student Activities Office. Name, schedule, and student ID number are required. For a general parking pass vehicle and drivers liscense information must be provided. To register the online parking system for the free general parking sticker log-in to myCNM and follow links from the “transportation” section. Locations to pick up stickers: • Main- Student Activities/ ID office. • Montoya and Westside- Student ID office. • South Valley and Rio Rancho- Admissions office • Advanced Technology Center- Front desk
Fun classes for the summer Want to impress your friends and colleagues about how to use your iPad? Do you want to learn more than the basics about your iPad? The Workforce Training Center is offering Introduction to the iPad Friday June 28th from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. The class is only $49, but is filling up quickly. Be sure to enroll soon to guarantee a place!
Volunteer positions At pottery studio not made in china. Come volunteer here at NMIC and get jumpstart on learning ceramics. Volunteer one day a week and earn: unlimited clay, glaze, and fire, with free access from 12 to 7 p.m. every day. Contact notmadeinchina.com for more information.
Use the CNM Chronicle’s bulletin and classified section Having a special event? Selling your books or need a roommate? Put an ad in our classified section. Free for all CNM students. Email Daniel Johnson at djohnsonchronicle@gmail. com for more information. Contact Jonathan Gamboa at jonathan.chronicle@gmail.com to post in the CNM Chronicle’s bulletin section.
Put your business or personal Ad here! NEED EMPLOYEES? WANT TO SELL SOMETHING? ADVERTISE WITH US.
For more information contact Daniel Johnson at djohnsonchronicle@gmail.com
Corrections
See an error in the newspaper? Let us know! Email errors or concerns to Rene Thompson at: renetchronicle@gmail.com or call 224-4755. CNM Chronicle Classified CNM Chronicle 525 Buena Vista SE, STE. 12B Albuquerque, NM 87106
wanted UNM IS RECRUITING WOMEN WITH ASTHMA FOR RESEARCH STUDY
If you are a woman with asthma, over the age of 18, and are interested in finding out more about this study, please contact study coordinator at 925-6174 or 269-1074 or email tarchibeque@salud.unm.edu.
for sale 200 smokes under $20!! Premium Tobacco!!! Rollin’ Ro’s at 2347 Eubank Ave. NE
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employment NEED EXTRA INCOME??
GREAT COMPANY SEEKING ASSEMBLERS, PACKAGERS AND LABORERS ASAP FOR 2-3 WEEKS!! $9.00 PER HOUR!! BACKGROUND CHECK AND DRUG SCREEN REQUIRED! 2 SHIFTS AVAILABLE: 6:00AM-430PM (SUN, MON,TUES) OR 6:00am-430PM (THURS, FRI, SAT). MUST BE ABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, LIFT UP TO 25 POUNDS, AND BE DEDICATED TO THE TASK AT HAND. PLEASE CONTACT 814-5077 OR ATTEND OUR OPEN HOUSE THIS MONDAY, JUNE 24 FROM 830AM-230PM. BRING YOUR RESUME!! EOE/AA.
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June 25, 2013
Chronicle The CNM
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EDITORIAL
Hats off to 7,000 B.C. Editorial
The CNM Chronicle
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“Nice Costume”
by the cnm chronicle editorial board
It is so good to hear that local comic artists have an opportunity to thrive here in Albuquerque, with the locally made comic book nonprofit organization 7,000 B.C. Many artists go through the hoops of getting an art degree, only to become starving artists without much opportunity. New Mexico is full of great artists, and because there are not many companies they can go to for work, there really are no prospects to for them to shine. Many art graduates go from school to minimum wage or intern jobs that want massive amounts of experience, but do not offer any incentives. Local businesses know that there are a large number of unemployed artists to take advantage of because there are no real opportunities for art graduates in New Mexico. It is refreshing and encouraging to see that there are organizations such as 7,000 B.C. to help striving and talented comic book artists get a step up and for artists to have a place where their art can be seen and appreciated. The Chronicle salutes organizations that care about the employees and artists who make their products better and worth reading or seeing.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Concerned Student
June 23, 2013 Dear CNM Chronicle, I was wondering if you guys can do an issue on math. Why is it that no matter what a person is taking, they always have to take math? I do think that basic math is good to know. I have never been good at math, but I am good in a lot of other things. My major is Digital Media. I’ve talked to several people in the field and they said they never use math, ever. So why do we need to take so much math when it has nothing to do with our major? I have been told that it helps people think deeper, how does that help if it causes a person to drop out of college? I’ve also heard, if they didn’t force it on a person, the math classes would be empty. That is not my concern. I’ve also been told that it will help a person out in life. I graduated high school thirty years ago. I have never needed Algebra outside of school. I have asked several people and no one can give me a straight answer. I have a friend who is taking cosmetology; she is taking Math 750 for the second time. She told me she has to take math up to Algebra 1210. Why would she need to know Algebra for the field she is going in?? I was hoping you guys can find answers and maybe even ask students around campus what they think of my question. I also know several people that dropped out of college because of math. I see no reason for this. They may have been in a great career by now. I am worried that I might fail out due to something that is irrelevant to my field. I don’t think that is fair. Thank you, Denny
EDITORIAL CARTOON BY SCOTT M. ROBERTS
In response to Volume 19 Issue 5 article “CNM student speaks out about Whole Foods incident” Isn’t this a sad and pathetic reflection on those Europeans that came here to avoid persecution? It’s (mostly) white European immigrants who left their land and abandoned everything cultural about their history. They left their culture, their food, their history and their language. In Europe people can speak two, three, four and even more than four languages. What sad reflection that is on intelligence and pride and respect of others. I am sickened that such ignorance promoting goes on in not allowing, in fact encouraging, others to speak more than one language. And why? Because the ignorant ones, the lazy ones, the self-conscious ones think that they are being talked about, laughed at, or put down. Ha! Who cares about anyone else when two people are communicating in another tongue? This becomes more of the Manifest Destiny
mentality and the Divide and Conquer mentality. Unfortunately those days are not over. Those who want one language, and there have been many proponents of the ‘English Only’ movement. Those who don’t want to hear anything but English spoken in this country. That is where things get messy. As a Chicano I have been made to feel ashamed of who I am and ashamed of my culture and people, ashamed of my history and my roots. Not going to happen anymore. I have come to realize that I come from a rich, proud and resilient people. I love who I am and I love learning, not just my own language but other languages. It gives me great pride when I am in public and I hear two people speaking German. I can respond to them back and yes, they are shocked to see a brown, indigenous person with Mexican background speaking their language.
Look at the San Patricio’s, those guys were fighting in the Mexican-American war, when they realized the Mexicans were fighting for a just cause they left the American side and went over to the Mexican side. Today we still have people with Irish European roots living proudly in Mexico and they speak Spanish and they are proud Mexican citizens. That is what our world should be about, people moving freely around the globe no matter what they speak. It is sad that a country that speaks arrogantly about being one of the most powerful in the world. Powerful yes, stupido si! That is how they justify the ways of the errant. I say let’s all learn two, three, and four languages. Then we can not only boast of being powerful but smart. Viva la Raza! Patricio Tlacaelel Trujillo y Fuentes
4 | The CNM Chronicle
SPECIAL EVENT
June 25, 2013
Chronicle costume picks The Albuquerque Comic Expo is known for its colorful cosplay characters and the 2013 show brought out professionals and amateurs alike. Attendees paid homage to their favorite characters from a variety of genres and looked good doing it. Below are the Chronicle’s picks for Best in Show.
PHOTOS BY CHRONICLE STAFF
Heroes and villians show their claws outside of the convention center. “Beeb Bloop Blop Bleep Boop.” -R2D2
Desiree Smith rasied hell up and down the aisles at ACE.
The Dude abides.
The Thing rocks the show.
June 25, 2013
By Adriana Avila
SPECIAL EVENT
The CNM Chronicle
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ACE costume contest
Senior Reporter
Cindy Iacovetto Costume: Robusta Rita and Rusty Robito Best of Show contest winner “I just came up with the idea out of my head and everything’s recycled. The only part that we bought was the doll. How long did it take to make your costume? “About two months. I’d like to thank Everett and my son for helping me.
Donovan Mcintire, Liberal Arts major Costume: Scarecrow from Batman Arkham Asylum Judges choice How long did it take to make your costume? “It took me about a month but it was about a week’s work from the month. I had a lot of fun making this costume. I’m especially proud of the lighting.”
Kanisha Katko Costume: Pyramid Head from Silent Hill Novice competition “I never really entered any competitions. I’m not a professional; I just whipped this together just because I love the character.” How do you think you did compared to the other Pyramid Heads in the competition? “I think just having the height was an advantage, but everyone did great and I had a lot of fun.”
Sarah Siemers UNM graduate Costume: Meredith from Brave How long did it take to make your costume? “It took about 13 hours to do all of the screen printing and maybe 70 hours to hand place the 3700 gems on there. The wig takes years to comb. I hand curled it so all the curls I had to get in there. It took a really long time.” “Check out my costumes online. I make a bunch of them. You can find me on Facebook at Callesto.Walken.
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN GAMBOA
Among the many people at ACE, the most colorful characters received awards for their creativity and originality.
K’dawn Butler, Liberal Arts major Costume: Bayonetta Journeyman contest winner How long did it take to make your costume? “In total it was probably a hundred hour process between four [glue] guns. The shoes I designed myself out of an older pair and the suit was all sewn by me, I went through a 12-hour straight sewing. All the designs and the clay, [the guns] they’re all hand made. They’re made out of foam board and piping, a lot of paint, a lot of clay and a lot of time.”
Hannah Mora, Art major Costume: Forest Spirit from Princess Mononoke “It’s actually like a deer animal and he’s the spirit of the forest. He’s the one that gives life or takes life and I decided to go ahead and cosplay as him and turn him a little more feminine and turn him into my own interpretation.” How long did it take to make your costume? “About six months to finish everything.” “I eventually want to get a degree in costume designing and make costumes for movies so that’s my goal. That’s what I’m striving for and cosplay is perfect to get some practice in.” “If you’re going to cosplay always try to think outside of the box. Something that you wouldn’t think would be able to work as a material for a prop, or for example my feet, most definitely it will work. Just think outside of the box and have fun with it.”
Cassandra Love, Second grade Costume: The Green Lantern Judges’ choice Best of Show Kids’ contest winner “My mom made it and my dad made the glowing parts.”
Mike Stanley Costume: The Blue Spirit from Avatar: the Last Airbender, an alias of Zuko Novice competition “This is the first costume that I’ve made out of all the costumes that I made that I actually entered in any competition ever.” How long did it take for you to make your costume? “It took a couple of weeks. It took a week alone for the mask because of the material I was working with had a very long drying time.” Former Rocky Mountain College for Art and Design student in Animation and Illustration “For other costumers and cosplayers out there, always keep trying, always look for new ways to try things and look for new materials because there’s always something that can make whatever you’re doing that much better.”
6 | The CNM Chronicle
STUDENT LIFE
Blow off some steam
June 25, 2013
Chronicle Crossword: My Hero
Difficulty: Easy
learning to swing By Daniel Montaño Staff Reporter
Poodle skirts, cowboy boots, bowling shirts, zoot suits and big band music—normally one would be hard pressed to find all of these in a single spot. But it is not too hard to find if one has $4 and looks in at the CNM Main campus’s backyard on a Tuesday night. In the Heights Community Center at 823 Buena Vista Drive SE, every Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. until the music stops at around 10:30 p.m., one can learn to swing with the Calming Four Primordial Dance Group. Operator, cofounder and former CNM instructor Desi Brown said the weekly event is an informal collection of people who come from every walk of life, and every skill level, who unite every week to have some fun by cutting a rug, swing style. Brown is one of four people who established the dance group almost 15 years ago and said that although the group started with four friends who needed a place to practice swing dancing, it has developed into a gathering of about 250 people from all over Albuquerque. “It’s really everybody and it’s really unique because we have the beginners’ lessons but we get everything. People bring in their 5-year-old kids and we also get senior citizens in their 70s and 80s,” he said. The group has dance lessons, professional sound equipment, more than enough room for 250 people to comfortably dance in and a DJ every
week with live bands once a month, Brown said. The group’s beginner’s lesson lasts for about an hour and a half and covers all of the basics of swing dancing, from steps to spin, he said. “We cover a lot of ground in the lesson. People get about six weeks worth of dance lessons in a little over an hour,” he said. The Calming Four is a nonprofit organization, so after the group covers expenses like rent, sound equipment and insurance, any extra income from the suggested $4 donation to get in goes to charity. “It’s a donation and if people don’t have money, we’ll let them in. Sometimes they only have a dollar and that’s fine. The money pays the bills, but beyond that when we have any extra money, we donate it to social justice or environmental justice causes. Over the past 15 years we’ve donated roughly $55 thousand to various nonprofits,” he said. Not only does the group hold lessons for those who have never danced before, there are also intermediate lessons that focus on more advanced techniques for those seeking to refine their skills, Brown said. Jeff Whitlock, a senior airman in the Air Force, is a regular attendee who said he first got introduced to the group two years ago by a friend who convinced him that all classy military men know how to dance and suggested that they go to a few lessons. Whitlock learned how to swing dance in The Calming Four’s dance classes and said that now he has been in several
PHOTO BY DANIEL MONTAÑO
Every Tuesday night kicking feet cut rugs at the Heights Community Center
competitions, such as Kirtland’s got Talent, and 505 Stomp for Rhythm Dance Company in Nob Hill, and has even won a few of them. “Now I’m going to Canada for two weeks for an international Lindy exchange,” he said. Brown teaches the beginning swing dance lessons that start at 7:30 p.m., but said that his teaching experience began at CNM where, after he got his associate degree in Construction Management, he was a Construction Technology instructor in courses involving environmentally conscious pond and waterfall construction. Now Brown holds the events as a way to have some fun and blow off steam after working at UNM where he is working on his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in American Studies, and is a part-time instructor and adviser for undergraduates in the Peace Studies program, he said. “I love teaching the beginning lessons. I personally haven’t learned a new dance move in 12 years. I just have fun with the basic stuff. For me it’s all about seeing this all-ages thing that happens that you don’t see anywhere else. It’s about seeing an 85-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy that have never met before dance with each other,” he said. Brown said that the dance group is open to anyone of any age and that CNM students are encouraged to come and check out the group. “Dancing isn’t that hard and it’s a really great release from finals and tests and stuff like that. It’s especially great for CNM students because you can just walk out the back door and you are here,” he said. For more information on the Calming Four primordial dance group visit their website at thecalmingfour.org, or visit the Heights Community Center at 823 Buena Vista Drive SE, on Tuesdays.
Across
1. Man of Steel 3. He can teleport through walls and has passion in his religious convictions 8. A wealthy businessman who uses gadgets and technology to help the people 9. Uses an ever-changing mask to cover his face 11. She can make hurricanes and tornados 12. Type of poison plant 13. He’s an otherworldly immortal who wields a hammer 16. Toxic waste blinded him as a child 17. His mutation gave him super-strength and blue fur 18. She has nine lives and loves milk
Down
1. He was bit by an insect 2. Big, red, and loves cats 4. Mythical Greek known for his strength, and is son to Zeus ruler of Mount Olympus 5. He came back from the depths of hell to get his revenge 6. A pilot with super powers derived from an alien ring (2 words) 7. Has sharp claws when he needs them 10. He may use a wheel-chair to get around, but he can stop time and manipulate minds 12. He uses technology he created to stay alive and to be a superhero (2 words) 14. Green and mean, sometimes 15. He can manipulate metal
I want candy solutions
CONTINUED
June 25, 2013
7,000
Continued from Page 1
Jenn graduated from CNM with an associate degree in Fine Art, and said that 7kBC is a great place for aspiring artists to get feedback from peers and refine their craft in a comfortable environment. “For me it almost worked like therapy, because there’s a certain point where you’re working and you think you’re not going to make it as a comic book artist. And when you’re around these other people they tell you their experience and you find out it’s not just you that can’t sell, it’s just been a bad year or it was just that convention that was like that. So it’s
Vortex
Continued from Page 1
finest, said Rhiannon Frazier, who plays Isabelle in the production. “We have had debates in the cast in the context of the play which is, ‘Would you sleep with a guy to save your brother’s life?’
The CNM Chronicle
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been really supportive and encouraging,” Jenn said. Alina Mackenzie, a member of 7kBC, said that the meetings focus on peer-editing of members’ work and lessons on the logistical aspects of making a comic, such as making thumbnails, storyboarding and printing a finished comic. 7kBC has helped Mackenzie to integrate her fine arts background into her comics, she said. “It’s a perfect place for people to come and get more involved (in comics). I’m an art student at UNM and it has really helped me learn about developing comics, especially using fine art to tell a story with pictures,” Mackenzie said.
Todd Bernardy is an independent comic book writer and artist who is currently self-publishing a comic book called “Kukui Project” and who said that 7kBC helped him to find his focus in comic making. “7,000 B.C. really helped me focus on getting the first thing finished, and the first thing is the first issue. Getting 22 pages of artwork that’s lettered in a printable form and getting out there and going to the shows. That’s what happened at 7,000 B.C.— that’s how I got into doing conventions and that’s how I got into doing shows,” Bernardy said. It can be difficult, especially for artists, to earn a living in the comic
industry, so when someone first begins making comic books they need to have a clear idea of what they want to do, to focus on each individual step of the process, and to practice, he said. 7kBC played an important role in refining each of those aspects for Bernardy, he said. “At 7kBC everybody was really responsive to my work and was really constructive to my drawings. At all the meetings you go to everybody is really supportive and I’ve never been to a meeting where anyone has been overly critical. They’ve also been really constructive.” Every year 7kBC puts on a 24-hour workshop
in which the participants have to draw and write a 24 page comic in 24 hours, Larantz said. Aliina Mackenzie said that the 24-hour comic day is a great way to immerse oneself in comics and that she looks forward to it all year. “It’s my favorite day of the year, I like it more than my birthday,” Mackenzie said. Todd Bernardy said that he got the idea for one of his projects from the 24-hour comic day. One year during the 24-hour comic day he said that at 3 a.m. he had the horrifying thought of running out of coffee and invented Java Man, the coffeedefending hero of
his series “Thunder Groove Bone.” Jenn Myers said she had never participated in the 24-hour comic day but that she commends the artists and writers who can get it done. “I have done it on my own and I think it’s crazy. I have no ability to stay up. I have to sleep a lot so I don’t know how they do it,” Myers said. For more information on 7,000 B.C. visit 7000bc.org or the Facebook page at facebook.com/7000bc. To check out Jenn and John Myers’ comics “All the Growing Things”, “The Vagus Rehabilitation” Project and much more, visit typodmary.com.
The play poses some very interesting questions, that some of Shakespeare’s other plays do not pose because the questions do not have answers and the play itself does not answer those questions,” she said. The play is a bit weird as many of the character’s
motivations are a bit murky, said Grey Blanco, who plays Claudio in the production. Claudio only appears in two scenes, even though he is really affected by what happens in this play as Claudio sits in jail for so long between the two scenes that he is
different by the time he shows up again in the second scene, he said. “I think a lot of what is weird about this character is the way he would behave in normal life is not the way he is behaving here because he is under arrest the whole time. So
who Claudio is, is affected by him being in a traumatic scene,” he said. Plot-wise, this play can be slightly un-relatable for modern audiences since people do not really know what moral standards were like in the past, he said.
“One of the challenges in this play is you have conventions of ye old past which do not adhere to todays’ norm,” he said. Tickets are $18 or $12 for students with ID. For more information about this show or for tickets, go to vortexabq.org.
Chronicle The CNM
Staff Reporter postion available Applications are now being accepted for summer term Staff Reporter applicants must: • • • • •
be work-study qualified have passed English 1101 with a B or higher have at least two terms remaining at CNM be flexible with scheduling have adequate communication skills
Email resumé to Rene Thompson at renetchronicle@gmail.com
8 | The CNM Chronicle
FEATURE Roger, Rogue Leader
June 25, 2013
Q & A with Star Wars novelist Michael Stackpole By Jamison Wagner Staff Reporter
Michael Stackpole is one of the authors of the acclaimed X-Wing series in the Star Wars Expanded Universe and he took a few moments at the Albuquerque Comic Expo to answer some questions the Chronicle had about his involvement in the Star Wars fiction series.
was using Star Wars books as a way to promote all of their authors. So, my agent was talking to me about getting one of the book series licenses. Bantam decided to buy the license to the Star Wars: X-Wing video game. And when Bantam looked down their list of authors and asked “Who do we know that knows computer games, can write military science fic-
PHOTO BY RENE THOMPSON
A variety of Mickael Stackpole’s books on display.
Chronicle: How did you get involved as an author in the Star Wars universe? Michael: I had a contract with Bantam Books and at the time Bantam was handling the Star Wars license. Bantam
tion, has worked in someone else’s universes, can work fast, can work all of these things?” Pretty much, I was the only one who filled out all of those boxes for Bantam. And so my agent called me on Valentine’s Day of
that particular year, really early in the morning and said “Bantam offered you four Star Wars books” and I said “yes”. And there it was. Chronicle: How did the concept for the X-Wing series and Rogue Squadron come about? The characters are pretty unique for the most part. Michael: The only two characters that carried over from the movies were Wedge Antilles and Admiral Ackbar. There were a few others on the periphery. To certain extent, that was really part of the design. What I was asked to do was to write military science fiction about a fighter squadron and they wanted a brandnew set of characters, because brand-new characters would give them two things. One new character to make toys out of, but two, would also give us the leeway to kill characters and have a higher level of drama. Any character could be taken out of play in those books and that really kept the tension up. They also wanted a mix of women
and non-humans because they had never originally done that in the movies because they did not have the special effects budget to do it. So when you are writing, you get an unlimited special effects budget, so there you go. Chronicle: How did Aaron Allston wind up later running with the X-Wing series in the Wraith Squadron books? Michael: What happened after I had published the X-Wing books is that they had done far better than Bantam or anyone ever expected. I had talked to my editor about what I had wanted to with “I, Jedi”. So when Bantam went to Lucasfilm for another contract, my editor Tom Dupree sold them on “I, Jedi” as a hardback. So I was locked in to do that. They also wanted to do four more X-Wing books so Tom left one of those open for me and then he said, “Look, we are going to have someone else do a trilogy.” I had introduced him to Aaron Allston a couple of years before and so Tom said, “Hey, we are going to get your
buddy Aaron to do this.” I was like “great” as I knew Aaron would wonderfully. So that is how Aaron got brought on board. Chronicle: Are there any further plans to continue with the X-Wing series and Rogue Squadron at all? Michael: There was a new X-Wing book that came out recently, “Mercy Kill.” But literally since the merger with Disney in those eighteen months they have not figured out what they are doing with the book program. There is now sense of what we as authors are going to do now. So we are waiting for Uncle Walt to make the decision. So they go into the freezer and ask Uncle Walt and he says yes or no. It is like a Ouija board thing. Chronicle: So if Disney does green-light the books, do you have a general idea of what you would want to do with the X-Wing series? Michael: I do not know. The first thing that would have to happen is they would have to offer me a contract and we would have to see if
Chewbacca Chit Chat By Shaya Rogers
Managing Edtior
“What is your favorite thing about the Albuquerque Comic Expo?” Ziek Carter “The video games. I came for the tournaments. I’ve played in so many tournaments. I come to a lot of the big tournaments to try and get my name discovered because I’m an online player. I play for sport, literally.”
Duke, Owner of Kaboom Desiree Smith, CNM Test Labs Nursing major “That it’s on. ACE is the “Dressing up, all the way. premier event, the one I love dressing up. It’s that we get the most incredibly uncomfortable, excited about and not but so much fun.” only that, it’s a chance for everyone to get the nerd inside of them to come out. Comic Expo is the best.”
Alicia Bracken “Getting away from El Paso for a little bit, even though it’s not that Gwen Orr different from El Paso, “Probably all of the it’s still nice to have a costumes and all of the little vacation. It’s like people walking around a four-hour drive to get and seeing all of my here.” favorite characters and meeting people that are like minded.”
Melissa King “The costumes, it’s really cool to see all of these people dressing up as their favorite characters.”
Jenny Ramsey “A lot of it is the people who come out to it, the costumes people put together and the hard work everyone puts into it.” Christie Waldschmidt “I love dressing up, it’s fun. And seeing people in costumes.”
it would work with my schedule and those things. That might or might not happen. If it did, they would generally have an idea of what they are looking at and I would just work with that. If they did say “Hey you can do anything else you want,” I would figure something out and just push into one of the many holes in the universe. Going out and doing something with the Fell family would be fun to play with.
PHOTO BY RENE THOMPSON
Michael Stackpole, author of the X-Wing series.
For more information on Michael Stackpole and his works, visit his website at stormwolf.com Olivia Webb “This is my first time being here, there’s this cute shop at the back with cupcake rings and everything, so that is my favorite part so far.”
Chris Whyman “The costumes, also the artwork. They have some amazing artwork here.”
John Ramsey “The costumes, and the response we get from fans, especially the kids, they get so excited and terrified.”
Nick Boucher “The costumes, honestly. Seeing everyone dress up and have a good time is probably the best part about this. Seeing the stars that show up and meeting the comic book artists that, you know, I read all the time, is another highlight of this. But overall, it’s the costumes.”