And even more accurately, Ruin Mages, Demons and the dumbest FEMA worker I have EVER seen.

Okay. I did some contributions to this article on the EDC fan club of the
80s and early 90s. Specifically, the writer (and a friend), Dave Merrill sent me and some of the others involved a series of questions which we responded to
via email. Some of my responses got pretty in-depth and selections were used as quotes used verbatim (and properly credited) within the article itself.

Mind you - this article has seen some editing. The original appeared on Dave's "Let's Anime" blog**, but apparently has been removed due to this more official web publication. If you
want to see the original draft as it was sent to me for approval, I can post that, plus my answers to his original questions verbatim and unexpurgated.
There's some weird stuff that happened back in the 80s when most of you were in pre-school. ^_^

(edit: Oh! And do take the time to look over the whole Star Blazers site that the article is hosted with. It's been re-designed of late and is MUCH easier
to navigate. LOTS of neat stuff there!)

( **EDIT: Oops! I apparently have faulty memory! (Yeah like THAT's never happened before...) It never appeared there. I must've been thinking of
something else, maybe Steve Harrison's article on Space Fanzine Yamato or something. )

Transfusion by Lord Raa has updated.

...I've been waiting years for an opportunity to use that title.

--Sam

"He stands... like some kind of pagan god or deposed tyrant..."

because I didn't want to derail the thread it was in.

Quote:with blue moon cameos from Foxboy, KJ, kentmagus & Bob

...day in and day out is that by the time someone comes up with that really well-done, time-worthy crossover between two unlikely properties, you've
already seen a dozen other attempts at it already and have no enthusiasm for another one.

Never mind me. I'm sick and propped up in front of the computer and grumpy.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

...is inspiring. And not helping my altitis AT ALL!

OK, my latest short story is to introduce my newest toon. Here you go:

SOLAR GAIN

It's not easy being a hero. It's even worse when you used to be a villain.
So here I stood in Atlas Park registering my change in status. I had never actually lived here. Dad had
turned me in before he took possession of the house here in town. I had no memories to haunt me. Oh, except for
the time I robbed the bank. Twice. I just wouldn't go there to deposit anything.

The lady who was serving me at the registration desk took a good look at me. I wasn't recognizable as
myself; I had made sure of that. Gorgeous Glenda and Luscious Linda hadn't asked why I needed an exo-robotic suit.
They didn't care. Of course, that being said, they'd probably sold the information three times over before I left their
building.

"Registering as a hero?"

"Yes." My simple answer didn't faze her.
She was a pro.

"Have you had your powers assessed to determine their origin and
archetype?"

"Yes. Mutation. Fire
Blaster."

She typed into her computer, barely looking up until the next question. "And what name will you
be going by?"

"Solar Gain." Still typing. I hadn't said enough for her to be
typing this madly. This had to be a ploy.

"Alright. Your primary contact here in City Hall will be Antonio Nash.
He's down around the corner and down the steps. Or you're welcome to street sweep. The Hellions and
Vahzilock are trying to encroach on us normal people." She looked up long enough to give me a small smile.
"You can join a Supergroup if you wish, though it is not mandatory. Several of them are looking for heroes to fill their
ranks."

"Crossroads."

"Oh, The Legendary Beta Team. Good choice. I'll send them a message
saying you'd like to join them. Now, do you need a place to stay?"

It slipped out, I swear it did. "Are you inviting me over?"

She gave me an amused look. "I'll take that as a yes you do need
lodging, at least temporary. We've had an increase in hero registration recently so a lot of our regular housing is full
up. We do have a few apartments available in Dark Astoria."

"Dark Astoria." She nodded, her face showing no real emotion, just typical
pleasantness. "Isn't that a hazard zone?"

"Yes well, a villain of your-" She stopped mid-sentence, her face going red in
embarrassment.

I swore silently to myself. "Fingerprints?" Though I wondered how
they could have gotten them, I had never removed my gloves.

"Voice print actually."

"Damn." I took a deep breath. "How much to keep it
quiet?"

She regained a bit more of her composure. "I don't accept bribes
sir. Rest assured that your information will be kept confidential and your identity is only listed as Solar Gain."
She paused a moment, then continued. "Here is your communication device. Navigation info and maps
are preloaded. It also works as a cell phone, PDA, compass medical transporters and a few other things. It should
integrate in well with your suit armour. If not, I know Serge in Steel Canyon would be glad to make alterations.
Do you have any questions sir?"

"No."

"Good luck sir. Welcome to Paragon City."



I stood on the steps of City Hall and looked at my map. "Dark
Astoria. Son of a -" I stopped speaking when I saw the small short, child like figure come up the stairs
next to me.

"Say it out loud man, it'll make you feel better." The 'child' had a deep
baritone, a derby hat, cigar and tiny wings. He passed by and went into City Hall.



Felspar, aka Matthew Mac Hine, sat in the Crossroads office and stared at hi computer
screen. Fae Wree Tale was the titular head of Crossroads, but Fae didn't do paperwork. She tried, but her
attention span wasn't long enough. He snorted as he remembered the first and only time Fae had gone to an All Leaders
meeting. It had been disastrous to say the least.

Fae had sat through the introductions without any problems. She's gotten
antsy after that and started buzzing up and down the rows offering everyone licorice and telling every cat girl there that she knew a cat with really great
boots. There had been a lot of cat girls. Even when certain signature heroes - who shall remain nameless to
preserve their reputations - had tried to take control of the situation; Fae had eluded them all. She had stealthed up and zoomed to the
far side of the room blowing raspberries, bring in her phantom army for an impromptu dance party. It had not gone well.
Ever since that day, he had been getting the invitations - and everyone but Fae thought it was a much better idea.

His computer beeped an incoming email in and he took a quick look. Someone by the name of Solar Gain
was asking for membership. He sent an invitation and went back to his paperwork - looking over the files of the newest recruit Avon Ti
(pronounced Ah-Von Tee). Born into a family of Tsoo, but she had turned to the hero side. She was classified as a
Kinetic Defender. He looked up when a knock came at the door.

A man stood there. He was of average height, average build.
He was wearing some sort of powered exo-suit in black with yellow highlights. No, the black wasn't just suit, it looked like
little solar panels. Wow, that was impressive. Felspar stood and said, "You must be Solar Gain. Welcome to Crossroads. I'm Felspar." He went to extend his hand but the man removed his
helmet instead.



I stood on top of the Atlas Statue and surveyed the city - my new old home- as the sun rose behind me. There comes a time in every
villains life when he has to make a choice - to be truly evil or to turn to the side of "Good". I made my choice. I was once the villain Mace Mac Hine. Now I am the hero Solar Gain.

--Sam
"I'm full of tinier men!"

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Uncontact ... o9KjNvaA8F

My very irreverent first reaction was: Are they actually trying to shoot down a helicopter with bows and arrows?!

But on second thought, it must be very terrifying to have this alien machine floating over your heads when you've never seen -any- machine... And well,
it's not like they have guns. o_o

I was expecting a sweet romantic comedy or just plain romance. Then I read the description and I was expecting a fun, uplifting martial arts movie. Because
when I read "Zen has to fight her way to raise funds for her mother's treatments," I was expecting perhaps bouts in some sort of fight arena not
... mafia like, although I probably should have due to the first part of the description. Then I watched the movie and realized it was the most sick (in a good
way), insane martial arts choreography that I've ever seen.

http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/CRSeri ... te_-_Movie

The scary thing is the actress that does the main fighting does not have a stunt double. After the credits, there are some cool scenes of making the movie.
Wait. Did I say cool? Well, they're cool but just from the standpoint of, uh, safety of the stunt men, realism doesn't require -actually- falling off
of a four story building and hitting various ledges. That's what movie magic and air bags to catch the stunt men are for.

After I see this sort of movie, I think Black Lagoon could happen in live action ... if the actresses/actors were Thai fighters.

I was listening to a song by some friends and it occured to me that it might be good for the occasional jailbreak. ;-)

Lyrics for "Break Me Out"

By The Rescues

my empty room

crowded too soon

look for the fire escape

picture myself

running like hell

making my get away

the walls are caving in with no warning

this ship is sinking i gotta swim for it

i'm running out of air

break me out tonight i wanna see the

sun rising anywhere but here

come with me

this could be

the only chance we get, we gotta take it

don't do it now we'll never make it

lose this crowd

break me out

we'll stare at our feet

sneak down the street

some kind of secret race

they'll carry on

won't notice we're gone

so easily replaced

the walls are caving in with no warning

this ship is sinking i gotta swim for it

i'm running out of air

break me out tonight i wanna see the

sun rising anywhere but here

come with me

this could be

the only chance we get, we gotta take it

don't do it now we'll never make it

lose this crowd

break me out

the walls are caving in with no warning

this ship is sinking i gotta swim for it

i got a feeling we're better off anyway

i don't care what they say

break me out tonight i wanna see the

sun rising anywhere but here

come with me

this could be

the only chance we get, we gotta take it

don't do it now we'll never make it

lose this crowd

break me out

It's on iTunes.