Ray's X-Blog

(From Ray X X-Rayer #135.) Impetus: Cerebus The Aardvark. When he was around twelve years old Doug Arthur's three-years-older brother brought home a number of independent/underground comic books.  Cerebus The Aardvark left such an impression on him that today he produces his own independent comics. He and his brother Rick were really into comic books, frequenting the FantaCo comic book shop in Albany, NY.  Each brother grew from a fan into a creator, a writer/artist in the comic book medium.  (In Doug's case he developed an enthusiastic writing style apparently inspired by comic book dialogue that relied heavily on exclamation points.)  Doug: "[Rick and I] started reading comics regularly in the late 70's around the time of Star Wars.  It was a good time to be a kid!" The FantaCo shop offered more than the usual DC and Marvel superhero comics.  As a neophyte comic book fan Doug was exposed to independent titles like Eflquest and The Spirit r...

(From Ray X X-Rayer #135.) I mentioned to a "friend" how I hated living in Plattsburgh, NY. This is a person who is not rich but not poor either.  He can afford to take two weeks off to go to Florida, a nice break from the long six months of winter around here. On some weekends he travels to Montreal for a change of scenery. So it was so easy for him to say to me:  "If you don't like it just move!". Yes, the answer is so simple, so doable. I've been living with a fixed limited income for years.  I don't have the financial resources to just get up and relocate to a better place. Recently I moved to a new apartment just a few blocks away from my old place.  A short move that still has set me back financially. After living in the same apartment for over two decades and being treated like crap by my landlord I decided I had enough.  My previous apartment was in a building with a flat roof that leaked different five times into my apartment ove...

Illustration: Dom Monet https://www.facebook.com/dominick.monette.3 By Ray X If civilization collapses – no internet, no electricity – James Dawson will keep on zining. He would return to his old DIY production devices: manual typewriters, mimeograph machines. All non-electric, human powered.  He could rebuild the zine scene. Even without civilization collapsing James prefers old tech. James: “Older technology is sturdier and more reliable, simpler and more intuitive to understand, less confusing, less glitchy and frustrating, and once you find supplies, cheaper than modern electronic technology.  In fact I prefer mechanical technology over older electro-mechanical because I don't have a head for the latter conceptually and I'm not patient or skilled enough to tinker with it if it breaks down.” In his early zining days he used a mimeograph machine to publish. Mimeographic printing involves making impressions on a stencil via typing and drawing to create a ...

(From Ray X X-Rayer #134.) (Click on each image to enlarge.) Join in the adventures with your favorite shutterbug heroes in Camera Comics! Art Fenton! Kid Click! Linda Lens! Aperture Ghost! Of course their stories are the usual low grade crime comic stuff but redeeming social value has been added with articles on famous photographers and how-to tips for the amateur photog.

(From Ray X X-Rayer #131.) Ultra Q – Episode 27: The Disappearance of Flight 206