BLOG 4 YOU

Okay people, I've got the blog bug.

All the ideas...

I've got a lot on my minds and a lot of ideas and I want to write them out, I want to share and talk about all the things that we love. So I wanted to ask you, yes you. What do you want me to write about? What should we talk about? Now this could be just about anything and everything, video games we love or even political issues that need to be addressed, because that is important as well. Be happy, but also be aware of the world around you. Do we want to look at and review some more comics? With me thinning out my collection, I would be looking at the best comics in my collection and some great new comic books from independent creators that you need to be reading. And trust me you, there are plenty of books I would love to recommend. I also wanted to talk Magic: The Gathering with all of you, I want to share my Commander decks, Cube ideas, Puca Trades or anything else that comes to mind about our favourite trading card game. And speaking of games, do you want to talk video games? I've been on a big retro gaming trip, especially Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation. Basically anything is on the table, I just want to know what you want to read.

Also I wanted to use this space to talk and promote other people who are doing some great work and need to be seen. I know a lot of people who are working really hard and deserve to get a lot of attention and views. And if you know someone or are someone who wants to promote new work, by all means let me know. 

So there you have it Storm Clouds, I need your help and suggestions! Leave a comment below, on Facebook or contact me on Twitter @ChileanStorm or even an email, I want to hear from you. Also it should be noted as well that me and my bestie, Toby Medeiros (@TeaEmComics) are working on a very cool new project...keep your ears open. 

Are you ready...?

Until then, keep chasing the Storm. 

Youth Impact Summit

So big news to share with everyone, tomorrow and Thursday I will taking part of the Youth Impact Summit. What is that you may ask, well let me tell you; a collection of young minds from across the province coming together to brainstorm, hear, talk about ideas to change communities. And yours truly applied a few times in the past and now I have the opportunity to take part of this big game changing opportunity. For a few years I've wanted to see what I could do to help out those who need help, be that volunteering at charity events or donate clothing or food. And now I can learn how to take that energy to the next level, and I am super excited for this experience.

For those reading for the first time, welcome! My name is Alvaro Cruz, or as I go by on most forms of social media, ChileanStorm. I was born in Toronto, but my family history hails from Chile, so I like to represent for Chile and all of Latin America, very proud of my roots and culture. I am an artist who is currently back in school and working part time as a barista. At the end of the day, I still need to pay my bills. I am currently working on a few personal projects like the Glass Prison and currently working on my first comic book, Brewgatory. My goal is to have a comic ready for summer 2017.

In this page here you will find a lot of entries on comic books that I've read and few opinion pieces as well. In the future entries I will probably talk more about things on my mind, the most important Nicolas Cage films and Nintendo 64 games. So if you like any of these things or just want a fun read, by all means give me a read and a follow and be sure to drop a comment if you'd like as well. 

You have to be able to laugh at yourself as well. 

Keep chasing the storm. 

Try Hard Die Hard

I am just going to open up with saying that Bruce Willis will not be the topic of today's blog. Although I think we can all agree that the first three Die Hard films were pretty awesome action movies, worth watching if you haven't seen them yet. No, today I wanted to ask you to think about this, what does winning mean to you? And I am asking on every possible level, how badly do you need to be the very best...like no one ever was. And yes, that was a Pokemon reference. But I want to talk today about our desire to win, to be champions and to be the best at everything. And I think most geeks experience this on a daily basis. How many achievements do you have? Did you catch them all? Did you win that tournament? What rank are you? What level is your team? But you get the idea. We aren't allowed to enjoy things anymore. No, we have to win. I guess I want to understand the theory of the carrot, why does it have to be involved with everything we do now in days...? 

Take it from me, time is short. Every day we only have so many hours to do whatever it is we want to do and well everything that we need to do as well, be that work or school or family. And then consider all the things you do because you want to do them, like playing your favorite online computer game or going to the local card shop for a game of Commander Magic. When you are done, are you satisfied at all? Well you should be, win or lose. But holy dead Jason Todd to we have people that really want to win and completely ruin the experience. Maybe this is me realizing that family, friends, partner and career are much more important than a weekly Friday Night Magic result or trying to collect every single Pokemon. I am not going to be a League of Legends champion anytime soon, and that is totally awesome. I think what I am trying to say here is, let's try to enjoy the experience. If we all try to be champions, this world is going to be filled with a whole lot of salt and resentments. Who cares about completing every single game achievement on your Xbox One, will you be awarded a purple heart and have a parade? Probably not. All these imaginary brass rings are presented to distract you from the bigger picture, that is you, What are you going to be in this world? 

That being said, if you truly feel and know that your goal is to be a champion in some video game or card game, all power to you. I mean Adam Copeland (WWE`s Edge) always wanted to be a WWE Champion and he did it. You focus on your goals, you give everything you have and you become the person that you know you are. But if like me you are an artist or a writer or anyone who isn`t making a living off gaming tournaments, try this and just don`t give a f*ck. Enjoy the time off and the hobby itself. Aim to win, but aim to have a great time and remember why you love whatever it is you love. It`s okay to lose, just don`t lose human dignity in your climb to the top of the mountain. I have seen Rock Paper Scissors tournaments, don`t mess with them tossers. 

Keep chasing the storm. 

Beat Rush

Something awesome is coming to a GTA comic book store near you. Imagine a newspaper that is part zine, part comic collection and whole lot of creativity. Welcome to Beat Rush! And with the launch event coming up this Friday and Saturday, it is guaranteed to be a Good Friday and Better Saturday. So if you are not into any of the religious stuff, come and check out the launch of this brand new comic experience at either of these great events in the heart of down town Toronto. 

The first of the two events taking place on Friday at the Silver Snail comic book shop at Yonge and Dundas. The event will take place at 5:00 and will go on until 8:00 PM roughly, but a lot of the artist who worked on several of the comics will be on hand as well. So come, get yourself a copy or two and be sure to pick up plenty of comics while you are there, Snail has a great collection of back issues, variants and a massive collection of different toys and figures. Don't forget to grab a coffee or a latte as well at the Black Canary cafe. 

The second event is taking place on Saturday over at A&C Games at Spadina and College, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This event will have a beat em up game theme going with it, so that means all those old school classics like Final Fight and Double Dragon. I am more of a fighting game guy myself, but you know those games are pretty fun as well. Hopefully they have some Street Fighter II over there as well. If you have never been to A&C Games, it is the absolute collectors store as far as video games go, they have a massive treasure cove of classic games and consoles. So if you are looking for the copy of say...Gex 64, they probably have a copy or two. 

And most importantly, friends from around the world and outside of Toronto, you can check out plenty of Beat Rush over at their Facebook Page and also at their Homepage. Give them a follow and plenty of love, these guys are working away everyday.

So will I see you there this weekend? Maybe talk some comics over at Silver Snail or perhaps will play a few rounds of Captain Commando? Which ever event you choose, be sure to bring a toonie and pick up your copy of Beat Rush as well! I am looking forward to this weekend and I will see you there, until then, keep chasing the storm! 

Not Just a Game...

Quick blog post here guys, just a couple of links that I think everyone should take a look at which deal with some pretty big issues that have been going on in the Gaming Community and on the internet for sometime now, and that I feel could be very well direct towards comics as well. I highly suggest you give it a read and you share it with as many people as possible, we need to spread tolerance and knowledge across the mediums that we love. 

Storify Video Games

Video Games are for Everybody

I don't want to get into this too much, seeing as I am more of a comic book guy now in days but I just want to say my part. 

Humans are the most evolved species on the planet, but only because we can announce it and place a flag down. We are still years away from being an alpha species and in my opinion it is because of fear. We allow our self to be afraid and to hate on anything that is different. And it's stupid and territorial kind of fear; don't let a Hispanic man marry a white women, make sure your kid isn't gay and god forbid you let a woman write your pay check. This is all a load of crap that majority of "modern" society has been fed for years and years, and are taught to fight these "evils". This is ancient mentality and a new age is coming, an age of acceptance and compassion. But the old and new minds are at a verbal war, and take it from me, I don't really care about ever being "right" but when being right means saving the lives of thousand of LGTBQ youth in Eastern Europe or allowing a women to make a commentary on the current state of gaming, I will fight to be right. I feel that ignorance and a lack of education are the real enemies here, and that only together can we help and educate one and other on the grand importance of human rights and dignity. In other words, the right to live in peace.

Famous Chilean singer, Victor Jara.

Thank you guys, remember to spread love and tolerance everywhere you go. Keep chasing the storm. 

Sat-Off-Day

Is there anything greater than a day off? I doubt it, it's one of life's little pleasure but you do need to work for it. And well, technically I was doing some work today in form of my art work. I started off the morning pretty late, but hey, I had a really late night so it evens itself out. I decided to sort my video game collection, trying to organize it, I managed to finish sorting my PlayStation 2 games, and that took some time. Although I look at this shelf unit and I realize I need to get one that lets me see all the games, that way it makes it easier to find. You never know when I'll get the craving to play some NHL 2k4 or some Person 3 FES. The crazy thing was though, sorting through my games I realized that there are still some games for the PS2 that I still need to get for my collection, off the top of my head a game I really felt like playing the other day was the first Kingdom Hearts. I had a lot of fun with that game and say what you will, but I really enjoyed it. That and I guess I still need the World Heroes Collection, although I doubt I'd play that much. I didn't get to sorting my GameCube, Xbox, Wii and Xbox 360 games, but that will be for another day. This also reminds me I need to get around to getting a PS3 and a HD tv, I mean it's about time I would say.

As I am writing this I am looking through some covers and remixes of different songs, and apparently a big thing is rock covers of pop songs. It's strange at first but like any catchy pop song, it eventually grows on you. I really enjoyed a cover to Bad Romance and Last Friday Night, but it's definitely not for everyone, it's very bizarre combination. But please suggest to me good remix channels if you got any or sites for that matter, I love all shapes and forms of music, so lay it out on me.

Also today I got to work on a few more sketch cards, but I will posting these on the Spent Pencils Facebook page and on the IDR blog, so be sure to follow those and check them out. But remember to leave me any request for a character and I will do my best to do it up. But Yeah, it's time to scan these up, so I will see over on the next page. Also I gotta work tomorrow early so I best get myself a little of sleep...well maybe a few hours.

Later Slackers!