August Editorial

By Marcia Allass
August 1, 2006

For a change, the summer blockbuster movies this year don't include much for Sci-Fi fans, so here at Tart we're going to redress that balance. Yep, it's Sci-Fi month, and you'll find that theme running through the August issue, in all sections. Many Tarts discovered comics through a love of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and others have developed an interest in the genre after reading comics in that vein.

The Tarts that attended Comic-Con International: San Diego 2006 are returned from their epic adventure and enjoying the calm before the storm of Wizard World: Chicago and SPX. We trust that all our readers who were in San Diego had a fabulous time at the con, and those that couldn't make it this year managed to live it vicariously through the Tart Con Blog.

In the post-San Diego lull, Tart will be making a call for new writers to join our merry band. So if you are a woman who enjoys comics and would like to write about them, please contact us to find out more. No experience or previous publishing history is required — we just want people who enjoy comics and have something to say about them.

There's just time to give a shout out to The Pulse which this week celebrates four years online and to wave a fond farewell to Ninth Art which updated for the final time in June after a storming run of articles and opinion.

And so on to August's issue!

In Features, we have interviews with Tom Waltz (Children of the Grave), M. Zachary Sherman (SOCOM SEAL Team Seven), Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (Phonogram), Paul Sizer (Little White Mouse), and Lea Hernandez, who talks to us about her recently announced NAN Grant.

August's articles include Wolfen Moondaughter's examination of the Ninth Doctor Who's adventures in sequential art, Mariah Huehner's tips on pitching a comic, and JoAnne Ruvoli's Under The Microscope look at Alison Bechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. Plus Pam Bliss reaches Part 64 of her series of essays Hopelessly Lost, But Making Good Time and Rebecca Buchanan recommends some of the best Sci-Fi comics.

And remember you can also catch up on any Comic-Con International: San Diego 2006 news that you missed by checking out the Tart Con Blog.

In Culture Vultures, we have interviews with Debi Derryberry (the voice of Jimmy Neutron) and author Karen Traviss.

Wolfen Moondaughter brings us this month's Rant about the use of timelines or alternate universes as bad plot devices. Rebecca Buchanan presents two Tart Roundtables, covering the Tart's favourite Sci-Fi films and Sci-Fi-tech that the Tarts wish was real. Plus, she gives us a peek at Edgar Rice Burrough's lesser known Sci-Fi books. Kim De Vries continues her look at the Doctor Who phenomenon as she looks at the first two incarnations while in Tart Time Machine, Tarts offer their reminiscenses on the subject of The Doctor. Corinna Lawson looks at the constant failure to blend Sci-Fi and Romance genres, and Liz Burgess gives us a quick overview of genre short fiction magazines.

Plus, reports from AnimeNext 2006, Anime Expo (AX) 2006 and Fanime 2006.

August's Report Card has reviews of anime, manga, books, magazines, comics, DVDs,videos, games, graphic novels, movies, music, television and web comics.

In Columns we have 13 Questions with DC's Jock. Rebecca Buchanan's All Access looks at all ages Sci-Fi comics. Fantastic Firsts has an in-depth look at all-ages comic Flight. Stephen Rauch looks at how the themes of unrestrained power in today's DC and Marvel superhero comics echo world politics in Redirected Male . In Tart Tastes, Tarts reveal their favourite Sci-Fi comics and in Tart To Heart Tarts choose their best are worst Sci-Fi comic adaptations. Plus your letters in Going Postal.

Marcia Allass
Editor-in-Chief
August 1, 2006