#Chloe Sakumoto

[lady-lancer]

Mizuki: Family Matters

Takumi Sakumoto Mizuki's Father (Johtonian by birth, childhood spent in Unova)

A well known painter, he was regarded as one of the best pokeball customizers in the Matsudan (Kanto - Sinnoh) region. Friends with Kurt, he used his money to help grow more apricorns in order to promote the unique pokeballs the Johto region has.

Though not a battle trainer, Takumi has his own partner pokemon that's been with him since he was a child - a Shiny Chandelure. Despite the rumors about the line, Takumi enjoyed painting under the orange flames of his partner.

Of his two children, he was closer to Mizuki after she became interested in art as well. Many days were spent in his studio, with him taking her critique as though she was a queen, and Mizuki giggling over how dramatic he would become over her doodles.

Chandelure followed his trainer, preferring the company of Mizuki over the rest of the family. By the time Mizuki was five, Chandelure would only respond to the name Mizuki gave him: "Candy". (As a child, Mizuki had trouble speaking. Chandelure was shortened to "Shandi", eventually becoming "Candy".)

Takumi passed away when Mizuki was 8 due to chronic illness, as the only treatments would have forced him to leave his family. He also kept the illness secret from the media, unfortunately leading to rumors that Candy was to blame for his "sudden" passing.

Unlike most Ghost types, Candy did not follow his trainer into the next life. Takumi asked that Candy watch over Mizuki, and Candy would fulfill his master's last request. Due to changes in Johto's trainer laws, Mizuki would only be registered as Candy's trainer when she turned 15.

The fact that Candy has not moved on is the only solace her friends have when Mizuki goes missing.

Chloe Sakumoto Mizuki's Mother (Kalosian born and raised)

As a child, Chloe wasn't interested in staying behind the battle lines. Taking a Bisharp as a starter, Chloe was an early dominator of Pokemon Fencing - a sport where both pokemon and trainer wielded blades against foes.

She met Takumi during a tournament in Johto, after losing to a Kantonian katana-user and their Scyther. They would eventually fall in love, with Chloe agreeing to a life in Johto instead of Kalos.

Chloe is closest to Sora, her son and oldest child. Compared to Mizuki, Sora took to the rapier with the grace of a Ducklett to water. It was common to see the two working together in the house gym, especially after Takumi passed away.

Despite her love of Takumi, she never really liked Candy, and would constantly ask that he be put away whenever she hosted parties. In her grief, she would blame Mizuki's love of the Ghost type for Takumi's passing. The fact that Mizuki held many of her father's features and enjoyed art made Chloe's grief and misplaced anger even stronger.

She would eventually remarry when Mizuki was 10, further breaking relations with Mizuki. When Mizuki was 12, Chloe forces her to leave home to start her pokemon journey. This is a problem, as new laws enacted after Team Rocket is ousted from Kanto-Johto mean that 15 is the new age for new trainers.

Eventually, she is contacted over Mizuki going missing. The media circus when they find out she kicked Mizuki out is nothing compared to the circus that will erupt when Mizuki finally makes it home.

Sora Sakumoto Mizuki's Older Brother

Sora is his mother's child. Preferring the sword over the pen, he learned to parry before learning how to write his own name.

As a child, he was protective of Mizuki, helping her with school and the first to defend her art from bullies. He also tries to help Mizuki get better at wielding rapiers, but her left-handedness causes both of them issues.

However, after his fathers death when he was 12 changed things. Just like his mother, he saw his father's death as Candy's fault. Unlike his mother, he was unaware of Takumi's illness, and truly believes that Mizuki took their father away.

This would come to a head a few months after the funeral, when he finds Mizuki crying in front of Takumi's art studio. Sora lets his emotions get the better of him, screaming at her and chasing her with his rapier, too angry to recognize that he has a real blade with him. The chase ends when the family butler takes the blade from him, but not before Mizuki ends up with a cut in her upper left arm, which ends up healing into a mockery of a crescent moon like her name.

He would take off not long after, going to Kalos to start his trainer career along with his PokeFencing. Despite his best efforts, he is not as good as his mother, rarely getting onto the podium in higher level competitions. In the battle circuit, he's made multiple attempts at the champion's cup in Kalos, Hoenn, and even Sinnoh. However, his split attention means that he doesn't make it past the Top 32.

He would rather forget that he has a sister. He fumes as the media wonders where she went, and after her return he decides to prove to the media that their attention should be on him, not her.

Hisao Mizuki's Stepfather

The Kantonian that defeated Chloe before she met Takumi, Hisao was a familiar face to the Sakumoto family. Straightlaced and focused, he has no time for the 'soft' skills that Takumi and Mizuki prefer.

Hisao gets along with Sora, as Hisao began teaching him how to wield katanas.

With Mizuki, he doesn't give her much credit. He can respect the skill that art takes, but considers Mizuki's interest as a passing fad. He was the one to suggest to Chloe that Mizuki should be sent out on her journey early, intending to force Mizuki to learn how to live 'in the real world'.

Hisao doesn't think much when news breaks of Mizuki's disappearance, but plays the part of a heartbroken step-father in order to sate the rabid reporters. The facade breaks when Mizuki comes back to learn that he was trying to sell Candy's to the highest bidder.

Ogawa The Sakumoto Family Butler, Mizuki's unofficial Grandpa

Hired by the Sakumoto family not long after Sora was born, Ogawa is a 60 year old man who hates what the family has become.

He first met Takumi when he was the definition of 'starving artist', taking the young man in out of pity. But after seeing the skill Takumi had, Ogawa hired him to paint the pokeballs that the Kimono Girls would use during their performances. The pokeballs were a hit, and that got Takumi's name out into the world.

They kept in touch over the next few years, and eventually Ogawa was let go from his own job. A broken leg that healed wrong meant he couldn't properly examine the structure of the Burned Tower. Jumping at the chance to return the favor from years ago, Takumi offered Ogawa the job of being the family butler.

The house was big, their careers active, but neither Takumi nor Chloe wanted to have others raise their kids. What they wanted was someone to oversee the other employees who took care of the house and gardens. Ogawa accepted the job, and quickly became a pillar of comfort for those that worked the Sakumoto estate. For Mizuki and Sora, he was the grandfather that was always there.

He was the first to comfort Mizuki after her father's death, and the one to break the news of Takumi's illness to her after realizing she was beginning to believe Sora's accusations.

In the years after Takumi's death, Mizuki would only grow closer to him, while Sora, Chloe, and Hisao would come to see Ogawa as 'just another employee'.

After learning of Chloe and Hisao's intentions to kick Mizuki out, he helps Mizuki pack and sends her to his niece in Goldenrod, where Mizuki is able to stay until she can actually start her pokemon journey.

In respects of Takumi's wishes, Candy is under his protection until Mizuki is of trainer age. However, a heart attack not long before Mizuki disappears has him planning to send the pokemon to another of Takumi's friends, concerned over Chloe's distrust of the pokemon.

All Ogawa can ask of his heart is for it to last long enough to give Candy to Mizuki. He refuses to leave before then.

[gridlords]

Best comics / publications of 2017

Foreword:

This last year at Gridlords we didn’t make a 2016 Best of the Year post. The four of us all had various life alterations, things pulling us in other directions and time was thin. There certainly was a heavy amount of great books in 2016 and we regret not shining light on them.

We were maybe not going to put the time in this year either, but I, “the Sean part” of Gridlords, am inspired. I perused the other lists online, at first for the general selfish reasons, i.e. "Did my little graphic novel get in anywhere?" and "Did any Gridlords books get praise?" (Our own Dylan Jones got mention is the Best American comics anthology)

Everyone's lists I saw were nearly identical: almost no self-published material on any of the lists, and even small press had almost no representation.

In the worst case I saw Vice's list. I shouldn't have even looked. It's my assumption that the comics “editor” of Vice is insecure and deflecting the reality that they are a slow reader or read little at all despite working for a magazine. It could also be that their reputation has caught up with them and they are not getting comics submitted to them so often anymore, so all that are listed are those few alumni that parted on good terms and a few superhero rags of old. I doubt they go out of their way for material past what is put under their noses for free.

Either way leave it to them to be needlessly offensive with their defensive personalities. Calling them anything else would only get them off. Boring.

This brought me to remember what it's all about for Gridlords. We like to show love for all the great artists out there doing their own thing and making wild beauty and throwing the cookie cutter out the window. We like artists who make passionate works that are personal and aren’t looking for some commercial responsibility. We at Gridlords also like to shine a light on exciting work that maybe didn’t make much noise beyond its home origin or didn’t have a print run of more than 10 and we got lucky and nabbed one.

I am not solely covering comics and never have in previous years as comics isn't solely what Gridlords is about. Some are art books, zines, and art objects and an occasional music release that if you look into it you’ll see it all makes sense. But I’ll start with comics just to correct the wrong of Vice. A side note: there are so many publications from 2017 that I wish I'd gotten my hands on that I haven’t yet. These are the best of what I got.

I implore that you copy and search for these artists for future releases and get what you can of these. Many are online via the various channels. Support those you love.

In no order

Jazz comics - Jason T. Miles (goat comics)

Marcie is still worried - Liz Yerby (self published)

Sleepy thoughts (words and drawings forced out before sleep. Never intended to be seen by other eyes) all 5 issues - Spencer Scudder (self published)

Drifter - Anna Haifisch (perfectly acceptable press)

Farmer Ned’s Comics Barn - Gerald Jablonski (FU comics)

Wet Earth - Lala Albert (Sonatina)

Tears of the Toad - Nick Norman (self published)

Journal of Smack - Andrea Lukic (I don't have issue 1 and if any of you have an extra or know where I can get one let me know :) )

Ne’er - Do - Wellers - by Mark Beyer

Cecil’s Riddles - Jason Murphy (STiLLiFE)

Easy Rider - Jaakko Pallasvuo

Wrestling - Johanna’s comics (Colorama)

Gaylord Pheonix 7&8 - Edie Fake (Perfectly Acceptable / Pegacorn Press)

Mr. Colostomy - Matthew Thurber (self published)

Locals only - Ian Sundahl (self published)

Art comic issues 4&5 - Matthew Thurber 

Super Towers - edited by Vincent Fritz (self published)

Give and take - Milena Bassen (Colorama)

The Nearest Sea - Scott Longo 

Town - Chou Yi (self Published)

Garbage Can Faerie - Wure (Bred Press)

Songy of Paradise - Gary Panter (Fantagraphics)

Freakers unltd issue 3 vol1 (Ddoogg)

Held - Spencer Scudder (self Published)

Should I enjoy my life or not - Jon Michael Frank (self published)

Tack Piano Heaven one - Christopher Adams (self published)

Spine - Noel Friebert (Bred Press)

An Exorcism - Theo Ellsworth (Kus)

Soft city - Hariton Pushwagner 

The whole year subscription from Ron Rege! Absolute delight!!! Especially reprints of Andy Remembers. (self published)

Now art books and Zines

Susias - a screen printed art anthology of Queer, Latinx, and womxn artists curated by Chloe Perkis

Cragslist Free - an art zine of cragslist free photos curated with a mindful eye by Maura Campbell Balkits

Suburban Lawns - collected print material about the band by artist Justine Reyes (a brilliant zine publisher making some if the best stuff)

Bathtime - art by Brie Moreno

Life is a fucking scam - an anxiety freakout zine by Karissa Sakumoto

Yung Zine volume #1 issues 1-6 2013-2015 by Kenna Jean (love these so much)

Best is man’s breath quality - book made of performance by Sara Magenheimer. (A real inspiration)

Love wins (2017 issue un-numbered. Tim Goodyear writes a letter in it that got me in tears and Jason Miles’s art is really phenomenal & life affirming here)

Sleep Walk - Yasuke Nagaoka (so beautiful)

Cafe Avatar - essay & graphic art by Sonnenzommer, Nick Butcher & Nadine Nakanishi with Perfectly Acceptable Press (super thoughtful with breathtaking print)

Reference Material - Lasse Wandschneider ( a dreamy collection of Lasse’s hand in pencil)

Eat me to become you - Jeffrey Kriksciun published with Slow Editions (one of my favorite pink art zines ever)

Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity - Adrienne Kammerer published with Color Code. (One of my new favorite glamorous artists and one of my favorite ever publications)

Visions of the Future - Stefhany Y. Lozano publushed by Colorama (I still can’t believe this is real!)

Accursed - Daria Tessler published with Perfectly Acceptable press (easily one of the most insane print productions of the year. Bells on spine/die-cut metallic ink cover/ riso multi-color madness)

Kat Rose untitled hand drawn & colored zine edition of 1 each (cutest ever)

Raw Velocity - Matt Lock published with Woodchips Books ( tattered futurism, an incredible ride)

Broken Trash Angel - x by Wure published by Justine Reyes (yes the same one who made the Suburban Lawns zine I KNoW INCREDIBLE!!!)

Nezha was here - Yusuke Nagaoka (delicious art)

Eileen Chavez - untitled comics & painting sketchbook collection. (A real dream!)

Out The Window - by Jess Scott ( million drawings in Jess’s hand busting through and occasionally lounging in windows. A real passionate inspiration to take control of one’s life)

Okay these 2 are from 2016 but are important art books!!!

Suellen Rocca - retrospective via Mathew Marks Gallary (I am madly in love with her work. So madly!)

The Drawings of Susan te Kahurangi King - published with the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (got some words from Gary Panter about Susan’s great work)

some music that has ties to visual art I love:

MR. Wrong

https://mrwrongwitches.bandcamp.com/album/babes-in-boyland

waveform transmission

https://astralindustries.bandcamp.com/album/ai-08-v-20-29

woolen men

https://woolenmen.bandcamp.com/album/lucky-box

strategy

https://geographicnorth.bandcamp.com/album/the-infinity-file

Eric Copeland

https://ericcopeland.bandcamp.com/album/goofballs

Odwalla88

https://odwalla1221.bandcamp.com/album/lilly-23

Mega Bog

https://megabog.bandcamp.com

beat detectives

https://beat-detectives.bandcamp.com/album/nypd-records-volume-one

Baronic wall

https://baronicwall.bandcamp.com/album/paracrystaline-domains

Felicia Atkinson

https://feliciaatkinson.bandcamp.com/album/hand-in-hand

Matt Carlson

https://shelterpress.bandcamp.com/album/the-view-from-nowhere

v1984

https://v1984.bandcamp.com

vi rei

https://virei.bandcamp.com

Giant Claw

https://giantclaw.bandcamp.com/album/soft-channel

elevator teeth

https://superdarkrecords.bandcamp.com/album/elevator-teeth

Macula Dog

https://haord.bandcamp.com/album/natural-dog-ep

elrond

https://elrond.bandcamp.com/releases

Mike Cooper

https://room40.bandcamp.com/album/raft

wagon 70s Floyd life

https://colossaltapes.bandcamp.com/album/70s-floyd-lite-c36

Love

Gridlords

Sean