• It’s here folks! Another week of fantastic merchandise that you can own at eJ—Wait a sec, well, it looks like the wrong folks caught wind of the whole “eJay” title, thus that is no more. Now simply known as “Auctions Askew”, this week we’ve got some fantastic items, including a very rare Dogma crew hooded sweatshirt, Kevin’s actual shoes from that film, signed posters, and more. As always, this stuff is just a bid away, and it could be all yours! Surf over to the View Askew Auctions site for more details on this week’s stuff, as well as to place you bid. Good luck!

• We’re proud to announce that a trailer has been cut for Jeff Anderson’s hilarious flick “Now You Know”, and is now awailable online! A small website has opened with information on the film and a link to the trailer, and we’re also mirroring the file right here on the News Askew server.

“Now You Know” was screened for a bunch of us at Vulgarthon early this year, and now, more lucky View Askew fans are going to get the chance to check out the film! We’ll have more information on that screening and how you can attend soon, though seats are very limited due to theater size. We highly recommend you check out the film if you have the opportunity. Until then, visit their mini-site http://www.lpfilms.com/html/now_you_know.html at Lumberyard Productions and download the trailer from us. You’ll need a RealMedia compatible player to watch it.

• TS3K Productions have released a new “Editors Cut” version of their “Clerks Animated Trailer”. You can check a local copy out right HERE. If ya like their work, check out some other stuff from them HERE.
• There’s a webcomic called “Melonpool” in which Jay and Silent Bob make a cameo (in last Sunday’s strip). Check it out right HERE.
• Yet ANOTHER Jay & Bob web comic appearance in this web comic, “8 bit college”, HERE.
• On the Newgrounds website, there’s a game located HERE. Click on “Say Something Stupid” and it says “Kevin Smith is a bad director”. Stupid indeed!
• Australian readers – Copies of the Green Arrow hardcover (selling for AUD 60.00) were spotted at a store called Kings Comics in Fox Studios, Sydney. They also had the individual books, selling for AUD 6.50 each. If you’re having trouble finding them at your shops, there’s a lead for ya.
• A couple of Askew-related bands have some gigs coming up: This Saturday night, Soul Asylum is playing at Otto’s in Dekalb, IL. As you know, Soul Aslyum appeared on the Clerks soundtrack, and Dave Pirner was the composer for Chasing Amy. Fory anyone in the area, tickets are $10 and can be picked up at the door or online at www.ottosdekalb.com. The lineup for the Beale Street Music Festival, aka Memphis in May, has been released, and the “Greatest Band In The World”, Morris Day and the Time, will indeed be performing. You can check out the complete lineup at www.memphisinmay.org. Looks like another three great days of music in Memphis — May 3rd,4th and 5th.

• Kevin gets a mention in the new May issue of “Beckett Hockey Collector” magazine. In their review for the new flick Slap Shot II, the author wished that someone who loves hockey like Kevin Smith could have done the film justice. See a scan above.
• And finally today, May 4th (the day after the big Spider-Man flick opens) is “Free Comic Book Day”. Go to a participating store, get a free comic! Cool stuff.

• If you want to see a good solid action/horror flick, do yourself a favor and check out “Blade II” – It’s a dark, violent, action filled flick that was a lot of fun this weekend. MUCH better than that “Resident Evil” crap that came out a couple weeks back, and the best action/horror since “From Dusk Til Dawn”. You won’t be disappointed.

Next week brings “Panic Room”, but of course, everyone’s got their mind on the Oscars tonight — Hopefully not all the predicted winners will take home the statues in the big categories tonight, as there’s certainly some talent up there listed as underdogs that would make some fine winners – Chances are the smear campaign going on won’t hurt “A Beautiful Mind” that much (except possibly for Crowe), but here’s hoping that “Lord of the Rings” takes that best picture honor, Denzel Washington takes best actor, and Chris Nolan wins for that brilliant “Memento” screenplay. As much as it’d be great to see David Lynch upset for Best Director, chances are that one’s going to Jackson or Howard, with the latter most likely. Will we see the director/best picture split again this year though? Stranger things have happened.

We’ve got a long awaited review for ya today, along with some newsbites to round out the weekend and get back to the work week, which is a short one for many of us due to the Easter holiday. Oh, and check out the new poll topic too, it’s about time we changed that one, ‘eh? Let’s rock:

• Well, we suppose the old adage “Better late than never” certainly applies here, as we’ve finally completed the DVD review of “Drawing Flies”. You can check it out right now in our ever-expanding DVD area. The flick and disc are full of stuff, as you’d expect for a View Askew DVD, including fun cameos, 2 solid commentary tracks, extra scenes, and more. If you’re a View Askew DVD collector, or even just a fan (you must be if you’re reading this), this one’s worth picking up. Read our review and learn more about this rare gem of the View Askew collection.

• Fans of Page’s way cool View Askew character composite will love this – Wallpaper versions of the artwork! Click the links here or check Files Askew for 1024*768, 800*600, and 640*480 versions. Thanks to Robert for the encoding. Enjoy!

• A toy version of Jason Lee’s skateboard has been spotted at K-B Toy stores. The toy is exclusive to these stores, so you’ll likely only find it there. See a photo above! Might be something cool to have Lee sign for ya sometday.
• UK Readers: There will be a screening of Clerks at the Duke of York’s cinema in Brighton on Saturday, 27th April at 11.15 PM.
• “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back” comes up in this poll at the King Nothing website, which asks for your favorite Star Wars episode.

• The Mallrats DVD comes up in a Cnet.com report on DVD Easter Eggs:

• Drop Dead Roses, starring Brian O’ Halloran and Eddie McGee, has been accepted into the Phoenix film festival that’s going on on April 5th through the 7th. The film itself will screen on the 6th at 9:30 PM, and the 7th at 1:30 PM with Brian, Eddie, and the director (Jessica Hudson) in attendance. If you’re in the area, check out the film, and send us a report!
• A strange reference to Chasing Amy pops up in this poll of sequels that we’re unlikely to ever see.
• Jay & Bob were spotted in a strange location today – The cover of of the April issue of “Linux Journal”. You can see a screenshot of the Jay & Bob trailer on the laptop on the magazine’s cover.
• St. Louis screening opportunity: A local theater is showing Clerks on the big screen at 11:30 PM downtown. The theater is called “Ronnie’s”. That’s all the info we’ve got.
• Finally today, an obscure Mallrats homage appears in the online comic “TrueNuff” from a few days back.

• Even better news for those of you who attend Clark University and got tix for Kev’s upcoming appearance (and bad news for those of you that missed out) — The show will be filmed for possible inclusion on the upcoming “Evening with Kevin Smith” DVD! It had previously been announced that all filming for the disc was finished, but it looks like they want to have even more footage to choose from, so those of you in attendance might ask a question and become immortalized on disc. Cool stuff. Anyone who attends, be sure to send in a report! The show is a week from today, March 28, 2002.

• In other appearance news: We do believe that tix are still available for the URI appearance next Tuesday, March 26th – You can get seats through that big bad giant, Ticketmaster. They are $23.50 each after all of the fees they tack on. They’re $17 for non students/$12 for students at the door if there’s are any left on Tuesday also. Be sure and get out there and catch Kevin live, it’s a fun time.
• According to Countingdown.com, Kevin will be giving attendees of the Lake Placid Film Festival this June a sneak peek at the “Jersey Girl” script:

• Here’s a cool quick bit: There is an interview over at the top Daredevil website with the director of the film, Mark Steven Johnson, and Kev gets a great mention:

• Just a few slight changes to things at the WizardWorld show in Philly this may – Marvel chief Joe Quesada himself will now be their official “Guest of Honor”, with Kevin still in attendance as “Special Guest”. The convention’s gonna be a great one, and we’ll certainly be there to check it out — Finally, Wizard comes to the east coast with a great show! The official website has dates, hours, and lots more. Be sure to stop in and see both Kevin and Joe, maybe even get an issue or two of Daredevil signed by those guys!
• Online interactive shockwave game “Booty Call” at The Romp website has a Jay & Bob appearance in the latest episode, #31. Mature audiences only!

• We received a TON of e-mails on that incredible picture we posted the other day of the cartoonish cast from View Askew. A lot of folks were trying to identify everyone in the picture, so one fan actually went through and made a way cool key to go along with the drawing! Download that above, and check out that way cool creation in newsbites from a few days back.
• Jay & Bob video update: Video Store Magazine’s Top 20 rental titles (for the week ending March 17) has J&SB at # 7. The Video Scan DVD consumer sales chart (week ending March 9) as J&SB at # 5. The “First Alert” (preliminary data for the week ending March 17) as J&SB at # 7 on the DVD sales chart.

• This guy’s obviously a real fan! He sent us a shot of his vehicle’s new license plate (above).

• Finally today, a couple more shots from Dave’s Video — One of our good friend Jerry from DVS Shoe Company with Kev, who also supplied a shot of that famous Dave’s sign – Ah, to only live so close to a place where so many celebs sign! Jerry sent us some DVS shoes a while back, and they’re fantastic – If you’re looking for a good pair of kicks or some other cool gear, check out their website! Catch ya next time, folks, and thanks for stopping in today.

• The official site for “Vulgar” launches today, announcing a release date for the film of April 26th, 2002. More importantly, though — If you’d like to see the movie and are nowhere near the cities the film will play in (list coming soon), PLEASE post via the VULGAR message board as to where you are and where you’d like to see the film. Lions Gate is listening!

Also on the site, for the first time anywhere, is the FULL LENGTH theatrical trailer!

Last, but not least – the VULGAR costume contest – fabulous prizes awarded to those who like to dress up in fishnets, platform shoes and bustiers. Visit the website for details on this contest and lots more. So what are you waiting for? Geting over to http://www.vulgarthemovie.com right now!