Star Wars Jedi vs. Sith February 10, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comic books, comics, Dark Horse, darkhorse, jedi, scifi, sith, Star Wars, starwars.1 comment so far
It wasn’t all that long ago that I reviewed Darth Bane : Path of Destruction . Little did I know at the time that the book was little more than a novelization of this comic.
Star Wars Jedi vs. Sith is the graphic novel (or trade paperback) that collects the six issue Dark Horse comic book series. The art is manga’ish and blocky but it is engaging.
The story well – it’s fantastic.
Jedi vs. Sith tells the same story that fills the back half of Darth Bane : Path of Destruction – A thousand years ago the Sith were many and they battled endlessly with the Jedi Army of Light. Lord Kaan ruled the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness and sought the destruction of Lord Hoth and his Jedi followers.
Darth Bane emerges as THE SITH and the Jedi walk away thinking they’ve ended the Sith forever.
In comparison to the book – which i read first even though the comic book predates it by some 5 years – the comic book is quick and fast paced. The book is a different type of engagement, looking deeper into Darth Bane the man, the sith and the motivations behind things. The comic is…well it’s a comic. You just can’t get the same sort of introspection and development (not typically at least).
I am glad i’ve read both though as the experience of reading a comic is very very different than reading a novel. It’s not quite like taking two viewpoints of the same history, more like looking at two versions of the same painting. The biggest addition in the comic book are the kids – only one whom (Rain) even makes an appearance in the novel.
Apparently Dark Horse Comics (the publisher) also thinks that this is a landmark graphic novel and they are re-issuing it as a hardcover as part of the their 30th anniversary
celebrations for Star Wars. It’s expect to be available April 4th of 2007. Personally I don’t have a problem with the softcover (and it’s cheaper). You can click on the first cover image to see if Dark Horse still has any (of the cheaper version) avail.
Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic issue # 13 February 9, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comic books, comics, Dark Horse, darkhorse, jedi, knights of the old republic, KOTOR, scifi, Star Wars, Star Wars Comic Books, starwars.2 comments
Issue 13 kicks of a new story arc that may have some real legs to it. The last story arc concluded in issue 12 . Basically what happens is Zayne Carrick sticks with Gryph the con artist while the others leave on the Last Resort.
Zayne and Gryph ultimately end up with a ship that takes them right back into the thick of things with the Republic Fleet.
Not a bad story but not the best yet either. Another incremental tale that gets things going without being overly dramatic itself.
Maybe I’m being a bit harsh…the story does end with an assasin droid (as seen on the cover) revealing itself to the crew of the Last Resort…oohhh I wonder if they’ survive…guess we’ve got to wait till the next issue to find out.
AND I suppose the funkly lightsaber repelling arm braces that Zayne ends up are kinda cool too. If Luke had a pair of those he probably wouldn’t have lost his arm.
Quaplah! Star Trek Comics – soon to be available in the original Klingon February 8, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in comics, dailyshow, klingon, scifi, Star Trek, startrek, YouTube.add a comment
Clint Eastwood tells the other side of the Iwo Jima story in Japanese – so why not get the ‘other’ side of the Star Trek Universe in the ‘original’ Klingon?
That’s exactly what’s going to happen this coming April.
IDW Publishing which is the current licensse of Star Wars in comics has announced Star Trek®: Klingons: Blood Will Tell will be available in Klingon (with English subtitles).
While Starfleet personnel of the 24th century view Klingons as their allies, in the Star Trek universe of Captain Kirk’s time, the Klingons were always viewed as being on the wrong side of their struggles with the United Federation of Planets. As a species, they were allegedly responsible for some reprehensible acts (resulting in some classic TV episodes and movies), but were they really in the wrong? Or did they just not have a fair chance to present their side of the story?
With the new series coming out…it might be a good time to catch up on those Klingon language lessons (translations are never accurate).
The YouTube vid below is a funny Daily Show segment with Office star Steve Correll all about Klingon Language lessons. Quaplah!
Star Wars : Show Us Your Lightsaber Contest February 7, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in contest, jedi, scifi, Star Wars, starwars, YouTube.1 comment so far
I just found out about the ‘Show us your lightsaber’ contest. I’m sure you’ll all want to get in on the action. It’s not quote Stephen Colbert’s Green screen challenge but it sure does look like alot of fun – and it’s all officially sanctioned by Lucasfilm.
Here’s all you have to do:
1. Make a video.
2. Upload it to this YouTube group: http://youtube.com/group/showusyourlightsaber
3. Fill out and submit the entry form.
You must be at least 13 years old to enter. Entries must be received by March 11, 2007. Click here for official rules.
http://reg.hasbro.com/starwars/showusyourlightsaber/officialrules.aspx
Here’s the official video on (where else) YouTube.
Star Wars on the Nintendo Wii February 7, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in nintendo, nintendo wii, scifi, Star Wars, starwars, video games, wii, YouTube.8 comments
Star Wars video games have long been a hit and miss exercise. From the highs of Knights of the Old Republic to crap like Jedi Power Battles. Star Wars video games for next generation consoles may well be a real hit, especially on the Wii.
On the Nintendo Wii you can literally stretch out with your feelings (or WiiMote/Nunchuk) and strike down your enemy.
Don’t believe me? Check out this vid of Star Wars on the Wii. It’ll blow you away. I can hardly wait.
Star Trek New Frontier : Missing in Action (review) February 6, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Books, scifi, Star Trek, Star Trek Books, star trek new frontier, startrek.add a comment
Can a new reader jump into an existing series and not get lost?
That’s the question I asked before picking up Star Trek New Frontier : Missing in Action. Though i’ve read my share of other Star Trek books I have not yet read any of the New Frontier books. I thought (somewhat naively) that i could jump in with this one, get up to speed and then maybe pick up the predeccesor books later.
I WAS WRONG.
It is not possible to read Star Trek New Frontier : Missing in Action on its own. I tried and it became so frustrating that I had to give up after reading for an hour and feeling completely lost.
Is it the author’s fault or mine?
The author, Peter David is an excellent author for sure. Heck I’ve read a bookcase full of works by him (most recently Battlestar Galactica: Sagittarius is Bleeding) . Usually he builds in enough back story so even if you read a series out of order, you’re still o.k. Not so with Missing in Action.
The plot even without understanding the characters and the ‘inside’ story since this was my first New Frontier book, (in the bit was able to read before getting lost myself) is pathetically repetitive to what dozens of other Trek books have done with better success.
Save your time and money. Avoid Missing in Action.
Following the dramatic events of After the Fall, Captain Mackenzie Calhoun and the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur find themselves catapulted headlong into another universe, far from the New Thallonian Protectorate and Sector 221-G…a place where an ancient war rages between two powerful alien races. But Calhoun has no intention of staying here for very long and, adopting the time-honored philosophy of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” takes it upon himself to somehow (and by any means necessary) persuade one side or the other to help him and his crew get back home.
Fact is stranger than fiction – Astronaut in bizarre kidnap plot in Florida court February 6, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in NASA, news.4 comments
Over 600 sites are reporting today about a truly bizarre love triangle involving three NASA astronauts.
The Associated Press reports that – Lisa Marie Nowak, 43 drove 900 miles, donned a disguise and was armed with a BB gun and pepper spray when she confronted a woman she believed was a competitor for the affections of Navy Cmdr. William Oefelein, a fellow astronaut. Nowak and Oefelein, 41, were both first-time fliers during separate shuttle missions last year. They trained together but never flew together.
According to CNN, Nowak wore a diaper during the 14-hour drive so that she wouldn’t have to stop for bathroom breaks. Astronauts wear what NASA calls maximum-absorbency garments to collect their waste during space travel.
I know, not exactly Science Fiction (which is what ShowMeSciFi is all about), but sometimes Fact is far Stranger than fiction
Battlestar Galactica : Bonus Scene 3×13 Taking A Break From All Your Worries February 5, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Battlestar Galactica, battlestargalactica, scifi, YouTube.1 comment so far
A very special thanks to http://passtheremote.wordpress.com/ who commented on a previous post.
Apparently the bonus scene from taking a break from all your worries is on YouTube. I’ve linked below for your inline viewing pleasure.
No Battlestar Galactica on TV tonight…lots on the Web. February 4, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Battlestar Galactica, battlestargalactica, scifi, YouTube.2 comments
With no Battlestar Galactica to watch for another two weeks, ShowMeScifi has gone in search of additional outlets to help get a Battlestar Galactica ‘fix’. Just because there isn’t a BSG on the ‘air’ doesn’t mean you can’t get ‘new’ BSG content to feed your need for BSG.
1) BONUS SCENE Apparently the episode that aired last week (taking a break from all your worries) has a bonus scene that is only available to those with US IP addresses . It is currently not on YouTube but as soon as it is I’ll post it here (or if any readers are aware let us know and I’ll link it up) . It is criminal that this important scene was left out of last week’s BSG episode: President Roslin interrogates Caprica Six, who is now a prisoner aboard the Galactica. When Roslin tries to offer her a deal for her cooperation, Six replies with a shocking counter-offer. (CLICK BONUS SCENEif you’re in the US).
2) PODCAST Ronald D. Moore Exec Producer of BSG does a weekly episode podcast. The one for Taking a Break From All Your Worries is now live (get it here) and contains ALOT of insight.
3) BSGcasts. Really neat news desk concept with a pair of video bloggers who are taking a very good hard look at BSG. Normally I wouldn’t have gone looking for stuff like this (not enough time) but without a show to watch tonight (thanks for nothing SuperBowl) the time was there.
Battlestar Galactica Beaten by…The SuperBowl?!? February 2, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Battlestar Galactica, battlestargalactica, scifi.3 comments
Adama and the survivors of the colonies have managed to thwart the Cylons time and again. But neither Raptors, the big guns of BSG 75 nor a smart FTL jump by Mr. Gaeta can save Battlestar Galactica from the SuperBowl. After being on hiatus for what seemed like an eternity Battlestar Galactica kicked of season 3.5 with the ‘Rapture’ episode and then followed that with last weeks lame entry ‘Taking a Break From All Your Worries”. The show is off this coming weekend as it takes a break in the face of the almighty SuperBowl. Rumor has it that Battlestar Galactica will also bow down before the Oscars in late February too. New episodes of Battlestar Galactica return on Feb. 11.
Heroes Goes Trekkin With Takei February 2, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in heroes, scifi, Star Trek, startrek.add a comment
I’m not much of a Heroes fan myself, but apparently NBC is trying real hard to get hard core SciFi fans to dig the show. George Takei of Star Trek fame is now on the show and did some kind of press junket yesterday given the number of sites and news outlets that have quotes from him today.
This is one of my favs from all of the coverage that I saw:
The casting choices of Takei and Christopher Eccleston, who played the lead role in Doctor Who during the first season of the new British series, were very clever moves by the show’s producers. Heroes is successfully walking the line between mainstream and hardcore sci fi fans, and the new faces are a sly wink to the latter.
“Here’s this character (Hiro) who is a Star Trek fan, and supposedly saw a younger me on the good ship Enterprise,” Takei said. “And here I am playing his father, so there is a wonderful circle here, that could turn into another, interesting kind of spiral. Heroes is very much like Star Trek in many ways. It’s more fantastical, but it’s contemporary.”
Flash Gordon – re-imagined and coming back to TV!! February 1, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in Flash Gordon, flashgordon, scifi.8 comments
SCI FI Channel is confirming that Flash Gordon is coming back!!
Apparently they’ve green-lighted production on Flash Gordon for production of 22 one-hour episodes. The series is scheduled debut on SCI FI in July of this year.
The characters of Ming, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov will be brought back for a contemporary retelling of the comic-strip story created in 1934 by Alex Raymond.
First Battlestar Galactica now Flash Gordon. WOW. All I keep hearing in my head is the Queen theme song from the 80’s Flash Gordon movie.
FLASH…dum.dum… dum.dum…AH AH!.
Wait a sec forget that – below you’ll find the Queen video of the Flash Gordon theme. ENJOY!
Aeon Flux – not bad, but not great February 1, 2007
Posted by showmescifi in aeonflux, Movies, scifi.add a comment
I know its been out for a while but it’s only very recently that I’ve had the chance to watch Aeon Flux. Effects, cinematography and acting are all respectable, but that’s not what this blog is about.
This blog is about SciFi.
(so if you’re looking for gardening you’re on the wrong site).
Aeon Flux is a decent SciFi flik. The premise of a post apocalyptic earth in some kind of rebellion is certainly not new but the film’s ‘twist’ is kind of neat. It’s too bad you’ve got to watch more than half of the movie before they finally get to the point of it though.
Having the inhabitants continually reborn as clones is a neat idea. It’s the kind of twist that SciFi must have – though in this film it’s the only real good plot idea that there actually is.
The movie did get me thinking about what else there is in the Aeon Flux world and there is plenty – well at least a comic book and an animated feature. I’ll check ’em out and report on them here soon.
Show Me SciFi 