I just want everyone to turn around and beat up Lobo and Wolverine. Is that so bad?
Marvel Versus DC #3
Marvel Comics/DC Comics (1996)
WRITER: Ron Marz (with Peter David) PENCILERS: Dan Jrgens & Claudio Castellini INKERS: Joe Rubinstein & Paul Neary with Sean Hardy COLORIST: Gregory Wright SEPARATIONS: Digital Chameleon LETTERER: Bill Oakley ASSISTANT EDITORS: Joe Andreani & Chris Duffy EDITORS: Mark Gruenwald & Mike Carlin
1937-2014
We bring the end of our tribute to Glen A. Larson (what “we”?) with something from his most well-known creation, Battlestar Galactica. To me the debate isn’t whether or not Ron Moore’s re-imagining is superior to the original. To me the problem is that Moore’s version is NOT Battlestar Galactica. In the Sci-Fi Channel series the focus is on war and refugees and more darker themes. Larson’s original vision was an analog for a more spiritual journey, with the war and the Cylons merely a way to drive the story. It was based on his Mormon faith and had a more brighter tone, that the survivors aboard the ragtag fleet would not give up who they are to the Cylons but would find a way to not only survive but adjust to their new lives. The Rising Star is the best showing of this: a mobile entertainment hub (including gambling) in the original and space debris in the re-imagined show.
Instead of going over the comics I reviewed this week for material, tonight’s entry comes from a BSG comic with the classic Apollo and Starbuck doing what they do best: blowing up Cylons with style!
“Maybe we should call the Dinosaur Busters instead?”
Ghostbusters #2
First Comics (March, 1987)
“Ghostasaurus!” WRITER: Hilarie Staton PENCILER: Howard Bender INKER: Sal Trapani COLORIST: Wendy Fiore LETTERER: Ed King SOUND EFFECTS: Joe
How would Batman being raised by the Kents lead him to join the Legion Of Superheroes? Fellow Friday Night Fighter Snell of Slay Monstrobot Of The Deep reviews an imaginary story that has the answer
. (They took too long to come up with Elseworlds.)
At this point the Rangers considered early retirement.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #3
Hamilton Comics (August, 1995)
ARTIST: Sparky Moore COLORIST: Summer Hinton EDITORS: John Clark & Gary Leach “Bad Attitudes” WRITER: Michael T. Gilbert “Gray Skies” WRITER: Mat Gertler
Automan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
With only one more video posting available this week I wanted to showcase at least one science fiction production of Larson’s. While we all know Battlestar Galactica he did try a few others. He wrote a Six Million Dollar Man TV movie. He also did his share of crime shows, all more lighthearted than today’s fare. For example, Manimal is one that seems to have some renewed steam, at least in the reviewing community thanks to Brad “The Cinema Snob” Jones. Larson even got the characters of that show to meet up again for his adaptation of Malibu comics The Night Man. That show suffered from it’s budget. However, ABC did give Larson another chance to do a sci-fi superhero show for them. The result was Automan, one of my favorite shows as a kid. Sadly, I don’t have a posting of this show I can embed through my host rules. I can link you to the pilot from another site, though.
What I can bring you, however, is a behind the scenes look at the making of Automan, posted from a UK-released DVD of the series. And sadly it’s Region 2 so I couldn’t use it if I could even get it. The series followed LAPD computer man Walter Nebicher (Desi Arnaz, Jr.), who created a program called Automan (Chuck Dixon), who came into the real world. Together, Nebicher and Automan would solve crimes that baffle the police. This was a time that computers hadn’t become the must-have tools they are today. If you think this sounds like Tron in reverse well…that should have been obvious as a major influence. Automan even had a little aid called Cursor, that could turn into whatever our heroes needed in their pursuit of evildoers.
The documentary features interviews with Dixon, Arnaz, and Heather McNair, a woman who I think was an aide or something, I’m not really clear on it. She was also Walter’s love interest and the only other person who knew Automan’s secret. They discuss how the effect was created to make Automan and Cursor’s transformations glow, what it was like being on the show, and why there were only 13 episodes (only 12 having aired). Larson himself also appears in the documentary to discuss his side of things.
“Hey, this is a no-smoking arena!”
Felix Cat-a-strophic Wrestling Spectacular
Felix Comics (2000)
WRITERS/ARTISTS: Don Oriolo, Vic Scarpelli, Scott McRae, Dan Parent, Robert Wettauw, Jr, Pete Fitzgerald, Rick Hedden, & Jenn Henning (and no, I don’t know who did what; this is how they’re credited) COVER ART: Robert & Scott ART DIRECTOR: Jay Thompson STAFF: Annie Conner, Mike Oriolo, Lauren Nichols, & Kathy Walsh EDITOR: Scott McRae EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Don Oriolo
The Clutter Reports (my other site) Atop The Fourth Wall Crisis On Earth Prime Lean Into Artcast Bully Says “Comics Oughta Be Fun” Siskoid’s Blog of Geekery
Cartoon Hero’s Lair SF Debris Four Million Years Later
