August 23, 2021

Chapter By Chapter> Star Trek: Prime Directive part 2 chapter 3

Chapter By Chapter features me reading one chapter of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.

PART TWO: The Last Mission chapter 3

After nearly screwing up the mission last chapter, things are already looking like they won’t be easy. Then again, they didn’t receive the important warning so it may not be their fault. I wonder if this is going to be a running theme. This is probably the most important, or at least the most precarious, potential first contact in a long time. It wouldn’t be an interesting story if it wasn’t.

I think today we’re going to meet the guy in charge of this mission and I’m already prepared not to like him. He’s one of those mysterious types who may turn out to believe too much of his own hype or is just one of the few people who could win a cantankerous-off with McCoy. That actually might be fun to see. So let’s find out what happens next.

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Posted by on August 23, 2021 in Star Trek: Prime Directive, Television Spotlight and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , .

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August 23, 2021

BW’s Daily Video> The Bad Science of Star Trek: Generations

Yep, I’m starting this again. The backlog of quick post videos and article links are long and I think I can fit them in. I don’t know if this will go up all week but I’ll do my best.

Cranial Pasta was a short-lived project by computer documentarian, retro system game designer, and computer restorer The 8-Bit Guy. While a few episodes of this show was made, the only place to follow him for new material is his regular YouTube channel.

Posted by on August 23, 2021 in Movie Spotlight, Television Spotlight and tagged , .

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August 22, 2021

Jake & Leon #498: Return Of The Gun

One thing I learned doing this comic: my current skill level isn’t up to drawing in the Looney Tunes art style, even with how-to’s.

Yeah, it took two weeks to make that. They look like people in costumes but the how-to articles I found didn’t match my set-up style and it turned out harder than I thought. Daffy in panel 1 was a mess because of how the instructor showed how to draw his body versus what I was positioning on the virtual page. One does have to wonder why Bugs is so scared to be shot when you realize that when Daffy or Elmer (plus other foils) get blasted they shake it, sometimes in the same scene. It’s like the Looney Tunes’ world doesn’t make sense or something.

So, what’s happening this week. Your guess is as good as mine. We have a tropical storm (downgraded from a hurricane last I checked) coming to the state and if that doesn’t knock out power I still have a test and a doctor’s appointment related to the kidney stone. I can only promise the next Chapter By Chapter installment of Star Trek: Prime Directive and that our discussion topics won’t be as heavy as last week. At least I’m going to try not to be. Sometimes you have to talk about that stuff when examining the art of storytelling, and frankly there’s one more I’m debating even doing because I’m not sure if it’s in good taste or not and yet is a fascinating topic when it comes storytelling and current events. So whenever I end up with power (for all I know when this goes live I’ll be unable to see it…thank WordPress.com for scheduled posting) I’ll try to lighten the mood…hopefully without a kidney stone to worry about.

Have a good week everyone!

Posted by on August 22, 2021 in Animation Spotlight, Jake & Leon, web series and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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August 21, 2021

Saturday Night Showcase: Dr. Stone episode 1

Based on the manga series by  Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi, Dr. Stone takes place in a world where humanity (and for some reason birds) were all turned to stone, or at least encased in a stone tomb and either entering sleep or fighting to survive Rory Williams style for thousands of years. When the title character, actually named Senku Ishigami, awakens he has one goal…restore the modern world he knows through this obsession with science. Aiding him is his best friend Taiju Oki and others who have also awoken in this strange land…though there are some who would use this new reality for their own ends.

Tonight, thanks to TMS Entertainment’s official English YouTube channel I get to bring you the first episode. You may have heard about it and how it discusses science in an entertaining way (though I don’t know how it works as actual education) but if you haven’t check it out here’s your introduction. In the first episode Taiju is about to finally tell his long time crush how he feels, but gets interrupted by the stone incident. Waking up centuries later he meets  up with Senku and while together they’ll save the world Taiju just wants to awaken his crush and finally tell her how he feels. Enjoy.

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Posted by on August 21, 2021 in Animation Spotlight, Comic Spotlight, Saturday Night Showcase, Television Spotlight and tagged , , , , .

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August 20, 2021

Netflix Drops Trailer For Their OTHER He-Man Reboot

Well, this has been a rather heavy week. I was hoping to end off on something lighter (after realizing I was never really into Fantasy Island anyway so reviewing the new reboot when I can’t even remember that it airs seems meaningless) but then Netflix done gone and done it. They released a trailer for the other He-Man show…though at least this one is actually featuring He-Man in it’s opening story.

The third series to be called He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe, this is going to be a kids-targeted show. Why couldn’t just do one show for both audiences to watch together shows how uninterested in the entertainment industry is in bridging the generation gap (easier marketing I’d wager). This new take will be in CG rather than drawing animation (DA?) but that’s nothing to hold against a show. Some of the better Transformers cartoons were done with computer animation (why not CA instead of “computer generated” or “computer generated imaging”?) as were some bad ones but that’s due to the writing more than the animation. Transformers Cyberverse has weaker animation than Beast Machines yet you’ll find more praise for the former.

However, for those you hoping that this would be the better adaptation than the adult version…you may want to watch the trailer first.

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Posted by on August 20, 2021 in Animation Spotlight, web series and tagged , , , .

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August 19, 2021

Framing The Tim Drake Bi-Retcon Debate

Yes, I KNOW It’s the wrong Robin, but it fits so well and my media library is lacking in Tim/Steph pictures.

Ask me what the single most dangerous weapon in storytelling is and I’ll say the retcon with very little consideration. The retcon doesn’t just change the story going forward; it also affects every story leading up to the change. That hero you’ve cheered on all these years? He’s actually a monster that’s been playing you all this whole time. The heroine who inspired you as a kid? Skrull this whole time. The retcon isn’t character growth, it’s character rewriting without rebooting the continuity to do it. Use it carefully and wisely.

And let’s be honest, Tim being bisexual is a retcon. This was not something writers had in mind, nor did the creators. Whatever comes in happened after the fact by other writers. Regardless of your opinion of the recent change in Tim this is a retcon. Even if you saw it coming for years it was years after the character was created. For a clearer understanding of what’s going on I considered following yesterday’s example and showing two videos from either side of the debate. Then Sasha Wood decided to be awesome again.

In a recent episode of Casually Comics Sasha went over the history of Tim Drake in general before looking at all sides and perspectives of the debate. From LGBT+ folks for and against it (yes, that happens because being forced into a group doesn’t lock you into a Borg hivemind) to homophobes and just people who only care about the story Sasha frames all the points of view without bias but still with her signature wit and wig. So if you want a proper view of where all parties are coming from watching the following video. If you want a totally bias opinion, read my thoughts afterwards because of course I have thoughts. This is my favorite keeper of the Robin mantle here.

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Posted by on August 19, 2021 in DC Spotlight and tagged , , .

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August 18, 2021

Dissecting The Static Re-Origin Debate

Let’s get this straight at the outset. The character’s name is Static. The name of the show was Static Shock. Please stop getting this wrong! Sorry, had to get that out of my system. Moving on.

So, Static’s backstory was redone for it’s inclusion in the new DC universe, with his original origin in the Milestone universe. It’s not unusual to change or tweak origins for a new continuity. Heck, the last time the Milestone and DC universe met was prior to Flashpoint and the current post-New 52 DC Universe as it was integrated into the regular DC universe…and then promptly not used since DC Comics really just wanted Static given the successful integration with the DC Animated Universe of the show. So now, with a lot of other legal issues out of the way, the Milestone universe is set to be re-integrated in the same way as the WildStorm universe and characters when Jim Lee signed on with DC. (Certainly not the first time DC has done this but it was the first time in decades, having scooped up Quality and the original Charlton Comics heroes.)

However, there is one part of the alteration to the origin of how Virgil Hawkins got his electrostatic powers that is of course being hotly debated, which means I’m getting drawn back into politics as the modern political discussions are again invading storytelling. (Sadly this will not be the last time this week and I apologize to everyone who comes here to avoid that stuff.) Granted, the Milestone Comics, meant to target and speak to urban black youths, always had social issues as part of its DNA. However, since I’m the type of guy who tries to get all sides (at least from people I know aren’t talking out of their backsides) I think I understand the specific problem. The general source of complaints is that now Virgil isn’t caught in a gang fight but was taking part in a Black Lives Matter rally when the experimental gas hit everyone. There are defenders and not defenders and before I give my thoughts I grabbed one of each from the people I follow on YouTube to better frame the two opinions.

On the defense side we have Comic Drake. While I often find his shows interesting I don’t always agree with his points of view because we’re two different people with two different world views. Shocking, I know. On the other is Eric July, also known as Youngrippa 59 on YouTube. While Drake usually discusses comics on a variety of issues July is more of a social and comic commentator, a musician with geek creds. Note that both videos contain swearing, but my commentary won’t because I can only control my projects. However, please watch both because context matters around here.

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Posted by on August 18, 2021 in DC Spotlight and tagged , , , .

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