tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19498148034789621512024-03-12T22:17:51.752-07:00Brett Harris: Writer, Fanboy, Proud Father & All Around Geek.Opinions and shameless self promotion of a writer struggling to find an audience.Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-68205298233744143332022-05-22T11:32:00.009-07:002022-11-12T11:02:28.406-08:00Representation vs. Continuity: How the culture wars and Star Trek exposed a different kind of racism.<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>PART 1: RACISTS CLUTCHING THE PEARLS AND SCREAMING “WOKE!”<br /></b><br />One of the things I have always loved about <i>Star Trek</i> is its diversity. The original series was produced during the Civil Rights era and one of the regular characters was Lt. Uhura, a black woman. The U.S. was also embroiled in a bloody land war in Viet Nam and right there flying the ship was an Asian, Lt. Sulu. The Cold War was ratcheting up and for two of the three seasons, sitting next to Sulu was Ensign Chekov. The captain was a Mid-Westerner, doctor was a Southerner, the engineer was from Scotland and the first officer was not even from our planet. Trek has always tried to be inclusive. Sure, if you look back at it today it can be painfully sexist, and those racial minorities rarely had lines that were more than functional, but they were there and treated with respect. If you look at it as a product of its time it was (pun intended) lightyears ahead of just about anything else on television. As times changed so did the show, but it was always striving (even if it sometimes fell short) to include more underrepresented people, not just in casting, but story content as well frequently addressing social issues.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD5CXLmiFYG1ZgRx6Vd9GB2KLemHi5M-uWeOsYU-P2QFfHefmfCgZkHRKbkMWNqtLlUEFbqiCUTE6Z8Es69kGT0Iulr30pXB4ZpY_DOlKT36Ei-xA5JLMkgcI6hmwLI8aDvtgvNEa2DXtVsTyJFhbQGChjjh2c-KXTkNIheJZenBjOE7h0Bh60WWgtvg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD5CXLmiFYG1ZgRx6Vd9GB2KLemHi5M-uWeOsYU-P2QFfHefmfCgZkHRKbkMWNqtLlUEFbqiCUTE6Z8Es69kGT0Iulr30pXB4ZpY_DOlKT36Ei-xA5JLMkgcI6hmwLI8aDvtgvNEa2DXtVsTyJFhbQGChjjh2c-KXTkNIheJZenBjOE7h0Bh60WWgtvg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uhura from the original Star Trek.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There has been an ugly strain of racism rearing its head in fandom the last half decade. The political vocabulary of the extreme right has been popping up more and more and when Trek returned to tv with <i>Star Trek: Discovery</i>, immediately charges of being “woke” jumped out. “Oh, they are doing agenda tv with a black woman as the star,” or “Oh they are pushing the gay agenda with a gay regular.” It was nasty hateful shit that made me wonder, if they had been watching the same show that I spent my virtually my whole life watching and re-watching. Whenever I would push someone by asking “what do you mean by “woke?”” invariably what would eventually come out would be racist, sexist, or homophobic.<br /> <b><br /> Every.<br /> <br /> Single.<br /> <br /> Time.</b><br /> <br /> If “woke” means more representation to actors of color, more gender equitable roles and increased visibility of LGBTQ+ characters and performers, then<b><i> I’m all for it.</i></b> Everybody deserves representation. Everyone NEEDS representation. The problem is right wing media is trying to play on the racism of its consumers to generate fear and outrage so they will knee jerk defend the Nazi’s chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville and condemn Black Lives Matter as a violent organization even though the FBI reports 93% of BLM protests were peaceful (and most of the remaining 7% were instigated by counter protesters and the Department of Homeland Security reported that white supremacists groups were a larger threat to security).<br /> <br /><b> PART 2: ASSUMPTIONS MADE</b><br /> <br /> This is where it gets fuzzy, the writers and producers of <i>Discovery</i> were not helping. You see, I don’t like <i>Discovery</i> very much. It is literally the bottom of my list when I order my <i>Star Trek</i> series. Whenever, I voice this opinion and two things happen, I’m accused of being racist, homophobic, or sexist which causes the racist, homophobic, misogynists start defending me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxx5kLCwlQzsXcv4IIlt5syZv0TsaNm1C5qp9BXQaLegMHE-V1WHWmcd9ZaRhQ0OoLdbaApeKa-afLsFc5TOLAf5JZPfOZnb2n432Fm2gKt17ENPuZMly2clP_RhByGgyVcTNs8DBobNmdHMFB3y-uBwzxiFwd4AMzmPysjx6qvF_ev7yBPMeUDCwHOA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxx5kLCwlQzsXcv4IIlt5syZv0TsaNm1C5qp9BXQaLegMHE-V1WHWmcd9ZaRhQ0OoLdbaApeKa-afLsFc5TOLAf5JZPfOZnb2n432Fm2gKt17ENPuZMly2clP_RhByGgyVcTNs8DBobNmdHMFB3y-uBwzxiFwd4AMzmPysjx6qvF_ev7yBPMeUDCwHOA=w357-h400" width="357" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burnham from Star Trek: Discovery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> My big gripe about <i>Discovery</i>, being a longtime fan, was the horrid continuity and lazy writing. Plot twists were painfully predictable. (For the record I had the exact same feelings about <i>Star Trek: Enterprise</i> during its first two seasons) I won’t go into details for fear of getting too far off topic, but I hope someday to do an analysis of <i>Discovery</i> and vent my frustration with the show.<br /> <br /> But here is the problem…<br /> <br /> Every time I had a criticism of the show, the progressive fans who liked the show didn’t seem to want to take my word that my issue is with continuity or the writing, and the conservative half-wit anti-woke crowd wanted to graft their hate onto my complaints to try to legitimize their positions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> Both sides ignored it when I pointed out that Tig Notaro’s Jett Reno had become my favorite character, just edging out Anthony Rapp’s Paul Stamets (whose character and performance is literally the only thing that kept me from quitting the show the first season). Both performers and their characters are gay. Blu del Barro’s non-binary Adira Tal is probably the most important character to be added to a <i>Trek</i> cast since Roddenberry put Nichelle Nichols and George Takei in the original cast. Other than the production values (which will always improve as technology improves) <b>THAT is what <i>Discovery</i> gets right: Representation.</b> They have a fantastically diverse cast of regulars, guest stars and recurring characters. It is one thing that I absolutely <b>love</b> about the show. In fact, I find myself wishing some of the supporting players would get more to do (especially Patrick Kwok-Choon who plays Gen Rhys and Oyin Oladejo who plays Joann Owosekun).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFoJ54vdxGlIcSyCXdNTeD09ZRvFGJCR4p8Avo3golLYcJlqpPZRdTaI7zFHU_sgStnd1XY_tWaAs5Eh1W_dOpThNMDdhPzz98Bt2wZLh48t4V-heyKrtQRgXOG22szxkwKk9wQ5fjL5wYOqP2CcIXXKSzuyxH9gQtvTtSJsV4Km15DGbDqDinySJPdA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="777" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFoJ54vdxGlIcSyCXdNTeD09ZRvFGJCR4p8Avo3golLYcJlqpPZRdTaI7zFHU_sgStnd1XY_tWaAs5Eh1W_dOpThNMDdhPzz98Bt2wZLh48t4V-heyKrtQRgXOG22szxkwKk9wQ5fjL5wYOqP2CcIXXKSzuyxH9gQtvTtSJsV4Km15DGbDqDinySJPdA=w400-h226" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reno from Star Trek: Discovery</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNH5ycKMapatyQjg-7J4Bm29ls-24YItGf07iCVSZsQ6j8G2V3PBfxyLiTPD6c6iPU_mXWJw8Y4vEWbcOXTEKP-d9Bl0A_bE9qSD_z-w4KFiEbsB8zX9j5EV1ta8umcMFM21iLzR-XNYsWzRu_PIsvzQ5I0ZlLEDFQSoBULdZu-ZMri9Gbe89kG0oFVg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="813" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNH5ycKMapatyQjg-7J4Bm29ls-24YItGf07iCVSZsQ6j8G2V3PBfxyLiTPD6c6iPU_mXWJw8Y4vEWbcOXTEKP-d9Bl0A_bE9qSD_z-w4KFiEbsB8zX9j5EV1ta8umcMFM21iLzR-XNYsWzRu_PIsvzQ5I0ZlLEDFQSoBULdZu-ZMri9Gbe89kG0oFVg=w383-h400" width="383" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staments from Star Trek: Discovery.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmAr3cFqibTgug6ilhV-1ZR1V75W4V_1boHv6yeupFYRNiEUcUsEQ0h2mQkIvMVRtAl8O-u9AY_-0RkJa87izayqMsf5YYPlUe6z6HKznxo3Iqeh1oT0BXQc_GGYdV8baOeC4tj_9DBG7BOqXPLxucBtlrnaQZabljEb63ldrE082-sbJq7s6bJFhAjQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="941" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmAr3cFqibTgug6ilhV-1ZR1V75W4V_1boHv6yeupFYRNiEUcUsEQ0h2mQkIvMVRtAl8O-u9AY_-0RkJa87izayqMsf5YYPlUe6z6HKznxo3Iqeh1oT0BXQc_GGYdV8baOeC4tj_9DBG7BOqXPLxucBtlrnaQZabljEb63ldrE082-sbJq7s6bJFhAjQ=w400-h337" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adira Tal from Star Trek Discovery</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many of those who like the show want to ascribe ulterior motives to my dislike of the series often dismiss continuity as an excuse. It’s doesn’t matter to them, so in their eyes I’m just using it as a shield for my own hidden racism. I don’t like to crap on other people’s love of stuff, but I’d gladly debate <i>Discovery</i>’s story quality and if you dig the production values (which are spectacular) that’s fine. If you dig the representation aspect, I feel ya, it’s the best thing about it. <i>But if I get taken out of the story because of poor continuity or weak storytelling or predictable plot twists, please don’t presume an ulterior motive. </i>There are plenty of genuine racists, who are blatantly telling you their motives when they repeat buzzwords like “woke.” Don’t try to shrug it off my legitimate complaint saying, “there have always been continuity issues.” Yes, there have been, and they always bug the living piss out of me.<br /> <br /><b> Continuity is important. It provides a sense of verisimilitude. </b>When a continuity issue pops up it makes me crazy. <u>It always has</u>. When a line from Picard in<i> Star Trek: The Next Generation</i>’s pilot “Encounter at Farpoint” blatantly contradicted a line of dialogue from Spock in the original episode “The Omega Glory.” I cringed. I still do. It takes me out every time, even after all these years. The vast majority of continuity errors are usually errors that slipped through. Little errors that could have been fixed with a line of dialogue. <i>Sadly, some are <b>deliberate choices</b> made by the showrunners.</i> To me it's a big issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtuBLS3c9MzAxvghP59bVOt30uXlgQ-duM7iAJizczFldMyiVVh5lRwwk598ad7_6iu2OBLlbCqg-2Bs3WXwgHmeEbQLd8gpLBpHJkizqnjhBXNlRst9vUUYhUvWYxjK_F-ewQwvILyDr0UA6p_5KDQCb5dPgdf_HsPeBQhsKDV897DCYZi21HzKYwHg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="500" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtuBLS3c9MzAxvghP59bVOt30uXlgQ-duM7iAJizczFldMyiVVh5lRwwk598ad7_6iu2OBLlbCqg-2Bs3WXwgHmeEbQLd8gpLBpHJkizqnjhBXNlRst9vUUYhUvWYxjK_F-ewQwvILyDr0UA6p_5KDQCb5dPgdf_HsPeBQhsKDV897DCYZi21HzKYwHg=w400-h248" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Encounter at Farpoint"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMjsHfcHJpIZuf2PjRCPxXD6_uY2F4B1AmK3dhTf7kK9ob4pRKQFznE62xPjxpDem2URTnCUTbeqXdmRMTInTHcxAPvrOo6-i1TjdZeR51pBats5EUWrM6UpvsCQNv0TK-mujbPUotXp3M5BRgYnka9zezUp7M-mhwbMdBdxnCRte9o-RVDcXTe81JLw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="944" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMjsHfcHJpIZuf2PjRCPxXD6_uY2F4B1AmK3dhTf7kK9ob4pRKQFznE62xPjxpDem2URTnCUTbeqXdmRMTInTHcxAPvrOo6-i1TjdZeR51pBats5EUWrM6UpvsCQNv0TK-mujbPUotXp3M5BRgYnka9zezUp7M-mhwbMdBdxnCRte9o-RVDcXTe81JLw=w400-h291" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Trek - "The Omega Glory"</td></tr></tbody></table> <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now, if <u>you</u> don’t care about continuity, that’s certainly your prerogative as a fan, but don’t lump me in with the anti-woke Tucker Carlson watching lemmings just because we disagree and I find <i>Discovery </i>disappointing dramatically and nonsensical as a prequel. A lot of the issues could have been avoided if the show were rebooting a new universe instead of forcing itself into the original “prime” universe. This is truly the perplexing part. <i>Why make a prequel then ignore the continuity when you can just reboot a new continuity and pick and choose, in buffet style, what you want to keep and toss?</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i></i><br /><b> INTERLUDE: REBOOTS VS. SPINOFF AND STRANGE NEW WORLDS & THE ANIMATED SERIES</b><br /> <br /> I know this next little bit will seem off track and even random at times, especially when I said the continuity and writing are, in essence, a whole different issue from all of this, but context is king so I need to discuss some terms and provide some back story before I move on to the real point of this article.<br /> <br /><i> There are three ways to add onto a franchise.</i> </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>FIRST set a spin-off in the same universe as a sequel or prequel or parallel to the source material. </i>This is what all of the <i>Trek</i> television shows claim to be. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>The SECOND way is a hard reboot. </i>This takes the basic concept and reworks it from the ground up. It has no impact on the original and the original only serves as inspiration for new. <i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (2004) is an example of a hard reboot.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7QQcDOwcUqEDarfIMG_LlbODXDwfN28t2P8zuR-eqUsWuoyDzM_osGmCwberc0uWb-etQ4A3hUWaIjiL1bjBWme6xVPmw5mtp7qQ2Lc6SapDLGN2jwI_p7WJG_0JNbUTA-ScqQopVuPJ5W0Yf1O9-JgzvC-g6IIx4vVSzwVUMB9uqn06CL8Yx_DDwpw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1150" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7QQcDOwcUqEDarfIMG_LlbODXDwfN28t2P8zuR-eqUsWuoyDzM_osGmCwberc0uWb-etQ4A3hUWaIjiL1bjBWme6xVPmw5mtp7qQ2Lc6SapDLGN2jwI_p7WJG_0JNbUTA-ScqQopVuPJ5W0Yf1O9-JgzvC-g6IIx4vVSzwVUMB9uqn06CL8Yx_DDwpw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Battlestar Galactica hard reboot.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span><i>The THIRD option is the soft reboot. </i><span>You set it in continuity but devise a way to wipe the slate clean, so you have an excuse to not beholden to continuity. The </span><i>Star Trek</i><span> trilogy films starring Chris Pine (2009-2016) are an example of this. Spock from the original prime universe continuity goes back in time chasing a Romulan villain and the timeline gets altered creating an alternate parallel timeline for the new stories.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRyJQQWzCujIuX06OPwKa1FmXWh_uIWdcKH6x_0kVkD_BET68hY7Cw0zioEWE82Rj4XgwKQPm47YwEOTuQEGBdwQl08nz2K5LrYV56inlkZWxl9ztP_34ZaMPMl3ysqoiSYB5lQKs6q7eQGmPsFZbmerkifqNdy6japmvzWg_zFO5fY5TaqKu1qYPPPw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1143" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRyJQQWzCujIuX06OPwKa1FmXWh_uIWdcKH6x_0kVkD_BET68hY7Cw0zioEWE82Rj4XgwKQPm47YwEOTuQEGBdwQl08nz2K5LrYV56inlkZWxl9ztP_34ZaMPMl3ysqoiSYB5lQKs6q7eQGmPsFZbmerkifqNdy6japmvzWg_zFO5fY5TaqKu1qYPPPw=w400-h239" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirk from the Star Trek soft reboot.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span><span>No one is forcing you to </span><u>like</u><span> the soft or hard reboots, but they are a tool for writers to get away from being hemmed into continuity. If we did a hard reboot of </span><i>Trek</i><span> we could drastically change things up and have a female Latinx Capt. Kirk, a Black Dr. McCoy or a female Scotty, and Spock could be red and eat via a plate in his stomach (as originally intended) but in the soft reboot we must have the characters be mostly recognizable unless the change can be traced back to the plot element that altered things (in this example the timeline changes by the Romulan). </span><i>Discovery</i><span> producers deliberately decided the show would be set not in the soft reboot continuity, nor a brand-new hard reboot continuity but instead insisted it was part of the original prime continuity.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <br />During season two of <i>Discovery</i> the story arc tied into the original failed 1964 <i>Star Trek</i> pilot, “The Cage.” (In 1965 a new pilot was made, and the series was sold becoming the show we all know, and the original pilot footage was used as flashback material for the two-part 1966 episode “The Menagerie.”) On <i>Discovery</i>, they recast characters that appeared in that original pilot (Spock, Capt. Pike and Number One) and fan reaction was so positive that a new series, <i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, </i>was announced and would be set between the two original pilot episodes in the original prime universe. The show premiered May 5th.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCB8BSxT8URXIhTQjYRGxG8UfW4rSwZsHILP8E4qIOsz-TdUMY4lniILTolmldlR4jZN5h74VMteWuDl2VaaamrFN0q_V92J4-p-3599fXechSQiiiiI1WquR2Vh0lY6denFhvMmYd_5PsGXbAyxrSfE3Dkfz6SZxqffeVsaQvpn34dp3kYKTijggPZQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCB8BSxT8URXIhTQjYRGxG8UfW4rSwZsHILP8E4qIOsz-TdUMY4lniILTolmldlR4jZN5h74VMteWuDl2VaaamrFN0q_V92J4-p-3599fXechSQiiiiI1WquR2Vh0lY6denFhvMmYd_5PsGXbAyxrSfE3Dkfz6SZxqffeVsaQvpn34dp3kYKTijggPZQ=w400-h225" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Cage - The original 1964 Star Trek Pilot</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyviPoT3EK7snMpWxXQlQldE0Z1m1AAM4BRTt08MJJIRuRtVi9nYUD4-qFJZkQZfsJ5-Yat5H_YpWljprpDGtB2a5nWg4DOKwIGRitAVQ-T4CPAumw4lXuuN8XGfMA1KX1TaRH5792QMsc8CKoKBiMNGmlYrtPvtvqP36KG8v1TdzztSucC1LVWD9L4Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="1317" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyviPoT3EK7snMpWxXQlQldE0Z1m1AAM4BRTt08MJJIRuRtVi9nYUD4-qFJZkQZfsJ5-Yat5H_YpWljprpDGtB2a5nWg4DOKwIGRitAVQ-T4CPAumw4lXuuN8XGfMA1KX1TaRH5792QMsc8CKoKBiMNGmlYrtPvtvqP36KG8v1TdzztSucC1LVWD9L4Q=w400-h249" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Cage characters recast for Star Trek: Discovery<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRIueIqoyDbL8ppXyfArt9XYtaB5l3ajtt6g-CNg19Brki6PLOLsRtMHangyuvnvyy34nIue_pIptDHp8ruVnknvaXMbfmLlCBsXFZFuQoRW1oZKCxjFHdhB96ritlqtyhKpzdxDMOPNfbGtwMD0ZmKMubCFvYpHZ7L0OEuwwiMFYNpsQn79dUxJOmMA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1058" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRIueIqoyDbL8ppXyfArt9XYtaB5l3ajtt6g-CNg19Brki6PLOLsRtMHangyuvnvyy34nIue_pIptDHp8ruVnknvaXMbfmLlCBsXFZFuQoRW1oZKCxjFHdhB96ritlqtyhKpzdxDMOPNfbGtwMD0ZmKMubCFvYpHZ7L0OEuwwiMFYNpsQn79dUxJOmMA=w400-h258" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Cage characters in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />In 1974 <i>Star Trek</i>’s first ever spin-off, <i>Star Trek: The Animated Series</i> was made and ran for two years. It won an Emmy for Best Series in 1975. It helped keep <i>Trek</i> alive in the decade between the cancelation of the original series and its resurgence as a motion picture series. When <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> was on the air, there was a time when TAS was considered non-canonical. However, over the years more and more references from the movies, <i>TNG</i>, <i>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine</i>, <i>Enterprise</i> and most recently <i>Star Trek: Lower Decks</i> have brought it into continuity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1aRmFp-SPL3Joa700ePxfBjwE7hhtkAZDNHm_WN6_O-Kf3YBdswAgASSAFVemCygzlmzGo755woNAiHzmqWoDdvYFqKxjYo22ubEXqf-ANnvg-G1YFzPlg7bXFL-az8DuO3SVR33tvRlEsbIW2u15sKha9CadnFTz4Mi8d6ntY_Kn6HqT9fGbzLqEAQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1125" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1aRmFp-SPL3Joa700ePxfBjwE7hhtkAZDNHm_WN6_O-Kf3YBdswAgASSAFVemCygzlmzGo755woNAiHzmqWoDdvYFqKxjYo22ubEXqf-ANnvg-G1YFzPlg7bXFL-az8DuO3SVR33tvRlEsbIW2u15sKha9CadnFTz4Mi8d6ntY_Kn6HqT9fGbzLqEAQ=w400-h259" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Trek: The Animated Series</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i>What do these things have to do with one another? You’ll see because <u>now I’m finally at the point of this whole post.</u></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <br /><b> PART 3: THE SPIN OFF, RECASTING AND ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM</b><br /> <br /> Recently it was announced that a black actor had been cast as Admiral Robert April a reoccurring guest character for <i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</i>. And of course, some red hat wearing asshole complained online that it was another example of modern <i>Trek</i> being “woke” ruining <i>Trek</i> because the character had previously been established in the <i>TAS</i> as white. He was roundly and properly taken down.<i> Again, in *<u>my</u>* experience <u>EVERY TIME</u> someone uses the word “woke” pejoratively and they have been questioned or pushed on it, it reveals a racist, homophobic or sexist sentiment.</i></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHzCLJZ8kYZbkcqH6mSS7Uej8Lb1nbkNH0q_-F1CI8ApQE1411AFdQomXKjxRXYkbdyVoSsyNQ6FvDHCCMwdxVGlbgwlRcJ7S_o_cZFD4YrXPOm2mWXd-A0KzhMHZJtWAb-EmA-EfOuDf5akW4CTsqG1pkOP0II3hBwiVdewbek1fufJaeo990IRcZcw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHzCLJZ8kYZbkcqH6mSS7Uej8Lb1nbkNH0q_-F1CI8ApQE1411AFdQomXKjxRXYkbdyVoSsyNQ6FvDHCCMwdxVGlbgwlRcJ7S_o_cZFD4YrXPOm2mWXd-A0KzhMHZJtWAb-EmA-EfOuDf5akW4CTsqG1pkOP0II3hBwiVdewbek1fufJaeo990IRcZcw=w400-h268" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">April from Star Trek Strange New Worlds</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOCg-FYj7THxYkAWJGbq2N7VCBon5ufTGxD4w9KU--yKOGsKp7xtHIz-GpV3jfvQdZi-D---49ffu6oB38d2Se-YQOnMl0xDKh62afuoop3prqebCiwqvjSOCPDSN_SiaNGieWY6NbJp-pevFlDg0Fjjmigmn96eNFHrYZ8ExEuieuM3OcVhWk3loj8Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOCg-FYj7THxYkAWJGbq2N7VCBon5ufTGxD4w9KU--yKOGsKp7xtHIz-GpV3jfvQdZi-D---49ffu6oB38d2Se-YQOnMl0xDKh62afuoop3prqebCiwqvjSOCPDSN_SiaNGieWY6NbJp-pevFlDg0Fjjmigmn96eNFHrYZ8ExEuieuM3OcVhWk3loj8Q=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April from Star Trek: The Animated Series</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here’s the problem: I agree that the actor should not have been cast but for different reasons. You see: <i>Objecting to the casting of an actor of color because it’s “woke” <u>is</u> racist.</i> However, objecting to recasting of ANY established character that is supposed to be in the same continuity (not a hard reboot) by someone of a different race or gender is not racist because the reasoning is not based in hate but a desire for continuity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /> My fellow liberals pounced and proclaimed me a racist. Maybe I am. Maybe I am unconsciously using continuity as a shield. I'm self reflective enough to at least consider the possibility. However, if I were, certainly it would come out in other ways, right? So, I started asking myself questions. It’s <i>always</i> good to ask oneself questions when you find human garbage in agreement with you.<br /><br /><i><b> Do I object to a person of color being a high-ranking officer to whom a white man must answer?</b></i><br /> No. I never questioned that Commodore Stone, Admiral Morrow or Admiral Cartwright as Kirk’s commanding officers in “Court Martial,” <i>Star Trek III: The Search for Spock</i> and <i>Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home</i>. I would not have a problem if the actor in question were hired to play Admiral Smith instead of Admiral April and served the same function in the story. In act after finally seeing the first episode, there was absolutely <u>no reason</u> to call the character Robert April</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>.</span><span> By the way, </span><i>DS9</i><span>, which featured a black commanding officer, is my favorite </span><i>Trek</i><span> series. For whatever, <i><b>that's</b></i> worth.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipX2sdp8SSa1lWFIPofxFtEZtkNXprr_fIxeA3a0BtOc_jIPldK8ulQxug2u3XAywP2yzKMXGSjMLqXPU3z6NKAgtsHWlwsPAuo9kAvpuQZJMu_Uipbbqq89EqV8yu40u1fXWgnA-n8kuVpdjmYtpGI-VAEEq3NIpRV4eslMbFsVS0iYMg50SFU0G1-Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipX2sdp8SSa1lWFIPofxFtEZtkNXprr_fIxeA3a0BtOc_jIPldK8ulQxug2u3XAywP2yzKMXGSjMLqXPU3z6NKAgtsHWlwsPAuo9kAvpuQZJMu_Uipbbqq89EqV8yu40u1fXWgnA-n8kuVpdjmYtpGI-VAEEq3NIpRV4eslMbFsVS0iYMg50SFU0G1-Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Commodore Stone with Kirk in Star Trek "Court Martial"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcHmTSrkv7ChiNMfTqQ-Ctvu9T1kjQQAjsKhAJ7Ynf9gTPZpnObK4ALwZp4gwM8ZBahXCljV8roVgKC90ZopOTgHGB6C7Q4R_uSB6HRss2ckbnop3OHQT4a3wrHUqisvAmCBO4maLQjk7aBuG9cCYQvDRx13Xxug8ZnR2hf0HCexEWIVEnfFPt-NTdMw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="271" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcHmTSrkv7ChiNMfTqQ-Ctvu9T1kjQQAjsKhAJ7Ynf9gTPZpnObK4ALwZp4gwM8ZBahXCljV8roVgKC90ZopOTgHGB6C7Q4R_uSB6HRss2ckbnop3OHQT4a3wrHUqisvAmCBO4maLQjk7aBuG9cCYQvDRx13Xxug8ZnR2hf0HCexEWIVEnfFPt-NTdMw=w327-h400" width="327" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sisko from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><i><b>Would I still object if the situation were reversed?</b></i><br /> Oh, you betcha. If April were originally depicted as black in <i>TAS</i> and they announced a white actor playing the role I would be against the casting. I would also object if black characters like Sisko, LaForge, or Mayweather were recast with white actors. Hell, I would be object if Arex, an orange skinned three-armed alien from <i>TAS</i>, were depicted in live action as purple with four arms.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6vk84gA7Gp_GagLV3K1Ea9q9T8eNofGoAGdeKWBbQX8lU3xCXE8XQBWx-OAbeZA0w7PG7UPaGhEst22bDDowT29QTqqCZGl-5t6wzU9QgChwvfT0mlQumLNWvod2YumaOQH5wFsp_Xak7F0BS_Yl4im00VEd_IF1DBMwko6NqdG1hb-OcJNhMkIlSmA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="941" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6vk84gA7Gp_GagLV3K1Ea9q9T8eNofGoAGdeKWBbQX8lU3xCXE8XQBWx-OAbeZA0w7PG7UPaGhEst22bDDowT29QTqqCZGl-5t6wzU9QgChwvfT0mlQumLNWvod2YumaOQH5wFsp_Xak7F0BS_Yl4im00VEd_IF1DBMwko6NqdG1hb-OcJNhMkIlSmA=w400-h183" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arex from Star Trek The Animated Series</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><i>Would I object if the casting was part of a hard reboot?</i></b><br /> Nope, not at all.<br /> <br /><b><i> Is the continuity of his race the only thing about the announcement that bothered me?</i></b><br /> Nope. He’s listed as Admiral but the character as he first appears on <i>TAS</i> is a lower rank, a Commodore, in an episode that takes place more than a decade later. Also, I don’t know how old the actor is, but he looks much younger than 60 (April was 75 in his appearance on <i>TAS</i>).<br /> <br /> The answer to these questions satisfied <u>me</u>, but every racist I’ve run into has sworn up and down they were not racist, so maybe I’m fooling myself. Again, I'm self reflective enough to consider the possibility. I do know that when pointed these positions out, sadly, my fellow liberals gave me ZERO benefit of the doubt and even went so far as to move goal post and start downplaying the series. Their counter arguments were frequently rude, ill conceived and had the whiff of desperation. Here is a tase of how many conversations went...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>“You are full of crap. Sisko was a regular. The April character only appeared only once.”</b></i><br /> I would not want one-time characters of color like Boma (“The Galileo Seven”) and Shea (“By Any Other Name”) recast as white, in fact you can make the <u>same</u> argument about Pike and Number One when they were first used as guest stars on Discovery. They tried to keep those characters like their original interpretation. They even dyed Rebecca Romijn’s hair to match the original actress. There were no accusations of hating blonde’s or accusations being secret brunette supremacists. After finally seeing the first episode, it appears that April is not the only character whose race is changed. Transporter Chief Kyle, who was originally a white British officer, is now Asian with no trace of a British accent. Kyle was not a one off but a reoccurring character who appeared in nine episodes of the original series and even one of the feature films.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp8_nTmrUu_e6KoPX9SRah20NjLyGv2f24GqXwFIH3dHq3OJ3wEV7Hc_CKIVmJsXYwoxUQHNEzzUKsU8NXqmIVmOpe7ZAkLS6G4IxiyRrv3DqbJ541U7YEU5dQaslBIAZyqBgI9T3TUR9h2hHbWCDoNLT4jJs4yalwMvajh8U1lD3E2gjfq4nfJJkp3A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="893" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp8_nTmrUu_e6KoPX9SRah20NjLyGv2f24GqXwFIH3dHq3OJ3wEV7Hc_CKIVmJsXYwoxUQHNEzzUKsU8NXqmIVmOpe7ZAkLS6G4IxiyRrv3DqbJ541U7YEU5dQaslBIAZyqBgI9T3TUR9h2hHbWCDoNLT4jJs4yalwMvajh8U1lD3E2gjfq4nfJJkp3A=w400-h220" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boma from Star Trek "The Galileo Seven"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfeN0NdeegIcgxwjfb2zCTULCVB3469Bi2tT98XZ4UWtwNQp6HvK2dTKEwvf9YQI_y7hbGDjQDGbUBhb6nFgD2l1EJXNJ2qjYATYlY9vz9wChcYSnSOTnwEgqAwdXgmHYbsu4AbY7f5_H8wS8sdJqI-dxg0TlCryqgpI5jh5U8asLxeasUTSABtn0muQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="851" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfeN0NdeegIcgxwjfb2zCTULCVB3469Bi2tT98XZ4UWtwNQp6HvK2dTKEwvf9YQI_y7hbGDjQDGbUBhb6nFgD2l1EJXNJ2qjYATYlY9vz9wChcYSnSOTnwEgqAwdXgmHYbsu4AbY7f5_H8wS8sdJqI-dxg0TlCryqgpI5jh5U8asLxeasUTSABtn0muQ=w400-h296" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shea from Star Trek "By Any Other Name"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></i></b><b><i>“Boma and Shea were live action. April was a cartoon.”</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>I wouldn't want Gabler, a recurring character who appears in five episodes of the the animated series to be recast as white. </span><span>Also again, Kyle was live action. </span><span>Also , I wouldn’t want Beckett Mariner or Capt. Freeman, both black characters voiced by black performers in the animated </span><i>Trek</i><span> series </span><i>Lower Decks</i><span> recast as white in a live action series (in fact I would lobby for the voice actresses to get the job). Second, we now have </span><u>two</u><span> animated </span><i>Trek</i><span> series currently in production. Animation should not disqualify the series from being cannon.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPWyUHOpLsWCO7m6baLYKnL6vaiixHFjcDXnUmOzp8I713FTWsRtUkxs5sA04jGNCnsi_DIwdFYw9gyxFa4f_T3m770d2MBzwhbWMqebjwhSRx1PTIa7Ed24DdXaQIWgapY80huhGrEdYVZ61-TyYsE_4lCwuZ3zNZWsEgATKganvgujvaJCXZrTjUGQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="746" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPWyUHOpLsWCO7m6baLYKnL6vaiixHFjcDXnUmOzp8I713FTWsRtUkxs5sA04jGNCnsi_DIwdFYw9gyxFa4f_T3m770d2MBzwhbWMqebjwhSRx1PTIa7Ed24DdXaQIWgapY80huhGrEdYVZ61-TyYsE_4lCwuZ3zNZWsEgATKganvgujvaJCXZrTjUGQ" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabler from The Animated Series.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjWZiO-duN9HLqzdeRMsrKw7pMWYOn-I9hTnmJcJbVwOewE65eP4kINOJniF551J2AtsqOeZppNlziAWSKVC9HcBtjcm9ynK4KENItxgGaQPOrhSTz1eggXIrfNNkajmgQRmzsllf1JVqUO9366-XyYbYsvCa1UL02yY2UepXv4mE_my0WhdVAVKjbRQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="768" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjWZiO-duN9HLqzdeRMsrKw7pMWYOn-I9hTnmJcJbVwOewE65eP4kINOJniF551J2AtsqOeZppNlziAWSKVC9HcBtjcm9ynK4KENItxgGaQPOrhSTz1eggXIrfNNkajmgQRmzsllf1JVqUO9366-XyYbYsvCa1UL02yY2UepXv4mE_my0WhdVAVKjbRQ=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariner and Freeman from Star Trek: Lower Decks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><b>“The Animated Series is over 40 years old, Lower Decks is new.”</b></i><br /> Eh, so what? <i>Strange New Worlds </i>is literally based on a pilot that is almost 60 years old.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>“The Animated Series is dated.”</b></i><br /> Yea. So is <i>TOS</i> which is the basis for everything, all the shows get older every year. Is this a suggestion that we put “expiration dates” on the shows? <i>TOS</i> and <i>TAS</i> have “expired” since they are over 40 years old. <i>TNG</i> is 35 so we can start ignoring it in five years. <i>This is lame, if the producers want to ignore old stuff, all they had to do was a reboot instead of putting it in the original continuity.</i><br /><br /><b><i>“The Animated Series not cannon. Roddenberry said so.”</i></b><br /> It wasn’t… until it was. As I noted above. The show and the episodes have been brought into continuity by other series, some as recently as just last year. The context of Robbenberry comment was that if he knew the show would become a franchise and continue with movies and <i>TNG</i> he would have toned down the sillier elements. With that said, Roddenberry proudly put his name on the series. Seven members of the cast returned to voice their characters (William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForrest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Majel Barrett), as did guest stars (Mark Leonard, Roger C. Carmel, and Stanley Adams) many episodes were written by people who worked on the original series including <i>TOS </i>story editor D.C. Fontana, David Gerrold, Samuel Peeples, Marc Daniels, Margaret Armen, Stephen Kandel and Walter Koenig. It has some pretty deep cred on the creative side, more so than just about any other <i>Trek</i> tv show.<br /> <b><i><br /> “The writer of the original animated episode is ok with the casting.”</i></b><br /> Yes, Fred Bronson (who wrote the episode under the name John Culver) tweeted support for the casting. Given that he might be savaged and accused of racism if he didn’t, it may have been his only choice. There is some debate as whether or not he created the character. Bronson has said he created the character using the name April because he knew Gene liked it (Gene used the name before in other scripts). Conversely, Roddenberry did make the claim at conventions that he created the character because wanted the <i>Enterprise</i> to have "a history" and used a rejected name for the series lead as the first commander/backstory (I heard him say this myself in 1989). Either way the name first appeared to the public in the 1968 book <i>The Making of Star Trek</i> by Roddenberry and Stephen Whitfield as well as an early as a pilot script draft dated March1964, more than a decade before "The Counter Clock Incident" was written. However, that does not necessarily contradict Bronson's recollection, since that point the character was the character that would become Pike. If he did create the character let's hope he's getting the residuals for the use of his character. <br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZIyC8s6eoBU3vOzjBjNXozAkIfq3Q88yzaujP1MK198K7KPbUbJivvUiLjfTUOBRaeeNTzXkmLfQAxomCXslS3h1oMFsqzakBpenalIpI0LDJIiwdroSC_bBtvK40g81Tsvi_288KQ-OOkk94O3ePLqeJE0HRM0s7Vji-KQ3T72b1C6IKr96FRsifbA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="588" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZIyC8s6eoBU3vOzjBjNXozAkIfq3Q88yzaujP1MK198K7KPbUbJivvUiLjfTUOBRaeeNTzXkmLfQAxomCXslS3h1oMFsqzakBpenalIpI0LDJIiwdroSC_bBtvK40g81Tsvi_288KQ-OOkk94O3ePLqeJE0HRM0s7Vji-KQ3T72b1C6IKr96FRsifbA=w400-h175" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bronson's Tweet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b> “The episode sucks.”</b><br /> Yea, so what? The first episode was filmed in 1964. There have been 12 television series (five of which are currently in production) resulting in 861 episodes (including all ten episodes of <i>SNW</i> this season and the yet unaired 10 episodes from this season of <i>Star Trek: Prodigy</i>) with another 50-60 episodes in various points of production for next season and 13 motion pictures (with one in preproduction). When you produce that much material there are going to be some winners and some stinkers. You must take the good with the bad, it wasn't the first ridiculous episode nor was it the last. <i>Continuity and cannon should not be based on a score from Rotten Tomatoes.</i><br /> <br /><b><i> “The Animated Series sucks.”</i></b><br /> That’s <i>your</i> opinion. The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences disagrees, they gave it a Best Series award. It remains the only <i>Trek</i> to earn that distinction. By contemporary standards it’s dated, cheap looking and may not be your cup of tea, but just because YOU don’t care for it doesn’t mean should be ignored.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><i><b>“You hate the actor.”</b></i><br /> No. I’m completely neutral on the actor. He did a perfectly good job in the first episode as had the actor who has been playing Kyle. I know nothing about either one of them and to the best of my knowledge I have not seen either of them in anything else (If I did, they flew under my radar). I would have <u>no problem</u> if they were presented as <u>new/different</u> characters with different names <u>or</u> the series was a <u>hard reboot</u>.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihKXINcoq-r7UACcAPYwu5EcN1ppVrS0_tJboUfesBD80DhdMYHO8Rx8eptjMMw5V6AxLzEdMDBinjROuurR4sKFwOA-Be3P6_WNI81wn1H5gHbzPF4FUGuk8JuKkS0Fubx6we5EEu1GDp1QQ2WoT_A15NjTL4sHPmi1jw-jAFKM9zz6P_oeEDMisaiQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="731" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihKXINcoq-r7UACcAPYwu5EcN1ppVrS0_tJboUfesBD80DhdMYHO8Rx8eptjMMw5V6AxLzEdMDBinjROuurR4sKFwOA-Be3P6_WNI81wn1H5gHbzPF4FUGuk8JuKkS0Fubx6we5EEu1GDp1QQ2WoT_A15NjTL4sHPmi1jw-jAFKM9zz6P_oeEDMisaiQ=w400-h198" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Kyle from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9EiQM5tUIXm9bJjA0ewnSZBMMGQZgK9u3bWtsqLPPqqJX3vXVhLiS2-ihhU8cJmA5EZSwu42oTHFnXlnn0TN-mtR2FzlEOYaBNPY6pZbI2ZYWFMxef2UOxN6bCK5VS7mmtj35hP2U22EVqb6EKBT6rcJbDcEL6e4iNX7fp4m9Fhe-HDCSMDC-XMUhTA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="510" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9EiQM5tUIXm9bJjA0ewnSZBMMGQZgK9u3bWtsqLPPqqJX3vXVhLiS2-ihhU8cJmA5EZSwu42oTHFnXlnn0TN-mtR2FzlEOYaBNPY6pZbI2ZYWFMxef2UOxN6bCK5VS7mmtj35hP2U22EVqb6EKBT6rcJbDcEL6e4iNX7fp4m9Fhe-HDCSMDC-XMUhTA=w400-h354" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle from the original Star Trek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><i> “You hate Strange New Worlds”</i></b><br /> Given the continuity on <i>Discovery</i>, I’ll admit was very concerned about <i>SNW</i>, but I wanted to love it. I wanted it to be good. I hoped it’s the best <i>Trek</i> ever. This is usually my attitude about <u>every</u> new <i>Trek</i> show before it airs. Since seeing the first three episodes I am of two minds. If it had been presented as a reboot I would hail it as a fantastic start with potential to be one of the top three Trek series, but as a prequal, the numerous continuity issues are distracting and annoying, leaving me very divided. My only real non-continuity related issue with the first episode is some of the cringe worthy Vulcan dialogue near the beginning of the episode.<br /><br /><i><b>“It’s clearly racial, you didn’t throw a fit when April was erased from continuity in the Star Trek 2009 film.”</b></i><br /> That was a soft reboot. He wasn’t erased, the timeline was altered. His new fate was depicted in the comic book story “Countdown to Darkness” which is considered cannon by the reboot trilogy producers (one of the <u>rare</u> exceptions for a comic or novel). <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2xfCdZixb3vJ-od1OeXKvEvIBVZKevYRJA12uWQAe7gKqWM9hLlDy0d0_c3v7eiOF5XAtUBiMu_cRne01lWj-SM3giYNImTEnoq_J-z9Wc3V1kWX8Y18U4HO1NgLmz2oypaavQW6AeTyi2NHKwTerkecN9FzP4h5k6bZsDce2Klg7HygmOLL5b20AGA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="403" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2xfCdZixb3vJ-od1OeXKvEvIBVZKevYRJA12uWQAe7gKqWM9hLlDy0d0_c3v7eiOF5XAtUBiMu_cRne01lWj-SM3giYNImTEnoq_J-z9Wc3V1kWX8Y18U4HO1NgLmz2oypaavQW6AeTyi2NHKwTerkecN9FzP4h5k6bZsDce2Klg7HygmOLL5b20AGA=w200-h400" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April from the soft reboot comic.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><b>“It’s clearly racial, you don’t have other continuity complaints.”</b></i><br />No, the announcement of the actor happened <u>before </u>the show aired creating the initial controversy and conversation, in addition to the two instances of changing of existing characters ethnicity, <b>I counted at least <u>12 other continuity issues</u> in the first episode alone after finally seeing it</b>. More have popped up in the two episodes since then. All of which would be non-issues if the show were a reboot instead of a prequel. <br /> <br /><i><b> “Your reboot argument sucks. People hate reboots.”</b></i><br /> Yes… and no. Many hated the hard reboot of <i>Battlestar Galactica</i> and the soft reboot of the new <i>Star Trek</i> film trilogy. But many people <b>LOVED</b> them. You can’t please everyone but why deliberately antagonize and alienate longtime fans by disregarding continuity when it could be avoided one way or the other?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Of course from the other side when a bigot tries to join in to defend me: "Star Trek was never woke or political with this Social Justice Warrior crap before."</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You clearly were not paying attention or are a drooling idiot... probably both.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkU2FMGfv77Vw2MrMCJ-WLix0-oHI5RzCRcFXdNJn7_mELeHgbN7qBX-PWm5Vlx4ktJ0Z7S4pqLu3PDaBVYFOWCxdxUmOLVeOfs4irHDMeqGqjdjdtyTyfuUYF0Vy86G5NAE-I6pOmzkeS05reFZgzkHVJGqRIwAymcKO0a2HqZZnB5KGUjbfi_j2WBQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="989" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkU2FMGfv77Vw2MrMCJ-WLix0-oHI5RzCRcFXdNJn7_mELeHgbN7qBX-PWm5Vlx4ktJ0Z7S4pqLu3PDaBVYFOWCxdxUmOLVeOfs4irHDMeqGqjdjdtyTyfuUYF0Vy86G5NAE-I6pOmzkeS05reFZgzkHVJGqRIwAymcKO0a2HqZZnB5KGUjbfi_j2WBQ=w400-h301" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Star Trek - "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtViVvfrJ0xRzqJ6YZCabybJcvwvxVVfUe_VmuKLoQ_D3dc0HLngtKJ4W6adE9x7oAOfnl0xvMaenCDLRhWsdtgornr7k7WU-LWBiCKzOzlxq-EWH1juHBnEmwJ0C4v0zkgjxfmUYxBEwIlAoJ30uoeMJfOjbJRAv3sdvGHoOCvs81fJZP6ZrplRF-1A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="756" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtViVvfrJ0xRzqJ6YZCabybJcvwvxVVfUe_VmuKLoQ_D3dc0HLngtKJ4W6adE9x7oAOfnl0xvMaenCDLRhWsdtgornr7k7WU-LWBiCKzOzlxq-EWH1juHBnEmwJ0C4v0zkgjxfmUYxBEwIlAoJ30uoeMJfOjbJRAv3sdvGHoOCvs81fJZP6ZrplRF-1A=w400-h304" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Trek: The Next Generation - "The Outcast"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEisx7jKRUBbTugI7G5vFilRHuc4CvgigwVkrN6WGO5kvTUhhgQsQAqP8CoFQqXulMTI0LYsZlqehcYu6MnV_sxK7pUGrl3huLq0nwERcAawFDAW4MHA8-z6_z4UFZCLs8ws3BLm59It_SCEFn61bzielQT9-Ofs6DFof3pxGraKDYFC5MAT011BKtgg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="988" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEisx7jKRUBbTugI7G5vFilRHuc4CvgigwVkrN6WGO5kvTUhhgQsQAqP8CoFQqXulMTI0LYsZlqehcYu6MnV_sxK7pUGrl3huLq0nwERcAawFDAW4MHA8-z6_z4UFZCLs8ws3BLm59It_SCEFn61bzielQT9-Ofs6DFof3pxGraKDYFC5MAT011BKtgg=w400-h241" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - "Rejoined"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>PART 4: CONCLUSION, THE POLITICS OF IT ALL</b><br /> <br /> Here is the thing.<br /> <br /> Yes, there is racism. Yes, since Tump’s election, racists have become emboldened. Yes, conservative media is fueling the outrage machine and stoking fear and hate especially in terms of race and the LGBTQ+ community. And yes, racists will sometime lie and try to use non-racial arguments to further a racist agenda or even change packaging to make the racism more subtle or palatable (all you must do is listen to one of Nixon’s advisors, Lee Atwater, discuss the “southern strategy” on YouTube to hear that clearly: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_8E3ENrKrQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_8E3ENrKrQ</a>).<i> That’s all <u>absolutely</u> true.</i><br /> <br /> However, if you always assume that someone disagreeing with you is evil and racist, then you are as bad as the jerkoffs who scream “woke” every time a person of color or member of the LGBTQ+ community is cast in a movie or a series. <i>It’s ok to be skeptical</i>, most of these hateful pricks are disingenuous blowhards, <u>but</u> ask good faith questions and listen, really listen, and think about the responses, look at their profiles and their past posts. If they are feeding you a line, it will be mostly apparent but otherwise you may be attacking an ally who just has a difference of opinion and not for the reason you suspect or assume.<br /> <br /> One thing is for sure. Knee jerk reactions like this will sway people in the political middle. The people who don’t actively go out an advocate for racial diversity or LGBTQ+ inclusion but likewise are appalled by hate groups and would find any effort to impede advancements in those areas distasteful. Maybe the person is a fan who loved <i>The Animated Series</i>, perhaps it was their introduction to <i>Star Trek</i> as a whole. If they agree with the bigoted knuckle dragger but for completely different reasons and they see the brutal attacks on social media. They will walk away thinking, wow, maybe Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones and Laura Ingram are right about all these extreme “woke” liberals. And if they are right about that maybe they are right about vaccines, January 6th, and etc.<br /> <br /> This will be catastrophic for the mid-terms and our country. I despise the anti-woke crowd and make no mistake the right wing can’t run on their positions, because they don’t have a record to run on, all they have is the culture war and misinformation and they will be running on the four table legs of a platform that includes nonexistent Critical Race Theory in schools, Transgender bigotry, blaming Democrats for pandemic and corporate greed induced inflation and the ginned-up idea of the “woke” left extremists. With the GOP passing laws that allow people maneuvered into place to over turn election results they don't like, passing restrictive voting laws for those they don't want to have a voice, gerrymandering maps and packing the courts. <b>Democracy is literally on this line this midterm </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>and you are helping them by automatically lumping everyone who disagrees into the same basket of deplorables.</b></span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-34683204812107498852022-04-23T09:46:00.012-07:002022-05-14T08:04:14.279-07:00 10 Music Collections to Know Me<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Continuing my lists of things to know me. I now present my favorite music collections adding to my previous lists of books, movies, tv shows and comic book collected editions. It is very soundtrack heavy, so it’s an eclectic mix of individual songs. Because I doubled up some entries (or more) there is no “honorable mention” for this list (although if I were to add one it would be the <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i> soundtrack). Being a luddite, my choices for the list was simple. I just asked myself what cassettes or CDs I popped into my player back before digital downloads moved the market back toward singles and away from albums.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDD5973Ueq94H3xvT_3xQ9WehmKn4NNEs79ep4a-5OcTxZGq3XZkIcfVJy8mYL2AToNO6vjvV-epcZTmrdgixFiQtr3xuXlCMF_3O7ZgSdEQ3gJdbFJX80fvZ0Q28fRZ-E543MtZp5cyICl9iqFWK1cfSQ-voNY3ZNKWSa2iIIAwqa5WsoqvR7phyYtw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="500" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDD5973Ueq94H3xvT_3xQ9WehmKn4NNEs79ep4a-5OcTxZGq3XZkIcfVJy8mYL2AToNO6vjvV-epcZTmrdgixFiQtr3xuXlCMF_3O7ZgSdEQ3gJdbFJX80fvZ0Q28fRZ-E543MtZp5cyICl9iqFWK1cfSQ-voNY3ZNKWSa2iIIAwqa5WsoqvR7phyYtw=w400-h397" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">10. Reservoir Dogs: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by various</b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>1992, MCA, Mix</b><br /><br />Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino rocketed to stardom as a unique filmmaker that could balance dialogue and action with plot and characterization. In his low budget first film he squeezed in a small but impactful soundtrack that was full of unexpected choices (I defy anyone to think of “Stuck in the Middle with You” the same way after watching it). Competing music that was of a similar era but stylistically different complimented the narrative of his story, but even on its own it makes for a satisfying and fun listening experience.<br /><br /><b><i>Track List:</i></b><br /><i>Little Green Bag – The George Baker Selection<br />Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede<br />I, Gotcha – Joe Tex<br />Magic Carpet Ride – Bedlam<br />Fool for Love – Sandy Rogers<br />Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel<br />Harvest Moon – Bedlam<br />Coconut – Harry Nilsson</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga6rcQRZXnSuPoIfbhQ6RUMjvxTFzEZg2Ml9g0fQgJ-0zfv65uNgptH9cnkhFS_t9CaJ8dhIEEhZBZK35kMPmUxiwG-4B5qN3KoF8TG38kB0T3ZoTsjvEGYDpLWY-izPgGK7x-s2atPslgR1h4w8Z48D0Vqjl4HGNQekqnEfD-aFyoWqvFQr0Fr5T79w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga6rcQRZXnSuPoIfbhQ6RUMjvxTFzEZg2Ml9g0fQgJ-0zfv65uNgptH9cnkhFS_t9CaJ8dhIEEhZBZK35kMPmUxiwG-4B5qN3KoF8TG38kB0T3ZoTsjvEGYDpLWY-izPgGK7x-s2atPslgR1h4w8Z48D0Vqjl4HGNQekqnEfD-aFyoWqvFQr0Fr5T79w=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>9. Babylon 5: The Original Television Soundtracks by Christopher Franke and the Berlin Symphonic Film Orchestra<br />1995 (original) 1997 (Vol. 2: Messages from Earth) 2001 (Best of), 1997-1999 (Episodic) Sonic Images, Instrumental</b><br /><br />The music of <i>Babylon 5 </i>was a slow burn for me, the original opening theme was fantastic but otherwise the early episodes were a strange (I’ll even say off-putting) amalgam of 80s era European synthesized sounds but as the show progressed traditional orchestral sounds moved up in the mix resulting in a power house range of music, from season one’s tense “Requiem of the Line” music in the episode “And the Sky Full of Stars” to the sweeping notes that can been heard in the series finale “Sleeping in Light.” Franke came along way in five years going from simply managing to create and build tension with a creative mix of strings and percussion to being able to evoke the emotion of heart break with brass and woodwind.<br /><br />The music of <i>Babylon 5</i> was presented in suites on the full-length releases of <i>Babylon 5 Volume 1</i> and <i>Babylon 5 Vol. II: Messages from Earth</i> with extracts from various shows, however there were also releases of episodic CDs, containing music from induvial episodes in their entire length with cues playing chronologically as originally aired with an average total time of 30 minutes (longer for the feature length episodes). Those include <i>Chrysalis</i> from season one. <i>The Coming of Shadows</i> and <i>The Fall of Night</i> from season two. <i>Severed Dream, A Late Delivery from Avalon, Walkabout, Shadow Dancing, Z’Ha’Dum, Interludes and Examinations, War Without End (parts 1 and 2)</i> and <i>And the Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place</i> from season three. <i>Into the Fire, No Surrender No Retreat, The Face of the Enemy, Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?, The Long Night, Lines of Communication, Endgame, Falling Toward Apotheosis, Thirdspace</i> and<i> In the Beginning </i>from season four. <i>River of Souls, The Ragged Edge, Darkness Ascending, Objects at Rest </i>and <i>Sleeping in Light</i> from season five. Franke also did the music for <i>The Lost Tales</i>, the reunion film in 2007, which also got a release (as did the spin off <i>Crusade</i> with controversial music by Evan Chen). These releases show that Franke wasn’t afraid to change up style, like his Celtic inspired tracks for “A Late Delivery from Avalon” or the arrangements for songs written by J. Michael Straczynski specifically for guest star Erica Gimple (<i>Fame</i>) in the episode “Walkabout,” the “Bar Background Music” from “Face of the Enemy” which was inspired by the Juliet Lewis performed song, “Hardly Wait,” by PJ Harvey from the film <i>Strange Days</i> and the new arrangement for a classic gospel song “And the Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place” (from the episode of the same name) performed by Marva Hicks. It was easy to underestimate Franke at first but by the end he was delivering some amazing music for the series.<br /><br /><i><b>Track list (Vol. 1):</b><br />Chrysalis I - IV<br />Mind War I & II<br />Parliament of Dreams I - III<br />The Geometry of Shadows I-III<br /><br /><b>Track list (Vol. 2):</b><br />Main Title 1st season (extended)<br />Messages from Earth<br />Main Title 2nd Season<br />Z’Ha’Dum<br />Main Title 3rd Season<br />Severed Dreams<br />Main Title 4th Season<br />Voices of Authority<br /><br /><b>Track List (Best of):</b><br />Main Title 2nd Season<br />The Geometry of Shadows III (aka Requiem for the Line)<br />Sheridan & Father<br />Mobilization<br />The Big Battle<br />The Signal<br />Awakening<br />Countdown<br />Main Title 3rd Season<br />Into the Abyss<br />Begin to Attack the Shadows<br />Emergency Treatment<br />The Geometry of Shadows II<br />The Geometry of Shadows I<br />Main Title 4th Season<br />Main Title 5th Season<br />Dying Station<br />Sierra Theme</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQzS4beXX1Erp5NZF3kZCzjWjsYQMe3ScENFPhy84CG9IpdElf3STQxXvRTQuoPOQcwWzbSHb9nJ_yaTLffo_8jLBiUr-9DN4HjTyPYJxRXJJqYzqMHActMDDx1vDETo4x7KjvkmgiGY3D7VxfsYsNl3GHae2FyxllO9PfeyxDQUYQ3wg0UtSYsP_29g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQzS4beXX1Erp5NZF3kZCzjWjsYQMe3ScENFPhy84CG9IpdElf3STQxXvRTQuoPOQcwWzbSHb9nJ_yaTLffo_8jLBiUr-9DN4HjTyPYJxRXJJqYzqMHActMDDx1vDETo4x7KjvkmgiGY3D7VxfsYsNl3GHae2FyxllO9PfeyxDQUYQ3wg0UtSYsP_29g=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>8. Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith (with Alexander Courage) and the Columbia Orchestra<br />1979, Columbia Records (original), 1999, Columbia/Soney Legacy (20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition), 2012, La-La Land Records (extended), Instrumental</b><br /><br />While Star Trek fans may argue the quality of the film, no one questions the brilliant Academy Award nominated score. From energetic main title theme that would be recycled for <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i>, to martial quality and clicks of the Klingon anthem, to the absolutely breath takingly lovely Ilia’s Theme/Love Theme (also used as the Overture in most cuts of the film), Goldsmith set a standard for building suspense, highlighting reveals, ratcheting up tension and accompanying character moments without stepping on the dialogue, performances, or effects. It’s masterful in the same way John Williams was with <i>Star Wars</i> and <i>Superman</i>, it grounds the fantastical elements while simultaneously heralding the epic qualities.<br /><br /><i>Track List:<br />Overture (Extended)<br />Ilia’s Theme<br />Main Title<br />Klingon Battle<br />Total Logic (20th)<br />Floating Office (20th)<br />The Enterprise<br />Malfunction (Extended)<br />Goodbye Klingon/Goodbye Epsilon Nine/Pre-Launch (Extended)<br />Leaving Drydock<br />TV Theme/Warp Point Eight (Extended)<br />No Goodbyes (Extended)<br />Spock’s Arrival (20th)<br />TV Theme/Warp Point Nine (Extended)<br />Meet V’Ger (Extended)<br />The Cloud<br />Vejur Flyover<br />The Force Field (20th)<br />Micro Exam (Extended)<br />Games (20th)<br />Spock Walk<br />System Inoperative (Extended)<br />Hidden Information (Extended)<br />Inner Workings (20th)<br />Vejur Speaks (20th)<br />The Meld<br />A Good Start (20th)<br />End Title</i><br /><br />The extended release includes everything from the first two releases plus also includes alternate takes, isolated extracts, and other extras - including the "rejected" cues.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEz0y_LpId0FspBFG8bx2FpvrG9Pre_bj7I3BDVAbbjsnFRcJVAEFIYR9EguLsBa85Cf7G1KsDyGCrSTRikrZ9hA_UyLjzDllcSUu9IGT7NB-BXouIUzKypDYhFPePy3YStdJPVFHOM8HzkKhwLNoWc3HwzGycswywI05eYhhvyjFkPHSXb4NbwNXVjg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1500" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEz0y_LpId0FspBFG8bx2FpvrG9Pre_bj7I3BDVAbbjsnFRcJVAEFIYR9EguLsBa85Cf7G1KsDyGCrSTRikrZ9hA_UyLjzDllcSUu9IGT7NB-BXouIUzKypDYhFPePy3YStdJPVFHOM8HzkKhwLNoWc3HwzGycswywI05eYhhvyjFkPHSXb4NbwNXVjg=w400-h395" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>7. Moonlighting: The Original Television Soundtrack by various<br />1987, MCA, Mix</b><br /><br />Like the show itself, you can expect the unexpected from this mellow collection of soul, retro and love songs. The different styles of music work well together and even the provocative songs have an innocence to them. There is a romantic quality overall (which seems apropos) given the source.<br /><br /><i>Track list:<br />Moonlighting - Al Jarreau (opening and closing credits)<br />Limbo Rock - Chubby Checker (“My Fair David”)<br />This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) - The Isley Brothers (“Knowing Her”)<br />Blue Moon - Cybill Shepherd (“The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice”)<br />I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out! - Cybill Shepherd (“The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice”)<br />Good Lovin’ - Brice Willis (“Atomic Shakespeare”)<br />When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge (“I Am Curious… Maddie”)<br />Someone to Watch Over Me - Linda Ronstadt & The Nelson Riddle Orchestra (“Maddie’s Turn to Cry”)<br />Stormy Weather - Billie Holiday (“I Am Curious… Maddie”)<br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0Ih_PtN1PmaZ7rHbt0Ew_htI4LuG6fj_eP7GO_ZV7jQWTzrXs7APcpiq37n_1YmTYf5G01mtCarvwceE9Iqe-F3E1igEe9BxsqsL8-iiswCxBtR6VpkhMvDuGwdtZIzJ7m9BbIqxDWDqH41wlI0l-SqCRP6RZvyPR70uyjprZamjJxQktyI46e4KWpQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0Ih_PtN1PmaZ7rHbt0Ew_htI4LuG6fj_eP7GO_ZV7jQWTzrXs7APcpiq37n_1YmTYf5G01mtCarvwceE9Iqe-F3E1igEe9BxsqsL8-iiswCxBtR6VpkhMvDuGwdtZIzJ7m9BbIqxDWDqH41wlI0l-SqCRP6RZvyPR70uyjprZamjJxQktyI46e4KWpQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>6. MCMXC a.D. by Enigma<br />1990 (Original), 1991 (Limited Edition) Virgin/Charisima, New Age</b><br /><br />Meditative, relaxing, and vaguely sexy while exploring themes of good & evil and love & sadness, the album is a unique listening experience. The experimental first album from the German project plays off contrasting opposites by mixing archaic sounds with modern music, paring dance beats with Gregorian chant and religious themes with sexuality. It worked amazingly well and is most definitely different from anything else out there.<br /><br /><i><b>Track list:</b><br />The Voice of Enigma<br />Principles of Lust (Sadness/Find Love/Sadness Reprise)<br />Callas Went Away<br />Mea Culpa<br />The Voice and the Snake<br />Knocking on Forbidden Doors<br />Back to the Rivers of Belief (Way to Eternity/Hallelujah/The Rivers of Belief)<br />Meditation (LE)<br />Fading Shades (LE)<br />Everlasting Lust (LE)<br />The Returning Silence (LE)</i><br /><br />The limited-edition volume released a year later added four alternate versions of previous tracks.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwJ3sQBBB6DqqPgwAD-dYycNAvqUTxWCIUhp91SD5g7eriVsxZ1AP-gwfmNzVMWjn-d2NsqT0sAbM9hD90Wu-BAvsWZnhDSUVqaRZIV4cD1ts8SAesCZXJm71ARkEFSRPYSmIQgIOSH3COnIqoY6780an6_MzfUfB6IOpbPkSS5mZ851thzwkoBnxHaQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1068" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwJ3sQBBB6DqqPgwAD-dYycNAvqUTxWCIUhp91SD5g7eriVsxZ1AP-gwfmNzVMWjn-d2NsqT0sAbM9hD90Wu-BAvsWZnhDSUVqaRZIV4cD1ts8SAesCZXJm71ARkEFSRPYSmIQgIOSH3COnIqoY6780an6_MzfUfB6IOpbPkSS5mZ851thzwkoBnxHaQ=w400-h390" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>5. Pulp Fiction: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by various<br />1994 (original), 2002 (extended), MCA, Mix</b><br /><br />Over his career, Tarantino proved is a master of mixing genres in his movies but as early as his second film he displayed the same quality in his music selection. His selections of song not only provide a mood for the sequences but even invigorate previously out of date music. Eclectic and unconventional choices work well and like his plot twists, never fail to surprise the viewer, or in this case the listener.<br /><br /><i><b>Track List:</b><br />Misirlou - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones<br />Jungle Boogie - Kool & The Gang<br />Strawberry Letter #23 - The Brothers Johnson (extended)<br />Let's Stay Together - Al Green<br />Bustin' Surfboards - The Tornadoes<br />Lonesome Town - Ricky Nelson<br />Son Of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield<br />Bullwinkle Part II - The Centurians<br />Rumble - Link Wray and His Raymen (extended)<br />Since I First Met You - The Robins (extended)<br />You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry<br />Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon - Urge Overkill<br />If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags) - Maria McKee<br />Comanche - The Revels<br />Flowers On the Wall - The Statler Brothers<br />Out Of Limits - The Marketts (extended)<br />Surf Rider - The Lively Ones</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQfe7M41j82aUyLFScTg2asLtrcP33w76cF-TUZeHMZPQOui5o58tMf1KfqZz8O1WkUUd4cr2exusKNijl2104eJyjeMLp1yuB_IzRBvojVqKyI2XLm47gygzAFEac8rdrFoqnXEITxoWqbxYLp_XOKarpO22c5_rbSZtBpGi2fLDq6xbWcArXBUvXVg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQfe7M41j82aUyLFScTg2asLtrcP33w76cF-TUZeHMZPQOui5o58tMf1KfqZz8O1WkUUd4cr2exusKNijl2104eJyjeMLp1yuB_IzRBvojVqKyI2XLm47gygzAFEac8rdrFoqnXEITxoWqbxYLp_XOKarpO22c5_rbSZtBpGi2fLDq6xbWcArXBUvXVg=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>4. Pump Up the Volume: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by various<br />1990, MCA, Alternative</b><br /><br />There are probably three definitive films about what a friend of mine once called “teenaged bullshit angst,” - <i>Rebel without a Cause, The Breakfast Club</i> and <i>Pump Up the Volume</i>. With all due apologies to Simple Minds fans, <i>Pump Up the Volume</i> is the best soundtrack as it embraces darker alternative rock songs, sometimes with deceptively upbeat music (and yes even the love ballad is depressing). It’s a fascinating mix of music that works both in the film and as a collection in its own.<br /><br /><i><b>Track List:</b><br />Everybody Knows – Concrete Blonde<br />Why Can’t I Fall in Love – Ivan Neville<br />Stand! – Liquid Jesus<br />Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf) – The Pixies<br />I’ve Got a Minatare Secret Camera – Peter Murphy<br />Kick Out the Jams – Bad Brain with Henry Rollins<br />Freedom of Speech – Above the Law<br />Heretic – Soundgarden<br />Titanium Expose – Sonic Youth<br />Me and the Devil Blues – Cowboy Junkies<br />Tale O’ the Twister – Chagall Guevara</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTzhoHJEPQuzcJx9jkMRI-zkH5liJI0ruHNq8pPuJ6-6ktu0KllcVr745eI_-mHXvY4RIuZVmvEI6QpCZktviTDqzBlpP3cDfWYud8DyqAKAhllxYGAqVW3xapavmg2pBVG5zi_IUzPvR3acKC0KSxmmt-vRMuRqFtYH3ESVjXhstGKHW9f_vrke-efw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTzhoHJEPQuzcJx9jkMRI-zkH5liJI0ruHNq8pPuJ6-6ktu0KllcVr745eI_-mHXvY4RIuZVmvEI6QpCZktviTDqzBlpP3cDfWYud8DyqAKAhllxYGAqVW3xapavmg2pBVG5zi_IUzPvR3acKC0KSxmmt-vRMuRqFtYH3ESVjXhstGKHW9f_vrke-efw=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3. Still in Hollywood and Recollection by Concrete Blonde</b></div><b>1994 and 1996, I.R.S., Alternative<br /></b><br />I first noticed Concrete Blonde on the above listed <i>Pump up the Volume </i>soundtrack with their version of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows.” It wasn’t until fall of 1991 that I got a real taste of their work when when my first college roommate had all three of their albums which, to my surprise, included the song I recognized (and loved), “God is a Bullet,” from a 1989 episode of<i> 21 Jumpstree</i>t. I quickly became a fan. To people unfamiliar with their work, I recommend their “best of” album, Recollection, which pulls from their first five albums. It’s a great introduction to what is genuinely a great collection of their best songs, but personally I prefer a different collected edition: <i>Still in Hollywood</i>. Filled with alternate versions of popular tracks and previously unreleased material, it is surprisingly better. The live acoustic version of “Joey,” which is about being in love with an alcoholic, is much more haunting than the studio version because the pain and vulnerability are much more on display in the performance. Likewise, the live versions of “Gold is a Bullet,” “The Sky is a Poisonous Garden Tonight,” “Roses Grow” and especially “Tomorrow Wendy,” a story about a woman with AIDS, have a much more raw and energetic feel than the studio versions. The extended French release of “Bloodletting” is far more enjoyable than the edited version (if 4:28 is good than 7:08 is better). All the remaining tracks are certainly as good if not better than most songs released on their albums post 1990 but may fall a little short of some of the great songs on <i>Recollection</i> <i>(hence the double dip)</i>. My only complaint is that “I Want You” from the <i>Point Break</i> soundtrack didn’t make either collection. The best thing about these collections, is that Concrete Blonde was about telling stories through music and those stories came from a personal place, making them genuine art.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiciK776OTS7wDHu_p1W7tFzEctNQ9HmOmYpekjbH6_-q4rwOWSiJ0wzG27yIevesAZzuQDRdNg0WGIYO-87ed-PcDfI8L3vExez8U5DVTAKCIXUHvLChFFut4VecNy9K4Ih8dgcUoVCUCwRGLqOB8LZsNgN6Gf9MbzsLoC4KUMbLp19gEsgDd0lPpOoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="305" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiciK776OTS7wDHu_p1W7tFzEctNQ9HmOmYpekjbH6_-q4rwOWSiJ0wzG27yIevesAZzuQDRdNg0WGIYO-87ed-PcDfI8L3vExez8U5DVTAKCIXUHvLChFFut4VecNy9K4Ih8dgcUoVCUCwRGLqOB8LZsNgN6Gf9MbzsLoC4KUMbLp19gEsgDd0lPpOoA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><b>Track List Still in Hollywood:</b><br />"It'll Chew You Up and Spit You Out" (alternate version of "Still in Hollywood")<br />"Everybody Knows"<br />"Free"<br />"God Is a Bullet" (live)<br />"Probably Will"<br />"Mandocello"<br />"The Ship Song"<br />"Joey" (live/acoustic)<br />"Little Wing"<br />"Roses Grow" (live)<br />"The Sky Is a Poisonous Garden Tonight" (live)<br />"Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" (extended French release)<br />"Simple Twist of Fate"<br />"Side of the Road"<br />"100 Games of Solitaire"<br />"Tomorrow, Wendy" (live)<br /><br /><b>Track List Recollections:</b><br />"God Is a Bullet"<br />"Tomorrow, Wendy"<br />"Joey"<br />"Scene Of a Perfect Crime"<br />"Someday?"<br />"Ghost Of a Texas Ladies Man"<br />"Dance Along the Edge"<br />"Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)"<br />"Happy Birthday"<br />"Caroline"<br />"Cold Part of Town"<br />"Walking in London"<br />"Heal It Up"<br />"Everybody Knows"<br />"True"<br />"Mexican Moon"<br />"Still In Hollywood"<br />"Mercedes Benz (live)"</i><br /><br />The live version of “Joey” was from <i>MTV Unplugged </i>while the others were from a performance from the Malibu Club on Long Island)… and seriously how did NO ONE think to use “Bloodletting” in the film adaptation of Anne Rice’s<i> Interview with a Vampire</i>. Maybe someone working on the AMC adaptation will realize it's perfect.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe168g-BDzj0ShTHv8sb9eRss6IaLJHp1qe--eugFnS6ujdgohR3M7u2LxWtgIN7dwnKn7N00Iq0eG9kg-aqPw1bXfrjVqwHGjapauPUWhQ3BryltDAbm2-Glr_61T8hxIR4ZfT1i9u-Y-RnxAMsudevLQle-cuejEdKDZVLtyReYnievTVOPYcPpCFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe168g-BDzj0ShTHv8sb9eRss6IaLJHp1qe--eugFnS6ujdgohR3M7u2LxWtgIN7dwnKn7N00Iq0eG9kg-aqPw1bXfrjVqwHGjapauPUWhQ3BryltDAbm2-Glr_61T8hxIR4ZfT1i9u-Y-RnxAMsudevLQle-cuejEdKDZVLtyReYnievTVOPYcPpCFg=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>2. Due South Volumes I & II: The Original Television Soundtracks by various<br />1996 (Vol. 1) and 1998 (Vol. 2), Nettwerk Records, Mix</b><br /><br />This eclectic mix of alternative, classic rock, Canadian country and even a 13th century Christian hymn is as bizarre and wonderful as the tv show itself. While the music was usually picked to augment individual scenes in episodes, they hang together surprisingly well as collections. It’s a great way to discover a talent or style outside of your normal listening habits. The slightly darker and more obscure tracks from Volume 2 edge out the more popular Volume 1 but both make for fun and unique listening experiences hence another double dip.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyMCoJ3Vy6ti6BqhaH0OpWQEr6lxTyHKn_-rMuYPHcfkXsk-Eia_nlNdHBspSFyj55GKdfV1MQn7lDU77urmnfeAKVw85oxmFNyTe-ed7eo4Q82ZnL1J1XzOt9hBTWjjFfbe_ZxnbLWXNZJ-t3dveE0JQqZMexpK5NEQUtG_hCnK-dF8Q-8RBEOs7QoA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyMCoJ3Vy6ti6BqhaH0OpWQEr6lxTyHKn_-rMuYPHcfkXsk-Eia_nlNdHBspSFyj55GKdfV1MQn7lDU77urmnfeAKVw85oxmFNyTe-ed7eo4Q82ZnL1J1XzOt9hBTWjjFfbe_ZxnbLWXNZJ-t3dveE0JQqZMexpK5NEQUtG_hCnK-dF8Q-8RBEOs7QoA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><b>Track List (Vol. 1):</b><br />Due South Closing Theme - Jay Semko<br />Bone of Contention - Spirit of the West (“An Eye for an Eye”)<br />Cabin Music - Jay Semko (“Pilot”)<br />Possession (Piano Version) - Sarah McLachlan (“Victoria’s Secret”)<br />Horses - Ashley MacIsaac (“They Eat Horses, Don’t They?”)<br />Akua Tuta - Kashtin (“A Hawk and a Handsaw”)<br />American Woman - The Guess Who (“Diefenbaker’s Day Off”)<br />Henry Martin - Figgy Duff (“Gift of the Wheelman”)<br />Ride Forever - Paul Gross (“All the Queen’s Horses”)<br />Flying - Blue Rodeo (“Some Like it Red”)<br />Due South Opening Theme - Jay Semko (seasons one & two)<br />Neon Blue - Holly Cole Trio (“Chicago Holiday”)<br />Victoria's Secret - Jay Semko (“Victoria’s Secret”)<br />Calling Occupants - Interplanetary Craft - Klaatu (“Starman”)<br />Eia, Mater (from Stabat Mater) - Andrew Davis (“The Deal”)<br />Dief's In Love - Jay Semko (“The Wild Bunch”)<br /><br /><b>Track List (Vol. 2):</b><br />Oh, What A Feeling - Junkhouse (“Eclipse”)<br />Drunken Sailor - Captain Tractor (“Mountie on the Bounty”)<br />Robert Mackenzie - Paul Gross (“Mountie on the Bounty”)<br />Mind - Vibrolux (“Good for the Soul”)<br />Mountie on the Bounty - Jay Semko (“Mountie on the Bounty”)<br />Song For a Winter's Night - Sarah McLachlan (“Hunting Season”)<br />Slave To Your Love - Dutch Robinson (“Mountie and Soul”)<br />From A Million Miles - Single Gun Theory (“Pilot”)<br />Take Me Out to The Ballgame - Trevor Hurst (“Dr. Longball”)<br />November - Mythos (“Seeing is Believing”)<br />Cubically Contained - Headstones (“Mountie and Soul”)<br />Nobody's Girl - Michelle Wright (“Mountie Sings the Blues”)<br />Sophia's Pipes - Ashley MacIsaac (“Mountie on the Bounty”)<br />Western End of The Trail - Jay Semko (“Call of the Wild”)<br />Holy Tears - Tara MacLean (“Call of the Wild”)<br />Revised Due South Opening Theme - Jay Semko (season three & four)</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTfCy09RccDwDTiKZfaY_O7IRIjerC-eqjdN75mNkbkjAdgF268Hbd0mWlhDh9aDnA1hlE7VXUFN9GJLvRQpV5OpfbbnIH4RhmV-cN_YMdD0BLMYc6No2enPwt6E7I6y276VmLTTblpnODRW9mHNv0KuIF-lRhybY_L68UgN_8HJNRw9T_GC8nY1ekiA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTfCy09RccDwDTiKZfaY_O7IRIjerC-eqjdN75mNkbkjAdgF268Hbd0mWlhDh9aDnA1hlE7VXUFN9GJLvRQpV5OpfbbnIH4RhmV-cN_YMdD0BLMYc6No2enPwt6E7I6y276VmLTTblpnODRW9mHNv0KuIF-lRhybY_L68UgN_8HJNRw9T_GC8nY1ekiA=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>1. Thorogood Live and Let’s Work Together by George Thorogood and the Destroyers<br />1986 EMI and 1995 Capitol, Rock and Roll/Blues</b><br /><br />My wife and I disagree on live albums, she prefers studio recording because they have a better sound quality, but I like the live versions because the energy is always up. This has never been more true as it is with Geroge Throrogood and the Delaware Destroyers’ first two (of seven) live albums. Not only is the original <i>Thorogood Live</i> my favorite alum ever, it may be the definitive album for the band because it highlights what they do best: a high-octane boogie beat fusion of rock-n-roll and blues that shows off their own hits as well as songs from rock and blues icons</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">,</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">like John Lee Hooker and Elmore James,</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> that are sadly falling off the radars of younger generations. Their inspiration/affection for the fading classics make them more than performers; they are like fellow fans of the genre giving you a nudge saying “hey, let me play you this, you’ll love this guy’s song” or “if you dig that guy’s work listen to my song that was inspired by his work.” This love of the genre is evident and results in that infectious energy that is abundant in their live performances. I threw in </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Let’s Work Together</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> because it has the same energy and stylistic mix of the previous album and combined, the two are a great anthology that highlight the best of their first dozen albums and almost two decades of work. There may smoother musicians and better voices out there but none with a better sense of history or energy. These are great if you want to tap your toes and experience rock and blues by fans for fans.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7KuIkhgP6Dqaz0tIPbSFparN3wAqo901KrRSa25Dc0WZXQWqmEG3_n6q9pSMZ5Q23G3KKo2dVTHldLoCbkO6oofA2gPwAGw1b_JxLyrmiEnq75wNSzj0o7916y9CN_eIiC4LOq4_b2AB2abll8Bs0shOk9cvTIEJRUF3mmMaciXpZbfo3xDvVMmPfSQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7KuIkhgP6Dqaz0tIPbSFparN3wAqo901KrRSa25Dc0WZXQWqmEG3_n6q9pSMZ5Q23G3KKo2dVTHldLoCbkO6oofA2gPwAGw1b_JxLyrmiEnq75wNSzj0o7916y9CN_eIiC4LOq4_b2AB2abll8Bs0shOk9cvTIEJRUF3mmMaciXpZbfo3xDvVMmPfSQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>Track list </b><b style="font-style: italic;">Thorogood Live:</b><br /><i>Who Do You Love?</i><br /><i>Bottom Of the Sea</i><br /><i>Night Time</i><br /><i>I Drink Alone</i><br /><i>House Rent Blues/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer</i><br /><i>Alley Oop</i><br /><i>Madison Blues</i><br /><i>Bad To the Bone</i><br /><i>The Sky Is Crying</i><br /><i>Reelin' & Rockin'</i><br /><br /><b>Track list<i> Let’s Work Together:</i></b><br /><i>No Particular Place To Go</i><br /><i>Ride On Josephine</i><br /><i>Bad Boy</i><br /><i>Cocaine Blues</i><br /><i>If You Don't Start Drinkin' (I'm Gonna Leave)</i><br /><i>I'm Ready</i><br /><i>I'll Change My Style</i><br /><i>Get A Haircut</i><br /><i>Gear Jammer</i><br /><i>Move It on Over</i><br /><i>You Talk Too Much</i><br /><i>Let's Work Together</i><br /><i>St. Louis Blues</i><br /><i>Johnny B. Goode</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Nine other albums considered along with the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack for the Honorable Mention slot, and would make a top 20 list include (in no particular order):</b><br /> Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band – The Beatles (1967)<br /> The Anthology: 1947-1972 – Muddy Waters (2001)<br /> Cracked Rear View – Hootie and the Blowfish (1994)<br /> Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette (1995)<br /> Eagles Live – Eagles (1980)<br /> The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990) - John Lee Hooker (1991)<br /> Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses (1987)<br /> Big Ones (Special Edition) – Aerosmith (1994/1998)<br /> Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf (1977)</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-8213327914860711832022-04-18T16:56:00.000-07:002022-04-18T16:56:23.703-07:0010 Books to Know Me<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Continuing my lists of things to know me. I now present my favorite books to add to my previous list of movies, tv shows and comic book collected editions.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_2GFiXyCkbfyx2kaG_vwWsx1lR_pQGvQh70ZQu5bXjHjc9Kblko7x2jEPpv2wILz9oTSvjSvc5Tr3ZmBnq0Rk7aY9SEo2rkvMZiRvcxXnvHsMIJ6NcDjvVVUfO9i_lKdEZKokX2Tnp3926vZ0FDJnqcPH8SXPIzQfFzgaN28YzTBDA-BhP7VahZ1jrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="261" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_2GFiXyCkbfyx2kaG_vwWsx1lR_pQGvQh70ZQu5bXjHjc9Kblko7x2jEPpv2wILz9oTSvjSvc5Tr3ZmBnq0Rk7aY9SEo2rkvMZiRvcxXnvHsMIJ6NcDjvVVUfO9i_lKdEZKokX2Tnp3926vZ0FDJnqcPH8SXPIzQfFzgaN28YzTBDA-BhP7VahZ1jrQ=w275-h400" width="275" /></a></div><b><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div>HONORABLE MENTION: <i>‘Salem’s Lot</i><br />by Stephen King<br />1975, Horror</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m frequently frustrated by King’s novels, feeling he makes them up as he goes along without any idea where they will end and thus a great story is marred by a poor ending. I waffled between this novel and J. Michael Straczynski’s 1988 horror novel <i>Demon Night.</i> Both were about evil coming to a small town, and both had wonderfully interesting and eclectic characters and <i>Demon Night</i> even had the more satisfying ending, but I ultimately sided with King’s book because of my affection for vampires vs. demonic possession. Perhaps it was too many Universal films as a kid or all those <i>Hammer House of Horror</i> vampire films, but I’ll confess to being a sucker for, well, blood suckers. In the end there is something compelling about a vampire coming to a small-town contemporary community even if King’s version is a bit more nihilistic than Straczynski’s demonic possession story.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYEh3PbZwzKksM8I4zbfO6hb8HdorJzSDxwzc5h45Oj2SBFP66OTLyRsImcEOjqYcH6vGUInP9ozRPHBc8GCbg7YQYf9XY_IOfEhsIKsbQo0mHqJOrvdXqjw_jRFzakWsEOV_d8WXDMEUIJlBoMy7UdIRJ2xPi3guXDsFm5ggTS6hq044Agy1aF4gooQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="264" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYEh3PbZwzKksM8I4zbfO6hb8HdorJzSDxwzc5h45Oj2SBFP66OTLyRsImcEOjqYcH6vGUInP9ozRPHBc8GCbg7YQYf9XY_IOfEhsIKsbQo0mHqJOrvdXqjw_jRFzakWsEOV_d8WXDMEUIJlBoMy7UdIRJ2xPi3guXDsFm5ggTS6hq044Agy1aF4gooQ=w275-h400" width="275" /></a></div></span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>10. <i>Starship Troopers</i><br />by Robert Heinlein<br /> 1959 Science Fiction</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This militaristic story is allegory for the post war U.S. military industrial complex as explored from the POV of a grunt who rises through the ranks during a war with alien spider like creatures. Through a contemporary lens, the examination of individual rights versus societal responsibilities takes on new meanings in our current pandemic related crisis as citizens childishly demand their “freedom” while simultaneously abdicating any sense of responsibility to their community. The story uses the narrative to promote an ideological dialogue that can either be construed as jingoistic pro military propaganda or an ironic and sly satire that is a critique of nationalism, fascism, and authoritarianism. Who knows, it might even be both.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4x_P-kbpEeL1wmJXGIKAn-JOu6XuodMeQGvMYQr-d3DUljJPX4CyxUBr5MsxU4gfUpGqTDGxT4ZM4CMiYMGpP3fWTQoBXbmZfCuXnZEF9Rl4Q1uWd3WQCTmJ6G0UQ-bW1MZRxzsNdxOg7Sjt1DhtK9jLTm2jjQabujmjy5XfTyYp-uDLeC4QEBPGbsw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1706" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4x_P-kbpEeL1wmJXGIKAn-JOu6XuodMeQGvMYQr-d3DUljJPX4CyxUBr5MsxU4gfUpGqTDGxT4ZM4CMiYMGpP3fWTQoBXbmZfCuXnZEF9Rl4Q1uWd3WQCTmJ6G0UQ-bW1MZRxzsNdxOg7Sjt1DhtK9jLTm2jjQabujmjy5XfTyYp-uDLeC4QEBPGbsw=w267-h400" width="267" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>9. <i>The Autobiography of Malcom X</i><br /> as told to Alex Haley by Malcom X<br /> 1965, Autobiography</b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />As a white boy growing up in the south, there was a palpable distaste for Malcom X among older white folks and good ol’ boys. He was usually portrayed in these circles as bigot who advocated violence, a villain, if you will, standing in sharp contrast to the (grudgingly) heroic nonviolent Dr. King. However, once you dig in and read his story, it is a fascinating journey of a man who went from criminal and hustler to self-educated man of God. Yes, he is a man who for a time had bigotry in his heart but overcame it though a deliberate exploration of his faith (and draws an interesting demarcation between the Black Muslim faith of The Nation of Islam versus the Sunni Muslim faith practiced by 85-90% of the world’s Muslims). He did advocate for violence, but in terms of self-defense and in defense of others (an attitude those same white good ol’ boys would normally strongly advocate). He tells his story in an almost confessional style that is keenly self-aware and illustrates that his greatest strength was that he was willing to learn and change his views while others become stuck and intractable. It’s a worthwhile read and depending on your background you may find the man was much different than hate stoked caricature presented in many circles.<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2DsiIzpRSYER0_XU6DAqICY_jKC0UKfP3-ZZzh5KLbsNbQxdZlAlv_oEG79mcJnxfS1x3y7RFPQWb9CnybCNwt5vdK63A1Bya-RIz70USdvX0q3H5bej2wsezHFxMZdbruW2e0Ide_ZHfk0R0yIE_kyCfCK9ZLIT5Q2U6muE-kvArAkTgazzQEMsTXg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2DsiIzpRSYER0_XU6DAqICY_jKC0UKfP3-ZZzh5KLbsNbQxdZlAlv_oEG79mcJnxfS1x3y7RFPQWb9CnybCNwt5vdK63A1Bya-RIz70USdvX0q3H5bej2wsezHFxMZdbruW2e0Ide_ZHfk0R0yIE_kyCfCK9ZLIT5Q2U6muE-kvArAkTgazzQEMsTXg=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></div><br /><b>8. <i>Stranger in a Strange Land</i><br />by Robert Heinlein<br /> 1961 (original edition) and 1991 (uncut edition), Science Fiction</b><br /> This Hugo award winner explores the interaction and transformation of our culture when a human being, Valentine Michael Smith, raised by Martians, comes to Earth. The deliberately provocative story is a magnificent parable with religious overtones that both serves as a series of commentaries on the human race and challenges readers to question preconceptions, assumptions and prejudice as the naïve but brilliant Smith gains fame after his escape from authorities.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS5BmnXOgS6UVFFH2oqbpOrNlnY9CzxOTfUMI6oqhG41ApEj8mP_aqE14GZ53LWRUn-W3QWrDlI2iVkP_CpHRuBRidWD8PtjUSyk48SiZQVXUEB6C4wVKfOkoDUoVlnk690gI-JD_1t6zkfCMIIColRQLw-VcZjfFFp0u2sS6AjIY6LUonlhBEGVlLPw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="264" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS5BmnXOgS6UVFFH2oqbpOrNlnY9CzxOTfUMI6oqhG41ApEj8mP_aqE14GZ53LWRUn-W3QWrDlI2iVkP_CpHRuBRidWD8PtjUSyk48SiZQVXUEB6C4wVKfOkoDUoVlnk690gI-JD_1t6zkfCMIIColRQLw-VcZjfFFp0u2sS6AjIY6LUonlhBEGVlLPw=w273-h400" width="273" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>7. <i>It Can’t Happen Here</i><br /> by Sinclair Lewis<br /> 1935, Fiction</b><br /> The events of the last seven years have reaffirmed my belief that Lewis’ novel should be required reading in schools. His classic cautionary tale describes the rise of an American dictator. Most people want to point to Geroge Orwell’s <i>Nineteen Eighty-Four</i> as a cautionary tale of totalitarianism pushing out democracy. To me, it appears to over the top since it takes place in an already existing repressive regime that had been established over the course of 45 years. Conversely,<i> It Can’t Happen Here </i>is about the process of a demagogue developing a deep cult of personality by entering a presidential campaign on a populist platform and promising to restore the country to prosperity and greatness. He promotes himself as the champion of the “forgotten man,” American values and patriotism while simultaneously fomenting fear. After his election, he takes control of the government via an autocoup and cements his position with a paramilitary force that terrorizes citizens and attacks demonstrators. He maintains control by having sectors managed by corporate authorities manned by prominent businessmen and dispenses with objectors in stacked kangaroo courts.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgjPk_xF2yoCE6EN5aZRLpH6_1iuOA8pQGGBtRVHO6NUMy1c4hk4F7E62NUwVRlBjZhOnayUGXX0D242LajNSCCa8ik4Lq7WTpYAPzf1qexQ6152etWnQfXNU7V3CAlIRwHR06dNmMbNrROMx9VXr46guinmwjl8SNZmg5VajYKQQTSJ9FC7ZJvXV0Kw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgjPk_xF2yoCE6EN5aZRLpH6_1iuOA8pQGGBtRVHO6NUMy1c4hk4F7E62NUwVRlBjZhOnayUGXX0D242LajNSCCa8ik4Lq7WTpYAPzf1qexQ6152etWnQfXNU7V3CAlIRwHR06dNmMbNrROMx9VXr46guinmwjl8SNZmg5VajYKQQTSJ9FC7ZJvXV0Kw=w263-h400" width="263" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>6.<i> Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets</i><br /> by David Simon<br /> 1991, True Crime</b><br /><i> Baltimore Sun</i> reporter David Simon spent a full calendar year shadowing Lt. Gary D’Addario’s shift of detectives in Baltimore’s Homicide Unit as they worked their portion of the 234 murder cases for 1988. Every aspect of the job is recounted from investigations, interrogations, search warrants, arrests and giving testimonies at the trials. It neither glorifies the police but neither tries to tear them down as it follows them, getting into their minds and processes of trying to catch killers. The Edgar Award winner was the basis for the NBC’s <i>Homicide: Life on the Streets</i> and several aspects of HBO’s <i>The Wire</i>.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilOIXtoAWvcuQVcYOYdd35sbXa99hvTw6GFW7owcdwbEwmf4S73OPqECnF3a6plSC2BvdLB3wY-FJUid3QY41YbstuxjlWWjJ0OnB_-EawomwJrfcQvo9jOyFQF5sHOJv_mdreAObYrZiugcX0fy8UghklOjYcNr6amf0yQzJO6eG2ummbkAOZ6tAEnA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilOIXtoAWvcuQVcYOYdd35sbXa99hvTw6GFW7owcdwbEwmf4S73OPqECnF3a6plSC2BvdLB3wY-FJUid3QY41YbstuxjlWWjJ0OnB_-EawomwJrfcQvo9jOyFQF5sHOJv_mdreAObYrZiugcX0fy8UghklOjYcNr6amf0yQzJO6eG2ummbkAOZ6tAEnA=w270-h400" width="270" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>5.<i> Lonesome Dove</i><br /> by Larry McMurtry<br /> 1985, Western</b><br /> My father was a cowboy connoisseur, not the shoot ‘em ups with outlaws and lawmen spraying hot lead on dusty trails but rather the storytelling of life on the open range and rugged survival in a less hospitable time in our history. He would ask me to pick up a book at the bookstore, “It doesn’t matter the author, just make sure it’s thick with small print.” It was his measure of excellence. If it was a genuine sprawling epic, it had to be a word heavy, otherwise there were no details. I think this came as a direct result of <i>Lonesome Dove</i>, the story of a pair of retired Texas Rangers who decide to mount a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Expertly plotted and littered with rich and interesting characters, the epic has an amazing depth. This Pulitzer Prize winner is the ideal western for people who don’t like westerns. McMurtry wrote a sequel, Streets of Laredo, in 1993 and two prequals <i>Dead Man’s Walk</i> and <i>Comanche Moon</i>, in 1995 and 1997. I found the sequel unreadable and the prequals were solid and respectable stories but fall far short of width and breadth of the scope of the original novel.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBzNfXBApAixvi31tAra4xIffrGZgs8Zcl91gxLHbkYzWZCnFbopXWtlx63iOD8fOH6XPiAbvlRtHw75Gvf__0aWMNA1wY_BBX9HlMhKkrbnLcHJRleIoCRtHqdHQkvgVLjO1scxXV2p3Um3zpDcqTNit8pCTfp4XNTaJYR_JYyzEgbehvyIYsVpIryA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="381" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBzNfXBApAixvi31tAra4xIffrGZgs8Zcl91gxLHbkYzWZCnFbopXWtlx63iOD8fOH6XPiAbvlRtHw75Gvf__0aWMNA1wY_BBX9HlMhKkrbnLcHJRleIoCRtHqdHQkvgVLjO1scxXV2p3Um3zpDcqTNit8pCTfp4XNTaJYR_JYyzEgbehvyIYsVpIryA=w248-h400" width="248" /></a></div><br /><b>4. <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation – Rock and a Hard Place</i><br /> by Peter David based on the series created by Gene Roddenberry<br /> 1990, Media Tie-In/Science Fiction</b><br /> I’ll confess, I’m a sucker for media tie novels. They are too frequently dismissed. Sure, many can be dreadful and only find their way into print because they have brand logo slapped on the cover that will guarantee a certain number of units will be sold. Conversely, there are some brilliant works that would be award winners if were not for the stigma of having that same brand logo slapped on the cover. My selection is probably a surprise to <i>Star Trek</i> fans. Many are probably thinking that if I were going to pick a Trek novel by Peter David, I would choose his New York Times bestseller, <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation – Imzadi</i>, which I will confess is objectively the better book. I’ll even confess there are at least a dozen other superior media-tie in novels. However, there is something about <i>Rock</i> that is endlessly intriguing to me. Set at the beginning of the show’s third season, <i>Enterprise</i> first officer Will Riker is temporarily reassigned to a terraforming colony with the dangerous mission to getting the pioneers of Starlight City back on track in the unforgiving frozen wasteland on the ironically named planet Paradise. Meanwhile, his temporary replacement, Quintin Stone, is to be assessed by Captain Picard and Counselor Troi since Stone, who was considered an up-in-coming charismatic, intelligent leader has been displaying disrespectful and possibly even psychopathic behavior. I normally hate<i> Trek</i> novels that have a focus on a non-regular character, but Stone is simply fascinating (so much so that David uses many of the character’s attitudes and attributes for Mackenzie Calhoun in his <i>Star Trek: New Frontier</i> novel series, the first series of <i>Star Trek</i> novels to feature an original cast not based on a specific series). David’s combination of sly humor and depth of characterization comes together to create an astonishing “guest star” who walks a line between being a hero and a villain and leaving readers wondering if he’s a brilliant thinker who just has a different and unique point of view or is he a mad man on the verge of destruction.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMeml9Oscfd--LYfRLEueozaCldAsklUyrdxzkgYmpy_IYT0fCzVT8XSwhmastD__woAp-vKYCqDfEUyCPcAxiM64Te4x3PkXMOlWao0_H3pcEDJVlAvoqvMnlWtevC8ARxmyV5whuk_gyp3vbVnjggu793lWYNEm82Et37lG62Fbu6z4kctme5zeXaw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMeml9Oscfd--LYfRLEueozaCldAsklUyrdxzkgYmpy_IYT0fCzVT8XSwhmastD__woAp-vKYCqDfEUyCPcAxiM64Te4x3PkXMOlWao0_H3pcEDJVlAvoqvMnlWtevC8ARxmyV5whuk_gyp3vbVnjggu793lWYNEm82Et37lG62Fbu6z4kctme5zeXaw=w265-h400" width="265" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>3. <i>Asimov’s Guide to the Bible</i><br /> by Isaac Asimov<br /> 1967 and 1969 (as two separate volumes) 1981 (single volume), Non-Fiction</b><br /> While Asimov is known for his fiction, particularly the <i>Robot, Empire</i> and <i>Foundation</i> series, he was also a very prolific academic non-fiction writer as well (he was a Ph.D. and a professor in Biochemistry after all). I initially picked up the combined volume of <i>Asimov’s Guide to the Bible</i> after reading the fantastic, combined volume<i> Asimov’s Guide to Shakespeare </i>(1970). It is not a critical guide and neither takes a pro nor anti-Christian position. It simply examines the text in an academic neutral analysis. It tackles the context of the words given the politics and culture of the time it was written, including occasional examinations in variations between translations and editions. I have heard both educated believers and non-believers extoll the virtues of his approach and meticulous detail as it will appeal to history, literary and theological buffs (although biblical literalists may find it off putting). It makes a great companion to his other historical and scientific tomes: <i>Asimov’s Guide to Science</i>, <i>Asimov’s Chronology of Science & Discovery</i>, and <i>Asimov’s Chronology of the World</i>. It’s one of those rare works where you can pick it up, open it up to almost any page and become enthralled.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB-KxyEKtcZBurf1xJsZJKaUHsjOrrCrAuLVjH9CuL8jewN191jumBcrjsD03nrJOpMMud2aQxqZ7-6VXwFtZ0t-TQKmQudguFu6RAOar5YIAvCK42xxfS_9gjIuKdJ8vk7GfUrnglOWbotihHVqG7Cx39xhSeL3KGMrJyvEIKsRp6fmT9QnMkt2VVzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="368" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB-KxyEKtcZBurf1xJsZJKaUHsjOrrCrAuLVjH9CuL8jewN191jumBcrjsD03nrJOpMMud2aQxqZ7-6VXwFtZ0t-TQKmQudguFu6RAOar5YIAvCK42xxfS_9gjIuKdJ8vk7GfUrnglOWbotihHVqG7Cx39xhSeL3KGMrJyvEIKsRp6fmT9QnMkt2VVzw=w267-h400" width="267" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>2. <i>Becoming Superman: My Journey from Poverty to Hollywood</i><br /> by J. Michael Straczynski<br /> 2019, Autobiography</b><br /> The autobiography by one of my favorite writers is such a powerful story that I really believe it should be required reading in high schools. Straczynski expertly weaves his story amidst the backdrop of a family mystery, which alone would be worthy of telling, that is simultaneously horrifying and inspiring. This story can inspire any kid who comes from tough circumstances that they can overcome that history (no matter the amount of physical or psychological abuse or abject poverty) to become whatever they want to be. For kids who come from better circumstances, it can illustrate to them how they should feel very fortunate, and hopefully illustrate the importance of empathy because the person next to them may be fighting a war they are unaware of or have additional obstacles that they themselves don’t have to grapple with. Straczynski is a master storyteller who broke the mold for television with his pre-planned five-year-arc style of storytelling and has written novels, comics books and feature films but the best story he ever told might possibly be his own.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF46G9jQ-q2zsFeWZQL6YNyoOC6c7Pa1bS6H6fBQMsQLyk_ucgpz6W_a7kHuN9UxLLwT7_2ErBWE0eNWPrR058gQ_4Rn8_IaSh6BVWEtXE5-FT82sfNfNwF5PUr2kxTfnHln6NY8iwZwGL9GsTqRU_bZ3_7blrdbIajGh0h4fz7vqakIFQDMaypE9m0w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF46G9jQ-q2zsFeWZQL6YNyoOC6c7Pa1bS6H6fBQMsQLyk_ucgpz6W_a7kHuN9UxLLwT7_2ErBWE0eNWPrR058gQ_4Rn8_IaSh6BVWEtXE5-FT82sfNfNwF5PUr2kxTfnHln6NY8iwZwGL9GsTqRU_bZ3_7blrdbIajGh0h4fz7vqakIFQDMaypE9m0w=w265-h400" width="265" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>1. <i>Dune</i><br /> by Frank Herbert<br /> 1965, Science Fiction</b><br /> Set in the distant future, this Hugo and Nebula award winner is about the sociopolitical conflict between interplanetary fiefdoms in a decaying interstellar empire. Various planetary houses scheme and battle for control of the desolate planet of Arrakis which is the only source of the spice mélange a substance that enhances mental abilities, extends lifespans and (most importantly) is necessary for space travel. Environmental and religious allegory enhance the brilliantly layered world building by Herbert. The conduit for the story is a familiar “boy who would be king” trope, as we follow Paul Atreides (son of Duke Leto Atreides who newly installed as steward of Arrakis) and his journey from boyhood to leader. The first sequel, <i>Dune Messiah </i>(1969) is such a seamless extension of the original novel that it could be published with the original and no one would know the difference. However, I’ll confess as the series moves past Paul’s story on to other characters in the follow ups -- <i>Children of Dune </i>(1976), <i>God Emperor of Dune</i> (1981), <i>Heretics of Dune</i> (1984) and <i>Chapterhouse: Dune</i> (1985) -- I gradually lost interest and enthusiasm, but they are worth reading. Unfortunately, Herbert died before he could finish the series. Herbert’s son claimed to have found notes for <i>Dune 7</i> and under that pretext has developed sixteen novels (mostly prequels) with more on the way, that have turned into the ultimate flogging of the carcass of a deceased equine, try as he might, he still cannot diminish the brilliance of the original.</span><p></p></div></div></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-44700866112170221722022-04-09T12:58:00.004-07:002022-05-08T12:29:42.149-07:00 10 Comic Book Collected Editions to Know Me<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Continuing my list of fiction to know me after
my lists of television and film, I now present comics. I debated on if I should
do complete runs, creator runs, or individual arcs/issues, but ultimately tried to
thread the needle and base it on collected editions (although I do try to
note if the story is available in a larger edition with other stories) I
also tried to avoid the stories that tend to make “best of” lists like
<i>Watchmen, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Kingdom Come, Batman: The Long
Halloween, X-Men: God Loves Man Kills, Y: The Last Man, Batman: Tales of the
Demon, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Batman: Arkham Asylum, The Life and Death of
Captain Marvel</i> and <i>Batman: The Killing Joke</i> which, as you can see, could make a
list of its own. I also avoided runs that are currently on going like <i>Saga</i> and
<i>Astro City</i>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpcgYCcWLmxx-AB2SWprWvuZZtJOTu6GTBCSOeq8jYXa6xYmtzKbea730XHSx4XajEP-rnt2dS5ZKM6syKjcWLZJ782M59TQ-yuZ9EuFgEumg3T9JdA4_8MdARqTa5DYINvIuzaxXNPe5lP5pQqobKAbW0JBB2HzzFbUxHySu-wcr_jihg3j6L8j5MzQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="545" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpcgYCcWLmxx-AB2SWprWvuZZtJOTu6GTBCSOeq8jYXa6xYmtzKbea730XHSx4XajEP-rnt2dS5ZKM6syKjcWLZJ782M59TQ-yuZ9EuFgEumg3T9JdA4_8MdARqTa5DYINvIuzaxXNPe5lP5pQqobKAbW0JBB2HzzFbUxHySu-wcr_jihg3j6L8j5MzQ=w421-h640" width="421" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Honorable Mention: <i> The New Teen Titans:
Who is Donna Troy?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Marv Wolfman & George Perez</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>The New Teen Titans</i> #38 (Jan. 1984), <i>Tales of
the Teen Titans</i> #50 (Feb. 1985), <i>The New Titans</i> #50-55 (Dec. 1988 - June 1989),
<i>Teen Titans/Outsider Secret Files and Origins</i> 2003</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The Wolfman and Perez run on <i>The New Teen Titans</i>
is frequently hailed as one of the best in comics. Their last collaboration on
the series would kick off the rebranding of the series from <i>The New Teen Titans</i>
to simply <i>The New Titan</i>s as most of the main characters were in their twenties.
The five-part “Who is Wonder Girl?” (#50-54) allowed Donna Troy to move on past
her kid side-kick persona as Wonder Girl emerging as Troia in <i>The New Titans
</i>#55 (“Transitions”) and while it was not their best arc, this collection makes
my list because it includes two of the best done-in-one stories ever printed.
The first is “Who is Donna Troy?” (<i>The New Teen Titans</i> #38) which is such a
masterpiece in storytelling and art, that they use it for the title of the
entire volume. Robin uses his detective skills to try to unravel the mystery of
Donna Troy’s past. Emotional and character-based drama take center stage
without a single fight or supervillain to be seen. When anyone says a
single-issue story can’t have the impact of a multi-issue story, I point to
this one. Much of the same can be said of the oversized issue of <i>Tales of the
Teen Titans</i> #50 (“We are Gathered Here Today…”) which features the wedding of
Wonder Girl. Again, no big villain or battles just the interactions of
characters with long histories and deep friendships (not just limited to Wonder
Girl, the scene between Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne is pitch perfect). This
collection was put out in 2005 to capitalize on the death and resurrection of
the character in <i>Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day</i> (2003) and<i> DC Special:
The Return of Donna Troy </i>(2005).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i><b>These issues can also be found in other
collections including:</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 First Edition</b>
(collecting <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #38, <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #45-50, The New
Teen Titans Vol. 2 #1-6 and <i>The New Titans</i> #50-61, 66-67, and <i>Secret Origins
Annua</i>l #3)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 2 Second
Edition</b> (collecting <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #21-40, Annual #1-2,<i> Tales of the Teen
Titans </i>#41 and<i> Batman and the Outsiders</i> #5)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 Second
Edition</b> (collecting Tales of the Teen Titans #41-58, Annual #3, The New Teen
Titans Vol. 2 #1-9)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans (Trade Paperback) Vol. 6</b>
(collecting <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #35-40, <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #41 and <i>Batman
and the Outsiders</i> #5)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans (Trade Paperback) Vol. 8</b>
(collecting <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #49-58)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlhJyFuZkY6t4JenDBSpgJaWPOoSDYUtL_LqAOM0vYwCOIqhJFVp3mGpOk0D0s03u7hYJJafiaE7za34U6l4hRO1hl3TgehPbW_Jk1TkECL7nUqQIXP9qpR6n3kVtc5jePHyCvj-qqwN2moXAPE7UL8Yih0zZ106POXjDMhnnn42lQ4pwEdYfCtln8oA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="553" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlhJyFuZkY6t4JenDBSpgJaWPOoSDYUtL_LqAOM0vYwCOIqhJFVp3mGpOk0D0s03u7hYJJafiaE7za34U6l4hRO1hl3TgehPbW_Jk1TkECL7nUqQIXP9qpR6n3kVtc5jePHyCvj-qqwN2moXAPE7UL8Yih0zZ106POXjDMhnnn42lQ4pwEdYfCtln8oA=w429-h640" width="429" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>10: Batman: Strange Apparitions</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">by Steve Englehart & Marshall Rogers (with
Len Wein and Walt Simonson)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Detective Comics </i>#469-476, 478-479 (May 1977 to
October 1978)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">(Reprinted in <i>Shadow of the Batman</i> #1-5 Dec 1985
to April 1986)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This ten-issue collection that contains six
stories is mainly an attempt to collect the original Batman work of Englehart
and Rogers, both of whom worked on the<i> Detective Comics</i> for eight consecutive
issues (over lapping to great effect for six issues). The collection starts
with a great two-part Dr. Phosphorus tale by Englehart and Walt Simonson (“By
Death’s Eerie Light and The Origin of Doctor Phosphorus”/”The Master Pan of
Doctor Phosphorus”). The Englehart/Rogers collaborations then starts in earnest
with a two-part Hugo Strange story that reigns as the best use of the character
ever (“The Dead Yet Live”/”I am the Batman”), followed by a duo of excellent
done-in-one stories featuring Penguin and Deadshot (“The Malay Penguin”/”The
Deadshot Ricochet”) then wrapping up their collaboration with a two parter that
is, to this day, best Joker story ever published, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">titled “The Laughing Fish”/“Sign of the Joker!”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> (yes, even better than the
1988 Alan Moore and Brian Bolland classic, </span><i>Batman: The Killing Joke</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">). The collection wraps up with a
two-part Clayface tale by Len Wein and Rogers (“The Coming of Clayface III”/”If
a Man be Made of Clay”). Never before have a creative team made such a lasting
impression with so few issues. Their work perfectly complimented the great
work Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams did returning Batman to his darker roots
after the popularity of the campy 1966 tv show. They would both return to the
character many times in each of their careers but usually paired with other
writers and artists. It would be almost thirty years later before they would
reteam on Batman again in a series of Dark Detective miniseries. The only
drawback to this collection is that it doesn’t include Detective Comics #477
which was a reprint of </span><i>Detective Comics</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> #408 “The House that Haunted Batman.”
It was originally written by Wein and Marv Wolfman and illustrated by Neal
Adams, but Wein and Englehart constructed a new three-page framing story (two
at the beginning and one at the end) to keep it in continuity with the
surrounding issues.</span></span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>These issues can also be found in other collections
including:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Tales of the Batman: Steve Englehart </b>(collecting
<i>Detective Comics</i>, #439, 469-476, <i>Batman</i> #311, <i>Batman: Legends of the Dark
Knight</i> #109-111, <i>Batman Chronicles</i> #19,<i> Legends of the DC Universe</i> #26-27, and
<i>Batman: Dark Detective</i> #1-6)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Legends of the Dark Knight: Marshall Rogers</b>
(collecting <i>Detective Comics</i> #468, 471-476, 478-479, 481, <i>DC Special Series</i>
#15, <i>Secret Origins</i> #6, B<i>atman Legends of the Dark Knight</i> #132-136, and <i>Batman:
Dark Detective</i> #1-6)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Tales of the Batman: Len Wein</b> (collecting <i>Detective</i>
#408, #444-448, 466, 478-479, 500, 514, <i>World’s Fines</i>t #207, <i>Batman</i> #255,
307-310, 312-319, 321-324, 326-327, <i>Untold Legend of the Batman </i>#1-3, <i>DC
Retroactive Batman</i> – The 70s #1, <i>Batman Black and White</i> #5)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYKcYzrtW83VaHuHJpmzWmRyjIPSBlnzxrrpmqJOM86hpj7GJ2YVhcNlvGne5wKflkM1OZdCzi0LDgDpAv7abYr57G33E85jIFyZe2NmFGXt9vqb6iY3O79QYMymHUnFrh_66Z1NgI3I6ZMaFNEckt6JyMO-lLf37FgcMI2nXLXZsXFrrJjz4qDlxxXQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="569" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYKcYzrtW83VaHuHJpmzWmRyjIPSBlnzxrrpmqJOM86hpj7GJ2YVhcNlvGne5wKflkM1OZdCzi0LDgDpAv7abYr57G33E85jIFyZe2NmFGXt9vqb6iY3O79QYMymHUnFrh_66Z1NgI3I6ZMaFNEckt6JyMO-lLf37FgcMI2nXLXZsXFrrJjz4qDlxxXQ=w432-h640" width="432" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>9. The Flash: Year One - Born to Run</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Mark Waid and Greg LaRocque</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>The Flash</i> (Vol. 2) #62-65 (May 1992- June 1992)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">While most people consider Waid’s “The Return of
Barry Allen” the best Flash story ever written, I side with “Year One – Born to
Run” as my favorite because it made me fall in love with the character again
after being mis-managed by the previous creative team. I was a fan of Wally
West since I first started reading comics with<i> Teen Titans</i>, but when the
character got a promotion from Kid-Flash to the Flash when his mentor was killed
off in <i>Crisis on Infinite Earths</i>, I was thrilled. Wally was always more
interesting as a character than Barry Allen ever was. This story served as the
post-Crisis reboot of his origin with a fantastic twist at the climax. This arc
began Waid’s 67 issue run on the book that cemented him as one of the best to
ever write the character (it was tempting to include his entire run as this
entry). <i>The Flash: Born to Run</i> collected edition not only includes the four
issue “Year One – Born to Run” arc from <i>The Flash</i> (Vol. 2) #62-65, Annual #8 but <i>Speed
Force</i> #1 (Nov. 1997), <i>The Flash 80-Page Giant</i> #1 (Aug. 1998)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>The “Year One – Born to Run” arc is also
included in:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The Flash by Mark Waid Volume On</b>e which collects<i>
The Flash </i>(Vol. 2) #62-68, Annual #4, 8 and <i>The Flash 50th
Anniversary Special</i>.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The Flash by Mark Waid Omnibus Volume One</b> which
collects <i>The Flash</i> (Vol. 2) #62-91, Annual #4-6, <i>The Flash 50th Anniversary
Special</i>, <i>Justice League Quarterly</i> #10, <i>Green Lantern</i> (Vol. 3) #30-31 and #40</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiNIAaNBpji91zgrbxRBgAsbj_LwdDkBK2_0lC1tm0PS1x0nhmrL3uHLPpy8tkhJSFY0r5DopS0sx0yxuQUPI6YwAbi5Yr2IcUkMnkTgIDSiqSHHkb2tjjEMQ1pVoF55XeAPfobC2rUDCsE8-a1MMmVzgq8oULBo4f5RcnhPHOjfOobaKfhvIVpY5AcA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="581" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiNIAaNBpji91zgrbxRBgAsbj_LwdDkBK2_0lC1tm0PS1x0nhmrL3uHLPpy8tkhJSFY0r5DopS0sx0yxuQUPI6YwAbi5Yr2IcUkMnkTgIDSiqSHHkb2tjjEMQ1pVoF55XeAPfobC2rUDCsE8-a1MMmVzgq8oULBo4f5RcnhPHOjfOobaKfhvIVpY5AcA=w432-h640" width="432" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>8. Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Mike Grell</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters</i> # 1- 3 (August
– October 1987)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This miniseries, originally consisting of three
oversized issues, was written and fully painted by Grell and served as a pilot
to the very first <i>Green Arrow</i> ongoing series by DC Comics. Grell was the first
artist to draw Green Arrow after Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams revamped the
character a decade earlier when he replaced Adams as the artist on Green
Lantern (which co-starred Green Arrow at the time). Having him face off with
serial killers and professional assassins, this story has the title character
questioning his direction in life and moves him to be more of an urban hunter
rather than a simple adventurer. The maturity of the characterization has him
both wrestling with the moral aftermath of taking a human life and, as a
costumed adventurer without any superpowers, the impact of aging has on his
activities. Grell would end up writing around 90 issues of<i> Green Arrow</i> and is
consistently considered one of the high-water marks for the character.
Admittedly, while I enjoyed Judd Winnick’s overall run compared to Grell’s (and
it was considered for this list), I could not deny the strength of this
individual work that stands as a high point for the character.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Multiple hardcover and softcover collections
have been printed of the three issue minis series.</b> It also appears in: <b><i>Green
Arrow: The Longbow Hunter Saga Omnibus Volume One</i></b> which also includes <i>Green
Arrow</i> (Vol. 2) #1-50 and <i>Secret Origins</i> #38. Issue #1 is also collected in
<i><b>Green Arrow/Black Canary: For Better or For Worse</b></i> along with<i> Justice League of
America</i> #75, <i>Action Comics</i> #428, 434, <i>The Joker</i> #4, <i>Green Lantern</i> (Vol. 2)
#94-95, <i>Detective Comics</i> #549-550, <i>Green Arrow </i>(Vol. 2) #75, 101, <i>Green Arrow</i>
(Vol. 3) #4-5, 12, and 21)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuxjHgOAW48Tb5jA4a_Pdtr-rnqx9MsM9ZGcxrCd5l2EeyAFIQ5TknRm-DZE934hZZBLFN7q3x9xocDpkWR0XvsRraG7RMKB0JSFa0B5EqpBqkCuTHZDsiVnXWs_wHudRYtKsdfopa16OjE48nhcJ9_o63pSDsKH7jULMipAsd3ONmzs967T160tvqYw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="569" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuxjHgOAW48Tb5jA4a_Pdtr-rnqx9MsM9ZGcxrCd5l2EeyAFIQ5TknRm-DZE934hZZBLFN7q3x9xocDpkWR0XvsRraG7RMKB0JSFa0B5EqpBqkCuTHZDsiVnXWs_wHudRYtKsdfopa16OjE48nhcJ9_o63pSDsKH7jULMipAsd3ONmzs967T160tvqYw=w453-h640" width="453" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>7. Spider-Man: Fearful Symmetry - Kraven’s Last
Hunt</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Web of Spider-Man</i> #31-32, The Amazing Spider-Man
#293-294, and <i>Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man</i> #131-132, (September –
November 1986)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Kraven hunts down Spider-Man (who had just
married Mary Jane) and seemingly shoots him to death. Kraven buries Spider-Man
and begins wearing a copy of his costume to prove he is better at fighting
crime than Spider-Man was. After spending weeks brutally attacking criminals,
Kraven finally single handedly catches Vermin, whom Spider-Man previously
needed help to defeat. The pacing and darkness contributed to a story that was
the most unexpected post-wedding event any reader cold imagine, but it works
due to the combination of DeMatteis’ noir style script and Zeck’s powerful art.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Multiple hardcover and softcover editions
collect the core six-part story (usually printed usually under the shortened
title “Kraven’s Last Hunt”)</b> Including the “Select” edition hardcover and the
standard trade paperback.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt: The Epic
Collection </i></b>trade paperback edition includes <i>The Amazing Spider-Man</i> #289-294,
Annual #20-21, <i>Spider-Man Versus Wolverine, Web of Spider-Man</i> #29-32 and <i>Peter
Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man</i> #131-132.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt: The Deluxe
Edition Hardcover</i></b> includes <i>Web of Spider-Man </i>#31-32, <i>The Amazing Spider-Ma</i>n
#15, 293-294, 634-637,<i> Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man</i> #131-132,<i> The
Amazing Spider-Man: Soul of the Hunte</i>r, What If #17, <i>Sensational Spider-Ma</i>n
Annual ’96, and <i>What The -- ?! </i>#3.</span><br /></span></span>
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDxfWCgvoDgRoYUT7bzOhdcIwR7Tmf9LUu3Ir8DoDBmdzdNLqKrOHs_DihbFn1UFbSQY1nb17uxmy3LzVEYrdd0a6Adqp6xF5PoYUNibd2vdOVbZUOIKPI4uZaT3LTlHBXt_icDBhE-f6AusooAcJ_B8Z_wvzvy-NaK_0Y1E0FBRApV0IoQA38x2QKXw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="579" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDxfWCgvoDgRoYUT7bzOhdcIwR7Tmf9LUu3Ir8DoDBmdzdNLqKrOHs_DihbFn1UFbSQY1nb17uxmy3LzVEYrdd0a6Adqp6xF5PoYUNibd2vdOVbZUOIKPI4uZaT3LTlHBXt_icDBhE-f6AusooAcJ_B8Z_wvzvy-NaK_0Y1E0FBRApV0IoQA38x2QKXw=w429-h640" width="429" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i><b>6. Batman: Year One</b></i></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">by Frank Miller and Dave Mazzucchelli</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Batman</i> #404 - #407 (February 1987 to May 1987)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The retelling of Bruce Wayne’s first year
working as a vigilante in Gotham City served as the bases of the post-Crisis
reboot for DC Comics post 50th Anniversary. It was written by Miller who
was fresh off <i>Batman: The Dark Knight Returns</i> which was a pivotal landmark in
comics publishing. <i>DKR</i> along with <i>Watchmen</i> were the one-two-punch that made
critics start to see comic books as legitimate literature. However, I must
admit I always thought <i>Year One</i> was a far more grounded and character driven
piece that deserves just as much acclaim.</span><br />
<b><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Multiple hard cover and soft cover collections
have been printed.</span></b></span></span><br />
<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpTTnFuWndFRyaen7v-U8KdlgC0ssIHv9s-4W0oEI-QfhlgIzG7wNaK0HrggwRXKrNMggAfwoWody96PFdoBY9UWvgn5sITPERFPMGbHMITKxmbzRpll8J_PUwnKh4_R02ss3woFGcgEznet-9hTNy2LtTkCaFBt2V5I4ynGDat5eo7RZhTI2_QvNXnQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpTTnFuWndFRyaen7v-U8KdlgC0ssIHv9s-4W0oEI-QfhlgIzG7wNaK0HrggwRXKrNMggAfwoWody96PFdoBY9UWvgn5sITPERFPMGbHMITKxmbzRpll8J_PUwnKh4_R02ss3woFGcgEznet-9hTNy2LtTkCaFBt2V5I4ynGDat5eo7RZhTI2_QvNXnQ=w429-h640" width="429" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>5. The New Teen Titans: The Terror of Trigon</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Marv Wolfman & George Perez</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>The New Teen Titans</i> Vol. 2 #1-5 (Aug. 1984-Feb.
1985)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The Wolfman and Perez run on <i>The New Teen Titans</i>
was legendary and four years after their debut DC decided to launch a second
monthly title. (They changed the name of <i>The New Teen Titans</i> to <i>Tales of the
Teen Titans</i> with issue #40 and not long after launched <i>The New Teen Titans</i>
Volume 2). Since<i> The New Teen Titans </i>were formed by Raven to battle the demonic
Trigon the Terrible in the previous series and they defeated him with relative
ease the two-part story from <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #5 & 6 (“Trigon Lives” and
“Last Kill”), it made since to bring him back to kick off the new run. They did
so, but in a bigger much more dangerous way. Despite this being his first
appearance in four years, this arc establishes the character as a major
villain of the<i> Teen Titans</i> mythology. The story works not just because of the
plot but the deep character work put into our heroes. The lineup consisting of
Nightwing, Starfire, Wonder Girl, Changeling, Cyborg, Jericho and Raven (and
quickly brings back former Titans, Kid-Flash and Lilith, into the story) try to
stop Trigon from conquering the world and turning it into a nightmarishly
literal hell on Earth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>These issues can also be found in other
collections including:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 First Edition</b>
(collects <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #38, <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #45-50, <i>The New Teen
Titans</i> Vol. 2 #1-6 and <i>The New Titans</i> #50-61, 66-67, and Secret Origins Annual
#3)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 Second
Edition</b> (collects<i> Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #41-58, Annual #3,<i> The New Teen
Titan</i>s Vol. 2 #1-9)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans (Trade Paperback) Vol. 9</b>
(collects <i>The New Teen Titans</i> Vol. 2 #1-9)</span></span></span><br />
<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6mb1w8sL_UjEsXuTb2NEEnc8A85y8QyHgIPVG_ULXG1bplbSKHG_KZcNxVA4X6t44_udnNJCp8yKRGJ905D9UWgXZoRqCP1th1fikcFH8MxyyBxgKn9eeZ2ZA18dUMlTj-jmM8L_1Koi06sbkgTV6UEhJzDyH-I96Rq7_k6OQf2RqAhuik-dkbRn8VQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6mb1w8sL_UjEsXuTb2NEEnc8A85y8QyHgIPVG_ULXG1bplbSKHG_KZcNxVA4X6t44_udnNJCp8yKRGJ905D9UWgXZoRqCP1th1fikcFH8MxyyBxgKn9eeZ2ZA18dUMlTj-jmM8L_1Koi06sbkgTV6UEhJzDyH-I96Rq7_k6OQf2RqAhuik-dkbRn8VQ=w451-h640" width="451" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>4. Spider-Man: The Death of Jean DeWolff</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Peter David and Rich Buckler</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>
#107-110 (October 1985 – January 1986)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Spider-Man goes on the hunt for the Sin-Eater, a
serial killer who murdered of one of his friends, Capt. DeWolff of the NYPD.
This was the first thing I ever read by Peter David (it was only his second job
for Marvel Comics) and many would say any number of the stories from his run on
The Incredible Hulk would be more deserving to make this list and they probably
would be correct, but when I first read this story it simply floored me. The
cliff hangers were jaw droppers, and the use of guest star Daredevil was pitch
perfect. David’s characterization of Spider-Man remains one of my favorite and
while he would become more known for comedy, anyone wanting a tightly plotted
“who-done-it?” will love this arc.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Multiple hardcover and tradepaper back
collections have been printed.</b> Some editions also include the three-part sequel
by David and Sal Buscema published in <i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i> #134-136
(Jan-Mar 1988)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgE6kgh-vTtuo8PxIK0Fbfy494QEFzJHw6nLxSLDkY-ssbWqZ-julumOz4xCIr82gtBxQ28dvBgFjrcQit5_HegHea1eQSA00fZMajfYEPg27LcWMm3J0IQZZV3RX0aCaJaM32gvzPahpEVLnduafyHHmfT7mhPuNpKyCvfdzjYfs9dMKPDmYJlcPWpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="521" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgE6kgh-vTtuo8PxIK0Fbfy494QEFzJHw6nLxSLDkY-ssbWqZ-julumOz4xCIr82gtBxQ28dvBgFjrcQit5_HegHea1eQSA00fZMajfYEPg27LcWMm3J0IQZZV3RX0aCaJaM32gvzPahpEVLnduafyHHmfT7mhPuNpKyCvfdzjYfs9dMKPDmYJlcPWpg=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /><span style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: white;">3. Crisis on Infinite Earths</span></span></i></b><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Marv Wolfman and George Perez</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Crisis on Infinite Earths</i> #1-12 (April 1985 –
March 1986)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">DC published this year long mini-series to both
celebrate DC’s 50th Anniversary and to streamline/reboot their universe. Every
character ever published by DC appears at least once (and recently acquired
characters from Charlton Comics made their debut) and the story crossed though
fifteen titles (40 issues) published that year. It was so pivotal to DC that it
became the turning point of the history of their universe. Everything is now
referred to as pre-Crisis and post-Crisis. Wolfman and Perez were hot off their
popular run on The New Teen Titans and crafted a story that was more than just
crossovers and guest stars but an epic with long term impacts on the status quo
and the beloved characters of the DC universe. Often imitated (even by DC
themselves) but never duplicated either in scope or success, the story follows
the Anti-Monitor who begins to destroy the various parallel Earths in the
Multiverse, while the Monitor (the Anti-Monitor’s more benign counterpart)
tries to recruit heroes to stop the universal destruction.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>Multiple hard cover and soft cover collections
have been printed as well as collections of the crossover issues. </b>Some editions
also include the two-part <i>History of the DC Universe</i>.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6UYAu2SCwST9Fkn5xg-MZaPXOx1QIbIxyCGoBLVjtsyL6vOeDXXqnFzv91U2MQVfVpnntKRfq2aJHBsEAUIRrjRWeAPtYDJhcpN_XJWDXVGKOnvErz5su7yJcz-Zs0lZvmPE6fe39rMkMETRgqQwF7vuZbCuYN5rmVCQjkPbtmHQZntnmXSyjzVu3fg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="523" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6UYAu2SCwST9Fkn5xg-MZaPXOx1QIbIxyCGoBLVjtsyL6vOeDXXqnFzv91U2MQVfVpnntKRfq2aJHBsEAUIRrjRWeAPtYDJhcpN_XJWDXVGKOnvErz5su7yJcz-Zs0lZvmPE6fe39rMkMETRgqQwF7vuZbCuYN5rmVCQjkPbtmHQZntnmXSyjzVu3fg=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>2. Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Hard Traveling
Heroes</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i>Green Lantern</i> (Vol. 2) #76-87, 89 and <i>The Flash</i>
(Vol 1.) # 217-219, 226</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Reprinted in <i>Green Lantern/Green Arrow</i> #1-7
(October 1983-April 1984)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">After spending years policing the universe,
Green Lantern Hal Jordan is challenged by Green Arrow to confront menaces of a
different kind: racism, poverty, drugs, and other social ills on Earth. While
the<i> Watchmen</i> and <i>Batman: The Dark Knight Returns</i> are frequently credited as the
time when comics grew up, that’s only true superficially. Dennis O’Neil
challenged readers with mature issues by tackling real world problems in the
backdrop of right vs. left with a newly revamped Green Arrow challenging Green
Lantern’s preconceptions of society and he did it over a decade earlier than
Moore or Miller. While it may lack the language, sex, and violence of <i>DKR</i> and
<i>Watchmen</i> it still ups the intellectual quality of storytelling with parables
and debate.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>It’s been collected multiple times</b>, first as two
TPB volumes <b>Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Hard Traveling Heroes</b> and <b>Green Lantern/Green
Arrow: More Hard Traveling Heroes</b> then as <b>Green Lantern/Green Arrow Volumes 1
and 2</b>, then again as <b>Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Hard Traveling Heroes </b>in a
single volume TPB, <b>Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Absolute Edition </b>hardcover and
<b>Green Lantern/Green Arrow: Deluxe Edition</b> hardcover.</span><br /></span></span>
<br />
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuYw2BLVMVWCGJmWAnyc1zIRJ8YgPDq9Wv-q-kY4kxj0zfIbq9Wuv8UFQnAStXbY6sE9BO3mXGxaXf_ikiMkACP43BoovFYOZhabJgG3RHHwsfPA6klbicsRhND2h3Jm31Wrs33DmmxsqoHB6BLrGOrr2aAaupZ0wydp-5ik9XQjhbMykwuFwB75kM4Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="549" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuYw2BLVMVWCGJmWAnyc1zIRJ8YgPDq9Wv-q-kY4kxj0zfIbq9Wuv8UFQnAStXbY6sE9BO3mXGxaXf_ikiMkACP43BoovFYOZhabJgG3RHHwsfPA6klbicsRhND2h3Jm31Wrs33DmmxsqoHB6BLrGOrr2aAaupZ0wydp-5ik9XQjhbMykwuFwB75kM4Q=w432-h640" width="432" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>1. The New Teen Titans: Terra Incognito </i>AND<i> The
New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">By Marv Wolfman & George Perez</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i> The New Teen Titans</i> #28-34, 39-40, Annual
#2, <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #41-44 and Annual #3 (Feb. 1983-July 1984)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I debated greatly on this entry. Should I
just do the lone story arc, “The Judas Contract” (<i>Tales of the Teen Titans
</i>#42-44 and Annual #3) which was the four issue cumulation of four years’ worth
of storytelling? Threads and seeds planted as early as the first issue were set
up and paid off in that story. Even the collected edition included more than
just the four-part story, adding three additional issues of buildup (<i>The New
Teen Titans</i> #39 “Crossroads,” and a two-part Brother Blood story from <i>The New
Teen Titans</i> #40 “Lifeblood” and <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #41 “Baptism of
Blood”). I even debated doing a complete series entry but to keep it manageable
and since many of the issues building up to it appear in “Terra Incognito” I
thought a good compromise would be to just combine the two collections for the
entry. While some of the dialogue has become dated in the last four decades,
the depth of characterization and pre-panning on long term sub-plots still work
by contemporary standards perhaps even more so, since so much writing is done
with the trade paperback reprint being a consideration for structuring long
form stories. <i>The backstory going into these collections is simple: </i>A
contract on the lives of the Teen Titans (whose roster at the time was: Robin,
Wonder Girl, Kid-Flash, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy, now going by the name Changeling) has been taken
out with the terrorist organization H.I.V.E. (Hierarchy of International
Vengeance and Eliminations) who has hired Deathstroke, The Terminator to
fulfill the contract. Deathstroke blames the Titans for the death on his eldest
son and after being defeated or fighting to a standstill multiple times during
the first year of publication, Deathstroke decides to play a longer game and
enlists the aid of a traitor to take them down from within.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUziIGWo2-IW0vRZR5QiiQI3KeL3ZLgWQU2ZNBXBg8z_a-Kbm99XE-i7c0Gb6lF4CQ-Qf4vwKXdUQl95OrCwOGkG6sIGZZGkDjkY8yEppOo4DPUQry7r31hnKy-kfIh9uDk36zYAOpiHfRM_vRNUHSFzSJw0suC5IDpOTxhqv0TS3B0Evgk22Es2WXHQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="565" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUziIGWo2-IW0vRZR5QiiQI3KeL3ZLgWQU2ZNBXBg8z_a-Kbm99XE-i7c0Gb6lF4CQ-Qf4vwKXdUQl95OrCwOGkG6sIGZZGkDjkY8yEppOo4DPUQry7r31hnKy-kfIh9uDk36zYAOpiHfRM_vRNUHSFzSJw0suC5IDpOTxhqv0TS3B0Evgk22Es2WXHQ=w432-h640" width="432" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>“Terra Incognito”</b> starts with the introduction
of Terra (the little sister of Geo-Force from <i>Batman and the Outsiders</i>) who is
being forced by terrorists holding her parents (the ruler of the nation of
Markovia) to commit crimes. Changeling befriends Terra but the other Titans
have some doubts about her story. Around this time OG Titan and recovering drug
addict Speedy returns to the team as well as the super-powered Frances Kane
(Magenta), a childhood friend of Kid-Flash who is a reluctant hero due to
mental health issues. Meanwhile, a new brutal masked avenger has taken to the
streets taking the name Vigilante. Since it’s not a straightforward arc there
is a lot going on here. The team battles the Brotherhood of Evil and the Church
of Brother Blood, Robin is partnering with the DA and Judge Adrian Chace to
take down a mob boss, a villain named Trident is murdered and Thunder and
Lightning, a pair of super powered twins, are introduced.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><i><b>The Gap: </b>There is a gap of five issues between
collections</i>. None have a huge impact on the bigger arc but allowing the
audience knows who the traitor is while playing out innocuous done-in-one tales
really ratcheted up the tension, that’s the biggest downside of limiting
oneself to two collected editions instead of the full run or the subsequent
sequential TPB releases. In addition, Issue #35 (“Seige!”) pays off a Cyborg
subplot established in issues #30 (“Nightmare!”) and #34 (“Endings… And
Beginnings.” Issue #36 (“Feedback”) follows up the story “Thunder and
Lightning” (Issue #32). Issue #37 (“Light’s Out, Everyone”) is the first of a
two part crossover with <i>Batman and the Outsiders</i> #5 (“Psimon Says…”) and #38 is
the classic done-in-one “Who is Donna Troy?” which I discussed above in the
Honorable Mention entry. Again, none of the main narrative is lost just the
tension of knowing who is working with Deathstroke while the Titans go about
their business unaware.</span></span></span><br />
<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkIYzjvOgPDvhwXVydLwuthmM2YbwlZp04s_X-XYPuEYhfrbZUfE38KlXi2f9aZLP0ttXP5Yq36fhUvrZJ1HdoRno6GyObrvSAz6UqXIShV04Q19-Kh8xyk0lxtprGoh_gsVmnMl0bb7FN5H6vvVb6ETjM0UQFYYoqVYa8O3UtSQCl5qmbButf7Tj_gg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="471" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkIYzjvOgPDvhwXVydLwuthmM2YbwlZp04s_X-XYPuEYhfrbZUfE38KlXi2f9aZLP0ttXP5Yq36fhUvrZJ1HdoRno6GyObrvSAz6UqXIShV04Q19-Kh8xyk0lxtprGoh_gsVmnMl0bb7FN5H6vvVb6ETjM0UQFYYoqVYa8O3UtSQCl5qmbButf7Tj_gg=w419-h640" width="419" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>“The Judas Contract” </b>starts three issues before
the classic four-part story with Kid Flash and Robin sub-plots coming to a head
as well and the conclusion of the Church of Blood arc. Deathstroke and his
infiltrator finally spring their trap to take out the Titans. Wolfman expertly
plays against expectations as the story barrels toward it climax. The
story, known for Dick Grayson giving up his role as Robin and creating a new
persona and the gut punch of the resolution that was almost four years in the
making, cemented the Wolfman/Perez collaboration and the series as one of the
best runs in comics. If I had any complaint about the collection is that there
are some loose ends, many of which were cleaned up in the following three-part
story appearing in #45-47 (“Old Times, Old Friends,” “Showdown!,” “Final
Conflict”), and even though those issues are worth reading they are definitely
anti-climactic compared to the events of “The Judas Contract, part 4: Finale”
(<i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> Annual #3) which closes out the collection.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>The issues from these two collections can also
be found in other collections including:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 2 First Edition</b>
(collecting <i>The New Teen Titans </i>#21-37, 39-40, Annual #1-2, <i>Tales of the Teen
Titans</i> #41-44 and Annual #3)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 2 Second
Edition</b> (collecting <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #21-40, Annual #1-2, <i>Tales of the Teen
Titans</i> #41 and <i>Batman and the Outsiders</i> #5)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 3 Second
Edition</b> (collecting <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #41-58, Annual #3, <i>The New Teen
Titan</i>s Vol. 2 #1-9)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans (Trade Paperback) Vol. 5
</b>(collecting <i>The New Teen Titans</i> #28-34, and Annual #2)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans (Trade Paperback) Vol. 6
</b>(collecting<i> The New Teen Titans</i> #35-40, <i>Tales of the Teen Titans </i>#41 and<i> Batman
and the Outsiders </i>#5)</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b>The New Teen Titans (Trade Paperback) Vol. 7</b>
(collecting <i>Tales of the Teen Titans</i> #42-48 and Annual #3)</span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p><p></p>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-15528348840932122082022-03-14T07:45:00.056-07:002022-03-18T18:11:24.497-07:00Crusade: A Follow Up (or How Can I Ramble Less While Rambling More)<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Last November I wrote a blog that discussed a suggested viewing order for <i><b>Crusade</b></i>, the short lived <b><i>Babylon 5</i></b> spin-off that aired on TNT. After doing a re-watch recently with my son and wife, I had a few more thoughts and just wanted to put them out there. Some of the info below is repetitive while some is expanding on details glossed over originally, including a step-by-step process of my reasoning. If you liked my two lists, nothing has changed just a bit more information in a few areas and a bit less in others.<br /><i><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTN2-DIOIDNlTQiahbbLvdTzJKdN1vMc8Ztsp2fBtBfywhG8FXZfiBzHRhV5z1EluYuG21pMo7gntPuaYkzNkJW8_FbvEHmEiRDczPaq09bQAIpuYDGfd0_yb1FvMjOOzAwDPmqlzqpAVlVfzryn3YIo1_jnX5m0J473lPiZ1cDU636dlwrxLg-_mg4A=s634" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="634" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTN2-DIOIDNlTQiahbbLvdTzJKdN1vMc8Ztsp2fBtBfywhG8FXZfiBzHRhV5z1EluYuG21pMo7gntPuaYkzNkJW8_FbvEHmEiRDczPaq09bQAIpuYDGfd0_yb1FvMjOOzAwDPmqlzqpAVlVfzryn3YIo1_jnX5m0J473lPiZ1cDU636dlwrxLg-_mg4A=w400-h396" width="400" /></a></div><br />We will start with a quick and dirty re-cap.</b></i><br /><i>Crusade</i> filmed five episodes (actual production order in parenthesis) with the intended broadcast order of:<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzrJpVD2RLoeCkxJoFY3P5cWuvohheioaMmPaxN2dxy1iVCj-1cYxmPMW9_ojhHDXcb_F9xueDEh_JmJUFM_rBmaBz5zXV4QW6Lb5mM3a_IPO4-B0zbygYFbRgIEIADH0n_Mm_WFzotMrzrCEdIINC8PW63RoiG9NgqNq9q1vGb7AR3thy5xxBsuaS1g=s594" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="594" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzrJpVD2RLoeCkxJoFY3P5cWuvohheioaMmPaxN2dxy1iVCj-1cYxmPMW9_ojhHDXcb_F9xueDEh_JmJUFM_rBmaBz5zXV4QW6Lb5mM3a_IPO4-B0zbygYFbRgIEIADH0n_Mm_WFzotMrzrCEdIINC8PW63RoiG9NgqNq9q1vGb7AR3thy5xxBsuaS1g=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></div><br />The show was put on an extended hiatus (three weeks instead of one) to create new black costumes to replace the original gray costumes, make make-up changes, and expand sets at the request of the network. They also requested a new opening episode, however they wanted it with the new costumes. After the hiatus, production continued with two episodes already written and ready for filming followed by the new first episode which was rushed into production:<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107) <br />War Zone (108)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfgzmMCFAX0gYVZ1ViThtf6l21y-fk5gzvuXzzPPRwIM_mUoElh9JMSI0OXNrztwtZRHQrFPN_W6jV7izbGi-B0-AqG7d0bsFjHab_oGC2FiGP1-uSrEj_wQbjsnSgnCVJWIAwirjjD2ojFcJKJEDXC-Sgp83-hMThDm6ztRov-wGKMjoYErgLtfg5tQ=s526" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="526" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfgzmMCFAX0gYVZ1ViThtf6l21y-fk5gzvuXzzPPRwIM_mUoElh9JMSI0OXNrztwtZRHQrFPN_W6jV7izbGi-B0-AqG7d0bsFjHab_oGC2FiGP1-uSrEj_wQbjsnSgnCVJWIAwirjjD2ojFcJKJEDXC-Sgp83-hMThDm6ztRov-wGKMjoYErgLtfg5tQ=w400-h296" width="400" /></a></div><br />Production continued with the filming of four scripts that were already in progress at the time of the first hiatus and a new episode was created to explain the costume changes:<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMejcxgeqWU3oGYNPBTsWlC7tvuR09YKCB4EQRA26cobrF-9csGeF6aQr6QVZcYc6RF-GKwgzfu71YIwaTpgTO-jvl6FWDtUQt-P8GOUKjX-7QvI_Um_cyiTMNfUfnP90GFoNRddL1N656CoEpK4n0Kk7eHUXT8fVEMSiJ5AEYpPCaY-E39hC5-B8cHQ=s519" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="519" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMejcxgeqWU3oGYNPBTsWlC7tvuR09YKCB4EQRA26cobrF-9csGeF6aQr6QVZcYc6RF-GKwgzfu71YIwaTpgTO-jvl6FWDtUQt-P8GOUKjX-7QvI_Um_cyiTMNfUfnP90GFoNRddL1N656CoEpK4n0Kk7eHUXT8fVEMSiJ5AEYpPCaY-E39hC5-B8cHQ=w400-h213" width="400" /></a></div><br />At this point they took the already scheduled mid-season holiday hiatus. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Three episodes were completely scripted and in various levels of preproduction so they could resume filming after this second hiatus. These included an episode that would explain the change back to black uniforms, the return of fan favorite <i>Babylon 5</i> character (Bester), and the season finale which was being filmed early to give more time for post-production:<br />To the Ends of the Earth (114)<br />Value Judgements (115)<br />The End of the Line (116)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Another five episodes were already planned with several the process of being outlined or scripted:<br />Darkness of the Soul (117)<br />Tried and True (118)<br />Untitled (119)<br />War Story (120)<br />Walls of Hell (121)<br />Gates of Hell (possible working title, 122)<br /><br />TNT cancelled the series without going back into production. They would air the 13 completed episodes as a “limited series” during the summer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>TNT aired the episodes in this order:</b><br />War Zone (108)<br />Long Road (107)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />The Memory of War (102)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Needs of Earth (101)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>This created several continuity problems</b>, for example, the virus screen was discovered in “The Memory of War”<b> after</b> was used in “Patterns of the Soul.” “Ruling from the Tomb” which has an on-screen date of June is aired before “Visitors from Down the Street” which has an on-screen date of May. There are several others (which I will point out farther down), but you get the idea. This was also the order they were released on DVD.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Many have tried to fix the continuity issues by moving the first five up in the order and assuming the change back to black uniforms happen off screen.<i> For years one of my favorites of these is one I came up with myself which I call…</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>“Altered Production Order”:</b><br />War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivPtMCDPJvNGX5zHnECP0QlHfyuXCy1Ug5RHj_keCjZmxKlPnLluP_HW7Ro4mP8mW32nIWmhualbAxu3NhgJN2yR5zPmT8DSTT6zZmWykvp1shY11-zVcEcUBl2TNfBItQcPatSwvXFQ1culRsLiqEb2TPeJ33v-Kc6f_SXJOVFmv_kIQGrNmy3niRvA=s589" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="589" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivPtMCDPJvNGX5zHnECP0QlHfyuXCy1Ug5RHj_keCjZmxKlPnLluP_HW7Ro4mP8mW32nIWmhualbAxu3NhgJN2yR5zPmT8DSTT6zZmWykvp1shY11-zVcEcUBl2TNfBItQcPatSwvXFQ1culRsLiqEb2TPeJ33v-Kc6f_SXJOVFmv_kIQGrNmy3niRvA=w400-h304" width="400" /></a></div><br />I work from the assumption that episodes are mostly shot has they are intended to be seen (with a few exceptions here and there). So, I start with production order then move episodes that were shot out of order (“War Zone,” “Appearances and Other Deceits.” and “The Needs of Earth”). It fixes many continuity issues and has a good flow since you can see the natural evolution of production but even then, there are <b>still</b> continuity issues like Gideon and Lochley meeting and appearing to know each other in “Each Night I Dream of Home” but then meeting for the first time in “Ruling from the Tomb,” and the black uniforms simply vanishing without mention.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Next is the<b> “Official Babylon 5 Chronology,”</b> it goes:<br />War Zone (108)<br />Long Road (107)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />This is not too far from my “Altered Production Order,” so it <i>suffers from the exact same issues</i>.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“<b>Continuity Order</b>,” a list from Wikipedia, fixes that issue of the Gideon/Lochley meeting but runs into the on-screen date issue as well as other issues, it goes:<br />War Zone (108)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />There is also the “<b>Sci-Fi Channel Order</b>” that the creator came up with for its rebroadcast. It ignores continuity completely, so it’s a real mess, I think his bitterness at the network interference blinded him to the fact this order would kill any verisimilitude. It goes:<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Long Road (107)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)<br />War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />There are other lists out there as well, an all-inclusive order that includes the unproduced scripts, a “pure five” list that only includes the first five and a “pure” list that expands it to ten episodes. But any list that cuts episodes is <b>not</b> one I endorse. <i>You gotta take the good with the bad.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i>This brings me to my preferred list which I call <b>“Alternating Order” (<i>formerly “Alternate Altered Production Order” in my last blog</i>) </b>Here is a step-by-step guide to how I get there. When trying to come up with the best possible order it is best to start with production order then start moving pieces. So we have:<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107)<br />War Zone (108)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA6Oklrfd6humcp7OfIFkncBw_sm01cSP8lJfM7tZ2pfPqptFVvLZjr9ERVwHJ6HPTLIyL3eRxcjO2JpqQ8b0dqHTNtWBTe6s2P9u-9xAZm6tPPzwKJwpFL_Wbw7Q0ET_O4XNFVP4vyjY4vtgBGjoooh1uq6LSbjhs6Di_dlSxE9r76CcyySEMqK9aAQ=s515" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="515" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA6Oklrfd6humcp7OfIFkncBw_sm01cSP8lJfM7tZ2pfPqptFVvLZjr9ERVwHJ6HPTLIyL3eRxcjO2JpqQ8b0dqHTNtWBTe6s2P9u-9xAZm6tPPzwKJwpFL_Wbw7Q0ET_O4XNFVP4vyjY4vtgBGjoooh1uq6LSbjhs6Di_dlSxE9r76CcyySEMqK9aAQ=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></div><br />“War Zone” was created to be the first episode, so we move it to the top. So now we have this order:<br /><b>War Zone (108)</b><br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLhB23KaVXz4XaoIiJ1f5Utnh54u8K6efP_AnImyN3E3IaWMnZYhmInFTxhheenSCZdxJEUb64oZRmH7M70w9zzzFbcjJI6LGYPrnKnhWeI-duOhxBwkeeTCGHRQxFHgo3nqAdhRTBEfd9XbYkirIxVjI60wqQ6jre1bBoPmwW21v4XwKZQ4fSQLhADA=s520" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="520" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLhB23KaVXz4XaoIiJ1f5Utnh54u8K6efP_AnImyN3E3IaWMnZYhmInFTxhheenSCZdxJEUb64oZRmH7M70w9zzzFbcjJI6LGYPrnKnhWeI-duOhxBwkeeTCGHRQxFHgo3nqAdhRTBEfd9XbYkirIxVjI60wqQ6jre1bBoPmwW21v4XwKZQ4fSQLhADA=w400-h303" width="400" /></a></div><br />“Appearances and Other Deceits” must take place before all the gray uniform episodes: “The Needs of Earth,” “The Memory of War,” “Racing the Night,” “Visitors from Down the Street,” and “Each Night I Dream of Home.” So, we move it just before “The Needs of Earth.” This works well since it gives the impression that from the start, Earth will attempt to micromanage and manipulate how things are perceived. So now we have this order:<br /><b>War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)</b><br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />“The Memory of War” has the discovery of the virus shield used in “Patterns of the Soul” and mentioned in “Each Night I Dream of Home.” Chambers’ log heard in “The Needs of Earth” refers to “The Memory of War,” the Apocalypse Box warning in “The Memory of War” foreshadows “The Well of Forever,” The news broadcast puts “The Memory of War” date in late March/early April before the on-screen dates of “Visitors from Down the Street” and “Ruling from the Tomb.” This only requires we move “The Memory of War” ahead a single episode up in the order ahead of “The Needs of Earth.” This gets you back to my “Altered Production Order,” but as I said above, there are still some continuity issues. So here we are:<br /><b>War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)</b><br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />“The Needs of Earth” and “Visitors from Down the Street” must take place before “The Well of Forever” because Matheson’s scans are referring to those episodes. They are already in that order.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Visitors from Down the Street” must be before “Ruling from the Tomb”<br />Because of the on-screen dates of May and June. They are already in that order.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Ruling from the Tomb” then “Each Night I Dream of Home” then “Rules of the Game” is the proper progression of Gideon/Lockley meetings. So, we move “Ruling from the Tomb” up between “Visitors from Down the Street” and “Each Night I Dream of Home”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />These last two continuity points puts a black uniform episode between two gray uniform episodes. It’s an issue most lists <b>ignore</b> to keep the gray uniform episodes together. Other lists either put “Ruling from the Tomb” after “Each Night I Dream of Home” (ruining the progression of Gideon/Lockley meetings) or before “Appearances and other Deceits” (ruining the on-screen date order). Both the “Original Broadcast/DVD Order” and the “Official Chronology” are examples of this.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl_UCUzxep_6HZiQZly6UkxO10UHvQr-E2Q-_uINBLDwcLT1XB7vdbQc959jJUCRbSjFgN3qQY_eAI0_lDzfM2xILRFL47Gdhzwz8-_eCn71Ako4-oZOO2cmJxtyEBHoe-LMZyEsbDMY9MnCyK0low5pByoJe5isIBC1dVhcWoWJJoTfcNXC6ytPRKVw=s592" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="592" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgl_UCUzxep_6HZiQZly6UkxO10UHvQr-E2Q-_uINBLDwcLT1XB7vdbQc959jJUCRbSjFgN3qQY_eAI0_lDzfM2xILRFL47Gdhzwz8-_eCn71Ako4-oZOO2cmJxtyEBHoe-LMZyEsbDMY9MnCyK0low5pByoJe5isIBC1dVhcWoWJJoTfcNXC6ytPRKVw=w400-h323" width="400" /></a></div><br />This informs the direction of the rest of this viewing order.</b> With “Ruling from the Tomb” between “Visitors from Down the Street” and “Each Night I Dream of Home,” we now have this order:<br /><b>War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)</b><br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br /><b>Ruling from the Tomb (111)</b><br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhi5R1v9R8aoOVBkVzTjTnKjGn2JpNIMa_2c0Io1dlZ00TJhOdF0ZjPrMECAJmpdKNqxsgZskXbm5Q4gSgZhsnLS4LFAVo42AniDs6S7KY9R0iHMesTHgN0jYIPhydRZk3TiLjmhDFZBCkTxPK81dtc0sR9LpMSwlo8ILQd8eH0NsRJIXkIgeSH7ObmKg=s593" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="593" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhi5R1v9R8aoOVBkVzTjTnKjGn2JpNIMa_2c0Io1dlZ00TJhOdF0ZjPrMECAJmpdKNqxsgZskXbm5Q4gSgZhsnLS4LFAVo42AniDs6S7KY9R0iHMesTHgN0jYIPhydRZk3TiLjmhDFZBCkTxPK81dtc0sR9LpMSwlo8ILQd8eH0NsRJIXkIgeSH7ObmKg=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><br />Rather than assume the change back to black uniforms happens off screen after clustering the grey uniform episodes together, it makes more sense to alternate the black and gray uniforms but making sure to take care not to create more continuity issues. It is just as valid assumption that they would use both sets of uniforms as it is that would would change back off screen. I realized this while watching a first season episode of <i>seaQuest DSV</i> and noticed that they would use different uniforms just like the real military. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikqY5hM60TDmlE-IJiZYVJhOnza0plI9oURd8iiIzr8fAHF9ekwvi4Vtks1mqfYOXKKYpQ6jksM7Yjtx9yamFWhLr6TKZlYFBohU2AcQlCMusI8PABc-UsFebaGHaFaD0gk0gMGhu19yQbCoeCKPiWOtJBW1v5Dd-HfD45KQT82PW-ni_8cZbeFCsfzg=s520" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="520" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikqY5hM60TDmlE-IJiZYVJhOnza0plI9oURd8iiIzr8fAHF9ekwvi4Vtks1mqfYOXKKYpQ6jksM7Yjtx9yamFWhLr6TKZlYFBohU2AcQlCMusI8PABc-UsFebaGHaFaD0gk0gMGhu19yQbCoeCKPiWOtJBW1v5Dd-HfD45KQT82PW-ni_8cZbeFCsfzg=w400-h305" width="400" /></a></div><br />We can NOT move “Well of Forever” up between “The Memory of War” and “Needs of Earth” because it must take place after “The Needs of Earth” and “Visitors from Down the Street,” since Matheson's scans refer back to those episodes, so we move on to “The Long Road” and move it up between “The Memory of War” and “The Needs of Earth.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLHMnyeBeR6UcQ8vvAmOzRScTaKJ6hvC2DwflBmmaXfR_XkboHivbqAKMV-e0a-eYicvtuLgsmPRWZUietzbPp1Ram7F1TWrkEAMSTMGQgkmNu-QOk2jzlLXRoEGVpDFsUBoMc4e6RaTcdOCKFfKsbk87ighopR6QLgmRiAhU2Ffdfutbm8t3w4jbCeg=s528" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="528" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLHMnyeBeR6UcQ8vvAmOzRScTaKJ6hvC2DwflBmmaXfR_XkboHivbqAKMV-e0a-eYicvtuLgsmPRWZUietzbPp1Ram7F1TWrkEAMSTMGQgkmNu-QOk2jzlLXRoEGVpDFsUBoMc4e6RaTcdOCKFfKsbk87ighopR6QLgmRiAhU2Ffdfutbm8t3w4jbCeg=w400-h208" width="400" /></a></div><br />We now have:<br /><b>War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)</b><br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br /><b>Ruling from the Tomb (111)</b><br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEwuc5edL1tBAtGS7SZRd7orfA9jSFiIjazXfqvY1f2CikWVzgAWVkanz0CUieY_VC9KXO4US1uwYOmuynBMIIDd3MA9yx9_Uf5QlnIktNg5HdEuujYwOi1hp3A69dJ-5pfpL8M5dQuTUtR4Pu8sAC6E2XVoXv8EcT2BEH7_cFtehPbLc6fjlOx0YPiw=s517" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="517" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEwuc5edL1tBAtGS7SZRd7orfA9jSFiIjazXfqvY1f2CikWVzgAWVkanz0CUieY_VC9KXO4US1uwYOmuynBMIIDd3MA9yx9_Uf5QlnIktNg5HdEuujYwOi1hp3A69dJ-5pfpL8M5dQuTUtR4Pu8sAC6E2XVoXv8EcT2BEH7_cFtehPbLc6fjlOx0YPiw=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></div><br />Next, “The Path of Sorrows,” goes between “The Needs of Earth” and “Racing the Night.” This means we first see the Apocalypse Box, but it is a total mystery in “The Memory of War,” it is explained to us in “Path of Sorrows” and then shown again in “Racing the Night” establishing that Gideon is keeping it a secret from Galen after Gideon was warned by the Box not to trust Galen. Perhaps not the original intent but it sure works well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPfJGVV2AHHwgZKqzee7W70pJ7ZytiLU0EXqSCwM8Xdai_AIzdfO1dn3wopJUgYvRkfe0tXH4GKnvUKL_BhB7NsInesz9uVgiY_p535_zLgmdAAdnLrBAUpZbdqdumrMSV2MsfJsB1RW7WSiABG9CyVpNBbztayW_6NqGRCIRYErA646FxtidnZsUYtg=s485" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="485" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPfJGVV2AHHwgZKqzee7W70pJ7ZytiLU0EXqSCwM8Xdai_AIzdfO1dn3wopJUgYvRkfe0tXH4GKnvUKL_BhB7NsInesz9uVgiY_p535_zLgmdAAdnLrBAUpZbdqdumrMSV2MsfJsB1RW7WSiABG9CyVpNBbztayW_6NqGRCIRYErA646FxtidnZsUYtg=w400-h365" width="400" /></a></div><br />Speaking of “Racing the Night,” there was a temptation to move it before “The Memory of War” since that was the original intended order and it was supposed to be the premier episode, but the creation of “War Zone” made that a moot issue. Putting it after “Appearances and Other Deceits” didn’t work as well since Chambers sees a softer side in of Max in “Appearances and Other Deceits” but goes back to disliking him, even going so far as to call him “the king of the pig people” in “Racing the Night.” It’s better to have a few episodes that allow a reset of their relationship (the opening sequence in “The Needs of Earth” with the alien porn <i>really</i> helps to get there). Also having it take place after “Path of Sorrows” implies that Gideon's respite from bad dreams has past, however, they are now focused on his mission instead of the <i>Cerebus</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />However, I digress, “The Path of Sorrows,” goes up after “The Needs of Earth” leaving us with this order:<br /><b>War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Racing the Night (103)</b><br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br /><b>Ruling from the Tomb (111)</b><br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8AUjNj4h4rfKp7QE_toTSO6JJUgxIc32-53gAF14xQOx4RXEu6cGit4R-MCLklufx9t6tEdl87jd_LEGmFWCbp2o5G8TMqGJ4NerlU7H8QHFpJOQ5VCLRDWcNsEJA0j35Eapc4z3T4lYrhN0SuuPQWamCc4pqrdqpf1En6nFNCbkND0VEaPSD40h8Jw=s524" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="524" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8AUjNj4h4rfKp7QE_toTSO6JJUgxIc32-53gAF14xQOx4RXEu6cGit4R-MCLklufx9t6tEdl87jd_LEGmFWCbp2o5G8TMqGJ4NerlU7H8QHFpJOQ5VCLRDWcNsEJA0j35Eapc4z3T4lYrhN0SuuPQWamCc4pqrdqpf1En6nFNCbkND0VEaPSD40h8Jw=w400-h301" width="400" /></a></div><br />Finally, we move “Patterns of the Soul” between “Racing the Night” and “Visitors from Down the Street.” This works very well since some of the exposition that was intended to be introductory for “Racing the Night” now seems more specific. For example: The reminder that Dureena’s race was wiped out by the Drahk and she is the last of her kind is now paid off in the very <b>next</b> episode with “Patterns of the Soul.” Black also claims he and his left Earth six months ago before the Drahk attack (which happened in December). Having this take place just before “Visitors from Down the Street” which is set in May works out nicely timeline wise.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We leave the remaining three where they are since “Well of Forever” must be after “Visitors from Down the Street” and “Rules of the Game” must be after “Each Night I Dream of Home,” and “Ruling from the Tomb” is already between “Visitors from Down the Street” and “Each Night I Dream of Home.” <i>This works out well.</i> Not only are both Lockley and The Excalibur “in the neighborhood” of Earth for “Each Night I Dream of Home” shortly after the events of “Ruling from the Tomb,” but it is also a nice progression that Dr. Franklin would authorize such an extreme measure <b>after</b> getting data from the conference on Mars.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEv6AGiVODAjlm8_wDn8Mkij6ID8qXs4PU-l0z6PE-N09MDy5GK5WAjYybi4qiqbQfl3fLudrQd-RXig9wunCHQ2ocYheu4n5jwcuYgBYtg8Qjts4r45c5sPG_q4iw2M8fZ8QmaVqXGf-iT89p0-uolX0tnTch39toYHGMCPctvNLrn02yF0Wedshn0g=s515" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="515" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEv6AGiVODAjlm8_wDn8Mkij6ID8qXs4PU-l0z6PE-N09MDy5GK5WAjYybi4qiqbQfl3fLudrQd-RXig9wunCHQ2ocYheu4n5jwcuYgBYtg8Qjts4r45c5sPG_q4iw2M8fZ8QmaVqXGf-iT89p0-uolX0tnTch39toYHGMCPctvNLrn02yF0Wedshn0g=w400-h210" width="400" /></a></div><br />We are now out of gray uniform episodes to alternate so we end with two black uniform episodes: “The Well of Forever” and “Rules of the Game.” This works well with Gideon commenting on Galen’s absences in “Racing the Night” not only explaining why he was missing in past episodes like “Appearances and Other Deceits,” and “The Needs of Earth” but it nicely foreshadows his absence from the following four episodes <i>then</i> pays off the warning of the Apocalypse Box that was made in “The Memory of War” in the penultimate episode. This allows the finale to end at <b><i>Babylon 5</i></b>. <i>It’s a nice bit of symmetry.</i> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This leaves our final order:<br /><b>War Zone (108)<br />Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />The Memory of War (102)<br />Long Road (107)<br />The Needs of Earth (101)<br />The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />Racing the Night (103)<br />Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />Well of Forever (106)<br />Rules of the Game (112)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHJkN_e8LwhPj425xU3unrXWwZSsXbWTGiWr4CBurnpYopzq5ON3vUzebV4yT_GKn432u6ai1qoLub_No2DAHlsSL-hKfRlG_-GbR7BMBYUZ1RRdKZF1mRpHbsYGmTBXsf3OWXAFYz4nGBDCmgbU48aXVQjXYNHG-FPvkq49EqvWxpbmq0BG5IXn0SWw=s514" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="514" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHJkN_e8LwhPj425xU3unrXWwZSsXbWTGiWr4CBurnpYopzq5ON3vUzebV4yT_GKn432u6ai1qoLub_No2DAHlsSL-hKfRlG_-GbR7BMBYUZ1RRdKZF1mRpHbsYGmTBXsf3OWXAFYz4nGBDCmgbU48aXVQjXYNHG-FPvkq49EqvWxpbmq0BG5IXn0SWw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />You can read the original post here Complete with a flow chart: <a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflecting-on-babylon-5s-crusade-or.html" target="_blank">http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflecting-on-babylon-5s-crusade-or.html</a></span></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-40111230548885552952022-03-13T07:18:00.005-07:002022-05-08T12:20:32.085-07:0010 Movies to Know Me<p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A recent post was inspired by the Twitter topic of “Ten Shows to Know Me.” Rather than make a list I expand it to a recommendation for some excellent tv viewing, Now, I thought I would take a run at my favorite films. While it is sci-fi heavy, it is an eclectic mix with (horror, western, crime and even a romantic comedy)</span></p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_CQheA2sFKD3dJ_uy1aM2KyUWwHF47UbbMCwoRfuJDtWh0LTdc6MLbTXcwq0yIK3NOAvBZd2mJJaOoEEoEOOgz1nZkFtJlgs2vhYmf2GBUsh_AuyeQAD4siqJ48FiaKi8-s47WvUJBfUvk8N8yZ37gI1HE_EZH6sbuie-LLcwo4h84326Ozq2afbadQ=s991" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="991" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_CQheA2sFKD3dJ_uy1aM2KyUWwHF47UbbMCwoRfuJDtWh0LTdc6MLbTXcwq0yIK3NOAvBZd2mJJaOoEEoEOOgz1nZkFtJlgs2vhYmf2GBUsh_AuyeQAD4siqJ48FiaKi8-s47WvUJBfUvk8N8yZ37gI1HE_EZH6sbuie-LLcwo4h84326Ozq2afbadQ=w400-h339" width="400" /></a></div><br />HONORABLE MENTION:<b> Night of the Living Dead</b> (1968)<br />The classic zombie film by George Romero makes my list despite being a genre that I’ve never warmed to. Horror has always left me cold, unless it was classic Universal monster films or the Hammer House of Horror vampire flicks. Romero’s low budget classic clicks with me not because the zombies or horror element that is appealing but the idea of putting a group of diverse people in a pot boiler situation then cranking up the heat/stress level for real drama against the backdrop of the inconceivable.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXAoU6-Beww3tLsGdVqPzao-PqpxkLZ4pXuzc4vXlWMB8YQH8wqTl9_q4Z6ArU0xU8wb4xZLF6tCmmjKe0QUdCwStTCgeUr2rEu3dvRWk74z8x__TlPwPSdMdfLX4MUCTOdwsFPEUGq9AfehyEijzb0EdRku7yRRcLLwQnYxVpnwssNwUlOj7E23KxWg=s964" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="964" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXAoU6-Beww3tLsGdVqPzao-PqpxkLZ4pXuzc4vXlWMB8YQH8wqTl9_q4Z6ArU0xU8wb4xZLF6tCmmjKe0QUdCwStTCgeUr2rEu3dvRWk74z8x__TlPwPSdMdfLX4MUCTOdwsFPEUGq9AfehyEijzb0EdRku7yRRcLLwQnYxVpnwssNwUlOj7E23KxWg=w400-h231" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />10.<b> Scream</b> (1996)<br />One of the reasons I’ve never been a huge horror fan is the slasher subgenre. Mindless gore with body counts and central characters with the intelligence of a rutabaga… until <i>Scream</i> came along and created a slasher film that mocks the “rules” and tropes of the genre. For every cheap jump scare there is a gag or joke that slyly mocks the competition. A great cast, brilliant script and masterfully directed by Wes Craven, it stands above the rest of the slice and dice series and even approaches… art.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidW-LyWdNFPeNjfoxPpQgMyCCzovY9rAJW9YxJ4DPhn-Hi8J4IMJSOQ30F23yOMq433IVmGMtw7wRKCtQph-Nkp62vCrut8H-2eXhnhvIt35wtIMdq3j0S4dvBjS0_0gjDmP9VFIIXTBVsq4xTVTIoGLvQ2s4XqXvJdlRK3fMcU_oNDYuZwsN_YXI69Q=s681" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="681" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidW-LyWdNFPeNjfoxPpQgMyCCzovY9rAJW9YxJ4DPhn-Hi8J4IMJSOQ30F23yOMq433IVmGMtw7wRKCtQph-Nkp62vCrut8H-2eXhnhvIt35wtIMdq3j0S4dvBjS0_0gjDmP9VFIIXTBVsq4xTVTIoGLvQ2s4XqXvJdlRK3fMcU_oNDYuZwsN_YXI69Q=w400-h191" width="400" /></a></div><br />9. <b>The Magnificent Seven</b> (1960)<br />The John Struges directed western remake of <i>The Seven Samurai</i> is a fantastic piece of Americana. Yule Brenner leads a star-studded cast as an eclectic group of gunmen are hired to defend a small farming village from a gang of bandits. Beautiful vistas have never looked better since films have started being restored to their former widescreen glory after decades of pan and scan broadcasts on tv and Elmer Bernstein’s Academy Award winning score always ups the energy level in this classic tale of good versus evil mixed with a dose of redemption.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEJiuXfs4b11QF1xAT3TfRWj2lixxfGlDOSo70FB34ULiaDMAtyJZ1h6KKsAS-yUKmPaQ_nRRmkEVZJC9SJE1HOiel8efWcXxWqBhkpz03pPUBzislCMgefzTyM_gWXzF0yNgrY2wl4rUOS57a7cKeIuW4vaHd2s6qK3H2X5eznmCb392pqEDFOdTpjg=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1800" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEJiuXfs4b11QF1xAT3TfRWj2lixxfGlDOSo70FB34ULiaDMAtyJZ1h6KKsAS-yUKmPaQ_nRRmkEVZJC9SJE1HOiel8efWcXxWqBhkpz03pPUBzislCMgefzTyM_gWXzF0yNgrY2wl4rUOS57a7cKeIuW4vaHd2s6qK3H2X5eznmCb392pqEDFOdTpjg=w400-h261" width="400" /></a></div><br />8. <b>Pulp Fiction</b> (1994)<br />Quentin Tarantino’s second film cemented him as one of the great filmmakers of his generation. His love of film allowed him to mash up elements of crime, exploitation, drama, comedy, kung fu, western and horror into a brand that is uniquely his. He frequently comes under fire for the moments of violence in his films, but anyone really paying attention will see that he is really a wordsmith and a master of plot and dialogue. The soliloquys far outnumber the violent acts and the characters are far deeper than the shallow caricatures that inhabit typical action films. <i>Pulp Fiction</i> is Tarantino at his best creating a story with a nonlinear collection of short stories that come together to form a larger narrative.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4MkDHJzgqYTLpn-I1qy3rVSnHOkfCyPYw4_MMzb0LrEUuPTk2M2rcl5dw-pLYtAlD7foOzyAqsoXlxMkwmAgsqcKKNdfz9-WAWszdpazJvM19UMEj5QhDYQjBqbnQLsWwBxl6nIs6zHfLMxeUVc6UDeAHckSfW2cI1N6pFsjfUvyQ9yEdh3FuwU2ZUw=s700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="700" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4MkDHJzgqYTLpn-I1qy3rVSnHOkfCyPYw4_MMzb0LrEUuPTk2M2rcl5dw-pLYtAlD7foOzyAqsoXlxMkwmAgsqcKKNdfz9-WAWszdpazJvM19UMEj5QhDYQjBqbnQLsWwBxl6nIs6zHfLMxeUVc6UDeAHckSfW2cI1N6pFsjfUvyQ9yEdh3FuwU2ZUw=w400-h170" width="400" /></a></div><br />7.<b> Planet of the Apes</b> (1968)<br />The Rod Serling script based on the French novel led to an epic franchise that includes 9 films and two tv shows but the original is still the best. Social commentary permeates the story about astronauts who clash on a planet where apes rule and men are savages kept in cages. It starts slow but brilliantly builds and builds until hits the audience with an unforgettable closing shot.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxUJmiTazipye-O4CtW-wsJP6iTphMhtdw6nuhGhiZNjJ14IjXzHriCwAGmcT8qjKkHw4ZzW5eYYzKsb8vIhxEUCYSa1TXUALQqmiWzjwicY3stQd0K8r4xnNk8Lb9cv9ZjagsVxFqywuoYDS9Wdb18eAS6ZR-O_0fPBMsCYnZA-YZ2raSRSKmRm9A8w=s940" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="940" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxUJmiTazipye-O4CtW-wsJP6iTphMhtdw6nuhGhiZNjJ14IjXzHriCwAGmcT8qjKkHw4ZzW5eYYzKsb8vIhxEUCYSa1TXUALQqmiWzjwicY3stQd0K8r4xnNk8Lb9cv9ZjagsVxFqywuoYDS9Wdb18eAS6ZR-O_0fPBMsCYnZA-YZ2raSRSKmRm9A8w=w400-h240" width="400" /></a></div><br />6. <b>The Terminator</b> (1984)<br />The time travel action story about a robot sent into the past to kill the mother of a future resistance leader before he is born results in a violent action film that has a surprising amount of heart. The film launched the careers of both writer/director James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger as box office royalty. Arnold may play the villainous title character but it’s Michael Biehn who shines as the out matched hero trying to protect Linda Hamilton (who would give stellar performances herself in the second and sixth entries of the franchise). This classic spawned an impressive franchise consisting of 5 more films and a tv show. The first follow-up film was groundbreaking and ushered in the digital age of technology, while the others were entertaining but derivative. The 2008 tv show, however is probably best thing since the 1991 sequel.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0piFl-MpeSTyADo6AkH797GrKEsoQ4XFzQfTP0-Hm1qLVhKJeO4ihRxpK-F4DPwl2O61Szri8b9lK7n6RxiTVwU7zRruhdnideuum9X7omuMKya1HL3-86ydXeg70ZFCTRj7_AUlZ89JoFrb9gsZnCWWq0sCbNWFRYVhH1dXgyWzREUFeYSwNHiBElg=s597" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="597" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0piFl-MpeSTyADo6AkH797GrKEsoQ4XFzQfTP0-Hm1qLVhKJeO4ihRxpK-F4DPwl2O61Szri8b9lK7n6RxiTVwU7zRruhdnideuum9X7omuMKya1HL3-86ydXeg70ZFCTRj7_AUlZ89JoFrb9gsZnCWWq0sCbNWFRYVhH1dXgyWzREUFeYSwNHiBElg=w400-h250" width="400" /></a></div><br />5.<b> Serenity</b> (2005)<br />The feature film sequel to the short lived sci-fi western television series<i> Firefly</i> (2002) gave fans some closure but deserves more credit for being a great film on its own. The television cast (along with new characters) are just as luminous on the big screen as the small and the story of the little guy who stands up to the big guy is timeless. Writer/director Joss Whedon (<i>Marvel’s The Avengers</i>) does some great world building about the small spaceship crew being hunted by the totalitarian Alliance and defied expectations for a film that essentially continues a tv franchise.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb7wcBlXCpm58WIdPrD5L3yHHTj-_gwwO4_GekwGTb4eq2CB2X7srsStipRIYVin8A98_whEOIiMfj6GKqYDhxkNQx14lRKkpXNKO0PsEHOFjJbw_m0Kxa60aDWB6Wjf4ZpyV9e4O87XgfuyT1bRrs-VvNs_HEgrOkxYCROWM_9YxL2XYxQkIbRVmNgg=s780" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb7wcBlXCpm58WIdPrD5L3yHHTj-_gwwO4_GekwGTb4eq2CB2X7srsStipRIYVin8A98_whEOIiMfj6GKqYDhxkNQx14lRKkpXNKO0PsEHOFjJbw_m0Kxa60aDWB6Wjf4ZpyV9e4O87XgfuyT1bRrs-VvNs_HEgrOkxYCROWM_9YxL2XYxQkIbRVmNgg=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />4. <b>Free Enterprise</b> (1999)<br />The independent film by Mark Altman and Robert Meyer Burnett is a wonderful romantic comedy about best friends who meet their idol (William Shatner). Sci-fi and comic book references abound, but at its heart it’s a love story grounded in wit and highlighted by offbeat characters played by a wonderful cast. It was ahead of its time since I can only call it <i>Clerks</i> meets <i>Big Bang Theory</i> with a dash of <i>My Favorite Year</i>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpDfZd9sWV08Udj3OuJzqB3FNxu960Cf5k499yRaYV0Jgs_eV6q6AbayBgBVfzY3li9cPzQbrCjxL718zuil2bHQ__1pdNoKGlbn5GaWcFLp1I2VSK0ICQBD70szKUuaZIgDhG_BFavfoUUUQb3KYD0e8NlatGhADT06P9h5OcPc9pDM4Pxf-H1X7KHw=s1188" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="1188" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpDfZd9sWV08Udj3OuJzqB3FNxu960Cf5k499yRaYV0Jgs_eV6q6AbayBgBVfzY3li9cPzQbrCjxL718zuil2bHQ__1pdNoKGlbn5GaWcFLp1I2VSK0ICQBD70szKUuaZIgDhG_BFavfoUUUQb3KYD0e8NlatGhADT06P9h5OcPc9pDM4Pxf-H1X7KHw=w400-h166" width="400" /></a></div><br />3. <b>Aliens </b>(1986)<br />The sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror film <i>Alien</i>, is the perfect way to follow up a classic. Writer/director James Cameron decided to take a more action route rather than do another variation of monster in space. Sending in the marines to deal with the otherworldly man-eating aliens the second time around results in a pace is relentless instead of suspenseful. The characters (and the viewers) rarely have to time to take a breath and the result is a superior sequel that kicks up a notch for a whole generation of filmmakers and filmgoers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAscJp2zSKxia6zDiJdS_d4RjVVIouBTJd32vbUTC9kr7kpPwG8ufHNmhhAJOqzgHNWlqf6XIEDWras0nHmmbBUfHXTwPtC8coSwYWzV3ucEdvDcMrzlXAgUeLXIFnDwCWrc5L4J3UW8VjDJSKe2g39pvPQ2XCQ3cXaLmePqoUm476htQptn4Y8BiR8w=s594" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="594" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAscJp2zSKxia6zDiJdS_d4RjVVIouBTJd32vbUTC9kr7kpPwG8ufHNmhhAJOqzgHNWlqf6XIEDWras0nHmmbBUfHXTwPtC8coSwYWzV3ucEdvDcMrzlXAgUeLXIFnDwCWrc5L4J3UW8VjDJSKe2g39pvPQ2XCQ3cXaLmePqoUm476htQptn4Y8BiR8w=w400-h269" width="400" /></a></div><br />2.<b> The Empire Strikes Back</b> (1980)<br />The superior sequel to the classic 1977 sci-fi fantasy film, <i>Star Wars</i>, that forever changed movie going. George Lucas’s homage to classic Flash Gordon serials spawned the summer blockbuster and made him the preeminent visionary of filmic world building. Common themes and a simple story mixed with technical genius led to the inevitable sequel (and eventually a trilogy of trilogies) but the best film of the entire franchise is the first sequel. Rather than retread common ground, Lucas enlisted the aid of director Ivin Kirshner and writers Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan to deify expectations both in terms of direction (the bad guys win) and complexity. The heroes are deeper and the universe richer the second time around as Luke Skywalker goes off to learn the ways of the force from an exiled Jedi master while Han Solo tries to keep the evil Darth Vader from hunting down Princess Leia, the leader of the Rebellion.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXfKolMtfZFUyAfwH470w4-jfaDqOe85EcyLdwLoLAeKGQgLqrYOGsJfctSVH8Sq_PiYpKgGdf1ev1FoZfeRtnheP9QsFSpGhGR6po-cYOszrQrF9vira7LymVtOIRj6z8N-R6ihi4iVB-ALRP3Gqcdu__bwkl9KZcxQFeW7gcznIKlKtIJL2IPDCjgg=s927" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="927" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXfKolMtfZFUyAfwH470w4-jfaDqOe85EcyLdwLoLAeKGQgLqrYOGsJfctSVH8Sq_PiYpKgGdf1ev1FoZfeRtnheP9QsFSpGhGR6po-cYOszrQrF9vira7LymVtOIRj6z8N-R6ihi4iVB-ALRP3Gqcdu__bwkl9KZcxQFeW7gcznIKlKtIJL2IPDCjgg=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan</b> (1982)<br />We top the list with a third superior sequel. With Ricardo Montalban charming tv viewers as <i>Fantasy Island</i>’s Mr. Roark on television every week, film goers were shocked to see him play the obsessed <i>Star Trek</i> villain. Today he is the benchmark for Trek antagonists (one that many fall short of). Not only is the film a sequel to 1979’s <i>Star Trek the Motion Picture</i> and the film series a sequel to the TV show (1966-1969) but the story itself is a sequel to the 1967 episode “Space Seed” which guest starred Montalban as the genetically engineered superman. This time around he is escaping his exile (imposed in the episode) and obsessed with killing the man who left him there: Capt. Kirk of the starship <i>Enterprise</i>.</span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Four other movies considered for the Honorable Mention slot and would make an expanded top 15 list include (in no particular order) <i>Terminator 2: Judgement Day</i> (1991), <i>Star Wars</i> (1977), <i>Alien</i> (1979), and <i>Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home</i> (1986)</b></span></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-21244626533036652922022-03-12T07:08:00.004-08:002022-04-01T15:01:58.223-07:00Cobblers, Elves and Gravity: Are People "Efficient" or Dishonest?<p><b><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> Some posts on social media have reminded me of a story.</span></b></p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>There was a little old man who was a cobbler and one day his nephews were in need of shoe repair, so they paid a visit to their uncle. They loved their uncle and there was no better cobbler in the town. He knew how to fix a shoe, but sadly not much else. He would wax philosophical about how wind was the product of ghosts flying around overhead, or that the night sky was a worn-out blanket and the stars where the light from the glowing angels who pull the blanket over the Earth shining through the tiny holes in the fabric.<br /><br />As he worked on his nephews’ shoes, he accidently nudged his hammer and it fell to the ground. He quickly snatched it back up and yelled toward the ground, “You won’t be stealin’ me hammer today, ya rotten elf.”<br /><br />The nephews exchanged a look, then one asked, “What do you mean by that, uncle?”<br /><br />“The reasons things fall to the ground is because there is an elf that lives under the grass using his mental powers to pull it to the ground. If it stays there too long, he will steal it when yer not lookin’.”<br /><br />The other nephew who was a student at university, tried to explain the concept of gravity to his uncle but the cobbler would have none of it. “Yer too smart fer yer own good, he said, sometimes simple wisdom is the best instead of fancy exaggerated complicated ideas they be puttin’ in yer noggin,” the cobbler said.<br /><br />They tried and tried to explain, the harder they tried the more uncle refused to listen to rationality. Finally, the cobbler stood and said, “I’ll prove it to ya, I’ll let go o’ this hammer and the elf will use his magic powers to make it fall to the ground.”<br /><br />The cobbler reached out and let go of the hammer and, indeed, like he said it would, it dropped to the ground.<br /><br />“See there lads, I told ye so,” the cobbler bragged as he snatched the hammer back up from the ground, “You have to admit I was right, that wee little elf yanked it right flat to the ground. Yer playing the fool ifun ya can’t see that I just proved I was right”<br /><br />The nephews tried to argue, but the cobbler held firm, “Do ye not believe yer own eyes? Ye saw the hammer fall! Clearly, I’m right!” They continued to try to explain gravity, but the cobbler said, “Yer not gonna brainwash me inta believing the witchcraft like they did you in that fancy school o’ yourn.”<br /><br />He handed them their shoes, “Here ya go, no charge fer family, tell yer father I’ll see him at church and please, please don’t test the elf ‘cause he be snatchin’ yer goods if yer not careful.”</i><br /><br /><b>Now if we analyze this story, there are two options here: </b>Either the cobbler had and issue with Sir Isaac Newton or one of the teachers at the university and wanted to undercut the science of gravity by deliberately putting out misinformation which would make him a blatant liar or he was just ignorant and would not listen to facts because he let his personal bias for believing in elves override demonstrable science and fact. But it wasn’t just the stupidity of believing in elves it was the arrogance of “proving it” with faulty data. He started with the result and worked his way back to what he wanted to believe instead of the other way around.<br /><br /><b>The story reminds me of a quote from my favorite tv show: <i>“Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in the same package. How efficient of you.”</i></b><br /><br />It used to be a funny line but now, I find it prophetic. In the current age of misinformation, we are inundated with people spreading information that is not true. I have been saying, since the start, that it’s hard to build bridges when there are two types of people who spread misinformation: Those who don’t know it’s false and those who don’t care. One is an issue of intelligence and the other is an issue of honesty. It’s hard to get to a point of compromise or discussion when the person you are dealing with is someone who is either not intelligent enough to understand the situation or simply lying.</span><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It was such an issue I devoted blog to it years ago when I pulled apart a fact free meme about immigration. I was hoping that people I like who were posting hateful and false information would start checking stuff out before sharing things that were not only hurtful but created backlash and perpetuated violence against others. You can read it here: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2017/10/facts-matter-disecting-fact-free-post.html" target="_blank">http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2017/10/facts-matter-disecting-fact-free-post.html</a><br /><br />“If you want to open a dialogue or reach middle ground with others, maybe you should start with a position that doesn’t call someone stupid. That might help,” you may say. Yea, but the alternative is that I assume they know better and are deliberately lying.<br /><br />“Then maybe you should give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they think they are telling the truth.” I could, but even if I give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they are not just “party over country” hacks who are lying purely for political reasons, then I still must stop and wonder about their basic intelligence. <br /><br />“Not necessarily, smart people can be conned, tricked, and bamboozled.” Yes, they can, anyone can get tricked or duped, but when people *repeatedly* share stuff without checking it out first, especially in a time when misinformation is rampant, then there has to be more going on that just simple stupidity: <b>It’s stupidity and arrogance wrapped in the same package.</b><br /><br /><i>The cobbler in the story was, as the quote went, “efficient.”</i><br /><br />I’m seeing a lot of efficiency in on the social media feeds these days. People professing they were right but not for the reason they espoused.</span><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Not long after the 2020 election, lists of “predictions” were posted (probably composed by a Russian troll) and then copied and pasted by Trump supporters on social media over and over. It was insanely fact free, and I saw it with such frequency that I did a blog picking apart every erroneous statement (ie <b>ALL</b> of them). My personal favorite, for example, was the claim <i>“North Korea has been under control and has not been testing any missiles.” In fact, under Trump’s four years they had 32 missile tests compared to 7 in eight years under Obama.</i> It was rife with this kind of misinformation. You can read the whole thing and my response here: </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2020/11/&source=gmail&ust=1647180956124000&usg=AOvVaw0K45NP7A56MOibZkh2JFHJ" fg_scanned="1" href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2020/11/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://brettharriscomics.blogs<wbr></wbr>pot.com/2020/11/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>I took great care to back up my positions with links to a variety of sources left, right, center and neutral, just so no one could dismiss the totality of the response as being liberally bias.</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><i>In addition to being rife with misinformation the original post was sneaky.</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Two of the points it tried to make were about 1) gas prices and 2) interest rates, implying they were low because of Trump’s great success, and they would go up because of Biden’s failure. <b>Neither is true but it was brilliantly deceptive</b>, if you are dealing with someone who is not that bright.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Because of the COVID pandemic lockdown, the economy was in free fall and is typical for either political party during bad economic times, the Federal Reserve cut the interest rates. They were cut to .01%, the lowest ever.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/15/federal-reserve-cuts-rates-to-zero-and-launches-massive-700-billion-quantitative-easing-program.html&source=gmail&ust=1647180956124000&usg=AOvVaw0QtL7AvGEL9gq-WQzvjSnT" fg_scanned="1" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/15/federal-reserve-cuts-rates-to-zero-and-launches-massive-700-billion-quantitative-easing-program.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/1<wbr></wbr>5/federal-reserve-cuts-rates-t<wbr></wbr>o-zero-and-launches-massive-70<wbr></wbr>0-billion-quantitative-easing-<wbr></wbr>program.html</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />While they have not gone up yet, my obvious prediction is that as the economy recovers (possibly sooner rather than later to slow the rate of inflation),<b> interest rates will go back up and political hacks will try to blame Biden</b>. I don’t say this to prove I’m smart, I say it because it’s so blindingly obvious that even an English major can see the mathematical/financial writing on the wall.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The same with gas and oil. Because of the lockdown people traveled less and lowered demand. As is typical in a “supply and demand” capitalist economy, the price dropped and manufactures slowed production. It had nothing to do with Trump. It was a global phenomenon. Oil on the international market dropped below ZERO dollars a barrel for the first time ever.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.npr.org/2020/04/21/839522390/u-s-oil-prices-fall-below-zero-for-the-first-time-in-history&source=gmail&ust=1647180956124000&usg=AOvVaw0gNOdHqMBUjlZWR5dcuGQA" fg_scanned="1" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/21/839522390/u-s-oil-prices-fall-below-zero-for-the-first-time-in-history" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/2020/04/21<wbr></wbr>/839522390/u-s-oil-prices-fall<wbr></wbr>-below-zero-for-the-first-time<wbr></wbr>-in-history</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Anyone with a brain in their head could predict oil and gas prices would go up, hell, <b>it had nowhere to go but up</b>, it was like saying water was wet.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />Oil prices have also been exacerbated by Putin’s actions in the Ukraine, driving those same barrels of oil to hundreds of dollars and continuing to climb.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-gas-prices-expensive-11646767172&source=gmail&ust=1647180956124000&usg=AOvVaw0XKl-T1CKTs1heb7AtqVe2" fg_scanned="1" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-gas-prices-expensive-11646767172" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wsj.com/articles/w<wbr></wbr>hy-gas-prices-expensive-116467<wbr></wbr>67172</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There are also calls for investigations into price gouging as oil companies continue to make record profits in the face of rising prices. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2022/03/08/galvin-wants-investigation-into-possible-price-gouging-by-gas-companies/" target="_blank">https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2022/03/08/galvin-wants-investigation-into-possible-price-gouging-by-gas-companies/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In spite of the stupid little ""I did that!" stickers, it's not a Biden issue, it's a <b>global</b> one.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/global-markets-gas-2021-09-20/" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/global-markets-gas-2021-09-20/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The original writer who was clearly a partisan hack/liar and used this obvious fact and twisted it to make it look like low prices were Trump’s success and when prices would go up as lockdowns and travel restrictions ended, it would look like Biden’s failure. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>One can manipulate a truth to create a lie.</b> Memes have appeared with the price of gas during the lockdown with Trump's name and the price of gas now with Biden's name.<i> It's technically correct, but doing that without the proper context is the same as telling a blatant lie.</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Let me say that again for the slow kids in the back: <b><i>Putting out technically correct information but doing so in a misleading way without context is the same as lying.</i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br />They are doing the same thing with supply chain issues resulted the highest inflation since Reagan (Remember Reagan? The guy they love, inflation under him is good, but under the other party it's bad). Trying to place blame Biden for something that is intrinsically a flaw in capitalism and a direct result of the pandemic is either showing a lack of intelligence or a lack of integrity.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/5-ways-the-covid-19-pandemic-has-changed-the-supply-chain/&source=gmail&ust=1647180956124000&usg=AOvVaw1WwTH7XW-ovbu0r4g2KlBB" fg_scanned="1" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/5-ways-the-covid-19-pandemic-has-changed-the-supply-chain/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.weforum.org/agenda<wbr></wbr>/2022/01/5-ways-the-covid-19-<wbr></wbr>pandemic-has-changed-the-<wbr></wbr>supply-chain/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Now you have Trump supporters posting memes or saying, <i>“I was right. Gas prices went up.” </i></b></span></div><div><b><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><i>Yea, they were right, just like the cobbler was right about the elf.</i></span></b></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b>The hammer fell just a s gas prices predictably went up, but *neither* is for the reason espoused… </b><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So, the question is, again: do I assume the people posting memes and bragging about being right are liars who are putting party above country (or reality) or are they just being…well... efficient?</span><div class="yj6qo"></div><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-82134681021292327872022-03-07T14:06:00.007-08:002022-05-08T12:27:03.991-07:0010 Television Shows to Know Me<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Recently on Twitter the topic of <b>“Ten Shows to Know Me</b>” trended. Rather than make a list I wanted to expand on it as a recommendation for some excellent tv viewing. It is sci-fi heavy but it also has some classic and obscure gems worth checking out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWhObIMDQ6-A9D6SAYB_Ez6h1NulLXGlttrVYZ94PXL8fCZmuL2-Hoh4CIgIvcZ2_gopmMu5IPnvCB7NS2PdKJTCN_Eb-PajB_kSnjRSLd7_jm7sL6eVQmew1d5eK9Gh8AOm0l-6V6am3zMVsXUQq38ogG3FUMOumr_iD1aV1dAP9TUsvrkTg1a1FzBw=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Honorable Mention:<b> <i>Homicide: Life on the Streets</i></b> (1993-2000)
Hands down the best police procedural of all time. Based on <i>Baltimore Sun</i> reporter David Simon’s non-fiction book and a creative staff that led <i>St. Elsewhere</i>’s Tom Fontana, the writing was some of the sharpest on broadcast television when it aired for seven seasons on NBC from 1993-1999. The 122 episodes and a TV movie in 2000 and laid the creative groundwork for HBO’s <i>Oz</i> (1997-2003) and <i>The Wire</i> (2002-2008) and was a showcase for some of the best actors and directors working in film and theatre. As of this writing it is not streaming on any service. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Before moving on to the list of 10, I want to point out </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">nine other shows considered for the Honorable Mention slot and would make an expanded top 20 list include (in no particular order): <i>The West Wing</i> (1999-2006), which was really really neck and neck with <i>Homicide</i>. Hands down the smartest show ever made. <i>Picket Fences</i> (1992-1996), <i>Boston Legal </i>(2004-2008), <i>L.A. Law</i> (1986-1994, 2002), <i>Moonlighting</i> (1985-1989), <i>The Andy Griffith Show</i> (1960-1968), <i>The Twilight Zone</i> (1959-64), <i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (1979-1980), and <i>Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles</i> (2008-2009). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now on to the top ten...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC9I1ebwaY3VLG2woZaKezpRh9g035nbJW8CvO5zltIWCDXtzgBiIkEWYW6-MfRWLG1RZ4uD6rT-6Ki8WhWvaV8zYO5eh3YrdgIyd_QuDuS0yPSW20emHJkHA5zwP9jqxCC70-S-y1JEcCbRk7U68qZFNBxzcI9ByggOSo0L0Q1zTclLlFgRGFmh9P1Q=w323-h400" width="323" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC9I1ebwaY3VLG2woZaKezpRh9g035nbJW8CvO5zltIWCDXtzgBiIkEWYW6-MfRWLG1RZ4uD6rT-6Ki8WhWvaV8zYO5eh3YrdgIyd_QuDuS0yPSW20emHJkHA5zwP9jqxCC70-S-y1JEcCbRk7U68qZFNBxzcI9ByggOSo0L0Q1zTclLlFgRGFmh9P1Q=s615" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>10. </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Tales of the Gold Monkey</i></b> (1982-1983)
This ABC series created by Donald Bellisario (<i>Magnum, P.I.</i>, <i>JAG, NCIS</i>) was axed after a single season after being unfairly deemed a rip-off of <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i> (it was really inspired by a 1939 Howard Hawks film starring Cary Grant called <i>Only Angels Have Wings</i>). Set in 1938 in the South Pacific, it starred Stephen Collins as an ex-volunteer fighter pilot, his one eye dog and alcoholic mechanic as they team up with a U.S. spy and a bar owner with a murky past for adventures. Sometimes they come into conflict with (or even, to their surprise, get aid from) a Nazi posing as a priest, a Japanese princess and her Bushido bodyguard but most of the time it was just rip-roaring fun and adventure with a fantastic cast, rich characters, and a great sense of humor. 21 episodes were made (a two-hour pilot movie followed by 20 one-hour episodes). As of this writing it is not streaming on any service. In the late 80s two of the episodes (“Shanghaied!” And “Trunk from the Past”) were reedited into a tv movie and sold in syndication under the title <i>Curse at the Gold Monkey</i>. </span></span><div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA2oue0tSwO__9PAro8Q1p9C-5rG1SBbZBDzljhM_M3nkBfkoLtKyvGwxEEJaWiQ0KHsU9LNA5s-m_Yh54Aoma_p8mWgDQl-PZ4q7-RlYcO-SPgGGbADxx-UP9NAWHLiqi5JPEFbi05flTBT_ZqveiFlSsr6dxfhDJljcC7f4SfmLJ238fqqJFl4R3Lg=s549" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="549" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA2oue0tSwO__9PAro8Q1p9C-5rG1SBbZBDzljhM_M3nkBfkoLtKyvGwxEEJaWiQ0KHsU9LNA5s-m_Yh54Aoma_p8mWgDQl-PZ4q7-RlYcO-SPgGGbADxx-UP9NAWHLiqi5JPEFbi05flTBT_ZqveiFlSsr6dxfhDJljcC7f4SfmLJ238fqqJFl4R3Lg=w400-h305" width="400" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>9. <i>Quantum Leap</i> </b>(1989-1993)
Another series by Don Bellisario. At first glance the premise about a time traveler leaping into the bodies of others to fix recent history with the aid of a hologram seems complicated but it works well. As the NBC show first described itself in the original narration:<i> “Theorizing that one could time-travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) led an elite group of scientists into the desert to develop a top-secret project known as Quantum Leap. Pressured to prove his theories or lose funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely stepped into the project accelerator, and vanished... He awoke to find himself in the past, suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that was not his own. Fortunately, contact with his own time was maintained through brain-wave transmissions with Al (Dean Stockwell), the project observer, who appeared in the form of a hologram that only Dr. Beckett can see and hear. Trapped in the past, Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, put things right that once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next Leap will be the Leap home.”</i> The premise was flexible enough to give a great range of shows, each week you could tune in and either get a drama, a comedy, an action-adventure episode or straight sci-fi. The charm, chemistry and likeability of the starring duo was the heart of the show while its diverse storytelling was what kept it sustainable for five seasons and 95 episodes (a two-hour pilot followed by 93 one-hour episodes and a two-hour episode). As of this writing it is currently streaming on the Roku Channel and being broadcast on Comet TV and Peacock has commissioned a pilot movie for a reboot/sequel with Bellisario’s input. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="706" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnusBF3-wF2l02zPLjm-oM3olKSFq3hudd78j-RsF9mVPcLF_LUWehZpQyp66G5mD8y16Fom2e4Ut09FGCQ1EN864dFcVMFTAxbVOLIh1x2Cm0E6VtHAOjxClvUn7QWtqz-3A8_jC5J3KB3hk2g0yw3DwNbabIlqluCz8RhElDlJffLGz6DZCAfHA3ZQ=w400-h345" width="400" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>8. <i>St. Elsewhere</i></b> (1982-1988)
This brilliant NBC medical series did for drama what <i>M*A*S*H*</i> did for sit-coms: It tore down walls between genres. Not only was the drama expertly written and performed it could also be equally comical. The plots, the characterizations, themes, and jokes are all pitch perfect. It was a critical darling that never did well in the ratings but still managed to run six seasons and 137 episodes and racked up 106 award nominations in the areas of writing, direction and acting. It launched the careers of Howie Mandel, David Morse, Mark Harmon, Bruce Greenwood, Ed Begley, Jr., and Denzel Washington and garnered awards for veteran actors like William Daniels, Bonnie Bartlett and Ed Flanders. As of this writing it is currently streaming on Hulu. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivfsVb6eUqDIWo-iVYJ9HEjJ8gOz5IfMZnUfpkYiuTxalGE---QQTDv8WUhqTJVD8Vg7xZL6hA_QEKswr1E0x2wWPiO46vo7HvDShNE8skChMNNR20KvuqfsSDM7dAEEFLBj71RaeWvBuclFx21U0JAVwjRZja0P8heOcE2rKnFra2to7RZ7B41CP0aA=s536" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivfsVb6eUqDIWo-iVYJ9HEjJ8gOz5IfMZnUfpkYiuTxalGE---QQTDv8WUhqTJVD8Vg7xZL6hA_QEKswr1E0x2wWPiO46vo7HvDShNE8skChMNNR20KvuqfsSDM7dAEEFLBj71RaeWvBuclFx21U0JAVwjRZja0P8heOcE2rKnFra2to7RZ7B41CP0aA=w370-h400" width="370" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>7. <i>Due South</i></b> (1994-1999)
This Canadian series that aired for three seasons in America (two on CBS and one in first run syndication) is hard to define. Is it a crime drama or a fish out of water comedy? Is it an odd couple satire or family adventure? Is all the above? The series was created by Paul Haggis (writer/director of the Academy Award winner <i>Crash</i>) and ran for 66 episodes (a two-hour pilot followed by 64 one-hour episodes and a two-hour episode). The show follows a Canadian Mounty (Paul Gross) and his deaf wolf as they go to Chicago on the trail of the killers of the Mountie’s father and, after the pilot, remained, attached as liaison with the Canadian Consulate to help the Chicago police department on cases. The comedy can range from slapstick to word play and the drama can hit hard and regardless of the tone, the cast hits it out of the park every time. Wildly popular in its native Canada it was thrice canceled in the U.S which is almost enough to make me want to renounce my citizenship and take up curling. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="593" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqZVnUr38CaBVqGkMQTVTzCQzCgq6rM-dxfYH86Z87eMhmanopLDoypLTd4ITnHd0MyhQoj9Az_1zc_hiCartaPZyxr6biSQUWNYb-KnEPtZ-onGbvpkKf4H3OZc8iyADdmV7EWltJHgT25at8_zO_D-mXW_bp0FaTJMjpGDmaBMZo_nAb6o6H91wd8g=w400-h266" width="400" /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">6. <i>Firefly</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> (2002)
The short-lived sci-fi western was killed by Fox after only a two-hour pilot and 13 one-hour episodes were filmed (some not even aired) but the show exploded on home video and frequently makes many people’s wish list of shows that need to be brought back. Series creator Joss Whedon (</span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Marvel’s The Avengers</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">) did manage to give some closure to fans by making a motion picture follow-up,</span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> Serenity</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">, in 2005. The show followed a defeated war veteran (Nathan Fillion, who was frequently compared to Harrison Ford) who commands a small ship and crew trying to eke out an existence on the edge of known space. Sometimes taking legitimate jobs and sometimes resorting to crime, the crew is constantly trying to evade the totalitarian Alliance who are searching for two fugitive members of the crew. As of this writing the show is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ is reportedly developing a reboot without Whedon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="581" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP_rfELRvojIkpxFgH1oWeNhEPQTdUEZf5ccxXG-r7sl7N_fb5ypZt-BdpKpPeccp9p6snToQN1MX2ZFu06hwRZqdig3GIcZDBGQgGpIqwZ49RSWk5dHcAeqD6JgwS3mI6KIjsOT5njlbfzr7NDgDRZLone7vtmA483lM7s7NRvSauFboGKSF-IX783A=w345-h400" width="345" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>5. <i>Alien Nation</i></b> (1989-1990, 1994-1997)
This science fiction allegory for race relations was based on the 1988 feature film. The series, developed by Kenneth Johnson (<i>V, The Incredible Hulk, The Bionic Woman</i>), focused on a quarter of a million aliens trying to integrate to our society five years after their ship crashed on Earth. Over the course of the show. a human police detective (Gary Graham) must deal with his feelings of bigotry when he is paired with the first alien promoted to detective (Eric Pierpoint) and his new alien neighbor (Teri Treas) moves in next door. The racial tensions flare as they investigate cases (some taking odd twists due to alien involvement) leading to drama and action, but the heart of the show is the often-comical way we see the clash of cultures. Johnson’s writing staff lay plenty of the comically absurd tropes on the audience revealing that once we strip away the silly differences, we are more alike than not. The cast is wonderful managing the comedy and the drama with equal aplome. The show ran for 27 total episodes. The show was initially canceled after one season on a cliffhanger after 22 episodes (a two-hour pilot and 21 one-hour episodes) but returned half a decade later for five more two-hour episodes/made for tv movies parceled out over three more seasons. It made TV Guide’s list of shows cancelled too soon. As of this writing the first season is streaming on Tubi. </span><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD_OdCONtQqAUiieiD1jheJVPlEZacP9Xeubg-G9D-oNkmb2QoNU0xGUi0ZQ1hpthH1y8NEtmaw5eTlGqt0rA89S_V3LH51F5g4gvcjUP-Q9nNhKhkK_1mnLYufnYKCkftdB1p7CamJnUFHEvOc_uzol1zcD0Yw_x2uX4mfP9pQH6F9A7ts127gOm5Ow=s734" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="734" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD_OdCONtQqAUiieiD1jheJVPlEZacP9Xeubg-G9D-oNkmb2QoNU0xGUi0ZQ1hpthH1y8NEtmaw5eTlGqt0rA89S_V3LH51F5g4gvcjUP-Q9nNhKhkK_1mnLYufnYKCkftdB1p7CamJnUFHEvOc_uzol1zcD0Yw_x2uX4mfP9pQH6F9A7ts127gOm5Ow=w400-h230" width="400" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>4.<i> Farscape</i></b> (1999-2004)
The sci-fi adventure series was Brian Henson’s attempt to expand his father’s legacy by showing they can do something more complex and mature than just Muppets. He succeeded in spades. Conceived with Rockne S. O’Bannon (<i>Alien Nation</i> feature film) and with a writer’s room led by David Kemper the show mixed drama and the wackiest elements of sci-fi for a show that was both visually and thematically unique despite its pedestrian premise. The series follows an astronaut (Ben Browder) who is shot though a wormhole and lost in space. He takes up with a group of escaped alien prisoners who are evading the brutal “Peacekeeper” regime. While show starts out as stand-alone episodes it becomes more serialized as it progressed. Admittedly, it was hit and miss at first, but partway through season two the main character invokes the name of “Buffy, the Vampire Salyer” and like Billy Batson yelling “Shazam!” the show was transformed. They knew what they needed to be tonally: A sci-fi <i>Buffy</i> that blends humor and pathos, at that point the show took off and never looked back. The puppet characters are every bit as three dimensional as the real-life actors and while Ben Browder plays a more intellectual hero, he still shines with charm and charisma. <i>Farscape</i> ran for four seasons (88 one-hour episodes) and ended on a cliffhanger in 2003 when Sci-Fi Channel canceled it after reneging on a fifth and final season. A year later a mini-series consisting of 2 two-hour episodes were made to wrap up the story. As of this writing it is being broadcast on Comet TV (unfortunately season 1-3 are cropped to widescreen and season one is heavily edited since the show was a joint venture with Australian television which has less commercials and ran 5 minutes longer than US shows) and as of this writing it is streaming on Amazon Prime. <br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWGzAFTLW4oBK_HK-LxEDj5DxX0Fk_7_lQvKvXhAZIeV7sftrs75d4rSEUrKBwm7HTwCP3AFPJlzxcOqUtbzr_RjEri4jcQpEBVCAJ54yY9frPn049dVHnSbTnSWP9PIWtSG5_Wr7Z5qwJ31YiXFroWqxKzmGxKpHExKObQH3j0DabAip1gaylH0691g=s414" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="414" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWGzAFTLW4oBK_HK-LxEDj5DxX0Fk_7_lQvKvXhAZIeV7sftrs75d4rSEUrKBwm7HTwCP3AFPJlzxcOqUtbzr_RjEri4jcQpEBVCAJ54yY9frPn049dVHnSbTnSWP9PIWtSG5_Wr7Z5qwJ31YiXFroWqxKzmGxKpHExKObQH3j0DabAip1gaylH0691g=w400-h272" width="400" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>3. <i>Buffy, The Vampire Salyer</i></b> (1997-2003) and <i><b>Angel</b></i> (1999-2004)
Yes, I’m cheating by combining shows with their spin offs, get over it, I’m going it in the next two entries as well. Unhappy with the interpretation of his 1992 feature film script by Fran Rubel Kuzui, Joss Whedon adapted his creation to television. It ran for seven seasons and 143 episodes (142 one-hour episodes and 1 two-hour episode) across two networks (The WB and UPN) and developed a cult following. Whedon blends comedy, horror and drama seamlessly from the idea that hell and monsters are a great allegory for high school and teenagers as it follows high school girl Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Geller), the chosen one with a destiny to save the world by ridding it of demons and vampires. Strong characters highlight this series that not afraid to embrace the silly or darkest of the dark. The same can be said for the spin-off, <i>Angel</i>, which follows the title character (David Boreanaz), a vampire with a soul, as he searches for redemption by fighting the forces of evil. <b>Angel</b> ran five seasons (110 one-hour episodes) on The WB. Both shows made use of the season long story arcs which was less risky than J. Michael Straczynski’s five-year arc and become a stable of many series with the advent of streaming. As of this writing both shows are available on Hulu. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="940" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNCHHRMuGRIkNZTJXTqxSh4xoMGbsbp6s1P1b_ic1LdStj3pFZlrwdrNF5J4ADAlfdEKxoYPRN3p4p0F7CRA8_0EHfT8BPILww2-4wQIlg1C6QkqNw1VAbDTppUGHODJftsUYrs9nuOgYmtaFGt8LvJKLFPVIB-adoPjKlhPoJgcbCu-W5CxIdZiJ17A=w640-h424" width="640" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>2. The <i>Star Trek</i> franchise</b> (1966 to present)
When <i>Star Trek</i> first premiered on NBC in 1966 it was mostly a failure. Not until man walked on the moon did the show find its cult audience while it was in syndicated reruns in the 70’s. Gene Roddenberry’s stories about a multi-ethnic crew exploring space in the far future gave him room to tell great stories that were allegorical to our society. With just 80 episodes, the characters of the original series have become so woven into our popular culture that would be hard pressed to find some who did not know Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Uhura or Sulu even if they never watched the show. The cult status of the original series allowed for an animated revival in 1973-1974 (consisting of 22 episodes that are far and away better than most cartoons of the era) six movies (1979-1991) and a trilogy of reboot films (2009-2016) but it was the sequel series <b><i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> </b>(1987-1994) that broke out and made <i>Trek</i> mainstream. It took</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> place on a new starship almost century later the new crew became the top show in first run syndication and ran for seven seasons consisting of 176 episodes (174 one-hour episodes and 2 two-hour episodes) and four feature films (1994-2002). </span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> (1993-1999) was panned by critics as too dark but it’s possibly my favorite as it combines the best elements of the two predecessors and disregards the worst. It ran for seven seasons and 173 episodes (170 one-hour and 3 two-hour) in first run syndication and was based on a space station near a wormhole leading to the other side of the galaxy. I suspect the attitude toward the show had more to do with the fact it was never on by itself. It ran concurrently with the last two seasons of </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Next Generation</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> and the first five season of its successor, speaking of which… </span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Voyager</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> (1995-2001) launched the UPN network and was always entertaining but lacked some of the punch of its predecessors. It had a solid cast and great production values. It ran seven seasons of 168 episodes (164 one-hour and 4 two-hour) and focused on a spaceship accidently transported across the galaxy trying to make its way home. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next in the franchise was</span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i> Star Trek: Enterprise</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> (2001-2005). A prequel set about a century before the original series. It ran for four seasons and 97 episodes (a two-hour primer followed by 96 one-hour episodes) on UPN. An excellent cast highlighted a show that frequently suffered from recycled <i>Trek</i> concepts its first two seasons but finally broke the mold with the franchise'</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">s first season long story arc in season three. The show would again change formats is final year with a series of multi episode arcs. Both of the latter seasons were great, but the franchise had lost too many viewers and <i>Trek</i> would take 12-year hiatus from the small screen. </span></div><div><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Trek</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> returned to tv on the streaming platform CBS All Access (recently rebranded Paramount+) with </span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Discovery</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> in 2017. Set just before the original series, the show suffered from horrid continuity and inconsistent and unlikeable characters, but it did boast stunning feature quality production values. Attempts were made to adjust course in season two but continued to suffer from not having the “feel” of <i>Trek</i>. Finally, in season three it started clicking when the ship and crew were transported one thousand years into the future after the fall off the Federation. The moral core of the characters were nudged to the more optimistic side. Even when it was flailing in the early seasons, </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Discovery</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> did excel at what </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Trek</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> has traditionally done right. Representation of minorities. Just has the original series had an Asian man and black woman in the cast at the same time the country was enduring a war in Viet Nam and Civil Rights marches in our streets, </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Discovery</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> has a gay couple and a non-binary character. Season four is currently airing and continues the trend of improvement from the third season. At the end of the season they will have completed 55 episodes and it has already been renewed for a ten-episode fifth season next year. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Delays in production lead to two short seasons of </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Short Treks</b></i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> (2018-2020), an anthology consisting of ten mini-episodes with a run time of 8-18 minutes. These are fantastic little gems. Ranging from dramatic to comedic they are not constrained by any single style or genre, one episode was even used as backstory and set up for Paramount+'s next series, speaking of which... </span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Picard</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">, (2020 to present) is a follow up to </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Star Trek: The Next Generation</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> focusing on the retired captain from that series and his quest to solve a mystery left in the wake of a long dead comrade. It was fun to see new stories starring the brilliant Patrick Stewart, but some of the characterizations seemed inconsistent with what was established twenty years earlier. Again, the cast and production values are superb, but there are too many moments where I can’t help but scratch my head and think “I don’t think that character would do that.” The first season of 10 episodes aired in 2020 and the ten-episode season two began March 3 and a 10 episode third season has recently wrapped production. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Paramount+ continues to try to broaden the appeal of </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Star Trek</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> with two new animated series. First with </span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Lower Decks</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> (2020 to present) an adult comedy focused on four junior officers on a mid-level ship. Set shortly after the </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Next Generation/DS9/Voyager</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> era, the series is fun and funny but frequently suffers from being too self-aware. The lines the characters speak seem like something someone watching the show would say as opposed to someone living in the universe would say, although season two improved on that. Two seasons have aired a total of 20 episodes with season three scheduled to air late in 2022 and season four already in production for 2023. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The other animated series, </span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Prodigy</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">, is an action series aimed at kids and made in coordination with Nickelodeon. The first season premiered in October and will continue later in 2022 with a total of 20 episodes and season two is already in production. While aimed at kids, this really is a wonderful little series that adult fans can enjoy as well. A group of young aliens escape enslavement from a mining colony when they discover an abandoned starship. Mentored by a holographic tutor who mistakes the escapees for cadets in training, they are learning the values of the </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Star Trek</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> society as they try to reach freedom. This show does the most important thing a kid’s show can do: It never writes down to the kids. </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Prodigy</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> is also set after the </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Next Generation/DS9/Voyager</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> era. The two shows have very different animation styles. </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lower Decks</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> is more of a <i>Rick and Morty</i> style while </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Prodigy</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> is like the computer animation </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Star Wars: The Clone Wars</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next new series, </span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</i></b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">, spins out of the second season of </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Discovery</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> which featured re-cast characters from the original 1964 </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Star Trek</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> pilot (“The Cage” and later the footage was recycled into the two-part 1966 episode “The Menagerie” and used as a flash back to approximately a decade prior to the beginning of the original series). The ten episode first season is set to debut on May 5th. Filming on season two is scheduled start before it even airs. It’s another prequel that is supposed to explore the time and crew of the </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Enterprise</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> between the events of the original pilot and the first season of the original series. My hopes are high, but yet another recasting of the classic characters after the reboot films and painful continuity issues from the first two seasons of</span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> Discovery</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> have me nervous, but Anson Mount’s likable and earnest performance as Christopher Pike (originally played by Jeffrey Hunter) will certainly be a draw.
All the </span><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Star Trek</i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> series are streaming on Paramount+ and the original series is airing on ME-TV and Heroes & Icons. </span></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5491J_1WCZmtWH2GS8zbiTJd65ftVZSVxrm_FQVEB-K_RfrrBJpnI2RqJ8VmlpcLgYSIF2pxFNTnscGrNrje5gAQA1BBqDWZZWkX2nlSPh5v1xZ06f0v8KF-6-ewdSgUkDTjtZlHrfF-Yl1nmkP5kjRB5p8S_fyxK54CsUzGm6brLizszcPn3zzOqmA=s598" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="598" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5491J_1WCZmtWH2GS8zbiTJd65ftVZSVxrm_FQVEB-K_RfrrBJpnI2RqJ8VmlpcLgYSIF2pxFNTnscGrNrje5gAQA1BBqDWZZWkX2nlSPh5v1xZ06f0v8KF-6-ewdSgUkDTjtZlHrfF-Yl1nmkP5kjRB5p8S_fyxK54CsUzGm6brLizszcPn3zzOqmA=w640-h357" width="640" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>1. <i>Babylon 5</i></b> (1993-1999, 2002 and 2007))
Frequently dismissed as a low budget <i>Star Trek</i> rip-off, <i>Babylon 5</i> did what no other American show had ever attempted: Execute a series with a preplanned five-year arc. Most shows, up until then, were a series of stand-alone episodes or they were serialized but the writers were making it up as they went along. Creator J. Michael Straczynski decided that he would outline the show like a novel. Amazingly, not only did he get it made but recently he was asked to do it again when The CW approached him about re-booting his sci-fi epic about a diplomatic space station deep in neutral space.
The original pilot movie debuted in 1993 in the Warner Bros. first run syndication package called the “Prime Time Entertainment Network,” the following year the run started in earnest. It was a low budget show, the sets were cheap, the guest actors uneven and the SFX were the first time any series had been done completely computer generated. However, the main cast was strong and getting stronger, the make-up was amazing, and the stories kept building, going from appearing to be stand alone to very interconnected. Plot points were set up and sometimes paid off months or even years later. Regular viewers were rewarded with foreshadowing and repeat viewings rewarded with events or dialogue that seemed like texture but then turned out to crucial later.
It was a unique television experience that has not yet been duplicated.
The ax seemed to be looming during year four. Not because of quality. Each season improved over the previous and it had hit an intensity in seasons three and four that were amazing, but PTEN was going away and all its shows with it. TNT network stepped in and picked up the show for its final season and commissioned a spin-off called<i><b> Crusade</b></i>, with a new five-year story set in the same universe. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Straczynski and the TNT clashed over the direction of the show and TNT cancelled the series before it was aired during the summer of 1999. Despite the network interference, <i>Crusade</i> was still a very good show (in fact I would say the episodes are better than the first 13 episodes of <i>Babylon 5</i>) and the essential premise was that a crew of an experimental spaceship were searching for a manufactured plague that was visited on Earth by its enemies was a great way into a new story arc. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sci-Fi Channel commissioned pilot for another spin off for 2001 and Straczynski created <i><b>Babylon 5: Legends of the Rangers. </b></i>Set to air in September it was delayed because of 9-11 and in 2002 the pilot aired to disappointing ratings, so the show about a small beat-up ship manned by human and alien Rangers tasked with keeping the interstellar peace, was never produced. Again, the pilot, while not perfect, was stronger than the original <i>Babylon 5</i> pilot and would have made a good show. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finally, in 2007 Warner Bros. Home Video wanted Straczynski to make a direct to video <i>Babylon 5</i> follow-up series. The result of <b><i>Babylon 5: The Lost Tales</i></b>. It was extremely low budget, but very well acted and written. Warner Bros. wanted more but Straczysnki was disappointed, so it was the last <i>Babylon 5</i> universe projects leaving fans with a total of 130 installments (a two-hour pilot followed by 110 one-hour episodes and 4 two-hour episodes, 13 one-hour episodes of <i>Crusade, The Legend of the Rangers</i> pilot movie, and <i>The Lost Tales</i> movie).
Now there is a possibility of a re-boot by the original creator. As of this writing 111 episodes (the pilot movie and 110 one-hour episodes) are streaming on HBOMax.</span><p></p><p style="height: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="height: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">x</span></p></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-74480834584823545742021-11-25T17:09:00.006-08:002022-03-12T09:24:21.094-08:00Reflecting on Babylon 5's Crusade (or Rearranging the Chairs on the Deck of the Titanic)<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With the
reboot of </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Babylon 5</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> on the horizon for a possible debut in Fall of 2022.
</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the
failed attempts to expand the original universe back in the day. In 2007 </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Babylon
5: The Lost Tales</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> was an attempt to do direct to home video stories, but
the home video market was in flux and creator J. Michael Straczynski was
disappointed with the outcome and didn’t want to do anymore low budget
revivals. In 2002 SciFi Channel attempted a spin off series called </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Babylon
5: Legend of the Rangers</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">. Set three years after the original five-year arc
and focused on a misfit crew of Rangers on beat up ship. The pilot movie, “To
Live and Die in Starlight,” was well cast with great characters and had
potential. Sure, it had a few missteps here and there, but it was a stronger
pilot than its original parent series had almost a decade earlier.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASu_1xVhaXEVDN1RbJOhSruSrGEFjwelQjl8g4WwWikH1PDU3KJ5S_2zbuglUr5wJZmNH7nJKrXeSyM6tf7j6MJGP93rf7kwltvfh4fEukrwpAV-kgMGZtxcr2sMjJLWz5LbIurzbFhWx/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="651" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASu_1xVhaXEVDN1RbJOhSruSrGEFjwelQjl8g4WwWikH1PDU3KJ5S_2zbuglUr5wJZmNH7nJKrXeSyM6tf7j6MJGP93rf7kwltvfh4fEukrwpAV-kgMGZtxcr2sMjJLWz5LbIurzbFhWx/w501-h640/CrusadeTV.jpg" width="501" /></span></a></div><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And then
there was 1999’s <i>Crusade</i>.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Plagued
by network interference that led to it being cancelled prior to the first episode
being broadcast, it has created a very mixed response from fans. I’m a fan that
loves the show. It was extremely well cast. The characters were compelling. The
basic premise of a prototype spaceship looking for the cure to a plague that
was deliberately visited on Earth by its enemies was an interesting hook. Some
people hated the premise, but most fans knew it was just a way to get into the
new five-year arc. We know it would change drastically since we saw in the
series finale of <i>Babylon 5</i>, which was set 14 years after the events of <i>Crusade</i>,
that Earth is doing just fine. Even the creator said the plague would be cured
during season two, and that the main thrust of the story would revolve around
the dark discoveries made while in search for the cure.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Crusade</span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> was set
up by “A Call to Arms,” the last tv movie made during the fifth and final
season of <i>Babylon 5</i>, and I maintain that if you take that “pilot” movie and
the thirteen episodes produced and compare them to the original <i>Babylon 5</i>
pilot, “The Gathering,” and it’s first 13 filmed episodes, then <i>Crusade,</i> even with all the network
interference, stands taller than its processor and is full of more potential.</span></span></p>
<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_52csU6zWJPNAFSOndObxlixRrIC6TRxVkVpgA-WZapr0P5vELYUS-zoU6mqB2B26yPTGIpK6KJvxxAyGato9sWkVU0SxrgNWSu28lNo4zpD_qKl8xuqGhPK8PIzSGK1UHcodJWkLrXO6/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="175" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_52csU6zWJPNAFSOndObxlixRrIC6TRxVkVpgA-WZapr0P5vELYUS-zoU6mqB2B26yPTGIpK6KJvxxAyGato9sWkVU0SxrgNWSu28lNo4zpD_qKl8xuqGhPK8PIzSGK1UHcodJWkLrXO6/w327-h400/ColeBlack.jpg" width="327" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Crusade</i> star Gary Cole as Capt. Gideon</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></i></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Babylon
5</span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> has
been a tough sell to fans for years. Initially dismissed as a low budget <i>Star
Trek</i> rip off, only the very literary sci-fi fans seemed to embrace the show
and that was because of its promise of a novel for television with a
pre-planned story arc. Creatively there were stumbles but overall, it achieved its
goal. The result was fantastic to anyone who had stuck with it.</span></span><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It was
the little space station that could.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Since
Straczynski had done the impossible, he was going to try it again. I think
<i>Crusade</i> would have been even better. He had done it once and learned a lot. With
this second story he could apply what he had learned and craft a better story.
But alas, TNT had other ideas. While initially thrilled with <i>Babylon 5</i>
ratings (they showed the first re-runs as well as the first broadcast of season
5), they realized the show was not growing an audience. The <i>Babylon 5</i> viewers
that tuned in did not stick around for their other shows and the regular
viewers tuned out when <i>Babylon 5</i> was on. However, they realized this too
late, they had already committed to <i>Crusade</i>.<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A lot of
things happened behind the scenes that disrupted production and eventually led
to its stillborn debut. If you are interested, you can read about it in
Straczynski’s autobiography <i>Becoming Superman</i>. The behind-the-scenes
debate is not what this blog is about.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>It’s
about the nerdiest of the nerdy. A recommended viewing order for new viewers of
<i>Crusade</i>.</b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Periodically,
<i>Babylon 5</i> finds its way to new viewers. This year it popped up on
HBOMax, last year it was running on Comet TV, prior to that it was on Amazon
Prime. Sometimes the pilot movie is included, but the four tv movies that were
filmed during seasons 4 and 5 are usually not, nor is the <i>Legend of the
Rangers</i> pilot, <i>The Lost Tales</i> or <i>Crusade</i>. The fans that stick
with it and get hooked (and if you stick with it, you will get hooked)
eventually go searching out the movies and <i>Crusade</i> on DVD. But the
behind-the-scenes drama resulted in a sometimes-confusing watchlist.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Here is
the “Original Broadcast/DVD” order of the episodes (the numbers in parenthesis are the
production order):</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">00. A
Call to Arms<br />
01. War Zone (108)<br />
02. The Long Road (107)<br />
03. The Well of Forever (106)<br />
04. The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />
05. Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />
06. Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />
07. The Rules of the Game (112)<br />
08. Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />
09. Racing the Night (103)<br />
10. The Memory of War (102)<br />
11. The Needs of Earth (101)<br />
12. Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />
13. Each Night I Dream of Home (105)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This
order is NOT recommended by fans even those of us who watched it unfold in this
order over three months in the summer of 1999. Here is a little back story on
production without getting into too much of the tall grass of the
behind-the-scenes drama.</span></span></p>
<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ30Wds2DTPRB1TWScBZJ5zydMJYKyDIp3PdYL8pMvLv9McCe9Ako4nFJyBA7MoHkJML0RfT5d-XbVNWW39gs9Yjdbt4ENUf0kHqd45TychhlwpqSgGes4M847gZdejqTwdwMnq2Uq6QNZ/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="558" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ30Wds2DTPRB1TWScBZJ5zydMJYKyDIp3PdYL8pMvLv9McCe9Ako4nFJyBA7MoHkJML0RfT5d-XbVNWW39gs9Yjdbt4ENUf0kHqd45TychhlwpqSgGes4M847gZdejqTwdwMnq2Uq6QNZ/w400-h314/MathesonGideonGray.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Matheson (Daniel Day Kim) & Gideon in the original costumes.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The
first five produced episodes (101-105) were intended to be the first five
broadcast but ended up being the last five. TNT put the show on production hiatus
after the first five episodes and requested changes including replacing the
stiff gray uniforms with new more comfortable looking black costumes. However, they
also mandated a new first episode WITH the new costumes. The show went back to
filming with two completed scripts (106-107) while a new series opener was
created (108), then filming continued (109-112) while an episode was created to
explain the costume changes (113) another episode was set to be filmed that
would explain the change back (114). At this point the plan was to air the new
premier (108) a couple of episodes including the episode explaining the uniform
changes (107 and 113) then the “first five” with the original gray uniforms (101-105)
then the episode explaining the change back to the black uniforms (114) then proceed
at pace with the remainder of episodes (106, 109-112, 115-122).</span></span><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Then TNT
cancelled the show before broadcasting a single episode. Production ended with
113, so the broadcast batch was stuck with the new premiere (108) all the
remaining post hiatus episodes (106, 107, 109-113) and finally the first five
(101-105).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This
caused continuity issues:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Gideon
and Lockley first meet twice in “Each Night I Dream of Home” (105) and again “Ruling
from the Tomb” (111) The former was “fixed” at the last minute with a looped
line of dialogue (I’ll talk about this more later).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A nano
virus shield was used in “Patterns of the Soul” (110) before it was discovered
in “The Memory of War” (102).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">On
screen dates of May 13<sup>th</sup> in “Visitors from Down the Street” (104)
and June 5<sup>th</sup> in “Ruling from the Tomb” (111) have the episodes in
reverse order.</span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In “The Memory of War” (102) the Apocalypse Box warns Gideon not to trust Galen after his actions in “The Well of Forever” (106) instead of before. <br /><br />This doesn’t even count the contradiction between the new first episode “War Zone” (108) and the dream sequence/memory/flashback of Gideon getting command in “Racing the Night” (103) which I will also address later.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />When Sci-Fi Channel got the rights to re-run Crusade, Straczynski provided a new order for the show to broadcast. It ignored continuity of the costumes and stuck the mandated episodes at the end of the run.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLrk6iGuu-crJ_SWiBu2YDM6AHp0wwBv_wULNZhfJmQPuJpZ-7Jg4dyrQOceuigLOR8mpmvF0A0uHVtg5YIFtDEBv9MQL-KXnSMOqz-9vA-p3gORwzhj-wA7Az1qIoLNt2c9yK6lKjPj4/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="568" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLrk6iGuu-crJ_SWiBu2YDM6AHp0wwBv_wULNZhfJmQPuJpZ-7Jg4dyrQOceuigLOR8mpmvF0A0uHVtg5YIFtDEBv9MQL-KXnSMOqz-9vA-p3gORwzhj-wA7Az1qIoLNt2c9yK6lKjPj4/w400-h297/ColeGray.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gideon in "Visitors from Down the Street"</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>This is the Straczynski/Sci-Fi Channel Broadcast order:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">01. Racing the Night (103)<br />02. The Needs of Earth (101)<br /> 03. The Memory of War (102)<br />04. The Long Road (107)<br /> 05. Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br /> 06. The Well of Forever (106)<br /> 07. Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br /> 08. Patterns of the Soul (110)<br /> 09. The Path of Sorrows (109)<br /> 10. Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br /> 11. The Rules of the Game (112)<br /> 12. War Zone (108)<br /> 13. Appearances and Other Deceits (113)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />This order did build a better audience for the network than the TNT order, but fans, again, do NOT recommend it for new viewers since the last two episodes are the “new premiere” and the episode that explains the costume changes at the end. It’s bewildering to those who don’t know the events behind the scenes creating more continuity issues than the ones it fixes. According to Straczynski was “best from a story point of view, even though it means some visual inconsistencies in terms of unexplained costume changes.” He may be the “great maker,” but the continuity havoc kills any verisimilitude for me and takes me right out of the story.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /><b>Another order later emerged for the Official <i>Babylon 5</i> Chronology.<br /></b><br />00. A Call to Arms<br />01. War Zone (108)<br />02. The Long Road (107)<br /> 03. Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />04. The Memory of War (102)<br />05. The Needs of Earth (101)<br /> 06. Racing the Night (103)<br /> 07. Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br /> 08. Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br /> 09. The Path of Sorrows (109)<br /> 10. Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br /> 11. Patterns of the Soul (110)<br /> 12. The Well of Forever (106)<br /> 13. The Rules of the Game (112)</span></span></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Straczynski
endorsed this version among several others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It appeared in
the Official <i>Babylon 5</i> Chronology. The author explained the running order was changed
to fill Straczynski’s desire to have the first five incorporated episodes from
the post hiatus break.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There is also a
version that also includes unproduced scripts which were published briefly online
and in the <i>Crusade</i> script books but many viewers (especially first timers)
won’t have access the scripts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Initially this
version fixes some continuity errors, but several stubbornly remain:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It fixes the
nanovirus shield issue (102/110) and the Apocalypse Box warning (102/106).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18R68mGiJiJ_o1pOhyphenhyphenVcyJ_FQyfpAzFMr3OFxbqEDOU-U_7XZiwiigsVqDpQUmh8HrxaOmI0eIBpj9vuyaJPEqrenYQPZZsATzsei9Rs4hOT9jyZ2xb-8BL7n0TPyIVum_weBTU9ftfFd/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="567" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18R68mGiJiJ_o1pOhyphenhyphenVcyJ_FQyfpAzFMr3OFxbqEDOU-U_7XZiwiigsVqDpQUmh8HrxaOmI0eIBpj9vuyaJPEqrenYQPZZsATzsei9Rs4hOT9jyZ2xb-8BL7n0TPyIVum_weBTU9ftfFd/w400-h301/Gideon+Lockley.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Gideon & Lochley (Tracy Scoggins) in "Each Night I Dream of Home"</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">However, Gideon
and Lochely still meet in “Each Night I Dream of Home” (105) and appear to know
each other, but then meet for the first time in “Ruling from the Tomb” (111), thanks
to the looped dialogue that was used to fix the issue initially.<br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“Racing the
Night” (103) still starts with a dream/memory that contradicts new premiere, “War
Zone” (108). The grey uniforms disappear without explanation after 101-105.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There are some
other viewing order versions floating around on the internet but these three
are the most prevalent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This brings us
to the first of my two suggested viewing orders. The first one I will call: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Altered Production” Order:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">00. A Call to Arms<br />
01. War Zone (108)<br />
02. Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />
03. The Memory of War (102) <br />
04. The Needs of Earth (101)<br />
05. Racing the Night (103)<br />
06. Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />
07. Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />
08. Well of Forever (106)<br />
09. Long Road (107)<br />
10. The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />
11. Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />
12. Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />
13. Rules of the Game (112)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I start
by putting all the episodes in production order.</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> The
reason is very simple. While *some* episodes are intentionally filmed out of
order, for the most part shows are made in the order they should be seen so the
actors play the process and not the result. The network mandates threw a lot of
that out the window with <i>Crusade</i> so that leaves me with an altered version
of the production order.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Then, I
move the ones that *have* to be moved.</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> The new introduction episode “War Zone” (108) must
be first right after “A Call to Arms” and “Appearances and Other Deceits” (113)
must go before all the gray uniform episodes (101-105). Next, we flop 101 and
102. The recording Natchak Var hears of Dr. Chambers in “The Needs of Earth” (101)
appears to be referring to “The Memory of War” (102), which makes sense if you
consider the original broadcast order was supposed to be 103, 102 then 101 to
start the series (more on that below).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_PQumeZW5g3HuFjcy-_ejEkuWiVlzkWHBlOo_6N2tXcc8fxYViKZ_ncfmNS44fLTNxIMc7xSr5myefCG1vEQO5bGitf5YlzrtoeZ_kHasrzvczA3K7p_7PQAN4mXOHoDQjx70lskRMCT/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_PQumeZW5g3HuFjcy-_ejEkuWiVlzkWHBlOo_6N2tXcc8fxYViKZ_ncfmNS44fLTNxIMc7xSr5myefCG1vEQO5bGitf5YlzrtoeZ_kHasrzvczA3K7p_7PQAN4mXOHoDQjx70lskRMCT/w640-h374/Crusade+Graphics1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">With
this new order, fixed is the “Nano-Virus Shield” which requires “The Memory of
War” (102) be before “Patterns of the Soul” (110) Also fixed the order of on
screen dates of May 13<sup>th</sup> in “Visitors from Down the Street” (104)
and June 5<sup>th</sup> in “Ruling from the Tomb” (111) and now in “The Memory
of War” (102) the Apocalypse Box warns Gideon not to trust Galen before his
actions in “The Well of Forever” (106).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It’s
still not perfect.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The grey
uniforms abruptly disappear without explanation, but it’s easy to assume they
are dumped off screen, also not irrational since Gideon hated them.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We still
have the issue of Gideon and Lochley meeting in “Each Night I Dream of Home”
(105) and appearing to know each other, but then meeting for the “first time”
in “Ruling from the Tomb” (111) but I rationalize this as Lochley is frustrated
and distracted when Gideon walks up to her in the latter episode. Either way it
makes far more sense for “Rules of the Game” (113) to be their last meeting
(unlike the original broadcast order which has it before “Each Night I Dream of
Home” (105) since the feeling in that episode is one of emotional distance.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C6MAwiPPSTqW7hBh-ggkJvRwkxHj3n-MyS25SzZ9ekWw41W0osb_h4wZGASm9-_iD-1mMyflZX31YoJ1UWcURVS-wOK3zUqE8OB_DJIozL_SaAFvstXmDwE9UFeLL3-JglWbiTbFixaw/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="1106" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C6MAwiPPSTqW7hBh-ggkJvRwkxHj3n-MyS25SzZ9ekWw41W0osb_h4wZGASm9-_iD-1mMyflZX31YoJ1UWcURVS-wOK3zUqE8OB_DJIozL_SaAFvstXmDwE9UFeLL3-JglWbiTbFixaw/w640-h373/CastLateSeason.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Crusade</i><b> cast with the revised costumes.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Problematic
in *any* list is “Racing the Night” (103). It was originally intended to be the
series premiere after “A Call to Arms” and starts with a dream/memory/flashback
that contradicts the new mandated series opener: “War Zone” (108). However, it has
some wiggle room. The events in the dream that take place on Babylon 5 could
have happened after “War Zone,” but because it was a dream it could be mingled
with memories of seeing The Excalibur for the first time at Mars. The events
are real but jumbled and mixed up in the dream like haze. Not an irrational
leap (certainly less so than the other rationalizations) plus if Gideon was on
Babylon 5, it would explain meeting Lochley and them appearing to know each
other in “Each Night I Dream of Home” (105).<br /></span><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Note:
There is a temptation to move “Racing the Night” (103) to the third slot, since
it was originally intended to be the first episode, but the creation of “War
Zone” (108) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>makes that mostly moot plus
it would seem abrupt for Dr. Chambers to go from seeing a softer side of Max in
“Appearances and Other Deceits” (113) only to call him “king of the pig people”
in Racing the Night (103) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a few
episodes including one with the alien porn in “The Needs of Earth” (101) allows
for a reset for her view of his character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This brings me
to my second recommended viewing order. I call it “Alternate Production
Order” (for Alternating Order):<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">00. A Call to Arms<br />
01. War Zone (108)<br />
02. Appearances and Other Deceits (113)<br />
03. The Memory of War (102)<br />
04. Long Road (107)<br />
05. The Needs of Earth (101)<br />
06. The Path of Sorrows (109)<br />
07. Racing the Night (103)<br />
08. Patterns of the Soul (110)<br />
09. Visitors from Down the Street (104)<br />
10. Ruling from the Tomb (111)<br />
11. Each Night I Dream of Home (105)<br />
12. Well of Forever (106)<br />
13. Rules of the Game (112)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Most
lists (unless they ignore continuity) do one of two things. Either have the
gray uniform episodes (101-105) last after “Appearances and other Deceits”
(113) (like the original broadcast) or move them up as far as possible and have
the gray uniforms vanish unexplained off screen (I do that myself in the
“Altered Production Order”).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This
thinking has hemmed in viewers to two options both of which result in
continuity issues. However, there is one obvious way to get around this that no
one seems to have thought of. In fact, it never really occurred to me until I
was watching <i>seaQuest DSV</i> (ironic since it looks like the mandated TNT
uniforms appear modeled after the first season black uniforms on that show). On
that series we would see the crew wearing different uniforms (tan and black in
the first season). At first it seemed mission specific, so that would not
translate to <i>Crusade</i>, but then it would vary, sometimes in the same
episode. So, I thought, why assume an “all or nothing” attitude to the uniforms
post “Appearances and Other Deceits” (113)? If we can assume they simply vanish
off screen as some lists do, then why can’t we make an equally valid assumption
that they chose to alternate between the two uniforms?<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajcHL5QlygB8OLqSeuNLlTT5XEV6qA_V_KLqjTB8sw_NgA1qcYIzgjduofRogSmCyxnXzmkkcnvsFy8KSfwDw0ruYiJZ_2OGonIM0aIcvycG6ZPQ3C8HWvPHK1pONWbilN02df8STY3tk/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajcHL5QlygB8OLqSeuNLlTT5XEV6qA_V_KLqjTB8sw_NgA1qcYIzgjduofRogSmCyxnXzmkkcnvsFy8KSfwDw0ruYiJZ_2OGonIM0aIcvycG6ZPQ3C8HWvPHK1pONWbilN02df8STY3tk/w400-h300/image1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>seaQuest DSV</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This led
me to an alteration to the “Altered Production Order” where we alternate the gray
and black uniforms episodes implying that the new uniforms are worn part of the
time and the regular uniforms are also warn part of the time after “Appearances
and Other Deceits” (113). Since 114 was never produced to transition back it’s
not a stretch to assume both versions could be used. The real military has various
classes of duty uniforms. Plus, it would free up room to fix other issues.</span></span></p>
<p><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We start
with my “Altered Production Order.”</span></span></b></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">First we
move “Ruling from the Tomb” (111) between “Visitors from Down the Street” (104)
and “Each Night I Dream of Home” (105) fixing the Gideon/Lockley meeting AND
keeps the on-screen dates in the correct order.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGoSRXQxJsOXq5QIhY7Usf4bdI6Ri9ficTVGQSqVQKx1MDiRht1T_bzxGrTrsA2YIAdbUxxiOGEfvENhP3eqNu0OmD3ygBeCl95dGA6aKWExMXOMSmz2Pei4w-aRSiAWJLAkTtbD3X99e/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="151" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGoSRXQxJsOXq5QIhY7Usf4bdI6Ri9ficTVGQSqVQKx1MDiRht1T_bzxGrTrsA2YIAdbUxxiOGEfvENhP3eqNu0OmD3ygBeCl95dGA6aKWExMXOMSmz2Pei4w-aRSiAWJLAkTtbD3X99e/w265-h400/ColeBlack2.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Cole on set after the hiatus</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Next, we
fill in the gaps between the grey uniform (“first five”) episodes by moving up
episodes using the production numbers except for “Well of Forever” (106), which
I will cover below.<br /></span></span><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Long
Road (107) moves up behind The Memory of War (102).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Path of
Sorrows (109) moves up behind Needs of Earth (101).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Patterns
of the Soul (110) moves up behind Racing the Night (103)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The
reason for moving those three up and not “Well of Forever” (106) is that the aliens
scanned by Matheson in “The Needs of Earth” (101) and “Visitors from Down the
Street” (104) are the ones Mr. Jones mentions in “Well of Forever” (106) meaning
it must go after “Each Night I Dream of Home” (105) since “Ruling from the
Tomb” (111) has already taken the slot between “Visitors from Down the Street”
(104) and “Each Night I Dream of Home” (105). It keeps it closer to production
order and keeps it well after “The Memory of War” (102) when the Apocalypse Box
warns Gideon not to trust Galen.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We are
out of gray uniform episodes, so we end with “Rules of the Game” (112) which
has a nice symmetry since it ends with a shot of Babylon 5.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL_egwSUCuHcMHPOfYvnDUd88uOXENz3lcRhRLGEC-d0OJ2ew86BjVZbwK-EFbz3mRRN3JES66Rn189ytRpCjbuoLw-bLLee8vCmvN388bHN76-uQJAzUTIZLMpGD5TKsLK3-PPSbe4Ld/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="2048" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL_egwSUCuHcMHPOfYvnDUd88uOXENz3lcRhRLGEC-d0OJ2ew86BjVZbwK-EFbz3mRRN3JES66Rn189ytRpCjbuoLw-bLLee8vCmvN388bHN76-uQJAzUTIZLMpGD5TKsLK3-PPSbe4Ld/w640-h412/Crusade+Graphics2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So,
there you have it. If you dig my two options or hate them, let me know.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">A quick shout
out to another blogger whose posts inspired this blog and my examination of the
viewing order list. He goes into far more details on alternate viewing orders
and even does a watch through on his favorite version (one not listed here).
You can check it all out here: </span><a href="https://greysector.wordpress.com/2016/03/18/crusade-the-continuity-order-watch-through/"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://greysector.wordpress.com/2016/03/18/crusade-the-continuity-order-watch-through/</span></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Also
check out another blogger who did a far more detailed re-working of Babylon 5’s
first season viewing order, which was also a big influence on this piece. </span><a href="https://b5season1order.wordpress.com/"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">https://b5season1order.wordpress.com/</span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Yes, sometimes obsession and too much time on my hands are a bad combination. I should seek treatment.</span></p>
<p><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p></div></div></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-19569505572441264062020-11-07T13:14:00.003-08:002020-11-07T13:36:24.837-08:00Why lie about Trump's accomplishments?<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I
have watched several variations of this post pop up on my timeline by people
who copied and pasted it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The
problem is that it is excrement of a bovine nature.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Here
is the post:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">************<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“I am
making this post so it will show back up as a future memory on my timeline:
Today is 2 days after the 2020 election with still no winner declared due to
corruption.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Gasoline
is currently $1.88 per gallon and $2.08 per gallon diesel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The
stock market closed at 27,848, even though we have been fighting the COVID for
9 months. Our GDP growth for the 3rd Qtr was 33 percent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">We
had the best economy ever until COVID and it is recovering well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">We
have not had any new wars or conflicts in the last 4 years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">North
Korea has been under control and has not been testing any missiles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Isis
has not been heard from for over 3 years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Interest
rates are 2.78 percent for a 30 year mortgage. The housing market is the
strongest it has been in years. Homes
have appreciated at an unbelievable rate and sell well.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">What
is next for our country is scary and i worry for my child’s future.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Copy
and pasted</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Let’s
see what it’s like 1 year from now.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">This
is so true. I don’t understand why people can’t see this. The funny thing is
the people who hate President Trump have no idea why they hate him. He is not a
perfect man but he loves God, our military, police officer’s, unborn children,
and our country. Plus he is a brilliant business man. I’m praying that God will
show mercy on our country once again”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">***********</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">OK, let’s
break this turd down.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“still
no winner declared due to corruption.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The delay
is actually because of the unusually high volume of mail in ballots, due to the
pandemic…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://6abc.com/us-election-vote-count-2020-presidential-allegheny-county-clark/7675708/#:~:text=As%20eager%20Americans%20sit%20on%20the%20edge%20of,machine%2C%20being%20processed%20and%20counted%20on%20the%20spot">https://6abc.com/us-election-vote-count-2020-presidential-allegheny-county-clark/7675708/#:~:text=As%20eager%20Americans%20sit%20on%20the%20edge%20of,machine%2C%20being%20processed%20and%20counted%20on%20the%20spot</a>.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">… in fact,
the biggest threat to our election is not “corruption”
but misinformation (like this post, which was probably originally written by a Russian
operative).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://who13.com/news/politics/secretary-pate-biggest-election-threat-is-misinformation/">https://who13.com/news/politics/secretary-pate-biggest-election-threat-is-misinformation/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“Gasoline
is currently $1.88 per gallon and $2.08 per gallon diesel.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Gas
prices are low because of COVID, in April gas prices were under a dollar per
gallon and dropping…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/18/gas-prices-2020-coronavirus-lowest-gasoline-prices-covid-19/5160056002/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/18/gas-prices-2020-coronavirus-lowest-gasoline-prices-covid-19/5160056002/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">…internationally,
crude oil prices dropped on $0 per barrel for the first time in history on
April 20<sup>th</sup> due to the pandemic. It had nothing to do with Trump.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://abc7news.com/what-does-negative-oil-prices-mean-live-crude-price-in-dollar-will-gas-go-down-to-how-much-drop/6118783/">https://abc7news.com/what-does-negative-oil-prices-mean-live-crude-price-in-dollar-will-gas-go-down-to-how-much-drop/6118783/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“We
had the best economy ever until COVID”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Trump
inherited economy from Obama… <a href="https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2c298bda-8aee-4923-84a3-95a54f7f6e6f/did-trump-create-or-inherit-the-strong-economy-final.pdf">https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2c298bda-8aee-4923-84a3-95a54f7f6e6f/did-trump-create-or-inherit-the-strong-economy-final.pdf</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">… and
ruined it by going 1.9 trillion in debt for tax cuts to the rich resulting in a
poor GDP to debt ratio that lead to the recession started *BEFORE*
lockdown/COVID.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-recession-started-in-february-researchers-say">https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-recession-started-in-february-researchers-say</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">The
stock market is not the economy. A Wall Street recovery is less and less linked
to a Main Street recovery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.salon.com/2020/11/02/the-stock-market-is-not-the-economy_partner/">https://www.salon.com/2020/11/02/the-stock-market-is-not-the-economy_partner/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“Our
GDP growth for the 3rd Qtr was 33 percent” sounds great but it is misleading. It
fell 31.4 percent in the second quarter (the largest shrinkage on record), so most
of that was regaining ground from most people going back to work after lockdown.
Actual growth from where we started would only be 1.6 percent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/10/3a96396360b5-urgent-us-economy-grows-record-331-in-3rd-qtr-after-plunge-amid-pandemic.html">https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/10/3a96396360b5-urgent-us-economy-grows-record-331-in-3rd-qtr-after-plunge-amid-pandemic.html</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“North
Korea has been under control and has not been testing any missiles.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Not
even close, there have been over 32 North Korea missile tests during Trump’s four
years in office. The most recent was in March of this year. (FYI there were 7
in all 8 years of the Obama Administration.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_Korean_missile_tests">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_Korean_missile_tests</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“Isis
has not been heard from in three years.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">There
have been 40 Isis attacks in the last three years resulting in appx 1,600
deaths and over 2,350 wounded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_linked_to_ISIL">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_linked_to_ISIL</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“Interest
rates are 2.78 percent for a 30 year mortgage. The housing market is the strongest it has
been in years. Homes have appreciated at
an unbelievable rate and sell well.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">As us
usually done in bad economic times, to get people to borrow money to spend, interest
rates were cut by the Federal Reserve. This was done in March due to COVID. For
the first time ever, it was cut to .01 percent…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/15/economy/federal-reserve/index.html">https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/15/economy/federal-reserve/index.html</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">… mortgage
rates were cut as well resulting in a temporarily stronger than average housing
market…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/mortgage-rates-are-down-due-to-covid-19-should-you-refinance/ar-BB11H7ZZ">https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/mortgage-rates-are-down-due-to-covid-19-should-you-refinance/ar-BB11H7ZZ</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">…
which may even lead to a housing bubble that may burst and cause harm to our
future economy (2008 anyone?).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-09-25/there-s-a-housing-bubble-lurking-in-the-recession">https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-09-25/there-s-a-housing-bubble-lurking-in-the-recession</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“He’s
a brilliant businessman” No, not really.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/as-a-businessman-trump-was-the-biggest-loser-of-all">https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/as-a-businessman-trump-was-the-biggest-loser-of-all</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">“The
funny thing is the people who hate President Trump have no idea why they hate
him.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">Nope
I know exactly why I hate him because he’s a racist, sexist, incompetent, venal,
greedy con man sexual predator who traffics in conspiracy theories and
transactional ethics. I hate him because he embarrasses me when he alienates
our allies abroad and cozies up to dictators and most of all I hate liars and
he LIES more than any politician ever in the history of our country. That is
not hyperbolic exaggeration but actual counted, documented, verifiable, blatant
lies. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/factcheck/fact-checker-president-trump-made-19127-false-or-misleading-claims-in-1226-days/ar-BB14RCpH">https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/factcheck/fact-checker-president-trump-made-19127-false-or-misleading-claims-in-1226-days/ar-BB14RCpH</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p>
<br /></p><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;"><span class="py34i1dx" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="ctom9-29-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span></span></span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-71186215956116322042020-09-24T09:00:00.000-07:002020-09-24T09:00:29.383-07:00Four ways to fix the government<p><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">First eliminate the Electoral College.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">Conservatives whine that they do not want to
get rid of it because they don't want to be ruled by decisions of people in New
York and California. Which seems bigoted. Those are both large and diverse
states. It is code for “liberal” but truthfully, they are more mixed politicly
than most states in the conservative South. Proof it is bigoted: They don’t
mention Texas which has 10 million more people than New York, but it is
conservative, so it works against their argument.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">The problem with the EC is just that it flips their
concern around giving more power to 1-3 swing states. In 2000 a mere 537 votes
in Florida counted more than the 543,816 nationwide votes.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">In 2016 they credit the upsets in Wisconsin
(122,748 vote difference), Pennsylvania (44,292) and Michigan (10,704) as why
Clinton lost. Meaning 177,744 votes spread across three states counted more
than the almost 3 million nationwide votes.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">There is something intrinsically broken here in
terms of representation when one party has gotten the most votes in 4 of the
last 5 elections but "lost" 3 out of those same 5. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">Second Make the Senate Representational.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">If the country had a senate based on population
it would better represent the country. California’s senators represent almost 20
million people each, while Wyoming’s senators represent 286,191 each. That’s
slightly less than a 1:80 ratio. The lack of representation extends out like
ripples in a pond. Even though they have a majority, Republicans they represent
15 million less Americans than their Democratic colleagues and using this
majority they denied Obama (who actually got the most votes) a SCOTUS selection
giving Trump the opportunity to select his third. That means a 6th GOP justice
(making the court 6-3) will be nominated by president who lost the popular vote
by almost 3 million votes and will be confirmed by senators representing 15 million
less Americans.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This is not representational government. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s tyranny of the minority.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">Third Eliminate Gerrymandering.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">Gerrymandering is redrawing political districts
in states to favor one party over the other. Both parties do it (although
republicans do it more), and they do it to keep “safe” seats. But the problem
with “safe” seats is both complacency and intractability. Eliminating
gerrymandering means elected officials must change with the times as issues
evolve and make compromises to appeal to voters across the political spectrum. They
must address issues at a local level instead of nationalizing local elections.
This will reduce extremes in both parties, which reduces rhetoric and fosters
cooperation since they have to win the votes of a cross section of society and
not just a sampling of their own party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: black; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">Fourth Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine (and
make sure it extends to internet outlets).</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Instated in 1949 by the FCC to ensure honest,
equitable and balanced presentation of controversial issues, the fairness
doctrine was eliminated by Reagan in 1987. This gave rise to infotainment of
Fox News and Conservative Talk Radio. This has led to people getting
information not based on truth or accuracy but rather what they are comfortable
with based on their implicit biases. Sadly, when given an option many people
will not base their opinions of facts (as it should be) but rather seeking out
information that reinforces their existing beliefs even if it is not true. Over
the decades it has been weaponized. Legitimate media has been vilified by
propaganda. Science and provable facts have been repeatedly ignored. Foreign adversaries
have used social media to take advantage of it putting out misinformation. Websites
like The Blaze and Breitbart put out information to create division and
resentment sometimes using false information and other times using true information
but taking it out so of context that it can be interpreted as meaning the
opposite of what it actually says. This
type of Infotainment has resulted conservatives demonizing the left so completely
that people believe we are pedophiles that are trafficking children in pizza
parlor basements and drinking their blood to stay young. That is an actual
conspiracy theory on the right. It has gone mainstream with actual representatives
saying they believe it and actual office holders refusing to denounce it. Nonsense
this extreme would not have reached a national level if the Fairness Doctrine
were still in effect.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-53586003640554875002020-09-17T09:26:00.004-07:002020-09-17T09:26:57.032-07:00Being on the right side of history<p><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: black;"> </span><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I said before, I would much rather be posting about sci-fi, writing, tv, comics, movies, and books but because Trump is such an existential danger to our country and the Constitution, I have to speak out. I used to *only* post about those things. But now... </span></span></p><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="dkqlk-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dkqlk-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: white;">A little while ago local photographer mocked me sarcastically saying he could see I was changing so many minds. Make no mistake my feelings were not hurt, because his barely literate posts revealed that he was not burdened with an over abundance of education or understanding. But he made a point (probably by accident). </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="a20c7-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a20c7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="a20c7-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="2jh5b-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2jh5b-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2jh5b-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I'm not changing minds. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="9m6ck-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9m6ck-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="9m6ck-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="4o8in-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4o8in-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="4o8in-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">If you care more about party than country you will still vote for Trump no matter the number of laws violated. No matter how much of the Constitution is violated. No matter how much our credibility abroad is diminished. No matter how many lies are told. No matter how many lives are lost. You will gobble up the untrue smears against BLM, Antifa, scientists and journalists. No matter how many people are murdered, no matter how emboldened the white supremacists become, no matter what facts are provided, no matter the sources sighted or recordings exist. </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="1e8up-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1e8up-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="1e8up-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="b6lv1-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b6lv1-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="b6lv1-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">I really do believe that Dr. King was right and that the arc of our history of our country, while long, will bend toward justice. Depending on how this election and the next few years unfold, it may be decade, or a generation, or a century, but eventually, people will look back at this Administration and see what we see when we look back at Nixon, or McCarthy, or with the current revelation of forced sterilization in ICE detentions centers, possibly even Hitler (without it being hyperbole).</span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="943rq-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="943rq-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="943rq-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="2re0v-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2re0v-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="2re0v-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;">However, the question persists: Why continue when it falls on deaf ears (or due to unfollowing or unfriending is simply "preaching to the choir")? </span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="d0836-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="d0836-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="d0836-0-0" style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: arial;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6joka" data-offset-key="e6ac4-0-0" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e6ac4-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span data-offset-key="e6ac4-0-0"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">A.J. Muste nailed it with this quote when he was asked a similar question by a reporter.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW9iFZq5ShEhtK8JGZiABLOPg0V0YStlcE0YFGssnI3YoAZ_QxkmfGI5_gfrzLJo_jB-2NAYnRURSV_ol-xi-eLorMqPJdPzls89teAMr8vol3ILTBETHVZeai3ZHYReEoYc73-T0istI/s490/safe_image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="461" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW9iFZq5ShEhtK8JGZiABLOPg0V0YStlcE0YFGssnI3YoAZ_QxkmfGI5_gfrzLJo_jB-2NAYnRURSV_ol-xi-eLorMqPJdPzls89teAMr8vol3ILTBETHVZeai3ZHYReEoYc73-T0istI/s320/safe_image2.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-15857225311805579352020-09-08T08:12:00.003-07:002020-09-15T07:47:49.912-07:00Twenty years of propaganda has led to hate... and Trump.<p> <span face="" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I miss posting about comics, sci-fi, writing and other nerdy things. I really do. I used to avoid posting about politics, but now my entire social media feed is virtually political. The reason is simple. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span face="" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not any other election. </span><span face="" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is not any other President. </span></span></p><p><span face="" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With each day our commander in chief becomes more unstable, craven and venal. With over 20 years of Fox News and the advent of right wing propaganda sites like the Blaze, Breitbart, InfoWars, etc. The right has demonized the left to the degree that they hate us more than the Russians. They don't see us as Americans, hell, they barely see us has human. Their hate is so all consuming they will follow anyone who opposes us. They will ignore facts, science and truth if they don't fit their political view and will accept fake news and lies because they are more comfortable with what they are hearing. </span></p><p><span face="" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enter Donald Trump, who is at worst a traitor to America and at best a useful idiot to Putin. A man who who is sexist, racist, and cowardly. But he is still followed by a staunch 40-something percent of the electorate. They share posts that are factually incorrect or just plain hateful. They don't even care because the ends appear to justify the means. They will over look the hundreds of thousands that have died due to his mishandling of COVID (in fact many prolong it by refusing to wear a mask). They will overlook the graft of overcharging the secret service at Tump resorts and hotels. They will overlook the violations of the Constitution like asking the foreign countries for help during an election or holding people without benefit of counsel. They will overlook violations Hatch act during the RNC. They will overlook the appointments of cronies that have conflicts of interest like the Post Master General, who owns stock in the private industry competition. They will overlook mocking a disabled reporter. They will overlook eliminating oversight on COVID relief for small business that resulted in millions going to large companies before small companies could get aid. They will repeat and accept talking points that are divisive. Like trying to turn people who are working against those who lost their jobs because they are collecting unemployment. Or blame immigrants for the shrinking job market. They will accuse those who want everyone to have health care of being a communist. They will accuse those who are dedicated to fighting fascism of being fascists. Or the false notion that all protesters are looting and rioting when 93% of BLM protests are peaceful (and how many of the remaining 7% were actually started by BLM and not outside agitators trying to make BLM look bad?). They will overlook ordering violence toward peaceful protesters for a photo op in front of a church. They will repeat scare tactic lies that the left are going to take your guns or outlaw Christianity even though they made that claim in 2008 and 2012 and it didn't happen then either. Let us not forget the lies. Lie after lie after lie. Even thought there is video to prove the lies. He lies like others breath. And yet he is supported by people who claim to be Christian. In fact, his followers will launch smear campaigns against good people if they disagree with the president (like they have Fauci). They spread ridiculous conspiracy theories (QAnon, PizzaGate). Their hypocrisy is mindboggling. They will defend him no matter how great the evidence and attack the other side no matter how slim the evidence or small the issue. No moral act is too repugnant (like mocking Biden for visiting his son's grave, or ignoring Trump bragging about sexual assault, attacking and insulting Gold Star families and service men and women, or stealing from a children's cancer charity). They will give him credit for the economy that he inherited from Obama and ruined by going a trillion dollars into deeper into debt to give the rich tax cuts, resulting in the US going into a recession literally the month before COVID hit. They defend his change in immigration policy that resulted in the inhumane caging of children, separating them from their parents. They ignore the 14 year old warning from the FBI that white supremacist are infiltrating police at local levels across the country and find excuses to look the other way when countless people color are killed. "He had a record, he committed a crime, it was self defense." Even when the victims were unarmed, cuffed, outnumbered 4 to 1, shot in the back, or asleep. They pretend to support "law and order" but cheer the murder and assault of legal protesters who are doing nothing wrong or simply defending themselves. And yet, at the end, we are treated like the traitors and animals. We are beaten and maced and shot at like it's a liberal safari. </span></p><p><span face="" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are compared to demons and falsely accused of wanting to teach pedophilia as a normal sexuality in schools because we support LGBTQ issues. They falsely accuse us of being baby killers because we support a woman's right to chose, even going so far as falsely claiming liberals are taking newborns slitting their throats thin putting them back in the mothers and claiming it's an abortion. A horrifying notion. One only a sick mind could come up with, and yet it's a false claim they make about us. (They truth about abortion is the conservatives don't want to end it because they want to use it has a wedge issue for elections. If you don't believe me consider this: Since Roe v. Wade in 1973 we have had a conservative majority on the Supreme Court for 45 of those 47 years. Enough to over turn it. We have had six Republican presidents - 28 years). These repeated lies and conspiracy theories that make them hate us, and make them want to harm us. They also make them turn there backs on all the moral and decent things they have spent years claiming to support: truth, family values, honesty, integrity, dealing fairly with others or even treating others as they wish to be treated. </span></p><p><span face="" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">These repeated lies and conspiracy theories have caused unreasonable resentment and hate in the hearts of our friends and neighbors. At least I hope that's what caused it. I pray that's what cause it. Because the alternative is that they were always bloodthirsty, dishonest people who hid their hatred behind false piety.</span></p>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-71523873023542950022020-01-22T12:48:00.000-08:002020-01-22T12:48:37.251-08:00Insurance and Lawyer Woes. An Open Question.<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This is one for legal and insurance people.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">About two months after Mom died (October ‘17), Dad and I went to a lawyer's office to work up a Power of Attorney and Will. While we were there the lawyer offered to file the two life insurance policies for Dad. Time went by, one paid out the other did not. The lawyer sent a follow up letter and the company replied that they had no record of her policy. This was around the time Dad passed (February ’18). So, some time went by before I contacted the lawyer again, just because of, well, dealing with everything. When I did, they said they would again contact the insurance company saying they no insurance company would risk a judgement against them because it would hurt their standing. In the meantime, Dad’s insurance went through, save one policy that was either canceled or was a term polity that ended in 2011. It was all timely and explained by July ’18. No real problem. However, no response from the nonpayer on Mom’s insurance. Periodically, I would send an email to the lawyer’s assistant/paralegal. I requested the lawyer move on to the next step. Mom had been dead for 11 months. The last few months dad was alive he would ask *every* single day if I had heard from the lawyer about the life insurance. He was retired and alone and in that situation the days seem long. I spent too much time dwelling on it. We even had arguments over it. These things take time, I would say. He was hyper focused. But I digress…</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I emailed again in August 2018, no response.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">September. No response.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">October. I questioned if they were even getting my e-mails.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">They responded by setting up a phone conference in November. We spoke and the lawyer said that it would not be cost effective to go to court over the policy. That didn’t make sense to me. First it seemed like a huge loophole that unscrupulous businesses would take advantage of. “We don’t pay out on policies that small because they can’t afford to sue to get the funds.” Heck, there is even small claims court exist for small amounts of money. Is there a legal donut hole? One would think if the paperwork is in order, it would be a slam dunk and wouldn’t the loser have to pay the court costs or they be included in the suit? I asked the questions, but I received no answers. He made a hasty excuse to get off the phone and promised to call back. He didn’t. I made another appointment for another phone conference. They called and claimed he was in court on the scheduled day of the call. They could not make a new appointment because of the uncertainty of the holidays.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I’m suspicious as the calendar flipped to 2019.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Months went by with failed attempts to make contact, finally the paralegal called and said some life insurance policies only pay out for a certain time then stop paying out. This sounded to me like a term policy. But again, I had questions. Wouldn’t the policy say that? Wouldn’t the insurance company send a letter that said, “We are sorry that policy was a term policy and stopped paying out on X date” as opposed to “We have no record of that policy.” Again, she never said it WAS a term policy but they “thought” it “might” be. The language perplexed me. It seemed noncommittal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I was finally told by the paralegal. “There is nothing else we can do.”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Fair enough. I can live with that, if you explain *why* there is nothing else you can do?</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Again, I would receive no answer.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I ran into the lawyer downtown by chance and tried to ask some of these questions. “I don’t have it in front of me, call me at the office.” No response. Texted. No response. Email. No response. Facebook messenger. No response. Twitter. No response. It was now May. Then June. Then July.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Finally, I contacted them saying “if you can’t or won’t answer my questions can you give me copies of the correspondence between you and the insurance company and a copy of the policy itself so I can take it to another attorney who can answer the questions for me.”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I was handing him an out. No more calls, texts, emails from me. All he had to do was give me the paperwork. I offered to go his office to pick it up to save postage. Nothing. Nada.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Finally, in September 18th, 2019, two years, one month, two weeks and one day after mom died. I texted if there was some other issue with the policy that I was unaware of because it makes no sense that he can neither answer my questions nor provide the paperwork for me to take elsewhere. There was a claim it was mailed in December. At this point found it dubious. He said, “Send me the questions, I’ll look at them during a break this afternoon and get back to you.”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">I sent him the following:<br />“<Your paralegal> said you thought the life insurance was only for a certain period of time and then would not pay out. This sounded to me like a term life insurance policy to me but that begs the question 1): If it were a term life insurance policy would it not say so in the paperwork and instead of claiming they had no record of it would they not simply say, it was a term policy and has expired? That leads to question 2) If it was not term life and they are telling the truth about not having a record of the paperwork then why is our paperwork not good enough as proof? Which leads to the last question 3) Why is there nothing we can do if the policy was paid up, there were no loans against it and the paperwork is in order?<br />At one point you mentioned cost effectiveness of legal action, but would we be able to sue for the owed about plus the court cost, filing and other expenses? It seems like a big loophole if not. Literally setting the limit of ripping people off at the price of court costs.”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">By chance, I saw him downtown that afternoon. Clearly not working (on break?). I still have not received the paperwork nor have I gotten those answers. Tried contacting him in October and December, Again, just asking for the paperwork. It's now 2020.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This is dogging me. It’s like an open wound. I can’t move on. I really, really *need* is answers on this. If the policy was a term policy, it would only take 5 minutes to pull it and read it to find out. If it’s not a term policy, and it was paid up and the paperwork in order why is there no recourse? So why all the foot dragging? Why put me through this? The evasiveness of the lawyer makes me wonder if he made some kind of error and is afraid of getting sued himself. The irony is I have no idea how much the policy is for. I never saw it; it went straight from Dad’s hand to the lawyer.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: black; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white;">It makes no sense.</span></div>
Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-67051415985920161442018-10-02T06:13:00.000-07:002018-10-04T20:54:31.365-07:00KaPow! Print Edition of The Outer World Blasts Off This Weekend!<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1XzvuBD0sHgTPtgmlBVn3WDtWCmm_hZrGo1XANm3hg1EP8ZmHqQyoG07kIqGf21lV2xtLhJF9-cy9c6CRwA0Q_SMglVpA7xeOcnNW-7xbNfFJ_0XF3vXJM2_BRHemkbj-vRBcKieeyFE/s1600/IMG_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1XzvuBD0sHgTPtgmlBVn3WDtWCmm_hZrGo1XANm3hg1EP8ZmHqQyoG07kIqGf21lV2xtLhJF9-cy9c6CRwA0Q_SMglVpA7xeOcnNW-7xbNfFJ_0XF3vXJM2_BRHemkbj-vRBcKieeyFE/s320/IMG_1210.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The limited edition print copy of <b><i>The Outer
Worlds</i></b> #0 (written by me and illustrated by the great <b>Ivan Castillo</b>) came
in today and will make it's debut at <b>KapowCon</b>! this Saturday October 6 at the <b>Conquest Art
Designs</b> table! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Phzlh0ApHvwMckDqfIttRd5jM_w_3JeYl-1oABN2iXAUOgFFZVWYIpDPD7Se6-mn1ALAlU_QU_a9AzyKTiisxEp45CFUAFg6vU51q-Wi9vU2BVnFtKrgj4uhJLsglNo0HSdsvIGV6hZG/s1600/IMG_1213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Phzlh0ApHvwMckDqfIttRd5jM_w_3JeYl-1oABN2iXAUOgFFZVWYIpDPD7Se6-mn1ALAlU_QU_a9AzyKTiisxEp45CFUAFg6vU51q-Wi9vU2BVnFtKrgj4uhJLsglNo0HSdsvIGV6hZG/s320/IMG_1213.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The Outer Worlds</i></b> is a black and white sci-fi comic that follows a team of
bounty hunters who have to travel out of our solar system to catch criminals
escaping the long arm of the law. This prelude issue sets up a seven issue series (eight if you count the #0), It's the very first book by Conquest Art
Designs new digital comic book imprint Conquest Comics and will soon be
available for digital download at ComiXology. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">KapowCon is a <b>FREE</b>
admission convention being put on to raise money for STEM
education. It will be at Virginia High School, 1200 Long Crescent Drive, Bristol, VA on Saturday, October 6th. Doors open at 9:30 and it
closes at 6:00.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I will not be
there, but artist Ivan Castillo will be signing copies at the Conquest Art Designs table. If you live locally and
pick-up a copy I will be glad to meet up with you at Mountain Empire Comics and
sign a copy for you and if you are out of town please feel free to contact me
or Conquest Art Designs to obtain a copy via mail order.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>UPDATE: I pre-signed copies of<i> The Outer Worlds</i> for Conquest Comics so anyone attending KapowCon! who stops by the Conquest Art Design Table and picks up a copy will have it signed by both the writer and artist! </b></span></span></div>
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Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-53804837996634494212018-08-07T18:40:00.000-07:002018-08-07T18:40:24.251-07:00Trek to the We Talk Comics Podcast Site for a Trio of New WeView Reviews that will Leave You Breathless <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After my last appearance on the We Talk Comics Podcast, one of the regulars, Mo Kristiansen, asked if I would be interested in doing some "WeViews" for their site. It was a relatively new feature giving text reviews (hence the great WeViews name) provided by the great guys at We Talk Comics. I looked over their list and was going to contribute a WeView of the finale of Dynamite's comic <i>The Librarians</i> (based on the TNT television show). Sadly, the day I was going to read this issue and write up the review was the day my father passed away. After a few months, one of us reached out (I don't remember if it was me or Mo) and I finally got to do a review for the site. <i>The Librarians</i> had been out so long (so long the show had been canceled) that I decided to do a review of IDW's <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-bubba-ho-tep-and-the-cosmic-blood-suckers/" target="_blank"><i>Bubba Ho-Tep and the Cosmic Blood Suckers</i></a> #1. I don't know if it was me or Bubba but it was well received and Mo gave me the great news that it was the most viewed of the WeViews. So a month later I dove in and tackled another review. This time I discussed the merits of the Archie Comics <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-archies-super-teens-versus-crusaders-1/" target="_blank"><i>Archie's Super Teens Versus Crusaders</i></a> #1. (I mentioned both of those reviews in previous blog entries). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several weeks later I did three more: Aftershock's historical fantasy <i>ClanKillers</i> #1, Black Mask's brilliant monster series <i>Breathless</i> #1 and #2 and IDW's latest <i>Star Trek</i> tie-in, <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation - Terra Incognita </i>#1. Those last three have gone up over the course of the last two weeks. I'm really enjoying the new gig and hope I get the chance to do more. If you are a comic fan who has to be selective about what they pick up, I hope I can earn your trust.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTkuLQYaFkNR2VhqzCmxSqOazPp_swZCiYCsWs2mqhOQzQIYlq6dhX80ERmBkTAdZdUqY7JlZg8_Ka28sCL3YU_poajcpvD7j_2dGB0v-StMQ_8zj0L6QOLX0ySvnRRXizF1nf_QiJ0y/s1600/BreathlessCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1058" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqTkuLQYaFkNR2VhqzCmxSqOazPp_swZCiYCsWs2mqhOQzQIYlq6dhX80ERmBkTAdZdUqY7JlZg8_Ka28sCL3YU_poajcpvD7j_2dGB0v-StMQ_8zj0L6QOLX0ySvnRRXizF1nf_QiJ0y/s400/BreathlessCover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see my review of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>ClanKillers</i> #1 <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-clankillers-1/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see my review of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Breathless</i> #1 and #2 <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-breathless-1-and-2/" target="_blank">here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see my review <i>of</i> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Star Trek: The Next Generation - Terra Incognita</i> #1 <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-star-trek-the-next-generation-terra-incognita-1/" target="_blank">here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I highly encourage checking out the podcast. The guys are great and put on really fun shows. I can't say it enough about them. It really is like hanging out with your friends at the comic shop, it doesn't matter if they are simply debating issues or doing professional interviews writers and artists in the industry. Please go <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/category/wtc-podcasts/" target="_blank">here</a> to check out their most recent shows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and yes, I do realize I misspelled Barclay's name as Barkley. I actually do know better. So please don't revoke my nerd card...</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-422484490550004442018-07-23T21:08:00.002-07:002018-07-23T21:11:48.977-07:00Rob-Con Anouncement and another WeView<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sl-B7T-_xlgFo6iD6r36mzV8j0zFSm8ru6GbkDONGssjXbCUv1FxlFMD5o97Jn15iRyvsz1Ws3RMsHuAF3X2N5J6NDwUHM_XYIbwGymVjFQ1vIgU0LjEmPoTgxYHXpMxrNP75MuWExki/s1600/37676263_10156688914130536_3877858291463749632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sl-B7T-_xlgFo6iD6r36mzV8j0zFSm8ru6GbkDONGssjXbCUv1FxlFMD5o97Jn15iRyvsz1Ws3RMsHuAF3X2N5J6NDwUHM_XYIbwGymVjFQ1vIgU0LjEmPoTgxYHXpMxrNP75MuWExki/s400/37676263_10156688914130536_3877858291463749632_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>It looks like I will be attending RobCon this year. I've been waffling back and forth for a while. Initially I was hoping to come and RobCon would be the debut of the prelude issue of<i><b> The Outer Worlds</b></i> a sci-fi miniseries I am doing with Ivan Castillo of <b>Conquest Art Designs</b>. But sadly, Ivan is still working on the cover and I still have several pages left to letter. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I was going to pass but several things happened. Matt Shafer invited me to join his annual movie panel, and being the self promoting ham/whore than I am, how could I say no? More over, why would I say no? Matt ran the Mountain Empire Comics Movie Club for several years and his enthusiasm for genre films is positively infectious. The panel will be Sunday at 12:30. I was going to do a hit and run. Go in for the panel, hang with Ivan at the Conquest Art Designs table for a bit, then scamper off into the night.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMMcPUh8B-gJyVAPwxQOTzps1QjpPvcraE_mejq05OfYYl9T7ZBo0C0ybPmu_bapT_WmrMACKtSC3GWcWdQiYdibgGA17rItsJW9Wg-zMhBitEF4uqgN-hLH4M84ihc_V9cCkuA0WLuPT/s1600/28377906_1651763411569109_6771246578402593320_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMMcPUh8B-gJyVAPwxQOTzps1QjpPvcraE_mejq05OfYYl9T7ZBo0C0ybPmu_bapT_WmrMACKtSC3GWcWdQiYdibgGA17rItsJW9Wg-zMhBitEF4uqgN-hLH4M84ihc_V9cCkuA0WLuPT/s200/28377906_1651763411569109_6771246578402593320_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matthew Preiss and his niece.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then something tragic happened, one of Robert Pilk's employees, Matthew Preiss, was hospitalized. Matthew is a great guy (as anyone who has had the pleasure to talk to him at Mountain Empire Comics will tell you). He has a long road to recovery ahead of him and if you are a praying person, please include him in your thoughts the next time you offer up to the Almighty. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What's this have to do with me? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Glad you asked. This left Rob a man down so I have been helping him out by filling in for Matthew. Now, don't let the way I phrased it make you think I was somehow coming to Rob's aid. (Although when I write my memoirs or biography that's exactly how I will present it). Oh, no, Rob and the rest of the RobCon/Mountain Empire Comics family have been doing this for years and have it down cold. They would be able to handle it no problem, but Rob knows things have been a little slow for me writing wise. I'm about to get the release of my three television pilots from Gloverzone Productions since they have not moved forward on production. My last three submissions have been rejected and it will probably be another month before Ivan and I have <i><b>The Outer Worlds</b></i> completed. Beyond the writing, Rob also knew I was laid off from my day job of 18 years back in November and my benefits ran out about a month ago. So I will be working Matthew's four hour shift at the <b>Mountain Empire Comics</b> table Saturday and helping out with a few shifts here and there at the shop in Bristol. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Truth be told, Rob rode in to *my* rescue.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt Shafer then reached out again. He will also be having a comic book television panel Saturday at 1 and wanted me to join as well. I really do have a problem saying no, so I was all in before he finished the sentence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then one of Rob's organizers texted asking if I wanted a whole table or a half table for signings. In short, they already had me down as a guest and I didn't realize it. Did I mention I have problems saying no? So I will be at RobCon both Saturday and Sunday (not Friday). I will have a few of the very last print copies of the award winning <b><i>Adventures in Pulp</i></b> series from 2015 as well as copies of the <b><i>Women of Darby Pop</i></b> ready to purchase and sign. So, barring scheduling issues, if I'm not at my table you will be able to find me at the Mountain Empire Comics table or at the Matt Shafer's Comic Book Movie and Television panels. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I highly recommend stopping in. Rob has really been stepping it up the last couple of years. It's a
fantastic show, with panels, costume contests, writers, artists, and
lots of vendors. The last couple of years have been an absolute blast
and it looks like
this year will be even better in its new venue of MeadowView Convention
Center in Kingsport, TN.</span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUzkWH3sA9xGkwhyphenhyphenWw6h9c-ZKh5HSw1GuoMh7q5WSfonDcPZYdzkiDVyQ5Un9vRPVEw68BZGMe76_WnJBBHfeoxw-N_EJejNBBHbNJuMYzi1tB2TEYmnp3CQuq7JE0KW4Rxeocvi-M_1Y/s1600/SupertnsCrusad1_Main-CV_Connecting-666x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="666" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUzkWH3sA9xGkwhyphenhyphenWw6h9c-ZKh5HSw1GuoMh7q5WSfonDcPZYdzkiDVyQ5Un9vRPVEw68BZGMe76_WnJBBHfeoxw-N_EJejNBBHbNJuMYzi1tB2TEYmnp3CQuq7JE0KW4Rxeocvi-M_1Y/s200/SupertnsCrusad1_Main-CV_Connecting-666x1024.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until then, I did do another <b>WeView Review</b> for the great folks at <b>We Talk Comic Podcasts</b>. This time I reviewed <i>Archie Superteens Versus Crusaders</i> #1. It has been up for a couple of weeks but you can find it <b><a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-archies-super-teens-versus-crusaders-1/" target="_blank">here</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I have a couple of more in the works that should be up soon. If you can't make it to RobCon and still want to check out my work you can get digital downloads of all four <i><b>Adventures in Pulp</b></i> short stories (with all profits still going to the artist) and the <b><i>Women of Darby Pop</i></b> anthology at <b>Comixology</b> <b><a href="https://www.comixology.com/Brett-Harris/comics-creator/43232" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-74983195318889271312018-06-13T12:23:00.000-07:002018-06-13T12:23:59.662-07:00A Couple of (Not so) Shocking Rejections<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As I have done in the past, I like to post rejected material here so it can still be read. Below are two short story scripts for a British publication. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKV6eaHcaGMxu1el-_wYBRW2oAR_pBrkWWbIaiwVYMMX28ZYc-qUiisbFhE_6yk1KV7p6d1pmjoMgotpculUY5pX-NULzM_S_NWkjB_RMR4mxwpvBAEbEWyvwFwerqXLdkA8ZkzqQcArn/s1600/HeadOnKeyboard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKV6eaHcaGMxu1el-_wYBRW2oAR_pBrkWWbIaiwVYMMX28ZYc-qUiisbFhE_6yk1KV7p6d1pmjoMgotpculUY5pX-NULzM_S_NWkjB_RMR4mxwpvBAEbEWyvwFwerqXLdkA8ZkzqQcArn/s320/HeadOnKeyboard2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first, which is titled <b>"Parallel Intersections"</b> from last year, suffered from too many ideas getting crammed into a four page plot. I had two ideas with the same basic idea but could not decide on the twist ending, so I decided (ill advisedly) to put them together and let the two narratives play off of each other. I often wonder if I went with one story if it would have had more impact and if so, which one?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The other, titled <b>"Boy Meets Girl...,"</b> is from earlier this year. In fact I had no idea until I started putting together this blog that they were written exactly one year apart. This second tale takes the romantic structure of "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back" but puts it in a darker more dangerous scenario. This one was probably not sci-fi enough for the publication. If you strip out the SF elements it could have taken place today. Or heck, even 100 years ago. Either way, I feel like it is probably the stronger of the two scripts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I hope you enjoy them (or if you are an aspiring writer, learn from my mistakes).</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new";">ORIGINAL SCRIPT:</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> "Parallel
Intersections"</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new";">
Short Story</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> Script by Brett Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4 pages, Final Draft: </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">18th February 2017</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">
</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">ONE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Note: The page is divided horizontally across
the center with a thick black line to separate the narratives. <u>Three panels
above the line and three below.</u> The TOP narrative is very retro sci-fi hard
edges with buttons and dials, futuristic but with a vague feeling of analogue
instead of digital. The BOTTOM narrative is just the opposite. Sleek and
streamlined with smooth touch screen panels.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ We see a
soldier/astronaut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a black woman in
a suspended animation tube (kind of like the ones from <u>Aliens</u>). Through
the clear hatch, we can see her face and her eyes are closed. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"> FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER) 1: As I start to
rouse from </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>hyper sleep, the mission parameters come
rushing back </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>to me. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER) 2: We were going
to end the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>war with our new prototype weapon that
would stop their </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>machines.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ The same basic
panel but now her eyes are open and she looks worried.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER) 1: The ship was
going to </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>glide in orbit powered down, then power up
and deliver </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the pay load. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER) 2: The fact that
I'm awake </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>tells me something went wrong. I was a last
resort. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ The soldier is
out of the tube in front of a closed door putting on a space suit. It's
something flexible but with a domed helmet and air supply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): The sensors
tell me large </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>parts of the ship have been compromised. I
decide it's </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>safer to suit up. I have to succeed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ We are now on
another ship, with a different soldier. This time, a white male. There is an
open tube near him. He is dressing in simple fatigues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): Their ship
tried to glide </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>in and sneak past our sensors. Luckily our
sleeper </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>defense ship was already in orbit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ The second
soldier is exiting the room.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): If I've been
activated it </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>means there must have been a battle and the
ship has </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>taken damage --</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">6/ A close up of the
second soldier's inscrutable face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): -- and my job
just got a <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span></span>little harder. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">
TWO</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Note: The page, like the previous page, is
divided horizontally across the center with a thick black line to separate the
narratives. <u>Three panels above the line and three below.</u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ Close up on the
first soldier, a look of horror on her face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): This is why Mars
uses <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>androids for most of their combat.
Some think there <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span>are no humans left on
their side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ We reverse angle
to an over the shoulder angle to reveal three dead bodies floating in zero g. One
is an Asian male with the flag of </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Japan</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> on his sleeve. Another is a white female and
we can see the </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">U.K.</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> flag patch on her shoulder. The third is a
black man with a Nigerian flag on his uniform. In the background we can see
three doors. There is scorching on the walls to indicate damage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): I don't have
time to mourn <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span>my ship mates. I'm the
last chance to win the war and <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>I have to
keep going.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ The first soldier
is now working some switches at the opposite end center door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): The door to the
bridge is <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>not operational. I have to
over-ride to get through --</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST
SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): -- and I have to get <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>through
if I'm going to save the Earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ A high shot of
the second soldier, a broken bridge that stretches over a huge machine that is
sparking with electrical energy. It would have connected the door he just
exited to another door at the other end. A trio broken and smashed android
bodies can be seen. They should look kind of like the endoskeleton of the <u>Terminator</u>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): The
engineering droids <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>been <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span>smashed, as
well as the only way to the <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>command
center. I have to get there to defend my <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ The second
soldier leaping across the gap in the bridge.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): Luckily the
gravity seems <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>twenty-five percent of
normal. Low enough to make the <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>leap. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">6/ The second
soldier is using his hand print on a panel next to the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): Almost there.
The Earth <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>will learn that the new
regime on Mars will be free <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span>and
safe from their attacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">
THREE</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Note: The page, like the previous pages, is
divided horizontally across the center with a thick black line to separate the
narratives. <u>Three panels above the line and three below. The three panels
are two half page panels each with an inset in the top left and bottom right of
the panel.</u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ Is inset in the
top left corner of panel 2. It is a close-up of the shocked face of the first
soldier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): Oh, God! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ Reverse angle to
reveal the first soldier being sucked toward a big gaping hole in the forward
section of the bridge. It has clearly been hulled in combat. Empty space lies
beyond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): The
decompression is <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>pulling me out! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ The inset in the
bottom left corner of panel 2. We can see her gloved hand just missing the edge
of twisted metal at edge of the hole.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): No! I have to
complete </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>the mission! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Is inset in the
top left corner of panel 2. It is a close-up of face of the second soldier. His
eyes are wide both otherwise inscrutable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): Sensors were
wrong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ Reverse angle to
reveal the second soldier also being sucked toward a big gaping hole in the
forward section of the command center. It has also clearly been hulled in
combat. Again empty space lies beyond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): I have to
destroy the <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span>Earthlings!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">6/ The inset in the
bottom left corner of panel 2. We can see his face hitting edge of twisted
metal at edge of the hole.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): No!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "courier new";">
FOUR</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ A single panel
page of the two soldiers battling in the vacuum of space. They are a twisted
knot of limbs grabbing and punching at each other. The second soldier's human
face as been ripped off to reveal a robot face underneath. In the background we
can see the two ships in the distance. They are both battered and in ruins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>FIRST SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): I'll have to
destroy this </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>machine before I run out of air! For Earth
and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>humanity!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>SECOND SOLDIER (VOICE OVER): I have to
destroy the <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></span>human before I run out of
power! For Mars and machine </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>independence!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">CAPTION: FIN.</span><br />
<br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">__________________________________</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">ORIGINAL SCRIPT: "Boy
Meets Girl..."<br />
Short Story Script by Brett Harris</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>
</b><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">4 pages, Final Draft: </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">19th February 2018</span></b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">ONE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is a five panel page
(including the first panel which is a solid black panel with white reverse text
running across the top of the page).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1/ A
solid black horizontal panel across the whole page with reverse white letters
that say: "</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">BOY</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> MEETS GIRL...". No other text.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">2/ Establishing
shot of a modern/futuristic business building in downtown </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">London</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">. To help sell a future vibe we
can see a flying yellow taxi cab in the sky or perhaps a flying red bus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA (FROM BUILDING) 1: Amelia! Welcome
back! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">3/ Inside
the business office. A typical set up of cubical work spaces. Olivia is hugging
Amelia. Both are attractive young women with the look of business professionals.
Olivia is black, while Amelia is a blonde Caucasian. People in the backgrounds
are working on computers with holographic monitors and are a mix of male/female
and ethnic backgrounds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA: I wish I could say I'm glad to be
back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA: We acquired some great new
additions while </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>you were on holiday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">4/ Olivia
gesturing toward three workers. They are at </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jackson</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">'s cubical. He's nebbish
looking, middle aged, and balding, with spectacles. He has a look of
"future middle manager." His holographic monitor has a newspaper
article with a headline that reads "Body found on east end." In
smaller type: "Laser blade believed to be murder weapon." Isabella is
next, she is a young Asian lady holding two cups of coffee. She has the look of
an over worked executive secretary. Last is Ava, another professional looking
lady, she is the oldest with dark hair with some dignified gray or silver
highlights. She is holding a tennis ball size box that is projecting a small
holographic pie chart. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA 1: This is Jackson our new assistant
to Human </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Resources. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA 2: That is Isabella, the boss's new
assistant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA 3: And last is Ava a statistician we
stole from <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></span>Yamaguchi Corporation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">5/ Amelia
looking friendly and exited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA 1: Oh, it is a pleasure! I'm
Olivia's partner </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>in the Marketing Department.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA 2: We absolutely must go out this
evening after </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>work so I can get to know you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> TWO</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is a four panel page.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1/ Amelia
in the foreground dancing with Charlie, a handsome but oily gentleman. He looks
like he has over done his spray tan to create the illusion of Latino or
Sicilian. Hair slicked back. Pencil thin mustache. Tacky but not unattractive.
In the background at a table: Isabella looks annoyed. Olivia is having a drink.
</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jackson</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> looks jealous and Ava looks
disinterested reading a holographic bar graph from her stat box.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ISABELLA: "We absolutely must go out
this evening </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>after work so I can get to know you."
Pfffth!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA: Oh, when you go out with Amelia,
she will find </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>fun, but not much in the way of meaningful <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>conversation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">2/ Amelia,
taking a shot of whiskey, Charlie, smiling and looking friendly, is carefully
trying to balance three more. They are at the table with Amelia's office mates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CHARLIE: Another shot, Love. I'll call a
cab to fly us <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">3/ Charlie,
anxious to leave, is now pulling Amelia by the arm toward the door. She looks
pretty drunk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CHARLIE: Come on, Love. Can't be higher
than the taxi </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>can we?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">4/ The
quartet of office workers at the table. Olivia looks heavy lidded. She's had
too much to drink. Isabella looks worried. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jackson</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> looks angry and (again) Ava
still looks disinterested looking at her holographic display from her stat box.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ISABELLA: Amelia, do you think it's a good
idea to <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> leave?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">AVA</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">: No. Wait. Stop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ISABELLA: Too late. She's out the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> THREE</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is a six panel page
(including the second panel which is a solid black panel with white reverse
text running across the page).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1/ Outside
the club. The neighborhood does not look as upscale as their office or even the
inside of the club would allow you to believe. Not much in the way of foot
traffic or vehicles. The quartet are at the door. Isabella is holding Olivia
up. Charlie and Amelia are already a good distance away in the background.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ISABELLA: You should stay with us, Amelia!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OLIVIA: Amelia, shoo be wif ussss. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">2/ A
solid black horizontal panel across the whole page with reverse white letters
that say: "... </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">BOY</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> LOSES GIRL...". No other text.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">3/ Charlie,
not looking as friendly as before, is pulling a drunk Amelia by the arm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA: Whesh, tha cab, Baby?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CHARLIE: This way. It's a short cut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">4/ Charlie
and Amelia in a dark alley. If possible it's even more creepy than the main
street was. Amelia is pushing away from a sinister looking Charlie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA: No! Thish, ishn't right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">5/ Amelia
falling as she tries to get away from Charlie, who now has a knife in his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA: No! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CHARLIE: Get back here!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">6/ Looking
up from Amelia's angle (but not necessarily her POV) Charlie looks big and
scary wielding the blade and total darkness all around and behind him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CHARLIE: They'll be reading about my work
tomorrow on </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the webs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">PAGE</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> FOUR</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is a six panel page
(including the last panel which is a solid black panel with white reverse text
running across the page).</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1/
Same as last panel on previous page but now Charlie has a confused look on his
face, perhaps with a trickle of blood coming down the corner of his mouth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>CHARLIE: Urk!?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">2/ Similar
as the last two panels. Charlie, eyes rolled back in his head, is sinking out
of frame to reveal kindly nebbish Jackson.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">3/
Amelia hugging </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jackson</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA: Oh, thank you, Johnson.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">JACKSON</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">: It's </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jackson</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> actually.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">4/
Amelia looking at </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Jackson</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> appreciatively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AMELIA: What a creep, Jack. Can I buy you a
drink to <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></span>thank you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">JACKSON</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">: I should thank you. I can't
stand copy cats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">5/
Amelia's POV Jackson looking downright evil as he holds up a glowing green
laser knife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">6/ A
solid black horizontal panel across the bottom of the page with reverse white
letters that say: "... </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">BOY</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> GETS GIRL BACK". No other
text. End.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">_____________________________________________ </span></div>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you are glutton for punishment and would like to read the short stories that were rejected for the </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">MillarWorld Annuals</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> in 2016 and 2017 you can read them <a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2016/06/living-and-dying-in-starlight.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2017/02/twin-engines-of-self-destruction.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></div>
</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-30639821602381537012018-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:002018-06-12T10:37:47.296-07:00New We Talk Comics Episodes Drop and RobCon Almost Here!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkF7P4QeX2y8T8fIgGXUvKiHM1sDAc51iX84jAwrUkRkBnBCuyfq9_aqD-BNU5AAHf9SXVNXyCMwbtJepemqkSbzrPolSpv4hXKVaDTOScyh4C_gOAAvyLXjzQhbFIxzMfNCxqcrB6zh4/s1600/623049._SX1280_QL80_TTD_-666x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkF7P4QeX2y8T8fIgGXUvKiHM1sDAc51iX84jAwrUkRkBnBCuyfq9_aqD-BNU5AAHf9SXVNXyCMwbtJepemqkSbzrPolSpv4hXKVaDTOScyh4C_gOAAvyLXjzQhbFIxzMfNCxqcrB6zh4/s320/623049._SX1280_QL80_TTD_-666x1024.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in March of last year <b>Chris Beck</b> of <b><a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/category/wtc-podcasts/" target="_blank">We Talk Comics Podcasts</a></b> contacted me about joining him and We Talk's founder <b>Mo Kristiansen</b>
to do an episode focusing on Pre-Marvel Universe comic book movies. I
first appeared on the We Talk Comic Podcast way back in the summer of
2015 promoting "Adventures in Pulp" and it was an absolute blast. Chris
and <b>Keith Callbeck</b> hosted that episode and talking to them was like
hanging out with my friends at the local comic shop. Keith has since
moved on and regular host <b>Brett Monro</b> was ill, so Chris invited
me to fill in at the 11th hour (proving one Brett is most definitely NOT
as good as another). The show was a lot of fun. It was a different vibe
contributing to an ongoing conversation as opposed to a straight up
interview so I felt a little shaky. My fear was that I spent a little
too much
time saying "I agree" or "I really liked this or hated that" without
going into specifics. I guess I got lucky because some technical issues
cropped up and the whole show had to be scrapped. After almost a year of
scheduling conflicts I finally got to join Chris and Mo for a
re-recording along with Brett and even Keith who returned as a special
guest. Again, it was an absolute blast and we managed to get two
episodes out of it! </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first episode focuses of the<b> "Best Comic Book Movies Before the Marvel Universe" </b>and you can hear it <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-podcast-188-best-comic-book-movies-1978-2007/" target="_blank">here</a></span> and the second episode focuses of the <b>"Worst Comic Book Movies Before the Marvel Universe"</b> and you can hear it <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-podcast-191-worst-comic-book-movies-1978-2007/" target="_blank">here.</a>
Since then I even did my first review for their "WeView" reviews. I
selected the comic book prequel to the cult classic short story and
film: <i><b>Bubba Ho-Tep</b></i>. You can read it <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtcomics-weview-review-bubba-ho-tep-and-the-cosmic-blood-suckers/" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also check out my <u>first</u> appearance <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtc-135-adventures-in-pulp/" target="_blank">here</a> and I highly recommend trying some of their other past episodes. They
are pretty great. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D7wd-3rU2YY6JlPeZ8FsevGVIcxZjtmj9UEWPzNTNWTIobkJAghn78qZSHIjedUui1iXOMuCpu0sMPB6ArXEDM9JPCsYoRN8Lrj2R4M2rBkiK3cDW0x69-QqBKRRn92GtZcuXvlLc94T/s1600/35082693_10156587087475536_322311968142655488_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1385" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D7wd-3rU2YY6JlPeZ8FsevGVIcxZjtmj9UEWPzNTNWTIobkJAghn78qZSHIjedUui1iXOMuCpu0sMPB6ArXEDM9JPCsYoRN8Lrj2R4M2rBkiK3cDW0x69-QqBKRRn92GtZcuXvlLc94T/s400/35082693_10156587087475536_322311968142655488_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure if I will be a guest at <b>RobCon</b>
again this summer. However my</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> partner on the upcoming comic "The
Outer Worlds,"<b> Ivan Castillo </b>of Conquest Art Designs, will have
some fantastic stuff available and even a few pages to preview of our sci-fi comic book
mini-series. If the stars really align we *might* even have a printed copy of the book itself.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I make it, it will be my sixith time around for the
ever growing convention and appears it will be the best yet. If you are
in Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia July 27 through 29, I highly recommend stopping in. Robert Pilk of <b>Mountain Empire Comics</b>
has really been stepping it up the last couple of years. It's a
fantastic show, with panels, costume contests, writers, artists, and lots of vendors. The last couple of years have been an absolute blast and it looks like
this year will be even better in its new venue of MeadowView Convention Center in Kingsport, TN.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just a reminder, my story story "Looking for
Redemption with Blind Eyes" featuring the character Stingray from <b>Darby Pop's "Indestructible"</b>
closes out the </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Women of Darby Pop" </b>anthology</span> and you can still get it and my four "Adventures In Pulp"<b> </b>short stories as downloads at Comixology <a href="https://www.comixology.com/Brett-Harris/comics-creator/43232" target="_blank">here</a>. "Adventures in Pulp" was named "Digital Comic of the Year" by Pipedream comics for 2015 and </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">all digital profits for go to the artist.</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-62379753278734965142017-10-13T19:46:00.000-07:002017-10-13T19:46:47.911-07:00Facts Matter: Disecting a Fact Free Post<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Facts
matter. I know we live in an "alt fact" word. But there should be a
point where a fact should be a fact. Period. I have a dog named Sisko. He's a
male, you can call him a female all you want, but he's male. I have never
written a blog relating to politics because I don't want to get "</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dixie</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
Chick-ed." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my private life I am
very political and the wars on science and facts are starting to make me crazy.
I can understand and respect a difference of opinion, but the refusal to listen
to or accept provable and verifiable facts is a new phenomenon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you say something that is not true that
means one of two things. Either you are ignorant on the topic and have made an
error or you have willfully said something untrue. Now I could site example after example of
the stuff I am talking about but I have decided to simply take one single post that
have I have seen several times and use it as a sole example. People I know, people I like are sharing (some more than once) this COMPLETELY fact free post below and it boggles my mind. Have I misjudged these people's character or their intelligence or both? </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGTjCHjdPvdgc5kpi_Nn0eCIaDCTsyb_0-8j2NdBhRuxRrT0ndEeULEl_cuxiYB-rCOGnTEPUbhxT_tlzBvkrOE1Ap1ahI_sUVi-h_DLCdq_QE352QQFS0NWCr0HRyT9zNO296_J0htaH/s1600/166e40372c63f8bbb80d904fed34765c--hypocrite-drivers-license.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="720" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGTjCHjdPvdgc5kpi_Nn0eCIaDCTsyb_0-8j2NdBhRuxRrT0ndEeULEl_cuxiYB-rCOGnTEPUbhxT_tlzBvkrOE1Ap1ahI_sUVi-h_DLCdq_QE352QQFS0NWCr0HRyT9zNO296_J0htaH/s400/166e40372c63f8bbb80d904fed34765c--hypocrite-drivers-license.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The first time I saw this post on the right my initial thought
was "Wow, there is so much factually wrong with this. I don't know quite
where to begin." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, how about I
start with the fact that the initial writer (and those who liked it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>enough to share it on social medial) appear
to favor the positions of </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">North Korea</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Afghanistan</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Iran</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> over </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">America</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">. Ranging from fascist and totalitarian to theocratic,
those countries seem to be the antithesis to what </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">America</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> stands for, but if that's their opinion, I will
respectfully disagree. I'm not going to hurl insults because we disagree. Like
I said above, I can respect a difference of opinion and they are entitled to their
opinion here in </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">America</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> (although, ironically, not always in </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">North Korea</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> or </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Iran</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">, but I digress). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I'm not going to challenge their
un-American opinion. I would rather respond to the FACTUAL ERRORS, because
while you are entitled to your own opinion you are not entitled to your own
facts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The general position seems to be that
undocumented immigrants are responsible for our nation's debt. Many economic
scholars have pointed to "trickledown economics" as the real culprit
of our debt, massive tax cuts (predominantly on the wealthy) while increasing
spending has put is in a hole, but that's really a separate debate. Let's focus
on the issues specifically ascribed to undocumented immigrants. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">First,
"you cross the border illegally and you get a job." Well, they only
get a job if an American company illegally hires them or they commit fraud to
get hired. In the former case, this is a private sector issue and does not
support the debt issue except that employers are defrauding the government out
of tax dollars that would have been otherwise taken out on citizens or legal
immigrants here on work visas and not the undocumented immigrant who is more
often than not being taken advantage of. On the latter issue of fraud, well, I
will cover that further on down. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Moving
on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You cross the border illegally and you
get... a driver's license." This actually varies from state to state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some states with large undocumented immigrant
populations have seen insurance premiums go DOWN once they started<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>issuing drivers licenses as did cases of
hit-and-run. This SAVED both private market money (insurance premiums) and tax
money at local levels (investigating hit and runs). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">"You
cross the border illegally and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you
get... food stamps." No, undocumented immigrants, do NOT qualify for food
stamps. If you frequent a website that say they do, it LIES. In addition to NOT
qualifying for food stamps, undocumented immigrants also do NOT qualify for
welfare, Medicaid, and most other public benefits. Most of these programs REQUIRE
proof of legal immigration status and under the 1996 Welfare Law, even LEGAL immigrants
CANNOT receive these benefits until they have been in the United States for
more than </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">FIVE</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">"You
cross the border illegally and you get... a place to live." Well, if you
can pay the rent, I guess most property owners will rent to you. Again, this
has nothing to do with national debt unless you are implying that undocumented
immigrants are getting government housing assistance. If you are, then again,
like with food stamps, undocumented immigrants do not qualify for government
housing or housing subsidies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">"You
cross the border illegally and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you
get... health care." Hospitals are required to give aid to anyone in this
country who has a medical emergency. It does not matter if they are insured,
uninsured, legal resident, illegal resident or legally visiting. Do you really
want to live in a country where you have to show your papers before first
responders will take you to a hospital after an accident? Now, I suspect this
is not the "health care" that was being referred to. I suspect, it is
the completely false idea that many put out over the last decade that undocumented
immigrants qualify for the Affordable Care Act. They don't, it's an often
repeated lie. President Obama said his proposal would not cover illegal
immigrants, a remark that prompted Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina
to shout "You lie!" The president<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>was correct: The House bill contained a section (Sec. 246) titled
"NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS," which states:
"Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability
credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United
States." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">"You
cross the border illegally and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you
get... housing." Obviously we covered "housing" under "a
place to live," and but I guess the list didn't seem long enough so the
author decided to double dip, which goes to their honesty. Or perhaps they
didn't know that housing IS a place to live, so maybe they are just ignorant.
As I said before it usually comes down to one or another.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">"You
cross the border illegally and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you
get... child benefits." Children of undocumented immigrants DO qualify for
child benefits if, and only if, they were born here. If you position is that
American children should be denied benefits because one or more of their
parents are undocumented immigrants then I should point out citizen children of
illegal immigrants -- often derogatorily referred to by racists as "anchor
babies" -- costs taxpayers $14,387 per household (this includes education
-- which I will get to next </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">AND</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> healthcare
which I covered above), according to a (some say inflated) 2014 report by the
extreme right wing Heritage Foundation. But in its 2013 "Immigration Myths
and Facts" report, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says most economists see
providing these benefits as an investment for the future, when these </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">U.S.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> born children become workers and taxpayers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You cross the border illegally and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you get... education." Well, even a
blind squirrel finds a nut every now and again. Children (only children) of
undocumented immigrants can attend public schools grades k-12 (NOT higher education).
I'll be honest. I'm not sure what the cost is nor do I care, as someone whose
wife is a teacher, both parents were teachers and my grandmother was a teacher,
I'm pro-education for anyone and everyone and see an educated and informed
populace as a good thing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally,
let's get to "You cross the border illegally and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you get... a tax free business for 7
yrs."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While MANY businesses are
enticed into areas at both the city and state levels, with the promise of no or
reduced taxes (my home town of Bristol, Virginia is doing that in spades at
"The Falls" complex) but with an extensive search, most of those
appear to be either large corporations moving into a depressed or rural area or LEGAL immigrants starting small business. It's hard to get a tax break if you
are illegal and getting played under the table. It's also pretty hard to hide
your status if you are starting a legit regulated business like a restaurant or
specialty store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find this highly
unlikely, but it's so out there I can't even find data to dispute it but then I
could not find anything legit that supported it either. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">So that
brings us back to the general position of this fact free meme/post. That
undocumented immigrants are driving us into debt. In cases of employment fraud
(I said I would get back to it), where they provide fake papers to work. They
have taxes taken out that they never file to get back. Collectively, they paid
an estimated $10.6 billion to state and local taxes in 2010, according to the
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Contributions varied by
state. In Montana they contributed $2 million. In </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">California</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">, more than $2.2 billion. On average they pay about
6.4% of their income in state and local taxes, ITEP said. A 2007 Congressional
Budget Office (CBO) report on the impact of undocumented immigrants on the
budgets of local and state governments cited </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">IRS</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> figures showing that 50% to 75% of the about 11 million unauthorized
U.S. immigrants pay income taxes each year. A CBO report on the Comprehensive
Immigration Reform Act of 2007 concluded that a path to legalization for
immigrants would increase federal revenues by $48 billion. Such a plan would
see $23 billion in increased costs from the use of public services, but
ultimately, it would produce a surplus of $25 billion for government coffers,
CBO said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is that undocumented
immigrants contribute MORE in payroll taxes than they will ever consume in
public benefits. Take Social Security. According to the Social Security
Administration (SSA), unauthorized immigrants -- who are not eligible to
receive Social Security benefits -- have paid a stunning $100 billion into the
fund over the past decade. "They are paying an estimated $15 billion a
year into Social Security with no intention of ever collecting benefits,"
Stephen Goss, chief actuary of the SSA told CNNMoney in 2014. "Without the
estimated 3.1 million undocumented immigrants paying into the system, Social
Security would have entered persistent shortfall of tax revenue to cover payouts
starting in 2009," he said. Without immigrants, the Social Security Board
of Trustees projects that the system will no longer be able to pay the full
promised benefits by 2037. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You see, if
you GIVE MORE than you take then the idea that you are responsible for debt is
kind of a nutty one, as was the meme that was re-posted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is actual fake news. This is the stuff
that is put out to be divisive and stir up feelings of anger and resentment in
the white middle class against the poor or undocumented immigrant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To all I suggest checking some legit sources before
you hit that share button because if you don't then you need to ask yourself:
"Am I stupid or a liar?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">If you don't like either answer, it's time to make some kind of change. </span></span></div>
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Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-89290395231185302242017-07-27T18:36:00.003-07:002017-07-27T18:42:36.291-07:00RobCon Reminder and We Talk Comics Podcast Update<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just a reminder/update from my last post from March.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQlPyCXT6L0KfrwAEJvvC5T-GXwTUw5zzzY8efrkktVLCP3hDTneY925-UVcB0ZHbtDQNxGjldaxqe-QKIfy-aCLLVJHpyn1SxmqbKyfJPjYGll2qINSZGPlX_cxt5ial_lVPD8pRae8x/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQlPyCXT6L0KfrwAEJvvC5T-GXwTUw5zzzY8efrkktVLCP3hDTneY925-UVcB0ZHbtDQNxGjldaxqe-QKIfy-aCLLVJHpyn1SxmqbKyfJPjYGll2qINSZGPlX_cxt5ial_lVPD8pRae8x/s320/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMJ-vUV6PuURyG0oOOgAX7Bgz4tSuCzGibMkdeIFI_O6GW7xMG6qxS33vbrBIuSkvdvQpYcjbpbRs49-85clIaT9hGHqPvRL1f81OKL0RoOEyqm6bNUhZzqqfH5cHOs3njYvqWhJd0KUp/s1600/FullSizeRender-1+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMJ-vUV6PuURyG0oOOgAX7Bgz4tSuCzGibMkdeIFI_O6GW7xMG6qxS33vbrBIuSkvdvQpYcjbpbRs49-85clIaT9hGHqPvRL1f81OKL0RoOEyqm6bNUhZzqqfH5cHOs3njYvqWhJd0KUp/s320/FullSizeRender-1+%25282%2529.jpg" width="146" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will be attending <b>RobCon</b>
again as a guest this coming weekend. It will be my fifth time around for the
ever growing convention and appears it will be the best yet. If you are
in the Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia this weekend I highly recommend stopping in. Robert Pilk of <b>Mountain Empire Comics</b>
has really been stepping it up the last couple of years. It's a
fantastic show, with panels, costume contests, writers, artists, and a
floor full of vendors. Last year was an absolute blast and it looks like
this year will be even better. My partner on the the upcoming "The
Outer Worlds,"<b> Ivan Castillo </b>of Conquest Art Designs, will have
some fantastic stuff available and even a few pages to preview of our sci-fi comic book
mini-series. If you want info on RobCon you can find it on facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RobConBristol/" target="_blank">here</a> or contact Robert directly <a href="https://www.facebook.com/robert.pilk" target="_blank">here</a>. Also check out <b>Conquest Art Designs</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/conquestartdesigns/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.teepublic.com/user/conquest" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll be sharing space with <b>Ali Slate </b>the <b>GlitterGeek</b> vlogger and cosplayer, who is kind of a "Sith Lord with a make-up addiction." You can check out some of her videos <a href="https://www.pscp.tv/GlitterGeekAli/1djxXLbmQQvxZ" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF_pe5FGDY7bL8WW3YZ3c_w?app=desktop" target="_blank">here</a>. Ali will be hosting a pizza dinner followed by a Q&A with novelist and fellow RobCon guest <b>Timothy Zahn</b> (creator of the Thrawn character for the <b>Star Wars</b> universe), the night before the convention at Machiavelli's on 5th St. in Bristol, TN at 7:30. Part of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Holly Help Fund.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe1KrtOg2PboZtt8vBuxluwMrDWoETT-G-CMGxqSpbPJlEvc7jomKaFABjaFuhMwZzb-rC8mgPuuMuf6-UCXh1nfWgB0r3q8QqGIrAH-pZdUJ-E56gw7uBxfnueByCGgZeoU4ywowkMZG/s1600/woDp.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe1KrtOg2PboZtt8vBuxluwMrDWoETT-G-CMGxqSpbPJlEvc7jomKaFABjaFuhMwZzb-rC8mgPuuMuf6-UCXh1nfWgB0r3q8QqGIrAH-pZdUJ-E56gw7uBxfnueByCGgZeoU4ywowkMZG/s320/woDp.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the <b>"Women of Darby Pop" </b>anthology
came out in September I will actually have copies available this year. My story story "Looking for
Redemption with Blind Eyes" featuring the character Stingray from <b>Darby Pop's "Indestructible"</b>
closes out the issue.
If you prefer digital comics you can still get both "Women of Darby Pop"
and my four <b>"Adventures In Pulp" </b>short stories as downloads at Comixology <a href="https://www.comixology.com/Brett-Harris/comics-creator/43232" target="_blank">here</a>. "Adventures in Pulp" was named "Digital Comic of the Year" by Pipedream comics for 2015 and </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">all digital profits for go to the artist.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in March <b>Chris Beck</b> of <b><a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/category/wtc-podcasts/" target="_blank">We Talk Comics Podcasts</a></b> contacted me about joining him and We Talk's founder <b>Mo Kristiansen</b>
to do an episode focusing on Pre-Marvel Universe comic book movies. I
first appeared on the We Talk Comic Podcast way back in the summer of
2015 promoting "Adventures in Pulp" and it was an absolute blast. Chris
and Keith Callbeck hosted that episode and talking to them was like
hanging out with my friends at the local the comic shop. Keith has since
moved on and regular host <b>Brett Monro</b> was ill, so Chris invited
me to fill in at the 11th hour (proving one Brett is most definitely NOT
as good as another). The show was a lot of fun. It was a different vibe
contributing to an ongoing conversation as opposed to a straight up
interview so I felt a little shaky. My fear was that I spent a little too much
time saying "I agree" or "I really liked this or hated that" without
going into specifics. I guess I got lucky because some technical issues cropped up and the whole show and to be scrapped. We are trying to work out a time for a re-recording and I will make every effort to be more ready with specifics this time around. Have no
fear, if I choke again, Chris and Mo are total pros and I'm sure the show, like all their others,
will be a fantastic in spite of my "green" efforts. As soon as the new
show goes up I will provide a link. Until then, you can check out my <u>first</u> appearance <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtc-135-adventures-in-pulp/" target="_blank">here</a> and I highly recommend trying some of their other past episodes, they are pretty great.</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-85288606023360030472017-03-12T20:05:00.000-07:002017-03-13T16:09:07.526-07:00A Redux Trilogy: Rob Con, Women of Darby Pop and We Talk Comics Podcasts.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just a few random notes of interest that prove what is old is new again...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQlPyCXT6L0KfrwAEJvvC5T-GXwTUw5zzzY8efrkktVLCP3hDTneY925-UVcB0ZHbtDQNxGjldaxqe-QKIfy-aCLLVJHpyn1SxmqbKyfJPjYGll2qINSZGPlX_cxt5ial_lVPD8pRae8x/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQlPyCXT6L0KfrwAEJvvC5T-GXwTUw5zzzY8efrkktVLCP3hDTneY925-UVcB0ZHbtDQNxGjldaxqe-QKIfy-aCLLVJHpyn1SxmqbKyfJPjYGll2qINSZGPlX_cxt5ial_lVPD8pRae8x/s400/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will be attending <b>RobCon</b> again as a guest this summer. It will be my fifth time around for the ever growing convention and appears it will be the best yet. If you are in the Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia the last weekend in July I highly recommend stopping in. Robert Pilk of <b>Mountain Empire Comics</b> has really been stepping it up the last couple of years. It's a fantastic show, with panels, costume contests, writers, artists, and a floor full of vendors. Last year was an absolute blast and it looks like this year will be even better. My partner on the the upcoming "The Outer Worlds,"<b> Ivan Castillo </b>of Conquest Art Designs, will have some fantastic stuff available and maybe if we can put our heads together we can come up with a nice preview of our sci-fi comic book mini-series. If you want info on RobCon you can find it on facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RobConBristol/" target="_blank">here</a> or contact Robert directly <a href="https://www.facebook.com/robert.pilk" target="_blank">here</a>. Also check out <b>Conquest Art Designs</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/conquestartdesigns/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.teepublic.com/user/conquest" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As soon as I know the panel schedule I will post an update. I'm already saving up for the cool RobCon T-shirt this year. It's the uber awesome <b>Batman '66</b> logo from his flyer.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe1KrtOg2PboZtt8vBuxluwMrDWoETT-G-CMGxqSpbPJlEvc7jomKaFABjaFuhMwZzb-rC8mgPuuMuf6-UCXh1nfWgB0r3q8QqGIrAH-pZdUJ-E56gw7uBxfnueByCGgZeoU4ywowkMZG/s1600/woDp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe1KrtOg2PboZtt8vBuxluwMrDWoETT-G-CMGxqSpbPJlEvc7jomKaFABjaFuhMwZzb-rC8mgPuuMuf6-UCXh1nfWgB0r3q8QqGIrAH-pZdUJ-E56gw7uBxfnueByCGgZeoU4ywowkMZG/s400/woDp.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Women's History Month, the <b>"Women of Darby Pop" </b>anthology is offered again in PREVIEWS. Contact your local comic shop with order order code: MAR17 1916 to get a copy. My story story "Looking for Redemption with Blind Eyes" featuring the character Stingray from <b>Darby Pop's "Indestructible"</b> closes out the issue. It originally didn't drop until two months after Rob Con last year so this will be the first year I have some available. If you prefer digital comics you can still get both "Women of Darby Pop" and my four <b>"Adventures In Pulp" </b>short stories as downloads at Comixology <a href="https://www.comixology.com/Brett-Harris/comics-creator/43232" target="_blank">here</a>. All digital profits for "Adventures in Pulp" go to the artist.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, the other day <b>Chris Beck</b> of <b><a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/category/wtc-podcasts/" target="_blank">We Talk Comics Podcasts</a></b> contacted me about joining him and We Talk's founder <b>Mo Kristiansen</b> to do an episode focusing on Pre-Marvel Universe comic book movies. I first appeared on the We Talk Comic Podcast way back in the summer of 2015 promoting "Adventures in Pulp" and it was an absolute blast. Chris and Keith Callbeck hosted that episode and talking to them was like hanging out with my friends at the local the comic shop. Keith has since moved on and regular host <b>Brett Monro</b> was ill, so Chris invited me to fill in at the 11th hour (proving one Brett is most definitely NOT as good as another). The show was a lot of fun. It was a different vibe contributing to an ongoing conversation as opposed to a straight up interview so I felt a little shaky. My fear is I spend a little too much time saying "I agree" or "I really liked this or hated that" without going into specifics. If they ever go temporarily insane and have me on again I will make and effort to be more ready with specifics. Have no fear, Chris and Mo are total pros and the show, like all their others, will be a fantastic in spite of my "green" efforts. As soon as the new show goes up I will provide a link. Until then, you can check out my <u>first</u> appearance <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtc-135-adventures-in-pulp/" target="_blank">here</a> and I highly recommend trying some of their other past episodes.</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-39597351599043196362017-02-05T12:20:00.000-08:002017-02-06T18:07:08.610-08:00Twin Engines of (Self) Destruction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1E3wX9txL69KUnc2hjuYSCVg56bBMYoZB7EwxA_IT2QCgYrKkLl1BZLEo2oyqMN9MyElcl_x3SiZKO6oRVoZ4D6q_5dzc7RMlI0gN7IMs5N9DY8efQiQy9EBjX9Godwdw9hmqAb2Fl6k/s1600/Empress-Mark-Millar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1E3wX9txL69KUnc2hjuYSCVg56bBMYoZB7EwxA_IT2QCgYrKkLl1BZLEo2oyqMN9MyElcl_x3SiZKO6oRVoZ4D6q_5dzc7RMlI0gN7IMs5N9DY8efQiQy9EBjX9Godwdw9hmqAb2Fl6k/s400/Empress-Mark-Millar.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Empress</i> cover artwork by Stuart Immonen.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know I've been neglecting my blog lately. My son switched schools this year and, having coached AAU wrestling, I applied to be the assistant coach of his middle school wrestling team. It made for a busy fall and winter. So, while I still hope to do a writer's commentary on my <b>Darby Pop</b> story that was published back in September (you can still get a digital copy <b><a href="https://www.comixology.com/Brett-Harris/comics-creator/43232" target="_blank">here</a></b>), I thought I would fill the dead air by posting my rejected story for the <i><b>2017 MillarWorld Annual</b></i>. The story was based on <b><i>Empress</i></b> by Mark Millar and Stuart Immonen. In addition to the rejected story, I also thought I would include a draft I threw out. The first story was going to focus on the supporting character of Captain Dane Havelok. It was a sequence of him getting ready to try to get Queen Emporia, the wife of a galactic dictator, off of Earth in which he needed a ploy/disguise for Emporia. It was titled "The Fine Line Between Loyalty and Treason." While it worked in concept, it felt too much like a missing scene from the original story rather than a complete story in its own right. I was going to take another pass when I came up with (what I thought was) a better story. The one I submitted (and was rejected) worked better, but in hind s<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ight</span> probably paralleled the original tale too much (including the climactic twist). It followed Dane trying to get Emporia away from a faction of rebels. It was titled "Protector." I still like it (although I wish I had another panel on page two). So here it is folks, TWO ways in which NOT to succeed (or as I like to call them, my "Twin Engines of Self Destruction" (any <i>Star Wars</i> fans get the joke?). If you are an aspiring writer. Learn from my mistakes.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">ORIGINAL SCRIPT:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPRESS: "The Fine Line Between
Loyalty and Treason"<br />
Short Story</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Script by Brett Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5 pages<br />
Second Draft: </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">18th November 2016</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page One</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ Single panel
splash page with title and credits. We see CAPTAIN DANE HAVELOCK walking down a
corridor. He looks pretty much as he does when he is introduced on pages 7-9 of
<u>Empress</u> issue #1. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): I
have to hurry. King Morax is about to execute three workers for
"incitement to disobedience." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Two</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ Dane has stopped
at a door and is using a card key on a futuristic lock mechanism while looking
over his shoulder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): Queen
Emporia is expected to be there, and, by extension, so am I. We have to keep up
appearances if my plan to get her off Earth and away from that maniac is going
to work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ Dane entering a
room with benches and rows of lockers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): We
only have a window of about twenty minutes between the execution and dinner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ Dane at one of the
lockers. It is open and he is reaching in. Behind him, we can see an engineer's
helmet, gloves, and boots sitting on the bench. They should be identical to the
armor </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> is putting on in <u>Empress</u> #1 pages
8-9.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): I
have to get the traveling cloak to disguise her long enough to get her to my
ship. Tor is waiting and what I have planned, they'll never see coming.<span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Same basic panel
but we can see he is pulling out a long hooded cloak. We see a partially
dressed male human ENGINEER in the background (as if he has just come around
the corner of the row of lockers). It is clearly his helmet, boots and gloves
on the bench.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">ENGINEER: C-captain
H-Havelok! Is the Queen making a surprise inspection?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ Close on Dane's
surprised look. Do NOT over do it with slack jaw and google eyes, just raised
eyebrows will suffice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE):
Uh-oh. It's time to improvise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Three</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ DANE is holding
up the cloak for the ENGINEER to see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: No, I, ah, was
retrieving a traveling cloak for a visiting dignitary --</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ The Engineer
looks suspicious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">ENGINEER: Anyone can
do that, you should never be away from Queen Emporia's side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ Dane throwing the
cloak at the Engineer like a net.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: I'll keep that
in mind for the future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Dane punching the
Engineer through the cloak, which has landed over his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE):
Damn, pulled my punch. I have gotten too used to sparring. Let's face it, </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> is never in danger from someone outside. No
one would dare cross King Morax.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Four</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ The ENGINEER pulling
the cloak away, his nose bleeding and a look of rage on his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): My
role is ceremonial. I fear I may have gotten soft.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ The Engineer
taking a swing at DANE, who is blocking the blow with one hand and grabbing at
the cloak, which is hanging off the Engineer's shoulder, with the other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE):
However, survival is a great motivator. I am a survivor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ Dane has twisted
the cloak around the neck of the Engineer, whose eyes are bulging. Dane is
pulling it tight. Clearly the Engineer is choking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): I'll
do what needs to be done to make sure the Queen and her children survive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Same basic panel
but the Engineer is dead. Eyes now rolled back and facial features have gone
slack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): That's
my job. It's who I am. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Five</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ DANE standing
over the dead Engineer, looking at his hands. Some of the blood from the
Engineer's bloody nose has gotten on them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): I
got my hands dirty a little sooner than expected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ Dane now sitting
on the bench inspecting the cloak, the Engineer's helmet next to him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): He
won't be the last to die today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ Close up of the
cloak in his hands. It is ripped and also has blood on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): Ruined.
Time to adapt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Same basic panel
but now the cloak is on the floor and Dane is holding the helmet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): This
could work. Probably better in the long run. I can't give up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ Dane walking down
a corridor with the Engineer's armor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">NARRATION (DANE): I'm
loyal to the queen, even if it means committing treason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">CAPTION: The end of
the beginning...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>And now the story I chose to submit that was rejected:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">ORIGINAL SCRIPT:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPRESS: "Protector"<br />
Short Story</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">Script by Brett Harris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5 pages<br />
Final Draft: </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">27th November 2016</span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page One</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ Single panel
splash page with title and credits. We see CAPTAIN DANE HAVELOCK running down a
corridor. He is pulling QUEEN EMPORIA behind him. She is dressed much like she
is when we first see her in <u>Empress</u> #1 on page 7: Attractive dress, head
pieces, the colors are lighter and she has an additional cloak which is
flapping behind her, a strip has been torn off. They are running from three men
(Rebels against King Morax). One is firing a gun at them the blast going right
through her flapping cloak. Dane is wounded with a wrap made of the missing
cloak around his torso. A stain of blood shows through. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: Are they insane?! Striking at us on Earth!
At the opening of my husband's war museum!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: Keep moving,
highness, I need to get you to a defensible position.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Two</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ DANE and </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> running around a corner.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ Dane and </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> (their backs to the reader). Reveal a dead
end.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE/EMPORIA (together):
Shit.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ Dane pulling off </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">'s cloak and head piece.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: Highness, if I
may?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Dane thrusting
the horn of the headpiece through a REBEL as he rounds the corner.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">SFX: THA-WHUMP!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ Dane punching a
second rebel over whom he has thrown the cloak like a net. (The first rebel is
lying bloody at his feet).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">SFX: WHACK!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Three</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ A third REBEL
hitting DANE from behind with the butt of his gun.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">SFX: THA-WHACK!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ Dane slumped over
the second Rebel unconscious at the feet of the third Rebel.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">No dialogue.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ The last rebel
aiming his gun at </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: Coward! You would shoot an unarmed woman? Do
you not have enough manly bits between your legs to show King Morax that you
are not afraid to get your hands dirty?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ The rebel tossing
his gun away casually with a smirk.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">No dialogue.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ The rebel
charging </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">REBEL: For the
cause! Death to Morax and his Queen!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Four</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ A single panel
page of </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> slugging the REBEL with a massive bone
crunching, teeth rattling punch.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">SFX: KRA-WHACK!</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Page Five</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">1/ </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> standing over the fallen REBEL.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: Been a while since the cages.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">2/ Same basic panel
but </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> is kicking the fallen rebel. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: I still got it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">3/ </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> helping DANE up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: What happened?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: You were amazing, my protector.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">4/ Dane (being
steadied by </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">) looking down at the rebel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: I don't
remember. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: Your training kicked in automatically
before you passed out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">5/ </span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Emporia</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> helping Dane down the corridor, their backs
to the reader.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">EMPORIA</span><span style="font-family: "courier new";">: Come, let's get you to a medic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">DANE: Highness, why
is your hand bruised?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">CAPTION: FIN.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to read last year's rejected entry based on the Flash Gordon-esque <i><b>Starlight </b></i>you can find it <b><a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2016/06/living-and-dying-in-starlight.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>. I'm REALLY proud of it and still a little heart broken it didn't get selected.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-22206824869405668512016-09-30T14:55:00.001-07:002016-10-20T17:54:46.427-07:00The Road to Breaking into Comics: The Women (and Men) of Darby Pop<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in November of 2014, I wrote a blog discussing the virtues of comic book writers grabbing any opportunity to get their work in front of editors/publishers. One of the few ways are the all too rare writing contest. I discussed my experiences with those contests and you can read about them <a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2014/11/fall-roundup-part-2-top-cow-darby-pop.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Since writing that, the two scripts I had just finished: One for <b>Top Cow</b> ("Friends Help You Move, Real Friends Help You Move Bodies" - wh<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ich may have been o<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ne of my favorite things I have ever written</span></span>) and another one for <b>Darby Pop</b> ("Random Stanzas in the Poetry of Lies and Self Deception"). Both were rejected.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I did what writers do. I moved on.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite the rejections, there were also some successes that kept me going. Alex Thomas of <b>Pipedreamcomics</b> gave the webcomic I was writing ("Adventures in Pulp") a great review and even did a brief interview with me (you can read the interview <a href="http://pipedreamcomics.co.uk/intervew-adventures-in-pulp-brett-harris/" target="_blank">here</a> and the review <a href="http://pipedreamcomics.co.uk/review-adventures-in-pulp-presents-volume-1/" target="_blank">here</a>). Two great guys (Keith Callbeck and Chris Beck) over at <b>We Talk Comics</b> even invited me and the artist to do an episode of their podcast (you can hear it <a href="http://www.wetalkpodcasts.com/wtc-135-adventures-in-pulp/" target="_blank">here)</a>. It was a lot of fun. People were reading my stories and actually liking them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I didn't give up on the contests though. I entered Mark Millar's <b>MillarWorld Annual</b> contest with a story based on his series <b>"Starlight</b>" which ended in another rejection. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> It was both pulpy and had a lot of heart and I was really proud of it. </span>This time the story was so special to me I posted my entry <a href="http://brettharriscomics.blogspot.com/2016/06/living-and-dying-in-starlight.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I entered the next <b>Top Cow</b> contest based on "<b>IX Generation"</b> and <b>"Aphrodite IX"</b> with "The Devil is in the Details." Unlike previous years, they gave feedback and an opportunity to revise the submission. It was rewritten and resubmitted as "A Serpent in the Garden." I've not heard back on that, so either a decision has not been made or it was rejected. Either way, you can't look back. Just keep on going forward. If I win, that's great. If not, I have another issue of experience under my belt. In the middle of getting the first draft of my <b>Top Cow </b>submission ready, I was stunned to find my "Adventures in Pulp" work was again the focus of some great press. Pipedreamcomics put us several of their best of 2015 lists and we were up for <b>Digital Comic of the Year.</b> Pipedream readers would pick the best out of the staff's top ten pick, which included DC's "Batman 66" and Marvel's "X-Men Infinite '92."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And we won.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you had told me a year earlier characters I created like Dick Ruby, El Supremo and The Good Witch of the Dead Lands would beat out Batman and Wolverine, I would have laughed. You can see the winning announcement <a href="http://pipedreamcomics.co.uk/digital-comic-of-the-year/digital-comic-of-the-year-2015/" target="_blank">here</a>. But just when you think everything is going great, the universe throws you a curve ball. The artist (and website owner) of "Adventures in Pulp" decided to quit. We were almost thirty pages into our second story, "Jigsaw World," which was going to be an eighty-eight page epic instead of a collection of short stories. I retreated into screenwriting without looking back. Three pilots I wrote are currently attached to GloverZone Pictures, but even that has fallen into a holding pattern. I was talking with <b>Conquest Art Design's Ivan Castillo</b> about collaborating on a sci-fi comic called <b>"The Outer Worlds,"</b> but it was taking forever to get a contract together (we have since gotten that ironed out, and have finally gotten started).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most importantly, I entered another contest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b> </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqfBwA1GG9iAtgQoL6lCNfenUuQW_7yM5ZzTRXfmiyP86nrc9OYRxVy-wepduX7Fu53ZWMNiOUdhLLJShyphenhyphenaGQ_wAiHPqatDB5_ALn2lak42nons2fxPNPh5cVwGHckpolJwXqiaW9Z6HI/s1600/woDp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqfBwA1GG9iAtgQoL6lCNfenUuQW_7yM5ZzTRXfmiyP86nrc9OYRxVy-wepduX7Fu53ZWMNiOUdhLLJShyphenhyphenaGQ_wAiHPqatDB5_ALn2lak42nons2fxPNPh5cVwGHckpolJwXqiaW9Z6HI/s400/woDp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Darby Pop</b> had a second contest. This time a collection of short stories focusing on the <b>Women of Darby Pop</b>. Confession time. I was in the midst of several deadlines and found out about the contest fairly late and, well, I cheated. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't get too excited. The stories were mine. I wrote them.</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I just took, kind of, a short cut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My previous submission for <b>Darby Pop</b> ("Random Stanzas in the Poetry of Lies and Self Deception" featuring Stingray) was structured oddly. I was trying to do something different in hopes of getting noticed. Instead of a single narrative I crafted a series of vignettes focusing on the character. The mini-stories would hopefully run the gamut and coalesce together as a nice character driven piece with loads of pathos and hopefully some humor. They had rejected it, but I needed something quick. I decided on a shot-gun method. I pulled the stories apart, re-wrote the individual tales, and submitted SIX separate stories and hoped that the parts were greater than their sum.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apparently, one was.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On June 12, I was contacted by <b>Jeff Marsick</b>. My sixth story squeaked through. "Looking for Redemption with Blind Eyes."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I'm getting ahead of myself. There was some hand wringing on my part. I love Stingray. She is a beautifully broken character. She first appeared in <b>Indestructible</b>. When we first see her, she is getting out of prison. She was a superhero who went bad. As the series progresses, we see her spiral downward and she eventually becomes the main villain of the story. During the climax, she commits a horrible act and... and... well...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt bad for her. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know that sounds odd, but the regret was on her face the moment after she committed the act and, in that moment, I realized she is <b><u>redeemable</u> </b>and I am a sucker for redemption stories. We all are seeking some kind of redemption for something. It may be big or it may be small. We may get it and we may not, but it's there. Stingray's redemption tale is begging to be told. However, it has to be earned. I can only guess what the folks of <b>Darby Pop</b> thought of my submissions because for that eventual redemption tale to feel really earned the character has to be beaten down. These submissions were prequels, so I beat her down. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hard. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Story. After. Story. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fine folks at <b>Darby Pop</b> probably thought I was some sort of woman hating <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">misogynist</span>. Just the opposite. I believe in <b>Stingray</b> but, until that perfect redemption story comes along, the harder and more frequently she can be beaten down the better. Then when her redemption comes, she will stand taller than ever before. It will be <u>earned</u>. See, even now I get carried away. I <u>really</u> love the character.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where was I?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh yea, Jeff Marsick, contacted me. Jeff was the winner of the previous <b>Darby Pop</b> contest for the <b>Stingray</b> oneshot and writer of "Dead Man's Party." He explained he was going to be my personal editor and made some revisions and notes to my script. He was very friendly and generous. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then I opened the file and my heart sank. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My script was littered with red revisions. My first thought was "Oh, no, they didn't have enough submissions and mine sucks so bad they ripped it apart. My best digital comic award was a fraud. I'm a hack. It's a pity acceptance." Then I calmed down and read though the sea of red, and realized it was not as it appeared. The theme is there. All the elements I wanted and considered important were untouched. The foundation was intact. All the changes were cosmetic. A page that was eight panels was now six. A panel with two balloons now had one. Everything was still there, but streamlined. Redundancy eliminated. He was more like a surgeon with a scalpel. An idea I had taken three lines to get across were re-arranged and trimmed down but the idea remained untouched and now read in a single line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was concise. It was streamlined. It was <u>BETTER</u>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the span of a few minutes, I went from despair to unbridled enthusiasm. I didn't have an editor with "Adventures in Pulp," so Jeff was my first. I could not have gotten one better for my first time out of the gate. He was spectacular. He didn't just say, "Change it!" He explained <u>why</u> it worked better. He was right every single time and did it without altering the intent of any of the scenes or the point of my story. He was in a word: Amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After several back and forth exchanges (which included a ground up re-write of page 4), we got it nailed down and he sent it "up the chain." I got another round of changes from Darby Pop President Jeff Kline. It was the second most unnerved I was during the process. This Jeff was the creator of <b>Indestructible</b> and <b>Stingray</b>. I was playing with <u>HIS</u> toys. What if he hated it? With great trepidation I opened the file to see only a few minor changes. Very minor. I didn't break his toy. For the record, I consider that a second win.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor4XpjJwxzhLD5-j4WJyy3Bo-pgbzEyI2D2nXwePGXNOQ9KmbwES6aWyG08bFPZzyc9JkOgZUnIAwkD2gjjYNRoUg3WwuamsVxcP3TouYu7GWnE79G3MEvOQmWEePzeElCSgUx_AqoM3L/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor4XpjJwxzhLD5-j4WJyy3Bo-pgbzEyI2D2nXwePGXNOQ9KmbwES6aWyG08bFPZzyc9JkOgZUnIAwkD2gjjYNRoUg3WwuamsVxcP3TouYu7GWnE79G3MEvOQmWEePzeElCSgUx_AqoM3L/s400/IMG_0375.JPG" width="298" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next enter Kristine Chester. She was the Associate Editor and managed all the rest of the communication with me and the artist of the piece, Pedro Moreo. Like Jeff Marsick, Kristine was just spectacular. She was friendly and kind all the way through the art process. She frequently asked my opinion and kept me in the loop as to Pedro's work (which is absolutely fantastic. Mark my words... he is a future star and I hope I get to work with him again). I got to see my story come together in a way that I didn't even get to see with "Adventures in Pulp" in the latter months. There was a genuine feeling of respect toward me and the story. Again, suggestions were always made with a single goal: Make it better. Never was there ego or a feeling of a power trip. <u>Every</u> comment and every suggestion was geared toward serving the story or character. It was a fantastic change of pace from what I was used to in the past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just to back up for a minute, my actual first experience with Ms. Chester was when I e-mailed my submissions. I was having tech issues and even then she was so kind and helpful. She even made a comment about how everyone in the office had read my blog about the contest -- the one I have a link to at the beginning. Remember when I said Mr. Kline reading my script was the <u>second</u> most unnerved I was during the process? Well, that unnerved me more than anything, even though it was said with nothing but sincere kindness. I'm still not sure why. Anyone want to psychoanalyze me, feel free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bottom line. Working for the great men and women of <b>Darby Pop</b> has been a fantastic experience from top to bottom. I hope it's not my last.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book <b>"Women of Darby Pop"</b> is a double size issue for $3.99 and was released this past Wednesday. If you can't find a copy in your local comic shop, you can get it digitally at <a href="https://www.comixology.com/Women-of-Darby-Pop/digital-comic/432897" target="_blank">ComiXology here</a> or order physical copies through Darby Pop' <a href="https://squareup.com/store/darby-pop-publishing/item/women-of-darby-pop" target="_blank">Square Store here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like with my previous work, I do plan on doing a writer's commentary on the story after it has been out awhile. In it, I hope to talk about my goals with the story and character and even discuss some of the specific editorial improvements. It should be fun. Until then, I have another contest to get ready for...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949814803478962151.post-36723386725493717902016-07-27T18:10:00.001-07:002016-07-29T21:40:13.321-07:00RobCon IV: The Voyage Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkOyJnZpJsrDFgztiND3LOcVIDbvSBm7TZnvQsy0KzRLJx8rSKroGLQO2IJ_ZqgYuDQfrweDpJ5sqMU9pHfZTCUHY33mR4rsooi4KI1dlpXzWF9gVOJpQsRjzYrccrJLt399S3dqaIlUW/s1600/4c2b3d_55ff14d0eaf14420860812b19b898e0c%257Emv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkOyJnZpJsrDFgztiND3LOcVIDbvSBm7TZnvQsy0KzRLJx8rSKroGLQO2IJ_ZqgYuDQfrweDpJ5sqMU9pHfZTCUHY33mR4rsooi4KI1dlpXzWF9gVOJpQsRjzYrccrJLt399S3dqaIlUW/s400/4c2b3d_55ff14d0eaf14420860812b19b898e0c%257Emv2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am going to be at <b><a href="http://www.robcon.org/" target="_blank">RobCon</a></b> this year. I'll confess. Initially, I was going to pass. Having done three tours promoting the website I used to write for, I really didn't feel I had much to offer this year. I was busy but didn't have anything tangable to bring to the table. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's rewind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About a year ago, I was approached by a production company who was interested in my writing and <b>Adventures in Pulp</b> was coming to an end so I spent most of the last half of last year focusing on screen writing rather than comics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then things got weird. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was invited to appear on the <b>We Talk Comics</b> and talk about my writing on Adventures in Pulp. The experience spurred me on to continue with Adventures in Pulp (against my better judgement) when the artist asked to continue a story we had started together. My lawyer recommended saying no to the deal the production company offered but the idea had set in and I went about shopping my screenplays around. Around the first of the year, Adventures in Pulp won <b>Digital Comic of the Year 2015</b>. I was trying to get contracts done to do some comics with some artists (one being <b>Ivan Castillo</b> of <b>Conquest Art Design</b>) and entered some contests (<b>Darby Pop's Women of Darby Pop</b> and <b>Top Cow's Annual Talent Hunt</b>). There was a lot of business and creating but nothing I could put on a table to promote. To add insult to injury, the artist/owner of the Adventures in Pulp site decided to pack it in and the story there was unfinished. It was, to be blunt, a shit storm of bad luck, good luck and new opportunities. I felt pulled in multiple directions while running in place. It was an odd feeling and </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>RobCon</b> was around the corner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"You are coming this year, right?" <b>Robert Pilk</b> (the Rob in <b>RobCon</b>) asked casually one day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I don't have anything new. It would seem kind of sad," I said, trying to hide behind a comic rack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"You can promote your Digital Comic of the Year award." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"But Adventures in dead, the second series is unfinished. I've got nothing."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Eh, something will come up."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wiffled. I waffled. Xander was playing summer ball. That could be an excuse. Except The USSSA AA World Series had wrapped two weeks before the con. I hemmed. I hawed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then some news broke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Several things at once. First, as described in yesterday's blog, <b>GloverzoneDL Pictures </b>picked up my pilots for production. Contracts have not been signed yet, but they have listed the pilots <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">listed</span> on their website, so what the heck, right? I was contacted about a story I wrote getting published in September. I still can't talk about it on social media since it has not been officially announced but I did get permission to discuss it at the convention. Contracts I had been waiting on for over six months were completed. It even appeared the long discussed <i><b>Outer Worlds</b></i> comic book mini-series with Ivan would finally get moving. While I didn't have any new books to sell (I will have the award winners), I did have stuff to discuss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I broke down and decided to attend the convention. At this point I have to give a big thanks to <b>Diana Simpson</b> (Rob's right hand woman), who got me on the docket in the eleventh hour. Diana is fantastic and is busting her butt to help Rob make <b>ROBCON</b> the biggest and best yet. If you see her, please make sure to tell her what a great job they have done. She deserved the props.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll be on the writers panel from 11-12 Saturday and I'll be joining <b>Matt Shafer</b> of the <b>Mountain Empire Superhero Film Club</b> to discuss upcoming comic book films for the film panel from 1-2.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rob was right. Something did come up. But don't tell him I said so. He'll be insufferable for at least a week. Perhaps even two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>UPDATE: Since Darby Pop has mentioned it on Facebook and twitter<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, I can confirm I am one of the writers who will be <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">published in </span>the</span> "The Women of Darby Pop" anthology. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My</span> story is
called, "Looking for Redemption with Blind Eyes." The double sized
issue will be available for purchase nationwide on September 28 for only
$3.99. This Previews World "certified cool" oneshot is likely to fly off
shelves so to ensure you get a copy, preorder copies at your local comic<span class="text_exposed_show"> shops with item code JUL161751. I will be writing a blog about the wonderful experience <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">working on the <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">story once the official <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">announcement</span> has been made.</span></span></span></b></i> </span>Brett Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18378699470284448876noreply@blogger.com0