Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Superman And His Family...
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| click to embiggen |
I may not currently be giving DC Comics any cash for their Superman titles (blame Bendis!), but that doesn't stop me from still having bucketloads of respect and admiration for a truly inspirational character.
In honour of that high regard, check out artist Bo Robertson's magnificent portrait of the Superman Family, from his Tumblr feed.
Normally, I try to reduce art down so that it fits within the width of the HeroPress blog layout, but this piece needs to be seen in its full glory - so get clicking and open up Bo's picture as it's meant to be viewed.
Monday, 30 December 2019
Musical Monday: Blue Monday (Sebastian Böhm )
Blue Monday - Official New Order epic cover by Sebastian Böhm.
Official Wonder Woman 1984 trailer music.
Sunday, 29 December 2019
Playing 'What If' With Alternative Actors Who Could Have Been Cast In Star Wars...
While still glowing from the satisfactory resolution of The Saga with The Rise of Skywalker, let's play a round of "what if?" with this entertaining overview of alternative actors considered for the iconic roles in the original film.
Very pleased to see a (fleeting) mention of Terri Nunn (lead singer of Berlin, pictured below) who I remain a massive fan of to this day.
(Not very) interesting aside, I based the look of a major supervillain in the original HeroPress on Terri Nunn.
Saturday, 28 December 2019
Superman V: Battle Of The Death Star (Extended Version)
Aaron Price writes:
"Here is the extended edition version, with a new opening focusing on the backstory of Krypton's destruction by the Death star. Helping to set the tone for Superman having to go against his morals knowing his enemy could destroy his adoptive home of billions.
I'm quite happy, a few edits in place I'm not 100% happy with but wanted to give a little backstory visually this time with the Death star in this universe being responsible for Krypton's demise.
The battle itself has no changes, only a corrected flying shot at the beginning where the sun was in the wrong direction. of point of light.
Enjoy!
In an alternate timeline galaxy a long time ago far, far away, Luke Skywalker failed in his mission to destroy the Death Star. The Death Star's Super laser unleashed its awesome power and destroyed Yavin 4 and the headquarters with its remaining rebel alliance.
With no one standing in their way, the Galactic Empire moved through systems, destroying anyone who rebelled against them and stood in their way.
Eventually making their way to the Andromeda Galaxy, the Galactic Empire arrived to the planet Krypton. The Elders of Krypton, rejecting the offer to join the empire and going to war instead, faced certain extermination like those before. Jor-El, one of Krypton's most respected scientists, feared for the future of Krypton. Deciding during the planet’s last moments to send his infant son Kal-el to Earth... Moments before the Death Star fired its primary weapon and destroyed Krypton in the process...
Now fully grown and Earth's mightiest hero, Superman must come face-to-face with the nightmare that once destroyed his home world. Even if it meant going against certain morals to save his adoptive home of Earth from destruction."
Friday, 27 December 2019
At The Fleapit: Star Wars - The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)
I cried, I whooped (inwardly, of course, I'm British) and I applauded (quietly, see earlier).
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker was everything I wanted (needed) it to be and more.
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| The old jedi psyching himself up for one last adventure at Showcase Cinema de Lux, Bluewater today |
I have loved and adored the Star Wars Universe since I was a youngling, seeing the first movie (then just called Star Wars) in the cinema with my dad in 1977.
And I have watched every episode of the Saga in the cinema since, except for Revenge Of The Sith, which was released while I was hospitalised.
However, one of the nurses - knowing of my passion for the movies - "acquired" an "unofficial" DVD of the film, which we watched on my dad's tiny, portable DVD player - Rachel and a collection of nurses huddled round my hospital bed, straining to see the action on the teeny-tiny screen.
Everyone of a certain age has their "Star Wars Story", about how they discovered the franchise and how it changed their lives.
Everyone's "Star Wars story" is the best - because it's theirs. Here's the one I roll out on most May 25ths (anniversary of the opening of Star Wars back in 1977... as well as my wedding anniversary!).
And this is what makes Star Wars great: it's a modern mythology that means different things to different people, a Homeric Odyssey for the 21st Century, a new canon of Grimm's fairy tales.
J.J. Abrams, back in the driving seat (thankfully), knows and understands this.
With co-writer Chris Terrio, J.J. deftly undoes all the "oh so clever" post-modern subversions of the Saga's enduring mythic structure inflicted on the story by Rian Johnson in The Last Jedi.
And artfully, J.J. turns those missteps back into plot points worthy of the Saga.
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| The Rogue And The Princess: Me and Rachel getting ready for the big show |
Taking a leaf out of Mad Max: Fury Road's book (of all places), The Rise Of Skywalker - barring a few brief pauses - is a gloriously bombastic chase from start to finish, a quest through space against a ticking clock (even if the time threat gets a bit hand-waved along the way, but then Star Wars has never really had a solid grip on its internal universal timekeeping anyway).
There are plenty of welcome nods to The Original Trilogy, both as fan service and as key moments in the dramatic narrative. Even elements from the Ewok movies get a look-in, which is beyond cool.
As well as some surprises along the way, every major character's story arc reaches a satisfying conclusion, the death of Carrie Fisher (i.e. Princess Leia) is handled beautifully and powerfully, and we finally discover the secret of Rey's (Daisy Ridley) heritage, explaining why some people were keen to writer her off as an OP Mary Sue in the last two movies.
Down to its bones, The Rise Of Skywalker feels like Star Wars.
While The Force Awakens was, for all intents and purposes, a rerun of A New Hope, and The Last Jedi felt like a generic sci-fi movie, with some Star Wars dressing on top, The Rise Of Skywalker is a truly magnificent and satisfying conclusion to this third trilogy of films in the Saga, and a pitch perfect climax to the entire Saga.
Simply put, The Rise Of Skywalker is the most fun I've had at the cinema in an age. I came out grinning from ear-to-ear, asking Rachel if we could go back in and see it again.
There's every possibility that this will be the last film I see in the cinema, and if it is I couldn't be happier.
For those two hours - and quite a while afterwards - I was 10-year-old me again, watching that enormous star destroyer rumble into view for the first time, chasing Princess Leia's blockade runner... and welcoming us into a galaxy far, far away and an adventure that took place a long time ago.
More Mumbo-Jumbo Nonsense That'll Be A Great Source Of Gaming Ideas...
Step into The UnXplained with William Shatner on HISTORY, and explore the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries.
From the producers of Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island comes The UnXplained, a new series that explores subjects that have mystified mankind for centuries.
Hosted and executive produced by Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor William Shatner (Star Trek, Boston Legal), each episode features compelling contributions from scientists, historians, witnesses and experiencers, each seeking to shed light on how the seemingly impossible can happen.
Have you ever wondered how people survive the seemingly un-survivable? Or why the brain is even more powerful than we dare to realize? Ever wondered what happens to us after we die?
Well, The UnXplained delves into these topics in detail to explain The UnXplained.
It's fronted by Captain Kirk himself, the brilliant William Shatner, so I've got to give The UnXplained a chance.
It looks like another of those shows that whenever an outlandish question is posed the answer is almost certainly "No".
However, it'll have to bring it's A-game if it's going to compete with the magnificent made-upness of Ancient Aliens, which is truly in a league of its own when it comes to poorly researched, naive (or deliberate) misunderstandings or misinterpretations of accepted facts, unquestioning belief in unscientific ways of looking at things, and a whole lot of wishful thinking.
But even if it's a steaming pile of hokum, The UnXplained will - like Ancient Aliens - make a marvellous mine of outlandish ideas for material that can be seeded in RPGs across multiple genres.
Thursday, 26 December 2019
By The Power Of Grayskull - Once Again!
I have to confess I missed out on the whole He-Man hoo-ha the first time round, being the wrong age when the toys - and cartoons - hit big time over here.
But now I'm getting another chance to embrace the power of Grayskull, thanks not only to Kevin Smith's Masters Of The Universe: Revelation but also a second Netflix show: He-Man and the Masters Of The Universe.
“On the planet of Eternia, a young lost prince discovers the powers of Grayskull and transforms into He-Man, Master of the Universe! The classic battle between He-Man and evil Skeletor rages to new heights as both hero and villain forge new and mighty teams. A new generation of heroes fighting for the fate of us all. In the end, who will become Master of the Universe?”This recently announced CGI-animated show, made in partnership with Mattel Television, is described as a reimagination of the classic original with all-new stories and a fresh spin on the globally-recognised iconic characters.
Stunning Series Of Comic Book-Style Watchmen Episode Posters...
Continuing our celebration of the best, new, live-action show of the year, Watchmen, check out these groovy episode posters by artist Billy Butcher (in the style of distressed, vintage comic book covers).
Found, as ever, via Tumblr.
Soviet Superman Heats Up Cold War In Trailer For Red Son...
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| Wow! What a striking Blu Ray cover! Great job, Warner Bros Home Entertainment! |
What if the Man of Steel was raised behind the Iron Curtain?
So begins DC’s acclaimed Elseworlds story, Superman: Red Son, now the next entry in the popular series of DC Universe Movies.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the feature-length animated film arrives – along with a new DC Showcase animated short, Phantom Stranger – from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital starting February 25, 2020, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on March 17, 2020.
Thirteen + Ten = Blink Squared!
Titan's second year of Thirteenth Doctor comic book adventures begins with a new issue number one and a team-up with the Tenth Doctor in what is, intriguingly, described as both a "brand new story" and a reiminaging "of the iconic TV episode Blink".
As the Weeping Angels and the Autons descend on 1960s London, it will take both the Thirteenth and Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) to save Earth from becoming an alien battleground!Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor - Year Two #1 is due out on January 8.
Time Lords and timelines cross paths in this reimagining of the iconic TV episode Blink, by Eisner award winning writer Jody Houser and Witchblade artist Roberta Ingranata.
Wednesday, 25 December 2019
Oooo-weee! What A Christmas!
When the first present you unwrap is a plush Mr Poopybutthole (which you then have to try and explain to your bemused in-laws) you know it's going to be a good Christmas.
This year's selection of goodies broke down into four main themes, in descending order: Rick & Morty, fantasy (Lord of The Rings, Dungeons &Dragons etc), Star Wars, and superheroes.
Having gorged myself on turkey with all the trimmings I had an afternoon nap and am now bracing myself for more eating and possibly some reindeer games.
Hope you all are having a marvellous day, although I kind of suspect we were the only family joined at the dinner table by a giant Kevin The Carrot.
A Sneaky Secret Santa Serving Of Doctor Who At Christmas...
We may not be getting a new Doctor Who adventure today, but here's a half-hour compilation of festive highlights from the modern era of the show.
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