Paying Final Respects to Our Honored Dead

Last week, we lost someone very dear to us: Leonard Nimoy.

I have been dreading this post, because I'm not sure I can produce the words to express what his passing means.

One of my earliest memories is watching reruns of Star Trek: The Original Series with my father. Even at so young an age, Mr. Spock was fascinating to me.

I loved how Nimoy chose to play the character, and how the character truly evolved before our eyes.

The logical, emotionless character certainly wasn't unique, but Nimoy added something no one else had before: a heart. He helped us care for the character and feel the love he couldn't.

This was best expressed in the episode "This Side of Paradise" by D.C. Fontana. Spock chooses a life without emotion and love in return for duty and responsibility. If you haven't seen it lately, it is wonderful.

Eventually, Nimoy would try to distance himself from the character of Spock.

It's certainly understandable. No actor wants to be typecast into one role.

But eventually he came around to see what the character meant to the throngs of fans.

And they did embrace him!

The Vulcan salute and phrase "Live Long and Prosper" are synonymous with geeks everywhere.

At times we have even embraced his emotionlessness to protect ourselves from the bullies of the world and the ones who couldn't love us because we were so weird.

When his death was announced on Friday, I cried. To me it was different than when we lost Robin Williams last summer. You see, Robin Williams belonged to everyone. All people had a special connection with him.

But Leonard Nimoy was ours alone. He was a mentor when we needed wisdom, an ally when we needed strength and a companion in the darkest times,.Most people don't understand what he meant to us, but he helped us be a better part of this world.

I couldn't help but watch the funeral scene in Wrath of Khan again when I heard the news, and the words of Captain Kirk ring true:

"Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most Human!"

Cue the bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace"!

Farewell, my friend. We are better for having known you.

My Hope for a Marvel Reboot!

As some of you might know Marvel is planing some big changes by the end of the Summer.

It all begins with the epic Secret Wars mini-series which looks like an epic battle of the Marvel multiverse.

The way its being advertised it looks like it will end in a very Highlander fashion "There can be only one!"

But, which one?

There have been many speculations, so before the beginning of the end I thought I would provide my tuppence.

As many of you know if you read my blog, I am a big fan of continuity.

I have been thrilled with the inter-connectivity of the  Marvel Cinematic Universe where the same characters and actors in the movies are referenced on TV and in movies.

This is a genius move on Marvel/Disney's part.

This encourages someone who watched Avengers and mourned the loss of Agent Coulson to watch him on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The continuity can even cross different eras as proven in Peggy Carter, starting Hayley Atwell who we first enjoyed in Captain America: the First Avenger.

Again, its marketing at its best.

And, something we've rarely ever seen in a comic book setting where any director or writer can change anything and everything about a character, usually to disastrous results.

The worst part is even when the movies are successful, a new fan has no where to go.

If a young person enjoyed the 2012 Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield, and then rushed out to pick up the comic book of the same name, he or she would be sorely disappointed.

That character hasn't existed since the 60s, and his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, died in 1973.

This is why most comic book movie and TV fans don't translate into readers.

But, this is changing, and Marvel/Disney is the one leading the way with Star Wars.

In the new continuity of Star Wars everything from books to comic books to movies to television are connected.

And it's wonderful!

I know that at any point one story might be connected to another one even if they are in different media.

I would love to see Marvel do the same.

There are already character additions coming to Netflix.

We also know that Sony and Marvel have inked a deal to keep Spidey in this universe.

Now its time to bring all of them together and give fans what they really want.

A truly connected universe on screen and in print.

So, what do you think? Let me know in the comments...

Grant Morrison Does it Again

A while back I wrote about how I felt DC needs to pull away from its multiverses and follow Marvel's idea of more consistency.

This feeling remains unchanged, but the recent Multiversity guidebook almost made me change my mind.

Multiversity is the brain child of the incredible Grant Morrison.

Morrison stands as a truly great writer of graphic novels along with Sandman creator Neil Gaiman.

It was Grant Morrison who, in the early 90s, ended his reboot of Animal Man, by making the titular character meet up with himself as the author of the comic book.

The surrealistic ending still stands as one of the best ending to a series arc in history.

Now, DC has given Morrison the task of teaching everyone about the Multiverse.

And, not unusual for Morrison himself, he's also teaching the characters within the Multiverse itself.

Every issue of the current series includes comic books left for characters to find which are the very same comic books the reader is currently reading.

The issues have been somewhat confusing... until now!

On Wednesday, DC released The Multiversity Guidebook by Morrison.

This amazingly extra-long issue contains not only the best story and the best artwork, but also the best explanations of the 52 universes which have sprung up since the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The best part of the massive graphic work is the description of each of the individual universes.

(While the following aren't necessarily spoilers, I highly recommend picking up this issue at your local retailer)

First off there's Earth-0 which is what we are currently reading in the New 52.

There are a few universes which are being told now like Earth-2.

Still others have played out in previous graphic novels like Earth 30: the story line Superman: Red Son where Superman lands in Soviet Russia rather than Smallville, Kansas.

Still others come directly from the genius mind of Grant Morrison like gender-bender Earth-11, Steampunk Earth-19 and groovy Earth-47.

Morrison even left seven Earths unknown which could certainly play into the current and upcoming television and film superheroes.

The most interesting aspect of Morrison's Multiversity Guidebook comes from the realization it is truly a handbook I can't put away.

My habit as a comic book collector is to bag and board each issue upon reading it.

Not so with this one.

Grant Morrison's The Multiversity Guidebook will remain on my shelf as a much needed reference for what I expect to be a mind-blowing dive into the future of DC Comics.

While I still question DC's choice to double-down on the inconsistency in its works along print, TV and film, I'm excited to see there this leads.

Any thoughts? Please leave me a comment below...

Year of the Geek Part Two: Star Wars

The end of 2015 brings Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but, also this year, there are other options to get your fix of stories from the galaxy far, far away.

First off there's the current ongoing series "Star Wars: Rebels" on Disney XD.

If you haven't checked this one out, I highly recommend it.

The creators are the same who won awards for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars", so you don't want to miss it.

There are great options for readers both young and old.

Starting this month, Star Wars returns to Marvel Comics!

Marvel is releasing three titles over the next three months beginning with Star Wars #1 on January 14th.

The first issue could be the biggest comic book seller ever!

Two more titles, Star Wars: Darth Vader and Star Wars: Princess Leia will follow.

Also exciting is Marvel's Omnibus release of the first 44 issues of Star Wars which came out in the late 70s.

Another great addition to the new Expanded Universe includes the novel Heir to the Jedi.

The story fills the gap of what happened to young Luke Skywalker between blowing up the first Death Star and the battle on Hoth.

All of these will be canon and possibly laying the groundwork for The Force Awakens.

Finally and possibly most exciting is the summer release of books retelling the story of the original trilogy.

These books will be perfect for the young people who only have memories of the prequels.

All in all, its a wonderful opportunity to whet our appetites until December.

So, what are you looking forward to in the Star Wars Universe this year? Let me know in the comments...

2015: The Year of the Geek

That's right folks, I'm going out on a limb here: 2015 is going to be the year of the Geek.

OK, I know that's not really a stretch and several other people are saying it as well.

But I can't help but be excited.

Most people know the year will end with the most anticipated movie of all time: Star Wars: the Force Awakens.

But before then there are many juicy bits of geekdom on the silver screen.

Some are going to be obvious hits like Avengers: Age of Ultron.

And some we will just have to wait and see.

I am exited about the return of Mad Max in Fury Road and Pixar's Inside Out.

Meanwhile, there are a few pieces which I am concerned about like Marvel's Ant Man.

Although I was just as concerned six months before Guardians of the Galaxy, and it turned out pretty well (hehe).

And, I have my certain doubts for some shows like Terminator: Genisys (I had to check that title six times to make sure I spelled it right!), Jurassic World and, possibly the worst, Fantastic Four.

There are also some wonderful opportunities outside of the theater.

Marvel is not just doubling down on it's Cinematic Universe, it's going all in.

This year sees the spin-off of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Agent Carter.

Marvel is also getting ready to start its partnership with Netflix with the release of Daredevil in May as well as Marvel's Jessica Jones later in the year.

This all sets up for later releases on Netflix of "Luke Cage", "Iron Fist" and eventually, "Defenders".

There are likely other major geek events to come in the next 12 months, and I, for one, am looking forward to it.

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments...

What DC Needs to Learn from Marvel: Consistency

Earlier this month DC announced the cast for the upcoming movie "Suicide Squad"

The cast included Will Smith as Deadshot.

The problem is there's already a person playing Deadshot: Michael Rowe in CW's "Arrow".

Also, it was announced there would be a "Flash" movie starring Ezra Miller as the Fastest Man Alive.

I'm sure it will include another origin story even though we just saw Flash's origin story four months ago as portrayed by Grant Gustin on CW's "The Flash".

Of course the movie "Flash" doesn't come out till 2018, so maybe DC is hoping the TV version isn't still on air to ruin it.

And don't get me started on "Gotham" apparently taking place at the exact same moment as the rest of these timelines.

The thing I like about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is it's all tied in together.

Phil Coulson has been played in Movies and Television by the same person: Clark Gregg.

"Marvel's Agents of Shield" has included cameos from actors like Neal McDonough who returned to his role as "Dum Dum" Dugan, Samuel L. Jackson who came back to play Nick Fury and Hayley Atwell who played Peggy Carter in "Captain America" and is returning for her own show this January.

For the Marvel Cinematic Universe it's all about consistency.

And it works!

Marvel movies and TV remain head and shoulders above anything coming out from DC.

Now, I know that some comic book purists might say, "But what about the Multiverse?"

DC Creative Chief Geoff Johns is using the idea of multiple universes as an excuse for different stories to be told in film and television independent of each other.

It's a tactic used for decades by the comic industry, and as a reader, I understand it.

But, don't expect that same kind of understanding from the average viewer.

Especially, if DC tries to describe the multiverse to that person for every movie and TV show.

It just gets as confusing as Superman's origin story in "Man of Steel", and viewers lose interest.

Plus, you know who else has a Multiverse? Marvel.

It helps explain the inconsistency between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Comics.

But, Marvel has done a brilliant job of keeping all the TV and Movies in the same universe.

It's a lesson DC needs to learn fast otherwise it's going to keep losing viewers and eventually readers to Marvel.

So what do you think? Let me know in the comments...

I'm ready for a new companion

As series eight for Doctor Who was coming to an end last month we were getting word that Jenna Coleman was leaving the show as companion Clara Oswald.

Now we hear that she is not in fact leaving after the Christmas Special, but could stay for another series.

I have watched many companions come and go over the past 30+ years of watching Doctor Who, and I think it's time for her to go.

I liked Clara as souffle girl and the impossible girl, but this past season where she was just lying to everyone and seemingly so selfish, I started to not like her.

I know I'm not alone in wanting to see her leave, but I also know there are many fans out there who want her to stay forever.

Let me tell you my experience with my favorite companion that everyone else hated.

That's right I liked Adric!

I was in my pre-teens watching Doctor Who for the first time.

While I certainly liked watching companions like Sarah Jane and Romana, I was thrilled when a boy joined the Tardis crew.

Finally there was someone with whom I could identify.

It wasn't until many years later that I realized most people didn't like Adric, and were probably excited to see him go.

For me, though, it was rough because ***SPOILER ALERT*** Adric got killed off after saving Earth from destruction by the Cybermen.

Since then I don't think I've ever wanted to see a companion leave until now.

I'm ready for someone new, and unless something amazing happens during the Christmas show, I don't think I'll change my mind.

So, what do you think about Clara sticking around? Let me know in the comments...