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| Superhero Summer Vacation via Comic Book Resources |
Which Marvel character do you think Vin Diesel is playing? What genre movies are playing in July?
Find out all this and more in this week’s top ten seven “Geek Bits.”
7. Which Character Could Vin Diesel Be Meeting With Marvel About? (via Comic Book Movie)
Diesel said on Facebook: “Marvel has requested a meeting… no idea what for… haha, you probably know better than me…” My money is on voice work for Guardians of the Galaxy although he would be an amazing Luke Cage.
6. Man of Steel: Supergirl “Past and Present” (via Being Retro)
5. How many Star Wars Galactic Credits Go into a Dollar? (via Blastr)
Intergalactic Exchange Bureau lets you convert sci-fi currency
ci Fi Currency Converter by Money In Advance
4. Firefly Browncoats Serenity Valley T-Shirt (via Think Geek)*
3. July 2013 Movies (via Alex J. Cavanaugh)
- 7/3 The Lone Ranger, Despicable Me 2
- 7/12 Pacific Rim
- 7/19
Red 2, Turbo - 7/26 The Wolverine
2. Richard Matheson Dead at 87
- Vive Le Nerd Legends Never Die
- Nigel G. Mitchell “I am Legend” by Richard Matheson Review
1. BACK TO THE FUTURE II Grays Sports Almanac iPad Case (via Geek Tyrant)
REVIEWS
Falling Skies “At All Costs” 3/5 stars
Summary: After the people of Charleston defeat another alien attack with the help of new advanced weaponry, Tom is invited to meet with a powerful leader (guest star Stephen Collins). While Hal wrestles with an invasive evil, Ben struggles with his identity and the notion of being human again. And Anne uncovers startling new information that puts everyone in jeopardy. Robert Sean Leonard guest stars.
After
the people of Charleston defeat another alien attack with the help of
new advanced weaponry, Tom is invited to meet with a powerful leader
(guest star Stephen Collins). While Hal wrestles with an invasive evil,
Ben struggles with his identity and the notion of being human again. And
Anne uncovers startling new information that puts everyone in jeopardy.
Robert Sean Leonard guest stars. – See more at:
http://drew-roy.com/2013/06/falling-skies-3×04-at-all-costs-official-episode-synopsis-video-preview/#sthash.5jMuU8GO.dpuf
After
the people of Charleston defeat another alien attack with the help of
new advanced weaponry, Tom is invited to meet with a powerful leader
(guest star Stephen Collins). While Hal wrestles with an invasive evil,
Ben struggles with his identity and the notion of being human again. And
Anne uncovers startling new information that puts everyone in jeopardy.
Robert Sean Leonard guest stars. – See more at:
http://drew-roy.com/2013/06/falling-skies-3×04-at-all-costs-official-episode-synopsis-video-preview/#sthash.5jMuU8GO.dpuf
Good: Battle scenes, Cochise (Doug Jones) is fighting for a flower and Jones proves he is the living master of make up character actors.
Bad: An episode filled with set ups and little payoff.
Ugly: Dragging on the revelation that Hal has a split personality. We knew he was the mole three episodes ago.
Web of the City (Hard Case Crime)
Summary: “Get it straight right now: these aren’t kids playing games of war. They mean business. They are junior-grade killers and public enemies one through five thousand…”
In Rusty Santoro’s neighborhood, the kids carry knives, chains, bricks. Broken glass. And when they fight, they fight dirty, leaving the streets littered with the bodies of the injured and the dead. Rusty wants out – but you can’t just walk away from a New York street gang. And his decision may leave his family to pay a terrible price.
First published more than half a century ago and inspired by the author’s real-life experience going undercover inside a street gang, Web of the City was Harlan Ellison’s first novel and marked the long-form debut of one of the most electrifying, unforgettable, and controversial voices of 20th century letters.
Appearing here for the first time together with three thematically related short stories Ellison wrote for the pulp magazines of the 1950s, Web of the City offers both a snapshot of a lost era and a portrait of violence and grief as timely as today’s most brutal headlines”
This is not a science fiction novel, but was written the great science fiction writer Harlan Ellison who wrote for Star Trek and has numerous awards including multiple Hugos, Nebulas and Edgars. So I feel safe reviewing it on this blog.
The book is a brutal study of gang life in the 50s. This is not West Side Story. It tells what it was like in the street gangs of the time in graphic and brutal detail. People get their eyes gouged out and gutted with knives. I normally don’t like that kind of stuff, but since it’s a warning against gang life I’m OK with it. Rusty is a fascinating character and as the story goes from a character study to a murder mystery you’re enthralled by every page. In the end, the story tells a beuatiful story with all it’s grit and is a great read. (Recommended)
The Simon & Kirby Library: Science Fiction
Summary: “The Simon and Kirby Library: Science Fiction spans more than 20 years, beginning with the first stories Joe Simon and Jack Kirby ever produced together (beginning in June 1940)–their ten-issue run of Blue Bolt adventures. Then the Cold War years will be represented by Race For the Moon, featuring pencils by Kirby and inked artwork by comic book legends Reed Crandall, Angelo Torres, and Al Williamson.
“Joe was one of the industry’s greatest innovators–he commissioned stories from some of the greatest talents of the time,” series editor Steve Saffel notes. “Thanks to his efforts, we have exclusive access to more than 80 pages of original artwork from the 1950s. Stories by all four artists appear in all of their stunning detail. This was a book Joe wanted the world to see.”
“Other rarities from both decades are included, and as a bonus for readers, the volume features stories illustrated by Crandall, Torres, and Williamson–without Kirby.
“Including an introduction by Dave Gibbons, the award-winning co-creator and illustrator of Watchmen, this is an historic volume no comic book aficionado will be able to live without.”
While I love Joe Simon and Kirby’s work on Spider-Man and other comics, these book just don’t hold up compared to their body of work. The artwork looks rushed, and the color and inking is jarring. Some of this might be because of the digital scanning and transfer. The stories are formulaic for it’s time and compared to other works like Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon are just not in the same caliber. (Not Recommended)
* Disclosure: Sponsored product. This does not affect the opinion of the writer and all opinions expressed are the property of the author.
What do you think of this week’s links?
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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="37478 ">12 Comments
I am getting one of those Browncoats t-shirts!
Thanks for the movie mention.
Diesel meeting with Marvel? Could there be any more star power in their universe?
And I wonder what other iPad cases they offer…
I don't know what Marvel would want a mumbling Stallone knockoff for. Probably nothing good.
Very cool links! Not sure where Diesel might pop up, but I think he'd be better doing voice work than straight out acting.
I might have to pick up on of those Browncoat shirts, too 🙂
I would think Rocket Raccoon would be a good spot for Vin Diesel. I love the guy, even with the bombs he's made. I'd like to see him back on track to where his career should have taken him.
I'm a fan of Diesel too. He's had some stinkers, but that's only because he's trying not to get typecast.
His body of work is formulaic except for three works: Iron Giant, Find Me Guilty and the film he wrote and starred in called "Multi-Facial." It talks about his struggle as a young, ethnically mixed actor.
The urban superhero Luke Cage comes to mind, Mpax, but it's probably took much to hope for.
You're right. His voice is gold Mark.
You're welcome Alex. That shirt is shiny.
Wow.
You know your sci-fi superhero stuff.
I like the summer vacation photo.
Diesel would be great either way as a hero or villain.
Thanks for all the info. Cool shirt.
What super hero's do on their days off