THE STRAIN INFECTS FX IN JULY

A few years before Guillermo del Toro directed the recent summer SciFi blockbuster PACIFIC RIM, he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan a vampire horror novel titled  THE STRAIN which reached the NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller List in 2009.  Dark Horse comics adapted the novel to a comic book series in 2011 and now the story is coming to the small screen with the cable channel FX (home to American Horror Story, The Americans & Sons of Anarchy ) airing a television show based on del Toro's novel starting in July 2014.

Picture a stormy night at JFK airport with the wind whipping and lighting crashing.  A plane routinely lands but than just stops dead on the tarmac.  All the shades on its windows are drawn down, the lights are off, and no one is answering its radio.  In addition, to SWAT and counter-terrorism units being brought in to address the situation, a crack team from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is called in to help ascertain the situation.  This is how THE STRAIN begins.

The plane is the beginning of a vampire infestation of New York City.  These aren't the glamorized vampires of Dracula lore though but rather grotesque mutated monsters that really put the "horror" into the vampire myth.  If you've seen the mutated vampires in the movie BLADE 2, which del Toro also happened to direct, you get the picture.  If not check out the great artwork in Dark Horse's STRAIN comic books for some great visuals.  The book and TV show will revolve around how the CDC tackles this vampire epidemic.

Unlike Dracula and other vampire stories that provide a mystical element for the origin and creation of these creatures of the night, THE STRAIN takes a scientific approach to explaining them.  The vampires are infected by parasitic worms that carry a virus that is passed on to humans causing them to mutate.  The worms are introduces to a person's body through a vampire's feeding or through it entering on its own in an invasive manner through a wound or orifice.  The worms feed off of blood and as they do that they transmit an incurable vampire virus transforming the victim.

 
These vampires develop "stingers" that shoot out of their mouths to lach onto their human prey and suck out their blood.  If the vampire doesn't kill their prey through feeding on them than the person is infected by worms that make their way into their body during the feeding infecting them with the virus and turning them into vampires too.  The vampires in the strain also lose their hair and fingernails, while gaining sharp talons and a hard skin covering for protection.  Not the most glamorous of characters are they but pretty creepy.

If you enjoy THE WALKING DEAD, you will probably enjoy THE STRAIN.  Here's a teaser trailer from FX for this new show:

For more information, about FX'S THE STRAIN visit:  http://www.fxnetworks.com/thestrain

A New Adventure: ELFQUEST "The Final Quest"

The Wolf Riders are back - the first new adventures of the elves of ElfQuest to be published in eight years start this week with the release by Dark Horse Comics of a series titled ELFQUEST: THE FINAL QUEST.  Created by Wendy & Richard Pini in 1978, the ElfQuest stories follow the adventures of Cutter and his band of elves on an Earth-like planet called the World of Two Moons.  The elves battle against pre-civilized humans who think of them as "evil spirits" and trolls who want to either enslave them or eat them depending on the circumstances.  The stories that have spanned over the last 35 years have focused on Cutter's band of Wolf Riders looking for the magical palace of their ancestors and along that journey discovering new brethren tribes of elves with unique characteristics and mysterious secrets about their origins.

Wendy Pini's ElfQuest illustrations have a  magical context to them that really emphasizes the artistic quality of artwork in the comic medium.  The stories are a little mature for elementary aged children with themes that include sex and violence, but I remember being engrossed by the mythical and mystical elements reading these stories in middle school.  ElfQuest is a great adventure to enjoy that I would recommend for someone who may be a tween or older that enjoys science fiction / fantasy stories.

What is really GREAT is you can read ALL of the ElfQuest stories that take place before this new Dark Horse Comics series for FREE at http://www.elfquest.com/gallery/OnlineComics3.html.  That's more than 6,500 pages of material to peruse.  If you've enjoyed the stories in the past, this is a great opportunity to go back to read them again and if you've never read ElfQuest before you can see everything online to review if it may be appropriate for your child to read or if you enjoy the characters and plots enough to purchase THE FINAL QUEST. The website also has a Prologue that is available to download for FREE that kicks off the story line for the new THE FINAL QUEST series.

Dark Horse Comics will be publishing monthly issues of THE FINAL QUEST starting January 2014 that will be available in print form from local retailers or in digital format via the publisher's website prices at $3.50.  Dark Horse also has a couple page preview of ISSUE #1 on their website, check it out at:  http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/Previews/24-774

I haven't read the new series yet, but plan on picking up #1 today for myself.  Here's Dark Horse's summary of this new comic book series for the ElfQuest franchise:

ELFQUEST: THE FINAL QUEST #1

The Wolfriders' chief, Cutter, knows that change is coming. His tribe's proximity to the Palace of the High Ones, a mysterious and magical oasis, makes this inevitable. As Cutter's daughter Ember, chief of her own tribe, shares her father's efforts to preserve the old ways amongst their kin, the human tyrant, Angrif Djun, ascends the mountain her clan call home and rocks the foundation of their peaceful existence.
* Winner of the Golden Pen Award from the Young Adult Advisory Committee!
* Brand-new Elfquest art and adventures!
* Includes Elfquest extras from past and present!

Star Wars with a THE

The story that George Lucas originally presented to producers and studio executives was very different than the movie that hit theaters in 1977.  Lucas's rough draft screen play was more like a combination of the "first" three movies that eventually came out as "prequels" after the original Star Wars: Episode IV blockbuster that introduced us to characters like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo from a galaxy far far away.  His original screenplay focused on the adventures of a young Annikin Starkiller who is assisted in his exploits to tackle the evil Empire by an elderly general named Luke Skywalker and an alien lizard creature named Han Solo... oh and among other differences there aren't light sabers but rather "lazer swords" in this version.

Now Dark Horse Comics is adapting George Lucas's original screenplay to an 8-issue comic book mini series.  Titled "The Star Wars" the first issue goes on sale September 4th:

This is the first time that "The Star Wars" story has been shared outside the inner circle of 20th Century Fox and Lucas Film executives.  What a fun treat it will be for Star Wars fans to enjoy a different take on a familiar story.  This is the first time George Lucas has licensed the telling of his first story script and it is pretty interesting that he is having it done in the visual medium of a comic book.  In a nod to maintaining the original "feel" & "spirit" of the screenplay, Dark Horse has announced that the artists working on this project are going to base their work and model it off Ralph McQuarrie's Star Wars concepts.  McQuarrie created the original concept art for Star Wars that Lucas used for pitching and producing the movie.  Unfortunately, McQuarrie (who is one of my favorite science fiction artists) passed away in 2012.  Read my post on a "SciFi Visionary".

Can't wait until Sept 4 to get a look at "The Star Wars"? OK here's a sneak peek for you:

 Based on successful sales it also makes you wonder if they might continue "The" story in a new stand alone comic series after the original story is concluded.  So are you interested in a new take on the Star Wars universe or would you prefer to just stick with to one ad portrayed in the movies? What are your thoughts on this new ( or maybe we should say "old") Star Wars project?

No Stereotypical Princess Role for Leia in New Star Wars Comic Series

Dark Horse Comics added a new series to its lineup of Star Wars comics in January that focuses on the adventures taking place in the franchise timeline between the original 1977 movie and its sequel the Empire Strikes Back. Simply titled STAR WARS this comic is in a world void of the annoying droid army characters and Jar Jar Binks of the prequel movies and the Yuuzhan Vong intergalactic invasion context and Solo/Skywalker children focus I never have really cared for that many of the novels and comics of the post Return of the Jedi stories have journeyed down.  This new comic storyline is the space opera fantasy that replicates the feel of the brand I grew up with as a kid where my friends and I pretended the elementary school jungle gym was the Millenium  Falcon during recess, brought tin Star Wars lunchboxes to school, and recreated the Death Star scenes with Kenner action figures in the back yard after school.  While there is a more contemporary modern day feel to this new comic book in the artwork and scripting it also has an incredible old school vibe to the characters and situations illustrated within it.

I just picked up issue #4 this week at my neighborhood comic shop  and have to admit that picking up these books has quickly become a regular indulgence for me spiriting me away from some of the stresses of life for a few minutes each month to a place that may be a long time ago in a galaxy far far away but yet is very familiar. I don't normally purchase and read any serial comic on a monthly basis, but I've come to look forward to the arrival each month of a new Star Wars story to read.  I also really appreciate the fact that these stories are written with mature enough content that they are interesting to this 40 year old geek daddy but don't have any content that I'd be worried about my kids seeing if they flip open the comic.

Brian Wood, the author and creative director for the series, portrays Luke Skywalker as a 19 year old who has a lot of potential due to his inherited abilities to use the "Force" but still is immature, a little reckless, thinks of himself as a hotshot pilot, and can be a little hot headed.  Han Solo is a rogue smuggler who shoots first and asks questions later that is sticking along with the rebellion as long as it suits his best interests.  Than we have Princess Leia.  This comic has made me take a double take on my impression of the character.  Like many guys my age I've associated the character with the Jabba slave girl outfit seeing her as a princess needing to be saved from the Death Star, Cloud City, or that slimy gangster leader on Tatooine. In this comic series, Princess Leia isn't participating in diplomatic missions or administrative duties for the Rebel Alliance rather she is a combat pilot for an X-Wing squadron on an important and dangerous mission. I found myself wondering why the change from princess in need of rescue to someone taking the fight to the Empire while reading these first few issues of the new Star Wars comic.

So I went right to the source and chatted with Brian Wood about the new comic.  I have to say that I was really impressed by his answers and it made me take a look back at my past conceptions of the Princess Leia and reconsider my impression of the character.

I asked Brian what his emphasis was or idea behind having Leia being such a "warrior" figure in his new Star Wars comic series?  He answered:  "Isn't she one in the films? One of the first things we see her do is smoke a storm trooper." Brian continued, "she resists torture, takes over her own rescue, shoots troopers, helps fly the Falcon, and that's just the first film!"  

He is so right! Unfortunately, I guess maybe the gender stereotypes I grew up with clouded that impression somewhat.  After Brian Woods made that comment to me though and I thought about it a light bulb went off in my head and I agreed that his approach to the character really was right on.  As a dad who wants his daughter not to be hindered by stereotypes so that she can accomplish any personal or career goal she sets I was embarrassed by my attitude towards Princess Leia.  Thank you Brian for the refreshing approach you've taken in developing this character in this comic and not letting stereotypes influence your story telling. 

On another topic. A big annoyance I've had with George Lucas beyond the whole Jar Jar Binks fiasco was the whole controversy with the "who shot first" cantina scene between Han Solo and Greedo in the original movie.  In the theater release Han Solo shoots first, than in the DVD versions it is changed to first they shoot at the same time to finally Greedo shoots first.  In STAR WARS #3, Han Solo shoots an Imperial spy in the back. I asked Brian if that was his input into the "who shot first" controversy regarding the film.  Brian response was that he wasn't consciously answering that question but rather "just wanted to show that Han  is smart and savvy and can smell a rat." He than added "I'm fine with people seeing a subtext though". I think its fair to say that Brian Woods probably agrees with a lot of Star Wars fans like myself that Han Solo shot first!

Brian also mentioned that he is under contract for 20 issues of this new Star Wars series so looks like we have awhile to sit back and enjoy a fun ride.   If you haven't checked out out the new Star Wars series you can buy it at your local comic retailer or online at digital.darkhorse.com for $2.99 per issue.  Oh yeah and one more plus for these comics, the cover art is great and all drawn by the talented artist Alex Ross who is a legend in the industry!

The adventures of Han & Leia's great-great granddaughter

There has been a lot of buzz since Disney purchased the Star Wars rights from George Lucas as to the fate of Dark Horse Comics publishing future with the franchise.  Disney also owns Marvel Comics and prevailing thought is that Mickey Mouse would want to consolidate Star Wars properties into its own family of companies.  It appears though that Dark Horse is heeding the words of the great Jedi Master Yoda "always in motion the future is" and focusing on the here and now producing great content while they have a valid contract to work on Star Wars titles.  In January, Dark Horse launched a brand new comic series simply titled STAR WARS that takes a look back at the events right after Episode IV: A New Hope (the original Star Wars movie for those of us who grew up in the 70's and 80's) that has received good reviews and great fan feedback [Click here to read my post: Dark Horse reboots the Star Wars Universe]  This week, Dark Horse is launching another new series Star Wars: Legacy which takes place 130 years after the events that took place in the original Star Wars movie.  This new comic will feature the adventures of ANIA SOLO, the great-great granddaughter of Han Solo & Princess Leia.

Star Wars: Legacy is written by Corrina Bechko & Gabriel Hardman with Hardman doing the story artwork as well. Covers will be by Dave Wilkins.  New issues will be on sale for $2.99 as print copies at local comic retailers and online in digital format at www.digital.darkhorse.com. Star Wars: Legacy #1 will be available to purchase starting March 20, 2013.

Dark Horse Comics describes the first issues of this series on their web site as follows:

Ania Solo found a lightsaber inside a broken Imperial communications droid. Now she’s being pursued by the local police—and a determined Imperial Knight who is willing to killto get the weapon!

Fortunately, as a black-market salvage dealer, Ania has made some formidable friends of her own . . .

* The Solo family 138 years after Return of the Jedi!

 Here's a preview of the first issue of Star Wars: Legacy

This comic series is actually a new start to a previous Star Wars series of the same name that concluded about two years ago (click here for more info).  The previous Star Wars: Legacy story line revolved around the adventures of CADE SKYWALKER, Luke's great-great grandson / Anakin (Darth Vader's) great-great-great grandson.  The creative team behind this revised comic series have said that the new version take place in the Star Wars continuency about a year after the Cade storyline concluded. For the time being it appears Cade Skywalker will not be in this new series and ANIA will be going solo in her adventures.  Click here to read an interview Bechko & Hardman recently did with a Star Wars fan site that gives some more details about this new character and her upcoming adventures in Dark Horse comics.

This new Ania Solo take on the Star Wars: Legacy looks promising of interesting stories and great artwork. I'd suggest you check it out ... I know I will be! 

Comic Book Review: Alice in Wonderland

Our bedtime reading this week has been Dark Horse Comic’s adaption of “Alice in Wonderland”. This hardcover book demonstrates that comics can be a fun outlet for parents to enjoy with their young children...in my case 4 year old twins.  I enjoy finding books that have artwork that will draw their attention into the pages, help expand my childrens' interaction in the story-telling, and foster an appreciation of creativity and the arts.  Eisner & Ignatz Awards-nominated Rod Espinosa accomplishes just that in his sketched version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale that provides a mind’s eye of Wonderland to its readers.

I appreciated that this book was entertaining enough to keep my children’s attention as we read through the pages together and didn’t have content that would be concerning in regard to potentially creating nightmares for the kids.  Many of the recent revisions of Alice in Wonderland in movies, television, and publications have had a very dark and dangerous tone to them and I was pleased that the comic did not take that tact in its interpretation of Alice’s adventures.  That being said there are challenges and dangers portrayed in this comic where anyone could risk at anytime losing their head at the displeasure of her Majesty ... you just can’t have a Queen of Hearts who doesn’t say “Off with her Head” ...  which demonstrates that Wonderland may be a fascinating place for a visit, but you really don’t want to stay too long.

Espinosa illustrates this comic with a Manga-influence that gives a light air to the artwork which helped capture my kids’ attention.  We had recently read some Beatrix Potterbooks at bedtime and my daughter was delighted to tell me the drawings in this “Alice in Wonderland” story reminded her of some of the watercolors from the Potter stories.  The other thing the artwork reminded me daughter of, which has become somewhat amusing, is she believes the Mad Hatter character looks like Jay Leno so whenever she sees a commercial for the Tonight Show (of course she doesn’t stay up that late to watch the show) she yells out “look daddy it’s the Mad Hatter”.  One critique is that while characters like the Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar, and Deck of Card Knights really boldly pop out from the pages at you, the White Rabbit just has this blah uninteresting appearance to him that really isn’t up to par with the rest of the drawings in the comic and becomes somewhat of a mild distraction from enjoying that character’s portions of the story.

All in all Dark Horse Comic’s “Alice in Wonderland” was an enjoyable read that passed the Geek Daddy’s bedtime reading test in that it was exciting and interesting enough to entertain my children, kept their attention long enough for them to get sleepyheaded, and didn’t have any content or pictures that result in either of my kids waking up in the middle of the night because they became scared from the story.  My daughter who dressed up as Alice for Halloween last year really enjoyed us reading the story together and seeing how the character was portrayed in the comic so an extra kudos to Rod Espinosa from her as well!

 I was provided a free advance copy of the comic to review from the publisher.  The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

“Alice in Wonderland” is scheduled to go on sale February 19, 2013 for a suggested retail price of $19.99.  Amazon.com has the book available for pre-order at a discounted $13.59 and Barnes & Noble has it available to pre-order for $13.45.

Dark Horse Comics reboots the STAR WARS universe

 

On Wednesday, January 9 STAR WARS will be getting a new start as issue #1 of Dark Horse Comics newest serial hits retailers shelves.  Simply titled STAR WARS this new comic is set in the time period immediately following the original movie "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope." It is in many ways a reboot of the franchise as all the comic's stories will be written & illustrated as if none of the subsequent movie sequels, books, comics and other extended univese mythos was ever created.  This series will be taking a step back to 1977 and take the angle of treating stories as if they were exploring the imagination of  all the fans who loved the movie and were asking themselves what happens next-there is no Yoda, thuggy Jabba the Hut isn't a giant slug, Darth Vader hasn't said "Luke I am your Father", and thank goodness absolutely no Jar Jar Binks!

 

Dark Horse is promoting this new STAR WARS comic series as:

 

This is Star Wars as you remember it . . . and as you have never seen it before! We’re taking you back to those heady, adventure-filled days following the destruction of the Death Star—when the Empire ruled, the Rebels were on the run, and the galaxy was a dangerous place where anything might happen!

 

STAR WARS will be written by Brian Wood, who currently also works for Marvel Comics on their X-Men titles, with art by Carlos D'Anda, who has penciled and inked for DC Comics on its Batman, Deathblow & Outsiders titles, and the comic's covers will be by famed illustrator Alex Ross.

 

Here's a sneak peak at STAR WARS #1: