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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 16:59:58 GMT -5
You mention this shark being the mate of the first one; is that alluded to in the comic? I don't recall it being said in the film, but it is stated in the novelization (which is convenient since females are bigger than males, get very hungry when they're pregnant, and gives us the opportunity to see the birth of a pup that just might star in an eventual Jaws 3). And as fate would have it... the idea that Jaws 2's shark is the mate of the original might not be so far-fetched after all ! In any case, Colan (maybe by accident) does depict a female shark in this issue since the beast doesn't have claspers. Let's hear it for proper fish anatomy!!! I was referring to one of the later films, though my memory is hazy. You are probably right about it just being in the novel, which is based on an earlier script draft. I didn't see the film, but I think I might have glanced at the novelization, out of curiosity, when in a store. Jaws is the only one of the bunch I ever watched and that was only after it came to television. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 30, 2020 17:41:57 GMT -5
You mention this shark being the mate of the first one; is that alluded to in the comic? I don't recall it being said in the film, but it is stated in the novelization (which is convenient since females are bigger than males, get very hungry when they're pregnant, and gives us the opportunity to see the birth of a pup that just might star in an eventual Jaws 3). And as fate would have it... the idea that Jaws 2's shark is the mate of the original might not be so far-fetched after all ! In any case, Colan (maybe by accident) does depict a female shark in this issue since the beast doesn't have claspers. Let's hear it for proper fish anatomy!!! I was referring to one of the later films, though my memory is hazy. You are probably right about it just being in the novel, which is based on an earlier script draft. I didn't see the film, but I think I might have glanced at the novelization, out of curiosity, when in a store. Jaws is the only one of the bunch I ever watched and that was only after it came to television. I would definitely avoid the others! |
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 18:23:56 GMT -5
Marvel Super Special #7, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Strap in; this is going to be a bumpy one! Creative Team: David Anthony Kraft & D Jon Zimmerman-adaptors/writers, George Perez-pencils, Jim Mooney-inks, Janice Cohen-colors. No other credits listed; DAK may have edited. This was never released in the US. I will discuss that later. As a result, the images here will contain French text. Zut alor! Synopsis: The story is narrated by Mr Kite, the mayor of Heartland. He tells of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a legendary marching band whose music was so powerful that soldiers ceased fighting in World War 1.  They returned to Heartland as heroes and the town loved them. Their music plays through the years, until a celebration, dedicating a new wind vane for the town hall, when Sgt Pepper drops dead, during a performance. That is the end of the band, though their instruments remain on display, in the town hall. The town continues to prosper, thanks to the magic inhabiting the instruments. Years later, a new band arises, with the three Henderson brothers, and their friend, Billy Shears, the Grandson of Sgt Pepper.  We are also introduced to Billy's girl, Strawberry Fields. A telegram arrives, offering the band a huge recording contract! They travel to Los Angeles, where they meet BD Hoffler, of Big Deal Records, who wines and dines the band, getting them drunk and high and they sign an exploitive record contract.  Meanwhile, a mysterious bus, with Mr Mustard, comes to Heartland. mr Mustard receives orders via a computer and breaks into the town hall and steals Sgt Pepper's instruments. With the magic gone, the town falls to pieces. Strawberry Fields goes to find Billy and the band. She sees them singing and playing with Lucy and the Diamonds, singers and dancers who seem to have them under a spell. She appeals to Billy and the band to help Heartland and tells them what happened. Mr Mustard's henchman, Brute, attacks Billy. The band snap out of it and decide to find the stolen instruments, finding the base drum in Mustard's bus. They go to find the next and meet Dr Maxwell Edison, a plastic surgeon who turns old corrupt people into young, corrupt people.  A fight ensues and the recover the coronet, though Billy is hurt. The go after the next target, Father Sun, a cult leader who fills his followers with hate and anger. They steal back the tuba and send feedback to the followers...  The band puts on a show, a benefit for Mr Kite, where they play. Mustard kidnaps Strawberry and carries her off...  When Billy and the Band learn that Strawberry has been kidnapped and the proceeds taken, they give chase in a hot air balloon. They trace the to FVB, the Future Villain Band, who pland to take over the world. they play on stage, with Strawberry tied to the stage set...  Billy and the band fight the FVB and Billy knocks the lead singer off the stage, to his death, but Strawberry falls off, when the segment of stage she is tied to breaks and crashes down.  Strawberry is brought home to be buried. A large funeral is held, but Billy is beside himself. he can't get Strawberry out of his mind and climbs to the roof of the town hall and jumps off. he is stopped in mid-fall, as the weather vane comes to life and Sgt Pepper appears, preventing his death and restoring Strawberry to life. The band are given new uniforms and everyone comes together to sing in celebration...   Thoughts: The movie grew out of a stage show, produced by the Robert Stigwood Organization, who had been behind Saturday Night Fever and Grease. They licensed the songs from the album, to be brought to life as a rock opera, with the songs acting as dialogue. TIt was then adapted into a film, directed by Michael Schultz, with George Martin acting as producer and arranger of the soundtrack album. The film starred Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees, with George Burns as Mr Kite, who narrates the film, Donald Pleasence as BD Hoffler, Sandy Farina as Strawberry, Steve Martin as Maxwell Edison, Alice Cooper as Father Sun, Paul Nicholas as Mr Mustard, Carel Struycken as Brute, Aerosmith as FVB, Billy Preston as Sgt Pepper and Earth, Wind and Fire as themselves, performing at the benefit concert. The finale has a crowd of cameos recreating the album cover, singing Sgt Pepper, including Dame Edna (Barry Humphries), Carol Channing, Donovan, Heart, Dr John, Leif Garret, Tina Turner, Hank Williams Jr, Wolfman Jack, Curtis Mayfield, Peter Noone, Bonnie Raitt, Helen Reddy, Jose Feliciano and more. To put it mildly, the film was a colossal failure. It made money, but only about $20 million, against a budget of 13. Critics trashed it and so did audiences. Frampton and the Bee Gees were lambasted for their poor acting and though all were accomplished musicians and singers, it's hard to step into the shoes of the Beatles. Aerosmith had a hit with their version of "Come Together" (though I believe this was their heavy drug use period); but, it did no favors for Frampton or the Bee Gees and only Steve Martin got much praise for his performance. It did become a sort of cult favorite, but it was seen as a massive joke, when it was released. The special had been delayed and was running late when the film was released to horrible reviews. Films stayed in theaters longer in those days, but its run was relatively short and Marvel saw no market for the magazine, since the box office dropped off sharply. Instead, they only released it in foreign markets. Back in the day, I recall seeing a piece about one aspect of it, on an old ABC Sunday program, Kids Are People Too. This was an interview/variety show, with clips of the Saturday morning cartoons and celerity guests, with kids asking questions. KISS appeared on the show to introduce Eric Carr as the replacement for Peter Criss, in a noted episode. For this film, they interviewed a pair of trampoline acrobats who doubled the Bee gees (and or Frampton; my memory is hazy), for a trampoline stunt during the town benefit concert sequence. They did trampoline stunts, while holding electric guitars (unplugged) and demonstrated some of their techniques. Perez does a fine job with the art, but DAK has to deal in the abominable script. Likenesses are fairly decent and Perez is in his element, with the crowd scenes and makes it look interesting. The story is so ridiculously campy, but not in a good way, which kills any narrative fun, though it plays better than the film. This pretty much help kill the idea of modern musicals for some time, as "jukebox" soundtracks (ala American Graffiti) became more common than actual musical films. The Whiz would also prove to be an expensive flop and Hollywood wouldn't touch any further Broadway adaptations. Underperforming sequels, like Grease 2 and Staying Alive didn't help. As a comic, separate from the film, it's not bad, though the story is pretty thin and characterization practically non-existent. The art carries it thought, with some great Perez compositions and Mooney proves a good inker for George. Marvel didn't quite learn their lesson from this, as a couple of years down the road they would do an adaptation of Xanadu. Not even ELO could save that mess (though it has its fans; I find it boring). Next, we get back to adapting the then-hot trend of sci-fi, as Marvel turns to another space opera. ps. I skipped the graphic novel review because I really wanted to get to this practically unseen work. We will return to mediocre graphic novels in a moment.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 19:29:05 GMT -5
Marvel Graphic Novel #42, Conan of the Isles Conan hangs ten with some surfer bruddas! Creative Team: Roy Thomas-writer (adapting L Sprague De Camp & Lin Carter), John Buscema-pencils, Danny Bulanadi, Ricardo Villamonte, Armando Gil & Dave Simons-inks; Joe Rosen-letters, George Roussos-colors, Craig Anderson-editor Roy Thomas and John Buscema on Conan? Business is about to pick up! Synopsis: Conan, King of Aquilonia, has to listen to supplicants and sycophants and is about at the end of his tether.  He reflects back on his adventuring days, the hot chicks (Belit and Red Sonja) and Zenobia, the harem girl he made a queen and mother of his children, who passed away a couple of years ago. His memories are interrupted by Count Trocero losing his s#$% and screaming as red shadows descend upon him. he disappears and Conan curses sorcery. Others in the kingdom are similarly affected. Conan sleeps and hears voices. his spirit rises from hsi body and ascends to some hall in the heavens, where he runs into Epimetreus, a prophet.  He gives him a mission to save Hyboria and a magic amulet. he wakes up holding the amulet, so it must have been real. He is also warned against the sorcerer kings of Atlantis and their Black Kraken emblem. Conan goes off adventuring and gets to have a brawl in a tavern. He runs into an old buddy, Sigurd of Vanheim. They catch up and are interrupted by a cloaked figure, who turns out to be Ariostro, King of Argos (I thought that was Perseus). Ariostro funds Conan and he returns as Amra, captain of the Red Lion and recruits a pirate crew. An idiot, named Alvaro, challenges Conan...  Conan whoops his ass and the crowd cheers and Alvaro flings a dagger at Conan, who catches it and returns it for the kill. They sail westward and are attacked by a black kraken...  Conan kills it, without drowning, and gets back to his ship. They sail on an eventually encounter a green galley, with no obvious crew. A wizard appears and magics away one of Conan's crew and it's on!  Conan and his pirates go all Errol Flynn and swing over. They run into the wizard, in armor, who multiplies. Well, swords fly, animated forms fall and Conan finds a box with a scroll, before the galley sinks. It's a map, which appears to show the way to the legendary Seven Isles of Antilles (which sounds like El Dorado). They sail there, get attacked by a dragon, which is revealed to be a warship and more fights.  They get overwhelmed, Conan steals a shell helmet from one of the enemy and goes over the side as his ship is captured. He walks to shore, skulks around a city, then hangs out with some ladies of negotiable affections.  He skulks some more and forces a weasel to take him to the King of Thieves. He has to beat a rock monster and take its gemstone, to prove himself, which he does. Some drinks and hookers, then more skulking in tunnels and fighting rats, and gets swept away by floodwaters. His men are taken to a red pyramid to be sacrificed. Conan comes to, fights some massive iguanas, cons them into smashing through the pyramide, rescues his men and runs into Cthulhu, or a reasonable facsimile.  Conan hears voices to smash the talisman, which opens a portal and lightning forces destroy the monsters.  The city collapses, the pirate crew escapes in a stolen galley and grog for all! Thoughts: Now this is worthy of a graphic novel! Roy shows them how it's done, with a bigger story than they can do in the normal book (and it was a return to the character by Roy, which was special). Buscema is Buscema and he is THE Conan artist, more than Barry Windsor-Smith. He is in his element with all of this. The increased size lets the art really shine. Coloring is good, though some spots just don't look as good. This would have looked cool if the art had been painted. Nice change from the mediocre adaptations and over-glorified one-shots.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 21:02:29 GMT -5
Marvel Graphic Novel #43, Dreamwalker Creative Team: Bill Mumy & Miguel Ferrer-writers, Gray Morrow-art, Rick Parker-letters, Howard Mackie-editor. That's Bill Mumy and Miguel Ferrer as in...  That's Mumy, Ferrer, Mark Hamill, Jack Kirby, Jerry Siegel and Bob Kane. You know, the Lost in Space and Robocop guys....  They wrote a few comics. Plus, Gray Morrow! Synopsis: A man gives a briefing about Joshua McGann, a soldier in Vietnam, Princeton graduate, with a degree in engineering, speaker of multiple languages, "company" man and amasser of a large fortune.  The briefer is Allus, chairman of the "company." McGann fell for Hannah Varastov, a KGB agent, who he was supposed to recruit as a double. they fear he was turned. She was killed on orders of the company and McGann became more erratic and went rogue. He is in Czechoslovakia, bringing someone across the border to Austria and Allus has ordered his termination. McGann gets the man past security guards and into Austria, and is about to leave, when the priest contact tries to kill him...  Josh survives and returns to the US and does a Number 6 (as in The Prisoner) and lays out his insurance policy, which are copies of secret intelligence, secreted around the world, ready to land in the hands of journalists and officials if anything happens to him. Allus accepts his resignation. McGann is contacted by his stepmother; his father is dying and he goes to visit, despite past grudges. Dian is a district attorney and trying to take down mobster Leonard Sangiacomo. Josh visits with his father, when they hear gunshots. they find Dian dead. Josh gets his father back in bed, after failing to find the assassin. his father collapses and dies from the stress. Dian's partner tells Josh about the case, the break in at a police evidence locker and the death of 2 police officers. The evidence against Sangiacomo is gone. Josh's father had mentioned something about the Dreamwalker, which Josh recalls was a masked vigilante., in the 30s and 40s but is long gone. He recalls something his father said about the library and the Book of Dreams. Josh goes down there and checks it out and finds a hidden closet, with weapons, a costume and a diary.  The funeral follows and Josh returns home and finds someone breaking in. he thinks it is tied to the killings; but, it's an old partner, Dante, there working for "the company." Dante gives it a pass, for old times sake; but says not next time and leaves. Dreamwalker pays a visit to a material witness and convinces him to still testify, that he and his wife will be protected. The man leaves with police and ends up blown up, in a car. Josh hears the news that Dante was found dead, in the East River. Dreamwalker goes to see Andrea Beck, the other witness and arrives in time to save her from an assassin...  He interrogates the assassin and convinces Beck to testify. The assassin bites into a cyanide capsule and dies. The next day, the DA tells Josh that Andrea refuses to testify. We see her with Sangiacomo, who threatens her mother and she agrees to keep quiet. Then, we see Ben Ehrlich, the partner of Dian McGann. He is Sangiacomo's man. He wants Dreamwalker eliminated, for safety.  Dreamwalker checks in on Andrea and she confesses the threats and the presence of Ehrlich. He tracks him and gets confirmation of him with Sangiacomo. he goes back to Andrea for some nookie, then back at it. Meanwhile, the company had cameras secreted in Lloyd McGann's house and they have shots of Josh as Dreamwalker (thanks to Dante, though Josh found some of them). Dreamwalker is scouting Sangiacomo's place and breaks in. He gets past dogs and goons and drugs the mob boss and amps up his paranoia, turning him against Ehrlich. He then visits Ehrlich and dumps him on the mobster's doorstep. sangiacomo kills him adn Dreamwalker catches him. The mob boss is unable to kill himself and Dreamwalker calls the police.  He goes to visit Andrea and she signals something amiss and he fights 2 company goons; but, one of them gets Andrea at gunpoint. He is told to go to his house, where Allus waits. He unveils his blackmail of McGann...  He tells him how his mother died. Dreamwalker had an arch enemy, Alan Krinberg, a special effects man and stunt double. He became a criminal and fought Dreamwalker. It was all a game, feeding their egos, until it turned deadly...  Krinberg kidnapped the teenaged son of crooner turned matinee idol Anthony St John and demanded a ransom. dreamwalker visited the St Johns and vowed to get the son bac. he enlisted his wife to double Mrs St John to deliver the ransom. Dreamwalker surprised Krinberg, but he grabbed the wife and escaped at gunpoint. She fought and their car went off a cliff into the ocean. dreamwalker went after but was unable to save them. He did rescue the teenager, who was Leonard Sangiacomo. Allus then tells McGann he is back at work at the company or the press learns everything about Dreamwalker. He reluctantly agrees. Thoughts: Excellent modern take on a pulp hero. It reads rather like a rejected movie script, which I wouldn't bet against as the origin of this. Mumy and Ferrer grew up around Hollywood and fill this with the trappings of the underside of Los Angeles, while also ticking the boxes on the pulp hero pre-requisites. Gray Morrow makes it look exquisite, though it is overloaded with text, at times. there is a lot of dialogue and exposition, better suited to a film or tv project; but it never gets too overwhelming. This looks great, but was owned by Mumy and Ferrer and Tom Defalco cared less about Epic than Jim Shooter had and Marvel did sod all to promote this, hoping that a couple of Hollywood names would do it for them. Mumy was a name from the past, though he was still acting (and doing his Barnes & Barnes stuff) and Ferrer had already had notable roles in Robocop and Star Trek 3. It got minor notice in the fan press, but little more. As it is, it would make a great film; but is unlikely to ever happen. In the end, it is a nod to the past, and a showcase for a great artist, who was working elsewhere. DC would have probably made a bigger deal of it, but were still gunshy about creator-owned contracts. The corporate bosses wanted to own everything. Marvel hadn't gotten there completely, yet, though Epic was on life support, without Archie Goodwin, who left prior to this book. This is one Marvel Graphic Novel worth having, along with the previous Conan. There are a few gems in the line, and some of those are still to come, tough not many. By the by, as you can probably see, Chairman Allus looks rather like Miguel's Oscar-winning father, Jose Ferrer, aka Cyrano. 
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Post by berkley on Jan 30, 2020 22:35:28 GMT -5
I don't think the artwork on Conan of the Isles looks that great, myself - certainly not up there with Buscema's best work on Conan, though it varies with all the different inkers in these samples. Don't like the bright colours, either, at least not as they appear on the computer screen.
Gray Morrow's stuff looks great, OTOH. I might have to get this book just for that, though I'm not so sure about the story premise or the writing. I associate Morrow more with ERB or Flash Gordon style sword and planet fantasies but from the looks of this, he would have great on an MoKF or Bond-style espionage/action book.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 31, 2020 13:34:25 GMT -5
Morrow did a few things like this, including the Black Hood, which he modified for a story in Heavy Metal.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 31, 2020 15:40:04 GMT -5
I don't think the artwork on Conan of the Isles looks that great, myself - certainly not up there with Buscema's best work on Conan, though it varies with all the different inkers in these samples. I would go as far as to say it is below average, especially for Buscema! The first 30 or so pages of this graphic novel were first published as Conan annual #7, with different inkers (Bulanadi and Gil). The high point of the issue was the way Armando inked Conan as the 70-years old man he was, all wrinkly and with deep cheeks. The plan back when Roy was still editor was to serialize Conan of the Isles over a few annuals, so the character would have adventures in different decades in the three color mags: in his mid- to late twenties in Conan the barbarian, his early 60s in King Conan, and his 70s in Conan annual. Naturally the plan was dropped when Roy left for DC. I don't know if the rest of the pages languished in a box from 1980 to 1991 or if they were commissioned from Buscema when Roy came back to Marvel, but the publication as a Graphic Novel was a way to conclude the story (including the long reprinted part) without readers feeling they were being fleeced. It's actually a pretty sensible decision, but Big John's art here does does compare at all to what he did in Conan the rogue. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 6, 2020 9:43:46 GMT -5
Marvel Super Special #8, Battlestar Galactica Creative Team: Roger McKenzie-writer, Ernie Colon-art & colors, Jim Novak-letters, Rick Marschall-editor Based on the pilot "Saga of a Star World," by Glen A. Larson Synopsis: In the Seventh Millennium of Man, 12 Colony Worlds, the offshoot of another planet, known in legend as Kobol, have been at war with the Cylon Empire, for a thousand years. Now, the fleet prepares to rendezvous with a peace envoy, to sign a treaty, to secure the future of mankind.  Patrols are launched, while the leaders of the colonies celebrate impending peace. Commander Adama, who leads the Battlestar Galactica, feels uneasy, though his friend the president assures him that their envoy, Count Baltar, has brokered a peace that means their children will live in a world without constant warfare. Adama is still wary, feeling that the Cylons hate humans and that this peace came about suddenly. In the outer reaches of the sector, Adama's sons, Apollo and Zac detect a Cylon tanker and investigate. it appears to be a derelict until they move in closer and a wave of Cylon Raiders descend upon them. They fight their way through, desperate to alert the fleet of the Cylon ambush. Zac's ship is hit and he explodes just in sight of the fleet. Apollo survives and reports, just as the fleet detects wave after wave of fighters descending upon them. Galactica is the only Battlestar to launch fighters to intercept. Adama reports to the president, who stares at the signs of destruction in disbelief. His ship is hit by a suicide craft and explodes. The Galactica detetcts attacks on the Colony worlds and alters course to their home planet of Caprica, leaving their fighters behind. On the planet, a peace celebration erupts in fire...  The Cylons decimate the Colony worlds and the Galactica arrives too late. They are the sole surviving warship of the fleet. Their surviving fighters eventually land and learn the news. Adama sends out communications to all survivors to gather and board any starship that can carry them and take to the stars. Soon, a ragtag fleet is assembled, though many are left to their doom, for lack of ships. They set off, away from the colonies, in search of a haven. Commander Adama suggests searching for the fabled 13th Tribe, on a planet known as Earth. The fleet is in sad shape; food is scarce, some ships have dangerous radiation leaks, and people are tired, hungry, injured; but, most of all, fearful. Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer, three Colonial Warriors survey ships and meet Serena, a former newscaster, who cares for her son, Boxey, who is grieving for the loss of his pet dagget. She asks Apollo if he might speak to him, as they met Apollo on Caprica and Boxey seemed to spark when he was around. Apollo speaks to the boy and says he has been looking for him, as they need new warriors. he promises Boxey pick of the first dagget they find, if he eats all of his primaries and stops chasing girls. Serena thanks him for his kindness and alerts him to unsettling things on the Rising Star, a former luxury liner. Apollo investigates and finds Sire Uri, a politician and leader of his colony, hoarding food, while others starve, Apollo commandeers the food and makes an enemy of Sire Uri. Starbuck meets a beautiful socialator (lady of negotiable affection), who is injured, and arranges for her to be brought to the Galactica for treatment. Meanwhile, the traitor Baltar is brought before the Cylon Imperious Leader, expecting his reward. The Cylons slay him, as no human is to be left alive. A centurian reports intelligence that points to a fleet of survivors escaping the colony worlds. The leader orders them to be hunted to extinction. Adama and the new Council of 12 argue about their destination and the dire need of food and resources. Adama proposes a plan to go to the planet Carillon, to find what they need, while Sire Uri proposes Borallus. Adama objects, as it is too well known to the Cylons and likely to be blockaded in advance. carillon is more remote and away from the Cylons, but requires navigating a binary system, which the Cylons mined, during the war. Apollo proposes a three ship team to clear a path through the mines. Uri proposes he lead it, which is approved, over Adama's objections. Before leaving on his mission, Apollo presents Boxey with a robotic dagget, which he names Muffit, after his lost pet. The mission is successful and survey teams land on Carillon. Apollo and Serena meet the Ovions, an insectoid people who welcome them. Starbuck and Boomer find humans, at a casino and resort, of which they have never heard. The warriors are soon brought together and people from the fleet are allowed to land and eat and relax. However, Apollo and Starbuck soon discover that the Ovions are working with the Cylons and kidnapping humans, to be processed as food. While a celebration to honor the warriors is prepared, Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer help Cassiopia, Boxey and Serena escape the Cylons and Ovions. Adama had suspected a trap and most of his warriors are secreted on the planet, away from the casino. They launch and intercept the Cylons, destroying their Base Star and the Imperious Leader. The fleet heads off to find their lost 13th Tribe and the planet Earth.  Thoughts: The success of Star Wars had studios and comics scrambling to mimic that success. Marvel was saved, financially, by the sales of their comic adaptation of the movie and the continuing series. They looked for any sci-fi property to publish and soon secured the rights to Universal's new television series, Battlestar Galactica. This would launch their adaptation, both in magazine and Treasury Edition format (partnering with Western/Whitman, to produce it). The adaptation follows the pilot script and Ernie Colon does an excellent job of making it dynamic and visually exciting. As is usual in these things, it becomes clear he had limited source material and many ship designs do not appear in the series. He has only limited shots of the Galactica, since he, presumably, only had a few photos, from which to work. Marvel would turn this into a regular series, starting with serializing the pilot and moving on from there. It would become a regular series for Walt Simonson, who broke into comics on the strength of a sci-fi project, in college. However, it never quite had the success of Star Wars, partially due to the series being cancelled at the end of its first season, due to high production costs and declining ratings. Both in the pilot and the adaptation, Baltar is executed, though the tv broadcast mostly implies the execution, while the theatrical version showed it. The series was originally to be a series of telemovies, but ABC moved it to a regular series slot. Baltar was given a reprieve, in the opening of the next episode and became the series villain. It appears likeness rights were not involved and most of the characters are approximations of the actors, with baltar appearing to be based on conceptual drawings, as he looks nothing remotely like John Colicos. The adaptation condenses things down, but the key story points are there and the characters well established. The rest of the special features text articles, with an interview with special effects head John Dykstra (who led the effects team on Star Wars), as well as information about the Colony worlds, the Galactica and the Viper fighters, the Cylons and the war between the races. The tv series and comic depict them as mechanical, though the novelization and a piece of dialogue in the pilot stated the Cylons had been a reptilian race that advanced cybernetics and became more mechanical, over time. Higher brain implants were used in command centurians, and the later IL series robots, portrayed by Lucifer (voiced by Jonathan Harris, of Lost in Space) and the Imperious Leader is said to have a tri-brain, though with a different form form the other Cylons. A new Imperious Leader arises at the start of the series, who tasks Baltar to find the humans to be conquered, to cut down on some of the bloodshed in the series. The series was a hallmark of late 70s tv, though it had a rocky season. The initial episodes set up the premise and the pilot was followed by the discovery of their homeworld of Kobol (presented as looking like ancient Egypt, in keeping with the backstory of the series). From there, it kind of lost its way. The telemovie scripts became the basis for generally good two-parters; but, single episodes were often homages to classic tv and film (as were the two-partners). Rather than finding further pieces of the puzzle, they more often spent time redoing Shane, the Magnificent Seven, Patton, Guns of Navarone, The Towering Inferno, and Perry Mason. Halfway through, there was a bit of retooling, with the introduction of Count Iblis and beings of Light. False Earths were teased, as they encountered new human civilizations, before the series ended. The series was retooled and relaunched in 1980, as Galactica 1980, set further in the future, with Apollo dead and Starbuck believed dead. two new young warriors survey the newly discovered Earth, in hopes of advancing it enough to shelter their people and defend against the Cylons. Episodes were set on Earth, to avoid costly effects and stock footage was used, to low ratings and eventual cancellation. After years of trying, the series was rebooted, by the Sci-Fi Channel, as a metaphor of r9/11 and the socio-political events that followed, while giving the Cylons a more biological background. It proved a huge success and carried the story to a finale. Given the state of Hollywood, expect the series to be rebooted, again.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 6, 2020 9:46:53 GMT -5
ps I note the irony of that clip being from NBC Cassics, when the series was broadcast on ABC.
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Post by brutalis on Feb 6, 2020 10:12:33 GMT -5
This was one of my favorite Super Specials which I would read quite regularly and draw from. Mostly in part to the efforts of Ernie Colon's art. He was a real eye opener here: as most of the Colon I had ever seen before this was his work doing Harvey comics kid stuff and his Grim Ghost from Atlas comics. Colon gave Galactica a nice science fiction look which differentiated it from what was happening in the Star Wars book along with the added neon coloring/highlights providing a nice punch to his artwork.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 7, 2020 11:52:59 GMT -5
I was very unfair to Colon's art when I first read that story in pocket-book format; I wanted photorealism for my (then) favourite TV series and not what I dismissed as "cartoony" art. Ah, the foolishness of youth.
It's with his back-up in a later Super Special (the one featuring Star-Lord) that I really came to appreciate what a good comic-book artist the man is. I even grew into a genuine fan, especially when he inked his own work.
Side note : not only was there little Galactica source material for Ernie to base his art on, but even the script provided to Marvel wasn't the final one. The character Serina was still called "Lyra" here.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 7, 2020 14:16:49 GMT -5
I had the Treasury Edition, which has some so-so reproduction, compared to the magazine version, which is where the scans came from.
One of the things that made these adaptations unique is that they often included material not in the finished film, such as the Star Wars deleted scenes, or Indy tying himself to the periscope of the German sub in Raiders.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 15, 2020 10:57:17 GMT -5
Marvel Graphic Novel #44, Ax Creative Team: Ernie Colon-everything, Sid Jacobson-editor This Ernie Colon's baby, from start to finish. he had done a very few things like this; but not on this kind of stage. Not that Marvel did much to promote it, as I recall (doesn't have Wolverine). Synopsis: Our story opens in the pages of Heavy Metal...  Why did anyone think that a mullet with a rat tail looked cool? We watch the kid do his chores, while he thinks stone statues speak to him, which his grandmother mocks. then, a bunch of soldiers turn up (looking like mongols....or Nazis...you know the type....) They are looking for someone named Alia Crunz, and threaten to burn down the village if they don't find him. He steps forward and is told he is being done for poaching. They tie him to a steak and prepare a firing squad (of spears) and Ax steps in front to stop the thing. Villagers implore his grandmother to pull him aside, but she believes in tough love and lets him twist in the wind (well, she says she cannot interfere, which is the same thing). The soldiers don't "fire." One is cajoled and Ax splits his spear with his....axe. He grabs another. meanwhile, our Heavy Metal types report. They need the kid for something; their future depends on it. We see some African stereotypes rolling bones, outside the high tech city. they see that the kid is okay, then we do.  The goon squad leader leaves and the kid is taken prisoner, after a soldier offers his respect. the high tech people launch a nuke at the "primitives." Ax is brought before the prince. he hears that Alia is dead and rolls his eyes into his head and the goon leader knifes himself. AAx throws his axe at the prince, who is okay with it. The high tech people need their "expected one." the primtaives march away from the danger zone. So, the high techs launch all their nukes, as they die of an "aging plague," the primitives get turned to ash, a high tech soldier turns up to claim Ax and the prince is shot. This is getting weird. Turns out, Ax is supposed to save the high tech people. Yeah, right....  So, um, the goon leader kills the prince and takes over the kingdom (principality?), Ax rejects the high techs and aids the primitives and leads a pair to his village and grandmother and shows they are human as the white people and we end suddenly and without much closure. Thoughts: Um..........it looks nice. This is an odd one. This is an Epic piece, without an Epic label and it has all the hallmarks of an average Heavy Metal story, right up to an ending that doesn't really work. Ax is some sort of "chosen One" and he ends up rejecting the people who chose him to defend their enemies, who they label "sub-human." It's basically a parable of racial prejudice and genocide; but it kind of loses the plot, along the way. All very metaphorical, which was a step up for Marvel, in 1988; but nothing spectacular. Colon makes it look great, which is the main thing it has going for it.
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 15, 2020 11:43:21 GMT -5
Marvel Graphic Novel #45, Arena Violence against women. i see Bruce Jones is sticking to form. Creative Team: bruce Jones-story & art, Jack Morelli-letters, Paul Mounts-colors, Tom DeFalco-editor Synopsis: A woman and her teeen/pre-teen daughter are driving in a backroad area, when the mother stops to enjoy the scenery, while the kid is all "Whatever!" After some gratuitous bikini shots, the woman sees a plane crash and runs back to her car to go investigate, though some lurker in the bushes watched her go. After some teenage but shots, they can't find the plane. The daughter, Lisa, is an aviation nut, and thinks mom is nuts, based on her description. Meanwhile, the watcher in the bushes turns out to be an inbred hick and we find ourselves in The Hills Have Eyes, as the simpleton thinks he has seen a mermaid and granny asks if she has child-bearing hips and is alone. The brother looks at a skin rag. Boy the cliches are just flowing.  Our plane is down and the pilot, a woman, gets out. She and the sightseer encounter one another, yet can't see each other, only hear. the pilot is Lt Lisa Roberts and she has passed through time, in her X-27. Lisa? Wonder who she will turn out to be?  Lisa sees a dinosaur and hides, while the woman, Sharon, is kidnapped by Jethro Bodine. Young Lisa witnesses this from the car. Sharon is taken away to breed babies for sale and little Lisa sees this through the window of the cabin, then runs off to blubber. Old Lisa sees dinosaurs fight, then a prehistoric man turns up and cops a feel, until she elbows the guy and runs off, finding Sharon's car. She locks herself inside and fends off the cave dude, then finds the registration of the car and a picture and confirms she is Little Lisa all grown up. What a surprise! The pron-reading hillbilly, Rut, tries to rape Sharon and gets kicked in the goolies. Sharon dives for his rifle and they scuffle. She hits him with a pan, the grapple with the rifle and Sharon is shot dead, all witnessed by Little Lisa.  Big Lisa remembers it all. She goes to stop it from happening, since it hasn't, yet. Sharon is tied up in the cabin and Jethro, ska Lem, comes to talk to the purty lady. He ain't never had no lady. Sharon tries to seduce him into cutting her loose. Little Lisa sees a dinosaur and Big Lisa tells her to stay quiet and they won't be noticed. Rut and Granny are looking for the car. They run into a pterodactyl. Lem and Sharon run off to a waterfall. Lisa and Lisa go to the cabin. We get flashbacks and dialogue about a bad marriage and Lisa blaming herself for coming between her parents, while Old Lisa tries to explain it to her younger self, as Sharon explains to Lem. A Triceratops shows up and Lem tries to fight it. Rut shoots his brother, who Granny beats. They carry Sharon back to the cabin. Lisa squared go to the cabin and are seen and Big Lisa tells Little Lisa to run to the woods. Big Lisa confronts Lem and Little Lisa hides from Rut and Granny (Jed............). When LBig Lisa hears that Sharon is okay, she rescues lem, who she kicked over the side of a cliff. Lisa evades Rut and goes back to the cabin, the see him turn up and things play out again, only to be interrupted by Big Lisa...  Lisa kicks the crap out of Lem and rescues Sharon. they walk out to meet Little Lisa and then Granny shoots Sharon. lem kills Granny and Lisa starts to fade back to her time. She tells Little Lisa to remember what happened, so they can change history, in the future.  Thoughts: Um.......yeah. Basically, this is an exploitation comic, with a sci-fi hook and not a particularly great hook. Jones clues you in from the start, which kind of ruins any twist, and gets all weird with his dinosaur metaphors. When I say exploitation, I mean exploitation, as there are way too many provocative poses in a story about violence against women, which makes it seem sexy, which is as bad as anything within the story. Quentin Tarantino would love this, I'm sure. I think it is a cliched pile of poo. Jones is a decent writer and artist; but, this is juvenile stuff, and I don't mean for kids. Marvel just didn't give a crap, at this point, which is why bankruptcy will be just down the road a bit. Tom DeFalco's reign as EIC has been criticized for lacking any real direction and authority and this certainly supports that criticism, in my book.
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