Kandosii!

Star Wars: Republic Commando - True Colors by Karen Traviss.

You do not need to be a Star Wars fan to love this series. In fact I'd go so far as to say the less you now about Star Wars the more you'll dig this stuff.

Picking up a few months after the events of Triple Zero the commandos are off to defend a Republic that they are finding to be less than worth the effort to defend.

There really is a ton going on in this book and it's sort of hard to talk about too much of it without spoiling the fun of reading it yourself.

So here is what I can tell you - Delta Squad (Boss, Sev, Scortch, Fixer) Omega Squad (Niner, Darman, Atin, Fi) Three of the Null A.R.C.'s (Ordo, Aden, Mereel) Kal Skirata, Walon Vau are here to teach you how Mandalorians get things done.

The basic premise for the book is the hunt for Ko Sai, the Kaminoan geneticist who created the clones. On the run from her own people, the Seperatists and the Republic, Ko Sai doesn't want to be found. Which is just what Mandalorians are best at.

But really that only scratching the surface for the book. The Clone Wars has been raging across the galaxy for over a year now and the R.C.'s (Republic Commanodos) are starting to get sick of it. Feeling like they should have obliterated the Seperatist forces by now, the troops privately begin to question just who is calling the shots on this war. At the same time questioning morality of a Republic that preaches freedom to all but utilizes what is basically a slave army not - given no choice to serve and given no rights as citizens of the Republic. Feed up with getting tossed aside to die when injuries are beyond what a field medic can fix, the troops can't even count on their Jedi Generals for support. The R.C.'s may serve the Republic but their loyalty is only to their brothers.

But Kal (Their training Sargent and adoptive father) with the help of his Null A.R.C.'s (Advanced Reconnaissance Commandos) Ordo, Mereel, Aden, Prudii and Kom'rk they have a plan to give the clones something that every sentient being in the galaxy has a choice - they just need to find Ko Sai first.

And that's not even the half of it.

The book is utterly fascinating. People love to whine and gripe and complain about George Lucas's prequel series but the simple fact is this - the prequels are brilliant. The films may not equal the original trilogy in a lot of ways. But it has provided such a deep ocean of possibility and several authors have taken full advantage of it (I still say Matthew Stover's adaption of Episode III is possibly superior to the film)

Karen Traviss has created a fantastic series of books full of memorable characters and she has done something that I will be eternally grateful for - She has taught us Mandalorian culture and even created a language full of fun words that we can use in our everyday life to confound our friends and family.

This book is military sci-fi on a very high level.

And even better? This series started as an adaptation of a video game. How crazy is that? Maybe Bungie and Microsoft should have got her to write their Halo books.

If you don't know this series, start with Hard Contact then move to Triple Zero where the stakes really start to get raised. Then read True Colors because this summer the shit is really going to hit the fan - the title of the next book says it all - Order 66

That can't be good for the Jedi...

The playoff payoff?

My beloved Washington Capitals have made a bold statement, 'the playoffs are within our reach and we are going to give it everything we have'.

Yesterday was the NHL trade deadline, it's practically a holiday to die hard NHL fans and teams basically announce to their fan base whether they are throwing in the towel for the season or if they plan to make sure you pay attention the rest of the way out. The Caps want you to pay attention and they aren't asking, they are demanding it.

4 trades of significance for the team and not much in the way of assets lost, George McPhee has done a masterful job of giving his team a legitimate shot at playoff birth. Weather that is secureing a spot in the at the bottom of the 8 seeds or claiming the division lead and leap-frogging their way to the 3rd seed remains to be seen.

A quick examination - Matt Pettinger sent to Vancouver for Matt Cooke. Mostly a contract swap dictated by Matt's struggles this season. If Cooke makes a good impression he could be resigned but in the short term will bring some fiestyness to the line-up.

A prospect swap with Atlanta, we send them Joe Motzko for Alexandre Giroux, who we had in the organization last season. I feel like there is something going on that I don't know about here, like why did we let Giroux go if we liked him this much. I liked Motzko but guess this has to be considered and even-steven trade.

Sergei Fedorov from Columbus for prospect Theo Ruth. Ruth was our second round pick last season but his stock has fallen - projected to be a 5th or 6th D-man, meaning he was very expendable. Fedorov is past his prime but he's not being asked to lead the team in scoring so he should be a great addition to the club, plus he is looking to impress heading into free agency this summer. Here is to hoping the three time cup winner has enough left in the tank for another go around.

Finally, what had to be one of the most shocking trades I've seen in a while - Montreal send us Christobal Huet, their #1 netminder for a 2nd round draft pick in 2009. Yeah, 2009 that is really not anytime soon. This is a steal and a half. But it does cause a stir in that the team decided to keep both Olie Kolzig and Brent Johnson. Can you say 'awkward'?
I like both Kolzig and Johnson, however, in my opinion Huet is the goaltender we need to keep. I don't want to shove Olie out the door, and Johnson is a great back-up so I don't know what the Caps will do this summer, but Huet could be the bridge we need so our very young goalie prospects can develop. I've been impressed with Huet since his days with the Kings when I would go to Staples Center and tell the fans their that he was better than there actual #1 at the time Roman Checkmanek - guess who was right? Me! So I was stupefied when LA traded him to Montreal, but at least there he got his chance and took the job from Jose Theodore and earned a trip to the all-star game last year. Plus the dude is French, not French-Canadian but French French, as like from Paris! How often do you see that? Impressive.

So what will happen with this new three-headed monster in goal? Who knows, but if it helps us makes the playoffs and maybe a nice run deep into the spring, I dnn't think too many folks will be complaining about it.

Oh yeah, and the Caps put together a very nice 4-1 last night over Minnesota, with Kolzig looking like a goalie who knows he needs to stay sharp to keep his #1 spot. Competition can be a wonderful thing. Congrats to Brooks Laich on a career night - 4 points (2 goal 2 assists)

Lets keep it up boys!

I <3 Valiant!

Wow, this book is more effective at time travel than a Delorian going 88mph!

Valiant Comics... I get all misty and nostalgic just think about it all, the glory of comics in the mid-90's, not that there is really too much to brag about from that era, but the beginning of Valiant is one of them.

The end of Valiant is not. But that is a sad tale for another time. Although I am loathe reopen those wounds again.

So lets cut to the chase, there is a new Valiant Comics in town and instead of tying to flood the over crowded comics market with new product they are out to get back their old fans first by regaining the right to properties lost and now that they have them (most of them at least) we are presented with this collection of the first storyline from their debut super team - Harbinger.

Don't let the name fool you, they don't actually have a name. Known simply as 'The Renegades' these four teenagers are trying to stop Toyo Harada, head of the Harbinger Foundation and his plans to change the world 'by any means necessary'.

Pete Stancheck, initially a top recruit for the Foundation, is appalled when he see the changes in his behavior since joining up. When his best friend is murdered by Harada in order to keep Pete inline the effect is quite the opposite, Pete rebels and goes on the run. Knowing that Pete is potentially the second most powerful being on the planet Harada will stop at nothing until 'the renegade' is put down.

Eventually, deciding he can't do it alone, Pete along with his human girlfriend Kris intercept a few recruits of their own, Zepher - a flyer, Flamingo - fire, and Torque - Strength. And the battle against Harada can now really begin.

If it sounds a little X-Men-ish, you'd be right. It's x-men with out the spandex (sort of) and the insane over top comic bookiness. What made Valiant different was the sense that it took place in your world. Everything was done with plausibility in mind.

Going through this collection I'm reminded that even in my youth Harbinger wasn't my favorite comic. If it were to be published it probably still wouldn't be. But that doesn't mean it isn't a very well done book. With talents like Jim Shooter and David Lapham attached does that really surprise you?

Mostly I bought this to show my support for the new Valiant Comics in the hopes that they would publish more books like this. This spring I get my wish as they collect issues #0-#6 of X-O Manowar, possible the coolest idea for a comic book character ever. More on that when it's out...which can't come soon enough!

Shop Class - 2/20/08

Checkmate #23

This is possibly the most underrated comic on the market. Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann have created an espionage masterpiece set in world of super heroes, villains, terrorist groups and lots of political backstabbing.

It's a damn shame that Rucka and Trautmann have just announced they are leaving the book. Joe Bennett is also leaving, so it's three times the loss three times the misery.

Luckily that is still months away and I plan on enjoying the hell out of the next three issues.

#23 kicks of the "Castling" storyline as we learn what Pawn 502 has been up to since his deep insertion of the terrorist group Kobra. All this leads up to what promises to be a simply spectacular finish in #25 where we will FINALLY see the ROOKS unleashed! Cannot wait.


The Immortal Iron Fist - Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death.

From the too talented for words Ed Brubaker and his trusty accomplice Matt Fraction we get this one-shot tale of the golden age Iron Fist - Orson Randall.

The "Immortal Iron Fist" has been one of the best comics to hit the shelves in a long time and this issue only promises to deepen the mythology that is being created for a character that had been neglected for far too long.

It kung-fun, gun play and as Orson squares off against none other than the Prince of Orphans in a battle that will surely be felt across the years for Danny Rand.

Read it, love it!

3 in 3

The Ultimates Vol. 1 - It's been a few years since I've originally read this series and to be honest it's lost a little of the luster I used to associate with it. That said, it's still far superior to just about any super hero book on the market. Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch reinvent the Marvel Comics super team, TheAvengers, for the modern age and try to apply a liberal dose of reality to characters who are normally far removed from it.

The series easily splits into two halves.

The first half deals with the creation of the super team. Tony Stark and Nick Fury have a grand plan to make a team of heroes to protect the world from the forces of evil. The lynch pin of the plan is the a team of scientists led by Bruce Banner attempting to recreate the super soldier serum that created Captain America in World War II. The program is immediately validated when Caps frozen body is found in the North Atlantic. Eventually the team is set - Cap, Iron Man, Giant-Man, Wasp with more heroes ready to be made. They are a P.R. hit with only one problem - they have no one to fight. Doc Banner, meanwhile, jilted by Betty Ross and cracking under the pressure to recreate Caps formula decides if he can't make a hero for the team the least he can do is give them a villain to fight - thus the Hulk is born. The rampage through NYC is great and has several very cool fight scenes and Thor finally comes around and joins the team too.

The second half deals with repercussions from the Hulk attack, personal issues with Jan and Hank Pym (Wasp & Giant-Man) oh and an alien invasion Cap thought he had defeated back in World War II.

A lot of characters end up showing up as the book unfolds including Hawkeye and Black Widow and Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch (who have two hysterical scenes in the book)

The main focus of the book is Cap, Iron Man and Thor, and rightly so. They have some of the best scenes and dialog in comics. I actually thought Thor was done ten times better in this series than he's ever been portrayed in the Marvel U proper. Iron Man is fantastic but the to me, Cap is simply the best. The man of out time angle is played perfectly and is only topped by some truly amazing visuals by Hitch.

Overall - an excellent book, and could probably be attractive to non comic book readers for is great fights, hip taling and pure cinematic vision of the artist.


The Flash : Wonderland - The very first comics story from uber-writer Geoff Johns. Honestly, it's a nice start. Not his best story but serves as a nice introduction to his vision of the Flash that would turn into one of the most popular periods in the characters history as Geoff would stay with the book for 5+ years.

Alternate reality storyline done with a few new wrinkles. What I found liked best reading this years ago as single issues is still what I like best about it this time around as a trade - The Rogues, Captain Cold and Mirror Master are a blast and play off Wally (the Flash) in ways they really hadn't done under past writers.

I'll skip the lengthy recap here, if the names Geoff Johns, Flash, Captain Cold and Mirror Master don't do anything for you you are beyond my help.


Powers Vol 9 : Psychotic - I'm hesitant to say too much about this series in a blog review. This is a book you need to start at #1, so much has happened that almost anything i say could be construed as a spoiler.

So know this - Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim solves crimes that involve super heroes and super villains, aka 'Powers', and things never play out they way you might think they would. Peeling away the layers of heroes to reveal the flawed people that have the power of gods!

In this volume things are in play and Deena is changing after her capture and torture at the hands of powered villain in the last volume. Oh and they have to the solve the murder of the hero known as Blackguard.

It's brilliant. Not the best volume but still very strong. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Omeing keep up this great series!

In case you forgot #1 : Alien 3 is awful!

As some folks might be aware, I've been going through a bit of a renaissance in terms of getting back in touch with my sci-fi roots. For several weeks it had been an excellent experience watching some movies that I haven't seen in at least 5 years, in some cases even longer. Last week I ended up getting sick badly enough that watching TV was the extent of the activity I could participate in so I decided to break out my "Alien Quadrilogy" DVD set. Watching "Alien" and "Aliens" was just an absolute blast.

Those two films are over 20 years old, Alien is almost 30, and those films still holdup as two of the strongest genre movies aver made. But you know that already, no need to gush about that right now.

Next up was "Alien 3". The last time I saw this was maybe when it was first released on video and that had to be at least 15 years ago. My memories of the movie were not kind, but I wanted to try and watch it with new eyes. After all, my super-duper 9 disc dvd set included an all new expanded version, maybe this would help make the film better, strengthen the story or add new and interesting plot points...

My brother said it best - "how do you make a bad movie worse? You make it longer."

With an added 20 minutes this is pure torture!

Do you know what the worst part is? Really?

I can't get past the opening of the film without my bullshit alarms going off in my brain. The whole "Gee how did we not notice that egg next to our cyrotube" plot makes my brain hurt. Then you needlessly kill Hicks and Newt & Bishop (yeah, he's droid, so what?). It's pointless and unnecessary. I can think of about ten thousand other ways to make an Alien film without using these characters that doesn't call for a lame death.

But if that's the low point for me then it should be nothing but up from here on out right? WRONG!

The movie is boring! Zero characters are interesting, Ripley is very un-Ripley like and I really didn't care if the Alien was to kill them all.

Oh and then there is the 'new' Alien.

Supposedly Aliens take on some of their host features, hence the reason why in 1 & 2 they move in a very human like way. In the original cut of 3 the alien is birthed from a dog so it makes sense that it moves on all fours and is very quick. This expanded cut however, the Alien is birthed from some sort of large cow-like animal. It makes no sense no at all!

Also, this movie came out a year or so after 'Jurassic Park' and I think studio exes wanted a creature who could mimic the ultra cool Raptors from that mega-hit. What they got was a very badly computer animated Alien that looked super fake in most of it's shots on the screen.

In this viewing it's evident that studio heads at 20th Century Fox wanted to make some quick cash buy trading on a known brand and just threw something together with no real plan or idea of how to execute it. I now understand why David Fincher has disowned this movie. That man has far too much talent as a director to have his hands dirtied with this turd of a film.

When next watching this series do yourself a favor and skip over it. Alien:Resurrection is tons better (even if that film sort of falls apart in the last 20 minutes or so) at least Ripley gets to play off of the always great Ron Pearlman and strong (but not his best) script by the uber-cool Joss Whedon.

Or just watch 1 & 2 over and over until you forget.

Shop Class - 2/13/08

Meant to get this posted yesterday...

Well, only one comic I can say I'm really looking forward to this week,

Booster Gold #0 - Revisiting the events of the 90's crossover (which you either loved or absolutely hated) Zero Hour.

This series has been a pleasant surprise and while I wasn't thrilled with the developments from last issue I came to the conclusion that it's only a temporary situation and part of a larger story that will be playing out over the next few months.

Here's to hoping I'm right.

By Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz and Dan Jurgans

Back from nowhere.

Just a quick hit for today. After an outstanding overtime winner (goal netted by Mike Green) the Caps are back in first! Here's to hoping it's lasts longer than two days :)

So freaking good!

Alexander Ovechkin is simply one of the most explosive players I've ever seen and he was pure dynamite last night.

Here are a couple of links to some nice newspaper coverage. I'll try to post some video once I find something decent looking. Read here and here

Enjoy!