Cody Rhodes as Black Bolt?!

November comes to a close. What better way to mark the occasion than a possibility for the role of Black Bolt. Oh and to write this post via smartphone! 

So whose the latest possibility for the role of Black Bolt according to the interwebs? Why, wrestler Cody Rhodes!

Say what?! You may ask. Well, Marvel hasn't said a thing but apparently Cody is a big and would love to play him in the upcoming eight episode (?!) first season. Sorry, no links. I , er, don't know how to include links on Blogger via smartphone...

Honestly, I think the former Stardust could do a decent job. His recent appearance on Arrow wasn't half bad. Heck, I would love it if he reprised the character later on. Cody has the charisma and build to pull off the role of Black Bolt. Years of wrestling experience required conveying oneself nonverbally. Something that's a must playing the king of the Inhumans. The only catch is would his television spark translate to the Big Screen? Sure, Cody dazzles on the silver screen but could he do so in cinemas worldwide as the Inhumans film has not been scrapped? 

I don't know the answer to that. Cody left the WWE because of glass ceilings. So he hasn't demonstrated if he can shine up at the top. So while I think Cody could do a stellar job as young Black Bolt on the television, how well he can carry a movie as the silent regal monarch eludes me. 

Then again, if such non A-lists stars such as Robert Downey Jr and Chris Pratt can not only carry a Marvel movie while becoming A-list, Cody has a good shot at the role as anyone else. Certainly not deserving of a Michael Keaton-like reaction. Last I recall that Batman wasn't considered a dud

As for my first experience blogging via smartphone? It was... an experience. Not bad. I kept it very simple. More familiarity is a must! Needless to say, I prefer blogging using my PC in the meantime.

Till next time whether it be by phone or PC.

Agents of SHIELD "Deals with Our Devils" Highlights

Gosh, time sure flies! Seems like just yesterday I began the month of November with Halloween-related posts followed up by a celebration of D&D's induction into a toy hall of fame. Now, November ends tomorrow. Quite fitting then on this penultimate evening, my (hope to squeeze one more post in tomorrow) penultimate November post be about highlight post about the latest episode of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD. After all, I did begin the month commenting on the episode that revealed Ghost Rider's origins. Timing is quite impeccable to. The very night of!


Well, here goes. For the curious, each bullet point represents segments between commercial breaks.




I apologize. While writing my Halloween-related posts I goofed and bumped AoS up a season. Probably got confused by my marathon viewing of the fifth season of the Walking Dead. It is actually in its fourth season.




Spoilers










EP 4 - 7 Deals with Our Devils

• Eli creating four separate spear shafts of carbon, killing four agents, and then creating a wall of carbon did an excellent job demonstrating the power Eli now wields. Director Mace agrees with Daisy? What is he up to? The Senator's brother has been locked into the cocoon phase of terragenesis for 7 months! Yep, that's where Simmons is. Meanwhile, Mac goes rogue and rides off on a motorcycle.
• 'Do we look that silly when we are on the comms?' Phil, Fitz, and Robbie have apparently been knocked out of phase into another dimension. They are much further within the other dimension than the ghosts were! Guess, Mace isn't doing a run around by referencing Simmons... although he is trying to save face. 'May, Mac is Ghost Rider now. But you can't hear us.' 'Don't let your brother know...' 'Too late. Sorry, Coulson but if I am to have my vengeance on Eli...'
• Hey Radcliffe turned down reading the Darkhold! Quite a shocker actually... Apparently, the final stage of terragenesis required was a but a touch as Simmons touches the cocoon. Got a hoot out of that. Aida using the Darkhold. Yeah, don't think this will end well... Daisy discovers Mac is now Ghost Rider!
• Ah, Robbie and his car do have a connection! For the first time, Robbie and Ghost Rider have a nice face-to-face conversation. Ah. Aida builds a Darkhold dimensional portal of which only Fitz and Coulson can see the progress. Phil begins to be sucked into the other dimension!
• Finally, Simmons helps the Senator's brother complete the process and begin emerging from cocoon, while saying Gemma's name. She's removed before the process is completed. Aida's portal brings Fitz and Phil back. Robbie makes a new deal with Ghost Rider, which is more favorable to GR, which pulls it out of Mac. Later on, Mac waits for Robbie to emerge from the portal. He agrees to help Robbie-GR exact vengeance on Eli.
• Aida is Darkhold creating a human brain. This can't be good.

Another excellent episode! A strong fall season indeed.


Till next time.

D&D - A 2016 Toy Hall of Fame Inductee...

After my Halloween extended blogging session, I took a little hiatus from blogging. Partially to recharge. Partially because of more serious distractions, ie politics. But I am back to the blogosphere. Quite a bit I want to cover before 2017. What better way to resume than with importance of what one could call an important honorific.


Dungeons & Dragons has been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame class of 2016! You can read more HERE.


Frankly, while I am ecstatic about the induction, I don't actually consider D&D a toy per se. Honestly, if anything Transformers would have been a more worthy induction in my eyes. A generational thing, probably. While I grew up during the eighties, I also grew up during the nineties. So while I saw advertisements for the D&D game being available in toy shops, I was either too young when the red box was available or the game had been chased out. Supposed satanic influences and all that. My exposure to D&D was within hobby shops and such. Perhaps I am being to close-minded when it comes a Toy Hall of Fame? Perhaps one day, more adult games such as Cards Against Humanity will be inducted? Either that I am just bummed that a toy that played a huge part during my childhood, ie Transformers, didn't make the cut. Oh well, I suppose there's plenty of time for Transformers to be inducted. After all, the kids who were gifted with the Red Box of Dungeons & Dragons are probably in their forties now. So D&D's inclusion is probably a generational thing from those that could find it in a toy aisle to those that had to tromp into the unknown realm of the hobby shop.


Not saying, I didn't encounter D&D in toy form. Or figurine form is more like it. Back when the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon was reaching its nadir, I came across what I thought were D&D figures. I did buy one. Okay, it was bought for me. Don't remember what it was. It was monstrous looking creature wielding what I suppose was a sling. To my consternation, the limbs were not interposable like other action figures. Never saw them again. That was the only time I recall seeing Dungeons & Dragons in a toy aisle. Perhaps the red box was there too.


So Happy Induction into the Toy Hall of Fame D&D! If I am not whole-heartedly embracing the induction, it's due more to awkwardness than anything else.


Happy Gaming.

Halloween '16: MAoS Ghost Rider's Origin and Life Imitates Art

All Souls' Day marks my final official Halloween '16 blog post. As its All Souls' Day and the end of Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead what better topics than origin Marvel's Agents of SHIELD's Ghost Rider and how a James Bond movie influenced the custom of the Day of the Dead?


Note: I had wanted to squeeze in some more comic book reviews of the comics I picked up Monday as well as Disney's Giant Halloween Hex #1. Alas, that wasn't meant to be as I wasn't quite in the right frame of mind for comic book reading and Giant Halloween Hex is a massive comic! Just flipping through the pages I can definitely tell that I will get my money's worth when I finally read it. So next Halloween?


While I am familiar with the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead, which spans from October 31st to November 2nd, I didn't know there is no Mardi Gras-like parade. Those who've seen the most recent James Bond movie, heck if you've seen the trailers, then you've seen the gigantic parade that 007 navigates through during the opening segment of Spectre. So yeah, cultural literacy fail on my part believing that such a spectacle was a normal practice. However, turns out the tourism authorities felt that they were missing out and such a parade was something they should have. So this very year, 2016, marks the very first, Spectre-like, Day of the Dead parade. Talk about life imitating art! As longtime James Bond fan that's simply amazing. You can check out some photos and read more about this amazing, if controversial, development on a Mexican Halloween-ish tradition HERE.




Now for the highlights from the episode that provides the origin for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider:






Spoilers




S5-6 The Good Samaritan

• Show opens with a flashback during which the reactor (really a quantum matter device) creates a piece of carbon out of nothing! During celebrations a tipsy Lucy accidentally mentions a book to Eli. Modern day: Eli says the experiment was a failure as there wasn't enough power. Lucy responds that plenty of power is available at the new site. Eli voices concern that many lives could be at stake.
• Director sends Simmons, blind-folded, on a mission. No one can reach her throughout the episode.
• Gabe is led to believe Robbie is a secret agent...
• Director tell Coulson to prepare to be boarded as he plans to take Quake and Ghost Rider into custody.
• Fitz figures out that the device requires a massive amount of power.
• Han Solo and Admiral Ackbar references!
• Gabe is no slouch. He quickly realizes that the secret agent part is nonsense.
• Origin story time: Robbie was car racing with Uncle Eli's car when he allows Gabe to come along. The car is the same as the Ghost Rider car. They both discuss Uncle Eli not acting like himself, when all of a sudden a Molotov cocktail is thrown onto the hood! A car chase ensues when another car forces Robbie to do a rollover. Gabe's version of events was that while he was paralyzed he knew Robbie was okay when a good Samaritan came along and pulled him out and tended to Robbie. Robbie corrects him. Says that he blamed himself for the mess and that as he was thrown from the car he called out to anyone that he would do anything for his brother to be safe. Then he died. Yep, died. Yeah, pretty sure we can tell a Faustian bargain is coming...
• Origin continued: A classic deal with unsavory forces commences when a voice ask Robbie if he'll do anything to exact to vengeance. Robbie says yes. Then he sees classic Ghost Rider ride up to him on a motorcycle! Er, don't know if this is the demon or Johnny Blaze... Power is granted to him and Robbie becomes the Spirit of Vengeance!
• Director Mace figures out the containment unit is hidden.
• Ghost Rider busts out of the containment unit!
• At first there's a tussle, but Ghost Rider overcomes Director Mace beating him senselessly until Gabe stops him. I admit I marked out.
• Fitz deduces that the only place that could provide enough power was an old Isodyne facility. References to Peggy Carter, SSR, and the Darkforce from season two of Agent Carter!
• 'Must of predated the internet. How'd you ever get things done before then?'
• Flashback: Lucy talks about the book making them like gods while Eli mentions that he knew that attack was meant for him hired by Lucy's husband.
• Lucy - Robbie confrontation which ends rather badly for Ghost Lucy.
• However, before dying we learn that it was Eli that trapped the ghosts inside the chests! That he wanted the Darkhold for the power it could grant him. He actually beat Joseph in order to attain the book.
• May retrieves the Darkhold.
• Meanwhile, the power can't be turned. So while Mac is retrieving one of the perpetual EMP devices that the Watch Dogs used, Phil starts pulling tubing as Eli uses the Quantum Matter Device.
• There's a big wave. Eli emerges able to create a piece of carbon out of nothing!

Have to say the Ghost Rider origin didn't disappoint and for an episode that aired during the Halloween-All Saints' Day-All Souls' Day trifecta it didn't disappoint in terms of supernatural thrills and deals with the devil.  Plus in true Whedon-esque fashion, the Big Bad of the Ghost Rider arc is revealed after a classic betrayal! All in all, a fantastic episode!


With that is my All Souls' Day post and my last Halloween entry until next year. Although I may review Disney's Giant Halloween Hex #1 before next Halloween it'll be just a normal review.


Till next time.

Halloween '16: Samhain/All Saints' Day Reading

After last night's blogging, I spent the rest of Samhain/All Saint's Day reading. In addition to a couple comics, a Punisher story and a manga story, I read a bunch of nonfiction on Halloween, All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and archaeology related to them. Alas, I didn't finish reading all the comics I wanted to but tomorrow, which is All Souls' Day - and the final Day of the Dead in Mexico - is another day. Bear with me, the comic reviews are saved of last!


From archaeological perspective, there are studies examing the roots of Halloween in Ireland. In the November/December 2016 issues of Archaeology magazine, there's an excellent article by Erin Mullally called Samhain Revival. Starting in 2014, there have digs in the Hill of Ward, once known as Tlachtga, where there is evidence that ancient Samhain festivals may have been held there for centuries. More of primer article but if one can find it, I heavily recommend reading it. Further studies await and we may even learn Halloween traditions may date back as far as the Neolithic Age at the Hill of Ward! Okay, that last part is pure conjecture at this point but there's evidence of feasting, burning, and one or two burials already. Samhain Revival covers it much, much better than I can. I'd provide the link but I own a deadtree version of the issue in question.


On the topic of links, I did do a little research on All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, and relation to Halloween. So for those interested in more reference material here they are: (Note: some of them contain video clips for the data-conscious...) A primer on All Souls' Day can found HERE. An excellent primer on All Saints' Day can be found HERE. A third piece from the same Catholic Online site does a great job distinguishing between Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day. You can read it HERE. Turns out there's quite a difference... Finally, I came upon a source discussing how All Saints' Day is celebrated Poland HERE rather interesting particularly with the candles and how similar it is to Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration. There was talk about how nice weather on All Saints' Day serving as an excellent omen for the upcoming year. Speaking of nice weather, the excellent weather today played a significant role in impending my planned comic book reading for the day. Even saw a flock of turkeys!


Speaking of comic reviews here they are:


I am going to only provide a vague outline but some may still consider them Spoilers.








Punisher Annual #1
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Feliz Ruiz
Color Artist: Lee Loughride
Cover Artist: I'm assuming its not the variant - Rahzzah. An excellent cover that drew me in of a scarecrow with jack o'lantern for a head wearing a punisher shirt!


Story: One of the Punisher's creators (!) Gerry Conway wrote this story that occurs on Halloween. The Punisher is more a force of nature in this story as the narrator is the lens in which this story of revenge unfolds. Absolutely loved the Halloween nods such as street punks wearing masks, a Masked Ball conducted by the gentry, and some good old-fashioned trick or treating. Alas, the kids trick or treating were tricked! A very topical story includes references to police behavior, racial purity groups, and refugees/cultural inclusion. One could even say it's a story of moral identity!


Overall: One of the Punisher's creators helped craft an excellent Halloween story that is so much more than that as well as a Punisher story that is much, much more than that. 5 out of 5 stars.


Tomie (Halloween Comicfest edition)
by Junji Ito
"Mansion"


Story: A girl is lured to a mansion where all is not what is supposed to be, discovers horror Japanese-style, and manages to escape. I'd explain more but that would ruin it! Let's just say there's some... unexpected disguises and the female demon has very unusual way of projecting some of her abilities...


Overall: An excellent done-in-one, which I am sure will collected in manga format at some point, that does a stellar job in presenting the manga horror series Tomie. Can't say that it was an excellent horror manga enough 5 out of 5 stars.


With that is my All Saints' Day entry.

Halloween '16: Was Game Night at my FLCGS Trick or Treat?

This night on All Hallow's Eve while many went trick or treating, I went to my favorite local comics and games shop to play some Shadowrun (Missions) and pick up some treats in the form free comics courtesy of Halloweenfest (which I was unable to attend Saturday). Other than that I didn't dress up nor expected any candy.


To my surprise, there was indeed candy! So that was nice treat.


I admit I did dread a trick and that there may not have been any leftover comics from Saturday's Halloweenfest. Fortunately, that was not the case, and the Great Comic delivered comics to all the good Matts. Among my haul were: Afterlife with Archie Season Two, The Three Stooges Halloween Hullabaloo, Wraithborn, Harrow County #1 (a Halloween printing of the first issue), Evil Dead 2 Beyond Dead by Dawn #1 (Halloween printing... and didn't I just review a comic that came after this one? One "question" may just be answered), Tomie, Quilte, and Kitaro: Strange Fun for Everyone. Hopefully, if my usual comic book reading pattern doesn't hold up, I may very well have reviews tomorrow as part of my All Saints' Day blog entry! Heck, if I finish soon enough it could still be another Samhain entry as technically the Celtic holiday spanned from dusk to dusk.


So Halloween was all treat, right? Alas, the game I waited an entire month to play, Shadowrun 5E via the Shadowrun Missions organized play, was cancelled due to lack of players. So a bit of a trick. Fortunately, all was not lost as there was an unexpected treat or two. One, we were able to squeeze in a three player table D&D (5E) Adventurer's League with the mod DDEX3-12 Hillsfar Reclaimed. Two, I got to play my level 2 Half-Orc Barbarian again whom I hadn't played since the session during which I quickly created the character. Coincidentally, it's also the second time I played Hillsfar Reclaimed. A review and quasi-game write-ups are forthcoming in future blog post.


Okay, I'll spoil it a little as there two or three treats embedded in the session. One, the session went incredibly well. My character leveled to boot! Two, remember how I said I didn't wear a costume? Well, at some point during the mod, my character got to wear a costume. Not a very imaginative costume; but I went a couple trick or treat sessions with a similar approach. Three, Grogg (now level 3 Half-Orc Barbarian) acquired his first magical item! Although a rather bizarre item for a barbarian... I'll save it for during a review entry complete with plenty of spoiler warnings.


All in all, I had an excellent Halloween during Monday Night Game Night.


Happy Halloween!

Halloween '16: Ash, Cthulhu and Friday the 13th Share a Cover

I don't always buy a comic based on the cover, but when I do it has both Ash from the Evil Dead series and Cthulhu framed in Friday the 13th homage cover. Okay, maybe not Ash exactly. More like some chick holding the Necronomicon by the cabin from the Evil Dead movies. Meanwhile, a figure resembling Cthulhu lurks behind the cabin. All this framed by the outline of a person much like the movie posters from the first three Friday the 13th movies. Friday the 13 has an especially strong appeal for me at the moment because I just recently picked the entire set of the television series, which has absolutely nothing to do with Jason Vorhees. But, I digress.


Back on topic, the cover, and subject of today's Halloween-themed entry, belongs to the very first issue of Evil Dead 2: Dark Ones Rising #1. So yeah, an actual comic book review. So I'm pumped.




Spoilers




Writer: Frank Hannah
Pencilers: Oscar Bazaldua and Raul Valdes
Inker: Carlos Eduardo
Colorist: Chris Summers


Art: The art does an excellent job telling the story, while maintaining a high level of detail. A couple panels are rather murky such that I couldn't tell what the Cthulhu-resembling creature was doing. Thought presenting the creature via silhouette was neat touch as we don't actually get a full on look at it.


Story: First, it seems this story takes place in such a world where either Army of Darkness never occurred or is independent of it. Annie makes a comment about creating Ash, which is rather puzzling until reading the sneak peak in which Ash talks about being cloned from a hand. So second, this isn't independent story where all you've only needed to have watched the Evil Dead movies. A couple stories took place prior to this one. That said, the first issue is fairly accessible. Could be the Friday the 13th homage cover; but it reminds me of the days of horror franchises such as Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street where while it's a sequel to previous story one doesn't necessarily need familiarity with that story. Like 80's and 90's horror movies, the story really focuses around a heroine, Annie. Annie decides to make peace with her past by burning physical object representing that past such as the dagger and the book, Ex-Mortis (standing in for the Necronomicon). Then, like the heroines from those horror franchises she's pulled back into the fray when she pulls Ash out of the mud. Ash warns of the Dark Ones coming. Alas, the dagger and book were burned. Suffice it to say, one such Dark One, resembling Cthulhu, appears by crawling out of sinkhole that swallowed a town. In true Halloween spirit, the Dark One merges(?) with either the skeletons or souls of a nearby cemetery. Meanwhile, Ash and Annie flee for help hoping that it is just one...


Overall: Horror comics even moreso than movies rely upon mood and ambience with the reader being in the proper frame of mind. In this case, I'd have to say the combination of the cover and a sense of nostalgia for 80's and 90's horror led to me being enthralled with the story. Halloween being a day away probably helps too. If my FLCGS carries a copy of the next issue, I'll pick up the next issue. Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.


Happy Halloween Eve!

Halloween '16: My Walking Dead S5 Marathon

Last Sunday, while other people were watching the premiere of the seventh season of The Walking Dead, I began my marathon viewing of the fifth season. Yes, I hadn't yet seen the fifth season. Don't ask me when I'll catch the sixth and seventh season, I couldn't tell you. Okay, okay, okay. I did see a couple episodes of fifth season prior. So not the entire season but I did binge watch fifteen episodes. So continuing my (hopefully) daily Halloween blog entry here are my thoughts on those 15 episodes of Season 5. For the sake of brevity, I'm only going to list between one to five things that I felt were cool or noteworthy.




Spoilers






Strangers

• Rick and Carol finally coming to terms over him casting her out.
• Father Gabriel's first appearance!
• Alas poor Bob, he's experienced Dale's comic book fate as the Terminus cannibals have started eating him.

Four Walls and a Roof

• Father Gabriel is haunted by the fact that he kept his parishioners locked out as walkers attacked them.
• Baby Judith alerting the Terminus cannibals where people are hiding.
• Rick and Co ambushing the Terminus cannibals whom everyone thought were sneak attacking those in church.
• Tyrese once again finishing of the dying - Alas, poor Bob, I didn't know him well.

Slabtown

• Turns out those who nabbed Beth were a group of cops and they operate out of a hospital.
• Don't improve, you die!
• Walkers are referred to as robbers.
• Seeing Beth's transformation from weak link to bad ass as she helps Noah escape - killing several walkers in the process.

Self Help

• Wait? Eugene says the Human Genome Project may have the cure for zombies?! Clearly none of the rest of the cast were science geeks...
• Abraham beating a person or walker to death with a can of beans.
• Survival 101!
• Using the fire hose atop a fire engine to destroy zombies!
• Yep, Eugene's lying about a cure. So Abraham KO's him after three hits.

Consumed

• I've been wondering if everyone who dies becomes a walker, why are there dead that are inanimate? Shouldn't every encounter with corpse be dangerous?
• Walkers trapped within camping gear.
• Walkers knocking over a van then splattering to their doom following.
• Never really realized that walkers are attracted to fire before...

Crossed

• Father Gabriel's church torn up in order to construct defense.
• Walker utility workers trapped under a utility pole. Walkers that blasted by an aerial bombardment.
• Oh wait, the walkers were referred to as rotters? My bad.

Coda

• 'You've been out here too long.'
• Father Gabriel killing Walkers under his church with a machete is rather cool.
• Alas, I bet they felt the rescue was pointless as poor Beth dies stabbing with head cop with smuggled scissors. But they get Noah...
• Morgan!

What Happened and What's Going On

• I'm familiar with the comic so Glenn holding a bat is some pretty nasty foreshadowing...
• After being bit, Tyrese sacrificing his bit arm to a different walker before bashing its head in! Awesome!
• Seems someone knocked down the wall of the gated community...
• De-limbed walkers with a 'W' on the forehead...
• Alas, poor Tyrese, we knew him well - although probably not as well as we could have like in the comic. I'm starting to suspect that characters that live longer than they did in the comic are on borrowed time. Yes, I spoiled myself about the deaths during the Season 7 premiere...

Them

• Dispatching walkers by knocking them down a hill is an ingenious method.
• Feral dogs would be pretty nasty during a zombie apocalypse...
• Storm knocking down trees dispatching walkers.

The Distance

• This guy Aaron shows the group pictures of a gated community. Seems very calm and friendly.
• He calls walkers roamers.
• A car cutting through swaths of zombies as it plows through!
• Glenn demonstrates his camper know-how that he learned from Dale.

Remember

• Check your guns in!
• 'I like this place but they're weak and I don't want us to become weak.'
• 'Amazing how people from different backgrounds can become a family. Everyone has a job. Guess, the communists won after all.'
• 'We were almost out there too long.'
• 'If they can't make it, we'll take this place.'

Forget

• Another zombie with a 'W' on forehead.
• Poor horse.

Spend

• Rather like how the architect that designed the walls gave Noah his journal so he can jot down notes and record the beginnings of Alexandria.
• A grenade carried on a vest worn by a walker is shot and blows up!
• Oh... about the journal and the building of a great new society... yeah don't think that's happening now. Another one bites the dust.

Try

• A Nine Inch Nails song!
• The girl who came from outside is like a ninja.
• 'It is their world. We are just living in it.'
• Sasha seems to have inherited Andrea's marksmanship from the comics.
• More walkers with 'W' on forehead plus a gutted out woman tied a tree with the same 'W'.

Conquer

• Guess, there are living people with 'W' on foreheads calling themselves wolves. While I am not an avid reader of the comic, I don't recall them...
• Morgan calmly dispatching both wolves with a bo staff. Big change from his last appearance...
• Trailers full of walkers with 'W' on forehead!
• Morgan saves Aaron and Daryl.
• Wolves corralling walkers into semi trailers. Hmm I think these might be the people crashing down gated/walled communities...

Have to say, I liked Season 5 and had no problem with the pacing. I think the Wolves are neat addition to the Walking Dead mythos.


Till next time.

Halloween '16: MAoS: Ghost Rider arc Part Two

Time for the fourth installment of my Halloween-centric blog entries. Here's continuance of my thoughts along with episode rundown of the Ghost Rider arc for Season 4 of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.


SPOILERS


Stream of conscious notes follow:


S4-3: Uprising

• Show opens with Yo-yo at what I assume is a bachellorete party when what I assume is an EMP knocks out power for a block or more. There's a video feed from a group called the Inhuman Resistance calling for an end to the registration act. Hmm, somehow doubt that group is real... Director sends Phil, Mac, and Fitz to Miami - where Yo-yo is. We learn that May is at a CDC facility as the Chinese guy dies. Cue drumroll. Turns out the EMPs aren't just a Miami thing as GR and Quake experience one too... in CA.
• Hey Aida is walking about... Fitz suspects the EMP can be traced. While riots erupt and cars don't work, Ghost Rider's car isn't affected. We learn that Robbie became Ghost Rider because his brother Gabe was paralyzed. He considers it a curse and figures that if he exacts vengeance on the real villain behind his uncle's imprisonment the curse will be lifted. Gabe is threatened. While Daisy and Robbie fight gangers she quake saves Gabe. Yeah, quake is my shorthand for Daisy using her powers... A posse shows at the bachelorette party seeking an inhuman.
• Posse grabs the magic trick guy as they are led to believe he is whom they seek. Upon examination, we learn that May, and all infected, are being scared to death... The EMP is continuous so Fitz pulls out glow sticks and a slide rule! Daisy's arm is fractured and along a discussion of injuries we learn Ghost Rider doesn't get hurt. We also learned the uncle, named Eli, raised the boys. Bad-ass fight scene with Yo-yo, Mac, Fitz, and Phil! May's treatment requires that they're going to have to technically kill her...
• The posse are part of the Watch Dogs! Fitz uses a makeshift compass to triangulate where the EMP is coming from... Just as they are about to bring back May power goes out!
• There's been 7 outages... Ada's power source saves May... The team stops the EMP... Gabe figures out Daisy is Quake and tells her to leave his brother alone... The Director's name is Jeffrey Mace and he announces SHIELD is back. Ahead of schedule too! Senator Nadir is in league with the Watch Dogs and her brother is inside a terragenesis cocoon. Cue drumroll.

S4-4 Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire

• Simmons is apartment hunting when Fitz meets with Dr. Radcliffe. Ah that's his name! In my defense I still haven't finished watching last season... As it turns out her latest tour is actually lure by Daisy! Whose badly hurt... Coulson meets with Uncle Eli. May meets Aida! Daisy provides a list of Inhumans that were hacked from a SHIELD database. Forces Simmons to hack SHIELD... While Eli reveals nothing, Phil and Mac see Robbie and the chase is on!
• Awesome car chase comes to an unexpected end when GR's car crashes into an invisible quinjet. No damage! To Daisy's surprise Simmons gives someone the flash drive. Responds with 'well, I am her boss.' James aka Torch (? - I'll probably know the name when I finish last season) is next on the list. Now, Simmons insists to go along... Phil decides to let Robbie out of the containment unit.
• After James's bracelet is quaked off they arrange a meeting later. I suspect something will happen... Hey Aida speaks Chinese! Robbie speaks to uncle Eli and learns about work on a quantum matter device and a book... Ghost Lucky finds the guy Eli beat into a coma searching for the book.
• Radcliffe tells Aida that it is okay to lie to save a life such as Fitz lying to May stating Aida is Canadian. Yeah, there goes that bit of LMD's protocol... As it turns out James is allied with Watch Dogs! Okay, it caught me by surprise. James doesn't like being Inhuman, hates Inhumans, wants to help hunt them down, and be the last killed. Sounds like a nice guy. Daisy quake blast everyone down. Just when James finds Daisy and Simmons hiding Ghost Rider saves them. He acquires James's chain. Iconic GR chain! There's a fight which leads to fireworks explosion. As promised Robbie let James live. The guy in the coma is Joseph Baer, Lucy's husband, was behind the group working with the book. It's the Darkhold! Lucy wakes him up... Phil recruits Quake and Ghost Rider to help them... Aida fools everyone except Simmons and she confronts Fitz about that secret. Uh oh, that's one more secret that she has to worry about during her upcoming lie detector test!

S4-5 Lockup

• Awesome Johnny Blaze nod! Leather jacket, motorcycle, chains, and travelling circus posters inside a basement. Lovely tie to Johnny Blaze the original Ghost Rider. Well, of the Flaming Skull variety.
• You don't read the Darkhold. The Darkhold reads you. Alas, ghosts can't glean anything from it's pages.
• The team head to the prison where Uncle Eli is when they discover the ghost are already there!
• Officials have gone nuts from their contact with the ghosts. So we get to see Ghost Rider and Quake in action. Speaking of infection, turns out the cure requires injection into the base of the skull. Sounds... pleasant...
• "We are here to... uh... rescue you?" "We met you half way"
• Ghost Lucy releases the prisoners who were recruited into the watch dogs!
• Ghost Rider using the chain! Okay, it's a different chain but I can't help marking out. He then proceeds to *ahem* ghost-bust a couple ghosts.
• Mac is infected and we see him use the injector.
• More prisoners chase after Quake, Phil, and May as Fitz is forced to release all the prisoners in that section. Once entering the cafeteria, Quake arranges to fight them all solo.
• During a debate with Senator Nadir, Director Jeffery reveals he's an Inhuman to the whole world. Oh yeah, Simmons and most of his staff didn't know...
• Phil and May save Quake who was fighting more like SHIELD-trained Daisy.
• Robbie finds out from the surviving member of the Fifth Street Locos, who attacked both Gabe and him, that it was an organized hit. The survivor doesn't know who ordered it... and a certain guy with a flaming skull kill those who knew. And... there's no more Fifth Street Locos as Ghost Rider kills him. As he walks by in full GR mode, all the other prisoners lock themselves in their cells. I can see why...
• Simmons uses her knowledge of lie detecting to evade further lie detector tests as apparently the Director was lying about being a hero during the blast that killed the Black Panther's father. Guessing, he was doctored into the footage perhaps?
• While Ghost Rider was being a Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Lucy nabbed Uncle Eli to read the read the Darkhold for her.
• Senator Nadir shows Director Jeffery video of SHIELD working with both Quake and Ghost Rider. Unfortunately the footage of Ghost Rider is of him killing people. Blackmail time!

Must say the Ghost Rider story arc of Season 4 has been one of the stronger arcs of the season. Looking forward to the origin story Tuesday!

H16: Marvel's Agents of Shield Ghost Rider Arc Part One

Yesterday, I covered the latest episode of The Exorcist. My third consecutive Halloween-related blog entry concerns the Ghost Rider Arc for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD's fourth season. I say arc because I wouldn't be surprised if Ghost Rider, and mystical elements, are meant to establish synergy with the upcoming Doctor Strange film while bypassing an quibbles over any actual movie ties. Ties that the MCU has clearly demonstrated to be shown on the television side only. Plus, the current tension over Inhumans leads me to believe that the Ghost Rider arc is more of a Fall Season type of thing.


Wait, why Ghost Rider arc as part of a Halloween-themed blog series, you may ask? Simple. Because, the progenitor of the Ghost Rider that we identify with today, Johnny Blaze, was part of Marvel's attempt to cash in on the monster craze of the 70's. Sure, Marvel had the rights to Dracula at the time; but GR was a means to do a supernatural hero seventies-style. Therefore, I find it quite fitting to do an arc centered on Ghost Rider as part of a Halloween-themed series. The episodes I'll be blogging about span from the premiere to the episode that aired Tuesday. Since Tuesday's episode will provide the TV Robbie Reyes' GR origin, I may do subsequent Review/Thoughts/Highlights entry on that episode as well as part of a Halloween-themed entry as depending on POV the holiday continues into either the first or second of November.


Note: My knowledge of the Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider comes from show. I have not read the comics.


As this will include notes about events from each episode, thereby SPOILERS.


S4-1: The Ghost

• Reminded of action shows from the 90's. The cinematography is less four-color. More risqué.
• I am totally getting Knight Rider vibe from Ghost Rider's car! The brief shot of GR is rather cool.
• The show continues its cloak-and-dagger mood. Daisy, aka Quake, is the subject of a manhunt and appears to be getting the rap for GR's actions.
• Holy matrix/holodeck VR!
• It's classified! The old group is split up. Fitz is back in his Q-like, as in James Bond, role. Speaking of the show being more risqué - the tension between Mac and Yo-yo as well as Fitz (and we) first seeing Aida in the buff.
• Speaking of Aida - the very first LMD on the show! All the interactions remind me of how the cast interacted on the show Heroes. Phil's hand can X-ray vision objects now! Color-coded security clearances - Simmons has a higher clearance than Mae.
• The cast is keeping secrets from each other. We're introduced to what I assume is a magical box which cause people to see horrible things. Robbie works at a salvage yard where both Quake and him fight...
• Image link AR in action! Mae's squad easily defeats a group of Chinese gangsters holding the box. There's a spectral being? GR looks cool.
• After the ghost touches Mae she appears to ensorcelled but is shrugging it off for now.

S4-2: Meet the New Boss

• Ghost woman does her thing on father inside what was apparently once her home. Mac believes the ghost story. After feeling like he's being watched Robbie discovers Daisy posing a high school classmate.
• Daisy clearly has done her homework as she brings up personal details about Robbie that only someone whom went to high school with would know. Mac/Fitz go to CA to check out the father incident while Simmons/Phil help the new director lead a tour to secure funding. Mae seems to succumb momentarily as she perceives the new director as a monster! Robbie tells Quake that he made a deal with devil and vengeance is his purpose. There's more than one ghost!
• GR and Quake fight with GR becoming the victor. Coulson spouts of SSR trivia as Mae continues to see monsters. Okay, I should probably check if it is 'Mae' or 'May'. For ease I'll use 'May'. The Chinese gang leader repeatedly bashes his head against the containment cube's wall when May questions him. Daisy mentions a Chinese-watchdog connection to GR but he's ignorant. He abruptly leaves upon hearing about an energy lab. Daisy quakes free of her bonds and quake leaps onto his car. GR shakes her loose when the car flames.
• New director speaks in a manic fashion. Kind of like the 2nd Doctor. Mac has an axe-gun! All of a sudden the reactor starts to overheat while Fitz and Mac are within the room. A ghost traps Mac within the reactor as May goes beserk on Coulson and her squad.
• After she quickly makes work of them, the new director shrugs off her attacks as if they are nothing and subdues her. GR saves Fitz from the ghost and destroys it while Quake frees Mac and Fitz prevents the reactor from blowing. Mac deduces that Quake has been receiving stolen bone-healing medicine from Yo-yo. After jokingly taking a photo op he tells Phil that his power source origin is classified. Daisy and GR team up at the end.

Wowsers! That took more work than I thought! A second part covering episodes 3 - 5 will come later. For the curious, my goal is to do a daily Halloween-themed blog entry until Halloween/All Saint's Day/All Souls Day. So a new entry should come tomorrow.

Halloween '16: The Exorcist Series Chapter 5

Here's another installment of my Halloween-related entries. This one concerns the most recent episode of The Exorcist television series. I'd wait until this Friday, being as it's closest to Halloween, except there's no new episode this Friday. Since I DVR'd the episode, I'll be blogging my thoughts as the episode runs. The full title is Through My Most Grevious Fault.


Marcus drawing a forest within a bible. Apparently he was born in a forested area where King Lear lost it. Just another example of his unorthodoxy. Meanwhile, the dad learns a secret... I'll really like the opening theme music. Evocative of Sleepy Hollow's.


Devil speaks in different voices including Tomas's grandmother's. Guess the dad's name is Henry and the mom's Angela. Angela may not quite be the believer that she claims to be... Watching Cassie fly around is kind of chilling... Yeah, I didn't reference how the name were spelt or characters as I stated I would.


Henry finds a stashed bible with a red feather within. Marcus using the nun method appears to be working as Cassie fights her possessor. Kat's doubting. Uh Oh, Father Tomas has ensorcelled into thinking Cassie is Jessica whom he had an illicit relationship with. Uhm, yeah... reflect some this in any RPG's where possessions occur.


Well, there goes Marcus using the power of forgiveness. Chastised Father Tomas flees into passionate arms of Jessica, whom isn't a single mother but married. Let's just say he does things that priests really aren't supposed to do. We learn that Marcus's father killed his mom; and his birth is a sore point for him. Oh and just as he's seems to be succeeding the police arrive, after Kat called, to arrest him and presumably take Cassie to the hospital.




Got to say the advertisements for episode of Lucifer that aired Monday have me itching to catch up on that show. A bit of a non sequitar. Uh oh, Kat discovers she was wrong! Talk about carnage within the ambulance. Prelate pays Marcus's bail. So clearly he sees eye-to-eye. Yep, Angela has secret.


Hey Father Tomas is recalcitrant! If it wasn't for the show going to pain-staking lengths to demonstrate how deeply flawed he is, the scene would more power and I'd be more empathic. Lost causes? An omen if there was one. Turns out Angela had an imaginary friend who resembled a red bird and the story echoes what's happening now. Alas, Angela doesn't remember much. As it turns out, she changed her name as we learn he 'real name' as her mother shows up at the end.


So the episode ends with a bit of twist. Wonder if "Angela" is the one that devil/demon is seeking? Pretty good episode.

Halloween '16 OBS Trick or Treat and End of Mongoose 2000AD RPGs

Today's topics have one central tie: OneBookShelf Publishing (ie DriveThru RPG, DriveThru Comics, DriveThru Fiction) and the topics are Halloween-related and the end of a licensing era.


Going to start off with Halloween. Sure, OBS has a sale. I'm not talking about that. No, it's more important than that. The annual Trick or Treat search-a-thon has begun! Okay, like last year, it seems more treat than trick; but I haven't checked any of the offerings. For those not in the know, one searches through the site looking for a Halloween-themed icon. Until this year, it was just jack o' lanterns but they must've decided to spice things up this year. Ghosts, witches hat, candies, and bats are additional icons. As I have participated a number of times, I didn't perform a pain-staking search. Six or seven treats (?) were all I was able to find at each of the storefronts. Yep, each storefront has it's own offering although I'd hazard to guess RPGNow mirrors DriveThru RPG. In years past, there were generally eight goodies but I stopped after the above number. While I plan on providing a list of each the treats*, I won't reveal the location. Why ruin half the fun? It is a scavenger hunt after all! Scavenger hunts do seem odd for Halloween but perhaps that's the trick. Oh, if you find more than what I found, thumbs up!


DriveThru Comics - The Sting of Death: A Savage Worlds Superhero Adventure (yeah, the RPG/Comic/Fiction aren't a hard split), The Mad Mummy #1, The Valiant Volume One (if there was a trick this would be my guess...), Unstoppable Comics Character Guide #1, Think Tank: Fun with PTSD (gallows humor/horror?), and Channel Evil issue 1.


DriveThruFiction - The Ghost Story Megapack: 25 Classic Tales by Masters, Darker Paths 1: The Necromancer, The Black Spot, Predator & Prey Book 1: Vampire , Hard Times in Dragon City, and Apex Magazine -- Issue 25.


DriveThru RPG- Horror at Gravehollow Hill: A Short Adventure Module, vs. Ghosts, ICONS: Devil's Night, Pixel Dungeon: Zombies!, Haunted Locales, Haunted Locales, and Swashbuckling Adventures Core Rulebook (might be a trick...)


Now, for the other topic. Just learned that in a way Halloween marks the end of an era as Mongoose publishing's license for 2000 AD (Judge Dredd, Slaine, Strontium Dog) expires at the end of the month. Mongoose was an important RPG publisher for me back during the days of the OGL heyday. Loved their Conan RPG. Their Mongoose Runequest (now Legend) and Traveller lines intrigued me. The 2000 AD lines called to me, Slaine with its celtic tone particularly. Included a link to Mongoose's home page on this very blog! Unfortunately, my gaming group soon reached its zenith as far as RPGs were concerned so new gaming systems such as Runequest were out. Licenses require some interest on the part of the players and my gaming group weren't huge 2000 AD fans. Well, I didn't know if they were... So... We were going to try Traveller but that simply wasn't meant to be. As a result, I never picked up any of the 2000AD RPG books in physical form and very little reason to pick up digital. Must confess I stopped visiting Mongoose's site years ago. So I didn't know the license was ending until today via an announcement from OBS - along with a 75% discount. Needless to say, I stocked up on all the Strontium Dog and Slaine books available while picking up the majority of the Traveller version of Judge Dredd. I picked up the OGL D20 version of the Judge Dredd core book for curiosity's sake. Perhaps, one day I'll provide a review. Certainly, I can count it as part of my Year of 2000 AD/ celebration of 2000 issues.


well happy gaming

Halloween 2016: Exorcist: The Series - First 4 Episodes Highlights

Time for another installment of TV Round up. Oh wait, I am only discussing one series. In addition, several weeks of the 2016 - 2017 television series passed us by already. Rather than write one massive round up, I'm splitting my coverage, highlights really, into categories. Furthermore, know what's right around the corner? Why, Halloween. Instead of writing about Halloween all the way into November, my Halloween blogging starts now. What new series from the 2016 -  2017 season fits that bill? Why, Exorcist the Series does like a glove. Here's my thoughts on the first four episodes. Er, helps that only four have aired so far...


Each episode will have spoilers. I also provide what my thoughts were at each particular moment. Some episodes have greater detail than others. Unlike last season, I took notes this time around.




Premiere - never did write down the actual title...

• Father Tomas sees someone shouting yet hears no sound...
• It appears Father Tomas has a bit of an, ahem, illicit relationship with a single mother parishioner of his...
• One priest pulls a gun on another priest! Later on Father Tomas witnesses Father Marcus performing an exorcism as if what I'd assume is some form of astral projection or a dream vision.
• The church where Father Tomas works on, and in all likelihood within the main setting of the series, is run down.
• Actress Geena Davis portrays the mother of a family whom appears haunted. I suspect the father has dementia. When he's having one of his spells he mentions a Father Marcus.
• Some nasty bit of fore-boding as a raven crashes through a window part way.
• We learn the priest performing the exorcism that drew a gun is Father Marcus. Once again, Father Tomas has one of his 'trips' and sees the exorcism fail badly as the boy breaks free and snaps his own neck.
• When Father Tomas visits the haunted family, we discover that the possessed daughter isn't the older daughter whom the episode leads us to believe it is. Instead, it's the younger daughter Casey (Cassie? - next review I should probably check out Wikipedia so I get the name right...).

Lupus in Fabula

• Episode opens with a flashback of a young boy performing an exorcism.
• The possessed daughter doesn't seem aware of things... yet her possessor does as it talks about the mom watching them...
• Father Marcus picks a lock!
• This series would be excellent fodder for horror RPG inspiration! World of Darkness with mortal characters as well as Beyond the Supernatural.
• Pope Sebastian a stand in for Pope Francis?
• The family sees a swarm of centipedes under a pillow.
• While playing a sport, Casey sees a strange man. After getting knocked down, she glares at her attacker whose leg snaps!
• Father Marcus meets up with Father Tomas and informs him he should break it off with the single mother whose name is Jessica.
• As it turns out, the dad of the haunted family suffered head trauma not dementia.
• Holy water drinking bottle!
• After a homeless man says Casey is special, Father Marcus experiences a flashback upon touching him. He's the boy from the opening flashback.
• All demons recognize and are aware of Father Marcus. His attempt to compel one possessing an elderly lady only results in him being laughed and shrugged off.
• After Casey drinks the holy water, she vomits foot long centipedes!
• Afterwards, her father sees her talking to herself. She's talking to the strange man from the game...
• A group of nine homeless individuals stab several people and harvest organs.

Let 'em In

• The episode opens with a flashback to when the older daughter Kat is involved in the accident that killed her friend Julia. They were professing their attraction to each other.
• The Pope's prefect is the man Father Marcus drew a gun on in the premiere!
• The strange man/demon urges Casey to steal an expensive dress.
• While the Pope's retinue, or is it advance retinue, meets in an upscale building in a well-to-do neighborhood of Chicago. A man combusts outside.
• When Marcus and Tomas confront Casey, the demon speaks Aramaic!
• Casey burns herself at the demons urging...
• While on a bus her father passes out. A frat boy comes on very aggressively. After the demon/strange man, ahem, interacts with her, she claws at the frat boys chest rending it into a bloody ruin while frightened passengers gaze on.
• Marcus is excommunicated and sent on a bus trip out of Chicago with a list of names on tickets provided by the Prelate. Could it be people who can help?

The Moveable Feast

• Possessed people while in full-on possession kind act like the zombies from The Walking Dead but that could just be me.
• We discover that Casey is now actively resisting the demon.
• One of the names on the back of the ticket leads to a Mother Bernadette at a convent.
• Nun exorcism circle!
• Marcus meets a couple on a haunted bus tour who seem aware of something nasty is coming. They know of the ritual of Ash which uses harvested organs to summon a demon.
• Mother Bernadette states that while Marcus has been using a method that uses compulsion hers uses patience and forgiveness.
• Marcus tries that approach! Appears to work...
• By threatening the life of a nurse at the hospital that Casey is confined to after the attack on the bus, the demon convinces her to consent to control...
• Her family gets her released.
• However, Marcus has returned and both him and Tomas, whose doing so covertly, prepare family's attic for exorcism.

Overall, Exorcist has been a great series so far. The series has provided justification for continuation passed the initial possession as there are more possessed individuals other there as well as strange groups and other dark forebodings. A fairly superb horror series for broadcast network faire.

A Regular, Weekly Game Night is a Positive Thing

My original intention was not to write an essay of sorts. Instead, I was going to write about the latest weekly session that I have been able to squeeze into my schedule. Then, the question on whether I should write such session reports per session or one big chunk since multiple characters for both Shadowrun and D&D 5E Organized Play could comprise multiple blog entries per character.


Then, it hit me. At the start of the year, I resolved to game more. No small feat for someone who hasn't played a regular role-playing game in years. Years. Granted, I'd occasionally game during small stints of time; but a brief window that was. Before my hiatus, I used to game a lot. Gaming was a hobby that at times was more like a lifestyle. However, as much as gaming meant to me, I've never considered gaming to be my life. In fact,  right before my hiatus, I had an epiphany that gaming was most certainly not my life. So I allowed the hiatus and never took steps to remedy it.


Yeah, rather funny for a guy who writes a blog about games, isn't it? Then again, the hiatus mirrored the hiatus from blogging. Really only started gaming semi-regularly, once I started writing my blog again. Sort of Worm Ouroborous (sp?) isn't it? Okay, I may have botched that particular reference. Still haven't read that particular gaming inspiration yet.


A month. Two months ago, I wrote an entry about starting six-plus weeks of regular gaming. Easily, the longest stretch of a weekly game (Shadowrun (5E) Missions, D&D 5E Adventurer's League) in my life in quite some time. Okay, I may be rambling a bit but bear with me. At the time, I thought I'll do this for a bit then go back to the occasional, maybe once a month role-playing game session. However, I near the end of my regular weekly game. Or at least my planned blog.


I have come to the conclusion I missed playing a weekly game. Not in the sense, I must game each week. But the routine is nice. I have become used to the environs. I am used to the other players. The other players are used to me. Lack of continuity and being confined to the module is no longer seen as a minus. Each individual gaming session doesn't bear higher expectations because there'll be another session. More to the point I feel better. A regular role-playing game day/night is something to look forward to. Much more important, it's something to look forward that my participation matters. A role-playing game session is different because I am there than when I am not there. Sure, I could look forward to the next sporting event but whether I watch it, be it on the screen or in person, it is immaterial. Plus, by looking forward to the next game session, it centers me.


So that said, I'm glad I had the chance to game for more than four weeks straight. While I plan to make regular gaming a thing now, I'll accept it if I cannot. Rather glad, I had the experience. Perhaps, I'll have such an experience again, whether it be subtle such as no halts to mentioning gaming sessions or overt such as blog entries proclaiming the fact.


happy gaming

Suicide Squad Movie's Impressive Achievement

Just learned about the movie Suicide Squad's impressive achievement from a post on ComicMix my the creator of the Squad, John Ostrander. You can about it HERE.


That's right, Suicide Squad has fared better than all those Marvel movies. Not bad for a comic book property many didn't know about until Comic-Con last year. Heck, not bad for movie coming off the heels Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, which is arguably one of the more panned movies of the summer. I admit it beat my expectations. Didn't expect Suicide Squad to still be in theaters let alone gross more than many of the Marvel properties.


A part of me is glad in that as kid who grew up toward the tail-end of the Super Friends/Super Powers cartoon-line, Suicide Squad's success helps ensure that the Justice League and other DCCU films are made. Heck, another Suicide Squad film is more likely now. As much as I love the Marvel movies, the superhero genre needs DC characters to have commercially viable films to further nurture the genre.


Since such an unknown property attracted so much box office does that mean the superhero/comic book genre is now firmly established? That it's achieved the status that the Western did so many years ago? Super-heroes and comic book-based films are now de facto genre of Hollywood like Western, Action, and Rom-com flick? I'd like to think so. On the other hand I hope it's not the peak. After all, people disliked the film because of certain tropes.


Oh well, kudos Suicide Squad for its noteworthy achievement!

SR5 Shielding: Not As Cool

Months ago, I was inspired to do a couple entries (via lists) on rules differences between Shadowrun, 5th Edition and earlier editions. By earlier editions, I mean third edition as that was the edition that I played/ran/knew the most. Rather than present them as lists demonstrating rules differences, I am going to present them more as individual concepts. First up is...


Shielding


The shielding metamagic technique in 3rd and earlier editions was very cool and became even cooler the further the PC initiated. Basically, added spell defense and higher target numbers with each initiation. Those protected via Shielding by a magician with several levels of initiation could be very difficult to affect!


Unfortunately, Fifth Edition, by virtue of its mechanics, weakens the Shielding Metamagic greatly. It only adds to spell defense. Granted, SR5 uses a threshold, single target number system so because target numbers couldn't be affected, dice pools would. Which would make Shielding much, much more stronger in 5th than prior editions. Instead, it's weaker. Don't recall if metamagic foci existed in 3rd,  but I suppose a foci to boost up one's Shielding sort of balances that out by adding more dice. However, a Shielding Foci requires a greater Karma expenditure not to mention to Availability Test/purchase. Plus, Foci just lead to larger handfuls of dice.


In conclusion, Shielding is not as cool as it used to be. Instead of potentially blocking spells from affecting those protected, ie shielding, it's just more spell defense dice.

2000 AD 2000th Milestone, Blackmoor Week, and Dave Arneson Day

Two, or is it three, significant events occurred, are occurring, and will occur this week in the world of comics and table-top role-playing games. The UK Sci-Fi weekly comics 2000 AD marked an historic achievement in the annals of comic books on Wednesday. Saturday, October 1st, is Dave Arneson Day, which celebrates one of the founders of Dungeons & Dragons. Commemorating the event is, I believe, the first ever Blackmoor week - the setting that is Arneson's signature creation.


Dave Arneson Day
Other than acknowledging the event with this post, sadly, I have no plans. Didn't play any Dungeons & Dragons on Monday and may not play it next Monday - Shadowrun, 5th edition was/is the RPG. Even then, D&D 5E is in many respects very, very different from the Original D&D that Arneson had a hand in. Perhaps on Saturday, I'll provide a review, or the start of one, on ODD itself or the Blackmoor expansion?


Blackmoor week
Another call to attention. Not doing anything pertaining to Blackmoor although here's some posts by day pertaining to the setting, how people are celebrating, and their games:
 Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.  Quite a bit! Suppose there is always reading what others have written!


2000 AD
As I mentioned above, the veteran UK milestone reached an historic milestone this Wednesday: the release of its 2000th issue. One, its neat and a bit of pun since 2000 is in the name. Two, no other comic book that I am aware of has reached 2000 issues. Yes, that's right. 2000 issues! For one title. Quite an accomplishment. Furthermore, what separates this event from the other two is active, sort of, engagement. I ordered a copy of the 2000th issue of 2000 AD. In fact, 2016 marked the year where I finally decided to order the packs for an entire year starting with the January pack (issues). Just have to read them ha ha. Oh, since I live across the pond, I won't be receiving my copy until next month.


Oh you're not familiar with 2000 AD? Well, it's the home of characters such as Judge Dredd... Oh fudge these articles can explain far better than I can:


The Top Twelve Series/Characters - besides Judge Dredd, here's eleven characters/series that would surely have (if they have not had yet) movies made of them provided the Dredd movies fared better at the Box Office.


Editors Tell Top Stories - Want to know which stories from 2000 AD's 2000 issues deserve a read? The editors provide some recommendations.


Until next time, happy gaming and reading!

SRM5: Is the Street Shaman Template Correct?

Back when I was calibrating my Shadowrun Missions character, Nox the human combat mage, I discovered the template within core rule book was not correct as the template was missing material. Was my intention that I would perform further analysis of each template to see if it is correct. Since my next Shadowrun Missions session is this Monday I figured it's time for another installment.


The template in question: The Street Shaman


Disclaimer: as the current Shadowrun Missions campaign is located in Chicago which has a background count starting at a 2 rating, I certainly would not play a full magician that has Magic Rating of 3. Since the Street Shaman template has a heavy Seattle-flavor, I'd play it there. That said, it does serve as an excellent example of what a high attribute, high skill elf full magician would look like.


Magic: A Magic Rating of 3? Rating C.


Race: D


Attributes: They add up to priority code A nicely.


Skills: This is where it gets tricky. It's more than what B provides, which meant Karma was spent. However, the skill group total means that priority code B was used.


Resources: E. Uh, yeah, the template has way more than what's listed. Meaning karma was spent. How much? Let's examine everything else.


Qualities: There's a positive imbalance of one point of qualities. Otherwise, positive qualities equal negative qualities. So one point of Karma was spent.


Karma purchases: Other than the one point spent on Positive Qualities, some karma was spent on skills, resources, and contacts. Instead of using a calculator, I estimate 5 Karma was spent on qualities and contacts. Alas, skill advancement at this state follows regular character advancement so I'm guessing 10 Karma here. Finally, just to be on the safe side, I assume another ten Karma was spent to bump up Resources. Again, if you want to be exactly sure how everything is allocated, a calculator is required when figuring out resources and skills total due to Karma expenditure. As characters can start with a small amount of leftover karma, it probably would be wise to.


Verdict: Complete - unlike the Combat Mage in template in the SRM5 Core book, the Street Shaman template is fully completed and playable along the front. Based on estimation, the character appears correctly built. Barring my concerns expressed above, the Street Shaman does fulfill the objective of a template - a pre-generated character ready to be played.