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Posted by Sam Kressin in Podcast, Uncategorized
Posted by Sam Kressin in Book Reviews, Opinion
Here’s the basic premise of the book. The story takes place in the future and it’s pretty dismal. A guy named Halliday created a virtual world that sounds like something similar to “2nd Life” called the Oasis. This virtual world works by putting on a pair of special classes that project the images directly onto your retina and this world is suppose to be so amazing the real world looks like a fog compared to it. Everyone on planet Earth is addicted to this thing. After Halliday (the creator of the Oasis) died he left a message to the world about a final easter egg he has hidden inside this virtual world. Whoever discovers this egg is the heir to Halliday’s entire estate. Halliday, a scholar of 1980s pop culture, has left several clues leading to the final easter egg all these clues pertain to Video Games, RPGS, Comic Books, Television Shows and Movies from the 1980s.
The book shines in it’s meticulously researched references to so many obscure facets of 1980s culture. The book even mentions the RPG Game Champion’s, The made for T.V. Special Ewoks and The Battle For Endor, D&D’s creators Gygax & Arneson, Atari’s Joust and a large amount of late 1970s and 1980s trivia I never even knew about. As far as the story goes the book starts out really slow and it was a struggle to get through the first quarter of it after that the story takes off and I couldn’t put it down till I got to the end of it.
Now here’s some of the stuff in the book I didn’t like or I felt just didn’t make much sense.
Overall it was a good book and while I couldn’t put it down I will admit by the end I was ready for it to be over. I had heard more obscure 1980s trivia than I ever wanted to know.
Posted by Sam Kressin in Book Reviews, Star Wars
I recently completed listening to the entire audio book version of Star Wars The Force Awakens. My opinion of the film which I have seen twice didn’t really change much with the listening of this audio book. There are several details in the book that fill in some of the information missing in the film but nothing really changing the fact this first film can’t stand on it’s own as a complete story. For example the book explains why Han Solo had been collecting Rathtars. Basically there’s some wealthy collectors that want them. There’s an entire scene not in the film explaining how Po survived the Tie fighter crash and got off Jakku. There is also some longer dialogues between Kylo Ren and Snoke. One in which Snoke makes the claim he has been around long enough to see the rise and fall of the Empire. There’s a much longer discussion about the thermal oscillator on Starkiller Base which still makes little to any sense at all. As a hardcore nerd I enjoy getting these extra tidbits of information however none of it was enough to really change my opinion of the film or the story. Which if you want to know that you can watch my video about it here.
Posted by Sam Kressin in Animation, Comic Books
I’ve known artist and animator Franco Cespedes for several years now. He is a fantastic artist, and has been working with me on an incredible new Worlds Deadliest project that should showcase by the end of this year. In the meantime, Franco has put out an awesome 4 issue mini-series on ComiXology titled, “Asusto.”
Asusto is based on classic Costa Rican and Latin American folktales, stories that have been passed down for generations. Asusto quickly focuses in on Chito, a violent man with a quick temper who doesn’t for a second believe any of the local folklore, but soon finds himself battling for his life. Franco has put together a quickly paced, action packed, thriller / horror saga, showcasing his take on several legendary Latin American tales.
The cartooning and illustration work of Franco Cespedes is excellent. His characters are extremely animated, expressive, and filled with emotion. This is a fast and fun read, filled with Devil Dogs (El Cadjos), She Monsters (La Segua), Headless Priests (El Padre Sin Cabeza) and a host of craziness. Just 99 cents per a 26 pg issue, for a total of three dollars and ninety six cents for the entire series, you can’t go wrong. You can pick up all four issues right here on comiXology. Asusto is available in both English and Spanish pick up a copy here; https://www.comixology.com/Asusto-1/digital-comic/77059
Posted by Sam Kressin in Star Wars
WARNING: Massive Spoilers do not watch until you have seen the movie.
Darkwalker on Moonshae (Forgotten Realms-Moonshae Trilogy, Book 1)
Here’s a quick run down. The Moonshae isles are an archipelago located about 400 miles southwest off the Sword Coast of the Forgotten Realms. In this book an evil shape shifting beast of demonic origin called Kazgaroth takes on a human form to gain command of the Northmen a group of war loving roid raging men who want more than anything to raid and kill the Ffolk an agricultural monarchical society of pussies that live in the southern Moonshae islands. Thanks to Kazgaroth’s completely psychotic influence the Northmen wage war upon the Ffolk not just to fight it’s armies but kill all it’s people. Massive war breaks out between the Ffolk and the Northmen. Tristan an expert dog trainer who loves hunting and has a crush on his sister who although was raised by his father does not share a blood relationship to him has been judged by his dad as unworthy to rule the kingdom. Therefore throughout this adventure Tristan fights to prove his worth to his father and win the romantic affection of his sister while discovering some of his own talents and abilities.
I give this book an overall rating of three stars two for an awesome title and cover and one for having all the cool things I listed show up in it. Beyond that it was just ok.
Posted by Sam Kressin in Catch Wrestling, Strength Monsters
Posted by Sam Kressin in Comic Books, Opinion
Posted by Sam Kressin in Comic Books
Last week I posted this short entry about Jim Aparo’s Batman which lead into a nice discussion on the 1990s Batman: Knightfall
I got into Knightfall literally like 3 issues before it happened. I’d just finally emerged from my Chris Claremont X-Men phase.
It was something amazing to see unfold month after month. No more rote and weird Batman stories. Finally….something was HAPPENING to him that was shaking up the status quo.
Each issue after combatting the Arkham escapees, he’d get more beat up, more tired, and you could see Batman was heading into the most dangerous confrontation of his entire career.
By the time Bane showed up in the Bat-cave and laid down the challenge, and Batman said (In a panel drawn by Jim Aparo)
“Not on the best day you ever had…” As he replaced the cowl over his unshaven face….
Dude……that shit was 100x more heavy than the scene in TDKR
I was strongly compelled to order Volume 1
