Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch "The Quest"

Episode 1: “The Quest”

Original Airdate: February 25^th 1991

The introduction of the PIRATES OF DARK WATER, with its musical opening and flashes of scenes from upcoming episodes, stays standard throughout the run of the show. If, as a first time viewer, you aren’t drawn right in by that and the voice-over by Hector Elizondo that gives you everything you need to know going in, then this type of story isn’t for you in the first place. You should return to watching Rubik: The Amazing Cube or Caillou.

“The Quest” begins with a lone figure in a small craft struggling against raging seas. It approaches the island nation of Octopon, once a jewel of the world of Mer, now just a ruin. At a lighthouse on the shore, a young, blond haired, blue eyed, brown skinned man exclaims he has spotted “something” on the stormy seas. Ren, our erstwhile hero-to-be (voiced by George Newburn) is begged to come out of the lighthouse by a female companion just as an errant wave crashes through the windows, dousing the light. Reigniting the light, Ren sees that the small boat has been smashed upon the rocks, though there is a survivor. Leaping into action, we are treated to a sequence of Ren doing acrobatics, jumps and dives, to the chagrin of his companion. The animation here is not what any viewer used to Hanna-Barbera of the last twenty years has seen. There is an obvious anime influence but it’s cluttered with American style, particularly in the beautiful watercolor backgrounds. Already hooked as I was by the intro, this stirred more interest. Ren rescues the old man, who struggles as he’s dragged onto shore. He calls Ren “Bloth” and says he won’t be taken again.

Cutting to a view through a telescope, we are then introduced, via the rich, basso voice of Brock Peters, to Bloth. Aboard a monstrously huge ship not far off shore, we are speedily informed that the fearsome, blue-lipped, scarred, beastly Bloth is captain of the Maelstrom, the vessel that sits calmly in the raging waters. Bloth is great for exposition, as he informs us that the old man Ren has rescued was his prisoner for 17 years and that he wants him back. He’s also a stone cold killer, as he drops his jail master down a deep hole, oddly enough in the middle of the main deck of the Maelstrom. Approaching a red, winged creature that squawks, he offers a deal for food as the story cuts to a scene break.

 

On shore, the old man wakes to ask Ren if he’s reached Octopon. With a positive answer and refusing an offer to be brought inside, the old man forcibly takes Ren’s hand and they both start to glow. Asking Ren to look upon the ruins of the city nearby and tell him what he sees, Ren (and the viewer) watch as Octopon briefly transforms to what it likely once was. The old man explains that he has a destiny and that he’s the only one that can return Octopon to its former glory. Telling him to go to someone called Alamar to deliver the message that Primus has escaped the Pirate King Bloth, the old man calls Ren “my son” and dies. A swell of water washes over them both, dramatically taking the body of Primus out of Ren’s arms and out to sea. Five minutes in and we have more information than most cartoons would have given the average viewer, some of which is ham-fisted, some of which is obvious (Primus and Ren have such similar features, even a two year old could get the reference before it’s told), but it’s all just part of the set up. Trite it may be, it was enough to want more. You’d better believe this isn’t your typical H-B fare. Let’s continue.

At the lighthouse, Ren remunerates with his companion, who reveals she’s been his guardian for the past 17 years (that magical number again, enforcing the fact that Ren is at least 17, girls). Giving Ren a broken sword she had hidden in a wall, she claims Primus was indeed Ren’s father and that he fulfilled prophecy by returning to Octopon. Telling Ren that Alamar is at the Abbey of Galdabar, he unquestioningly tucks his broken weapon into his boot just as the red, winged critter smashes through a window, grabs Ren and flies off with him into the storm. Struggling with the creature, Ren is dropped unceremoniously unto a dinner table adeck of the Maelstrom. Bloth is upset as the critter was supposed to grab Primus, not Ren. The creature, Niddler, can talk and doesn’t care who he was supposed to kidnap, just that he wants his promised food. Reneging, Bloth tries to kill Niddler, then orders the crew to as he escapes.

 

Ren isn’t a complete dullard and has put the pieces together quickly. He’s figured out that Bloth had imprisoned Primus and puts up a bit of bravado and gives Bloth lip. Bloth blindly tells Ren he’s searching for the lost Thirteen Treasure of Rule, which Primus had hid away many years past. Naively telling Bloth he’s Primus’ son, Bloth delightfully exclaims he thought he’d eliminated all heirs. Grabbing Ren with one hand, we’re treated to an idea of the size difference between Bloth and Ren. Bloth’s deep, melodious voice is a far cry from his fearsome, brutal visage. It’s not a wonder why he’s leader of such a ship as the Maelstrom. He tosses Ren into the “pit” we saw earlier on the deck, which introduces the Constrictus. Water fills the bottom of this hold, and the many-limbed worm-like creature attempts to eat Ren as he avoids it. Escaping the Constrictus Pit, Ren engages in combat with the crew until a stubby, peg-legged pirate wielding a meat cleaver pushes his way through for some one-on-one. Soundly defeating him with derring-do and Errol Flynn styled antics, Ren reaches the crow’s nest. This whole action sequence is chock full of old swashbuckling movie mores; it’s definitely beginning to put a capital ‘H’ on High Adventure. Bloth fires acid-spewing squid from a catapult onto the mast, knocking it out from under Ren (losing a main mast apparently won’t bother the Maelstrom much). Before falling, Niddler returns and cuts a deal with Ren to help him escape. Bloth orders the release of the Dagroths, flying lizards that employ riders, to pursue the monkeybird, as he calls Niddler.

Ren had talked Niddler into flying him to the Abbey of Galdabar at the close of last scene, which they arrive at, unknowingly spotted by a dagroth rider. The Abbey, a rocky formation on a volcanic island, looks just as you’d expect an alien abbey to: desolate, isolated, barren. Inside, a voice calls out and Ren answers that the son of Primus seeks Alamar. A robed monk bearing a staff approaches from the dark and Ren mistakes him for Alamar. The monk angrily answers that Alamar is at the abbey, dragging Ren to a far wall and opening a secret panel in it. Inside is a glowing amulet, which he hands to Ren saying, “In darkness and in light, this will be your guide”. Ren puts the amulet on as the wall opens, revealing a stairwell leading down. Niddler and Ren are sent to Alamar as the monk remains behind to close the secret door.

The stairwell leads to a cavernous area with pools of bubbling liquid. Ren and Niddler question why anyone would want to live in this area, then call for Alamar. A huge shadow from the background appears, with an outline befitting a dinosaur, responding to the calls. A nervous Ren yells for Alamar to call off his beast, which has the “dinosaur” reach down, pick Ren up and tell him that he, the “dinosaur”, is Alamar. A little heavy-handed, the viewer and Ren learn that Mer isn’t going to be what anyone expects, and that preconceptions are not wise. As Ren apologizes for his ignorance, he asks about the 13 Treasures of Rule and the quest he’s been set upon. Breathing fire onto the wall, glowing words appear, revealing a prophetic phrase. “Thirteen treasures of ancient time, thirteen lessons of rule in rhyme. To find the jewels in secret places, follow where the compass faces. If returned from the shore beyond, a new day dawns for Octopon! But if they fall into evil hands darkness descends on all the lands. For these riches two shall vie, in the realm of Dark Water where treasures lie!” As Ren reads, he holds up the amulet, therefore conveying that it is the compass mentioned, rather deftly done, in all honesty. When Niddler remarks on the meaning of the last part, Alamar fiercely sends them away, explaining another searches for the treasures (as if that wasn’t already evident).

Bloth has chased Ren to the abbey and already interrogated the monk. His men destroy the secret door with fireballs from slings and enter Alamar’s sanctum. Sending Ren and Niddler off, Alamar tries to delay Bloth’s men with his size and fire breath. Quickly overcome, Ren returns to help the giant abbot, who perishes anyway. Bloth spots the compass on Ren and more fighting ensues, with even Niddler attacking a bowman. In the fracas, Bloth grabs Niddler and Ren uses the dropped bow to pin Bloth, allowing him to escape. Ren and Niddler get away…

Disguised and in a new location (likely Jandatown, a port revisited often later in the show), our intrepid pair decide it’s time to find a boat – Niddler refuses to keep flying Ren wherever the compass points. Devising a plan, they go to an inn and shed their disguises. Discussing their options, they’re interrupted by a serving girl (Jodi Benson, who’s character we’ll be properly introduced to later), complaining that they need to order if they intend to stay. Ren spots a man nearby and puts his plan into action. He and Niddler start loudly arguing over a map and directions, then hush up at the mention of treasure and the approach of the sailor. Sitting down, our “experienced seaman” (Hector Elizondo, with a rich accent to match the wild character design given to him) has food brought to the table, disparages Niddler as a “mutant beast”, dismisses the serving girl rudely and works out a deal with Ren, claiming to have the finest ship in all the harbor. A quick, well written and dialogued introduction to Ioz, who is handily the most complex, amusing and intriguing character on the show.

 

Dockside, the group is loading supplies onto a smallish ship that Ioz hurriedly dubs, “the Wraith”. Expressing concern that they need to sail with the tide, some men begin charging the dock, brandishing weapons and calling them thieves. Once away from dock, Ioz happily mentions to Ren that they did, in fact, steal the Wraith. The show isn’t called PIRATES of Dark Water for nothing!

Cue five days later, with an unhappy Ioz discovering that the treasure map Ren tempted him with is a fake. Alarmingly, the compass lights up brightly and Ren reveals that he’s on the hunt for the 13 Treasures of Rule. Ioz is appalled; after all, they’re just a myth. The compass continues to shine, pointing to an area called the “Dragon’s Maw” by Ioz. It looks like an elevated river peppered with stalagmite formations throughout. Both sides of the “river” fall to the sea below. Striking to look at, preposterous to believe, it’s dangerous because Ioz says so, and you want to believe him. Just as he takes the wheel from Ren, fireballs reign down onto the deck, fired from behind by the Maelstrom. Let’s not question the sailing ability of our characters just yet, maybe the Maelstrom is just difficult to see from up close in daylight. Guess what? Ioz knows Bloth too, having crewed with him once, with it apparently ending poorly.

With Ioz and Ren arguing which way to go and Niddler dousing fires, the serving girl pops up from below decks as smoke chases her out. In easily the clumsiest scene in the episode, Tula introduces herself IN THE MIDST OF FIREBALLS HITTING DECK, hand out for a shake and all. Ioz whines as she gives her reasons for stowing away and we, you and I, question the intelligence of our characters. She’s been hiding for FIVE DAYS. There are three people aboard, one that eats constantly. He wouldn’t notice the stores shrinking? Ioz wants to throw Tula overboard and most viewers would tend to agree with him, on principle alone, but Ren nixes that (he’s 17ish, she’s a girl… makes sense) and the Maelstrom chases the Wraith through the Dragon’s Maw, once again showing off the animators that worked the show. You also get a good look at the size of the Wraith in comparison to the Maelstrom, which never really seems exact as the series progresses, but I’d imagine there were difficulties, considering you need to show the Wraith more.  Showing off her sailing prowess, Tula gets a brief spotlight so Ren can gape and show up Ioz for not throwing her overboard. Here, the compass points directly to the First Treasure of Rule, housed at the apex of a rocky point in the sea below the Dragon’s Maw. Bloth is pleased, who needs prophecy and a compass when you can just follow the stupid hero? Niddler is sent to retrieve the treasure as Bloth’s catapults continue to fire burning pitch at the Wraith. Ever the evil pirate, Bloth has a shot fired at Niddler as he gets to the treasure, which connects, destroying the top of the rocky mount and, apparently, killing Niddler. Entreating to Ren, Bloth offers to find the remaining 12 treasures together. Flat out refusing, Ren spins the wheel of the Wraith, sending it off the raised river portion of the Dragon’s Maw, down the waterfall. Just before hitting bottom, the sail of the ship catches air, allowing it to glide to calmer sea, skipping like a stone. Safely away, Ioz and Tula are amazed they survived, while Ren laments the loss of Niddler. In fine dramatic fashion, Niddler arrives alive, treasure safely in his mouth. Bloth calls to Konk, the short, peg-legged pirate seen earlier, ordering him to the scout ships. Five smaller craft are ejected from the Maelstrom, gliding down off the Dragon’s Maw, which obviously isn’t that odd a feat for the pirates. Ren offers to drop the others off at any port, not wishing to endanger them further. They all choose to stay as the episode closes, Wraith sailing into the sunset, scout ships of the Maelstrom in pursuit. Cue music, end credits.

Noy Jitat! Being the premiere, we hadn’t quite reached into the depths of language for Mer yet. It comes soon.

Mutant Scum – Creatures new and strange appear almost immediately. Right at the opener, we catch a dagroth flying about right before it’s devoured by a leviathan, creatures we’ll see often later in the series. Urchins of some sort are flung at Niddler as he escapes Bloth. Acid squid are used to destroy a mast. Niddler, the monkeybird. The crazy faces and pirates of the Maelstrom. Bloth’s Constrictus, the fearsome pet in the belly of his ship. Not to mention Alamar, whatever he was supposed to be, this show is liberal in its depiction of creatures as equal as the men partnered with them. In most cases, as becomes prevalent later.

When do we get to eat? Ah, Niddler. As the show progresses, Niddler is a little of everything. Treacherous, cowardly, brave, awed and always, always hungry. I’d wished he was less cowardly than he is in some episodes, as later, we see not all monkeybirds are created equal, but that’s what you get sometimes. The monkeybirds are way too cool a race to discount, though.

It’s all in the art – Just a quick look at the names attached to the show and I wonder if I just wasn’t predisposed to like the show. Gil Kane. Alfredo Alcala. Iwao Takamoto. Creators I grew up with an enjoyed. They all did some spectacular work on the show, backgrounds to design to layout and storyboards. I credit the animators for keeping what can be seen as their touches in there.

As an opener, you couldn’t get much better, particularly for what was aiming at the Saturday morning crowd. I don’t recall exactly when/where/how I caught wind of the show, I think I saw the name and taped it with my trusty VCR to watch when I was home from work. I believe the local station aired it at 6 or 7 Sunday morning, which would place me working then. All I know is that I didn’t see it when it was originally aired Roddy McDowell as the voice of Niddler. I wasn’t even aware of that fact until much, much later. The design of the show, overall creation giving credit to the H-B mainstay, Iwao Takamoto and character design to Tim Burgard, was unique and wonderful. Everyone is exotic, or creepy, or alien. Clothing is drawn as clothing, boots as boots, hair as hair. The backgrounds have this vaguely Barsoom feel to them, and the sea-based adventures give off a Sinbad flair that hearkens to the best adventure tales. The characters were rich, flawed and voiced with care. Much credit to Kris Zimmerman for the casting of the show, who went on to many a Cartoon Network program after the absorption of H-B. I always wanted to tell Brock Peters or Hector Elizondo how awed I was at the work they did on this show, which I felt got the short end of the stick for being an H-B production. They use their distinct voices on all levels, adding much to the show and the characters they made come alive. George Newburn gets it as Ren but he’s not quite at the level he’ll be when he portrays Superman for the Justice League. Jodi Benson as Tula… well, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role, really. She made a name for herself as Ariel in Disney’s LITTLE MERMAID, so she was a coup for female voice talent here. Tula is really just a slapped on character in the first episode, it’s a shame her intro wasn’t until the second episode, in order to draw her in a bit better. Frank Welker as Niddler is just what you’d expect from this veteran of cartoons. Having him aboard never hurts. Would it have been nice to retain Roddy McDowell? Maybe. As I wasn’t introduced to the show that way, I think I’d prefer Welker.

Thinking back, I can easily see why I watched this show with no hesitation. I have a hard time not watching more than one episode in a sitting. I think you would, too. As a rating, if pressed, I’d say that I’d give “The Quest” four minga melons out of five. If you don’t know what a minga melon is, keep watching.

Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch and Review -- Intro

In 1991, American animation was in a small resurgence. FOX TV had a hit with the Simpson’s, Warner Brothers was working diligently on the new Batman animated series and, due to the breakout of the Simpson’s, every network was fast-tracking cartoons to be shown on prime-time television. Saturday morning fare was still plugging along, though not anywhere near the potency and creativity once had in the seventies and early eighties. Japanese animation or anime, as it came to be known, had broken past the West coast in a wave a few years earlier, putting to bed, for viewers at least, that cartoons were just kid fare. For those of us that grew up watching the classic Jonny Quest show, we knew we could handle the concepts of death and ramifications from your actions, but somewhere down the road others began to dictate what kids could – and should – be watching. Sure, we could have guns and “terrorist organizations”, just make sure no one dies or gets shot. Violence is okay, just make sure there’s a public service announcement at the conclusion so the kiddies get some edumacation. With the first big anime invasion, animation aficionados got their sugar high and didn’t want to let go and the smart studios took notice.

Hanna-Barbera in 1991 was not highly regarded for creativity. Their output was bland Saturday morning mush, hanging onto the ragged remains of a tired series from 1970. Scooby-Doo will have his comeuppance, but in ’91, it was a few years off and it was mostly sparked by nostalgia. To discover a program with fluid animation, character designs that defy the staid, simplistic forms typical of that era, beautifully painted backgrounds and a concept dredged from the best of the old films, it was like fire in a gas can. PIRATES OF DARK WATER was a fresh and wonderful experience, which only aggravates when knowing the program only lasted 21 episodes.

Every week at Leaf on the Wind, I will be reviewing an episode of PIRATES OF DARK WATER, a show that I wish more people were aware of, or appreciated. The layout and design alone broke thirty years of convention at the venerable H-B studio, not to mention a voice cast that carried credentials from all over the spectrum, rivaling, in some ways, that of the Batman show. I’ll go through an overview of the show, then following a known formula of other “rewatch” weblogs, break down aspects of the show with group titles. Noy Jitat! Will cover the language of Mer, the alien world we’re watching. Mutant Scum will showcase some of the creatures of Mer, When do we get to eat will focus on the machinations of the character Niddler and It’s all in the art will spotlight the amazing work done to give the show the alien feel that really sold the series. Others may appear as well, from time to time.

It’s plainly obvious that Time Warner, that now owns Hanna-Barbera and its output, knows the show has some marketability. The entire series was rereleased on DVD through their Warner Archive division. While the Archives are usually burn-to-order, no frills discs, they did do a nice job getting these shows back into the public’s hands. It’s also one of the only series done in this format and for fairly cheap. Get yours here: http://shop.warnerarchive.com/search.do?query=Pirates+of+Dark+Water

Get ready for the quest for the Thirteen Treasures of Rule with Ren (George Newburn), Ioz (Hector Elizondo), Tula (Jodi Benson) and Niddler (Frank Welker) as they race against the villainous pirate lord Bloth (Brock Peters) and his crew across the alien, ocean world of Mer. It’s High Adventure in the world of Dark Water and I’m going to make sure you discover it.

A Leaf on the Wind: War and Anger

A Leaf on the Wind: War and Anger:   I wrote the following on October 4th, 2007. It holds true even more so today, as the other capitol of the United States, Hollywood, enter...

War and Anger

 I wrote the following on October 4th, 2007. It holds true even more so today, as the other capitol of the United States, Hollywood, enters deeper into conspiratorial agreements with China and their own government, sharing the wealth of the uneducated between them. With much affection and appreciation going to our own horrible, sadistically money-focused government in the form of green collusion. Read it and gear yourself up for an apocalypse of a different kind. Cheers!

You are all being misinformed by the government and media, by large.  Recalls abound after "tainted" ingredients entered the distribution stream of pet  food products.  Then, people food products.  Then came recalls on toys, some with lead paint, some with other toxic substances.  All of these came from China.

The assumption that all of these incidents are unrelated is idiotic.  War is being raged my friends.

A time-honored way fight an entrenched enemy is to starve them out.  Destroy their supplies, use up their stores.  With the United States dependence on Chinese-made foodstuff product, you can see where this is headed.  First came the experiment on the pet foods, just to see if it could work.  It did.  It worked in the US, South Africa and Australia, too.  You didn't hear about that because the US media is self-centered and usually drops information vital to our personal securities in favor of "startlet arrest of the week."  The brief, barely noticed foray into tainting human food was just the first publicly admitted shot.  I guarantee people are eating tainted foods right now, but the American populace of the last few generations are attuned to eating plastic and chemicals, so not that much has been scored as a victory, for them.

Toys.  The American toy industry is so large, it could create its own army.  Hell, some toys and games are used as weapons or even training applications for our troops.  It makes sense, in this day and age.  What better way to undermine continued economy, particularly right before the big Xmas shopping season?  Taint the toys, scare the buyers away.  Less money spent by the populace, less taxes given to the government.  Simple start, effective finish when applied properly.

Sure, it's all small when you look at the scale of things.  Small is the way to start.  Quietly, build the ball of seemingly unrelated events together into something very big, very obvious.  And before you know it, WWIII.  It'll be unconventional, too.  Like a leveraged buyout or hostile takeover of shareholders.  Are you ready for the fall?

Return, Recommended, Reviews

As a fan of comics and as someone that has written about them often, my opinion was frequently requested by friends and fellow readers regarding the “NuDC”, the “new” 52 titles released by DC Comics roughly a year ago. Since I was less than pleased with the plan and the writing on the bridging series called Flashpoint, I chose a wait-and-see attitude towards whatever was being released after the big “event”. I picked up one title – Batwoman – and dropped everything else remotely associated with the DCU. To be honest, nothing was appealing and very little even seemed visually entertaining.

With a good portion of my comic reading habit gone, I chose to delve deeper into the independent titles. Some that know me would find that amusing, since I tend to delve deep into them regardless. Still, I discovered quite a few good indies that would not suffer from a bit of focus.

It was only recently that Dynamite Entertainment started publishing a series based on the old pulp character The Shadow. Written by Garth Ennis, it made me curious to see what the modern writer could do with it. Bluntly stated, I am not disappointed. Brutal and beautiful, set in a period that truly suits the pulpy feel of the Shadow and his associates, this title screams “buy me!” to readers new and old. Highly recommended to fans of the Shadow, pulps, period settings (in particular, the years shortly before U.S. involvement in WWII) and vigilantes that don’t hold back on punishment. ( www.dynamite.net )

Dan the Unharmable, from Avatar Press, was a complete surprise to me. The premise was amusing enough to give it a go and I wasn’t disappointed. Dan is just a layabout, a do-nothing with an interest in sex, booze, music and the occasional illicit substance. He’s also completely invulnerable to harm. At times, he assists people in need, sometimes even succeeding, if he remembers that he’s got a job. It’s a fun title, just not for the kiddies. It’s bloody, it’s ugly, full of sex, drugs and dismemberment. In fact, it’s a series a good portion of my friends would dig. So here I am, telling you, if you’re my friend and not sensitive to these sorts of things, you need to read it. David Lapham, a well known and respected writer, puts a lot of fun into the book, pushing all the boundaries that haven’t been pushed. Good fun! ( www.avatarpress.com )

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Love and Capes: What to Expect is the current series continuing the story of Mark and Abby, a now-married couple in a superhero populated world. Mark is the Crusader, a superpowered costumed hero who plies his trade after working a normal shift as an accountant. Abby, his non-superpowered wife, owns a bookstore. Sounds uninteresting? Fie on you, allow me to educate. This is the third series following these two characters and their friends and allies. Rarely are there your standard costumes bashing into each other, instead you are treated to all the in between tales. In a sense, what a relationship might be like with a pair of decent people, only with one who just has superpowers. It’s always witty, always refreshing and something that can be enjoyed by all types of readers, male and female. Thom Zahler continually gets it right and should be recognized more for his attempt. Now released by IDW Publishing, I believe all earlier series are collected through them as well. ( www.idwpublishing.com )

Dark Horse Presents has a long and respected history in the comic book publishing world. The previous volume ran well over a hundred issues, an accomplishment for an anthology comic series. The current series is an accomplishment of a further degree, as the market is not the strongest and the price point of the book isn’t small. Price aside, it’s definitely one of the best collections of varying material I’ve had the pleasure of reading since, in my opinion, the grandest days of Heavy Metal. From Neal Adams to Andrew Vachss, Mike Baron, Steve Rude, Carla Speed McNeil and the amazing Geof Darrow, this title has it all for the reader with diverse taste. Want old-school science fiction/fantasy? It’s there. Want comedy? It’s there. Want weird tales? They’re in there. I’ve come to find that DHP has worked its way to the top of my read pile every month it arrives. Do yourself a favor, check it out, those Dark Horse folk know what they’re doing over there.

Additionally from Dark Horse are the Hellboy and Hellboy derivative titles, the B.P.R.D, Lobster Johnson and such. These fulfill the horror adventure tales, some with a pulp feel, some with a heavy Cthulu weight to them. Always fun to read and definitely a detailed and wonderful world to explore. The best of them, for me, have been the Witchfinder series, focusing on the character of Sir Edward Grey. The last had him in an American setting, drawn by the incomparable John Severin. Not to be missed!  ( www.darkhorse.com )

In the vein of Hellboy, I’ve found, are the Atomic Robo series of tales from Red 5 Comics. Robo is the master creation of Nikolai Tesla. Being a robot, Robo is long lived and also has stories of his early days, his time in WWII and right up to today. Invariably funny and smart, the concurrent series just keep getting better. I always recommend Atomic Robo to readers of science and science fiction, as well as adventures similar to those of Doc Savage. ( www.red5comics.com )

Freedom, a Xeric Grant winner, comes to you from Seamus Heffernan. While only one volume has yet been released, I have not been able to make note enough of the strengths of this comic. Its lone downfall is the size, more in the line of a magazine than standard comic fare but that doesn’t deter a true reader and it shouldn’t you. Freedom is set in a pre-Revolutionary America and plays a bit with mythologies and beliefs so don’t expect a perfect historical adventure. That in mind, what you do get is a beautifully rendered, well researched story with a backdrop rarely used in the tights-and-cape focus we have now. The real shame is that the story is so good and the characters so easy to get behind you want the next volume ASAP. Patience is a virtue unbeknownst of late and I think this fantastic book is going to be overlooked by many. Don’t be the many.  ( http://seaheff.com/wordpress/ )

Arsenic Lullaby. I can’t explain this book, this series, this anomaly. You have to experience it for yourself. www.arseniclullaby.com is your ticket to ride. It’s a wild one.

Commentary on film tomorrow.

Stranger than Fiction

Every now and again I find myself drawn to certain pieces of visual entertainment that tend to strike a deeper chord than I think may have been intended from the beginning. When I first watched Stranger than Fiction I recall it being promoted as a comedy, probably because "comedic actor" Will Ferrell is the central figure of the story. While not a comedy in my eyes, it has certain comedic elements that lend itself to that style. It's a heart wrenching, inspiring piece of decent people in a strange situation. It's got great actors filling out small roles of average people with everyday quirks, foibles and idiosyncrasies. It makes you feel for just about every character, getting into the mindset of them and making them as real as possible, for a movie viewing audience. It's a film with such a strong story and well defined characters that it makes me scream whenever I see the incessant drek continually being released on the big and small screen. The strength of story strikes me to do better in my own writing and I always think of what has become the funniest and most memorable scene in the movie to me, when Harold Crick says to Ana Pascal after eating some of her freshly baked cookies, "Thank you for forcing me to eat them."

Thank you, Stranger than Fiction, for forcing me to be a better writer.