Prime 12: Prime Speaks!!

The latest Transformers movie trailer spotlights Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime, and we have our first listen of the big guy's mighty voice on the silver screen. Now I understand that he will have 2 face modes in the film, one normal and one battle. The trailer shows Optimus in his normal face mode which, unfortunately, has lips. This has the fandom in an uproar, but I understand that it is done for a more human and emotional connection to the character. (Hey, at least he has his mouth shield in battle mode!) Anyways, take a look and decide for yourselves. You can check out the trailer here.

The Ballad of Roland and Susan

Issue #3 of The Dark Tower series The Gunslinger Born was released yesterday. And true to form, it is one great read with visually stunning artwork. As a Stephen King fan, when I first heard that this project was going forward, I was equally excited and hesitant. Excited because it would finally be an opportunity for the world to gain a visual representation of images that have lived in the imaginations of readers for more than 20 years. Hesitant because there is always the very real possibility that they could get it wrong...very wrong. But, I'm relieved to say, that those fears have been lifted, and this very talented group of artists whom have taken on this immense burden have my blessing to continue for as long as they can produce this high a caliber of work. Now, onto the story at hand. When last we saw our heroes, Roland and his Ka-Tet had been sent forth to the Barony of Mejis on a reconnaissance mission to determine the Barony's allegiance: Whether to the Affiliation or to the traitor, John Farson. We were introduced to the Big Coffin Hunters, the new authority in Majis, and to Susan Delgado, the future love of Roland's life, and a woman with a secret.Issue 3 picks up with the meeting between Roland and Susan. (And, once again, Richard Isanove's coloring is just amazing!) Throughout the Dark Tower series, Susan has always been Roland's one true love. So it was important that their relationship was visually and emotionally stunning. I think that this series has succeeded in that respect. Unfortunately, both Roland and Susan have secrets during this first meeting, and lie to each other to protect them. Susan is promised to a man, at the behest of her dead father, who is married, but cannot produce an heir with this wife. Still married, he is to lay her, and she is to produce a child. Roland, secretly sent as a spy, instead tells her that he is there to take inventory of all supplies that can be used by the Affiliation in the fight against Farson.And speaking of Farson, we get our first glimpse of this ominous threat that hovers over most of this story. As previously stated, this is a world that has moved on. Simply put, in this world, a cataclysmic nuclear attack/war occured, leveling most of the buildings, and killing most of the people. Our story takes place several hundred years later, in a time where the world still has not fully recovered from the catastrophe. In fact, not only has it not recovered, it is in fact getting worse. Couple that with the potential toppling of the Dark Tower, and you have the makings of the end of all existence. We meet up with Farson in another place, perhaps maybe even in another when. What we do know is that he has found the weapons of the "old ones", and fully intends to use them. All he requires is fuel, namely oil. Oil that can be found in the Barony of Mejis. Oil that is up to Eldred Jonas and the rest of the Big Coffin Hunters to retrieve. Farson is becoming impatient, and Marten reassures him that things are going according to plan. But that isn't exactly true. At the local bar, one of the Big Coffin Hunters has a rather unfortunate encounter with a very simple fellow. There are words exchanged, and soon, the Big Coffin Hunter demeans this meager soul. As he forces him to lick his boots, Cuthbert Allgood, with his mighty slingshot in hand, orders the man to stop. He draws a gun on Cuthbert, and Cuthbert in turn takes off a couple of his fingers with his slingshot. Soon another Big Coffin Hunter shows up, pulls a gun on Cuthbert, and he finds himself suddenly outnumbered. Or does he? At that moment Alain Johns shows up, and pulls a knife on on the newly arrived hunter. It seems that Cuthbert would be safe after all. Or would he?? Just then, Eldred Jonas steps into the bar, and with that he puts a gun to Alain's back. It all looks bleak for our friends as they find themselves right smack dab in the middle of a good ol' fashioned Mexican standoff. Luckily Roland finds the most opportune time to arrive, and the standoff is soon dispersed by the Mayor himself. Roland and Eldred shake hands, and are off on their way. Unfortunately, as civil as their parting was, there is no love lost between the two Ka-Tets. Eldred has deduced that these boys are no regular boys. They behave like Gunslingers, and as such, they must be dealt with...in the most fatal manner. Roland, dealing with his mixed emotions for Susan, and feeling somewhat betrayed by her, must put his feelings in check if he and the rest of the Gunslingers wish to come out of this mission alive. We're right in the middle of it now. The relationship between Roland and Susan deepens, and as happy as we are for them, it can only end in tragedy. Issue #4 is a month away. Can't wait! Stay Tuned!

Prime 11: Hardcore Robot-On-Robot Action!!

As we get closer and closer to the July 4th premiere of Transformers, we fanboys get treated to more and more goodies. Take, for instance, this snapshot that showed up on Yahoo!'s movie site. It's a perfect example of what we geeks are so anxiously awaiting. We desperately want to see some hardcore giant robot-on-robot action. (But not in the "Let me put my dipstick in your tailpipe" sense!) Here we get a pretty good glimpse at live action Optimus Prime getting ready to put the beatdown on decepticon baddie, Bonecrusher. And a few days ago we were treated to a couple of new TV spots that feature all-new, never before seen footage. (Like our first look at Frenzy, and our first complete on-screen transformation, courtesy of Starscream!) This movie looks so bad ass, that there are no other words to describe it than bad ass!! They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, let me just let these pictures speak for themselves.

Fan Fest 2007

Can you feel it? It's in the air. You can almost smell it! The beginning of the 2007 MLS season is just a few short weeks away. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Galaxy's home opener is on a Thursday, but we have already purchased our tickets for the first Honda Super Classico on April 28th against Chivas USA. (We hate them SO much!! J/K) It's gonna be a very big year for our team, seeing how it is the farewell season for Galaxy and U.S. National Team great Cobi Jones, as well as the inaugural season for soccer superstar David Beckham for the MLS here in Los Angeles. We have a lot to look forward to, and hopefully that includes a Championship victory at the end of the season. (But I'm getting ahead of myself!). This past Sunday was the return of Fan Fest at the good ol' HDC, and it gave fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with players and the venue.We were treated to a warm-up session by the team for about an hour, where we got to see their new warm-up gear, featuring the logo of new corporate sponsors, Herbalife. We saw Cobi's new haircut, and we also got to get autographs of, and take pictures with, Galaxy President (and U.S. National Team great) Alexi Lalas. There was a series of events that took place during the afternoon. There were locker room tours, which we had previously taken the last time we went to the HDC for Open House. Alexi Lalas addressed season ticket holders as to the status of the team and their plans for the season. The entire team was presented to, and addressed, the crowd. And there were plenty of booths and activities taking place in the main courtyard.But the main reason we were attending the event was for the fact that players would be having an autograph session. I had received a Galaxy t-shirt for my birthday from the Team L.A. store, and I decided that it would be worthy of being autographed. We made it a mission to get every player's John Hancock, and I think we accomplished just that. The big 2, of course, were Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones. Donovan for being the newest U.S. soccer sensation (and pride of the Galaxy), and Cobi Jones for his swan song season. I caught Donovan just as he was finishing reading a story to the children in attendance along with Quavas Kirk. (I also managed to snag an autograph for my girlfriend, seeing how she's in love with Donovan!) I got her autograph on an MLS scarf that I had bought before I entered the HDC.












There was a prize wheel in one of the booths that was free to spin for a series of prizes. We managed to snag a Cobi Jones action (or maybe inaction is a better word for it) figure, that my mom managed to get signed by the man himself, just before they ended the autograph sessions.

All in all, it was a fun event that gave us the rare opportunity to come face to face with out favorite players. (For some reason, my mom was smitten with Santino Quaranta, and even got a picture snapped with him!) It pumped us up for the upcoming season, and also gave us a mission for this year...get Beckham's autograph!! I'll resume my Galaxy updates just as soon as the season kicks off. Make sure to check back often!