Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Sliders: Or Why I Don't Write for TV

 Or, I am almost a hundred percent positive the Spoony One did this one. 


Been on a retro kick lately where I rediscovered the FOX sci-fi show Sliders. This you can mark this down as 'loved the idea, hated the show'. Young genius Quinn Mallory (Jerry O'Connell), Professor Maximillion Arturo (John Rhys-Davis), Quinn's best pal Wade Welles (Sabrina Lloyd) and soul singer Rembrandt "Cryin Man" Brown (Cleavant Derricks) go from world to world. Same planet, different dimensions. 

So, what was the problem? Given that it aired on FOX, I think the answer should be self-explanatory. One problem I had was the episodes tended to not just formulaic but lazy:

1. Group goes to different Earth. One thing changed everything (America still part of the UK, 60's never ended, etc.)

2. They hook up with local resistance group, attempt to change status quo

3. They leave

Plus they tended to be a bit blatant when ripping off a film, so yeah. So, what would I do?

Season 1: Quinn is working on what will become the sliding tech. He's close but he just can't get the final part finished-that's when Quinn shows up. Yeah, it's him; slicker and more professional looking but it's him. He gives Quinn what he calls the Timer before vanishing. Quinn invites his best friend and his favorite teacher over but during their first leap, singer Brown is sucked into the vortex with them. 

From there, each episode would be them just exploring. Arturo, however, is growing suspicious. he knew Quinn was smart but this smart? For the finale, Quinn comes clean but he insists it's ok. He did build it after all, right? But Arturo points out, if Quinn got it from someone else, who was the person who first invented the timer?

Season 2: The timer goes crazy. During this point, they end up on a world where Col. Rackman (Roger Daltry) becomes very much aware of the group and starts to chase them. They manage to fix the timer enough, but Rackman follows them.

Season 3: They get home but they find Rackman is busy merging with all his alternative selves. He's getting powerful and crazy. They try to save the other Rackmans, but who is the other Quinn working with him?

Season 4: Rackman and the other Quinn were working together the whole time. Why? Because the Multiverse is chaos and Rackman can't stand chaos. There will be order across all of time and space and if he has wipe out a few planets, eh. Broken eggs and such. Quinn was given the timer so they could map the Multiverse and see which Earths would be good fodder. 

Season 5: Our heroes strike back and stop Rackman for good. They retrace their steps and gather allies from the other Earths and finally stop the mad colonel for good. 

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Upcoming work for 2024

 Ok, just wrapped up our look back at the rogues of comics. 


April-TFtember (in April)

May-WWF Superstars 

June-June Bugs 

July-return of the UWF, which is probably spill over into August. 

September-TFtember

October-Horror Countdown

November-Ninjavember

December-art jam 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Javelin

Real name: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#173 (February 1984)

Abilities: Olympic athlete, hand to hand combatant, custom javelins  

Worst act: Theft, attempted murder

Quote: "Now you vill suffer zer wrath of --the Javelin!" 

Created by: Len Wein (script), Dave Gibbons (pencils/letters), Anthony Tollin (colors)


And so we end another feature here at Geekademia. Much like the Golden Age Green Lantern we'll take a special look at another member of the Lantern's rogues. Tihis time out, we look at a fellow who isn't lacking for confidence-the Javelin. 

Funny, all this time I've been doing these and this is the first foe that was involved in the Crisis before the whole thing was revealed. The Javelin is hired by a congressman to steal a new engine from Ferris Aircraft. He gets it and then rebuilds it into a missile/really big javelin before launching it at the company's HQ. 

That would be the most competent he'd ever be as after that he tended to either get captured or dead.  

Yeah, dead. Joined the Suicide Squad and got killed, then again in 2005, then again in 2006. I mean, other people could have used the name but I'd like to think it's the same guy. Clearly getting exploded/shot/run over with visible sound effects but a year or two later he's back in business. 

All things considered, I do love this goofball. I mean, he throws pointed sticks at the most powerful weapon in the universe but his costume is mostly yellow. Not all of it, mind you, just most. He's such a 1960's villain you honestly wonder how he came about in the 80's. He even has a posse of dudes on sky cycles. Pretty sweet for a minor league player. 

Oh, and did I mention the rocket boots? He has rocket boots. This is a guy with rocket boots and pointed sticks and he goes to take on the Green Lantern. Epic confidence if nothing else.



Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Rocket Robbers

Real names: Springy, the rest unrevealed

First appearance: Green Lantern II#15 2/2 (September 1962)

Abilities: Basic safecracking, timing 

Worst act: Theft

Quote: "Turning my bullets into soap bubbles!?" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)


In hindsight, a gang based around rockets would be a natural fit for the Green Lantern. Rather surprised it took this long, although they need a more peppy image (yes, yet another gang of dudes in suits). 

A fairly basic yarn. Hal delivers some parts to Cape Canaveral and stays to check out the rocket launches. He bops over to Rocket City and finds it under siege. Seems every time a rocket gets launched, the Rocket Robbers strike, since every single man, woman, and child in town loves rockets so much they can't tear their eyes away. 

Even when they're being robbed

Of course, Hal WOULD easily stop them, but he can't use his ring; seems he charged twenty-four hours ago and hasn't done so since, so he isn't going to even check-his ring is out of juice...until he finds out it isn't and easily mops up the crooks. 

Yeah, Hal forgot to factor in time. The robbers are fairly generic but no reason why they can't be used again today.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Bring on the Bad Guys: Mr. Blackstreet

Real name: Blackstreet (although I imagine his first name would be Sidney)

First appearance: Green Lantern II#14 2/2 (July 1962)

Abilities: Basic auto repair 

Worst act: Kidnapping, theft

Quote: "You're young, Mr. Jordan, so of course you wouldn't recall that most fabulous crime of the year 1912--the theft of the archduke's blue diamond, the greatest stone of its kind in history! Ah yes, what a stone there two thieves..." 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)


Get ready, as it's time for another wacky Jordan brother episode! This time out, Hal kicks things off when he can't find his fraternity ring, so naturally he decides (at a suggestion of Thomas) that he'll just turn his power ring into a duplicate of his school ring. Who's going to know?


While out hunting, both Hal and Jim get poison ivy and, cue the trumpets, their rings get switched at the doctor's office! Sue Williams, even more convinced that Jim is the Green Lantern, takes this time to break into Jim's home and, maddened with glee, she finds proof! Yup, if Jim isn't the Green Lantern then how come he has a green lantern?

Jim, more patiently that most at this point, explains that lantern came off a 1904 Bercedes Menz. She isn't convinced, but after Jim fools around and somehow the power ring listens to him! He flies! At least until he crashes into the ceiling and knocks himself out. She takes her leave now fully convinced Jim was the Green Lantern the whole time. 

Feel I missed out not putting a Jordan Owned Count this time out. 

The Mr. Blackstreet's goons break in and take both Jim and the lamp. When Jim wakes up, Blackstreet explains; seems that in 1912 a thief stole a precious gem and hid it in an archduke's car-the same car Jim's lantern came from. Blackstreet has spent years but he has finally put the car together and so the gem will be his!

Hal thankfully gets his ring back and manages to take down the car thieves but Sue is now convinced, more than ever, that Jim is the Green Lantern and isn't telling her. 

Blackstreet isn't a horrible character, but he feels out of place here. I could see his scam doing better in Gotham or maybe Star City. Of course I would be remiss if I failed to mention the obvious references to noted actor Sydney Greenstreet. 

Monday, February 26, 2024

Bring on the Bad Guys: The Spectarns

Real names: Unrevealed 

First appearance: Green Lantern II#13 (June 1962)

Abilities: Mind control

Worst act: Attempted world conquering 

Quote: "We have already proved that we can handle Green Lantern! He will be no obstacle to us in our forthcoming miltary action!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)


An alien invasion, and this one is sort of Hal's fault. As the Green Lantern, he's rushing to get back to Earth to meet Carol for a date when wouldn't you know it, he crash lands on the planet Spectar (head first too). It's in the same orbit as Earth but in a different dimension. Seems Hal was going so fast he broke every barrier and landed on it. They are a friendly people though and wish he well on his journey.

At least until he leaves, then they drop the whole polite thing and reveal what they want-to rule over Earth! And thanks to their newest agent, they will!

Yup, Hal went and got himself Manchurian Canidated. Thomas is the first one to notice things are off and goes with Hal on his vacation, where he happens to run into equally vacationing Barry Allen and his gal pal Iris West. 

Can the Flash help figure things out?

Interesting twist I'll give it that. 

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Bring on the Bad Guys: 3 Safe Crackers

Real names: Frankie, Danny, unrevealed

First appearance: Green Lantern II#12 2/2 (April 1962)

Abilities: Cracking safes

Worst act: Theft, destruction of property  

Quote: "Frankie--look!! That's funny--I'm shoutin'--but I can't hear my own voice!" 

Created by: John Broome (script), Gil Kane (pencils), Joe Giella (inks)

Basic story; to wit Hal is stumped at work. He goes on a date with Carol when inspiration strikes. Hurrying back to Ferris Aircraft, he is struck deaf. 

Yup, whole area is completely devoid of sound. How? Seems our titular safe crackers have a special drill that somehow sucks up all the sound around everything. That seems a bit more hazardous than it would be worth-what if the police were sneaking up on you?

In any event Hal easily smacks them down and calls it a night. Thomas starts keeping a Green Lantern scrapbook starting in this story.