Science Fiction

Star Wars #17

/ / Comics

Star Wars #17After teasing us over the past couple of issues with the looming betrayal of Arrochar and its monarchy, it finally arrives just hours before Leia‘s wedding which was meant to seal the alliance between the Rebels and the planet’s leaders against the Empire.

Although there is an attack in the palace just before the wedding, and an armada of Star Destroyers appears in orbit led by none other than Darth Vader himself, the majority of Star Wars #17 focuses on Luke and how quickly what started out as him tagging along with a group of soldiers to change a fuel cell on a mountain outpost soon turns deadly as the group’s true agenda of leaving Luke dead in the mountains becomes evident.

The return of Obi-Wan‘s guidance helps save Luke’s life and prepare him for the deception to come, but I wonder home much of Ben’s ghostly wisdom the comic should and/or will use going forward as Luke’s own instincts should have likely warned him of the danger (even with his only limited understanding of the Force). Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

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The 7th Sword #1

/ / Comics

The 7th Sword #1Screenwriter John Raffo teams up with artist Nelson Blake II to deliver an intriguing first issue of the new IDW seven-issue mini-series The 7th Sword. Set in the far future on the colony world of Helios, we’re introduced to former United Nations soldier turned samurai Daniel Cray who, as the comic opens, is working as a guard on a Methane shipment through the desert by Mechanoids (robotic warriors with skull heads).

Loosing the shipment, Cray makes his way across the wasteland with the convoy’s only other survivor to awake in the mythical city of ZenZion. Distrustful of outsiders (espically those who worked as soldiers for Earth), and believing Cray to be a spy from the city’s enemy in a greedy warlord named Kavanaugh, the city puts the warrior on trial which Kavanaugh’s real soliders led by the bizarre Superfecta Five interrupt.

Part fantasy, part sci-fi, part western, with swordplay, killer robots and monsters and a reluctant hero all thrown in, The 7th Sword #1 is a strong opening to the series. I’m curious to see more of Cray and his journey. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Star Trek – Charlie X

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Star Trek – Charlie X
  • wiki: link

Star Trek - Charlie X

The USS Enterprise picks up an unusual passenger in Charlie Evans (Robert Walker Jr.), the sole survivor of a ship crash on the abandoned planet of Thasus, who has somehow survived on his own since he was only 3 years-old. The crew of the freighter, which is destroyed mysteriously not long after depositing him aboard the Federation starship, is obviously relieved to be free of the unusual young man, but it takes some time before the Enterprise crew learns why.

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Star Wars: Rebel Heist #1

/ / Comics

Star Wars: Rebel Heist #1The first issue of the new Star Wars mini-series Star Wars: Rebel Heist, taking place during the same period between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back as the current ongoing Dark Horse comic, is presented from the view of a new Rebel recruit who meets Han Solo for the first time. It’s certainly a memorable meeting.

Our narrator’s name is never given as his opinion of Corellia‘s most infamous son goes from awe to disbelief to exasperation as Solo navigates the alleys and skies above his homeworld only to get the pair eventually captured and then interrogated by Imperial agents.

With each issue centering around the combination of both a core Star Wars character and original characters to the expanded Star Wars Universe Star Wars: Rebel Heist gets off to a good start here. I like Marco Castiello’s art (even if some panels do feel a bit rushed) and Matt Kindt captures Solo through the eyes of of a hero-worshiping fanboy in way over his head. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $3.50]

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Transcendence

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Transcendence
  • IMDB: link

TranscendenceThe question about Transcendence isn’t if its eventual flaws will eventually cause you to lose interest but when. I’ll admit I was surprised, despite the ridiculous nature of what screenwriter Jack Paglen‘s script considers science, that by relying on some intriguing ideas and a solid cast the film kept me interested far longer than I expected. Of course that was before the movie went completely off the rails and crashed in a hideous and head-scratching mess.

Putting human intelligence in a machine is hardly anything new. Well before the invention of computers and the Internet sci-fi and horror authors were playing on the idea. The premise Paglen begins with is sound enough as several of the leaders in artificial intelligence are attacked by an a quasi-religous, sorta anti-technology (but not really) terrorist group. Although Will Caster (Johnny Depp) survives the initial attack, with only months left to live his wife (Rebecca Hall) and best friend (Paul Bettany) use their combined research to create an artificial intelligence out of his mind.

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