THE NEW HOME FOR "PAETER'S BRAIN"!

Paeter is no longer posting to this blog. His new reviews and thoughts on geek entertainment (including all those previously posted here!) can now be found conveniently organized and archived at The Spirit Blade Underground!

Friday, August 29, 2008

The Reliance, #14



The Doomsday Program, Part 4


After dealing with the fire damage to his WayneTech laboratory, Alex Noir instinctively knew that his friends needed him more than ever. Abandoning his wheelchair and encasing himself in his advanced prototype armor, Alex Noir is reborn as Iron Hand!


Quickly caught up via communicator, Iron Hand streaks across the California landscape and bursts into the Omega Corporation heaquarters where Brainiac's ship, and two other Reliance members, await his presence.


Phanuel realizes that in order to save millions, sometimes sacrifices must be made. For the sake of countless human lives, she unleashes a holy roar and flies down the metallic alien hallway, decimating the security system blocking their path. Seeing his comrade fall, Surge slams a massive bolt of energy into the remaining robot sentry, burning it into oblivion.


Iron hand appears behind him and rushes to Phanuel's aid. She's badly injured, but thanks to her innate immortality, will ultimately recover. Just down the next hall, a green glow washes through an open doorway. Inside, the Man Of Steel is huddled on the floor, weakened and stripped of his powers. At the end of the hall, a skeletal humanoid form emerges that can only be the malicious Brainiac.


Realizing the Reliance is in over its head, Surge immediately overloads the force field mechanism holding Superman in place, sending so much electricity through the system that he wiped out the kryptonite ray as well! Calling upon emergency power reserves, Iron Hand taxes his armor like never before, flying forward and burying Brainiac into the wall behind him. But Brainiac is far from finished.


Iron Hand realizes he may have just sealed his own fate as Brainiac begins to lean forward to grapple him. But at the last moment, keenly aware of his surroundings, Alex Noir side-steps, allowing the Last Son Of Krypton to deliver a massive blow the the evil robotic tyrant!


Brainiac virtually shatters, leaving only friction charred scraps. Unfortunately, Superman seems convinced that this was only one of Brainiac's drones, and that he will undoubtedly return when ready.


Despite this incomplete victory, however, Superman has told the Reliance that they have a friend now in Metropolis and to contact him through Clark Kent or Lois Lane should they ever need a favor. He also told the fledgling heroes that he would alert the Green Lantern of Coast City to their presence, and give his vote of confidence as well.


In the aftermath, Superman takes Brainiac's ship and returns the kidnapped aliens who served him back to their homeworlds. With Phanuel revived, The Reliance returns to "The CIty Without Fear", awaiting whatever fate may bring them next...

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

DC Comics and Freakin' ANIMALS!!



I don't get it. I just don't get why DC loves animals so much. They put capes on dogs, cats, even horses for cryin' out loud!

Even worse, they really seem to enjoy making animals talk. Ultra-humanite, Gorilla Grodd, Detective Chimp, that dude from the Omega men, G'nort. I remember a few years ago they had a series of annuals during the summer based on the concept of JLApe. That's right. The most famous heroes of the DC universe were all turned into talking ape versions of themselves.

I don't think it's funny. I don't think it's cute. It's stupid. It's just stupid.

For about one panel, Gorilla Grodd was passably cool in an issue of the Flash. But to make him even slightly cool they had him foaming at the mouth, eyes glowing red and in a human slaughtering rage. Y'know, like an animal. But as soon as he or any other animal opens it's mouth and talks, it just becomes ridiculous.

Don't ask me why I can buy into space cops that can make anything out of transparent green energy but can't suspend disbelief for talking animals. I don't really know why. Maybe I just choose not to. Maybe it just feels juvenile or silly to me for some reason. And one thing superhero comics should not be, in my opinion, is silly.

So DC, please kill this little guilty pleasure of yours (and yes, I KNOW you must feel a LITTLE guilty) and allow me to read about my favorite characters with some small amount of superficial sophistication.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Free Stuff!!



This is turning into the "Week Of Cool Hand-Me-Downs"!

A few days ago my sister offered me her old Dell laptop computer since they are upgrading to a mac. I'm a PC guy myself, so even though they said it's not really fast and always has to be plugged in because the battery won't hold a charge anymore, I'm pretty stoked!

I'll finally be able to take my work on the road with me when we visit my wife's family, or when I'm doing subbing gigs during the week! Up until now, if I want to get some writing done away from home, I have to use pencil and paper and then transfer it all to computer later on.

(I'm also gonna see if it will play Neverwinter Nights, but I'm not holding my breath.)

Yesterday, my parents called to see if we wanted their old TV, since they are upgrading as well. It's nothing fancy. Old school, not high def. But much bigger than my standard quality, 12-inch tv I use in my "fun room" to play 360 on. So although my image isn't any sharper, it's definately bigger!

Free stuff rocks!

Friday, August 22, 2008

GenCon Flashback!



I had an awesome time at GenCon last week and although I haven't blogged about it much, I made a point of recording audio journal entries throughout the week to play on the podcast when I returned. So if you're interested in re-living a little bit of the GenCon experience with me, jump over to http://paeter.libsyn.com this weekend!

May all your hits be crits!

(I will be posting the podcast sometime tonight, so it will be up later tonight or on Saturday for sure.)

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Tomb Of Ice!!



Okay, I know this picture is for the "Road To Legend" expansion for the Descent Boardgame, but there isn't an existing electronic image of the latest expansion for this game. It hasn't even hit shelves yet (and won't until sometime later this fall) but at GenCon I purchased an advanced copy of "The Tomb of Ice" expansion for "Descent"!

6 new heroes (with a bonus hero for those who purchased it at the convention!), new monsters, a new potion type (invisibility!), new abilities, and all of it is compatible and playable in normal mode or in the campaign (Road To Legend) mode!

This was definately one of the major highlights of attending GenCon. I'll have more to share soon!

Monday, August 11, 2008

GenCon Awaits!!


After a great weekend of "Descent", I'm primed and ready for my big week at GenCon Indiana!
Here are my scheduled events:
THURSDAY
Young Titans 2008: Secret Infinite Crisis on Just One Earth! - Role Playing Game 8/14/08 8:00 AM 8/14/08 12:00 PM

Introduction to Eldritch - Role Playing Game 8/14/08 2:00 PM 8/14/08 6:00 PM

Suicide Squad - Role Playing Game 8/14/08 8:00 PM 8/15/08 12:00 AM


FRIDAY
Suicide Chronicles, Vol. 1 - Role Playing Game 8/15/08 10:00 AM 8/15/08 2:00 PM

Dark Tide - Role Playing Game 8/15/08 3:00 PM 8/15/08 5:00 PM

The Apartment - Role Playing Game 8/15/08 7:00 PM 8/15/08 11:00 PM


SATURDAY
Arkham Horror - Board Game 8/16/08 8:00 AM 8/16/08 12:00 PM
True Dungeon - Walk-Thru Dungeon Adventure! 8/16/08 5:48 PM 8/16/08 7:48 PM

Knights of the Dinner Table - Live Reading - Isle of Misfit Events 8/16/08 8:00 PM 8/16/08 10:00 PM


SUNDAY
Christian Worship Service - 8/17/08 9:00 AM 8/17/08 10:00 AM

When Darkness Comes... - Board Game 8/17/08 12:00 PM 8/17/08 2:00 PM

I'll also spend some time walking around looking at displays (and making purchases if I'm not too careful), or bumming around playing video games at the hotel. Yeah. It's gonna be a good life.
BIG thanks to my wife for the best birthday present I've been given in years!

Friday, August 8, 2008

Descent Weekend!!!



So, not only am I thrilled to be going out to GenCon next week, but my buddy is flying into town tonight for another "Descent Weekend"!!

He's got a few things to do with family this trip, so it won't be quite the marathon experience we usually shoot for, but we'll still be geeking out for hours on end.

We're just starting the "Road To Legend" campaign expansion for the game which adds a ton of growth potential and several new dimensions to gameplay. So many, in fact, that I'm going to spend some time after work today re-reading the rule-book.

This game definately asks for your mental focus, but what good is a game like this if it doesn't require investment?

Meantime, I hope Mark is ready to bring his A-game. Because the Overlord is ready!

"Come to me, son of Jor-el! Kneel before Zod!!"

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

GenCon Is Coming!!



The countdown begins anew! A week from today I will be on a plane to Indiana for the world's largest Role-playing Game Convention! Woohoo!

I'm itching to play some DC Heroes, Dungeons and Dragons, Arkham Horror and several other games I've never played!

I'm also hoping to touch base with Matthew Atherton, who some of you may know as "Feedback" from the first season of "Who Wants To Be A Superhero?" I play one of the characters in the online "Feedback" audio drama he performs in.

I'm also itchin' to go through the "True Dungeon" experience with my wife and some other cast members from the Feedback audio drama. I'll probably get us all killed, but it sounds like a ton of fun!

I'm planning to bring along a small digital recorder so that I can do some recapping and reporting from the Con to put on my podcast when I get back.

Okay, enough dreaming. I gotta get a ton of work done between now and then if I want to be at peace on that airplane.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Farscape Still Rocks!!




Farscape Rocks! Even after being off the air for six years (not counting the mini-series) this show still rises above nearly everything on television today. The special effects, both digital and physical, that went into each episode have yet to be matched in creativity.

I realized a few days ago that I haven't watched any Farscape for more than a year, and so I've started back at the beginning again for yet another trip through the uncharted territories with Moya and her crew of escaped prisoners.

I'm chomping at the bit for the webisode series to get off the ground at scifi.com! (They have a page devoted to it and everything!) Hopefully the success of the webisodes will lead to another mini-series!

Hurry up, scifi! Get off your butts and prepare for immediate starburst!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

TRON 2 and Wolverine TRAILERS!!


Check out these links while you can! The "suits" have been pulling these trailers off the web as fast as they can!
X-Men Origins: Wolverine-
ENJOY!!