Saturday, August 25, 2018

Starbolts #402: Love and Loss



Hail!

The Starbolts aren't taking this very well are they? They are all rightfully angry. Now the team has united faster than you can say "Avengers Assemble!" Will they find their long lost comrade? What does Clive intend to do? What is Project Sola? You'll find out soon enough! This storyline has only just begun and we've got a TON of comics to cover. By "we" I mean my friend Sam and I. Sam and I have been working on this story for a while and it's shaping up to be pretty good. Loads of action. LOTS of drama. Okay. A TON of drama. That's more like it.

We also have a bit of history for Sara. You can find this in the timeline.  Poor Sara has had a rough life. Then again a piece of the team has been missing for two years. So, you can bet that the team is not happy knowing that a creepy mad scientist has her locked up. She escaped his clutches once before. Will it happen again? Time will tell. Right now the 'Bolts have to contend with Project Sola!

Stay tuned!

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Starbolts #401: Running Out of Time



 Hail!

The seeds for this storyline were planted way back in the mid 200s when I revealed that Velocity looked like Sara. Now we know why. She's a clone and the real Sara is alive! She's just out there somewhere. Where? Who can say? Does it matter? The Starbolts aren't going to rest until Sara Whitefox returns. Clive had better step back. A line is going to be out the door for his blood. Naturally being the bad guy he could care less about who he hurts. What is his deal with her anyway? We'll find the answer to that question, too. Trust me.

So, now we have a dead clone. There are probably more out there. Stay tuned and find out what happens next.

This ark is being written by me and a friend of mine who helped to create Sara back in the day. Back then her story wasn't fleshed out. Now we're taking the opportunity to flesh out Sara and what her life was like before we bring her back. Sam and I have laid the groundwork here. We know she is British and that she and Firaxil were an item. A very serious item as we'll find out. She was also adopted by the Whitefoxes like Crystal and Firaxil were. Next comic is gonna have the Whitefox kids react to this news. They'll be happy. But, yeaaah....Clive better watch out. Seriously. A cyborg super soldier, a cosmic space cop and a fiery ginger with claws are Sara's siblings. Someone's gonna get it. Congrats, Clive. You just painted a bullseye on you.

See you next time!

Monday, August 13, 2018

Starbolts #400: Turning Points



Hail!

Welcome to the Starbolts 400th comic! WOOHOO! It's been a long time coming! Sorry it took a while. I had to check all the bells and whistles. I also needed to rewrite a few things here and there. Fear not. I am well prepared for the next exciting storyline. One chapter ends and another is going to begin. Judging by the last two panels, you may figure out what is to come. Will the Starbolts be ready? We'll see in time. Firaxil announced himself to the people of Earth. That is going to have consequences. I still can't believe it's been four hundred comics. It's amazing isn't it? Well, in a way we're about to come full circle.

Two years ago (comic time) the Starbolts faced the threat of Demonstorm.  In the chaos they lost one of their own. Her name was Sara Whitefox. She was the adopted daughter of Stan and Andrea Whitefox, the mentors of the Starbolts. Her loss hit the team hard. Crystal and Jack lost a sister. Firaxil lost the love of his life. For two years the entire team felt every day of her loss. Some moved on and yet some still felt sadness over her loss. Now she is returning. She's coming home.

Coming next week is.....The Return of Sara Whitefox.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Movie Thoughts: Ant-Man and the Wasp

It's better late than never! I finally saw Ant-Man and the Wasp today! My friend, Charlotte had been asking me to see the movie for a while. And asking. And asking. I finally saw it! It wasn't like I DIDN'T want to see it. I did. Life gets in the way. Friends get busy and there isn't enough hours in the day. Eh, it is what it is. Let's get right down to it. What did I think?

I liked it!

I mean it wasn't bad or anything. Far from it. The movie shows what Scott Lang had been up to since he was noticeably absent from Avengers: Infinity War.  More on that in a second. The actors did really well. Paul Rudd was great as Scott/Ant-Man. Michelle Pfieffer was great was Janet van Dyne. The actors all did a really good job.

Michelle, I think, nailed the part of Jan aka the original Wasp. If you remember my top ten Avengers video, I listed her as one of my favorite Avengers of all time. She nailed the character's playful nature, wit, attitude and most importantly brains. If she and Michael Douglas's Hank Pym were a lot younger, I could see them as original Avengers with RDJ, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, ScarJo and Ruffalo. The actors Marvel Studios picks to play the characters so far have been amazing. It's like they leap from the page and onto the screen. It's really cool to see especially since twenty years ago movies like this were just a pipe dream.

I also wonder if they are settling something up with Cassie. She seemed kind of sad that Scott didn't want her as a partner. Cassie, as some people might know grows up to become the heroine Stature and later Stinger. That bit makes me wonder if they are setting up Young Avengers down the road. It honestly wouldn't surprise me.

There really hasn't been a truly awful movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only thing people might not like is the pacing. But, that's okay. After we saw Avengers Infinity War earlier this year, I think we needed a break from the crazy that happened in that movie. I'm glad they saved that connection until the mid-credit scene. If you haven't seen it by now, I dunno if I should spoil. There is a connection to Infinity War and the cliffhanger makes me wonder how we're going to see Rudd's Ant-Man in the next Avengers movie.

It was still a fun ride. From a standalone standpoint, it was a great sequel to an already cool movie. Ant-Man was amazing in its own right and it's great to see him partner with the winsome Wasp here. Sure it's Hope van Dyne but she still counts.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun installment from Marvel Studios. It was great seeing everyone after that really emotional Avengers Infinity War. The MCU continues to have dark and light balanced together and that's a good thing.

Before I go, I do want to mention that it's good that the movie doesn't have a traditional "mwhahaha I am a baddie!" antagonist. Everyone has their own ulterior movies and believes what they are doing is right. That's how you right a villain. No one is evil for evil's sake and you feel bad for the Ghost. In the end a lot of elements make this movie one to see. There's humor, heart, action, light, dark bits and fantastical elements. It's basically what we've come to expect from Marvel Studios.

I've yet to see anything really awful from Marvel Studios and with ten solid years under their belt already, I doubt we ever will. Here's to ten more years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

Now go out there and see Ant-Man and the Wasp! Unless you did already!

See ya next time!

Oh and Stan's cameo was amazing and works on so many levels. =)

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Starbolts #399: The Unthinkable



Hail!

Major downer for the Starbolts this week. They just lost an entire planet! Thankfully this wasn't their fault. No. This was the fault of the Mosqukatara. Those insects were the ones who invented and created the gas. Tetreon gas is basically a radioactive isotope. It kills within minutes. It was used during the Aquan Occupation. So, now you know why M'anta was MAD! At least that man's message will be delivered to his family.

Next week is the big four hundredth comic! This storyline has a few things left to wrap up before we get to the next one. Next comic is going to be a long one so get ready for it. There's a lot that's gonna happen in that one.

Something though needs to happen to boost the team's morale. Here's hoping it comes soon.....

See you next time!