Starbolts 2019 Blockbuster Preview

Hail!

Happy new year, everyone! As per tradition we have the annual CJ interviewing a Starbolt segment and recapping the past year in the comic! Lots of stuff happened this year. LOTS of drama, action and all that fun stuff. Next year will be no exception. As usual panels 31-40 are in canon. So, that just leaves us with a question for the new year.

Who is Ellie? We'll find out about her story next year. We may have to wait a bit because Sara will be on trial next time. Then we will be reintroduced to this blonde high school student who writes Starbolts fanfiction. She's got a part to play in the upcoming story. I won''t give it away, yet. Just stay tuned and find out!

Happy New Year!

Starbolts #415: A Whitefox Christmas

Hail!

Happy holidays from the Starbolts! Well, the ones with the Whitefox name anyway. Everyone else had other plans it seems. That's okay. Everyone's got lives and such. Still, a family gettogether is nice this time of year. This holiday comic serves a few purposes.

First off it's the first one with Sara in it. I wanted to get her into the holiday comic this year. Sam agreed with me and here she is. The second purpose was to have it be a sequel to a Christmas comic from a few years ago when I had the ghost of his dead girlfriend, Scarlett, talk to him about letting go of the past and being with Anya Petrov, the Starbolts' resident Russian spy. Check it out here. Wow. That was exactly two hundred comics ago!!! Amazing how time flies!

I also wanted to have a bit with Stan and Andrea as we never really had a moment with them as a couple. There's certainly a lot going on in this Christmas comic as a lot happened this year in the comic. Funny thing is that only a few Christmas comics are actually in canon. That would be this one. And this one.  And maybe parts of #215.

At some point I am going to have to make Jack and Anya's romance canon. They flirt in the canon, sure. But, now that Sara's back she and Crystal can conspire and get Jack and Anya together. They're perfect for each other!!

Well, that's it from me. Happy holidays, everyone! And a happy new year!

Starbolts #414: Red Auras

Hail!

Now we know what red auras are all about. When an Aquan reaches a certain age, he or she is able to read the auras of other living creatures. To understand them, M'anta needed to seek out the guidance of his elders. Since his parents are dead, he turned to Aquita for help since she is his older sister. Well, now we know that Sara is in deep trouble when it comes to Gladstone. It's a good thing the Starbolts are going with her!

You also just know that he is going to try and drag Crystal down with Sara because he's just that kind of person. She was involved with Terra Nova. So, he feels he should bring her down as well. Guilt by association is the name of his game. After the Christmas comic next week, be sure to come back for the next comic entitled "The Terra Nova Girls". The trial will be in full swing. Will something come of the red aura M'anta detected? What did Smith want Kevin to do? Find out more next time!

See you then!

Starbolts #413: The Morning After

 

 Hail!

Wow! What a drama-filled comic this week, huh? I don't think I've ever done a scene that takes place in over thirty panels before. That was pretty epic. Still, there was a reason for that length. Sam and I wanted to show that Crystal and Sara are on their way to being sisters like they should've been in the beginning. Crystal explained why they weren't and it's sad. But, now they've all but made up for the past. Sara is back and Crystal sees it as a chance to start over. It's just too bad Henry Peter Gladstone stuck his abnormally large nose in where it didn't belong!

Something is fishy with him. M'anta can sense it. That's why his telepathic senses have been flashing throughout this week's comic. It's like a spider-sense. Imagine a migraine about ten thousand times worse. That's what M'anta is sensing when he looks at Gladstone. Something is up and he needs his sister's help in figuring out what's wrong. Leave it to big sisters helping out their little brothers. We'll be sure to see that scene next week.

In the mean time, we have Crystal and Sara reuniting. They will be bonding more deeply a lot sooner than you think. *Taps nose* Spoilers. Just keep in mind what Gladstone called them. "The Terra Nova Girls". It's a negative connotation to be sure and in the coming comics we'll see just how entrenched those two were in the machinations of that organization.

See you next time!

Starbolts #412: A Party in the Stars

 Hail!

Here's part two of Sara's reunion with everyone. It looks like things may not be all it seems for our heroine. Her powers are seemingly gone and she has a scarred body. Firaxil doesn't mind of course. After all he recently went through two transformations. Quite a pair, huh? At least Sara's back and there are still a few loose ends. Sara's story is far from over as we still need to deal with Clive Marshall being her father and other issues.

It's just too bad Tanis is missing out on the party. He's the only hero not there. Don't worry. I'm sure we'll see him again. =)

Sam and I had a lot of fun working on this comic and we wanted to make sure everyone had a scene with Sara be it large or small. Crystal will get a scene with Sara next week which will have some more punch to it. Stay tuned for that. Just enjoy the 'Bolts as they welcome home their long lost friend.

See you next time!

On Stan Lee

Today we lost a legend in the comics industry. His name was Stanley Martin Lieber and he was the co-creator of Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and really most of the Marvel Universe. He was an icon who inspired legions of people from all over the world myself included. I remember first reading Stan Lee's works back when I started reading comics in the late 1980s. Immediately I was hooked! I was blown away that this was the guy who created Spider-Man, a character I was watching on Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends at the time. I was hooked and I was never the same since.

Stan Lee inspired me to create the Starbolts. I always wanted to create my own superheroes like he did. Ironically, he and I share some similarities in that regard. He always said that he couldn't draw very well. Neither can I. That was another thing that drove me to him. He never seemed to let his inability to draw get in the way of his imagination and we all know what kind of a wild imagination "The Man" had. That's why he was an inspiration. He inspired legions of fans to create, draw and dream about characters that are larger than life.

Do I regret not meeting him? I do. But, if you've been reading my blog for a long time, you may recall a post of mine from 2012 where I talked about how my friends' Rich and Laura got Stan to do a personalized video message. They had him drop everything and deliver me a message. He wished me good luck with everything I was doing and he seemed very, very sincere. Fans would agree that he is genuine. There's no mean bone in his body and I think that's why people were drawn to him. I guess in a way I did meet Stan Lee. Sure it would have been nice to see him in person, but,  that moment is something I'll always cherish. It was a personalized message given to me by two good friends. I need to find a way to immortalize that video. It probably means more to me than the Stan Lee biography I have.

Stan Lee was a powerhouse who will be remembered for many years to come.

Just one last thing to add before I go. Though he may be gone, his creations will live on on the comic page and on the big screen. I guess one man really can make a difference. 'Nuff said.

Thank you for being an inspiration.

EXCELSIOR!

Starbolts #411: Homecoming

Hail!

It's been a long time coming and now Sara has returned to the Starbolts! Just so you know, the adventure is far from over. We still have Clive to track down and we need to figure out who he called. There are still plenty of mysteries to solve and over time Sam and I will reveal everything. For now Sara Whitefox has returned to the Starbolts. Ten years may have passed in real time. However, it's been about two years in comic time. Gotta love those sliding timescales!

As you can see it took a long time to work on this sixty panel behemoth of a comic. It was well worth it and I think next comic will be about the same length. We're still working on the assorted odds and ends. I tried to include as many characters as I could in the two-panel spread up there. Too bad Tanis is still in sickbay. He'll be fine. He'll meet Sara soon enough.

At least the Starbolts have cause for celebration and it couldn't have come at a better time since this year is the comic's tenth anniversary. Funny how things work out, huh? Now it's time to turn the mic over to my good friend and co-writer, Sam! Sam, take it away!

Sam: 

She's back! After ten long years Sara Whitefox returns to the Starbolts. Firaxil gets his girlfriend, the Whitefox clan get their missing member, and team science gets their third scientist. A little bit of good after all of the hardships Chris has been putting his creations through.

I have to say, when Chris told me Sara was coming back, I was equal parts ecstatic and terrified. On one hand, I had the chance to work with a character I have loved for over a decade, on the other, I knew that the Sara I had once created wasn’t fit for the world as it is now. Too much had changed over those ten years. Chris and I are different people and the Starbolts are a different team. We needed Sara to adapt too.

Chris and I have spent months redeveloping Sara’s character into someone whose return would really have an impact on the whole team. Some changes were easier than others. The original prose, for example, had Sara’s parents as Apollo and Isis. But Apollo was changed for the comics and there’s no Isis so that no longer worked. We toyed with a few ideas but ultimately we knew that Clive Marshall had to be Sara’s father. That alone gave us plenty to work with. Who would her mother be now (aka, who in their right mind would get into a relationship with Clive?), how would her powers initially manifest, how would this information affect her going forward? It’s been exciting to explore and we’re really looking forward to showing off the answers to those questions (and more) in the coming months.

*****

The Starbolts really were a different team ten years ago. When your writing style improves, your characters tend to as well. Some things are the same. And now this Sara is poised to fit right in with her old friends. Welcome home, Sara Whitefox.

Time for me to update a few things around the site. See ya next time!

Starbolts #410: Days of Sara's Past (Part 2)

Hail!

There is a lot to unpack this week! Sam and I decided to move Sara's return up a bit because of a few factors. Something that is going to happen a bit after Sara's return is going to take a little bit longer than expected. That's okay. Sara's coming home and I know Sam couldn't be happier! Expect him to say a few words next week as we're getting a special sixty panel comic! That is going to be fun to do!

This one was fun as well if a little emotionally draining. Let's review shall we?

Crystal and Sara didn't hit it off at first. By the time of her disappearance, the two had started to become closer and started to behave like sisters. This is why Crystal has been behaving like she has been in the last few comics. She's really upset that she never got a chance to fully make it up to her.

Andrea is basically the fixer of broken teenagers. She fixed her son Jack, Firaxil, Crystal and Sara as best she could. One thing to note is that she always felt some guilt in not fixing Richard aka Cobra. You can't save people who don't want to be saved.

Sam and I wanted to show Sara's relationship with all three siblings. Crystal was a wee bit antagonistic to start with. I may go into what Cody did to her in the future. We'll see. Let's just say he was the real reason she was sitting on that rock, crying when Marcus found her.

We see how she was with Jack and more importantly we see her with Dennis aka Firaxil. Sam and I wanted to allude to his true history by saying his parents were travelers. Poor Dennis had no idea at that point. Still, he was going to propose the night Sara supposedly died. That's the reason why he has been so heartbroken during this arc.

Sadly Psyche had to pass away as well. I suspect all this trekking through the memories is what did her in. As powerful as she was, she couldn't control it very well. Still, it's going to turn out for the best. Sara is coming home! See her return next time!

Starbolts #409: Days of Sara's Past (Part 1)

Hail!

This week we begin our two part look into Sara's past. Sam and I figured these comics would fill everyone in on the backstory of our returning Starbolt. These flashbacks will serve as infodumps for anyone wanting information. It will also help heal Sara. She'll be coming home in three comics! So, we'd best be ready! I know Firaxil is. Poor guy.

Now, I alluded to the "bad thing" last week. I think it's safe to say what would happen next. I won't go into details here. But, if you remember last week, it...wasn't pleasant. At least now we know what Sara was like as a child. The bald lady little Sara talked about was Zarantha. She had her hand in both Crystal AND Sara. I think she was on Terra Nova's payroll.

We also find out this week that Sara and Crystal's pasts intersected at this point. Crystal's own parents gave up their rights to her when she was about the same age Sara is in that flashback. They were told to keep her safe and out of trouble. Five or so years later, Firaxil's ship crashed. And you know the rest of that sordid affair.

Next time we'll explore Sara's life as a Starbolt. Buckle up, everyone. We're in for a wild ride!

Starbolts #408: The Mama Bear

 Hail!

Major bombshells are dropped this week! Let's try to unpack these one at a time shall we? Yes, we shall!

1. Yes, that is a room full of Sara clones. Those are all Mark One clones who would technically be like the Sara clone who died way back when. Andrea had them killed and I am sure she will talk to Stan about it. She didn't mention it to the Starbolts as they are still young and idealistic. They see the world as black and white still. She wanted to relieve them of the burden and it was her call. She was protecting them. She'll talk to Stan and he'll admit that she made the right call killing those clones.

2. Yes, Clive Marshall is Sara's father. Did you see that one coming? It's a big bombshell. After all this time dealing with Clive in the comic, we find out that Clive is actually Sara's father. Her mother is a woman named Elisabeth King. You are not going to like that woman. Trust me. Yes, we'll be meeting her down the road. She's not good people. She kinda has to be if she fell in with Terra Nova's mad scientist.

3. Looks like other female metahumans caught Clive's eye. He's not so much a pervert. He's a man who wanted to create a master race. Firaxil was to be the father of a new generation of beings capable of incredible powers. Women carry the metahuman gene. He was to have them mate. But, it wouldn't have been through natural means. The DNA would have been extracted from each person and combined. The embryos grown in a test tube.

For the record, the women in his file were: Jenna, Angela, Crystal, Kaori, Sara, Selena from Nightstrike, and Valentina and Spectra from the Legion. Clive had access to at least three of those women. And now we know what he wanted Crystal for. Not just to make her a weapon against the forces of good. She was to be a broodmare as well. Clive Marshall is sick, man. SICK!

The question is. What's going to happen when the metahuman women find out about this? The line for Clive's blood is out the door at this point. Stay tuned for more Starbolts action! 

Starbolts #407: Loud Voices in the Night

Hail!

Psyche has arrived at the station. Is she friend or foe? I'm leaning toward "friend" only because we saw how she detested Clive. She's going to help her "sister", Sara out by any means necessary. It's going to be a major f-u to Clive. The first of many to be sure. I won't spoil things. But, that dude is in trouble! By my estimate, Sara should be back by Starbolts #412. That's almost four hundred issues from when she vanished. It's going to be a special one. And with Psyche here expect to learn more about Sara's backstory. That will be fun!

Now then. We have another couple to talk about. Kaori Harada aka Majo is romantically linked to Selena Reyes of Nightstrike. I never established either characters' sexuality. So, this should be a new thing to explore. I'll be sure to treat it with style, grace and maturity. =D

In the mean time, we got an Inobe to fix. I sure hope Psyche can fix Firaxil before time runs out. She's on borrowed time, so, she needs to work fast!

See you next time!

OH! And I saw Venom yesterday. It was okay. Not bad. Not great. Looking forward to Bumblebee, though! 

Comic Showcase #55: Fantastic Four #1 (2018)

Starbolts #406: Back to Square One

Hail!

Well, now we know who was trying to contact Firaxil when he was on New Inobus. It turns out it was the third and hopefully final clone, Psyche. She is certainly different from the other clones. Well, she's different from the homicidal one. How will she help Firaxil and the others find Sara? We'll find out soon enough.

In the meantime, it looks like Andrea is in full "mama bear" mode. She is hell-bent on finding her daughter no matter the cost. If you haven't learned by now is very protective of her children. Blood or not. She will protect them even it means her laying her life on the line. Stan is there, too. It's just Andrea is a bit more driven than her husband.

We'll be seeing her and her strike team in action. What will they discover? Will they find Sara? As you can see she is in rough shape.She'll be fine soon. I hope.

See you next time!

Starbolts #405: Sola Flare

 Hail!

That's two clones down. More are on the way to make Firaxil's life a little difficult. Now we know what Sola was like. Sola was a split personality of Sara who was dominant when she worked for Terra Nova. Sola was put on hold by Aquita and the real personality, Sara, was able to flourish. In the last three comics we had the Sola personality personified in this clone of Sara. She was everything Sara wasn't.

At least she's gone now. Not much you can say but....BYEEEEEEEEE!!!

See you next time, everyone!

Starbolts #404: Starbolt Not Found

Hail!

I don't think Sam and I have ever written a character in which we despise so much. One of these days I am going to let him write one of these blurbs and he can explain the thought process to making this character. She's not crazy like Harley Quinn. She's more Kathy Bates's character from "Misery". She's just one lady you cannot root for. Sola is....awful. No, seriously. She is an awful human being who was residing in Sara's head. Thankfully it got flushed out when the Sola clone was made.

Poor Sara. She didn't have a great stay at that warehouse did she?  Well, Sola will get what's coming to her. I'm not going to spoil it just yet. Too bad about Tanis, though. Poor bug didn't know what he was in for. He's way too reckless and impulsive. Bad combination.

So, this week we are no closer to finding Sara. She is alive. Just scratched up. Poor girl. Poor Firaxil, too. I foresee a very emotional reunion between the two.

See you next time! Oh and Sola was digging at not just Jenna but Sara and Crystal, too. She's...ugh.....Tic. Toc. Time's running out for you, Sola.

Starbolts #403: Strike of Sola

Hail!

Sola makes her move this week and she seems to have a thing for both Firaxil AND Crystal. Yes. She's bi. She's also crazy. Let me back up a bit. When Sam first created Sola, she was a split personality of Sara. Basically Sola was in the driver's seat almost the entire time they were captive by Terra Nova. The Sola personality was stopped by Aquita shortly after the dominant Sara personality surfaced after years of abuse.

Here's what happened. When Sara was little, she developed the Sola personality because of the abuse she sustained. That will be revealed in time. She became Sola and when she was rescued the Sara personality returned. Sola tried to break out and Aquita stopped it. When Clive created clones of Sara, the Sola personality personified into one of the clones. That my friends is bad news for all parties concerned.

 She's definitely leading the Starbolts right into a trap. We'll see what happens next week as this story continues.

It should also be noted that Crystal and Sara didn't hit it off right away. Part of it was due to Sola and another part was because of Crystal herself. When Sara comes back, the two sisters are gonna have to have a LOOOOONNNNG talk.

See you next time!

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!

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!

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.

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. =)

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!

Comic Showcase #54: Action Comics #1000

Starbolts #398: Lies of the Royalty

Hail!

We are two comics away from the end of this epic storyline! Will the Starbolts be able to stop the Misqukatara from using their deadly neurotoxin? Will Crystal and Jack smack their brother around for doing something really dangerous even though the outcome was good? Will the Inobe rebels say "Huh. We really backed the wrong horse here, guys."? The answers to those questions and more will be revealed in time. Right now it looks like the Starbolts still have a job to do!

The story is winding down and a new one is waiting in the wings. There's been a lot of focus on the Whitefox clan hasn't there. In time we'll see why. See you next time!

Starbolts #397: For the Alliance

Hail!

On the scale of one to ten for how screwed the bad Inobe are.....I think they are at an eleven. Yes. Definitely an eleven. There are going to be in for some serious drama in the next three comics. This storyline is winding down and I'm already planning for the next storyline. In fact, I started on Camp Nanowrimo with a few friends of mine. One of them is from Wikitree, a genealogy site I am a part of. She does genealogy. She does wine tasting. She writes. She is pretty awesome. You can follow her on Twitter here:  https://twitter.com/shockrina

In video news, I am working on the Action Comics #1000 review. That will be released sooner or later. Just have some things to sort out. Last night we got word that Steve Ditko, the co-creator of Spider-Man, passed away. Perhaps I can poke my friends at Wikitree to make a profile for him. Or I could do it myself. =) We'll see. His loss is a huge loss to the comic industry since he was responsible for the likes of Blue Beetle, Spider-Man, The Question and Doctor Strange. His art style was amazing and I really think it inspired the look Spidey has in the MCU. Speaking of that, you can bet that the next Spider-Man movie will be dedicated to him.

As far as the story goes, the bugs are going to make their mark. And it looks like Firaxil's hearing voices again. Hmm. Something should be done about that.

See you next time!

Starbolts #396: The War at Home

Hail!

Civil wars often rip families apart and it looks like the same thing happened to Sabina's family. Her sister backed the side that was working with the bugs. That's definitely not a good look for them is it? Nope. No way. Still, I think she might turn a corner given what is going to happen very soon. Starbolts #400's script is almost done and to shake things up a bit things might wrap up in #399. We'll see. Right now it looks like the team is heading to a final battle with the rebels. Will they win the day and finally go home? We shall see!

I've been namedropping Sara a lot lately haven't I? This may have something to do with the next storyline I'm working on. My friend, Sam, and I created Sara for the prose story and we've been working on getting her back. We've basically planned out the next one hundred comics. So, you can expect more action and excitement.

For right now I am planning the next video. I haven't decided what I want to do. It might be X-Men Gold #30 or Action Comics #1000. Perhaps I should flip a coin.

See you next time!

Starbolts #395: Imperfect Copies

 Hail!

I didn't think the universe was ready for two of Marcus and Crystal. Did you? I didn't think so. The poor heroes had their uniforms incinerated by Sabina. Oh, Sabina. Marcus is probably kicking himself for actually thinking that she and Firaxil were a GOOD idea. Don't worry about Firaxil. We'll find someone nice for him, soon. Sooner than he thinks anyway. =)

Well, we are on our way to #400 and I actually have the second half of the comic scripted. No spoilers, but, it should be good. Not just saying that because I am the writer. Next week we'll see more action as this comic marches on. So far it looks like Firaxil is wishing he HAD stayed back on Earth. Sometimes you just can't go home again.

See you next time!

Starbolts #394: Hostile Takeover

Hail!

At first it doesn't look like the Inobe know what they got themselves into. Now the tables have turned! Will the Xazes get to the others in time? Hope so. We got six more comics left of this story and I promise it will not disappoint. Still, I have to admit something. I think Sabina just can't get it through her thick skull that Crystal does not like her much.

There's a very simple reason why Crystal and Marcus kissed and she doesn't get it. It isn't lust. It's more the fact that Crystal is stressed out at the moment. She was happy to see the one constant she has in her life right now because she knows she's gonna have to deal with her parents SOON. She is not looking forward to that, my friends.

Oh and when I made that Avengers pose, I totally had the theme going. I had to add those lines in there because it was a great opportunity to do so. Now I think I might watch the first Avengers movie.

See you all next time!

Starbolts #393: Driven Heroes

Hail!

You are not prepared for feels this week. No way. I had a hard time revisiting Starbolts #19 and redoing the panels from way back then. I may have made some changes. If you want to see the old version, click here:  https://www.deviantart.com/art/Starbolts-19-World-in-Chains-315054168

The first thing I upgraded was  Princess's version 1.0 armor. She now sports a purple getup. Then I changed the background. Man, this comic has gone through a lot of changes from #19 to now. It's almost four hundred comics later and now things have definitely changed. I figured I'd show just how Sara died because we needed a refresher and it's going to come into play later. If you guessed that the next arc is going to be about Sara, then you are correct.

However, before we get there our buddy Firaxil is going to have to go through a trial by fire that will tax him emotionally and physically. I hope he can handle it.

Meanwhile, Crystal has been dealing with Sabina. She's more than just a drop-dead gorgeous ginger. I can tell you that much. Marcus is charging to her rescue, but, it looks like she's doing fine. She could do with backup. After all. The Starbolts work best as a team. Really love how the last panels turned out. Sara would be proud. And next comic things are gonna get BROKEN!

See you then!

Starbolts #392: The Chase Begins

Hail!

Looks like Firaxil is back to where his adventure started. Back in the interrogation room of an enemy starship. This time his sister and Sabina are with him. Chances are pretty good that his stay at "Hotel Bad Inobe" is going to be a mercifully short one. We have eight comics until the shattering conclusion of this storyline. Then we move on to another one and I think you all might know what is to come.

Do the bad guys really think negative memories of Sara are going to effect him? I don't know. We'll see just what those memories are next week.

There's also a few things you might have noticed. I added a timeline of events crucial to the Starbolts universe and I edited a few character biographies. I figured it was about time. =D I mean why not? You need a solid basis for things.

 On another note, I had planned to do a video for this weekend, but, I think I am going to focus on this storyline for a while. Been having a lot of fun working on the comic and I think a break might do me some good.

So look forward to next week's comic! See ya then!

Starbolts #391: To Catch a Centurion

 Hail!

Good lord. Someone needs to shut the Arronfelds up once and for all. I think the Inobe will do just that. I haven't decided whether or not to send them to Rura Penthe, a prison planet or Chiron Beta Prime.  Crystal knows that this is for the best and it's a good thing Andrea is going. She's in full mama bear mode. Nothing is going to stop her and it certainly won't be these two low level Terra Nova agents who still hang on the belief that their organization is viable. It isn't. It was absorbed into D.I.S.C.O.R.D. a long time ago. But, you can't really expect them to care now can you?

Meanwhile we have the bad Inobe captain wanting Firaxil. What could he possibly want with him? Why is he so obsessed with him? That guy is a loon and he will be dealt with sooner or later. Right now they have a little problem with Manta's crew. I had the Starbolts man the key positions on the ship because the Alliance folks weren't on duty.  Shrall is also on New Inobus overseeing everything.  Should be a crazy few issues as we march on toward Starbolts #400! Stay tuned!

Starbolts #390: Family Ties

Hail!

This week Crystal had to make a difficult choice.  In order for there to be any relations between the Alliance and the Inobe, the Arronfelds MUST be turned over to them.  It wouldn't be an easy choice even for someone who doesn't like her parents to begin with. She'd be turning them over to another culture. The Arronfelds have already committed crimes on Earth. After all they were low level members of Terra Nova. They had a daughter who was supposed to be indoctrinated into that terrorist organization, too.  It's a tough choice.

I wanted this comic to also show much of a mama bear Andrea can be. We'll be seeing more of that in the future. Poor girl needed Marcus hugs at the end. This comic shows a lot of  development between the two characters as we begin our march to #400. Firaxil and Crystal will finally get the closure they need and will move on from this mess. What will happen next? Stay tuned!

Starbolts #389: The Agony of Memory

Hail!

This was a hard comic to work on. First off we have Firaxil still reeling over the voices in his head. Sabina tells him to move on and he talks to Aquita. However, what he and the others don't know is that Sara is being tortured by Clive! A while back a robot version of Clive joined the Legion in attacking the Starbolts. That was a robot. This is the real deal.

Clive has always had a sick obsession with Sara in the prose version of the story. He held her captive for twenty years until she escaped and joined the Starbolts. Three years later she was captured and everyone presumed she has been dead for two years. Obviously that's not the case. Sara is alive and well.

Now, what could this mean for Velocity? Remember her? She was stated to look a lot like Sara. She has a connection to this mess. Trust me. And we're going to find out who the girl in the bikini is, too. Next storyline. This one will wrap up in #400. Then we're going to dive into the next one. I think you might have an idea of what that one will be about!

Stay tuned!

Starbolts #388: Rise of the Royalty

Hail!

Talk about backing the wrong horse! The bad Inobe don't know what they're getting into do they? I have a feeling something bad is gonna happen to them. Well, not just a feeling. I know what's going to happen. Don't back the wrong horse, kids. You never know what they'll do to you. Sure they promise all kinds of rewards. In the end, the baddies are gonna get what they deserved.

It's nice to see both Inobe captains again. This time one of them has a name. Dessel is the one who met with the bugs. Hooboy is he in for a rude awakening. Well, he will kind of deserve it. There's no question there. I also showed how the bugs evolved. You can see the full story here: http://starbolts.blogspot.com/2013/12/starbolts-216-coming-attractions.html

It was a long time coming f or the bugs. They basically WANTED to evolve. They feel it was their destiny. How it happened is a question for another time. They just changed to include the humanoid form and now the galaxy has to deal with it.

Now we come to this part. Firaxil is hearing Sara in his mind. What is up with that? Why do I keep torturing this poor boy? It'll be worth it. That's all I can say for now. After all angst + drama= cool stories.

See you next time!

Movie Thoughts: Avengers Infinity War

I just came back from the movie of the year! I'm just going to flat out say that I loved Avengers Infinity War. This blog isn't going to spoil anything. Of course it kills me that I can't spoil it. I don't want to be dragged and hung in front of the Internet for spoiling things. Lord knows what happened to the other people who have done that. They disappeared never to be seen again!

Back on topic. Did I like the movie? Yes. Yes, I did. I did have some minor issues. Let's get that out of the way. There were a lot of characters and the scenes did shift from group to group. I suppose that's fine. When you have a cast as large as this, you need to split up the action. Sometimes it can be a wee bit disjointed. In the hands of a lesser director, it wouldn't work. The Russos did a good job. My only complaint is that they just split the action so much. But, it makes sense. Everyone got ample screen time.

The movie is clearly a part one of a two part epic. I'm not going to get into any details but yeah you can tell that there is definitely going to be a part two of this story. The adventure is going to continue. This is the set up. One can only imagine what will happen next. I expect there to be a payoff in the end. So many things happened in the movie.

The other thing to note is that when you go see this movie, you may want to see the other Avengers movies, Captain America Civil War, Guardians of the Galaxy , Doctor Strange and Black Panther to fully understand who everyone is and what their deal is. If you see those movies, you should be good. Even if you haven't seen those movies, the Russos do a good job explaining who is who.

The action was good. The drama was great. The story overall had a lot of depth and the action you come to expect. Marvel does it again and I'm not saying this as a fan of the movies and comics. I have yet to see a really, truly awful movie from Marvel Studios. The hype train is real. You should really see this movie. It's got action, adventure, drama and really good character moments. Will I see it again? Well, I am seeing it on Monday. =)

Check the movie out and check back here for the next Starbolts comic! See ya then!

Starbolts #387: The Inobe Centurion

Hail!

Presenting the newest member of the Centurion Corps, Firaxil Odanta!  As Crystal said, the new look suits him. However, there are a few things going on this week. First off. What is the deal with the telepathic voice? What's going on there? And what is going on with the Inobe meeting with the bugs? By the way, that's the captain of the ship Firaxil and Sabina made their escape from. What is he doing with them? We'll find out next time!

There is one other thing to note before I go. Last week I spent a lot of time working on an archive for the comic. You can see it here:  http://starbolts.blogspot.com/p/comic-archive.html

All of the comics are there and I know some are on deviantart. There's a reason for that. Back in 2009 or so I was just posting the comic there and this site didn't exist until I reached a certain point. It should be okay, though. The comics are all in one spot for you all to enjoy.

This storyline will most likely end at Starbolts #400 and what comes next will be a lot of fun! Do stay tuned!

Starbolts #386: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Hail!

Looks like Firaxil is now the newest member of the Centurion Corps! We knew that was coming didn't we? Now he has to open the doors and save his friends! It also looks like it's a no-brainer when it comes to him staying on New Inobus or going back to Earth with the others. Sabina is just not his type. The Inobe are a cool race that hide their emotions. They have them, sure. They've just learned to hide them better than our buddy Firaxil can.

It's just as well. Someone is calling out to our newly minted Centurion. Firaxil was never going to be without powers for long. Now someone is calling his name. Well, his Terran name. What does this mean? We'll find out in the comics ahead. I've been working with a friend on the upcoming story after this is wrapped up in a neat little bow. I won't divulge what it's about. I will however say that after all the hell I've put him through, he's going to be happy. Eventually.

As far as Sara goes, Sara originally died in the first Demonstorm arc way back in Starbolts #19. You can read it here: https://cferra1.deviantart.com/art/Starbolts-19-World-in-Chains-315054168
Note to self. I need to find a way to put the old Starbolts comics on this site. Not sure how. But, I have an idea. Expect a new page with an archive of my comics soon!

You can also expect a retooling of that scene some day, too. Not a fan of the style I used back then.

Enjoy the comic! I'll see you next time!

Comic Showcase #53: Top Ten Avengers

Starbolts #385: Flying with Danger

Hail!

First, I want to get something off of my chest. By now you probably saw my tweetstorm about Channel Awesome and why I decided to not post my blog there. If you haven't, check out the thread here:  https://twitter.com/Cferra1227/status/976296789669167104

Basically, things came to light and though they don't affect me they affect my friends and that's something I can't support. To reflect the changes, I have removed the ChannelAwesome.com link on my site. I just can't support them any longer. I will however still be supporting Film Brain and the Last Angry Geek as they are friends of mine. That's not about to change.

Now then back to the comic. There's a lot going on here, huh? We have plenty of action and what amounts to a death race in space. I was going to call it "chicken" but that's when two cars are facing each other. This is different.

There's a bit of foreshadowing here, too. What do the cosmic entities want with Firaxil? Time will tell!

See you next time!

Starbolts #384: The Return of the Royalty

 Hail!

Looks like the bugs are back and in a big way! They got a new, more humanoid look. Their personality seems to be heavy on the arrogance. I wanted to give the new Mosqukatara more of a Cardassian/Romulan feel than the generic bug-like alien. Plus it was getting annoying having to have them talk like thizzzzzz. I wanted to evolve them a few steps forward. Now they are back and it means big trouble for the Alliance.

It's probably for the best that Sabina's plan never went into motion. Good thing, too. Things would have been kind of messy. At least Crystal knows how to diffuse the tension a bit.  The story is gonna heat up next week so stay tuned!

Starbolts #383: Man or Monster

Hail!

Sorry for the delay in comic production. In case you haven't heard, New England was hammered by a late winter storm. We were without power here for  a couple days. I had this comic in my mind ready to go. The problem was I couldn't do anything about it. When the power came back I went right to work in creating the comic. I had some help from Sara's creator, Sam.

Like I said last time I've been toying with bringing her back. I don't really know at this point. We'll see. I'll have to think on it. In the mean time enjoy this feels trip. Note that Firaxil is wearing an Alliance uniform. That's because he umm...lost a little weight inside the chamber. Let's leave it at that.

We're due for another major storm soon and I dunno how that'll impact things. Hopefully it won't be as bad as this last week was. Knock on wood!

See you guys next time!

Starbolts #382: Titanic Memories

Hail!

This is a blast from the past! For new readers let me explain. A long time ago when the comic was in prose form the Starbolts had another member of the team. Her name was Sara Edwards and like Jenna, Jack, Kevin, Mateo and Marcus she was the daughter of two famous heroes who fought for freedom over land, sea and air. (Yes, they were Agents of S.T.A.R.) Sara was to be in the Starbolts Program until Terra Nova kidnapped her as a baby.

Her parents searched high and low and ended up leaving the Agents. Sadly they couldn't find her and the organization ended up raising the baby. She grew up and was later rescued by Dennis and the rest of the Starbolts

Dennis and Sara had a long history together as they were a couple and when the time came to put the comic together, Sara was killed off during the first major arc. Sara was created by my friend, Sam and we thought it'd be best for Sara to be written out of the story for the time being. I recently talked with Sam and we thought we'd bring Sara back in a way.

I already sort of toyed with the idea of bringing her back when I had Velocity, a speedfreak like Marcus, turn up and she looked like Sara. You might remember that story. That plot thread is still dangling. I really need to resolve that at a later date. Not sure how, yet. I WILL, though. =D It'll just take some time.

Enjoy this week's comic! I'll see ya next time!
 

Starbolts #381: A Reunion in Space

Hail!

It looks like the Starbolts have finally reunited with Firaxil! However, it looks like Sabina has her own agenda. What is she going to do? She plans to convince her new friend to stay and fight. To what end? We'll find out soon enough. She's still a good guy. I think. I also think she may be doing this for the wrong reasons. The Starbolts will help in any way they can since the bugs also threaten Earth and the other worlds of the Alliance. This plan could be all for nought. Then again she doesn't know that. Still, you can expect some comedy out of this. Man, if Marcus ever sees this faux Crystal there could be some serious comedy. Or a sitcom-like misunderstanding.

In other news, my Youtube Channel has lost monetization thanks to YouTube's new policy of taking a torch to a molehill. I will still make videos. They just won't have any monetization on it. I just need a ton more subscribers to get the necessary amount to warrant monetization. So, if you like my stuff on YouTube, go like and subscribe to my channel. Link is in the links section of this site.

That's all for now! See you next time!

Starbolts #380: The Dragon Awakens

Hail!

WOW! A lot happens this week doesn't it? I didn't want Firaxil to be separated for too long from his friends. So next week expect to see a reunion between him and the other faction of the Inobe. The question is... How are the Starbolts going to react to this other group of Inobe after having been attacked by one Inobe ship already? Here's another question. How will THEY react to Firaxil's friends?

In any event we have a new starship design for the bugs. That's not the only thing that's been redesigned. The ship's front looks like a bug. That's why we only see the huge oval from the side. It's world's better than the last design of the ships.

I added a character moment for the Aquan trio. They're still dealing with the death of their mother at the hands of those creeps. Gonna be a drama-filled storyline. I can tell you that much. Would you expect any less? See you next time!

Starbolts #379: A Fox in the Hen House

Hail!

They're baaack! Yes! The Mosqukatara have returned after being absent from this comic for quite a few years. In all fairness this was because I was working to redesign them. For new readers, the Mosqukatara are insectoid aliens who once enslaved Aquans. They didn't stop there, though. They also held worlds belonging to the Dovianni and the Setleth. Eventually those worlds were freed and the races on those worlds forged an intergalactic alliance akin to the United Nations or the United Federation of Planets in Star Trek.

Now the Inobe have allied themselves with the bugs. Do they know what the bugs DID?! Keep in mind that this is the bad guy faction of the Inobe that allied themselves with the ruthless creatures. They are in the middle of a civil war. That reminds me. What is Firaxil up to? We'll find out soon enough. An old enemy has returned and I don't think it will sit well with our heroes.

See you next time!

Starbolts #378: A Standoff in Space

Hail!

Looks like the Inobe have decided to initiate another part of their plan. This would be to infiltrate the Xazes. One small problem. How are they all going to stay hidden on a ship full of telepaths? That's not gonna be easy. They'll be found out pretty quickly. Expect a fight on the decks of the ship. This is far from over. Just like that guy said.

I feel bad for killing two redshirts. Er...GOLDshirts. Seems like an awful waste to me.  The captain here seems like he's the most fanatical out of all the Inobe we've seen. There still are a couple questions.

1. Was that the same Inobe ship that had Firaxil as a prisoner?
2. WHO IS THEIR ALLY?!

Well, I know the answers. We'll just have to wait and see to find out! Stay tuned!

Comic Showcase #52: Darkhawk #51

Starbolts #377: The Inobe Civil War

Hail!

Looks like the team has stumbled upon an intergalactic civil war. I'm sure there's no cause for concern. Unless you happen to live in any of the nearby systems. Again there is a reference to the mysterious ally. Who are they? What do they want? They apparently know about the Alliance and have been spreading lies.

We won't be finding out next week as I'll be reviewing Darkhawk #51. Speaking of Youtube, I have to say yes I am annoyed about the whole thing. All it takes is one bad egg to cause a problem. In this case it was a few. I'll be losing monetization on my videos like a lot of people. It's annoying, I know. I'll still put videos online. I also talked to some friends about Patreon. We'll see. In the mean time I'll still post vids and comics.

See ya next time!