Hey, I'm tall

Hello, I'm an art school student. I love Doctor Who and Star Trek and comic books. I'm really tall and I get neck pains from having to talk down to people. It has given me an undeserved superiority complex.

[theresatimelordcomin]

Operation: Monarch!!! My entry for the Talenthouse Creative Brief. I had a ton of fun drawing this. #CallofDuty #OperationMonarch #Warzone #Monsterverse #GodzillavsKong #OperationMonarchFanArt https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd95SRqPBDX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theyboldlywent]

Fifty years ago tonight, “The Man Trap” hit TV screens across America.

It was America’s first look at Star Trek, which had been in development for around two years at this point. The first handful of regular episodes had been shot and network executives chose the story of a lonely creature driven to kill over the two other episodes that had gone through the post-production process and were ready for broadcast. The network understandably thought a straightforward bit of space horror would be a good introduction to the series, especially compared to the space prostitution storyline of the “Mudd’s Women” and the exposition-heavy, slightly clumsy second pilot “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”

“The Man Trap” got good ratings, placing first in its timeslot with around 45% of televisions tuned in, but that was the best that the series would ever see. Over its three-year run, Star Trek struggled with the Nielsen system and network disdain in equal measure.

(Some have said that if modern demographics had existed in the late 1960s, we’d be looking at a very different version of the series’ history. Even when its ratings were at their worst, it performed abnormally well with people who had disposable income and the spare time with which to enjoy it.)

Despite valiant efforts from fans and two victories in the war against cancellation, the show was axed after three seasons. Gene Roddenberry pushed hard and got it replaced a few years later with a terrible-looking cartoon that ended after two seasons. A movie called Planet of the Titans became a TV series titled Star Trek: Phase II became Star Trek: The Motion Picture, a very expensive theatrical release that audiences and critics alike thought looked fantastic but was boring as hell.

That should have been it, but somehow, Star Trek kept going. Somehow, it continued to draw in audiences.

There was (after some serious shuffling of the proverbial deckchairs and some stern lectures about budgeting) a second movie, then a third and a fourth, and then a spinoff and two more movies and, well, you know the rest.

So, what made Star Trek succeed? It was told repeatedly through sheer math that it didn’t matter.  Why did people keep clamoring for more and why did Paramount care? 

The simple answer is there in the 79 episodes that were broadcast on NBC before becoming a staple of UHF stations over the subsequent decades.

Star Trek shows us that we can make it. 

It shows us that there is a future, and it’s fantastic.

Over the years, there’s been a lot of talk about how warp drive, the ship’s computer, the communicators and the tricorder has inspired scientific advances and brought people to STEM and the space program. That’s great, it really is, but that’s not what defines the show’s future in my mind.

Tools are the beginning. Science is the beginning.  It’s what people do with it that makes the real difference. After all, Lost in Space featured faster-than-light travel and a heck of a robot, and look at how that show’s viewed now. It lacked intent and intelligence, two things that have set Star Trek apart from the very beginning.

Star Trek shows that green-blooded aliens and cocky white men and black women and loud-mouthed southerners and even horny Russians can just drop their differences and unite in their desire for a better future.

Star Trek tells us that there are solutions besides force. 

It teaches us that it’s usually better to listen than to speak. 

It reminds us that racism is pretty stupid, and that lust for money or power leads to suffering. 

It lets us know that there are things we may never understand and that’s a good thing, because curiosity drives us.

At its best, Star Trek is a deeply human look at what we can be. At its worst, it still reminds us that we can and will make it to the twenty-third century, as long as we get over ourselves and start thinking about the big picture.

That’s why Star Trek matters.

Thank you, Gene Roddenberry, for your initial vision and subsequent dedication. Thank you, Herb Solow and Robert Blackman for guiding the show through treacherous waters and getting it on the air. Thank you, Gene Coon and DC Fontana for helping set and maintain a tone that helped the show connect with so many.

Thank you, William Shatner. Even at your scene-stealingest, your commitment to craft and passion helped define a captain that I would follow anywhere.

Thank you, Leonard Nimoy, for creating a character that freaks, outcasts, and weirdos everywhere could cling to and admire; we really appreciate it.

Thank you, DeForest Kelley, for Leonard McCoy, my favorite character in fiction. People that follow this blog might have noticed that I’ve never written very much about Bones; that’s because I’ve found it impossible to talk about him with any kind of objectivity. Kirk and Spock are people I look up to; Dr. McCoy is the kind of person I want to be, and a lot of that is because of Dee Kelley’s performance.

Thank you, James Doohan, for taking control of a character and making the idea of an engineer that can do anything a cornerstone of the genre.

Thank you, George Takei and Walter Koenig, for dealing with line-counting and budgetary adversity and diminished roles and sticking with Star Trek. The ship wouldn’t feel right without you one of you at the helm.

Thank you, Nichelle Nichols, for listening to others and claiming your place as an icon of civil rights, telling generations of black women that they matter and that they can and should stand right beside the white men of the world and do the same jobs.

Thank you, Majel Barrett and Grace Lee Whitney. Your roles may have been minor in the grand scheme of things, but your performances helped make the show that much more human.

Thank you, George Clayton Johnson, Samuel A. Peepless, John D.F. Black, Richard Matheson, Robert Bloch, Adrian Spies, S. Bar-David, Jerry Sohl, Barry Trivers, Paul Schneider, Theodore Sturgeon, Oliver Crawford, Don Mankiewicz, Steven W. Carabatsos, Boris Sobelman, Carey Wilber, Robert Hamner, Nathan Butler, Don Ingalls, Harlan Ellison, Gilbert Ralston, Jerome Bixby, Max Ehrlich, David P. Harmon, Art Wallace, Margaret Armen, Robert Sabaroff, Jud Crucis, John Kingsbridge , Laurence N. Wofe, Art Wallace, Edward J. Lasko, Jean Lisette Aroeste, Rik Vollaerts, Judy Burns, Chet Richards, Arthur Heinemann, Joyce Muskat, Lee Erwin, George F. Slavin, Stanley Adams, Michael Richards, Jeremy Tarcher, Shari Lewis, and Arthur Singer for conceiving and writing episodes that still thrill me to this day (and having to deal with Gene Roddenberry and Fred Freiberger’s subsequent, occasionally devastating, rewrites.)

There’s a name missing from that litany. That’s because I want to offer a very special “thank you”to David Gerrold for “The Trouble With Tribbles,” the thing that made me want to start writing in the first place.

Special thanks to Joseph Pevney and Marc Daniels for helming so many episodes and Joseph Sargent for creating the visual and narrative guidelines that others learned so much from. Thank you, Robert Butler and James Goldstone, for directing “The Cage” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Thanks to Lawrence Dobkin, Leon Penn, Harvey Hart, Vincent McEveety, Robert Butler, Gerd Oswald, Robert Sparr, Robert Gist, Don McDougall, Michael O’Herlihy, Ralph Senesky, John Newland, Herschel Daugherty, Gene Nelson, James Komack, Marvin Chomsky, Tony Leader, Herb Wallerstein, David Alexander, Jud Taylor, John Herman, Murray Golden, and David Alexander for following in their footsteps.

Thank you Matt Jeffries, for the Enterprise. As anyone who knows me can attest, I speak of that ship with reverent tones. She’s a beautiful lady, and we love her.

Thank you, Gerald Finnerman for showing us what the future would look like through inventive camerawork and creative lighting. Thank you, William Ware Theiss, for doing so much with so little and no, I’m not just saying that because the costumes for Andrea and Marlena helped a boy in the 80s figure out he liked women.

Thank you to the dozens of writers that took the franchise into prose and comics, especially Diane Duane, Margaret Wander Bonanno, John M. Ford, Peter David, Vonda N. McIntyre, and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

Finally, thank you to fandom. You kept Star Trek’s heart beating when a network had jettisoned it and pop culture was laughing at it. You made people like me feel like we weren’t alone Yes, you get pretty damn weird sometimes, but that’s what makes it interesting.

Live long and prosper.

[theyboldlywent]

FACT: F. Scott Schafer’s photos of Simon Pegg in the July/August issue of Popular Science are the best photos of Simon Pegg.

[seventypercentethanol]

Nameless and the Scientist; forbearance

[vintagemanga]

Mizuki Shigeru’s Seven Rules of Happiness. #7 – Believe in what you cannot see – The things that mean the most are things you cannot hold in your hand. #6 – Take it easy – Of course you need to work, but don’t overdo it! Without rest, you’ll burn yourself out. #5 – Talent and income are unrelated – Money is not the reward of talent and hard work. Self-satisfaction is the goal. Your efforts are worthy if you do what you love. #4 – Believe in the power of love – Doing what you love, being with people you love. Nothing is more important. #3 – Pursue what you enjoy – Don’t worry if other people find you foolish. Look at all the people in the world who are eccentric—they are so happy! Follow your own path. #2 – Follow your curiosity – Do what you feel drawn towards, almost like a compulsion. What you would do without money or reward. #1 – Don’t try to win – Success is not the measure of life. Just do what you enjoy. Be happy.

http://hyakumonogatari.com/2015/11/

(via vintagemanga)

[colindouglasgray]

CHARLI XCXCXOXOXOXOX @charlixcx

[alternicobase]

Three Generations of Star Wars

[starwarsandrec]

:-)

[carriefisherclassic]

skywalker twins

[bowenarrowed]

I wanna be a Skywalker plz

[theyboldlywent]

In 1977, DeForest Kelley wrote a poem called “The Big Bird’s Dream,” frequently reading it aloud at his convention appearances.. Here the the entire text of the poem, which looks at the creation of Star Trek, its cancellation and the potential resurrection of the series. 

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away There lived a big bird nesting on a play. He thought if he could hatch it and get it on the air, He’d make himself a fortune and build himself a lair.

The day finally came and the story was born He let out a cackle: “No more corn!” He flew from his nest with the play in his claw, Certain to sell it, for it had no flaw.

The story he hatched within his yarn Took place on a ship as big as a barn. Not only that, it was in outer space, Far removed from the human race.

Its crew searched the universe for worlds unknown To teach and learn ~ and not try to own. Not only that, they built a new nation This time known as the Federation.

All of this, taking place in the skies On a starship known as the Enterprise. Now wouldn’t you think, with a plot like this, The big bird had what couldn’t miss?

Well, he landed in Burbank on Hollywood Way, And headed east, to sell his play. But things weren’t as easy as he thought they’d be ~ Particularly when dealing with NBC.

The Enterprise crew was one of a kind Superb in their work, with good things in mind. Different in color and different in race, Green, white, yellow ~ and token black face.

At first, the black was not to be, ‘Til the big bird screamed at NBC: “It’s either she or I” he began to yell, “Who knows who’s gonna ring whose bell?”

With great reluctance they agreed to say: “Okay, fellows, we’ll do it his way.” At a later time, on another day, They’d be the first to boast they went that way.

Most who read it said: “This bird is nuts!” But there was one among them possessed with guts. “Let’s go with this bird, loud and clear ~ He’s saying things people should hear.

“Let’s give it a try and hope it will work.” So spoke the head of the big network. So the pilot was made and they all took a look ~ “My God!” one shouted, “he’s filmed a book!”

Another one yelled, “It’s too far out! I don’t understand what it’s all about!” But the one with guts had a grin on his face Now he was ready to state his case.

“Far out?” he said, “I like what I’ve heard, And I’m still gonna go with this crazy bird.” So they made another pilot ~ with a change here and there, And finally, they got it on the air.

The big bird felt a sense of elation After so many days of complete frustration. But now he knew the big job was done And he was proud of his fine new son.

One thing was left for the big bird to do: Find a name for his dream-come-true. He gave a big party so the brass would appear, To name this dream he held so dear.

When the big party calmed down and the feeling was mellow, The big bird stepped forward to christen this fellow. “Lift your glasses,” he said out loud, “I’ve got a new baby of which I’m proud!”

He took an idic from his hand, The symbol he’d created for the change in man. He placed it tenderly around the small neck And in a mellifluous voice, said: “Star Trek”

The brass with guts jumped up and down ~ “My God!” he said, “what a sound! How did he think of such a name? It’s commercial as hell ~ it’s the name of the game!”

Well, the public loved it but the Nielson was low And they tell the networks what to show. The word was out for all to hear: Star Trek dead ~ after second year.

The rest is history, as you surely know, For you, the fans, saved the show. The millions of letters you sent to the brass Simply knocked them on their ass!

But after one more year they put it away, Not knowing it would rise in syndicated play. Then came conventions ~ and letters ~ and toys, Re-runs and rating and lots of noise.

Finally the studio was heard to say: “We’ll remake Star Trek another way.” “How will we do it?” one of them said, “Not as a series, the re-runs aren’t dead.

“Let’s do it as a movie, a special or play ~ For heaven’s sake, let’s do it some way! Precious moments are flying by ~ The actors are aging and soon may die.”

“Are they still available ~ or should we re-cast? Without the originals, how long would it last? Go get the big bird ~ he knows where they are And have him remind Spock he’s still not a star.”

“We’ve got to keep their egos down In case replacements can’t be found.” So in flew the big bird, ready to squeal, Naturally anxious to make a deal.

“First,” he said, “we should discuss the star ~ For all of them probably think they are!” “Don’t be funny,” an executive said, “If that’s the case, the whole thing’s dead.”

“What’s with Shatner? How does he look?” “I don’t know ~ but he’s written a book. Seems he wanted the world to know How he suffered, making that show.”

“What’s with Kelley ~ what’s with his life?” “He’s living in the Valley ~ with the very same wife! I know one thing that’s buggin’ him, He’s sick of that line. He’s dead, Jim!”

“Now what about Doohan, the one with the brogue,” Well, he bought a motor-coach and hit the road. He’s grown a beard ~ it’s silver and black, And he says he wants to keep it, if he comes back.”

“What about Takei ~ he flew the damned ship…” “Well, he’s into politics ~ a whole new trip. He had a job on the Mayor’s staff, But they couldn’t take that crazy laugh!”

“Okay, okay, what about Nichelle? The one you said would ring our bell?” “She’s working for NASA ~ goes all over the nation Trying to interest women in the space administration.”

“They’re using the Enterprise to colonize space And they can’t seem to do it without the female race. She says she’s had it in Communications And wants to come back in Public Relations.”

“Well, where the hell’s Koeing ~ our young Russian lad?” “Oh, he’s writing for films ~ and he’s really not bad. As a matter of fact, if he can be around, He could be the one to get this off the ground!”

“That just about covers the entire crew… Majel’s no problem ~ she’s married to you!” “Don’t you believe it, not on your life! I don’t make deals with my very own wife.”

“And even though she’s married to me, She still commands the same high fee. And if this show goes, she’ll be back, you can bet ~ I’ve never written a script without her yet.

“And there’s one more actor you’ve left out That I really think we should talk about. I know it’s something you hate to discuss Because it’s going to create quite a fuss.

“I’m referring to Nimoy and what he has to say. He’s in New York, doing a play. He’s portraying a doctor and says it’s a joy ~ And he might come back if he could play McCoy.”

“McCoy’s role?” the executive said, “My God, man, he’s out of his head! Well, I’m telling you, that really takes guts ~ The brass will think we’ve gone nuts!”

“What about Kelley, if Spock plays McCoy? He’ll just flip if we get another boy.” The big bird spoke with that smile on his face, The one he wears when he’s solved a case.

“Easy, gentlemen, don’t worry about that… I can fix him in nothing flat. So just relax and calm down your fears… I’ll paint De green ~ and give him the ears!”

So that brings us up to where we are today, With thousands of people gathered to say “Star Trek Lives!” ~ it will not die ~ When will someone make it fly?

He would soon publish a 12-page zine featuring the poem, offering it for sale at his convention appearances. It was followed by an 8-page companion entitled The Dream Goes On. 

Publicity photo scanned from the They Boldly Went archives. If you appreciate our ongoing mission to provide unique Star Trek content, please consider supporting this blog on Patreon.

[theyboldlywent]

Sad news out of LA tonight: Joseph Sargent, who directed “The Corbomite Maneuver,” died due to complications related to heart disease. “The Corbomite Maneuver” was the first episode of Star Trek produced after the show was ordered to series and Sargent (who won four Emmys and four DGAs over his career and helmed movies such as The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three and Miss Evers’ Boys) was responsible for one of the most progressive decisions on the show.

“I suddenly became conscious of the fact that we had a good representation – a good diversity in virtually in all ethic areas – except black people,” Sargent said in an interview.“There wasn’t a black actor in the group and I gingerly, and obsessively, approached Gene. And he immediately agreed that there had to be a Black on the bridge.”

Nichelle Nichols was contacted soon after after by casting director Joe D'Agosta, who had no idea that the actress and Gene Roddenberry had an affair in the early 1960s. He just knew that she was reliable and talented.

Sargent was 89 years old.

[maisonimmonen-deactivated201605]

Frederikka T. Payne: Pain Prevention Exercises for Knitters (or writers or artists etc. etc.)

If you don’t have, and aren’t doing, a short suite of exercises for your hands then may we suggest this article as an effective starting point. It works. It helps. Don’t be a hero an idiot. These work before work and especially after.  Via nordicneedle.net 

“One of the best warm up routines I found was from a booklet written by Frederikka T. Payne called Pain Prevention Exercises for Knitters published in 1996. She recommends filling a bucket or basin of water with as hot of water as you can comfortably stand. You want to be able to put your arm in up to your elbow if possible. You start by relaxing your hand and letting it soak for two minutes. Next repeat the first two exercises ten times. 

Stretch your fingers wide and hold for a count of 5. Then bend your fingertips down and hold for a count of 5. Then push your stretch further by repeating the next two exercises ten times also. Stretch your fingers wide and hold for a count of 5. Make a first and hold for a count of five. Here are the three hand positions: open, fingertips down, fist.

Here are a couple of other exercises that you can do before, during, and after your stitching session.

Wrist Stretch: Place your hands in a praying position at chest level with your fingers closed. Then raise your elbows up so they are parallel to the ground. While your hands and elbows are in this position slowly spread your fingers apart, keeping your palms together and then close them again. Repeat this five times.

Wrist Flex: Extend your arm out and bend your hand up. With your other hand, gently bend your wrist back to give it a little stretch. Change hands.

Wrist drop: Just like your thread sometimes your wrists need to “unwind”. Let your arms drop to your sides and gently shake your hands. Slowly rotate your hands in a clockwise circle, then reverse directions.”

[superdames]

Jill Trent #3 teaser poster by Rafael Romeo Magat (rafaelromeomagat).

This is just the beginning.

[letters-tothelord]

[omgthatdress]

Help the church recover from a horrific act of terrorism.

[destroycomics]

R.I.P. Sam Hiti

You’ve probably heard of the Sam Hiti death scare. You probably saw it as a hoax. You probably saw it as a call for help. Sam is alive, but his condition is private.

I don’t know what’s going on in Sam Hiti’s life.

I’ve only know that the past year has been difficult for him. Clusterfucked with illness, accidents, and a creative absence. I miss his presence, his studies of Claudia Cardinale and musings yielded by thick brush lines, and, most of all, his fierce independence. A lot of what I know from others and have experienced with comics has bothered me about this news.

Comics is a cancerous profession. 

An overwhelming amount of people struggle with comics and it spreads them really fucking thin. A lot of people will come off jaded, ignorant, or morose, if not completely alone. It shows. It’s contagious. Its demand and time consumption won’t flow when the effects of production on personal lives destroy motivation and productivity. Especially when publishers try to get you to work at wholesale prices without the benefits you need to keep yourself healthy, support a family, and insure that if something happens to you, you have something there for you and your family to fall back on.

I don’t want to be pessimistic or “realistic” about comics. Comics at its best is one of the  most nurturing communities I’ve known. But, as a career, judging from the people I know who struggle from depression and have expressed suicidal thoughts, it has the ability to have the creator running breathless with hooks digging deep into their backs.

Brandon Graham says that his job is “staying excited about comics.” This is important in looking at the self and comics whether it means focusing on yourself so you can continue to be healthy for comics.

But, the best advice is “don’t go into comics.” If you find yourself never quitting, you’ll have a Socratic virtue fulfilled, but at a cost greater for some lesser for others. 

It’s okay to quit. 

If comics has taken so much from you and given so little and you feel that you need to escape, you should. Trust your intuition. Even if you end up coming back to it a week later, months, years, or never. You are more important than comics.

Respect the people who choose to quit or take a long time to finish a project. Comics are demanding.

Those of you who know me, or follow my personal tumblr, probably know that making comics was one of the only things I was hanging on to when I was trying to kill myself last year. I shelved the project after being hospitalized. In that situation comics made things worse. I’d have panic attacks while inking. I started posting cryptic Work In Progress shots of a skeleton dude and cryptically alluding to plans for my death. I wasn’t healthy and comics were contributing to that sickness.

The tortured artist cliche is bullshit. Never tell someone to use their pain to create. It’s a bad route for them to take. Make sure they’re okay.

When you’re affected by the realities, depressed or sick, you might be incapable of stepping outside of yourself to stop yourself from doing something that will cause pain to yourself or others. 

The way Sam Hiti announced his death today was really disrespectful to the people who know and love him as a person as well as his work. A lot of hearts skipped a few beats.

Don’t be angry. Don’t say that this is a hoax to sell books. You’re failing to empathize with a person who obviously is trying to process their future.

Empathy is one of the most important qualities a person can have, and it lacks with the omnipresence of the internet. If you encounter someone who has done something terrible, is going through the shit, or isn’t aware of themselves, know that you can never change a person, but empathy is still the best thing you can offer them.

People do really stupid things to deal with their paint. Some do it to themselves with substance or to others, whether their using people or sexually assaulting them. There are really terrible things people are capable of that you’d be surprised by. Shitty circumstances breeds shitty people more than it breeds great ones. Some of those people will put their trauma on other people and let the infection grow. It’s important to know that we’re all capable of changing ourselves after seeing ourselves as we appear.

I believe Sam Hiti is dead. This isn’t figuratively speaking. Sam Hiti, the cartoonist, has said goodbye, and by the looks of it, this was something that happened a while back. Comics were a part of his being to himself and others, and now that he recognized that has past, that person has passed on. Whether he’ll resurrect and make comics again is up to Sam Hiti, the person.

Also, note: I do not know what is going on in Sam Hiti’s life, nor do I want anyone to believe that’s the reality of his situation until he says something formal, if he does.

Empathize with others as you would yourself. Accept and seek out the help of others. You are important as other people and other people are as important as you. 

I’m saddened and going to greatly miss Sam Hiti. I wish him and his family the best.

Art is something we experience and appreciate perpetually. It’s everywhere and more often offered for free. It is taken for granted. I know there’s a lot of preaching out there about supporting the arts, but seriously, support the arts. Send artists you love money and praise, buy their products, go out and see them when there are events close to you. Keep them going because keeping yourself excited about comics involves everyone. For someone to go about that task alone, either they’re endowed with a great spirit or crumbling slowly.

Hoax or not, I bought Sam’s goodbye package. I suggest you all consider showing him the final support and respect his decision to kill the cartoonist and join him in sending himself off. 

You can buy the goodbye package here

Watch Sam draw in Kagan McLeod’s studio with Paul Pope, David B, and Frederik Peeters.

[heatherantos]

When it comes to comics, there are a ton of misconceptions out there about what freelance editors do, and there really aren’t many resources to help you figure out what to look for in an editor. So, that’s why I’m going to give you the 411 on everything you need to know about working with a...