Firefly Still Flying
A Celebration of Joss Whedon’s Acclaimed TV Series
Paperback
Joss Whedon
Original stories by Ben Edlund, Jane Espenson, Brett Matthews, Jose Molina
Titan Books
Release date: May 25, 2010

Firefly is truly unique in the annals of television. Canceled after only a single season, Joss Whedon‘s science fiction-Western mash-up has enjoyed a cult following that rivals Star Trek and Doctor Who. Known as Browncoats (after the rebel force from the show), these true blue fans have kept the show’s spirit alive by passionately devouring books, comic books, and even a full-length motion picture sequel Serenity.

Firefly: Still Flying, much like the series itself, is a mash-up of two different genres. It is at the same time a collection of short fiction and a fan guide. Titan Books assembled a crack team of former show writers to submit short fiction, including “What holds us Down” by Jane Espenson; “Fun with Dick and Jane” by Ben Edlund, “Crystal” by Brett Matthews; and “Take the Sky” by Jose Molina. Separating these stories is a collection of interviews, production notes, storyboards, prop design specs, and cast and crew histories.

Movie Review: Splice
Directed by Vincenzo Natali
Starring Sarah Polley, Adrian Brody, Delphine Chanaec
Release date: June 4, 2010

On May 21, 2010, it was announced that Craig Ventor, made famous by his work on the Human Genome Project, had successfully created artificial, self-replicating life in a laboratory setting.

For the makers of Splice, the timing couldn’t have been better.

Canada, my own stomping ground, has a long and proud horror history that few people take notice of, and Splice is a smart edition to a genre that has been suffering from remake ennui. Warner Brothers, in conjunction with the good people at Dark Castle, have produced a smart, sexy modern day monster flick that pushes all the right buttons as the debate about biotechnology heats up.

Adrian Brody (The Pianist, King Kong) and Sarah Polley (Dawn of The Dead, Beowulf and Grendel) star as a pair of ultra-hip, cutting edge scientists in the employ of a global pharmaceutical company who have made a name for themselves designing artificial life forms. There first successful project was a pair named Fred and Ginger. The company hopes to profit on the enzymes that the pair create to cure livestock disease, but it’s the dream of the researchers hope to take their research to the next phase. In defiance of their corporate masters, they create a human genetic hybrid and that’s when the fit really hits the shan.

We all know the story so well: The young scrappy boy who shares an intimate kiss with his sister before going to learn “˜magic’ from a muppet in a swamp, the space princess sexually assaulted by a drug smuggler in a broom closet, the back-stabbing Colt .45 pitchman, and of course the reunion with the estranged father who then maims his son.

But what of the unsung heroes of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the little people who charge the blasters, reset the flyers, and get shot down by the AT-ATs?

Ladies and gentleman, here’s a peek at a day in the life of Lobot, Lando Calrissian’s faithful assistant on Cloud City.

Irredeemable #13
Written by: Mark Waid
Artist: Diego Barreto
Covers by Paul Azaceta and Crisscross
BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
Releases date: May 5, 2010

What would the body count be if Superman lost his mind? Mark Waid and Diego Barreto‘s Irredeemable takes us into a disturbing universe where the world’s most powerful superhero has gone rogue and the body count climbs into the millions.

Produced by BOOM! Studios and nominated for an Eisner Award, Irredeemable features the super team The Paradigm, led by the all-powerful Plutonian. As the Plutonian suddenly goes rogue and begins a mass slaughter, the rest of the Paradigm struggle to reel him in as civilization slowly collapses. In Irredeemable #13, we catch up with Bette Noir, one of the few remaining free members of the Paradigm as she catches up with her father in a refugee camp. There, she confesses to him that she had the opportunity to stop the Plutonian, but didn’t because it meant admitting infidelity to her husband. Even at the end of her tearful confession, her father refuses to forgive her for her incredibly selfish act.

MIGHTY MJOLNIR!

The first still from the hotly anticipated film adaptation of Marvel Comics’ hammer-slinging hero has been handed down from Asgard!

Check out the image here at right (click for larger view) of Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Thor.

As this one tantalizing picture shows, Thor will be clad in the character’s traditional steel bracer armour with the classic red cape from Jack Kirby’s original designs. This image will hopefully put to rest the fears of fans that the film production would try too hard to “˜contemporize’ the look and feel of the character.