Things I dug in 2014 off the top of my head

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

Legendary Picture’s Godzilla tops my list. The kid in me that loved Shōwa and Heisei films enjoyed it. The redesign was interesting and the origin story was satisfying. Looking forward to a sequel and a possible crossover with the Pacific Rim franchise!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was more enjoyable than the original in my humble opinion. The action sequences and gadgets satisfied this geek. It was a near perfect adaptation of the original comic story arc. My only complaint is Arnim Zola didn’t have a vessel befitting his genius.

Guardians of the Galaxy was perfect! The characters felt real and had a spark. There was a nice balance of comedy, action, cast chemistry, Easter Eggs and science fiction. Part of me wants to see more Redneck Space Pirates in films/television thanks to Rooker’s performance.

Art by the talented Dan Hipp

Agent of Time Variance Authority (TVA): when Exiles met What-If

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

Idea:
It sprang from my desire to see more of the Marvel Multiverse and make the Time Variance Authority an organization worthy of respect. The hero will travel across various realities to eliminate threats and preserve the space-time continuum and multiverse.

K’aang is a variant of Iron Lad (the teenage Kang the Conqueror) who is a greater fanboy than Iron Lad. He was able to become a distinct being from his future self, much like Kang separated himself from Immortus in Avengers Forever. He became a specialist employed by the Time Variance Authority and renowned for ending Cosmic Man’s inter-dimensional piracy. He utilizes the spoils from his mission instead of his armors.

Kang vs Iron Land (by Jim Cheung)

Paraphernalia:
Air Mariners are technologically advanced track cleats that grants flight through replication of Prince Namor’s flight mechanism.

An Auric Blaster is a variable directed-energy firearm based on a Fantastic Foundation gun controller. It is equipped a Kurtzberg battery and a Skrull Flux Matrix. (It resembles the golden blaster depicted by R. Grampa on the Killjoys cover).
Special Attribute:
It is fueled by the user’s belief and emotions.
Genetic and gravity locks prevent others from using the weapon.
Variable Emissions:
An Absolute Nullifier is a repulsor emission that neutralizes the posthuman targets.
A Dean Cutter is a potent laser with the same frequency as a Majesdanian photonic discharge.
A Hammond Flare is an incendiary plasma created by a modified Pyronano aerosol.
An Oberon Spray is an ionized stream of “pixie dust” (a hallucinogenic agent created from Wakandan toad venom).
Psyche Pulse is a psionic energy burst that causes great damage to organic and inorganic objects.
A Pym Pellet is a smart bullet derived Unstable Molecules saturated with Pym Particles. Its target lock feature possesses Z-axis manipulation to phase through any obstacle (civilian or barrier) to reach the target or increase its density to diamond hardness to penetrate armor.

The Caliburn is a dagger fashioned from Zabu’s tooth and coated in Anti-Metal. It disintegrates metallic molecular bonds on contact.

A Doop Inventory is an ionic storage device that contains items within a simulated Doop Land (pocket dimension used by Doop to store things).

A Horizon Slugger is a refined Reverbium baseball bat with an embedded Schultz Vibro unit. It absorbs kinetic impact and oscillates at a frequency that generates concentrated blasts of air.

An Oubliette Sigil is a ring-like data transmitter that implants custom traits into the wearer.
Skills:
Psychometric mastery of any weapons he touches
Adept in multiple human and alien martial arts.
Fluent in numerous Earth and alien dialects.

The Thunderer is Zabu’s tooth fashioned into a dagger and molecularly bonded with Uru. It generates and tactilely discharges tetrawatt voltage.

Wall Crawlers are a custom pair of sneakers with Vibranium soles that enable the user to scale any flat surface.

Zabu Cloak is thethe chemically treated pelt of Ka-Zar’s animal companion. It is bulletproof.

(Zabu the sabertooth by Greg Land)

When Destro ended up in the Marvel U. and created a Super Sentai

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

Idea:
It is an attempt to combine the Super Sentai concept with the gun-totting Punisher idea technologically. The creation of the devices will be facilitated by dystopian variations of Bentley-23 and Onome (from Future Foundation) using the remnant of Midas Corporation stolen alien technology and Heroic Age technology.

Paraphernalia:
An Auric Amulet is an unstable molecules derivative of the Sh’iar Darkhawk Amulet. It enables the user to transfer his consciousness into the Auric Android while while at the same time, switching the robotic body’s place with that of his own body.

An Auric Android is a derivative of the Darkhawk Android that functions as portable storage inventory. It resembles a golden version of DavidFernandezArt Red Zeo Ranger suit

Special Attributes:

A Doop Drive is a variant of the Omega drive that creates and accesses a fabricated Doop Land (pocket dimension used by Doop to store things).
A Kirby Cell is a specialized battery that concerts emotions and belief into energy. It is derived from the Marvel’s Kirby Engine.
Advanced optics in conjunction a bleeding edge targeting program provides perfect marksmanship.

Stored Devices:
The Brawler Gauntlets are Pusher Man’s Fistigons with an embedded Schultz vibro-shock unit. They are outfitted with custom insulation that neutralizes the feedback. The gauntlets project concentrated blasts of air that have been vibrated at an intense frequency: the blasts are released on impact.

The Idunn Elixir is a gaseous fleet of nano-Sentinels that simulate the function of James Howlett’s healing factor and repairs the android’s wounds.
The Oberon Grenade is a cannister-type grenade that releases a concentrated form of “pixie dust” (a hallucinogenic agent generated by Megan Gwynn).
A Nihil Cube is a Kree Pocket Battlefield based on S.P.I.N. technology. It neutralizes the posthuman abilities of targets within it.

Stored Directed Energy Weapons:
An Absolute Nullifier is an Ultimate Nullifier created from a WWII Mauser C96. It completely eliminates any target the wielder chooses.

Mauser

A Deceptor is a AA-12 automatic 12 Gauge shotgun created from Skrull technology and designed to projects an energy blast that mimics a Majesdanian’s photonic discharge.

An Inferno Revolver is an improvised flamethrower created from a Colt Army Model 1860 integrated with modified Pyronanos (a hive race of giant burning nanomachine-based robots derived from the android Human Torch’s cells). The flames are hotter than the fire generated by Jim Hammond.

colt

A Psyche Pistol is a Smith & Wesson Model 36 based on a Shi’ar energy weapon. It projects blasts of psionic energy, causing great damage to both organic and inorganic objects.

A Repulsor Reaper is a hand-held M134 Minigun developed from an application of Stark’s Repulsor Ray technology. It discharges concussive energy bolts in rapid succession.

A Summer Silencer is a biomechanical variant of Barrett M82 developed from Nathaniel Essex’s genetic research. It discharges a high-velocity concussive force similar to the beam fired by Scott Summers.

Stored Firearms:
A Pym Pistol is a custom Walther P99 reality-hacked for unlimited ammo. It manufactures and fires smart bullets derived from Unstable Molecules saturated with Pym Particles. The bullets possess the following traits:

A target lock feature with Z-axis manipulation to phase through any obstacle (civilian or barrier) to reach the target or increase its density to diamond hardness to penetrate armor.
Y-axis manipulation will propel the projectile towards the target.
X-axis manipulation will cause the bullet to expand to the size of a rocket and gains an ionic payload similar to Simon William’s energy discharge.

A Reverbium Blaster is a M79 grenade launcher reality-hacked for unlimited ammo. It fires an oscillation-based explosive device derived from Horizon Lab’s artificial Vibranium experiments. Reverbium doesn’t absorb vibrations; it does the opposite and blows everything away.

grenade launcher

My ideas for a Pacific Rim Sequel

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

This entry will be filled with spoilers. Please don’t read it if you haven’t watched Pacific Rim. The film ends with the destruction of the portal and the alien colonists. With the portal closed and the colonist dead, there are no more Kaijus. How can there be a sequel? I have a few ideas about how there can be Kaijus in a sequel, these ideas are based on anime and Kaiju films.

Each idea has the following elements in common:

A rogue element within the K-Science Lab creating the Kaiju
A variant of Newton “Newt” Geiszler’s Kaiju Drift (mind meld) device used to control the Kaijus
Genetically modified and mechanically enhanced brains to facilitate Drifting with human pilots
The hive mind trait of a Kaiju’s brain enable pilots to communicate with each other through a radio-telepathy frequency.

The first idea involves harvesting genetic samples of defeated Kaijus to grow clones for despots and madmen for the right price.

The second idea is derived from the millenium incarnation of Mecha-Godzilla. The rogue K-Science Lab technician would use kaiju skeletons to create the framework for bionic Kaijus. Each bionic Kaiju possesses Jaeger weaponry. A variant of this idea is to use the Mecha-Godzilla iteration from the animated series based on American Godzilla film. A Kaiju would be repaired and revived with Jaeger parts in the same vein as Deathlok (Marvel’s zombie cyborg soldier).

(Cyber-Zilla from Godzilla: The Series by Dino Master)

The another variant is based on an obscure anime called Argento Soma (where a giant monster, Frank, was created from the remains of fallen monsters). The scientist would cobble together a kaiju from the parts that remained after battle.

(Frank by ミヤマカラマ)

The third idea involves splicing creatures like reptiles, crustaceans, and arachnids with Kaiju DNA to create new biological weapons. In one extreme case, a human-Kaiju hybrid exists.

Kaiju concept art by Guy Davis

Getting In Touch with my Inner Destro (Marvel Style)

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

Yesterday’s nerdery inspired me to expand upon the seed planted yesterday.

My idea takes place in a reality where the military–industrial complex reigns supreme and controls over every innovation made by super scientists like Reed Richards, Hank Pym, Tony Stark etc.

A Doop Ring is a portable storage device that contains items within a simulated Doop Land (pocket dimension used by Doop to store things).

(Art by Mike Allred, belongs to Marvel Comics)

A Gamma Blaster is a M79 grenade launcher re-purposed to discharge concentrated Gamma bursts.

An Inferno Revolver is an improvised flamethrower created from a Colt Army Model 1860 integrated with Pyronanos (a hive race of giant burning nanomachine-based robots derived from the android Human Torch’s cells). The flames are hotter than the flames created by Jim Hammond.

A Kirby Battery is a portable derivative of the engine of the Marvel, an extradimensional Kree vessel. It converts the user’s belief into energy. All of the firearms are equipped with a battery.

A Pym Particle Pistol is a custom Heckler & Koch USP with a built-in molecular assembler. It manufactures and fires smart bullets derived from Unstable Molecules saturated with Pym Particles.

The bullets possess the following traits:

A target lock feature with Z-axis manipulation to phase through any obstacle (civilian or barrier) to reach the target or increase its density to diamond hardness to penetrate armor.
Y-axis manipulation will propel the projectile towards the target.
X-axis manipulation will cause the bullet to expand to the size of a rocket and gain an ionic payload similar to Simon William’s energy discharge.

A Repulsor Carbine is a firearm developed from an application of Stark’s Repulsor Ray technology. It discharges concussive energy bolts.

(This image is the property of LucasArts)

An ultimative Aufhebung is a prototype Ultimate Nullifier created from a WWII Mauser C96. It completely eliminates any target the wielder chooses.

Reverbium Grenade is an oscillation-based explosive device derived from Horizon Lab’s artificial Vibranium experiments. Reverbium doesn’t absorb vibrations, it does the opposite and blows everything away.

SGH (Strontian Growth Hormones) is a variant of Mutant Growth Hormones created from cellular samples retrieved from Kubark. It temporarily grants the user genetic traits of a Strontian: superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman stamina, invulnerability, superhuman agility, superhuman reflexes, flight, heat beams, super breath, microscopic vision, and psi resistance.

The Howlett Strain is a fleet of nano-Sentinels that simulate the function of James Howlett’s healing factor

Missed my calling as a mad scientist/super villain/arms dealer

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

Today’s issue of Matt Fraction’s and Mike Allred’s FF (No. 16) inspired me and led me to think about the military applications of Pym Particles. I am surprised organizations like SHIELD or AIM/HYDRA haven’t approached Hank Pym or Scott Lang to develop weapons utilizing the particles.

Below is a spoiler (art by Mike Allred):

Uatu reveals the full potential of the Pym Particles! They do far more than merely shrinking and expanding objects… they explain the density shifting powers of synthezoid Vision and ionic based life form Simon Williams aka Wonder Man.

I imagine an AIM facility developing smart bullets derived from Unstable Molecules saturated with Pym Particles. This magic bullet would possess the following traits:

A target lock feature with z-axis manipulation to phase through any obstacle (civilian or barrier) to reach the target or increase its density to diamond hardness to penetrate armor.
y-axis manipulation will propel the projectile towards the target.
x-axis manipulation will cause the bullet to expand to the size of a rocket where it will an ionic payload similar to Simon William’s energy discharge.

The bullet would be discharged from custom firearms with built-in molecular assemblers.

The guns would resemble the pistols wielded by the infamous Sentinel-Human Hybrid turned thief & mercenary, Fantomex (art by Rafael Grampá).

Things I dug in 2013 (in no particular order and off the top of my head)

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Viktor VonGlum

I will start a trend of keeping positive by omitting the things that I disliked in Geekdom during 2013. At the end of the day, my negative opinions are opinions and shouldn’t be used to rain on anyone’s parade/geekery.

Battling Boy by Paul Pope is a remix and mash-up of a coming of age story and a hero’s journey that features science heroes, a variety of monsters, totem tee-shirts, and cosmic pantheon.

The Battle of the Atom covers featured epic artwork from the likes of Art Adams, Stuart Immonen, Ed McGuinness, Kris Anka, and Terry Dodson.

Despicable Me 2 is a delightful film and one of the few sequels that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love the characterization, the spy gadgets, and soundtrack.

Pacific Rim is a sheer geekasm crafted by Mr. Del Toro. It had kaiju, mechas, and cool mecha gadgets… three things that I have dug since I was a wee lad. I have watched it several times and each time my appreciation and love of it grow.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – The Well Review

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Viktor VonGlum

It still seems tame, almost like the creative team is holding back. Skye and Coulson continue to be the saving grace of the show. The nerds are growing on me slowly.

What I liked:

A closer look at Agent Ward’s troubled past and why he became the man we see before us.
A hint of what Agent May faced and what ghosts still haunt her.
The possible Faith-Xander like hook-up that occurred in tonights.
The potential traumatic/sinister nature of Coulson’s stay at Tahiti.

What I was expecting:

The focus character of the week to be Vali Halfling instead of some generic Asgardian or at least a reformed Skurge the Executioner, an Asgardian known for his blood rages and cursed weaponry.
The MacGuffin was the Blood Axe instead of a random spear.
Some of Steranko’s trippy spy fiction.
Some sense of threat or true danger… it’s missing the “ZOMG What just happened” endings that Buffy/Angel happened.
High tech weaponry and gadgets… either Steranko inspired or something taken from Millar’s or Ellis’ ventures in the Ultimate Universe.

Review (Spoiler Free):

The villains were weak this week. They came off as a background annoyance rather than a real threat. They were even brushed off as some rowdy punks. It was the common “Find the MacGuffin before the baddies get it” plot. Fortunately it did give us some detail about May’s and Ward’s past in addition to giving us another spin on Coulson’s stay in Tahiti

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Girl in the Flower Dress: Review

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Viktor VonGlum

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D… where do I start… I want to like this show for two main reason: it is inspired by comics and created by Joss Whedon (I dug all of his other shows & films). But it’s not clicking with me. Something is missing. It seems tame, almost like the creative team is holding back. Would the show have a different tone if it was on another network? Did the ABC/Disney element mute the tone?

What I liked:

The hints of characterization for May before she reverted to cliche warrior woman.
More clues about Coulson has changed after being shanked by Loki (I still believe that he’s Life Model Decoy (highly advanced robotic duplicate of SHIELD Agents)).
The prospect of improved Extremis villains.
More details about Skye’s past.

What I was expecting:

Some of Steranko’s trippy spy fiction.
High tech weaponry and gadgets (the hovercar isn’t enough).
Official Uniforms.
Recognized Agents like Carter, Wu, Dum Dum, and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Some actual villains because the “making of Graviton isn’t enough” and these pastiches of established characters aren’t enough. Tired off the misunderstood post-humans after NotLuke Cage.
A fully fleshed out cast: it seems like Coulson and Skye are getting all of the characterization, Ward, May, Fitz & Simmons are so cliche.

Review (Spoiler Free):

Tonight’s episode felt like a remix of the pilot episode. Both episodes featured seemingly innocent post-human goes nuts after interacting with Centipede. “Scorch” lacked the emotional tether & motivation of NotLuke Cage and the drive for acknowledgement wasn’t enough for me.

Visual Expectations (courtesy of Kris Anka):

(Courtesy of Aaron Kuder)

Kid Midas

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Viktor VonGlum

I was thinking that the Marvel Universe is in dire need of a new villain instead of constantly rehashing mega events with the same old people or promoting villains like Norman Osbourne to a world wide threat.

I believe Dr. Midas from Grant Morrison’s Marvel Boy series would fit the bill for a major world wide threat. He’s a ruthless perversion and amalgam of Iron Man and the Fantastic Four. Everyone from his minions to his own daughter are mere stepping stones to him. Sure he *spoiler*ended up on some immaterial plane of existence at the end of the miniseries*spoiler* It’s comics so there’s always a way to bring him back.

My Idea:
Auric Midas is the cloned son of Dr. Midas. He is the designer baby developed in information-rich nutrient artificial womb and programmed with the memories of the original Doctor Midas. He was awakened after the death of his “father” and before he could reach physical maturity. Kid Midas resumed control of the Atlas Corporation and used a Ghost Box to acquire the vast technological resources available across the Multiverse. He is eager to end Noh-Varr’s life for the shame that he has brought the Midas name in addition to retrieving his original cosmically enhanced self from the Mindless One’s home dimension. Kid Midas will be shocked to discover that Dr. Midas has moved pass his petty pursuit of power from his time in the Mindless Ones’ dimension and is now reformed (along the lines of Kang mellowing out and become the philosophical Immortus). There will be a mind switch and Kid Midas will gain the Cosmic Man body.
Skills:
Adept in multiple human and alien martial arts.
Proficient in the use of mechanized armor.
Fluent in numerous Earth and alien dialects.
Technology:

SMGH is a variant of Mutant Growth Hormone created from cellular samples extracted from deceased and captured Super Skrulls. It temporarily grants the user shape shifting abilities in addition to post human abilities.
The Midas amulet is based on Darla Deering’s Thing Ring and contains the Midas Suit in its unstable molecules state.
The Midas Suit is an unstable molecule variation of the Thing Exoskeleton derived from a damaged sample of Dr. Midas’ cosmically irradiated and enhanced flesh. Its design is based on Anthony Stark’s Iron Man Armor Model 42. Its molecular template retains the Cosmic Earth properties, its Cosmic Fire properties are stabilized by Pyronanos circuitry, and its Cosmic Air property was replaced with ghost technology derived from Omnisapient Systems. It is powered by a Kirby Battery, a portable derivative of The Marvel’s Kirby Engine.

Midas Suit Properties:
It greatly magnifies the user’s strength, durability, stamina, and sensory perceptions.
The repulsor beam system has been modified to discharge fiery cosmic flames.
It propulsion system has been enhanced by the Pyronanos and grants hypersonic flight. Its stealth technology grants invisibility and intangibility.
A concealed alien weapons array consists of Badoon particle rays, Skrull Photon Blasters, Nega Missiles (projectiles containing explosive Negative Zone energy), Shi’ar Raptor Armor concussive cannons (containing darkforce energy) and self-repair functionality.

The Original Dr. Midas by J.G. Jones