Hercules the Tool

I was showing Ronlim.com some love, skimming the back blogs as I do for interesting stuff that might appeal to me and the masses. And what ho? From his sight there is a spoof of the old Marvel cartoons from the sixties, where the mighty Thor is having conversation about a bloke... I think actor Dudley Moore plays the fair haired thunder god, and it is fairly entertaining.

Anywho from that link, there are the actual shows in all their sixties goodness complete with catchy theme songs. I watched one called Enter Heracles where I did prove my theory that Hercules is a tool of biblical proportion. So... I think this is the shout out you need http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1p1VXjibLA&mode=related&search=. Try it, you might dig it. I used to scamper home from elementary school just to catch the Hulk, and Captain America.

Now if only I can find Thundarr. OMG! There ARE whole Thundarr cartoons.... Looks like I will be late for work tomorrow. Why doesn't Thundarr were pants? I know he has the legs for it, but why risk it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kIIc4tvtF0&mode=related&search==

Blood and Thunder

As I have said before there was a time when I was an avid reader/collector of comics, and it shames me to say, that I have let my fervor die somewhat for many reasons, some not my own.

But there was that golden age for me, when I was digging on Simonson, and Starlin, and went from Thor to the Infinity Guantlet, then Warlock and the Infinity Watch.

I was impressed by the Blood and Thunder run, a twelve parter in several books, that took place after the Guantlet, and War, where the gems were thought lost. An unknown entity called Valkyrie, entered Thor's mind, scrambled his eggs, and once he obtained the Power Gem, he had unlimited power to fuel his godly power, and mystical hammer.

Artwork in the series is divided among good talent with stand outs, Tom Raney and Angel Medina getting their due.

Thanos joins the Watch in trying to help Thor, and after encasing the thunder god in a energy stais field, the Watch goes to Asgard so the all-seeing, all-knowing Odin can help. Needless to say Odin overreacts at seeing his favorite son encased in energy by the craven Thanos, and they almost destroy all of Asgard in a throwdown that rivals the Thrilla in Manilla, brought to life by Medina's fine penciling. Odin's mystical power and godly might struggles against Thanos and his technological domination.

Its worth the read and you can probably get the series for twelve to fifteen bucks in the bargain bins somewhere cause who really reads Warlock anyway... and Thor without Simonson is like... well... crap.

Art defines genre

Like most visual media, the art work contained both within and without can boost or cost you sales. Like most gamers I, as well as you, the friendly reader, have entertained the notion, or endeavored to create a game yourself either a loose adaptation of a game staple, be it d20, or its ilk, or conversely, perhaps a game unlike no other, a game unto itself.

I think some games achieved a success and or audience in their release largely because of the art was new, cartoony, or what have you. My biggest concern in my attempt would be of course, start up capital, but besides the obvious, of a small game in an ocean of games flooding the market, I would focus on solid artwork that would define my game, its genre, and gameplay.

Marketing the game as an "old school" throwback would be a technique to capture a section of gamers, already familar with old school games, and bring back some of the original artists famous to the genre. However, I would go another route if I had fat money cash.

I would go with Walt. Yes that's right. Walt Simonson. No other man does it better. If are not as believer start on Thor #337, and read the rest of his run, or the star slammers issues he did for Dark Horse or the graphic novel of the same name.

No one does it any better, and he writes most of the books he is an artist on. His unique take on the brainy Reed Richards, and his manner of eggheaded speak, rivaling a nonsensical stream of blathering consciousness is one not to miss. I think he adjusts the "positronic existentialators" on the Rosebud to no avail. He could help with the visual side of the game, as well as helping to shape its stage and players. IF he made a game I would buy it regardless of content. I wouldnt care if starting characters were insurance salesmen at a seminar.