Scott Pilgrim is the BOB-OM!

Read the first comic. Loved it.

Watched the movie, L.O.V.E.D. it. Seriously, it's awesome-and-a-half.



It got me thinking that it would be cool to have a "Pilgrim's Precious Little RPG" but what system to use? My mind drifts often to old-tyme Marvel's FASERIP, which is a nice system for handling lots of powers and the ridiculous. But then I remembered this crazy RPG I have somewhere (buried, I'm sure, under a stack of mix tapes from the same era) a copy of Teenagers From Outer Space. (Not to be confused with the incredibly campy 50s flick of the same name.) No, this is firmly planted in the 80s with strong streak of Japanese cartoons.

I fell in love with the theme of this game because it reminded me of one of my guilty pleasures as a kid growing up in the 80s--Galaxy High!


It's a fun little show with a catchy opening jingle sung by a robot. Which, BTW, is on DVD now, and YES, I bought BOTH disks. And NO, my wife still doesn't understand the fascination. I tend to think of it as Ferris Bueller in space, but whatever.

Two DVDS contain 13 episodes

Anywho, I can't recall the TFOS rules much, but I do remember them being fairly wacky and light. I remember you could set your class schedule, pick hobbies, instruments, and try and get a job so you could buy gadgets like personality (and gender!) swapping ray guns, hover cars, and ghetto blasters (an early predecessor to the zookatube!).

As it turns out, I'm the only one with unrequited RPG sighs. Dr. Rotwang has expressed similar pangs.

First Edition, 1987

The current incarnation (not pictured) strikes me as some sort of anime fanboy's wet dream, which I find to be a little disappointing. If I can track down my copy, I'll post some pics. For now you'll have to be appeased with the accompanying, teeny, tiny image. All you really need to know that all three properties are filled with zany comedy, coming-of-age-awkwardness-raised-to-deliciously-embarrassing levels, and a shared genetic heritage with Japanese sci-fi. 

First of 6 volumes

All of this is a long-winded way of saying--GO SEE Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. And read the books. They're filled with more heart and imagination than they let on. Okay, that trailer gives a pretty good idea, but you get my point. No, you don't need to love Nintendo, punk rock, or slackers to love it. Not even a precious little.


But if you already do, it will kick you in your brain. And you'll love it!


Oh, and don't be surprised if you want to go get your game on afterward.

Deleted RotJ Scene: Luke Skywalker Fashions a Lightsaber

I'm sure you've heard by now that a 27-year-old deleted scene from Return of the Jedi made it's debut at Celebration V (that's nerdspeak for Star Wars convention) in Orlando this past weekend.

It's just a snippet, but a nice little bit of insight into the path of Luke's ascent to become a Jedi. Here, in shakey-cam goodness, is the footage:

Peek inside that Gamma World 4E Box

Go on. You know you want to. You're curious like all the rest. Yeah, it's 4E.

But still.... 

I'm not posting pics here because Robot Viking is the superspy in this story.

More John Carter: Comic Anthology Coming in January

Looks like Darkhorse comics is going to be reprinting the old Marvel John Carter comics in a collected trade paperback edition in color and for about $15. Following is an excerpt I found on Rebelscum.com (hat tip to those fine gents!)....

Since his serialized debut in All-Story magazine in 1912, the spacefaring adventurer John Carter of Mars has become one of Edgar Rice Burroughs' most beloved characters. The star of decades worth of novels and comic books, he's soon to be immortalized on the silver screen as well, in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures major film release John Carter of Mars! In this volume, John Carter, an ex-soldier turned prospector, is transported to Mars—"Barsoom," as it is known to its natives—under mysterious circumstances, and becomes a champion dedicated to protecting his new home and newly found love, the princess Dejah Thoris, from warring alien civilizations and a host of deadly Barsoomian beasts!

This edition is scheduled to go on sale January 12, 2011.

Read the rest (scroll all the way to the bottom of the page).

Why is June 8, 2012 important to you?

Because that's the day John Carter arrives on f#cking Mars!!!!!!!

Lando Calrissian is the Blackstar Warrior!

If you haven't seen this by now you are living under a rock. But just in case you are...

Random Space Finds #26

Floating flotsam and jetsam, tumbling slowly in the void (1d10)

1. Communications satellite, missing access panels
2. Beaded pilot seat cover
3. 40 kilos of plastique explosive, sculpted to look like a birthday cake
4. Programmable fireworks control unit
5. Industrial grade water filtration system
6. Up to 1d4 ship-mounted, grappler cannons with up to 300 meters of carbon-nano cabling
7. 82 bars, Ponds Olympus Mons Red Pumice Soap™ 
8. Blasted husk of the Centaurian Marching Band's Coach-class space bus
9. 19,250 liters of protein shake (strawberry flavored)
10. Blender with 6" power cord

Interstellar Inspiration: RAY GUNS

(Tools of the Trade: Of the Olde Fashioned Variety)
Let's try this again--this time on the right blog. ;)

More Ray Gun goodness (show them some love):
www.atomicarmory.com
www.toyraygun.com
http://astoundingartifacts.blogspot.com/p/visual-search-ray-guns.html
http://www.wetanz.com/rayguns/
http://tombanwell.blogspot.com/search/label/raygun

Oh, and I'm taking donations to save up for my Pomson 6000.

In Deco Turquoise of course.

Random Space Finds #25

Floating flotsam and jetsam, tumbling slowly in the void (1d10):

1. Wrist rockets: single bracer with 1d12 rockets remaining (2d4+1 damage per missile; +1 to hit)
2. Electrician's repair kit with plasma cutter, solder iron, various wire/cable cutters, insulation, and current tester
3. Bespinian "dental" chair with full-body restraints
4. "Dear John" note from runaway bride and 22,500 cr. bounty stamped on it
5. A.I. massage pillow that comforts users egos as well as their aches and pains (+1d4 HP restoration during rest)
6. Clone culture pod with one humanoid body blank awaiting DNA imprint
7. 3,263,827 cell phone batteries, none of them the one you need
8. Electrified "pet" obedience collar, 250 meters in diameter
9. Ship log tapes from passenger liner that's been reported missing
10. 4 cargo containers of boosted bustiers that were on their way to Milan-12 fashion show