Star Wars: Agent Of The Empire – Iron Eclipse #4 and #5
Written by John Ostrander
Pencils by Stéphane Roux and Stéphane Créty
Inks by Julien Hugonnard-Bert
Colors by Wez Dzioba
Cover Art by Stéphane Roux
Dark Horse Comics
Issue #4 Release Date: March 14, 2012
Issue #5 Release Date: April 11, 2012
Issue #4 Cover Price: $3.50
Issue #5 Cover Price: $3.50

The conclusion to Agent of the Empire has arrived, and delivers superbly. With some minor appearances from a couple of familiar characters, and the main protagonist Jahan Cross fulfilling his role as a version of 007 in that galaxy far, far away, Agent Of The Empire – Iron Eclipse is a tale worth Star Wars fans spending some attention on.

In the long chronicle of the Expanded Star Wars Universe, a majority of the stories have often been about the “heroes” we’ve known fighting some “new threat” or “new villains.” In Agent of the Empire, we have a fine example of what the contemporary creative talents driving the EU works are trying to achieve – mixing up known loved genres with the Star Wars galaxy as a backdrop [...]

The Cast Of Doctor Who
Written by Paul J. Slamoff
Art by Jaime Martinez Rodriguez
Colors by Dario Reyes
Cover Art by Joe Phillips
Bluewater Comics
Release Date: March 14, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Bluewater’s unauthorized The Cast Of Doctor Who takes a glance into the backgrounds of a few of the actors who have taken on the role of The Doctor through the years. Without a standard comic storyline, the book serves more as an introduction to the series, specifically designed for newer fans that are interested about the Classic Doctor Who series.

The comic book oddly only looks at four official Doctors (plus a fifth outside canon which we will get to later). I’m guessing this limited examination was restricted based on space available for the publication of the comic. Overall, the comic examines William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, and Matt Smith as the current Eleventh Doctor [...]

Out of the realm of television from the 1990s, Chris Carter‘s Millennium has to be my favorite. An offshoot from The X-Files, the show focused on Frank Black – played by Lance Henriksen – working for a group known only as the Millennium Group, who consults the FBI and local law enforcement on odd crimes and serial killers. I’ve often made the case for the possibility of a Millennium movie, continuing from where the show left off – and now Henriksen echoes those sentiments of the cult following of the series.

Through press appearances for the upcoming animated series of TRON: Uprising, Henriksen let the cat out of the bag to Coming Soon about his hopes for a Millennium film [...]

Star Trek – The Original Series
Remastered Edition
Netflix Streaming
DVD | Blu-ray
Created by Gene Roddenberry
Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Grace Lee Whitney, Majel Barrett, Jeffrey Hunter, Roger C. Carmel, Ricardo Montalban, Joan Collins, Robert Lansing, Terri Garr, Kim Darby, James Daly
Paramount
Originally Broadcast: September 08, 1966

Several weeks ago, I reviewed the first couple of seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation for our Netflix Review feature here at Geeks Of Doom. I had an enjoyable time delving into some nostalgia that I decided to take a step back further and dive into the original series of Star Trek, complete with the remastering and updated visual effects throughout all three seasons, encompassing the good (classic memorable episodes), the bad (Spock’s Brain and Season Three), and the Ugly (Space Hippies).

Commencing in 1966, Gene Roddenberry‘s creation would eventually become a franchise revered and followed by millions of fans worldwide. Despite this, the history of the original series would become affected by budgetary constraints and poor ratings in archaic scales, limiting the primary voyages of the USS Enterprise to three seasons only.

As is prevalently known, Star Trek follows the voyages of the Enterprise, on its peaceful mission of exploration into unknown areas of the galaxy – attempting to meet and contact new civilizations, and represent the interests of the Federation. Lead by Captain Kirk (William Shatner), and accompanied by First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley) among many others, the team aboard the starship would become known in-universe as legendary historical figures trailblazing their way into the unknown – and create such an element of veneration associated with the ship that the name Enterprise would be assigned to the Federation’s future flag ships [...]

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago, Volume 5
Story by Jo Duffy, Archie Goodwin, Ann Nocenti, Randy Stradley
Pencils by Bart Blevins, Sal Buscema, Jaan Duursema, Ron Frenz, Bob McLeod, Cynthia Martin, Tom Palmer, Tony Salmons, Al Williamson
Inks by Sam de la Rosa, Steve Leialoha, Art Nichols, Tom Palmer, Whilce Portacio, Ken Steacy, Bob Wiacek, Al Williamson
Colors by J. Ferriter, Daina Graziunus, Michael Higgins, Elaine Lee, Glynis Oliver, Petra Scotese, Bob Sharen, M. Wrightson
Cover Art by Cynthia Martin, Art Nichols, Petra Scotese
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: February 26, 2012
Cover Price: $24.99

Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith! The Nagai! Zeltrons!

Does that make me seem too overexcited for this review?

Well then, go to buggery if it does, because my, oh, my, Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago, Volume 5 is an extraordinary trip down memory lane for those of us Star Wars fans old enough to remember the closing era of the Marvel Star Wars.

The fifth part of the A Long Time Ago Omnibus reprints the final series of issues originally released by Marvel Comics – from Issue #86 August 1984 to Issue #107 September 1986. The collection represents the closing period of Marvel’s Star Wars publication, in a post Return Of The Jedi era as the Expanded Universe (as it was during that time) would begin to wane. It would not be until 5 years later when Timothy Zahn would release Heir To The Empire, his first episode of The Thrawn Trilogy, that enthusiasm would return to the Expanded Universe with a new level of enthusiasm from fans old and new [...]

Dark Horse Comics will be releasing a new Star Wars Omnibus in June that gathers all of the comic issues of Droids and Ewoks from the 1980s, and Geeks Of Doom has an exclusive preview of what fans can expect with the release. You can view the preview pages in the gallery below.

In the wake of Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi, Lucasfilm began focusing on other projects. The Star Wars franchise turned its focus in licensing new series specifically aimed at children. The results were the Star Wars: Droids and Star Wars: Ewoks animated television shows [...]

The twelfth episode of The Geeks Of Doom Round Up is here, and Greg takes a look at the underplayed third trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield and directed by Marc Webb. For our music selection this week, Andy pays tribute to Adam Yauch from the Beastie Boys who sadly passed away this week, with "Fight For Your Right To Party".

Later, we take a look at an awesome Metal cover of the music from Doctor Who, by phenomenal guitarist Eric Calderone aka 331Erock. We also take a glance at the new intriguing comic series by Brian Churilla called The Secret History of D. B. Cooper [...]

The Secret History of D. B. Cooper #1 and #2
Story and Art by Brian Churilla
Oni Press
Issue #1 Release Date: March 14, 2012
Issue #2 Release Date: April 18, 2012
Issue #1 Cover Price: $3.99
Issue #2 Cover Price: $3.99

Unexplained mysteries, no matter how radical or bizarre, have always been, to some extent, an obsessive interest of mine. Things like Roswell 1947 or The Zodiac Killer have fascinated me – both with the factual evidence available, and the speculative theories offered from both believers and questioners alike. Both examples cited have had their share of fictional representation in media, but the mystery of D. B. Cooper has yet to have a central role in stories… until now.

While some fans may protest that the television series Prison Break had the Cooper mystery involved, it was not the central focus of the story. Finally, the enigma has entered the universe of comic books in a starring role, with Oni Press’ The Secret History of D. B. Cooper, affording a wildly speculative adventure mixing science fiction with espionage and psychedelic overtones [...]

Classic Albums – Iron Maiden: Number Of The Beast
Netflix Streaming
DVD
Directed by Tim Kirby
Starring EDDIE, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Steve Harris, Clive Burr, Martin Birch, Rod Smallwood, Nicko McBrain, Ross Halfin
Isis Productions/Eagle Vision
Originally Released: December 4, 2001

When Netflix added nearly all of the Classic Albums series to their streaming collection last week, it was inevitable that I would draw attention to the series in this review. The big question for me was: which Classic Albums episode do I review? Being a music geek, and especially (first and foremost) a Metal Head, the choice was incredibly tough. With bands such as Metallica, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Rush, and many more among the features now online, it took me a while before I settled on a title.

Favorably rated as one of the most memorable and cornerstone albums in Metal history, Iron Maiden: The Number Of The Beast now seems, in retrospect, the appropriate selection for this review. The band is frequently cited as one of the fundamental acts that bolstered the genre of metal, having blasted onto the scene among the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal – and they continue onwards to this day, renewing their legacy with new releases that strengthen their music identity [...]

Star Wars Omnibus: The Other Sons Of Tatooine
Written by Jeremy Barlow, Mike W. Barr, Paul Chadwick, Michael A. Stackpole, Randy Stradley, Rob Williams
Art by Brandon Badeaux, Christian Dalla Vecchia, Gary Erskine, Davidé Fabbri, Wil Glass, Douglas Wheatley
Colors by Michael Atiyeh, Chris Chuckry, Neziti Domenico, Davidé Fabbri, Dave Nestelle

Cover Art by Kilian Plunkett and Brad Anderson
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Cover Price: $24.99

There have been countless additions to the stories in the Expanded Star Wars Universe over the last couple of decades, and Dark Horse has long touted some of the finest comic stories of the galaxy far, far away. However, very few come along that have the power and potential of being so good that it could be conceivable to imagine a film or television version of the tale. The compendium represented in The Other Sons Of Tatooine is one of these rare pleasures, showcasing some of the exceptional storytelling focusing on Star Wars.

The conception behind The Other Sons Of Tatooine is simple: to focus on the characters from Tatooine other than Luke Skywalker who have had major impacts on the in-universe history of the saga. The first, an obvious selection to adapt, is Biggs Darklighter, first performed by Garrick Hagon in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The second, a creation within the Expanded Universe, is Janek Sunber aka Tank – who does not appear in A New Hope, but is mentioned by Mark Hamill in the scene where the Lars Farm purchases the droids [...]

The First Grader
Netflix Streaming
DVD
Directed by Justin Chadwick
Starring Oliver Litondo, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Vusi Kunene
National Geographic Entertainment
Originally Released: September 4, 2010

The First Grader is one of those rare dramas that is such enthralling viewing; you cannot turn away from the screen. The performances in this movie are well above standards and expectations, with some moving moments sure to bring some viewers to tears. Coupled with some extraordinary cinematography and an exceptional score, The First Grader is a film based on true events that is not to be missed.

In 2003, the People’s Republic of Kenya officially announced that they were introducing free primary education (what Americans refer to as Elementary School) across the country. The result saw a massive increase in enrollment and attendance (Wikipedia cites this as high as 70%), ushering forth a new era of potential for the children of the country [...]

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost #5 and #6
Story by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Art by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover Art by Dave Dorman
Dark Horse Comics
Issue #5 Release Date: March 07, 2012
Issue #6 Release Date: April 25, 2012
Issue #5 Cover Price: $3.50
Issue #6 Cover Price: $3.50

The explosive and amplified conclusion to the Crimson Empire epic is finally here, reaching an ending that makes for a highly satisfying resolution to the series that began many years ago. Star Wars fans who have followed the adventures of Kir Kanos will thoroughly enjoy the last two issues of Empire Lost, a tale that also sets up what chronologically comes next for the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant.

Issues 5 & 6 conclusively tie together the loose ends left from the earlier installments, as Kir Kanos and Mirith Sinn journey to meet Imperial representative Feena D’asta, in an early effort to bring peace between the two major factions. They discover themselves betrayed, as antagonist Ennix Devian begins unleashing his strategy to open up his aim to retake the Empire under his own iron fist and perverted new order. Kanos and Sinn find themselves placed in a standpoint where they must stop Devian’s forces, to help any future chance at peace between the Republic and the Empire [...]

The eleventh episode of The Geeks Of Doom Round Up is here, and Andy pays tribute to Levon Helm from The Band who passed away this week, as we review a clip from the movie, The Last Waltz. For our music selection this week, it’s a week of tribute to the fallen, as we pay tribute to Dick Clark and his dedication to rock and roll through the years, with a clip of him introducing KISS playing “Rock And Roll All Night.”

Later, we also take a look at Bethesda’s new upcoming game called Dishonored, and review the recent casting news for Iron Man 3. Finally, we also pay tribute to Greg Ham from Men At Work who also died this week as we close our show with the song “Who Can It Be Now?” [...]

The Last Circus
Netflix Streaming
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Álex de la Iglesia
Starring Carlos Areces, Carolina Bang, Antonio de la Torre Martín, Manuel Tallafé
Magnet Releasing
Originally Released: September 7, 2010

Imagine, for a moment, if you combined Frank Castle aka The Punisher from the Marvel Universe, with The Joker from Batman in the DC Universe. Now: visualize there being two of these insane clowns fighting each other… and that is essentially what The Last Circus is.

And it is conceivably one of the most demented, disturbing movies I’ve ever seen, and would easily fit into my “Top 10 Most Fucked Up Movies Of All Time.”

But when I say, “Fucked Up,” I mean that in a delectable manner, because this film is both a tormenting and challenging, yet thoroughly enjoyable experience [...]

The tenth episode of The Geeks Of Doom Round Up is here, and Greg reviews the trailer for Looper, directed by Rian Johnson, and starring Bruce Willis, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. For our music selection this week, Andy marks the milestone of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, with some of the music used in the James Cameron film by Gaelic Storm, with their Titanic Set.

Later, we also take a look at Timothy Zahn‘s next upcoming Star Wars novel, which is essentially a crime/heist tale set in the backdrop of the SW galaxy. The book is called Star Wars: Scoundrels and is set to be released towards the end of the year [...]

Star Trek – The Next Generation (Seasons 1 & 2)
Netflix Streaming
Complete Series DVD
Season One DVD | Season Two DVD
Created by Gene Roddenberry
Starring Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Whoopi Goldberg, John de Lancie
Paramount
Originally Broadcast: September 28, 1987

One of the greatest things about Netflix’s streaming service is the immediate accessibility to television series, both old and current, without being interfered with by lame advertisements interrupting your viewing experience. On top of that, there’s also the bonus of watching entire seasons in bulk, demolishing the week-to-week wait. But when we were discussing Star Trek on a recent episode of the Social Blend podcast, I couldn’t help but hop down Nostalgia Avenue for this week’s Netflix Review as well [...]

The Lincoln Lawyer
Netflix Streaming
DVD | Blu-Ray
Directed by Brad Furman
Based on the novel by Michael Connelly
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas, Bryan Cranston, Margarita Levieva, Trace Adkins, John Leguizamo, William H. Macy, Frances Fisher, and Laurence Mason
Lionsgate
Originally Released: March 18, 2011

The Lincoln Lawyer is a surprisingly enjoyable ride, bearing in mind it was promoted as a courtroom drama. In fact, the Brad Furman film, based on the novel written by Michael Connelly, is much more than that – combining elements of crime films and thrillers, The Lincoln Lawyer hurriedly becomes a deeply strategic movie that demands your attention from start to finish, with excellent performances from the all-star cast.

The tale focuses on a criminal defense attorney, Mickey Haller played by Matthew McConaughey (in perhaps one of his finest roles caught on film), who takes on a case involving Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe). Roulet is accused of beating a prostitute named Reggie Campo (Margarita Levieva), though he claims he is innocent of the crime [...]

Timothy Zahn returns yet again to the Star Wars universe, with a new publication to be released at the end of this year focusing on Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian. Entitled Star Wars: Scoundrels, the book will be released on Boxing Day, which is December 26.

Zahn’s new adventure is essentially a heist/crime story, which is an awesome idea, as this concept has never been explored in the Expanded Star Wars Universe. Picture this: mixing up the stories of Ocean’s Eleven, The Usual Suspects, and The Italian Job, and chucking them all into the backdrop of the Star Wars galaxy… Sold on the idea yet? I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am.

The Expanded Universe has been advancing sub-genre stories like this for a few years now, the best known being Deathtroopers, mixing up Horror and Zombie stories into Star Wars lore. This year’s Darth Plagueis played more like a Godfather-esque tale inside the context of Sith lineage; and the recent Dark Horse comic book series Agent Of The Empire captures the Bourne/007 spy genre wonderfully [...]

This was too brilliant not to share! The folks over at College Humor have prepared an extremely cool video simulation of Series 5 and 6 of Doctor Who if it had been made as a 16-bit video game. You can check out the clip at the bottom of this post.

The CH video contains a lot of allusions and aspects of the major story arcs from the previous two seasons that follow the Doctor’s Eleventh Incarnation (Matt Smith), as he encounters adventures with Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill), and River Song (Alex Kingston). Even David Tennant‘s Doctor gains a cameo at the start for a fun regeneration sequence [...]

The TARDISblend podcast is back, this time for a Doctor Who Series 7 Prediction Wishlist, featuring special guests Anthony Ha and Andrew Sorcini. We offer our sincere predictions as to where Steven Moffat will be taking Series 7 for Matt Smith‘s Doctor, and then also reveal our wishlists – things we’d love to see in Series 7, 8, and beyond.

Meanwhile, we also cover the most recent Doctor Who news, including the official BBC announcement of Jenna-Louise Coleman landing the role of the new companion for the second part of the upcoming season. We also discuss the new teaser trailer, that was a surprise release for fans; and the most recent news of not just the Daleks appearing in the first episode, but ALL the Daleks!

And to close out, we discuss our final predictions for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who in 2013; we respond to your comments on the past episode, and as always, we make some Classic Doctor Who recommendations, and highlight what is coming up for both the future of this Whovian podcast! [...]