The Strain (the book)

If you are watching the FX series the Strain then turn away. I’m not sure if I’m going to spoil anything or not.

After the first episode of FX’s version of the Strain, I decided to grab the book and get more information. I love me some horror. I also love me some biological outbreak scenarios. This book is both and it works well.

The Strain gives a different and creepier take on the vampire story. Instead of all romantic, sparkly or bad ass they are a nest of parasitic worms that change the host to facilitate their needs. You get bit, then you get infected.  You get their blood on you, then you get infected. This is a viral/parasite scenario that causes you to hate light, silver, beheading and the sun. Now add in the loss of free will, a huge urge to gobble up blood, the loss of genitalia, black dead shark eyes, a tongue the not only has a barbed stinger but also shoots out like 6’, loss of hair and a wonderful skin coloration, crapping yourself every time you eat and you have a creepy new vampire. This is nowhere near sexy, cool, or romantic.

Fantasy is still better when it comes to models!

Warhammer still out paces the 40K range of impressive models. Sure the Knight mini-titans were cool, but they have been about it lately that is moderately impressive for 40K.

However Warhammer Fantasy still knocks it out of the park!

A new Spirit Host and I'll grab one to use as a Hordes Minion Feralgeist.

Nagash is huge and looks really damn cool! Plus he is gigundus!

Well Manfred looks kinda like a suck pile. Yet he still looks more impressive than the Space Wolf
William Murderface Murderface Dreadnought, or the X-mas Wolf sled

Guess it is still easier to make great fantasy stuff and go meh! or ultra-lame on science fiction stuff at G.W.

Neferata looks sweet too!

The Doctor is in?

Well tomorrow starts the new season of Doctor Who. I’m a bit of a mix about it.

Creeper Doctor?

Peter Capaldi is a question mark and once again we have no clue about what he will bring to the show. Will he be intense? Will he be the cryptic Doctor? Will he be whimsical? A stoic Doctor? Will he be a mess until the writers and actor can get a handle on the character? Will it matter if the stories surrounding him are drek? I have no damn idea, just like everyone else. I do know one thing and that is this.

Matt Smith is gone and I’m not unhappy.

Ghost Dog without Forest Whitaker

Holy crap! I really like the look of the Pureblood  Warpwolf’s metal version and I  finally got it painted.

Gen Con 2014 #2 picture dump

I took substantially less pictures of the costume crowd this year. There were very few that  I thought were outstanding. Plus there was a lot of anime people I didn’t know, weird mash-ups and characters I’ve just seen too many times (I’m looking at you Dr. Who crowd). That doesn’t mean that there were not great costumes, they just were never around me I when I had my camera out. I did nab a few shots of people that I thought looked cool, fun or had something really neat going on with them.

Giant Jawas! They made Jawa sounds when their pictures were taken.

Cobra Commander heading to the food trucks. Really surreal when you see it happening.
He was probably looking for the cupcake truck. Cobra Commander has a soft spot for sweets.

This lady had the craziest green contacts. Wish they would have turned out better on film.

"For the Emperor!" or "Burn the heretic, just not the one next to me."

Someone is playing Candy Crush while waiting for a raid group.

Gen Con wrap-up #1

My treasures from Gen Con Saturday. It was a small haul this year. A couple of shirts from my favorite vendors. Dice to match my Circle druid force colors. The army book for those druid forces and a pin showing my faction allegiance. Finally the Shadow Run starter box. yup I'm looking to jump into that game again.

Shadow Run was a riot the few times we played. Sure we were doing it a bit wrong, and stopped after we realized that. However, that was like 1st edition. It might be different now. Plus with a low cost starter set why not take a chance. Any takers?

I'll have more pics and stuff up tomorrow.

Gen Con week!

That time of year again. A road trip to Indy for Gen Con 2014. Due to constraints at work I am only doing a one day, Saturday of course.

This is a wyrd gen Con year too. There is nothing that I am super excited about or must have. Sure there is 5th edition D&D there, but do I care? Hell I can never get a game of 4th in due to life and work. Why try to get into 5th edition?

Privateer Press doesn't have a must have for me either. I await the next Hordes book, but that isn't going to be available until...I don't know.

Flying Frog has nothing new on the Last Night on Earth game this year.

So why bother going? Well I still enjoy it. The people watching, the costumes and the stuff. I imagine I'll still roll home with a tee shirt, some knick knacks, pics and memories.

If you are near by and have never gone then go! It is worth the trip.

WWE wrestler + Andrew W.K.= Borka

A big troll warlock who has aspell called Mosh Pit and has his own pyg beer porter. This is Borka the Keg Slayer!

Marvel movies: Opinion, Editorial, Rant and/or Rambling

Well Guardians of the Galaxy was a success for the studio. It was also a success with moviegoers. It was a success with nerds. You know what that means right?

“MARVEL CAN OPTION ALL SORTS OF CHARACTERS SINCE GUARDIANS o’ GALAXY WAS A BUNCH OF UNPOPULAR GUYS THAT MADE A SUCCESSFUL MOVIE!!!” screams a bunch of the interweb.

Now I am paraphrasing a bit, but seeing and listening to a bunch of people that just know all sorts of other Marvel heroes need a movie. Guardians justifies it.

Well no it doesn’t!

Being quasi-rant in 3…2….1…..

Lucy

I was on the fence with this film from the moment I saw the original trailer. It looked like a good bit of sci-fi, but also looked like it could be drek.

The setting is China. Lucy is the tale of a dink of a girl who is tricked into delivering a briefcase to some sketchy guy. This is how it starts and the film goes all sideways from there.

How sideways?

Gorman Di Wulfe

This is my thoughts when it comes to the Frenchy named Gorman Di Wulfe, the rouge alchemist.

Another in a moderate line of models to use for role playing games and not Warmachine. Now I have a use for him as he can ally with Cryx.

I love a good model from any company....

The Great Wolf and his dog sled of doom?

...but great Odin's ravens! This is ridiculous! Hope the rules make it bad ass, because that is the only help it will get.

Cool dreadnaught....wait...what the hell is that face? By the hammer of Thor that is awful! Why model that head there? Who is ever going to put that head there? A great pose and sculpt ruined by that awful awful face! 

Models first then rules? I question that logic now.

Guardians of the Galaxy see it now!

Silver Surfer, Terrax, Ego the Living Planet, Uatu, The Shi'ar, Star Jammers, Adam Warlock. Kree, Skrulls, Brood, Phalanx, the Star Jammers and so many more marvel space comics that I could name that give me the red ass.

Then the announcement of the Guardians of the Galaxy and I groan.

Then James Gunn is directing and my head tilts like a dog hearing a noise on the tele. By the way go watch Slither. He directed that and it slimy gross fun! Then go see Guardians of the Galaxy. A lot of the same humor bleeds through. 

Then Rocket Raccoon arrives and I'm pretty much sold.

This is a damn enjoyable film!