RIP Stan "The Man" Lee

Stan Lee, proofreading in the 1960s

It was all over the news: Stan Lee has passed away Monday, November 12th 2018 in Californa, USA. I was deeply saddened by the loss but equally happy for him, that he has left so much for his fans to  remember him by. He has seen the first 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has made numerous cameo appearances in films all over. Stan was 95 years old.

Stan and Joanie Lee

Last year he had lost his wife, Joan, with whom he had been married for what seems now an eternity.

I will spare you the biographical details. You can find them everywhere now anyway. I will only say what Stan Lee meant to me. You see, I never had the chance to meet the man, but here was a man who had ideas. A man who had thoughts for a positive future, even if that would be with superheroes.

His stories were funny, upbeat, joyful and had a zest for life. 

Stan co-created Spider-Man (with Steve Ditko), The Fantastic Four (with Jack Kirby), Iron Man ( with Kirby), The Hulk (again with Kirby), Dr. Strange (with Ditko), Thor (with Kirby), the Avengers and so on, and so on. Due to his years as a Spokesperson for Marvel in all possible media ( he was always up for interviews ) he has become a celebrity himself and also fought for his artists to get the credit they were  due. After all, without Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and all those others, he would never have pulled all of this off. I think Stan would like us fans to be positive about his passing too. Yes, it is a great loss but Stan has seen how his superheroes made it to the big screen. He was part of that and will now forever be with his great love, Joan, up there in their afterlife. 

"Excelsior!"

So THANK YOU, Stan, for everything !!

Star Trek Deep Space Nine - a review 25 years in the making !

People who know me, know me to be a Star Trek fan. I have had the good fortune of watching nearly every show in it's original run, with the exception of the Original Show, because at our end, it only started playing when it was already gone in the States. In the 1980s, Gene Roddenberry was asked to capture lighting in a bottle again and with associates he created Star Trek The Next Generation, a very good show with similar gung ho type characters (as in the original series) who explored even further into outer space than seen before. When Star Trek The Next Generation was running successfully into it's third season, the network expressed an interest in another Star Trek show, to be running concurrent with Star Trek TNG (and the TOS re-runs). In order not to make it similar to Star Trek TNG, this show would be about a space station that would serve as a portal into new areas of outer space, only accessible thru a stable wormhole. This was to be STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE.

Gene Roddenberry had passed away in 1991 and so he never saw what Deep Space Nine was to be. Maybe that was a good thing because where Star Trek TNG was a lighthearted and optimistic show about a group of very positive people, Deep Space Nine was to be a darker show, with conflicts between the major characters as well as on a larger scale. And considering what this could mean for the storyline, that turned out to be a benefit. Because where Star Trek TNG was episodic in nature (and it did not really matter in which following order you would watch them) , Deep Space Nine followed story arcs that ran for longer than a season. And these story arcs, so widely assisted by the incredible vastness of characters and philosophies displayed in the show, made Star Trek Deep Space Nine a show that was UNIQUE in its day. ( People weren't used to long story arcs then, nor were they expecting a show that would so often hit nearly all its marks, thanks to a wonderful writing team.)

The Cast of Deep Space Nine (Season 1)

Back Row Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Colm Meany ( Chief O'Brien), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) and Avery Brooks ( Benjamin Sisko)  Front Row Terry Farrell ( Jadzia Dax), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Nana Visitor ( Major Kira Nerys) and Siddig El Fadil (later: Alexander Siddig) (Dr. Bashir)

The background of Deep Space Nine is the planet Bajor, a deeply religious planet that was occupied by the aggressive and militaristic Cardassians, close to which a Cardassian Space Station Terok Nor was built, which was also abandoned by the Cardassians, when they left the Bajoran homeworld in ruins and the population to fend for itself.  The Federation would assist the Bajoran people and oversee their needs from their vantage point on the renamed Deep Space Nine station, that in the pilot is relocated to a nearby stable wormhole, offering access to unknown depths of hitherto unexplored space. Commander Ben Sisko, who does not really consider this a suitable position for himself to raise his son Jake singlehandedly, finds himself also burdened with the knowledge that the Prophets ( the deities involved in Bajor's religious world, who also happen to inhabit the wormhole ) have named him their Emissary.

Sisko finds comfort in the presence of his good friend DAX, a trill symbiont who has taken a new host, Jadzia, but science officer Jadzia Dax seems wise for her years, thanks to the trill symbiont, who has lived 7 lives before hers.  Dr. Bashir is a young and ambitious doctor who wants to live the adventure on this station and he strikes up a friendship with Chief O'Brien, who has accepted Deep Space Nine as a new post as Engineer in Chief, after having served several years on Captain Picard's Enterprise.  O'Brien brings along his wife Keiko, a botanist who starts teaching the children on the station, and their daughter. Already on board Deep Space Nine are Major Kira Nerys, Bajoran Liaison to the Federation and first officer, the shapeshifter Odo as Chief of Security and the Ferengi Quark who runs a bar on the station.

 In the first few seasons, the Cardassians make themselves known as the antagonists (along with Kai Winn, a religious leader on Bajor who is too ambitious for her own good or for the planet) but after the first three seasons we find that Odo is a Founder, one of a race of shapeshifters who have ambitions of their own and who breed soldiers in the Jem Hadar, fierce warriors that rival the Klingons in battle. Odo however has no interest in the ambitions of his fellow founders and he remains on the station because he is in love with Kira, who is oblivious to this until a few seasons later. Kira also develops from a resistance fighter with a nasty attitude to her former oppressors (the Cardassians) to a much more openhearted woman.

TOS The Trouble With Tribbles but who is that in the background?

Deep Space Nine started in 1993. In 1995, the producers thought it would be nice to pay their respects to the original show as a 30th anniversary was coming up. On VOYAGER, they would go back to Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country, but on Deep Space Nine, the writing crew had an inspired idea: to go back into an original episode, The Trouble With Tribbles. With the computer technology that was invented a few years earlier for FOREST GUMP, they were able to insert our new characters into the footage of the original show, in a seamless romp of fun, action and humor.

Jadzia Dax and Ben Sisko on the NCC1701 Enterprise

dressed to fit the swinging sixties

As seen before in TOS and ST TNG, Deep Space Nine also made a lot of room for interesting characters who would be allowed to have their moment in the sun. Cardassian Elim Garak, the only Cardassian to remain on Deep Space Nine after the departure of the Cardassians, is played by Andy Robinson and proved to be a very worthwhile character indeed. 

Plain and Simple Garak

Because Deep Space Nine also followed Star Trek TNG, Klingon Chancellor Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) is also appearing on Deep Space Nine, as well as the revered General Martok (J.G. Hertzler), who both made good appearances in the story arc where the Cardassians join the Dominion ( as the Founders call themselves with their associates). The Klingons take the side of the Federation and so a new war is set up. And when the Breen also join the Dominion, the Federation and the Klingon Empire are pleased to have the Romulans as their ally. 

General Martok 

The general story arc does not keep the show from having standalone episodes or side story arcs either, such as the Alternative Universe as originally seen in Classic Star Trek (when Spock had the beard, remember?). In the Alternative Universe the situation with the Station is not as positive and the characters have completely different personalities , such as the Intendent, the Kira of the Alternative Universe. 

The Intendent

But just as the Enterprise had its holodeck, so does Quark have his holosuites. Quark does have a lot of clients who want to use these for his sexual programs but Julian Bashir and O'Brien and friends also have their own holo-games to play, such as a James Bond spoof game in Our Man Bashir.

Bashir and Garak in Our Man Bashir

But all the while, the main story arc, especially in the last few years of the show, was the arc dealing with the War between the Federation and the Dominion. This also served very well to heighten the suspense as the situation began to look very much hopeless, indeed. Considering also the fate of Gul Dukat, the compelling Cardassian leader who is later dethroned and in search of his way back to power,  it becomes clear that Deep Space Nine is a show with an incredibly vast array of characters outside the main cast, with an impressive range of philosophies and lifestyles.

And when the battles do follow in outer space, the show also becomes so much more than just a Star Trek show. In the many facets seen on the show, you see themes of war, occupation, rebel fighters, collaborators (out of need to survive or otherwise), easily as much as humor ( the Ferengi episodes are a joy as by now, the Ferengi were no longer the laughing stock of the Next Generation universe ) and love and relationships. Indeed, this show is about relationships, about the relationship between Quark and Odo, always adversarial, the relationship between Garak and Bashir, the friendship between Jake Sisko and Nog, the relationship between O'Brien and his wife, the close friendship between Bashir and O'Brien and also, a new relationship between Ben Sisko and Kassidy Yates and a relationship between Jadzia Dax and the newly arrived Worf, who joined the cast from the 4th season on.

Worf marries Dax in "You Are Cordially Invited"

But perhaps the most important relationship  on this show, the relationship that ran the longest is that of Ben Sisko and his son Jake, which also has a few moments to shine, such as in the episode "Explorers" in which Ben Sisko builds a ship that sails on the solar wind and tries to 'sail' from Deep Space Nine to Cardassia Prime.  Another highlight for both Sisko's is "The Visitor" in which an accident causes Ben Sisko to disappear from our reality but he returns later, only to vanish again. Jake then makes it his life task to find out why, which results in one of the most moving, sincerely touching episodes of the whole series.

Gul Dukat with a Bajoran comfort woman

For some undisclosed reason, Terry Farrell did not sign on for the 7th season and in "Tears of the Prophets", Gul Dukat, who was possessed by a Pah Wraith ( something like the dark side of the Bajoran religion ), killed Jadzia Dax. The Symbiont was however barely saved and implanted in a new host, Exri Dax, played by Nicole DeBoer. 

The Seventh Season Cast, with Ezri Dax

instead of Jadzia Dax and an almost adult Jake Sisko

A few years ago, I watched all the episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation again and after having seen the first season of Star Trek Discoery earlier this year, I felt this was the year to go back to this magnificent show, that also ran for seven seasons. It was not that they were unable to go on. Just as with TNG, the ratings would have been good enough for an 8th season, however the decision was made to bring the show to an end after the conclusion of the Federation - Dominion War and the final confrontation between Ben Sisko and Gul Dukat.

If you have never seen Star Trek Deep Space Nine, go ahead. Give it a try. The first season did not run as smoothly as the later ones did ( but that also happened to TNG and later Voyager ) but the setting of the station and the Bajoran ( / Cardassian ) background was well executed and the performances of our main cast were excellent. Also the recurring characters deserve a mention that they were excellent. If I am truthful to myself now, I would really have to say I liked Star Trek Deep Space Nine better than I did Star Trek TNG but then I do like this whole story development business. It's okay if you don't agree. Just go ahead and give it a try.

Jake Sisko looking out at the wormhole with Kira at his side,

the final shot of the show, before the camera pulls away.

Last year I saw something of an analysis as to why Star Trek Deep Space Nine ( and Voyager ) were not released on Blu Ray.  The whole production of the show was done on video at the time and if they were to do the same reconstruction of every element as it was done on Star Trek The Next Generation, releasing the whole show on Blu Ray would cost about 40 million dollars, which was an amount that Paramount was not comfortable with, to invest. The sales of the ST TNG Blu Ray set simply did not warrant it. That is why Deep Space Nine and Voyager will never be released on Blu Ray disc. Which is a shame but even as it is, not in HD, Deep Space Nine is a wonderful show, a testament to masterful storytelling and I would like to sincerely thank all the writers, producers, actors and creative people involved in it.

Star Trek Deep Space Nine

created by 

Rick Berman and Michael Piller

all photography courtesy of CBS/Paramount

Rest in Peace STEVE DITKO

Now that Marvel has made it big in the cinema, let's not forget where it all started.  In the beginning, in the comics world there were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. And then there was Steve Ditko, who was the first artist to draw Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man. And with help from other talented people, Stan, Jack and Steve created more than half of what made MARVEL successful in the early 1960s. Stan, Jack and Steve were the really great names behind Marvel.

It is with great sadness that I have just learned that approximately a week ago, Steve Ditko passed away, at the age of 90.

Steve Ditko in of the very few pictures around and the first ever cover starring Spider-Man

(coincidentally penciled by Jack Kirby but below you will find Steve's version)

Steve Ditko was born in 1927 and never really sought any publicity as a comic book artist. All he wanted us, readers, to know, was the work he was delivering to us. He did not want to be in any center of attention at all, himself.  I am a fan of his work on The Amazing Spider-Man as he was a magnificent artist who really succeeded in making Peter Parker look like an average young teenager. Jack Kirby was also a very good artist but he would have drawn Peter Parker too muscular. Peter Parker was a young kid, definitely what is now called a nerd, but in the day that word didn't exist but somehow Steve really captured that to the letter. Thank you, Steve, for such wonderful work.

"Puny Parker" in class at the beginning of Amazing Spider-Man 17

Steve Ditko also excelled at his art in a very different way from Jack Kirby or John Buscema and John Romita ( who would follow him in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man) and it is equally wonderful to see how he developed his art over the years, from the short stories he did in the 1950s to the Marvel blockbusters in the 1960s and the Charlton work in 1he 1970s.  Ditko's art did not seem to look like anyone else's art. It was purely his own and you could always tell it was Ditko behind it. 

A Moment of Glory for Spider-Man by Steve Ditko in Amazing Spider-Man 33

Steve also did wonderful work on one other character for Marvel: DOCTOR STRANGE, where he not only designed the Doctor  himself but created new universes beyond our mortal knowledge. In showing visually what other universes and dimensions looked like, he opened doors that can never be closed again.

left: Dr. Strange in his first appearance, looking a bit Oriental maybe?

right: Dr. Strange positioning himself in between of worlds as the Master of Mystic Arts

I am not going to recite right now how Steve Ditko started his professional career, got in the door at Marvel at the right time but left without ever fully having disclosed his reasons. Nor am I going to talk about his fondness for Objectivism. For once, I will do what he would have wanted me to do: if you want to know who Steve Ditko was, go check out his work. Go read the comics he did.  And Marvel at the ART that he delivered. For it was ART, indeed.

A wonderful example of Pure Ditko ART !!

Rest in Peace, Steve.....

Sal Buscema : A Marvel Treasury !

Sal Buscema, (courtesy www.michaelminneboo.nl)

Sal Buscema is the younger brother of Big John Buscema, whom I have talked about earlier. Although I refer to Sal as being the younger brother of John, Sal, born in 1936, is by now a veteran of the comic book world in his own right. He has drawn an incredible array of characters in the Marvel Comics Universe. He has enjoyed working on The Incredible Hulk, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel Team-Up, The Defenders, Captain America; in short he has drawn just about every character you can find in the world of Marvel Comics.

The Incredible Hulk by Sal Buscema

Sal began by inking over his brother John's drawings on many titles such as SILVER SURFER, but in picking up a lot from his older brother, Sal has made his style recognizable as his own. Where John's art has a beautiful powerful look, vivacious and gripping, Sal's style is more dynamic and has a roughness to it that makes the characters pop right out of the page. Where John draws the more voluptuous women (check out his years of work on SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN for that and mind that you don't drool all over the place) but Sal easily creates very tense gut level action as well as eminently smoochable romance.

Sal Buscema inking John Romita Sr

Sal has worked for DC as well, drawing BATMAN, SUPERMAN, SUPERBOY and WONDER WOMAN. No words can do justice to what Sal has meant to me or to Marvel and DC. He has given fans many hours of wonderful art in his career that has lasted longer than 50 years. 

Sal's Wonder Woman (way before the film came out)

I have been aware of Sal's work for almost as long as I have read comics. In the 1970s, when I started reading Spider-Man comics, his work was not to be missed and set such a high standard that it would be so much the harder for the next guy to put his own stamp on the characters.

Captain America beating the Red Skull by Sal

I have had the opportunity to speak to Sal at a Comic Book Convention in my country way back in the 1990s and I would like to say, Sal, you won't remember me but THANKS for giving  us fans such an incredible amount of work to enjoy, work that can only be characterized as ART. 

Sal's Superman 

STAR TREK DISCOVERY - A Wonderful Return to Form !

With the completion of the first season of STAR TREK DISCOVERY, I am pleased to see that this series brings back the franchise to a level that it had not been at for some time. Everybody who knows me, knows I don't much care for the J.J. Abrams films but this series, although it makes some interesting demands of the audience at first, easily convinced me that this is really good stuff.

Not everybody will agree with me and that is fine. I for myself am happy that this is a direction I will be happy to follow this franchise into. The demands made on the audience ? Well, for instance the really big difference that over one season one really major story is told in parts and no single episode serves as a standalone story anymore. This allows for incredible build-up of suspense and story development. Development that I am immensely pleased with.

Also, STAR TREK DISCOVERY may still follow Star Trek in the Prime Timeline ( the same Universe that  Gene Roddenberry's characters of Kirk and Spock will show up in 10 years later ) but the people behind the show are not afraid to take risks to upgrade the show to something of this time ( instead of the 1960s, when the original show aired). Prime example was the death of Captain Philippa of the USS Shenzou, where Michael Burnham was first officer in the opening of this show.

I admit that I had to get used to the new look of the KLINGONS but they are a fierce and adaptive race so this look does not fall outside of their range. Upgrading the KLINGONS also meant they would be speaking in their own language all the time, with subtitles for us poor Earth slobs, but I believe that was a good move on the part of the creative team.

Story-wise, this season is very good indeed ! Many interesting twists and changes and turns, that threw you for more than just a loop.  And although the argument can again be made that this technological level of the ship seems to be far beyond the one seen on the original NCC1701, well, that argument was also raised with ENTERPRISE. It is a matter of choice: do you upgrade a show like this to something of NOW or do you keep presenting it as it was THEN?  Upgrading it for me is not objectionable. It does not demean the older series. 

Alas, I must also admit that not everything was brilliant in this season. Although the way certain elements of the story were handled were nothing short of brilliant, the finale itself left a bit to be desired. But I will see this only as a doorway to new possibilities for the next season, which has indeed been given the green light. And I will be looking forward with glee to season 2, either late this year or early next year. My thanks and compliments to all involved in this show ! Good Work ! Let's see you do it again !!!!

Sarek: "Do what again?"

Burnham: "Oh well......."

All Pictures courtesy of CBS / Paramount