Review: Æther and Empire #6
My maternal grandfather was huge movie fan. He watched all the requisite action movies from PI, but also loved his movies from elsewhere. He loved Charles Bronson movies, and watched every single Death Wish movie. He also loved every single movie Michael Caine, was in. One of his favorites being Get Carter, as it was the quintessential high octane tough guy film.
The other one of Michael Caine’s movies that got his eye, was the war movie, Zulu. The movie was about a skirmish between British soldiers and Zulu warriors at Rorke’s Drift. Now, looking back at that film, it was as problematic as Black Hawk Down, but as far as entertainment value goes, it was pretty good. When I read the sixth issue of Aether and Empire#6, it reflected many key scenes from that film, which still influences war scenes in many movies.
We catch up with the crew of the Jules Verne, as they go to battle stations as they must defend against the Martian fleet headed their way. The crew on the ground try to get back to the Martian headquarters, which the Lillian soon finds that her old friend turned Martian hybrid, Douglas, is the leader of the Martians. Lillian makes fate changing decision, which may leave the crew on the ground for the dead. By Issue’s end, the crew escapes safely, but as they all find out the truth may not be what you want it to be.
Overall, an excellent ending to this first volume of this epic series. The story by Mike Horan is pulse pounding, cerebral and intense. The art by Bong Ty Dazo and Tim Yates is gorgeous. Altogether, an excellent swashbuckling space opera that which stands as a prime example of how to do steampunk high adventure.
Story: Mike Horan Art: Bong Ty Dazo and Tim Yates
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
I just finished re-reading Dune, as part of ComicBookGirl19’s Dune Club, which reminded me just how epic a writer Frank Herbert was. Not too many writers, that I grew up reading, whom made details sound so enticing. His research showed not only in Middle Eastern culture but also in science fiction. That whole world he created in those books, was so immersive and palatable, that you would believe sand worms existed in a planet called Arikis.
I remember the first time, I watched Aliens, I was just as terrified of them as everyone else in the theater. These monsters with sharp teeth and elongated bodies, dripping goo, looking only to annihilate whoever lies in front of them. Fr some reason, these movies stayed with me longer than any horror movie, and not for the reason horror fans usually love movies. The moments that made whole theater jump, was not when we saw the monsters, it is rather, the disquiet, the composer lets settle in.
When I was in the Navy, I can honestly say that deployments were arduous mostly, but fun sometimes. When I was deployed on land, the usual desert air, the size of the sand scorpions, the languages you don’t understand at first, all permeate your being. When I was on deployments at sea, they were usually difficult, because of change of schedule, the number of drills and the smell of sea water everywhere. One of the things that makes them bearable is, that you know you are not the only one.
When the movie, Inglorious Bastards, came out a few years ago, it reminded of those movies much like Seven Samurai and Dirty Dozen, where it focused on solely and man and purpose. In Seven Samurai, the protagonists were there to save a village which needed help from marauder invasions. In Dirty Dozen, these crew of roughnecks into a mass genocide of German Officers. In the aforementioned movie, their mission was more direct, they were there to kill Hitler.
There is something beautiful about the adventure, when anyone can go somewhere new and meet new people. This is exactly what makes the human spirit so endearing. It is why we have ventured into the great unknown for centuries and take those risks which may get us to meet our maker. For those who cannot go on these adventures, they tend to get lost in the books by Robert Louis Stevenson.