WHOLE Lotta Lotta Goin' On

Happy Friday! Well, I'm back...and about to leave again. LOL Yes, it's a busy, busy world for me right now (and, right now, let me mention that you want to read to the end of this blog post, yes you do, you really, really do). San Diego Comic-Con was da bomb -- awesome to see so many of the Alien Collective throughout the event!

My highlight? I got to hug Wolverine! YES! I did some panels and signings and stuff, but WOLVERINE! IN PERSON! It was too awesome!
 









I also met Dr. Who...and though I'm not really a Whovian, he was mighty fine and mighty cool.








Note that there ARE Aliens in LA, and they wear A-MA-ZING costumes!

Yes, yes, more went on and yes, yes, I will tell you all about it, I promise. Only...not today.

Not today because I also realized I haven't actually done my Phoenix Comicon recap. I know! What was I thinking? Oh, wait...I was thinking I wasn't done with Alien Research, that's what I was thinking. But anyway, not to worry. Somewhere soon (I SWEAR) I'll do a compare and contrast about both cons. But before then, there has been a LOT going on in the time I've been gone, so let's get to it, shall we?

First off, is Comic-Con still fun? Check out the Slice of SciFi webcast and find out, as well as discovering some amazing new things being done with 3D printing and seeing how to wash your hair in space.

Next up, the CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE: Steampunk vs. Aliens Kickstarter campaign is going well. But, we're not fully funded yet. So, if you want to see an Alien series short set in a Steampunk universe, please head over and support it. ALSO, one fan's already "in" the story, but I'm now offering TWO NEW tuckerizations as well. That means you'll be in this story, as a main or main supporting character, I might add -- but only if you hurry up and grab while the grabbing's good!

Now for some reviews. See what H. Bala thought of Touched by an Alien, what Under the Covers thought of Alien in the House, and what I Smell Sheep thought of Amazing and Waiting: Two Novelettes by Jemma Chase (yes, that's moi).

Then see what I thought of RED 2 over at Slice of SciFi.

Check out which authors Gizmo's Reviews feels deserve more recognition, chime in over at Tor.com about humor in science fiction, and then see the first stretch goal for CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE from Scott Lynch, a map of his created world of Karthain.

Last but in no way least, I'm thrilled to announce that When Josie Comes Home by A.E. Stanton (yes, that's moi also) has been chosen as an Editor's Top Pick by Musa Publishing. It's quite an honor and I'm so glad this story resonated so much with the Musa staff. So, if you haven't checked out When Josie Comes Home yet, there's no better time than now!

Well, there IS one more thing...just one little thing, really. Well, two little things. And they're the main reason this came out on Friday instead of Thursday. So, with no further ado...*drum roll please*...

 DAW Books has just bought Books 12 and 13 in the Alien series! Meaning Alien in Chief will be coming out in December 2015 and Camp Alien will be coming out in May 2016! (Wow, when I type that out, it seems so very far away. Only I know it really isn't. LOL) So, more of Kitty and Company for all of you!

Now that's really it for today. I'll be gone all next week having fun with the chicklet so while I'll be on Twitter and Facebook, I will likely be quiet otherwise. Well, as quiet as I get. Figure of speech, okay? (Geez, tough room.) So, please support CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE, jump up and down with me about Books 12 & 13, and let's be readers out there! Peace out, my li'l gangstas, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

Love,
Gini

Movie Review: Wolverine

Warning: Major Spoiler Alerts from a Major Comics Geek Girl

(That is, spoilers that will tell you nothing about the actual narrative of the movie, but which will, for some of you, spoil the overall experience. For the rest of you, it'll make it better. Trust me.)

The hubs and I just saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I'm huge into comics but I lean towards Marvel over DC (and, yes, there are many others besides the Big Two, but this isn't a comic book blog post, so deal), ergo I know a lot about the Marvel Universe, and the X-Men Universe in particular. Ergo again, I'm an educated viewer, at least in terms of the source materials -- my people are the people the movie-makers of this sort of movie are terrified of enraging. So, let's get some things taken care of right up front.

Most Important Selling Point for Instant and Repeated Viewings: Hugh Jackman is NAKED in this movie! Oh, sure, not for too long, but we definitely see bare butt and total bare torso, and for more than one scene, too. And we get to see his naked chest a LOT. So, the movie is awesome and I will own it the moment it comes out on DVD.

Most Outrageous Trampling of Comics Fans' Precious Memories: What they've done with Deadpool is a travesty. It ruined the movie for the hubs and the chicklet, since Deadpool, aka The Merc With A Mouth, is a family favorite. He's awesome at the start of the movie, but trust this comics geek girl when I say that what they do with him at the end is NOT Deadpool. Why bother to cast the perfect guy as Deadpool -- Ryan Reynolds -- and then proceed to do what they did with him? Travesty doesn't begin to cover it. (And Ryan wasn't undressed nearly enough, either.)

Most Relieved Moment: They didn't screw up Gambit. Taylor Kitsch wasn't my idea of Remy LeBeau -- but Hugh Jackman wasn't my idea of Wolverine, either, way back when -- but he does a great job and is allowed to stay. (Taylor's clothes remained on. This is a bad trend, movie-makers.)

Best New Hottie: Daniel Henney, who plays Agent Zero, is a total and complete babe. The movie's biggest failing, right after the Deadpool stuff? Zero was never naked. In fact, they barely let him unbutton the top button of his shirt. I want to see more of Daniel Henney and by that I mean I want to see a LOT more. (It's now official -- the movie-makers need to reshoot a great variety of the supporting actors' scenes. Maybe the deleted Black Ops shower scene will make it into the DVD extras. A girl can dream.)

Best Uber Villain: Liev Schrieber was awesome as Sabretooth. I've seen him be a villain before (Phantoms -- Affleck was da BOMB in Phantoms...points to those who know where that line comes from) so I know he can do it. But he was amazing and added much needed depth and layers to the Sabretooth character. (For those keeping score, Liev's also not naked in this movie. For shame, movie-makers! Hugh's a big enough guy [heh] that I'm sure he was willing to spread the on-screen nudity around to the other guys. I expect the next movie to be X-Men Origins: Mutants Take Showers, or there'll be some s'plainin' to do.)

Special, Personal Note to the Movie-Makers: I'm enraged about the total lack of male nudity of the hottie supporting characters. We'll cross blades over what you did to Deadpool, but if I get naked pics of Ryan Reynolds and Daniel Henney in the mail, all might be forgiven.

Now, for the stuff movie critics are supposed to care about -- the narrative, the story arc, the effects, the production values, the acting, the stunts.

Movie was awesome, Travesty Moment and lack of supporting hottie nakedness aside, and I suggest you see it pronto. Hugh's naked scenes start early and come often, so no bathroom breaks. Hugh Jackman is NAKED in Wolverine. Truly, 'nuff said. (Hey, I'm an author and a comics geek girl, not a critic.)

Love,
Gini