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Penny Dreadful: The Ongoing Series – Volume 3 “The Victory of Death”

Laura Benson
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Penny Dreadful: The Ongoing Series – Volume 3 “The Victory of Death”
Front Cover

First thoughts

There are often conflicting feelings when a much-loved TV show like Penny Dreadful carries its stories into the comic medium. On one hand, there is excitement over continuing the stories of our favourite characters! On the other, there is the worry that the stories won’t live up to the plans the show had for future seasons or the level of story writing.

When I was given the chance to review Penny Dreadful ‘The Victory of Death (issues 9-12 of the ongoing series), I leaned more towards hopeful optimism. A series as dark and horrific and also
based off the very idea of short stories, the show had, to me, found the perfect home in comics.

Series Summary

The series is described as:

“Penny Dreadful: The Awakening, a sequel series exploring the aftermath of the events which transpired in the dramatic final episode. Here, six months have passed and Ethan Chandler is plagued by the death of his lover, Vanessa, whom he murdered per her request for the greater good. Feeling lost, devoid of purpose and unable to move on, little does he know that his doom and gloom will soon be exacerbated when a new threat arrives in London with destruction on its mind. Elsewhere, in Egypt, Mr Lyle and the Duke of Kent discover a sarcophagus whilst rummaging through a tomb boasting hieroglyphics which warn of disaster. Nothing good ever comes from meddling with the dead in these scenarios, but in this case, the consequences could bring about the end of days. Written by series producer Chris King with illustrations by Jesus Hervas, The Awaking is already shaping up to be a successor on par with Showtime’s cult phenomenon.” (sic)

Art – Jesús Hervás

Lily Frankenstein & Ethan Chandler

For me, the most disappointing aspect of this comic is the art. The show was a deeply detailed and elegant affair, with scenes straight out of the most horrific paintings. Quite frankly the art in this comic does not do that justice.

Only when characters face is mostly straight on and up close is there any detail, often the character is left looking vague like an unfinished outline. There is so much colour splashed around the pages that it becomes hard to figure out what is happening.

It is a shame we are not treated to the art of Tess Fowler shown on the back cover of this volume. It is crisp, detailed and quite true to the actor’s faces in the show. Sadly the style of Jesús Hervás in the (main comic is so stylised that is can be hard to tell who is who, especially if it’s been some time since you last finished the show.

Pacing

The storyline would be a lot more engaging if the comic didn’t flip between subplots so often, often devoting just 2 pages to a story before moving to a different part of the story all together with no sense of rhythm. I confess at first wondered if the volume I was reading had been bound out of order, for all the sense it was making.

Writing – Chris King

The characters are very different to the show and I can’t say in a good way. The most jarring of all is Lily Frankenstein’s transformation from an angry, vengeful powerful woman into a god fearing, hand wringing, pushed around by men doormat. To see one of the series most interesting characters dumbed down like this hurts greatly.

In fact, none of the characters seems to share the personality of their onscreen originals. It’s pretty disheartening.

Art by Tess Fowler

Conclusion

I wanted to love this series, then as I started to read I tried to like it, and towards the end, I could just barely tolerate it. This series sadly does not do justice to the shows aesthetics nor its stories. Fans of the show can easily give this one a miss.

Thankfully for fans, the show is coming back!

As seen on the official Penny dreadful Twitter account;
“Sometimes what’s dead doesn’t always remain. #PennyDreadful returns to @Showtime with Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Set in 1938 Los Angeles, this next chapter will explore a mix of the supernatural within a genuine historical backdrop infused with Mexican-American folklore. ”

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels on Showtime (@SHO_Penny) November 1, 2018

WCC: Wet, Cold and Claustrophobic

Peter Ray Allison
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WCC: Wet, Cold and Claustrophobic

Last weekend promised to be an amazing weekend.  Indeed, Wales Comic Con, or WCC for short, has over the years accrued a proven track record for hosting excellent events.  This year’s special guest line-up was truly impressive; Ron Perlman and Rupert Grint were there, but it was Kiefer Sutherland I was most wanting to meet.

With word spreading of their success, WCC had become increasingly popular in recent years, and with the impressive array of guests being announced, they consequently accrued greater interest. However, this was where the problems started.  With this increased interest, the organisers had failed to anticipate whether their venue – Wrexham Glyndwr University – had adequate capacity for this year’s event.

When I arrived at the venue, I discovered that the university car park had been closed, by the police no less.  Not being local, I parked in the only car park I could find in the area.  However, parking was restricted to three hours, or 90-minutes on a match day… and guess what?  It was a match day: a football match was taking place right next door.

After stomping through the driving rain that was Storm Hannah, my photographer and I finally entered the main building, passing the sacrificial offerings of broken umbrellas by the front door, and dried off.  Thankfully, the two-hour drive to get there meant we had missed having to queue to actually enter the convention, but now the crowds were all huddled away out of the rain, tighter than overly-friendly tinned sardines.

WCC was spread across four different buildings on the campus, which meant having to brave the rain each time we wanted to explore a different area.  This was compounded by each building having queues to enter.  The worst queue was the one for the signing area, which pretty much stretched for 0.5km in the driving rain and did not seem to be moving in any great rush.

A series of events had been scheduled throughout the weekend, but I was unable to see them.  This was partly because of the lack of signage, but mostly because the claustrophobia-inducing crowds meant that it was nigh on impossible to navigate the venue.  Also, let us not forget the decision to have dedicated entrances and exits.  Some of these were on opposite sides of the building, so if you ever wanted to re-enter the main building, you would have squelch around the building (which was no easy task) in Storm Hannah.

The trader area had the smallest queue, but that still entailed standing around getting soaked for at least five minutes, only to find that the tent was also leaking and that it was even more crowded inside.

Adding to this debacle, I was forced to return to my car every hour, in order to move it to a different space before the 90-minute time-limit expired, which involved a half-hour splash-and-dash through the rain to my car and back.

After the second time of having to do this I had enough.  To give you an idea of how saturated I was by this point, I was still finding damp patches over half an hour after leaving, when I stopped at a country pub to dry off by the open fire.

As much as I enjoy conventions, this year’s WCC has to be the worst one I have ever been to.  This is a colossal shame, as it had such potential to be a fantastic experience, especially given the amazing guest list.

Whilst it is indeed true that the organisers cannot stop the rain, they can at least have contingencies in place to prepare for it.  Also, it is not like April has a reputation for being a dry season – “April showers” are so named for a reason.  Furthermore, there had been several days warning of Storm Hannah’s approach.

Likewise, the overcrowding was another issue that could have been avoided.  Past events by WCC have been filled to bursting, and the increased profile of these A-list guests meant that there were clearly going to be more attendees.  It did not require advanced predictive analytics to foresee that an finding a bigger venue might actually have been a good idea.

I particularly felt sorry for the cosplayers, who were often soaked to the skin, literally.  One, dressed as Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones, commented how the cold did not bother him now that he had become numb.  At least the Aquaman cosplay looked more authentic.

WCC could have been an amazing convention, but the organiser’s lack of foresight and preparation meant that attendees left cold and wet.  WCC used to mean Wales Comic Con, but after last weekend, it now means Wet, Cold and Claustrophobic…

All photos are by Peter Gatehouse, and are used with permission.

Avengers Assemble! We’re in the Endgame: Review

joshkingofgeeks
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Avengers Assemble! We’re in the Endgame: Review

Walking into Screen number 1, midnight Wednesday, I have never felt so anxious or emotional, nervous and excited at once. As I sat down I felt like I just wanted to get it over with but also not wanting it to happen. why? it’s simple really, this would be the end of an 11 year journey that started in 2008 with an utterance of “I am IRON MAN” and also a final goodbye to a great man who influenced my life greatly, whether you lived by the creed “Make Mine MARVEL” or you were a “True Believer!” it was finally time to say goodbye to Stan Lee.

I made the smart choice and refrained from drinking anything past 9:30pm, no running to the bathroom and missing key moments for me but I did end up purchasing a bottle of water just in case dehydration took its toll. The lights faded in the screen and the now legendary “MARVEL Studios” titles ran on the screen, it was time for 3 hours of a closing chapter of the “Infinity saga” and holy crap what a 3 hours.

SPOILERS AHEAD!! WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD!!

5

4

3

2

1

 

First up, If you think Louis is going to start the film with a recap or any recap, then you’re going to be disappointed; I know I was gutted too. Also we knew, from all the slight Spoilers the Russo brothers spoon fed us over the last year, that we should expect the unexpected right? Well throw those unexpected thoughts out the window, cause what we think we know.. we don’t. If that makes sense.

secondly I knew I would probably do a “Kevin Smith” and end up blubbering my eyes out at pivotal scenes but man, seeing Stan Lee’s last cameo… it really got to me. If that man doesn’t get an Oscar for services to cinema, then there is a serious problem in Hollywood.

Anyway, I digress.

The film starts Off with the heart/gut wrenching scene of Hawkeye / Clint witnessing the Snap and his entire family disappearing, the catalyst of him becoming the assassin Ronin and so it continues along this theme of loss, anguish and sadness. With all of our main superheroes dealing with their own demons and having to try and move on; with some moving on, to a point, and another’s just not being able to let go.

Much like a rollercoaster the film builds you up with lows galore, before hitting you with the heights of emotion.. then drops you right back down again. Tony and Nebula are stuck on the “Benatar” (the GOTG ship) playing games and trying to fix the ship. There’s a heart warming scene where Tony hands Nebula the last of their food and she holds his hand and gives it back to him, Karen Gillan does it with such tenderness that you are proud on how far the Ex daughter of Thanos has come.

This low is followed by a mild high when they are saved by Carol Danvers swooping in like some sort of glowing Mighty Mouse and returned to earth, Tony also calling Rocket a “Build-a-bear” had me in stitches. The story then becomes an “Inigo Montoya” vendetta and the remaining Avengers go after Thanos. This scene, an expected high, leaves our team feeling empty and asking the question “what now?” With a surprising moment when Thor went for the head and that’s it… where do they go from here?

We fast forward 5 years, 5 years! and the tone of the entire film has now moved onto the 5 stages of Grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. With most people living with what has happened and others still trying to fight the good fight, we find our rag tag Avengers still trying to hold onto some resemblance of who they once were. Its dark and brooding, almost as if Batman wrote the second act. Then a bit of light comes in thanks to a small mouse pressing buttons in an ugly brown van and Boom!! Ant-mans back. Paul Rudd brings some much needed happy feels to the following scenes, finding out his daughter survived the snap (be it now 5 years older) and incredibly happy to eat a peanut butter sandwich while delivering a wild and amazing way of reversing everything, say it with me now with hands in air, Time Travel! (Great Scott!)

As you can imagine the next few turns of events goes as you would expect, they can’t work it out and they need a Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist now husband and FATHER!! Tony Stark to solve their Quantum conundrum.

After that it folds out like any Time Travel caper or “Heist” as Scott Lang puts it, with a crucial scene that will make every Loki Fan girl go nuts, I was there, I heard the screams. The time travel was nicely done and delivered some twists and turns with the phrase “Americas Ass” now becoming Immortal in all our hearts and minds with it ending in a snap care of our jolly green Professor Hulk and leading into a biblical third act where we finally find out that the Captain was actually worthy! I’ve never heard cheers like it in a cinema.  Yibambe is once again uttered from Wakanda, the Sorcerer Supreme returns with some Guardians and a Wall Crawler, Valkyrie leads the Asgardians and Pepper Potts arrives as RESCUE! All ready to do battle with the entire of Thano’s Army; breathtaking and emotional stuff but for me A major high was when I got to hear that one phrase we’ve all waited 11 years for Captain America to say, “AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!”

On a similar note, it was great to see that the film and especially the last battle was filled with so many strong, powerful and amazing Marvel women. As a father of a daughter and a Son, it is great to see strong female role models and that they are growing up in times like these.

This last chapter to the Infinity Saga was amazing and everything I wanted and more, aside from a few parts I’m still questioning and trying to work out, the Russo Brothers once again deliver on a promise started by John Favreau back in 2008 with IRON MAN. I shed many a tear in all the right scenes, some in places I wasn’t expecting. The Cinematography was fantastic, the locations were great, we get a lot of closure and again the actors take us to the Universe we all know and love and wish to never leave… all good things must come to an end though.

The film begins steady takes a lot of unexpected turns hits you in the gut in numerous occasions, all the while still striking the happy notes with, funny quips and side jokes, coming to an end with a monumental battle culminating on both a high and a low note; leaving many feeling  warm and yet lost at the same time.

We lose a friend, the progenitor of our 11 year journey, the torch is passed and Cap finally gets that first dance and the life Tony always told him to go get. It’s the end of an era for many of us and a fond final farewell to Stan Lee….as one door closes another one opens in the MCU.

“Face front True Believers, it’s the fearless forward!”

End game was Marvel Studio’s swan song and a fittingly epic end to 11 years of great film.

Nuff said!

#loveyou3000

Shazam – Review

Mark Canty
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Shazam – Review

Okay then, so let’s start with the important fact – Don’t leave til the very end, there are 2 credit scenes.

Now that we have that over with, what can I tell you about Shazam?

Watch it.

Enjoy it, maybe watch it again – I know I intend to.

“But why?” I hear you ask. “Why is this so worth watching? Is it better than Justice League? Is it better than Wonder Woman?”

I have to say that, in many ways, yes – It’s better than Wonder Woman, though not as epic in scale. It’s definitely far better than Justice League, though. Because it’s remembered something that is often forgotten in the DCEU:

Shazam Floss

Having Super Powers might be a burden. It might be a responsibility. It might even put the people you love at risk. But, goddamnit – It’s awesome and FUN, too!

It also remembers that we’re only human. That we can be pure of heart, and a mighty champion, but it doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes. It’s allowed, and part of the learning process.

Shazam

And one of the biggest assets that the film has in making this clear is called Zachary Levy. I’ll admit that I’ve been a big fan of this guy since I watched ‘Chuck’, and he was perfect for the role of Shazam, flipping from goofy 14 year old nerves and exuberance to occasional moments of confusion and ennui, and finally – Kick-ass hero 🙂

Dr Sivana

I’ll admit, though, I have a soft spot for the scenery-chewing Mark Strong as Dr Sivana – He may not be the most terrifying DC villain ever, but he’s menacing, and obviously terrifying to Billy Batson, no matter what Billy looks like, because he pushes him, and pushes him, forcing him to learn some very hard lessons – Mark Strong definitely has that glint of madness. Incidentally, it’s good to see John Glover maintaining his record as DC’s least-awesome father.

Shazam & Dr Sivana

The big theme of Shazam, however, right from the first scene, is family – Traditional, nontraditional, dysfunctional or otherwise. The effect that family has on us to shape our lives, and the effect it can have on us when we need to protect it, and are supported by it. Sivana has a family that don’t appreciate him, and so he is driven manically to prove himself right, no matter the cost or the laws he must break. Billy is searching for his mother, and so he has a… casual disregard for the law, but he still knows what is right, and what is wrong. He may not be too strongly attached to either, but he IS only 14. And when the chips are down, he knows what the difference is and will act on it. And when he does find his home, it’s good that it’s because people finally stop giving up on him, and care enough for him to feel safe investing back in them. Plus, when your hero is 14, you can save time by not focusing ona Romantic Subplot!

Shazam & Family

As Billy, Asher Angel is engaging when he’s upbeat, and sympathetic when life (and adults) are getting him down, trying to make him give up his dreams and just move along through the system.

As Shazam, the last of the Wizard’s council, Djimon Honsou is pretty good too, even hidden behind the crazy beard.

Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley is impossibly annoying AND loveable at the same time, like any kid sister – it’s amusing watching Billy get quite obviously played at times by her need to be loved and recognised because she’s the youngest, and Billy’s never really had to learn how to deal with such tactics.

Jack Dylan Grazer, as Freddy, is obviously having a ball as the annoying kid who gets so wrapped up in Billy’s newfound abilities that he forgets that he’s ‘just’ his ‘manager’, and sets rules he won’t keep. But his obvious disappointment in Billy when he feels let down makes for a compelling emotional whip to force him to reconsider his approach to being a Super Hero, even BEFORE he gets his own, personal super-villain – Actions have consequences. He definitely plays the geeky hero enthusiast role well.

Billy Batson

The setting for the film, Philadelphia, is a nice change of pace from Gotham and Metropolis, more colourful, yet less perfect and classical than those 2 idealised cities. Not on either coast, it’s just a pretty average, American city. It’s also interesting to see the memorabilia and content about the Justice League members that become part of the drama, and part of the fights. I can’t help but think that Bats would be very happy that one of his batarangs came in useful for its designed purpose, not so much the other stuff.

While Wonder Woman had some of that exuberance, it was tempered by Diana’s years of training for her role, the Amazon’s Warrior culture, and the overlap with World War 1 – Frivolity was in short supply, and so the lighter patches were fleeting, and often comedic or romantic. With Shazam, there are many bittersweet moments, a few genuinely sad, more than a few laugh out loud at the schlock moments, but a lot of exuberance, enthusiasm and genuinely warm, if saccharrine moments too. The setting at Christmas time DOES seem a little odd when it’s April here, but there is a good reason that helps to make the film work, by providing reasons for certain set pieces to happen correctly, and giving the viewer appropriately good reasons to cheer/laugh.

Shazam!

In conclusion, I’d heartily recommend Shazam for at least 2 viewings – There’s a few nice details in there for the hardcore fan, and it’s just going to put a smile on your face. Even the end credits are amusing and engagingly childish at times, and they aren’t afraid to throw shade at the DCEU – Apparently Levi is setting himself up with some help from the writers as the DC Deadpool – At least for the moment!!

The effects work is, in general more than competent – I don’t know that it will be up for an Oscar, but it doesn’t intrude into the film or stop you from enjoying it all. Sometimes the colours seem a little washed out – But that’s often just because of the big red and white doofus front and center!

Engaging performances, with good costuming and effects, makes Shazam a real winner – not just as good a film, but especially as a DCEU film that proves they are great at individual hero stories, not so much the team ups.

MCM Birmingham Comic Con – March 2019

Peter Ray Allison
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MCM Birmingham Comic Con – March 2019

With an increasing number of events on the UK convention scene, Birmingham Comic Con was MCM’s chance to prove that they remain one of best conventions in geek culture.

Entering MCM Birmingham Comic Con has always been a visual assault on the senses, and this year was no different, with massive video screens showcasing the latest films and the epic scale of convention sprawling before attendees.

MCM Birmingham Comic Cons have always been massive affairs, and this was no different.  Despite the Spring event usually being the smaller of the two (the other being in Autumn), this might have been their biggest yet.  It certainly felt bigger, as MCM also utilised the surrounding atriums.  This use made for some welcome space and much needed sunlight after the crowds inside the convention hall.

Headlining the event was the opportunity to meet Felicia Day of Geek & Sundry, who was as lovely to meet in person as she appears on screen, and always took the time to engage with her fans and make them feel welcome.

There were – as always – hundreds of market stalls and it could be very easy to go wild with a credit card there, with a cornucopia of geekery for sale.  From retro video games to classic comics and anime, and not forgetting the cosplay and steampunk areas, there was legitimately something for everyone.

Hidden amongst these stalls were creators selling unique items.  This was especially evident in the comics village, where a variety of comic writers could be found, such as Shazleen Khan, a fantastic artist and writer with some truly gorgeous artwork.

For those who have ever wanted to have a light sabre battle (and, to be fair, who hasn’t?), there was the Silver Sabres.  With the recognition of light-sabre fighting as an official sport in France in last month, there has been a surge of interest in light sabre duels.  The Silver Sabres were on hand to perform a series of amazing duels throughout the weekend, as beginner classes for any budding padawans that had been suitably inspired.

It was great to see upcoming projects being promoted, such as Spirit of the Pharaoh.  Described as Stargate meets Indiana Jones, this graphic novel and novelisation (as well as live-action and animated films in development) had a massive stand promoting this classic tale of adventure.  On a smaller scale was the upcoming comic-adaption of the gritty/supernatural comic series Lucid the Dreamwalker.

Asmodee were also to hand offering demonstrations of some of their latest and classic games, such as Ca$h ‘n Guns or X-Wing.  It was very easy to find yourself unwittingly roped into a new game if you happened to find yourself standing around their displays for more than a few seconds.  The demonstrators were a first-class team who took the time to find what game worked best for each player and clearly explained the games mechanics regardless of players experience.

As always, an event is only as good as the atmosphere, and MCM Birmingham Comic Con is no different.  Whilst it could be crowded at times, it never felt claustrophobic, with many of the attendees taking the time to dress up for occasion giving it a carnivalesque vibe.

It was the UK Garrison, the only officially recognised Star Wars costumers, who really blew people away.  Their incredibly detailed costumes that left many fans feeling the need to acquire stormtrooper armour of their own.

 

Birmingham Comic Con is back

Peter Ray Allison
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Birmingham Comic Con is back

With convention season opening this month, MCM Birmingham Comic Con returns to the Birmingham NEC on 23-24 March for a weekend filled with all things geeky. The biggest comic con in the Midlands, MCM Birmingham comes filled with content for the discerning geek, from exclusive products to an array of special guests, including:

  • Asa Butterfield, star of acclaimed new Netflix comedy drama Sex Education;
  • The Umbrella Academy cast members Tom Hopper (Black Sails, Game of Thrones, Merlin) and series breakout star Emmy Raver-Lampman (Hamilton, Wicked);
  • Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario. Martinet has played Nintendo’s iconic mascot in more than 100 videogame titles – a Guinness World Record;
  • Veronica Taylor (Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and fellow voice actor Patricia Summerset (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
  • Supernatural‘s Felicia Day (The Guild, Mystery Science Theater 3000) & Osric Chau (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Kings of Con);
  • Game of Thrones‘ Miltos Yerolemou (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Danish Girl) and Ian Beattie (Alexander, Vikings);
  • Merlin Alexander Vlahos (Versailles) and Rupert Young (Doc Martin).

As well as some spectacular special guests, MCM Birmingham Comic Con will play host to a Comic Village crammed with talented artists and writers; a Cosplay Stage showcasing the costuming and crafting skills of the UK’s cosplay community and an eclectic range of exhibitors selling everything from toys and film props to original artwork and anime.

There is also the new Treehouse interactive area with face painting, free-play Lego, book readings and Jedi training to keep even the youngest superheroes entertained ‘Kids Go Free’ offer (up to two children can come along for free with each ticket holder

Visitors will also get the chance to:

  • Take part in a Hellboy Cosplay Competition, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Mike Mignola’s legendary creation.
  • Enjoy a special live D&D show with the Outside Xbox crew, as Dungeon Master Johnny Chiodini takes the ragtag adventurers on their latest perilous quest.
  • Watch on-stage panels, including Tom Hopper and Emmy Raver-Lampman talking The Umbrella Academy and a Sex Education chat with show star Asa Butterfield.
  • Get a first look at Birmingham-based supernatural series Lucid the Dreamwalker.
  • Train in light sabre fighting techniques with the Silver Sabres Combat Academy.

Tickets for MCM Birmingham Comic Con are still available from their online store.  However, Weekend tickets are expected to sell out soon.

MCM & ReedPop 2018 and Onwards

Laura Benson
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MCM & ReedPop 2018 and Onwards

It’s been over a year now since ReedPop took over UK Convention Giant MCM Comic-Con.
 

So what (if anything) has changed? 


I visited MCM Birmingham (March 17 & 18th), MCM Manchester (28-29 July 2018 ), MCM London (26-28 Oct 2018) & MCM Birmingham (24th & 25th November 2018) to try and get a feel if this popular convention has changed under new ownership.
 
The biggest feeling I took away from my visits to these Conventions was that MCM is now much more consistent in the way they are organised and presented. In previous years the quality often seemed to fluctuate from month to month, but now it seems to be more controlled. One of the most important things any event company can do is to focus on the basics, after all, they are the foundation on which businesses are built. There have been no major changes, the focus so far has been on getting the basics right.
 

Vendor Feedback


From a vendors point of view, the feedback is varied. Many previous vendors I spoke to felt the new pricing structure has priced them out of attending the conventions. This raises the concern that the consumer might be losing out on independent and unique merchandise. However, when one hits the floor you don’t get that feeling at all. The current vendors available feel more diverse than in previous years.
 
When I spoke to the current vendors, I received incredibly positive feedback. Some vendors are loyal ReedPop fans who have followed them from their American conventions and this could explain the new shops. Another very positive comment received? Space between stalls in the larger venues has been increased, leading to a much less stressful browsing experience. A small change that has been highly effective and is proof of MCM working to make effective solutions for long time problems.

Pros & Cons

Personally, my favourite change was introduced in London in October. Outside each hall entrance, a large venue map was placed. This made it much easier to navigate around the Convention and also had the advantage of saving printing thousands of paper maps (much more eco-friendly). I hope other conventions will take up this practice in the future.
 
As someone who enjoys meeting film and TV guests however, MCM is still lagging well behind. The guests on offer seem to be from one show/podcast/movie solely. Whilst this is great for fans of that one subject it does limit the possible audience. Manchester had an extremely low number of guests compared to London Film and Comic Con (Showmasters Events) held the same weekend, which left many fans deciding to pass on Manchester. Birmingham was nothing special either.
 
While everyone can agree that London MCM is the biggest and best convention to attend, it is also the most expensive. Both ticket pricing and accommodation outstrip many other conventions. The smaller regional shows are the cheaper option (by almost half) and could be more efficiently organised to lure the frugal fan or those who struggle with crowds.
 
From a neutral standpoint, while consistency is great there was also no big WOW moments at any of the conventions – making them all feel pretty identical. If you discount venue size and pricing there’s seems to be nothing unique to each event.
 
My hope is that 2018 was the year of making the smaller changes needed to make a consistent product but that 2019 will bring the innovations that make each event a unique and fantastic experience. 
 
What would you like to see changed?
 
What did you love or hate?
 
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR SUGGESTIONS BELOW.

MCM returns in March at the NEC Birmingham. Find out more here

Neall Raemonn Price on Scion

Peter Ray Allison
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Neall Raemonn Price on Scion

What if all the myths were true and the children of gods walked the Earth?  That is the premise of the mythic roleplaying game Scion, where players assume the mantle of descendants of the gods in a divine war against the Titans; the embodiments of primordial essence that escaped Tartarus after thousands of years of imprisonment.

From the Aesir (Norse Gods) and the Theoi (Greek and Roman Gods) to the Deva (Hindu Gods) and Kami (Japanese Gods), players have the choice of taking on the role of the children of gods from a diverse range of pantheons.

First published in 2007 by White Wolf, Scion was lauded for its concepts and originality but it became apparent that White Wolf’s Storytelling system was not designed for such an epic scale of gaming, and that games could easily become unwieldy and slow.  Nonetheless, Scion became recognised as a game with incredible potential

Twelve years later, Onyx Path Publishing are releasing a second edition of this iconic game.  Rather than attempting to repair the existing the mechanics, Onyx Path Publishing have designed an entirely new system designed for the diverse range of powers at work here.

With Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero (the core books necessary for running a Scion game) nearing release, Scion developer Neall Ramon Price took the time to speak to Geek Pride about the forthcoming game.

How did you begin developing roleplaying games?

I began developing table top games after being a writer for several years, working on games such as A Song of Ice and Fire and Exalted. Eddy Webb approached me to develop Beckett’s Jyhad Diary for Vampire the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition, and that was my first-developed book (though I finished development with Matthew Dawkins).

When describing Scion to friends, I have compared it American Gods, The Almighty Johnsons and the Percy Jackson series, but what were your inspirations?

Those, for a certainty, but also Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s The Wicked + The Divine, which posits deities of a similar power level to Heroic Scions as active in their world, openly describing their divinity. If you want to see how things work in The World, definitely pick up the collected trades.

What experience have you had with the first edition of Scion?

I played several first edition games of Scion, and while I enjoyed my characters, I ran into many of the same issues everyone else did, with the mechanics becoming steadily less workable as power levels increased. Still, I was in love with the premise: the idea of modern gods, and of ancient foes and elements coming into the modern world.

The first edition had a fantastic premise but was mechanically broken – how did you overcome these mechanical issues whilst remaining true to the game?

We knew this was going to be an issue going into it. Rather than trying to patch the system, we decided to create a new one from the ground-up, one containing some updates and more of a focus on both action and story potential. This was the Storypath System, and it continues to power Trinity, Scion, Dystopia Rising, and They Came From Beneath the Sea!.

Given the power-scale at work in Scion, how do you mechanically reflect the powers of gods whilst still feeling accessible at the human level?

Scions aren’t able to fully wield the powers of their parents; they certainly have miraculous powers, but they aren’t truly an aspect of The World as the gods are. Scions have powers called Knacks, that are low-power supernatural effects or just action hero movie tricks. They also have Boons that stem from their Purviews, the big miracles Scions can call down. These Boons also grant Scions a measure of control over the World, and the elemental forces within it.

In The Almighty Johnsons for example, most of their powers would be Knacks, especially the “I always win at games” one.

Which pantheons will there be in Scion and how did you choose which pantheons to use?

In the prior edition, the pantheons were largely bloodlines, which tied into the children of the Gods being literal blood relations. They were all family to some degree or another, and descendants of those pantheons kept within the family. Problems arose, though, when we tried to address gods existing within different pantheons (like Yama, who’s got a foothold in China, Japan, and India) or the process of interpretation.

So, we’re moving away from that slightly in Scion 2e – pantheons are no longer purely divine bloodlines, but socio-magical constructs within Fate, bound to cultures across the World. Still, I wanted to keep the primary pantheons from the first edition and the Scion Companion, and add in one often-requested by fans: a pantheon native to North America (or at least, one of the many).

How do scions from the same god interact with each other?

Being born of the same god doesn’t even necessarily mean you’re of the same aspect of the God. Gods split themselves into Incarnations, or mortal appearances, and it’s they who birth or sire Scions. Our main story in the Hero core book actually features two Scions of Thor who are children of different aspects (war and fertility).

Are the pantheons united in their fight against the Titans?

The pantheons don’t even agree on whether they should fight the Titans, much less how united they are. One of the big changes from First Edition was moving the Second Titanomachy – the rise of the Titans – to a Cold War-esque setting. Yes, the Titans are freeing themselves, and things are heating up, but there’s a lot of players and moving parts and time for other pantheons to pretend that nothing is happening, or take the excuse of using the Titanomachy to settle a petty personal grudge against another God. It’s a lot more diverse than the siege mentality of 1e, but we give you options in other books to heat up or cool down the War.

What role do the gods play in the world of Scion?

They never went away – they’re still the objects of worship of different religions and they send their Scions and Incarnations down to The World to fulfil their aims and live our mortal lives. The Gods are still here, in spirit and in fact. In The World, the old religions of pantheism were never quite overtaken by monotheism in Europe, though some weathered the changes better than others.

Do the titans remain the sole nemesis in Scion or are there other antagonists in this new edition?

Titans aren’t the only foes – and some pantheons, like parts of the Greco-Roman or Yoruban, are actually pretty friendly with their Titans. We’ve got a lot of diversity in terms of mythological creatures who might have nefarious views towards humanity. We’ve already announced Dragon, a Scion expansion based around playing the serpents of legend.

How is the setting in Scion different to the real world?

The World is the general name for the Scion setting. The World is Tiamat, carved into shape and form by Marduk. It is Rangi and Papi, locked in their embrace while their children war within them. It was created by a wagtail swimming upon an infinite ocean, and by Q’uq’umatz and Tepeu speaking the word “Earth” when floating upon a similar infinite ocean. Atum existed within a very similar ocean, containing all the World within himself, taking the definitions and limits of existence from the Primordial Deities and granting stewardship to the Ennead until he was named. The sons of Burr lifted the earth out of another infinite sea, fashioned from the bones and flesh and maggots of long-dead Ymir.

It is all of these things, even in contradiction to one another, and they are all true. To understand the paradox, to understand the World, you must see it as the Gods do. The World is our base setting, allowing us to treat religions as fictional entities for our use in a game while still respecting the real-world spiritual beliefs and engaging their cultural heritage for games of Scion. Sometimes, this means treating them as cohesive stories contributing to a larger pantheon when the myths surrounding those deities are anything but cohesive. Sometimes, it means sanding down differences.

The World is like ours, though the differences are subtle at first. Belief in the Gods runs strong. Cults and temples take a far smaller place alongside prayer groups and churches, but they’re there, in greater numbers and more acceptance than our world; where you might see a gold cross around a young woman’s neck, it might instead be a hammer amulet on a leather thong, or even a small raven’s claw.  The statue of Christ the Redeemer standing tall over in Rio de Janiero isn’t replaced by Zeus on his throne, but signs of the lightning god of ruling are throughout the city.

Will scions be able to explore the realms of the gods, such as Tír na nÓg and Elysium?

These are Terra Incognita, and they encompass civilizations and worlds in and of themselves. They are inextricably linked to The World, connected via a specific site called an axis mundi. Cities like Shangri-La, continent-sized islands like Hy-Brasil and planets like Nibiru or Muspelheim orbiting a strange and foreign sky. Humans and other creatures live in them. They cross over, sometimes, into the World, visitors and travellers and emigres and exiles. Sometimes even emissaries.

As the second edition includes the fictional Atlantean pantheon, could there be a pantheon based on the Great Old Ones of the Lovecraft mythos in future releases?

We actually just announced a new supplement called Masks of the Mythos, helmed by award-winning author Chris Spivey (the lead on Harlem Unbound), that will cover this.

Will Scion include the concept of New Gods, such as in American Gods?

Ancient Gods encompass things like media and music. You could certainly have new Gods who claim unique portfolios, and this could lead them into conflict with the ancient ones, but this isn’t necessarily a conflict that must happen.

Can we expect similar releases as with the first edition (Demigod, God, etc) and do you have any plans for releases in other mediums?

We’ve got multiple books planned, including the Scion Companion, Dragon, and Masks of the Mythos. Stay tuned!

Neall Raemonn Price, thank you very much.

Scion (2nd Edition) has not yet been released, but can be pre-ordered in advance; here.

RPGing- How I became the Governor of my own planet, got imprisoned and grew a set of gills

Matt Geary
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RPGing- How I became the Governor of my own planet, got imprisoned and grew a set of gills

Nothing is better than a good paper and pen RPG, and by paper and pen I mean Roll 20 on your PC (seriously check it out!)

Anyways, we have been playing Rogue Trader, the WH40k RPG system created by FFG, on and off for a while now, where in  our long suffering DM, Ben Fee, has tried his best to create a deep, challenging and hard experience for us to fight through. He succeeded of course, Ben is at the top of his field when it comes to DM’ing, providing in depth story arks, handouts, character bios and NPCs that just mess with you…..Unfortunately for him though, our group is not the sort of group that sticks to the plan and what should have really been a straight forward narrative quickly changes and Ben is having to work out the economic and political structure of an imperial planet.

This is a picture of Ben, (in the Middle) just after drinking 2 bottles of red wine during an impromptu gaming session…

If you have ever watched that episode of American Dad where Roger (Legman) drinks too much wine in the hotel room… that was Ben soon after… all over my kitchen floor

But I digress…

 

In our story so far I am a Rogue trader, Captain M T Girk of the Never-Ending Sorrow, a stoic Captain but one with an appetite for booze, women and recreational substances. I Literally have to roll every time there is booze and or drugs around (and half the time end up intoxicated in one way shape or form). Now being Captain in a Sci-fi based RPG I am therefore in charge of a ship, its crew and the small fleet of other ships we have managed to capture, or were given, during past seasons.

Obviously Captain Girk can’t do this on his own and no RPG would be complete without a band of loyal and intrepid companions by your side..

GIRKS CREW

Mürk – a tech / loot obsessed, surly and insubordinate Tech Priest who losses an arm, catches fire .. twice and ends our story in a supply closet surrounded by Gene Stealers in a Spacehulk he decided to raid with half the party.

Cuddles – an animal loving, Insubordinate, loot obsessed, Arch Militant who is the epitome of shoot first, ask questions later. Cuddles acquires a dog called fluffy, picks a fight with a bunch of gangers in a bar, is obliterated by Heavy stubber fire, is resurrected as a nanite god, after the nanite wrist band he found in season 1 remakes him, becomes a crime lord, helps torture some rebels and then tries to blow up the Neverending Sorrow… because Tau.

Gill – a sarcastic and insubordinate psyker (there is a theme here) with homicidal tendencies.. potentially a serial killer. Seems to go crazy, is sold out by the rest of us to the Inquisition (well he could be a serial killer!), Escapes, ends up the pimp to a bunch of local prostitutes, who he uses as human shields when fighting through a subterranean, Nurgle infested, crypt  (totally a serial killer) then, while on the space hulk with Mürk and Lucius, comes out as a Tzeentch sorcerer who had been setting Mirk on fire, on purpose.. proceeds to cause mischief and then leaves them surrounded by genestealers before vanishing into a warp gate.

Lucius –  straight down the line, I roll play my character, no matter what, First Officer …who was sometimes insubordinate. He gets himself a wife, the wife is kidnapped by Eldar, goes AWOL to find Wife (is unaware that wife and Captain Girk bumped uglies while Girk was drunk) rolls a new character in the meantime, goes on mercenary mission wherein he jumps from a moving transport and splatters against a wall, comes back as Lucius… ends up on the Space Hulk, trapped in a cupboard, surrounded by gene stealers… Gill Laughs all the way to the warp.

And interesting bunch, as you can see and just the dysfunctional crew needed to make Ben take to downing 2 bottles of red wine. Also dysfunctional enough that their Captain had to make perorations for potential, nay, inevitable mutiny / gross insubordination.

When Gill was unconscious, after going crazy and setting himself on fire.. Girk had his adepts implant a neurological dampener in his head just in case he needed controlling later.  Likewise when he realised his Arch Militant was now a Nanite God creature, had magnetic pulse gauntlets made to disrupt the nanites and prevent, well, him blowing up the ship… because Tau. These could also double as a way to make sure certain Tech priests weren’t being naughty and running off to spacehulks to find treasure… damn it!

Girk’s First Officer wasn’t insubordinate enough to warrant counter measures but Girk was sure he could have found some compromising pictures of Lucius’s wife to use against him if he had to.

Now all the while Girk’s insubordinate crew are getting maimed, going crazy or becoming nanite gods, he is trying to make sure they are on track for their main quest; all the while trying to evade the inquisition who are interested in their last seasons run in with a pink testicle monster. A wee side jaunt won’t hurt them though surely?  For Ben I think it was just a way to draw out some time to give him space to finish the story… oh what a mistaka to makea.

The mission was a simple one. Bring some medical supplies to a planet, get some money and leave. Time for Ben to finish the story and gave us a place to get some supplies and gain some XP.

So we take the mission and went on our way.

While travelling we find out The Never Ending Sorrow is piloted by a Dark Eldar Witch who has a thing for Girk, mistaking him for his father Cavenaugh. We also find out that the NES has a labyrinth within it… damn Xenos ships, and a bunch of Dark Eldar Wracks hibernating within… it would be a shame if they woke up wouldn’t it…. Ben “while exploring the labyrinth you wake up the sleeping wracks” THANKS A LOT BEN! Girk therefore has to “schmooze” the Dark Eldar Witch into closing the labyrinth off and putting them back into hibernation.

Dark Eldar invasion aborted the crew approach the planet of Damaris and are hailed by a rather attractive doctor. She informs us that there is a plague on the planet and that the meds we have for the Governor are not for the people but for the ruling classes. The Imperium has, allegedly, decided to let the populous die…  Dilemma, what do we do? Well, Girk as a character and me as a person don’t like being “that guy” so there was only really one choice and that was to help the doctor. The rest insisted we sell the rest of the meds to the Governor; lying about the missing crates… and making  bit of profit.

We therefore land in the capital city, meet with the doctor, provide her with some of the antidote, which she synthesises into more for the rest of the population, sell the rest to the Governor, for a mark-up price (none the wiser to our double dealings) and, because we need more crew for are recently acquired ships, hold a sort of X-factor audition for crew…

Unfortunately, nearly the entire city turns up and, after some cultists in the crowd try to kill us all, the local commander and the PDF turn up to arrest us (including armour, las cannons and numerous soldiers ) It looks like we have been found out…. THANKS A LOT BEN!

Obviously we have 1 option….fight.. or so Ben thought. It didn’t go down like that.

Using a newly acquired, and more subordinate techpriest, Kellogg, we had him rig a local buildings vox caster to a microphone on Girks person, Girk then proceeded to taunt the Commander into admitting he and the Governor were going to keep the meds for themselves and let the planet die. Girk, who’s stats in combat were middling, used this and his high charm rate to persuade the PDF and the local populous to revolt…. 10 minutes later, the commander is dead and the planet is in open rebellion. The Next session the planet is renamed Initium Novum and Girk is Governor, with his own army and palace……

It was then that Ben realised he was going to have to figure out how to deal with Governor mechanics and the economy of the planet. ..  all the while, his carefully crafted main quest was being ignored.. something had to be done.

He humoured us for a while, The crew ended up in a subterranean crypt filled with nurgle; the plague had a source then and explained the cultists. Girk tried his best to make sure the planet didn’t fall apart, but it was becoming more apparent that Ben and the planet did not want us there. As time went on, things on Novum started to get harder. Palace guards were murdered , including Trevor 2, a replacement for Trevor 1, lost in season 1; statues were defaced and Cuddles started to have a split personality disorder. Gill, Mirk and Lucius decided to go treasure hunting and so left Girk and cuddles to sort it all (you got this) oh look, that space hulk looks interesting.

After a run in with an assassin who, it turns out, Girk slept with his wife in a bid to get information (what? His charm rating is super high but unfortunately he was super high too), Girk and Cuddles are informed of a secret meeting.  They go and Girk puts on his stealth cloak… which we find out later, every time he uses it, Ben has been secretly rolling to see if it mutates him or not. By this time Girk has gills and had to amputate an eye! THANKS A LOT BEN!

Cuddles and Girk enter the meeting place and it turns out there is a room of priests, all plotting to overthrow Girk and screams from a side room, where someone was torturing the good doctor. What do we do? Well, bearing in mind I like to play the game good, I had to make a decision.. let the planet slip back into rebellion again or kill the conspirators nipping it in the bud.

Cuddles shape shifts into a wall blocking off the escape route and Girk uncloaks himself, plasma pistols at the ready. He tries to use his charm to have them give up, but fails, he then uses his command to try and do the same but fails again… Girk shoots one of the priests and the rest run towards the tunnel, only to find they are blocked in by cuddles. A frag grenade happens to roll near them (who threw that?) and all are mortally wounded. Cuddles, having had to absorb the blast of the grenade uses the remaining life force of the priests to recharge himself; they then break into the torture chamber to rescue the doctor. Again the priest refuses to give up and is killed…Rebellion quashed, job done back to the palace to hire a Trevor 3 and get a drink….

Girk is feeling somewhat guilty but has persuaded himself that it is for the greater good. Cuddles was just happy he could recharge using peoples life force, all the while being able to absorb their memories.. unbeknown to him though Ben was tired of him flaunting his powers around and decided to cause him to short out if he used too much power; which he did, in the most inopportune moments…THANKS A LOT BEN!

After stopping off at the palace again, executing the old Governor, promoting a friend of Gills to treasurer, because Gill is a trust worthy chap (and not a secret Chaos cultist), and having heard nothing from the other 3 in days they decide its time to put an end to the rebellious Priests in the area and make a trip to the local monastery… Main quest, what main quest?

Ben’s patience with us obviously frays and soon after getting to the monastery they are captured by some uncharmable Sisters of Battle ( its a sad day when a one eyed, gilled, Space Pirate can’t charm the chastity belt off a lady, even if they are a Sister of Battle) and taken to prison. Cuddles escapes with Fluffy but Girk is trapped and taken to see the high priest who knows of Girks mutations. Girk has murdered priests (from one point of view) is a mutant and is wanted by the inquisition for questioning…. oh and he flys a Dark eldar War ship, has a Dark Eldar Witch as a navigator (and potentially lover) annnnnd his hull is full of Tau.. there is also an Ork, an Eldar and a space worm on board (Cuddles needs a retinue after all)

To Ben’s credit he could have executed Girk right there but I think he wanted to get them off the plant and on to the main quest in hand… plus i like to think that our out of the box thinking / problem solving, if somewhat dark at times had impressed him.

After weeks of game play on Damaris (AKA Initium Novum). It was finally over. Girk is told to leave the planet, never to return and leave it in control of a newly elected Governor. In recompense for services rendered he is allowed to bring the Doctor with him and a retinue of PDF and Scions who have pledged themselves to him… Tevor 3 and Steve, a young security guard acquired in season 1 come too.

It is a sad moment, many weeks of play and many things have gone on. Girk had tried his best to stabilise the planet but all for naught. As Girk and Cuddles leave the planet they realise that it will soon fall to Chaos and they could do nothing to stop it. Ah well, Girk has an army now and Cuddles is a nanite God; what else could go wrong?

A session later the crew is looking to mutiny over the presence the Freebooters and Tau on board and Cuddles decides he doesn’t like the new Tau player on the ship and heads to the engine room to blow it up…. because that makes perfect sense!

WILL CUDDLES BLOW UP THE NEVER ENDING SORROW? WILL MIRK AND LUCIUS ESCAPE THEIR IMPENDING DOOM? WILL TREVOR 3 MAKE IT LONGER THAN 2 SESSIONS?! STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE !

Classic Trinity and Aberrant now available on Bundle of Holding

Peter Ray Allison
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Classic Trinity and Aberrant now available on Bundle of Holding

Psion, the stars await, in the Trinity 1E Bundle.  This bundle presents PDF ebooks of the 1997 first edition of Trinity, the table-top roleplaying game originally published by White Wolf.

In the 22nd Century, as the world rebuilds from the devastating Aberrant War, bioengineered psions protect humanity from mutants, hostile aliens, and insidious conspiracies

This bargain-priced collection gives you everything you need for a complete campaign of diverse heroism in the 22nd Century. For just US$9.95 (£7.55) you get all five titles in the Starter Collection (retail value $44/£33.40) as PDF ebooks, including the complete Trinity First Edition rulebook, the Trinity Players Guide, the Technology Manual, and two Psi Order sourcebooks (America Offline and Shattered Europe).

If you pay more than the threshold price of $20.66 (£15.70), you’ll level up and also get our entire Bonus Collection with nine more supplements worth an additional $80 (£60.70), including three more Psi Order sourcebooks (Terra Verde, Luna Rising, and Stellar Frontier), the complete Darkness Revealed trilogy of adventures, and three short Field Reports (Extrasolar Colonies, Media, and Psi Laws).

Also on Bundle of Holding is the Aberrant Bundle, the table-top roleplaying game of paranormals in the Trinity Universe, which deconstructs superheroes in the manner of Watchmen. As a super-powered “nova” in the near-future, players experience the front lines of a struggle that shapes the future.

This collection gives everything needed to run stories about quantum-powered metahumans with the power to reshape society.  For $12.95 (£9.80) you receive the Starter Collection (retail value $50/£38) as PDF ebooks, including the complete Aberrant rulebook and Players Guide, plus the Storytellers Screen with its three-episode introductory story, “Permanent Vacation” (nothing to do with Aerosmith).

If you pay more than the threshold price of $24.81 (£18.82), you will receive a further five supplements worth $74 (£56.12), including the Year One setting book that describes the (then, when it was first published) near-future world of 2008, the sourcebooks Elites and Teragen, and the scenario collection Worldwide: Phase II, which advances the timeline to 2015.

Not only are these excellent deals, but they also help charity too.  Ten percent of all payments (after payment gateway fees) go to the Bodhana Group. This charity advocates table-top gaming as a directed therapeutic and clinical practice that can benefit personal growth, as well as enhance social and educational services to individuals and families.

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