Tangent66: THE DEATH OF JAMES T. KIRK

Two years after James Kirk died in STAR TREK: GENERATIONS, I recall finding a book on the shelves at my local Barnes & Noble called "The Return" - written by William Shatner and Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens. The cover showed a reprise of the GENERATIONS movie poster with the tagline "Legends never die..." I picked up the book reflexively and considered for a moment what I was holding. Placing it back on the shelf, I realized that the damage done by the movie was too significant to erase with some make-good, non-canon fanfic.

"If this doesn't go well, I'm sure they'll find a way to write me back in after the fact."

STAR TREK: GENERATIONS didn't just kill off Captain James T. Kirk, it carved him into a hollow, depressing figure who resented being the savior of the Federation. In trying to reveal some new insight into the nature of this iconic hero, the film's writers, Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, ended up contradicting the soul of Kirk.

Tangent66: STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE.

I grew up a Star Wars kid- born 3 days after my mom saw the original film opening night. If I could have talked upon birth, I would have said to my mom "Thanks for the ride-- now, let's go see that movie again."

The first several years of my life on Earth were spent largely concerned with my getting into outer space. My methods of travel were simple and readily available- repeatedly watching the Star Wars movies was essential. I also had my toys, my pencil & paper and my imagination to guide me home.  By 1983, the Star Wars series was effectively over. My love of it didn't diminish, but my desire for new space adventures remained. A year later, I saw STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK. In that film, I saw a ship explode in a desperate move by its crew to save a man with pointy ears and cool eyebrows. He wore a bathrobe and seemed confused. Fade to black.

Spoilers, Nickbot!

The emotions of that story didn't affect me, but the flavor of what Star Trek offered had me very interested. My journey from a galaxy far, far away into the final frontier had begun.

TANGENT66 - CRASIS FLASHBACK A2A

In celebration of our site's birthday, I offer this little gem I uncovered tonight. I mentioned this way back on the podcast at some point. I can't remember when. I'm getting old.

 
FLASHBACK: I was art directing a photo shoot for a wholesome family snack company when I realized who the actor we had cast as "Grandpa" really was.

Yes, folks, I wasn't kidding.

ASS-TO-ASS. 

Tangent66: S7AR WARS

When I was ten years old, my brother would make my mom take us to a local baseball card/comic shop called The Dragon's Den. He was there solely to accrue his holdings in cardboard totems to athletic greats, but I was a willing participant in these trips because I was able to explore the rest of the store- and its the comic collection. Those were truly blissful days. On the wall of The Dragon's Den, seemingly 100 ft. away from my hands hung a poster encased in a gorgeous frame. Every time we went to the shop, I would ask the clerk "How much for the poster?" "Same as last time, $150." Damn, I'll never have enough money to buy that thing. I would make sure my mom overheard the exchange, hoping she would eventually have an epiphany that yes, she should buy this thing for me, and end my Sisyphean struggle. That day never happened, but the point was never to own the poster but that something so simple could represent so much value to me. Tom Jung painted something that would be ingrained in the minds of millions around the world. The poster was a symbol, the real prize was the film itself.

MACROSS STORY TIME - JETLIAR

I woke up yesterday to the news that MACROSS, my favorite animated franchise, is launching a new television series. No details have been revealed at this point, but just knowing new material is in the works ignited a fire in me that I haven't felt in a long time. Or perhaps that triple espresso this morning was a bad idea. Regardless, I'm pumped and wanting to channel that energy into the very first Macross Story Time article on this site. Get comfortable, my friends, because we're going way back. Back to when this whole thing started. Back to when I was lied to as a child.

Tangent66: James Gordon's Mustache

The internet tells me that James Gordon, Commissioner of Police, Gotham City first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (1939). Here's what Gordon looked like back when gas cost a goddamn penny for a hundred gallons:

Hitler feared this man.

Now, Western culture has taken many hits over the ensuing decades. All sorts of trends have further diminished the greatness of the white male, mostly due to white males fucking everything up. But one thing was always there to guide us through these uncertain times, a simple but stalwart sentinel of strength- Jim Gordon's mustache. Well, not any more.

Tangent66: My Tribute to James T. Kirk

James T. Kirk.

James! "Motherfucking" T! Kirk!

Take a moment and consider the words I have just written. This man is a goddamn celebration of human potential. Kirk is an all-out menace of excellence. Stop reading this article for a second and open up another tab in your web browser and, no fuck that, I will embed this highlight reel and you can see for yourself the magic, please continue after this break: