As always, Star Babe Invasion Comics salutes those gorgeous galactic girls from the groovy movies and TV shows of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s! In this issue, 3-D Pete takes a look at [Read it all...]]]> Goofa Man Productions sets the Star Trek record straight in the third and latest issue of “3-D Pete’s Star Babe Invasion Comics!”

As always, Star Babe Invasion Comics salutes those gorgeous galactic girls from the groovy movies and TV shows of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s! In this issue, 3-D Pete takes a look at the retro classic, Queen of Outer Space (recently profiled by Scot Cupp as part of our Forgotten Film series), starring Zsa Zsa Gabor! Plus, you’ll find the usual assortment of cool comics and illustrations featuring retro people such as Raquel Welch, Marc Singer and Joi Lansing!

But this third issue of Star Babe Invasion Comics is oh-so-extra-special, it is the savage “prehistoric” issue that focuses on retro Cave Babes! There is a special 3-D Pete commentary on When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970), starring Playboy Playmate of the Year for 1968, Victoria Vetri! The curvaceous playmate appeared in several films and had guest appearances in many TV shows such as Mission: Impossible, Land of the Giants and Batman.

In addition, they have an exclusive interview with Vetri in which she unequivocally sets the record straight about her involvement in the original Star Trek series. Countless web sites report that Vetri had an uncredited role in the episode “Assignment: Earth.” The sites report that she played the human form of Isis, the feline companion of Gary Seven. This beautiful cat-woman is seen for just a few seconds at the end of that episode.

Vetri, currently serving 9 years in a California prison for attempted voluntary manslaughter, emphatically states through a written interview with Goofa Man Productions that she never appeared in any episode of Star Trek.

Sure, some investigative journalists expose graft and corruption at city hall. Others crusade to keep our most vulnerable citizens free from neglect and abuse. Star Babe Invasion Comics just wants people to quit saying that Victoria Vetri played the cat-woman in the “Assignment: Earth” episode of the original Star Trek series.

You’ll find this Star Trek investigative journalism excellence only in Star Babe Invasion Comics, issue three!

“3-D Pete’s Star Babe Invasion Comics!“ is a product of Goofa Man Productions, the one-man animation and graphics studio of Mike Fisher. Mike has created cartoons and illustrations for Animation Magazine, USATODAY, Starlog magazine and many others. The studio also produces award-winning short videos. Most recently, Mike’s documentary, Craft of Unknown Origin, won first place in the short video category at the 2012 International UFO Congress Film Festival.

“3-D Pete’s Star Babe Invasion Comics!“ is a 24-page digest-sized self-published production with a color cover and b&w interior except for a fabulous full-color center spread. To get a copy of issue 3 of Star Babe Invasion Comics, just send $5 to:

Mike Fisher
SB Comics
510 Enchanted Way
San Antonio, Texas, 78260

If you would like to get the collector’s edition first issue (featuring Devil Girl from Mars), plus the awesome second issue (featuring Barbarella) AND the third issue, just send $25 for all three to the above address. Please make checks out to Mike Fisher.

You can see more of Fisher’s work at the Goofa Man Productions web site or on his YouTube Channel.

This is the 92nd in my series of Forgotten Books.

This is volume 3 in the Taylor History of Comics. I met Mike Benton back when he was working on these histories and found him to be quite a nice guy with a [Read it all...]]]> FORGOTTEN BOOK: SCIENCE FICTION COMICS: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY by Mike Benton, 1992

This is the 92nd in my series of Forgotten Books.

This is volume 3 in the Taylor History of Comics. I met Mike Benton back when he was working on these histories and found him to be quite a nice guy with a remarkable knowledge of comics. This was the book that was going to speak to me.

Benton presents a brief history of written science fiction and the pulps in the early chapters, leading up to Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon and the beginnings of the science fiction comic. The history hits just the high points and may not open any new avenues to anyone with a basic knowledge. But once he begins talking about these two pulp heroes and their comic origins, the book takes off. As you would hope, Benton has filled this volume with lots of information and many, many pictures.

The chapter on the science fiction of the 1930’s and 1940’s was really informative for me. I was aware of some of the titles but the breadth of his knowledge blew me away. There were long discussions on the work of Basil Wolverton, Jack Kirby, Harry Harrison (the author of such later novels as DEATHWORLD and SKY SMASHERS OF THE GALAXY RANGERS) as well as titles such as PLANET STORIES and others.

When he moved into the 1950’s and began discussing the EC science fiction titles it was truly fun. Benton had interviewed Al Williamson and Wally Wood and Joe Orlando and drew on interviews with many of the others (such as Frank Frazetta and Roy Krenkel). This is stuff I have loved for many, many years.

And the 60’s and 70’s. You get STAR TREK and STAR WARS and the Marvel and DC science fiction titles. You get Atomic Knights. Space Ranger and Adam Strange, Tommy Tomorrow. All get covered but the true joy in this book is the Guide and Checklist to Science Fiction Comics which covers 50 pages at the end of the volume. Benton discusses the numbering of the series, the authors and artists, and other interesting facts for hundreds of titles with many illustrations on each page. Here is a typical entry for AMAZING ADVENTURES:

Amazing Adventures
Ziff – Davis Publications
1950 November – 1952 Fall
1-6

When the publishers of Amazing Stories, the oldest science fiction magazine, decided to publish comic books, they hired Jerry Siegel, a longtime science fiction fan and Superman co-creator, as an editor and writer for this and other titles. Wally Wood turned in a 9 page story for the first issue and Murphy Anderson drew stories for #s 1-5.

This was accompanied by a color reproduction of the cover to issue # 3.

If you like science fiction comics (and you know you do), this is the one book you need. Copies are out there on ABE books and eBay and from various Amazon dealers. Most are at or below the original publication price of $24.95 (unless from foreign dealers). Like most good references and art books, you can spend days just looking at pictures and reminiscing.

Series organizer Patti Abbott hosts more Friday Forgotten Book reviews at her own blog, and posts a complete list of participating blogs.

Campers & Aliens [Read it all...]]]> This short from the 2011 San Antonio 48 Hour Film Experience was one of the funniest of the lot. Indivisual Studios drew the coveted (at least around here) Sci-Fi genre and the location Nature and came up with Campers & Aliens. Two friends discuss the possibility of extraterrestrial visitations while out camping.

Campers & Aliens was directed by Sergio Banuelos, features Caleb Baccus, Nathan English and Elizabeth Wilkins along with the best use of a comedy Star Trek shirt. The screenplay was by Caleb Baccus and the cinematography was by David Rodriguez. Enjoy Campers & Aliens but some of the dialog may be NSFW.

The first album I ever bought with my own money was Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, a side-long extended version of the hit single disco version of Star Wars by Meco. It was the soundtrack to many a bedroom light saber duel between myself and my kid brother, and probably more of an [Read it all...]]]>

The first album I ever bought with my own money was Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, a side-long extended version of the hit single disco version of Star Wars by Meco. It was the soundtrack to many a bedroom light saber duel between myself and my kid brother, and probably more of an influence on my band than I care to admit. Propelled by a non-stop disco beat, hot bass licks and oodles of synthesized lazer sounds, Side A of the album boils John Williams’ entire soundtrack down to 15 minutes and 47 seconds of fun. Side B, entitled Other Galactic Funk, is the definition of musical filler: A single track of high school marching band rudiments, funk bass and horns which is skeletal by comparison. Still, its military beats came in handy when it was time to clean up my room.

The front cover art is a fruit-juicy late 70′s airbrushed classic, and the back cover credits musicians from the planets Serutu and the Fooyea (by special dereee of the Nomel Tribunal) playing Bontins, Slikins, Clomatrons and Hyper-Harps. The liner notes also list the translating computers used to communicate with the alien session men and provides the model number of the teleporter used to beam them into the studio.  Producer Meco Monardo’s earthling studio crew actually included arranger Harold Wheeler, synthesizers by Suzanne Ciani and tape effects by Tony Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi’s older brother.

Along with Superman, Star Trek, The Black Hole, and An American Werewolf in London, Meco tried the formula again with The Empire Strikes Back to less musical and commercial success. He also gave Close Encounters a shot in with ‘Encounters of Every Kind“.  Again, not bad, but not great.  His subsequent stab at funkifying The Wizard of Oz is to be avoided at all costs.

Of course, Meco wasn’t the only one getting into Star Wars musicals in the late 70′s, but few did it with as much cringe-inducing dorkiness as Donny and Marie Osmond. In the Osmond’s TV version, Kris Kristofferson played Han Solo, and Red Foxx played Obi Wan. To make matters worse, Paul Lynde appeared as Grand Moff  Tarkin, wearing a watercolor set in place of  Empire medals.  George Lucas was not above allowing the acutal C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Stormtrooper and Darth Vader costumes to be used in the skit. Actually, I kinda like it, but if you choose to click the video link below, don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

I’m guessing the lead singer of euro-disco rebels The Creatures (not to be confused with the UK band of the same name) didn’t get permission from Lucas to don a Darth Vader helmet on the cover of their debut album, ‘Expansion‘. The half-dressed Darth is joined on the cover by a guy in a Ming The Merciless outfit, what appears to be a couple of P-Funk refugees and two robots that look like air-conditioning units. The music ain’t bad, especially the lead off track, ‘Machine’s Drama‘, which blasts off exactly like The Human League’s ‘Don’t You Want Me, Baby?’

What could be scarier than a guy dressed like Darth Vader in your band? Well, how about TWO guys dressed like Darth Vader?!!! The German duo,  Warning (not to be confused with the UK band of the same name)  didn’t have exact Darth replica costumes, in fact, they look a little more like the pilots on the cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Never Say Die‘ album, but still, the force is strong with these two. Imagine Cookie Monster singing over heavy metal disco and you get the idea. Death-metalers Pungent Stench brought Warning’s hit single ‘Why Can The Bodies Fly‘ back in the 90′s, electronic bleeps and all.

The Star Wars musical saga continues:  More recently, the planet Earth was treated to Grand Moff Tarkin, a full-on Star Wars themed rock group. The band, totally decked out in Star garb, play Ramones-styled originals with priceless song titles like “Burnin’ Mos Eisley Down” and my favorite, the ultimate intergalactic break-up song,  “I’m Not the Droid You’re Looking For‘!

Hire them for your next wedding, Bar Mitzvah, or birthday party.

NEXT WEEK: DISCO ALLIANCE

Our friends over at San Antonio-based NewTek made a huge announcement over the holidays with the release of the latest version of their professional animation and modeling package LightWave 10.

LightWave is a high-end computer graphics program used to create 3D graphics and animations in many of the top Science Fiction [Read it all...]]]>

NewTek LightWave 10

Our friends over at San Antonio-based NewTek made a huge announcement over the holidays with the release of the latest version of their professional animation and modeling package LightWave 10.

LightWave is a high-end computer graphics program used to create 3D graphics and animations in many of the top Science Fiction movies. You have undoubtedly already seen the fruits of this software in such movies as Iron Man, 300, Finding Nemo, Avatar, Jurassic Park and Pan’s Labyrinth. LightWave is also used for television production in series like 2009′s V, The Outer Limits, Invader Zim, The X-Files, Star Trek: Voyager, Enterprise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Stargate SG-1, Battlestar Galactica and Babylon 5.

The list of awards for film and TV visual effects garnered by those using LightWave is impressive with numerous Oscars and Emmys littering the NewTek shelves.

For a limited time, NewTek is offering a free instructional DVD, Rigging Revealed, with LightWave 10 orders. The full version of the software retails for $895 with upgrades from previous versions only $495. Considering the depth and breadth of these tools, the price is more than reasonable. The company is also providing a series of free creature kits to jumpstart your creativity.

LightWave 10 is available for both Mac OS and Windows computers, but you will need some fairly robust modern hardware. Check out NewTek’s LightWave 10 web pages for more details and new features for this version. You may also want to look through the LightWave Gallery to see what other users are doing.

Missions Unknown has decided to join the crowd, but with a little difference. Our [Read it all...]]]> The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner More Balock www.comedycentral.com

Ugly Americans

Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time

The Benson Interruption

‘Tis the season where every periodical from the New York Times to Saveur Magazine seems to publish a holiday cocktail guide.

Missions Unknown has decided to join the crowd, but with a little difference. Our guide is inspired, not by what mixologists are pouring in the trendiest bars and eateries, but by our favorite science fiction books, movies and TV shows.

Whether you’re roasting chestnuts over an open retrorocket, attempting some New Year’s Eve time travel or just looking to pick up a holiday shift at the Mos Eisley Cantina, here’s hoping one or more of these drinks is suitable to wet your whistle.

The Albino Swordsman (Inspired by Michael Moorcock’s Elric Saga)

• 2 oz tequila blanco
• 6 oz Central Market Ruby Red Grapefruit Italian Soda
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• Pinch of salt

While overindulgence may turn you into a red-eyed screaming fiend, you will find that this beverage is as smooth as a Melnibonéan prince’s pickup line at a family reunion.

Tranya (Inspired by the Star Trek classic)

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 3 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz orange juice

You will surely relish this refreshing beverage, popular throughout the Federation and a favorite of Balok. Rumor has it that Tranya can be habit forming so after a few you may not know whether you’re a doctor or a moon shuttle conductor. Just stay away from the helm when drinking.

The Budayeen Night (Inspired by George Alec Effinger’s Marid Audran novels)

• 1 oz brandy
• 3 oz coconut cream
• 3 oz cola
• 2 oz vodka
• 3 ice cubes

This drink just may be the “moddie” needed to transform you into life of the party. Its exotic flavors, evoking a near-future Middle East, will caress your tastebuds more sensually than Honey Pilar. Just be warned, after a few of these, gravity has been known to fail.

Got some favorite SF cocktails of your own? Feel free to add them below. We’re always looking for new ways to kill brain cells.

The San Antonio ACM SIGGRAPH Professonal Chapter is bringing in a dozy of a presentation for fans of visual effects in SciFi movies and television shows. Head over to the University of the Incarnate Word for A Night with 3D VFX Masters featuring Rob Powers, animation technical director [Read it all...]]]>

"Avatar" environment created in NewTek Lightwave 3D

The San Antonio ACM SIGGRAPH Professonal Chapter is bringing in a dozy of a presentation for fans of visual effects in SciFi movies and television shows. Head over to the University of the Incarnate Word for A Night with 3D VFX Masters featuring Rob Powers, animation technical director for James Cameron’s Avatar, and Emmy Award-winning VFX artist Jarrod Davis to the VFX Masters series of talks Thursday September 30th from 7:30-9:00 pm at the ICC Auditorium at the University of the Incarnate Word (4301 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209). This event is open to the public and free of charge.

Truly a master of the 3D Visual FX industry, Rob Powers will share his experience working as Animation Technical Director on James Cameron’s Avatar, the technologies used and developed and how he broke into the 3D VFX industry. Powers is currently the Vice President of 3D Development at San Antonio-based NewTek, makers of the essential VFX software Lightwave. His credits also includes his work as CG supervisor for Aliens of the Deep and he worked as virtual art department supervisor on Steven Spielberg’s team for the film Tintin, jointly directed by Spielberg and Peter Jackson. He worked on Disney’s Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Jet Li’s The One, and was a lead animator on season one of Ally McBeal which included the infamous 3D dancing baby.

Jarrod Davis is an Emmy Award-winning master of visual effects who has worked on numerous television, film, and commercial projects including Van Helsing, Battlestar Galactica, Century City, Firefly, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Star Trek: Voyager.

Davis will be demonstrating his VFX skills and will showcasing Newtek’s newest release of the much anticipated Lightwave 10, a truly earth-shaking ground-up redo of their Lighwave 3D software, which has been well established VFX tool-set for rapid production of VFX in television and feature films. Davis is currently Supervisor of Content Development at NewTek

The VFX Masters Series is presented by San Antonio ACM SIGGRAPH and the University of the Incarnate Word. You can contact interim chair Ralph Pacheco if you require more information.

Join Worlds Collide for a Star Trek Trivia Game, with elements of Royal Rumble thrown in the mix to raise funds for a San Antonio animal shelter. Trivia questions will cover all the Movies and TV series. The event is July 31st at 3:00 [Read it all...]]]>

Mr. Scott certainly knew how to take care of unwanted animals.

Join Worlds Collide for a Star Trek Trivia Game, with elements of Royal Rumble thrown in the mix to raise funds for a San Antonio animal shelter. Trivia questions will cover all the Movies and TV series. The event is July 31st at 3:00 PM at the Lion and Rose (700 E. Sonterra Blvd, 210-798-5466).

There are two ways you participate in this game. You can either contribute $5 for the cash pot with another $5 going to the charity, or you can bring something sci-fi related to put in the pot and then bring something else to donate to the animal shelter.

Don’t worry if you don’t want to bring money. Donations of items for the shelter are gladly accepted.

Items on their wishlist include: Hand Sanitizer, Office Supplies, Watering Cans, Bounty Paper, Trash Bags (large size), New D Batteries, Catnip, Cat Toys, Cat Treats, Cat Litter, Kitten Milk Replacement, Dog Toys, Dog Treats, Puppy Formula, Wet Food, Crates (all sizes), Brushes, Shampoos, Nail Trimmers, Stainless Steel Water/Food Bowls.

Check after the jump for a look at the rules to this Trek Trivia Challenge.

A short synopsis of the rules are below.

• 30 are split up in 15 pairs / each pair sits at a table (15 members volunteer to asks the questions)
• All 30 Trekkies are assigned a number, (1-30) (Number assigned according to who signs up first)
• 30 draws the number (1-15) to sit at what table. After seated, the 15 members first draws The Showdown question whoever answers the question right first STAYS in the ring. The Loser gets an OVER THE TOP ROPE question to save him/herself, if the question is answered right he STAYS in the ring, If NOT he/she is thrown OVER THE TOP ROPE and out of the contest. After the round is over.

Goofa Man Productions is happy to announce a brand new online animation that dares to go where no man has gone before!

Goofa Man operatives interviewed Star Babe experts from all over the galaxy in order to determine the answer to this question: [Read it all...]]]>

Who has the special qualities to be the "Trek Babe Supreme"?

Goofa Man Productions is happy to announce a brand new online animation that dares to go where no man has gone before!

Goofa Man operatives interviewed Star Babe experts from all over the galaxy in order to determine the answer to this question: “Which Star Babe in all of the ORIGINAL Star Trek series is the most awesome?”

After many sweaty hours of tabulating votes and cross-referencing fetching females from Mr. Gene Roddenberry’s retro-sci-fi classic, a winner was determined! Check out the video below to find out who was selected as Trek Babe Supreme from that sexy 1960s tv show.

About the short, animator Mike Fisher says, “We don’t need another oil-soaked pelican or robot-voiced pop song, but we DO need a firm, unwavering statement from a reliable authority declaring one woman as the supreme Star Babe from the original Star Trek series.”

Fisher went on to say, rather defensively, “I know we’re talking about a television show that is almost 50 years old. And yes, yes, we should all move on with our lives like that nice William Shatner has done.”

“Look, I’m NOT one of those guys who thinks only of tv shows and movies from the 1960s,” Fisher loudly stated. ”I like tv shows and movies from the 1970s, too!” he sobbed as he ran upstairs.

What do you think of Goofa Man’s choice? Who gets your vote for Trek Babe Supreme? Drop us a comment of head over to the Goofa Man YouTube channel and let you vote be known. Who knows? Maybe there will be a Trek Babe Supreme rebuttal animation in the future!

Goofa Man Productions is the animation and cartoon studio of Mike Fisher. Mike has been producing award-winning independent, short animations for over 10 years. He also creates cartoons and illustrations for Animation Magazine, Scary Monsters Magazine and, for over 15 years, created cartoons for Starlog magazine.