I don’t normally repost from my author blog, but this sort of thing doesn’t happen every day.
Category Archives: B42 Site News
Paul “Spider-Man” Soles, R.I.P.
Paul Soles has died. The Canadian broadcaster and the voice of several 1960s cartoons, including Hermey the Elf in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bruce Banner and Rick Jones in the ultra-low-budget Marvel Superheroes Hulk cartoon, and Peter Parker in the famously-themed Ralph Bakshi-produced Spider-man cartoon, was ninety.
Bureau’s Breakroom’s Television Table – Week beginning 2021 April 25
I have Declined Counting of the Arrowverse shows, since there is such a small number of them this week, with Supergirl going to Prom and Black Lightning embezzling from his. The Midwives are also back, fifty years ago, and if you wanted to travel even further back into alternate histories, The Nevers are trying to expand their Orphanage through the use of one of the Touched’s talents. If you just want to pretend to be in the past, The Blacklist needs historic codebreaking, so we get an enigma machine involved. The Hadmaiden’s tale returns for season four to bring some historic(-ish) politics into our week, and The Good Doctor moves from health related hot topics to current politics as it treats two gunshot victims.
[All synopses (and titles) from Trakt.tv below the cut, except when there really aren’t any. (If a show’s synopsis is a spoiler to you, do not click Continue reading →)]
Bureau’s Breakroom’s Television Table – Week beginning in the ending of 2021 January
“While the start was a bit rocky, 2021 seems to have quieted down,” your editor says, voice full of fear and trepidation at tempting fate so blatantly, “but we’re already at the end of the first month!”
The Watch gets redundant as they head deeply into the doubly dark. Batwoman starts a new act and considers changing her costume to a top hat, tails, and fishnets. The American Gods are born to be wild. Zoey joins a band. The Expanse finally makes it off earth as our crews are closer to reuniting. Riverdale acknowledges that high school actually can’t last forever. WandaVision let us see what was going on last week, so this week could go anywhere. The Blacklist has to deal with a Robin Hood.
[All synopses (and titles) from Trakt.tv below the cut, except when there really aren’t any. (If a show’s synopsis is a spoiler to you, do not click Continue reading →)]
Netflix Announces (much of) the Sandman’s Cast
Netflix plans an ambitious series based on Gaiman’s legendary Sandman graphic novels, and today they announced some of the main cast. Some of the actors closely recall their print counterparts; others represent new takes. Tom Sturridge, the Tony-nominated actor also known for such films as the 2012 film adaptation of On the Road and 2017’s Mary Shelley has landed the challenging role of Dream.
No word yet on Death.
Discovery Discussion: “Su’Kal”
What with Christmas, The Expanse, and Wonder Woman 1984, we didn’t get to Discovery with spore-drive speed. However, this week’s episode, which brings us the possible origin of the Burn, some strong performances by the leads, and a confrontation with the Chain, ends with a cliffhanger. I’ll review both next week. Meanwhile, here’s a place to discuss “Su’Kal” and, as a bonus….
The Great Conjunction: Happy Solstice!
As most of you likely know already, Jupiter and Saturn will align tonight, providing a spectacle in the sky for those with a view unimpaired by cloudy weather. While these planets appear to pass in close proximity (relative to our view from Earth) every twenty years, it has been four centuries since they appeared this close and eight since they were this close at night.
As a bonus, this conjunction coincides with the winter solstice.
The Were-Traveler, Lovecraft, and Bureau42
The Were-Traveler has been running since 2011, with each issue featuring short fiction (usually quite short) related to a particular theme or topic in fantasy, SF, or horror. Their current issue addresses the problematic legacy of H.P. Lovecraft, the imaginative and monumentally influential author whose racism and xenophobia, extreme even for his time, frequently entered his stories. This were-issue’s weird fiction draws upon Lovecraft’s influence and tropes to examine and critique his less savoury side.
Among the contributors you may recognize a writer from our Bureau.
“Auxiliary: London 2039” Giveaway Contest complete
The Auxiliary: London 2039 book giveaway winner has been selected and contacted. Thanks to all who entered!
📺 Bureau’s Breakroom’s Television Table – Week beginning 2020 June 14
Some new shows make the Television Table this week, as fan-favorite Doctor David Tennant and his angelic costar Michael Sheen join us for a Lockdown-produced show, Staged, and Penny Dreadful spins off to Los Angels to examine white supremacist cops and how they deal with minorities in the city. (While the timing would be suspect, this was produced, filmed, and began airing before America’s headlines turned to the subject. Additionally, there’s demons involved.) In much more lighthearted shows, the Diversly Cast new JSA is brought together in Stargirl. The SHIELD agents continue their trek through the fifties. Meanwhile, Blindspot gets Ice Cream.
[All synopses (and titles) from Trakt.tv below the cut, except when there really aren’t any. (If a show’s synopsis is a spoiler to you, do not click More…)]