Gosh it's been a long time since I posted anything here! I've almost forgotten how to do this.

This piece is called OPEN CARRY. I was thinking about the whole concept of open carry and how you see it in science fiction films all the time, which led me to this.

Honestly, that's what I was thinking. It wasn't just an excuse to paint hot green Star Trek girls.

Really!

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS:How it Could have Been Made Better

 I'm not going to spoil the whole movie with this article. I'm only going to spoil the first five minutes.

If you want to see it completely fresh, then stop reading. If you're not to concerned about having what is essentially a prologue spoiled, then you can read this article and still enjoy the bulk of the movie fresh.

The movie opens in the middle of the action. It hits the ground running as all action movies seem to want to do these days. That's fine. All good action fiction should hit the ground running.

But what is essentially a prologue to the main film was, for me, a really good ending to a potentially great episode of Star Trek if it were back on TV (where it belongs). I would really like to have seen the first 40 minutes of that episode. It could easily have been more like Star Trek then the rest of the movie that comes afterwards.

The Enterprise crew has clearly chosen to break the Prime Directive by saving a planet full of white-skinned aliens. It would have been interesting to see the crew wrestle with their responsibilities not to break the Prime Directive, and their desire to save an entire species who are doomed to die. Do they break their Starfleet oaths? Or do they let an entire species die. That would have been riveting to see Kirk and Spock and McCoy wrestling with that dilemma. That would have given further gravitas to McCoy's answer to Kirk's question: "What would Spock do?"

Obviously Spock is argued into action because it is he who has to set the device in the volcano. I imagine Kirk wanting to do it himself and Spock pointing out that it should be he who sets the device as his Vulcan physiology would allow him to function long after a human would have passed out from the extreme heat. It would also have been a great opportunity for a scene between Uhura and Spock. "You may not care about your own life, but did you ever consider what your death would do to me, you selfish Vulcan?"

Why was the Enterprise hiding under the ocean? That would have been interesting to watch the decision making process that led to that development. I imagine Scotty's initial resistance at such a mad idea, then watching as he reluctantly solves the engineering problems that allow them to do just that.

Why did Kirk steal the scroll? Perhaps it was a last minute thing. Perhaps Spock determines that he cannot set the device fast enough to guarantee the safety of the temple. Kirk has to figure out a way -- fast -- to get them out of the temple without revealing who he is. It would have been entertaining to see the aliens worshiping the scroll and Kirk's spur-of-the-moment decision to steal it in order to get them out of the temple.

And what about McCoy? He obviously had to spend some time getting that beast that Kirk stuns to be cooperative enough to be their ride. Imagine The potential for a number of humorous scenes of McCoy trying to coax a recalcitrant animal into taking riders on its back. McCoy as a grumpy "alien whisperer" would have been priceless.

See? Now THAT would have been a decent episode of Star Trek if Star Trek were to return to television, like it should.It's just too bad that the rest of the movie was not quite as good. I mean, it was exciting and thrilling (and in 3d!) but it wash't really Star Trek.

Not my Star Trek, anyway.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

STAR TREK THEME... played on a HARP?

This is the craziest, geekiest and yet the cutest thing I have seen in a long time.

Or so I thought, until I saw this:

Enjoy.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

Amazing Stories to Publish David Gerrold Comic Script: Star Trek & Dr. Who Fans Might Collide with a Bang! Theoretically of Course

As you know I am part of the AMAZING STORIES blogging team. It's something I am very proud of, so this news, announced this morning, makes me very excited. It combines one of my all-time favorite authors with two of my all-time favorite shows, plus a new favorite:

Ok, I’ll say it, if only to keep up with the current trend on the site: The Experimenter Publishing Company is pleased to bring you an Amazing First!

Our first piece of new fiction, and a graphic story to boot! But wait, it gets even better!

Several weeks ago David Gerrold (yes, the Tribbles guy*) announced on Facebook that he’d written a comic book script that had become orphaned through no fault of its own. Amazing Stories jumped on this potential opportunity and obtained a copy of the script for review.

Unbelievably hilarious. Totally nerdy.

From the opening panel to the very last David Gerrold has spun a tale of historic, inside jokiness and has extended that joke to encompass contemporary fare.

Arrangements were made for Amazing Stories to publish the story and, in conjunction with David’s DG Publishing imprint, produce a limited dead-tree edition.

Several comic artists were approached for the honor and Troy Boyle has been given the go-ahead. Troy has already begun preliminary character sketches and page layouts.

Amazing Stories will be publishing a few teaser excerpts from the script, as well as some of Troy’s preliminary artwork here over the next few weeks.

What is it about? Let’s just say that Star Trek fans and Dr. Who fans (or should that be Dr. Who fans and Star Trek fans?) are going to have something to talk about for at least the next century. And yes, there are Tribbles in there too. Soft Tribbles. Warm Tribbles. Tribbles no one would want to Exterminate.

This Fannish Friday we will be releasing a few of Troy’s illustrations and a few scenes from David’s script, so mark it on your calendars and don’t miss a single reveal as we all work our way towards publication!

The script will appear here exclusively on Amazing Stories and will also be made available in a limited print edition that will be available from the Experimenter Publishing Company and DG Publishing.

Images Copyright Troy Boyle, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

That’s your first clue: who are those guys and what are they doing in a graphic story together?

*David is we known for many other things besides his The Trouble with Tribbles Star Trek episode. His award winning novelette The Martian Child (Hugo, Nebula, Ted Sturgeon, Locus and HOMeR) was turned into a movie in 2007; he has several popular series including The War Against the Chtorr and Star Wolf; an earlier novel written with Larry Niven – The Flying Sorcerers – remains one of Science Fiction literature’s best inside jokes.

Troy Boyle is an American comic book artist and writer. Boyle is best known for his gritty revenge fantasy, The Return of Happy the Clown, written by Gary Francis. He has worked for Image Comics, Desperado Publishing, Caliber Press and Boneyard Press. Troy is currently working on pin-ups and covers for Main Enterprises.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

INTO DARKNESS

I don't know why I've been grousing about this. I know I'm going to go see it anyway. Probably more than once, just like the last one.

I have a big announcement to make on Wednesday, by the way. It's not earth shattering, but it is amazing and I'm pretty excited about it. I've been keeping it under my hat for a month now so I'm looking forward to being able to tell you about it.


I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

IS HE KAHN? GARY MITCHELL? NO, HE'S...

So benedict Cumberbatch is playing John Harrison in Star Trek Into Darkness.

This is crewman Harrison from Star Trek: The Original series.

Coincidence? I think not.

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Harrison

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

STAR TREK INTO... WHAT...?

This came up on my Facebook today. Not sure how I feel about it. Mostly it's just... meh.

What do you guys think?

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

THE GEEK INTERPRETER

Pictures from SHERLOCK's unaired episode "The Geek Interpreter"

Just kidding. You know what they really are.


I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

STAR TREK AT 45

So Thursday was the 45th anniversary of the debut of Star Trek. The first episode aired June 8th, 1966 on NBC. I was one year old and eight months at the time. So, seeing as how I am older than Star Trek, in honour of its birthday I will put it in a headlocks and give it a noogie until it cries uncle.

Seriously, I love Star Trek and I have for as long as I can remember. I feel I should take this opportunity too say a few words about something that has been with me all of my life.

I know this is going to sound like some kind of confessional at an AA meeting or something:

Hello. My name is Mike and I am a Trekkie.

I've been watching Star Trek for as long as I can remember. I got hooked because of the animated series, believe it or not (TAS as a gateway drug to TOS?). I watched the original STar Trek through faded and badly spliced film versions through the video versions, the restored and remastered versions with the new CGI effects.

I stood in line for all the movies, and was excited for all of them, especially the last one. I watched all the Star Trek series from The Next Generation all the way through to Enterprise (which I didn't really like until its final season when it got unceremoniously cancelled),

When I was a kid I collected all the James Blish novelizations, I read many of the Star Trek novels from Pcoket books, I collected the Star Trek blueprints, arts books, the "making of" books, calendars and photonovels. I have even watched many of the Star Trek fan films which range from excellent to gadawful. I have watched all of James Cawley's Star Trek Phase 2 videos that have been released so far and I am still looking forward to more. This is how much of a Star Trek junkie I am.

Star Trek has now gone back to the beginning (sort of) with JJ Abram's STAR TREK. I am hoping the sequels will at leas live up to if not surpass that film.

Star Trek and I have grown up together. We kind of are like brothers. Sometimes my brother is really cool and amazing and sometimes he's dorky and cheeseball and sometimes he is just plain bad. None of that matters. Just like a brother, I love Star Trek no matter what. I probably always will. I am never happier or more content then when I am watching Star Trek.

Through thick and thin, through smash hits and through complete duds, I am a trekkie and likely will be one until the day I die.

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
www.mdjacksonart.weebly.com
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio

GEEK OUT FRIDAY: Addendum

A brief history of Star Trek title logos.

Seriously.

Video put together by Thorsten Wulff

I've been here and there. I've drawn a lot of pictures. I've written a bit, too. I'm not good at this self-promotion thing. Look, you want to know about me? just visit these websites. Okay?
http://mdjackson.deviantart.com
http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/mdjacksons%5Fportfolio