Final Sanctuary Gaulon

Final Sanctuary Gaulon (FSG) is an independent comic created by Justin Pearson-Smith and Nghi Huynh.

Set in 2415, the story focuses on the RavenCroft Humane Trust's elite team of biosuit-clad mercenaries, known as The Immortals. Individuals may die along the way, but their namesakes continue on to fight against a super virus spreading from the sanctuaries to the wilderness. Their names are Eidolon, KillSwitch, Lazarus, and Vulcan, and they are humanity's last hope for survival!

As soon as I picked up this book to read I was already aware of it being something different. The stock used is not standard comic stock, and it's more robust feel was a delight to hold. I know the feel of a comic might seem like an odd thing to comment on, but I am very much a texture-oriented person, so it does impact on my experience. Also, I think reading a robust story on robust stock is fitting... and this story is robust.

Before the comic starts, a setting piece can be found on the inside cover. It's informative, well paced, and the right length to draw people in without boring them before the story starts proper... and then it's straight into the action.

The reader is immediately immersed in the dangers faced in this time, and quickly introduced to the key players of the story. Motivations vary for the players (love, greed, power, loyalty) and of course there is an unknown element when the actions of one character is questioned.

I already have characters that jump out at me, although I don't think I'm suppose to like Mr. Hayes as much as I do :) Nate Parker, aka Lazarus, cracks me up with his Cosmo rant, and Head of Brigade, Trent Rogers, seems to be someone to watch.

I like the addition of the Evolution Of A Page, and the Infected art, as it allows the reader to feel more involved with the work, and the Creator's Rant shares the heart and soul behind the project.

The panel flow is easy to follow, which is something a lot of big name books lack far too often. The art is dynamic and works well with the script in telling the story. The script itself is well paced and weaves a good mix of humour into the story... including the "there's just one last thing I want to do today" line, where the art is allowed to deliver the punchline :)

Final Sanctuary Gaulon is a good book and worth picking up. Head to FinalSanctuaryGaulon.com to find out more and grab yourself a copy! FSG is also available at My Digital Comics, Sticky Institute and Minotaur.

With thanks to Justin, we have two signed copies of FSG #1 to give away to Chaotic Geek members. Both Justin and Nghi have signed their value-adding autographs to these copies! Head to the forum to find out how to win a copy of this great title.

~ Lyn

Google Priority Inbox

WARNING! Google Fanboy Alert!

Google are in the process of rolling out another feature to Gmail, and I quite like the sound of this one.

You know how e-mail is divided into "real" mail and spam? Gmail is about to add another level to the strata. Priority Inbox is in the process of rolling out to Gmail users, followed closely by Google Apps users. Priority Inbox will separate out the stuff that Google's algorythms think is important, compared to everyday ho-hum emails that need to be read, just not NOW.

As with any search and classification based business on the net, Google are being pretty tight lipped on exactly how those algorythms will work, but the general consensus is that anything not sent directly to you (so cc:'ed mail, mailing lists, etc.) will be skipped over by the Priority Mail filter, while people who you send mail to and reply to on a regular basis will get picked up by the Priority Mail. Users will also be able to flag email as important or not, improving the automatic classification system.

If you see "New! Priority Inbox" in the top right-hand corner of your Gmail window, give it a go, and let us know your thoughts at the Chaotic Geek Forum.

-Chris

Doctor Who split in two - UPDATE! (Crazy rumour of the day ... )

The UK's most reliable and dependable news source, The Sun, has apparently leaked the plot of the cliffhanger storyline that will make the 7/6 split of next year's run of Doctor Who.

The Sun claims that Karen Gillan is leaving the show, and that the storyline for the cliffhanger centers around the death of companion Amy Pond. While it may be a mid-season cliffhanger, Gillan has stated that she'll be with Doctor Who for some time yet. As long as Amy's husband Rory is fine, I'll somehow manage to carry on.

As with any news from The Sun, take this one with a planet-killing asteroid sized garin of salt (Wait ... wasn't that a Doctor Who plot long ago?).

-Chris

What the hell is happening with Ghostbusters 3?

Fans of the Ghostbusters franchise (myself included) have got to be pulling out their hair right now.

Is it happening? Is it off again this week? What the *redacted* is Bill Murray saying this week? He's in? He's out? He's in, but only as a ghost?

io9 are reporting that an old rumour has sprung up again. Oscar, who we last saw as the infant receptacle for the spirit of sequel bad-guy Vigo in Ghostbusters 2, turns out to be Pete Venkman's son and is planning on following in daddy's steps and strapping on the ol' proton pack. Latest rumours have not only all four original Ghostbusters (Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson) returning, but Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett, Anie Potts as Janine Melnitz, and (wait for it) ... Rick Moranis as Louis Tully! Moranis has long sworn off the acting world, and has been making a nice career for himself as a Country singer (so I'm told ... those of you who know me are aware of my lack of knowledge of Country music).

Barely weeks ago, Murray was quoted as saying that he was out, as the wunderkind writers that Ramis had brought on for the project (Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg) based on their success on The Office, may not be the geniuses everybody thought, after the massive flop that was
Ramis's Year One.

Ramis & Aykroyd have long been the cheerleaders for Ghostbusters 3, and when we spoke to Ernie Hudson in 2008, he admitted that he'd jump at the chance to reprise the role of Zed, but the fate of this project has always hung on the involvement of Murray. The way rumours have been swinging, the only way that this project is going to get off the ground is if Ramis and Aykroyd bring to bear the weight of a Hollywood studio fleet of lawyers and sign him to an iron-clad contract in a week (day? hour?), when he's swung back to the positive. I'm sure he's going to bitch and moan about it, but if the contract is tight enough, the freaking project may just happen.

And who doesn't want to see Eliza Dushku and Anna Farris join the gang of Old Guys in Ecto1?

-Chris

Two Batmans (Batmen?)

Come November, DC are going to be facing an even bigger flood of Batman books than usual.

Launching in November is a new book titled Batman Inc. So far we know that by November (back-from-the-"dead") Bruce Wayne and (current-Batman-but-previously-Nightwing-and-previously-Robin) Dick Grayson will BOTH be wearing the Dark Knight's cape and cowl - Grayson with the original black Bat Symbol on his chest, and Wayne with the later-era yellow & black ellipse. Joining them will be variants of Batman from all over the world - within the first few issues, Wayne will be recruiting a third batman to patrol the gothic back-alleys of South America (buh?). Further Batmans (Batmen? Batmi?) will join Batman Inc. in the following months.

To say I'm skeptical about this is an understatement. I'd like to slap Dan DiDio and scream "What the hell are you thinking?!?!". The basic premise seems, to be blunt, dumb. Imagine if, after the recent discovery of his Kandorian cousins, Superman has decided to share around the Big Blue franchise and placed Supermanses in all the different cities of the world. Comic geeks would have been rioting in the streets.

It's always a hard transition for fans when a legacy is handed from one character to the next. Grayson is relatively easy to deal with, as it's been on the cards as a possibility for many years (and even eventuated for a brief period, after Wayne "fired" Azrael), but a cadre of Batmens? Shoot me now.

-Chris

Doctor Who split in two!

The news has been all over the twitterverse and blogosphere - Doctor Who is getting cut in half!

Both Steven Moffat and the BBC have announced that the next 13-episode series of Doctor Who, scheduled to go to air in 2011, will now be a seven episode series ending on a major cliff-hanger, followed a few months later by a six episode series.

I'm excited by confirmation that we'll be getting a major storyline in the middle of the year, but the wait is going to kill me. I'm more than a little worried that either of these short series could turn into a 2009-style "mini-series". Don't get me wrong, I liked the 2009 run, but the storyline was nothing, compared to the arcs we've been getting when we get full seasons (Tell me you're not dying to find out more about River Song, or the Power Ranger Daleks?)

-Chris

Win double preview passes to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, with thanks to Universal Pictures!

Surely all geeks have been awaiting the release of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World this year... but just in case someone has missed the brilliant trailers and fun promotions, here is the film's synopsis:

Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for garage band Sex Bob-omb, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams...literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker's quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It's getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who kicked his heart's ass—and now is back in town—to the teenage distraction he's trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn't been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.

As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues' gallery from her past—from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsome identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over.

With thanks to Universal Pictures, Chaotic Geek have five double passes to a preview screening of the upcoming film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The film doesn't hit cinemas until August 12th in Australia, but thanks to Universal's generosity, some lucky Chaotic Geeks can see it on August 9th!

If you'd love to come along to the preview screening of this great film, and can make it to Hoyts Victoria Gardens in Richmond, Victoria, Australia by 6:00pm to collect your tickets from us personally, then email us at win@chaoticgeek.com, to win!

To check out more about the film, head here: http://www.scottpilgrim.com.au

The film is based on the Oni Press graphic novel Scott Pilgrim Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life, written by Bryan Lee O'Malley. You can find out more about it here: http://www.scottpilgrim.com

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Terms and Conditions:

• There is an upper limit of one entry per entrant.


• This is a competition based on skill and knowledge. Entrants must email relevant information, in order for it to be considered a valid entry.


• There are 5 prizes to be won, each consisting of one double preview movie pass to 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' on August 9th, 2010 (Valued at $33.00 each). Total prize value: $165.00.


• This competition is open to anyone who will be able to attend the preview screening at 6:30pm on August 9th, 2010, at Hoyts Victoria Gardens, in Richmond, Victoria, Australia, excluding regions where local laws prohibit such competitions.


• All prizes will be handed to winners on the night of the screening, at the screening location, by Chaotic Geek staff by no later than 18:00 (6:00pm).


• Competition begins: 2010-08-04 at 10:00.


• Competition ends: 2010-08-06 at 23:59.


• Winners names will be published on the Chaotic Geek forums on 2010-08-07.


• Any prizes not claimed by winners, will see the prizes forfeited.


• Times and dates listed are based on AEST.