Even though he has a beard George Lucas is not Jesus

Ok, I am not saying that any rational person really would compare George Lucas (henceforth "GL") to the starting Quarterback of Christianity, the right hand of God and the only person (we know of) that has walked on water without CGI or some kind of prop. However what I am saying that in the world of SCIFI entertainment GL could be considered Jesus like - at least to his followers. To his detractors he would be more like the anti-christ.

Consider the following rant from a perspective a a pro-GL SCIFI aficionado. Someone who attended ComicCon, follows various blogs and podcasts, and someone who invests at least a small part of their income to putting money into GLs (now Disney's) pockets.

So if you have Trekkies call them the Jews. Why? Simply because they are a mainstay of the SCIFI-entertainment industry, they invented the SCIFI con, they may have invested 10x more into their chosen franchise than another, but no matter how successful they seem to get slapped down ALOT. First the flagship series - The Original Star Trek Series 1966-1969, was cancelled twice, only saved the first time due to one of the first successful fan letter writing campaigns. Finally in 1979 the Trekkie nation got it's movie, and along with it the constant reminder that it still can't compare to Star Wars (1977). The movies got better over time and the conventions got bigger. Star Trek does have one thing over most other SCIFI franchises, lots of TV time. But even here as could be compared with the Jews, Star Trek gets pushed around to any channel that will have it, UPN, CBS, NBC I think FOX still is due  to host a series still. Like Judaism the trek even has it's elements on the fringe (like Jews for Jesus or something) an animated series that even the creator (Gene Roddenberry) declared was non-cannon. Ok so you might get the point, I will move on...

Firefly, Serenity, Browncoats...yeah you have heard of them, but how big a part of the SCIFI-entertainment world are they? I would argue they are still a minority, compared to the others, but they have a strong loyal fan base. Lets call these guys the Baha'i Faith. You may have heard of them, even been handed a flower or literature by one of them in the airport (pre-9/11 more likely). But unless you have one for a neighbor or in the family you'd probably not know much about them. Same for the Browncoats and their standard - Firefly.

I can go on and on, we have Dr. Who - lets call them the Buddhists in this loooong analogy. They have been here a long time, are not going anywhere and their figurehead (the Doctor himself) keeps getting reincarnated. I am not as familiar with this franchise and unless you are born into it I think it is one of the most intimidating stories to get into. There are thousands of hours of TV show, books, comics, cannon to dig into. I think when it comes to backstory Star Wars, Star Trek and the like have nothing to compare to. And they too have their different sects where some fans get behind one Doctor over another.

I am reaching here, but the current Marvel movie series demands recognition. I might get some hate for this but I think I would label this franchise the Muslim equivalent. Think about it, just like the worlds second largest religion, it has reached into every facet of fandom. Started in the beginning in Comics, moved to TV, Action Figures, Movies ect... COMICCON is one of the biggest fandom events of the year (the Haj anyone???) Although COMICCON has branched out to cover, TV, Movies, Art, Playsets, speed dating, anything that can suck one more dime out of the fan while promoting the next big franchise, it still has its roots in comics. And between Marvel and DC that is 90% of comic history out there. Marvel fans and their cousins DC fans are some of the most diehard (radical if you will) out there. They invented Cosplay, and most of todays genius fanboy directors - JJ and Joss to name just two of the biggest, draw inspiration from comics.

There are too many more but to name just a few smaller but still vibrant communities that have podcasts, blogs, mini conventions: Farscape, Ghostbusters, Battlestar Galactica, and newer communities like Game of Thrones.

Now to my original point. GL. He made his mark back in 1977, 1980, and again in 1983. Even though he refuses to claim the Holiday Special 1978, some fans consider like it one of the lost books of the bible (first time Boba Fett is seen on any screen). Then there were some dark years, Kenner (and later Hasbro) stopped making the toys, and there were no more Comics - Marvel's run lasted until summer of 1986. Then a small light broke through the darkness and Timothy Zahn wrote and released The Heir to the Empire in June 1991 followed by two more books. Then came thousands more books, comics, new figures, and GL rose from the dead - so to speak and wrote and release the prequels (1999, 2002, 2005). Now there are Celebrations (SW Conventions) every 1-3 years, there is more money then ever being shelled out to comics - this time with Dark Horse, new figures of varying sizes, statuettes, podcasts , Cosplay, Fan made movies... and it goes on. Much like Christianity there are so so many sects and everyone has their own interpretation. There are those that prefer to forget about the new testament (the prequels) and those that consider the Clone Wars cartoons much like the Book of Mormon. Although according to GL (the creator) it IS cannon. And even like some comparisons to televangelist  preachers there are the sell outs, including GL himself if you consider teh $4 Billion (with a B) he got for selling Lucasfilm - including SW - lock stock and barrel to Disney. That might be like if Jesus came back and then sold Christianity off to some new rodent alien overlord that brought his own religion. This new alien overlord may be benevolent or may come with a strong choke hold.

So we have to sit back and realize GL is NOT the J-man and even though SW was his, the effective word is "was". Thanks to the sale he can now sit back and mentor from afar, and JJ or whomever can take the lead with a strong Kathleen Kennedy overseeing the big picture.

I look forward to the next few years, even though my savings account does not. And it will be nice to see where we are going next. Not just with SW but with the entire genre.

I'm Back and So is me

So I am a little late to the party. I say (or rather "I write") that for two reasons. I have neglected the people of earth of my wisdom for way too long by failing to post anything here for a couple of years.  I apologize to those that would have missed me (all two of you sick hopefully hot chick-stalkers) and the rest of you will be reading this months or years after written as you research me for some class project (psychology no doubt) or maybe as background for a movie on my life. By the way if I haven't already made it clear in my will or during some kind of public testimony - I vote for Brad Pitt to play the middle aged me. And if this is years in the future I vote for Brad and Angelina's kid to play me, cause that is got to be one hot kid.

And the subject that has pulled me out of the abyss? The thing I choose to emerge out of the internet wastelands with? The thing that has me so ready to rant and rave about? The thing that had me yelling at the rear view mirror as I weaved in and out of traffic? Well you know me I and I hope you don't if you are reading this.... I can't answer a question with a straight answer - so sit back, strap in, grab a refreshing beverage (and an Advil) while I ramble a little.