Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 208

The Dark Matter Greatest Episode Tournament Seedings announced!

Alright, Dark Matter fans, the polls have closed.  And the Top 8 finishers are advancing to the Greatest Episode Tournament.  That’s 6 of the top voters across the show’s three seasons, and two wildcard write-in entries.

The tourney kicks off on Monday with first round head to head action.

Here are your opening round match-ups:

#1. All the Time in the World vs #8. Built, Not Born

A time loop episode took  home the prize in our Stargate Greatest Episode Tournament.  Will we see a repeat in this tournament, or will our eighth seed score the colossal upset?

#2. Kill Them All! vs #7. We Voted Not To Space You

Two back to back season 2 episodes square off, representing both the pre and post Hyperion-8 breakout.

#3. Episode 1 vs #6. Episode 7

It’s the episode that introduced us to our mercenary crew vs. the episode that introduced us to dunking the cosmic donut.  Which shall prevail?

#4. Wish I’d Spaced You When I Had the Chance vs. #5. Isn’t That A Paradox?

This battle of closely-matched seeds pits THREE and FIVE on the run vs. our intrepid crew going suburban undercover.

So, there you have it, our opening round match-ups.  YOU will decide the winners and decide who moves on to the Dark Matter Greatest Episode Tournament Final Four!

Limber up those voting fingers!

The post appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

The Dark Matter Greatest Episode Tournament Continues with Season 3!

What was your favorite episode of Dark Matter’s third season?

The nominees are…

Episode 304 – All The Time In The World: The Raza is stuck in a time loop, but only THREE seems to know it.

Episode 309 – Isn’t That A Paradox?: The blink drive sends the The Raza 300 years to the past.

Episode 312 – My Final Gift To You: Ryo Ishida hosts a long overdue reunion for the Raza crew.

Episode 313 – Nowhere To Go: The corporate wars reach a climax, and a new threat is introduced.

Head on over to twitter to cast your vote –

The #DarkMatter Greatest Episode Tournament continues!
Cast your vote for one of the following third season episodes. Reminder gifs below.
Don't see your favorite listed? Cast a write-in ballot by posting the episode title in this thread.

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 13, 2020

Don’t see your favorite episode in the Top 4?  Then cast a write-in ballot either on twitter or in the comments section.

(Gifs courtesy or Thogar, fyeahtheandroid, and e-ripley)

More #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked –

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
We call him The Hardest Working Actor in Canadian Show Business. Roger Cross (@therogercross), who is a lot like his #DarkMatter character, SIX: warm, gregarious, talented, and professional. It's no wonder he's always so damn busy! pic.twitter.com/0HUa5rei1C

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 3, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Director Melanie Orr was the calm in the eye of the storm directing on one of #DarkMatter's most challenging episodes, "Built, Not Born". On #UtopiaFalls, she was equally strong – decisive, dynamic, and absolutely dependable. pic.twitter.com/lwNuAzYmVI

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 4, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Actor Ben Browder joined the #Stargate franchise for SG-1's ninth season, preparing himself for the role by watching the show's then entire eight season run. Good-natured, down-to-earth, and a consummate pro, Ben is a true southern charmer. pic.twitter.com/hFjACNYfWs

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 5, 2020

The post appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 12, 2020: This Week’s Recommended Comic Book Reads!

Slowly getting back into comics and, three weeks in, I’ve discovered I’m really enjoying the work of writers and artists whose work I enjoyed before taking my reading hiatus. And then, there are a  few surprises.

Here are my Top 12 Recommended Comic Book Reads for the week –

#12 – Hawkeye: Freefall #4 (Matthew Rosenberg, Otto Schmidt)

Daredevil tips Hawkeye off to the formation of a new task force. They have one mission: to stop the dangerous new Ronin before he tears the city apart. Clint joins up, but he can’t help but notice that Ronin gets results. Whose side is he really on? And as Hawkeye’s own hunt for the Hood intensifies, he’s about to find himself in the sights of one of his most dangerous foes of all time…

I’ve always enjoyed characters, like Clint Barton, who have a sense of humor.  And I’ve always enjoyed writers, like Matthew Rosenberg, who can imbue their work with just the right dose of humor.  This title offers the best of both worlds.

#11 – Venom #24 (Donny Cates, Mark Bagley)

Cletus Kasady may be gone, but CARNAGE is another story – and its evil has infected Venom and the entire ISLAND OF BONES. As every living thing on the island hunts him, Eddie Brock may have no choice but to burn it – and everything he holds dear – to the ground…

Writer Donny Cates spins a tale at turns thrilling, troubling, and, surprisingly, touching.

#10 – The Batman’s Grave #6 – Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch, Kevin Nowlan, Alex Sinclair

The Batman is trapped in the most dangerous house in Gotham City, trying to protect Commissioner Gordon from a secret army out to kill anyone involved in the justice system. The war on the law has only just begun.

He’s “The World’s Greatest Detective” and yet, more often than not, we don’t really see that side of Batman.  But here, writer Warren Ellis delivers the multi-faceted caped crusader at his high-tech, ass-kicking, deductive best.

#9 – Hawkman #22 (Robert Venditti, Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Wade von Grawbadger, Jeromy Cox)

Sky Tyrant comes home to roost-whether he likes it or not! Hawkwoman, Adam Strange, and the Atom have trapped Sky Tyrant and desperately work to find a cure for their beloved friend Carter Hall’s Dark Multiverse infection. But they’re running out of time as Sky Tyrant, who controls Carter Hall’s body, makes a play for the ancient and powerful artifact that could lead to the deaths of untold billions…and ensure his immortality for good!

I’ve admittedly never been a huge fan of the character, but this fast-paced, gorgeous-looking issue is hard to put down.

#8 – X-Men #8 (Jonathan Hickman, Mahmud A. Asrar, Leinil Francis Yu)

GET READY TO RUN! The New Mutants are back from space, and they’ve brought intergalactic trouble with them!

A deft and visually dazzling follow up to last issue, chock full o’ intergalactic fun. That diminutive alien Broo is now my favorite character.

#7 – Punisher: Soviet #5 [of 6] (Garth Ennis, Jacen Burrows, Paolo Rivera)

Frank and Val have fought side-by-side against not only a Russian mob but also against the tide of history, and these issues will make you see The Punisher (and possibly the world) differently than you do now.

The penultimate issue of what may well be my favorite Ennis Punisher story to date.  P.S. I think there’s more to the wife than she lets on.

#6 – Thor #4 (Donny Cates, Nic Klein)

The Black Winter is coming – the end of the entire vast universe – and only one entity can stop it. The only one who has survived it before, Galactus the World-Eater, has come to Midgard…in search of a herald for the end of everything.

Writer Donny Cates’ second appearance on this list with an issue that has me incredibly excited for a character I always considered kind of dull (Thor Ragnarok notwithstanding).

#5 – The Man Who Effed Up Time #2 (John Layman, Karl Mostert, Dee Cunniffe)

Time-traveler Sean Bennett has been ordered to fix the damage he did to the space-time continuum, or face the wrath of the Future Police. But to do this, Sean Bennett must face his most dangerous adversary-Sean Bennett? 

When time-travel story is done right, it’s a beautiful thing.  And that’s what we have here.

#4 – Avengers #32 (Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness)

What do the King of Atlantis, the Lord of the Vampires, the deposed duke of Hell, a mysterious Russian assassin and the secret boss of Washington, D.C.’s greatest super-team have in common? They all really hate the Avengers. And so there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest villains found themselves united against a common threat.

Writer Jason Aaron is putting the pieces in play for what promises to be an epic throwdown.

#3 – Immortal Hulk #32 (Al Ewing, Joe Bennett)

The gentle giant XEMNUTM has come to EARTHTM to fight evil – as the INCREDIBLE HULK! And YOU can join him – as he battles ROBERT BANNER, the STRANGEST MAN OF ALL TIME! (HULK is a trademark of ROXXON ENERGY. For a brighter tomorrow.)

What a brilliantly weird little issue we have here.  Cannot wait to see where the story goes.

#2 – Stealth (Mike Costa, Nate Bellegarde, Tamra Bonvillain)

A surprising Top 2 finish for this out-of-nowhere title that really wowed me with its masterfully executed twist (which the synopsis gives away, so I won’t post it).

#1 – Decorum #1 (Jonathan Hickman, Mike Huddleston)

There are many assassins in the known universe. This is the story of the most well-mannered one.

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what knife you use.”

I have been looking forward to this book for months and it does NOT disappoint. Sci-fi comic books don’t get much better than this.

The post March 12, 2020: This Week’s Recommended Comic Book Reads! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 11, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites –

Batman and the Outsiders #11 (cover art by Gabriele Dell’otto)

Catwoman #21 (cover art by Ian MacDonald)

Decorum #1 (cover art by Mike Huddleston)

Green Lantern Season 2 #2 (Cover art by Nicola Scott)

Grimm Fairy Tales: Jasco Games #1 (cover art by Geebo Vigonte)

Hawkman #22 (cover art by Gerardo Zaffino)

Marvel Tales: Silver Surfer #1 (cover art by In-Hyuk Lee)

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 (cover art by In-Hyuk Lee)

The Amazing Spider-Man #41 (cover art by Ryan Brown)

So, which were YOUR favorites?

The post March 11, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

The Dark Matter Greatest Episode Tournament Continues with Season 2!

What was your favorite episode of Dark Matter’s second season?

The nominees are…

Episode 202 – Kill Them All: The crew of the Raza stage a jailbreak from galactic Super Max, Hyperion – 8.

Episode 211 – Wish I’d Spaced You When I Had The Chance: THREE and FIVE are on the run, with no one to rely on but each other.

Episode 212 – Sometimes In Life You Don’t Get To Choose: Ryo Ishida ascends to the throne of Zairon.

Episode 213 – But First We Save The Galaxy: The crew of the Raza attempt to head off a terrorist attack on Eos-7.

Head on over to twitter to cast your vote –

The #DarkMatter Greatest Episode Tournament =s!
Cast your vote for one of the following second season episodes. Reminder gifs below.
Don't see your favorite listed? Cast a write-in ballot by posting the episode title in this thread.
(Oops. Forgot the poll.)

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 11, 2020

Don’t see your favorite episode in the Top 4?  Then cast a write-in ballot either on twitter or in the comments section.

More #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked –

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Rick Martin was #Stargate's most prolific editor, credited on over 86 episodes of the franchise's 17 season run. He was always a lot of fun, concluding each episode editing session with his trademark: "Every frame a Rembrandt!" pic.twitter.com/HPv1JZmbwL

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 29, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The ever affable James Rorick, aka Bones, was on the #Stargate VFX team for all three shows and has since graduated to VFX Supervisor on shows like #BatesMotel, #Intruders, and #LegendsOfTomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VjZRpAuRnM

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 1, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) played my favorite type of role on #StargateUniverse – a redeemed baddie. And he did so with aplomb, imbuing Colonel Telford with such warmth, honesty, and emotional depth that had you rooting for him. pic.twitter.com/wZfVptsLHY

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 2, 2020

The post appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

The Dark Matter Greatest Episode Tournament Begins!

Alright, Dark Matter fans.  It is time for the Dark Matter Greatest Episode Tournament!

Cast your vote for one of these four Season 1 episodes…

Episode 1 – The crew of a derelict ship wakes up from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got onboard.  Their search for answers leads them to a shocking end-of-episode revelation.

Episode 7 – There’s a new android on the Raza and the ship ain’t big enough for the both of them.

Episode 11 – TWO leads a desperate bid to retake the ship.

Episode 13 – Crew members fall.  Suspicions are raised.  And the mole is finally revealed.

Head on over to twitter to cast your vote –

The #DarkMatter Greatest Episode Tournament begins!
Cast your vote for one of the following first season episodes. Reminder gifs below (c/o @Thogar)
Don't see your favorite listed? Cast a write-in ballot by posting the episode title in this thread.

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 9, 2020

Don’t see your favorite episode in the Top 4?  Then cast a write-in ballot either on twitter or in the comments section.

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked –

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
One of the things that first struck me about Alex Mallari Jr. (@AlexMallariJr) shortly after we cast him in the role of #DarkMatter's FOUR was how humble and appreciative he was for the opportunity. A truly positive force! pic.twitter.com/GwWzYeOYiZ

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 26, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Kate Drummond (@KateDrummond_) delivered such a kick-ass performance in her guest spot on #DarkMatter that I knew we had to cast her as the Big Bad in #UtopiaFalls – even before the audition process, back when we were still writing the scripts! pic.twitter.com/biXh0oe3jY

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 27, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
DC Television Creative Executive Renee Reiff (@rreiffer12) is the type of exec you want in your corner. She's smart, supportive, and incredibly collaborative. And – bonus – she's an avid reader! pic.twitter.com/BwAPqIRg2d

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 28, 2020

The post appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 8, 2020: Suji Sunday!

La Petite Princesse.

Yo, Three-Eyes!

Hey!  Heeeeeeey!  Pay attention to me!

Sujiko – pug model!

Lunch with Suji…

The post March 8, 2020: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 7, 2020: Best Burgers – There can only be one!

I consider myself a foodie, but my friend Robbie David is a super foodie.  And when Robbie recommends something, you KNOW it’s going to be great.

But Robbie isn’t your typical foodie.  Forget the fancy plates and foam-topped modernist.  Robbie is an expert on steaks, smoked meats, and burgers.  So when he asked me if I wanted to check out a new (to me) burger joint, I was IN!

To be fair, although I was looking forward to lunch, I did have some small reservations.  I’ve sampled this city’s purported Best Burgers, but I always come back to good old Burger’s Priest.  Very hard to beat that burger, than bun, and option to top it with double smoke (deep-fried jalapeños).  Still, I went in with an open mind.

Photo courtesy of Yelp’s Dan L.

So we headed to the new Rudy on Duncan Street, just a 20 minute walk from my place.  There are apparently another two in town, and Robbie swears by them.

The menu is surprisingly simple: Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger, a Fried Chicken Sandwich, and sides.  We both ordered Doubles.

The patties are smash griddled to perfection, the edges crisp and savory. Everything else – the lettuce, the tomato, the Rudy sauce and soft bun – came together wonderfully.  Dare I call this Toronto’s Best Burger?

Yes.  I dare.

The Master of Ceremonies – Robbie David

And apparently, I’ve been told, their fried chicken sandwich is even better than the burger!  I’ll have to check it out next time.  Or maybe the time after that because this burger has been on my mind since Monday.

So what’s the next best thing to actually eating burgers?  How about watching videos of people eating burgers?

Finding the best burger in NYC pic.twitter.com/lmY4WyJsLK

— Food Insider (@InsiderFood) February 28, 2020

All four of the above burgers look great, but the Emily is the one I really need to try with its caramelized onions, pretzel bun, and medium-rare doneness.

So, I’m considering a World Burger Tour.  Tell me, what is the Best Burger in your town?  And what makes it so good?

The post March 7, 2020: Best Burgers – There can only be one! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 6, 2020: The Twitter Update!

MSNBC's Brian Williams and NYT Editorial Board member Mara Gay do the math and conclude that Journalist Mekita Rivas is right, with the $500 million Bloomberg spent on ads he could have given $1 million to every American. pic.twitter.com/S9yWNqxoHN

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 6, 2020

Bug Butter? Yes/No
Belgian Waf-flies: Researchers in Belgium Have Developed ‘Insect Butter’ https://t.co/cdffVWaGXj

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 5, 2020

Blood cuisine? Yes/No
Why Isn’t Blood a Bigger Ingredient in ‘American’ Food? https://t.co/YPQomQ8tSC via @Eater

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) March 4, 2020

Diverse preparations of chicken feet? Yes/No
Xiang Long Zhua Zhua https://t.co/QCQrIhmIIu

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 25, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked…

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorkedI
Intelligent, well-spoken, and an excellent actor, Anthony Lemke (@ranthonylemke) seemed born to play the role of #DarkMatter's THREE. Always the first to welcome visitors to set and engage them in conversation – a true prince. pic.twitter.com/cDNiVkZXdS

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 23, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorkedI
I worked with Greg Behrens (@gregbehrensvfx) back in the #Stargate days and again, recently, on #UtopiaFalls where he was our VFX Supervisor, going above and beyond to deliver top notch visual effects under incredibly challenging conditions. pic.twitter.com/kXoVuTM2gf

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 24, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorkedI
One of the very first people I ever worked with on my very first job in the t.v. industry was the brilliant Anne-Marie Perrotta (@TheWriteAMP). She's a creator, xcreenwriter, Executive Story Editor with over 550 produced scripts to her credit. pic.twitter.com/giKgIl0Lxr

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 25, 2020

The post March 6, 2020: The Twitter Update! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 5, 2020: This Week’s Recommended Comic Book Reads!

Starting last week, I have gotten back into the comic book swing of things.  As is the custom, I try to cast a wide net, reading as much as I can, moving forward with those titles that interest me, dropping those that don’t.

This week was a surprisingly strong week.

Here are my Top 10 Favorites – along with some honorable mentions…

The Honorable Mentions: Unearth #6, Marvel #1, Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16, Billionaire Island #1, Lois Lane #9, Marauders #9.

#10 – Billionaire Island #1 (Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, Chris Chuckry, Rob Steen)

Welcome to Billionaire Island, where anything goes…if you can afford it. But the island’s ultra-rich inhabitants are about to learn that their ill-gotten gains come at a very high price.

Love the premise. The first issue shows a lot of promise.

#9 – Mercy #1 (Mikra Andolfo)

When the placid mining village of Woodsburgh is disturbed by a series of brutal murders, the settlement is in turmoil. And as the first snow covers the chaos in a white blanket, a mysterious woman in black arrives, eliciting a totally different kind of unrest. But who is Lady Hellaine, really? And what’s her secret agenda?

An intriguing opener to this Victorian gothic horror series.

#8 – Savage Avengers #11 (Gerry Duggan, Butch Guice)

The horrific secret of Kulan Gath’s power is revealed. Steel yourself, True Believers, this one is a bummer for the ages. Plus, Dr. Strange & Elektra did what last night?

I love a good origin story, especially a good villain origin story.

#7 – Join the Future #1 (Zack Kaplan, Piotr Kowalski)

The Future. Ultra-modern megacities reward millions of their citizens with a completely funded life, with every need met, from food to housing and healthcare, in order to com-pete in an economic power struggle in which population is key.

But a few rural residents still cling to their independence in what last American small towns are left. When a nearby megacity pressures the people of a small town join up or else, a young teenage girl named Clem will learn how far she’ll go to defend her prin-ciples.

This one is the most straight sci-fi of this week’s offerings and it offers a very interesting world.

#6 – Vampironica #3 (Michael Moreci, Franki Tieri, Matt Herms, Audrey Mok, Jack Morelli)

Who is Sir Francis Lodge? And how did Vampironica’s ancestor play such a pivotal role in the emergence of vampirism in America? Join us for a journey through time as the one-time pirate leaves a trail of blood from the old world to the new— all the way up to the very creation of Riverdale itself!

Well, this was a pleasant surprise. Another great villain origin story.

#5 – Outer Darkness/Chew #1 (John Layman, Afu Chan, Rob Guillory)

Tony Chu is a modern-day cop who gets psychic impressions from what he eats. Joshua Rigg is a 28th-century starship captain who flies through an outer space filled with demons, monsters, and ghosts. Sounds like a perfect recipe for a comic book crossover, don’t it?

I’m not familiar with Outer Darkness but read the hell out of Chew.  This crossover gives the latter a sci-fi twist in a completely bonkers first issue.

#4 – King of Nowhere #1 (W. Maxwell Prince, Tyler Jenkins, Hilary Jenkins)

Lovable drunken lowlife Denis awakens on the outskirts of a mysterious village called Nowhere, home to a friendly populace of deformed, mutated, just-left-of-normal citizens — and he has no memory of how he got there. But just when Denis starts to regain his memories, his past catches up to him… literally. What at first seems like merely a bad trip quickly heightens into a drama of mistaken identities, small-town conspiracy, and high-stakes fantasy fulfillment.

I have no idea what is going on here, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

#3 – Daredevil #19 (Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checchetto)

Hell’s Kitchen is hanging by a thread—and that thread is Daredevil! Owl makes his play while Mayor Fisk watches from the sidelines.

I’ve always loved the grittier arcs and this one reminds of my favorite Brubaker runs.

#2 – Pandemica #4 (Jonathan Maberry, Alex Sanchez)

Loverboy and his team of killers will stop at nothing to find and kill the mysterious infected child—and when the Pandemica team is betrayed, all of the evidence implicates De’Neesa. As the mutations spread out of control, a very real apocalypse looms over America.

The smart and suspenseful fourth issue of this near future conspiracy tale is sending me back to my local comic shop in search of issues #1-3.

#1 – Strange Adventures (Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Evan Shaner)

Adam Strange is the hero of Rann, a man famous throughout the galaxy for his bravery and honor. After leading his adopted home to victory in a great planetary war, Adam and his wife Alanna retire to Earth, where they are greeted by cheers, awards, and parades. But not all is as happy and nice as it seems, as the decisions Adam made during battles on Rann come back to haunt his family and threaten the entire DC Universe. And now a surprise DC hero will have to choose between saving Adam Strange and saving the world.

Tom King’s Vision, The Omega Men, and Mister Miracle are some of my favorite comic reads of all time.  King can seemingly do no wrong (outside of that whole Batman/Catwoman non-wedding thing), and he, Gerads, and Shaner are off to a cracking start here.

So, what have you been reading?

The post March 5, 2020: This Week’s Recommended Comic Book Reads! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.