Nick Davis's Blog, page 23

Do You Remember… Star Fleet?

Do you remember this show? It had Alien invaders, giant robots, space battles and all the characters were puppets? Star Fleet was a unique show that pretty much had me glued to the TV during its airing way back in 1982 on ITV (one of three channels we had in the UK at the time), and it one of the first series I remember watching all the way through week in, week out for 24 weeks.

Ringing a bell yet? No… It’s okay…

The original show was called X-Bomber when it was first aired in Japan back in 1980 and wasn’t a particularly big hit. It wasn’t until it was reworked, retitled and redubbed in English, that it briefly becoming a popular show in Great Britain. I am though unsure if it ever made it to the USA – if it did, fantastic, because it was an amazing show.

It was a cross between Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds/Captain Scarlet shows, using their pioneering voice supermarionation techniques,  Stars Wars and Robotech with its space battle sequences and Godzilla, using a man in a robot suit rampaging around model sets. It blew my tiny little mind (I was only ten at its airing).

The Origins

X-Bomber was created by manga writer Go Nagai, and aired on Fuji TV, with a total of 26 episodes. The puppets of X-Bomber were controlled from below the set using rods, and as a consequence were generally seen only from the waist up. Whereas Gerry Anderson’s series were episodic in nature, X-Bomber had an overall story arc, with sub-plots and new characters being introduced as the series progressed, leading to a definite end.

The Plot 

Set in the year is 2999 and the Earth is at peace following the Space Wars. The safety of the human race is ensured by Earth Defense Force (EDF). Shortly before the turn of the fourth millennium, the peace is broken by the appearance of a gigantic alien battle cruiser. The EDF Pluto base is completely destroyed and the evil Commander Makara reveals that the same fate awaits the Earth unless the mysterious F-Zero-One is handed over to her. The EDF presses into action an untested, incomplete weapon, codenamed X-Project, from its hidden moon-base. The X-Project is revealed to be a powerfully armed spacecraft named X-Bomber – that contains the three-part modular giant robot Dai-X.

The series then follows the adventures of the crew of the X-Bomber, namely Doctor Benn, Shiro Hagen, Barry Hercules and John Lee who are joined by PPA – a maintenance droid, the Princess Lamia and her guardian Kirara. They set off to discover the nature of the F-Zero-One and try to protect it from the increasingly desperate Commander Makara and her menacing overlord- the Imperial Master leading their hordes of Termoids .

Eventually it is revealed that Lamia is the mysterious F-Zero-One, a powerful alien destined to bring peace to the galaxy at the turn of the millennium. The series continues with Lamia gradually discovering her powers while the Imperial Alliance attempts to capture her and destroy the X-Bomber. The series climaxes with the X-Bomber crew destroying Commander Makara, and Lamia finally confronting and defeating the Imperial Master and bringing peace to the universe.

With a sound track by Brian May, (of Queen fame), for a Ten year old this show was totally awesome! And was my first exposure to manga style storytelling – plus you know Dai-X totally rocked!

Stills From Star Fleet (X-Bomber)

Where You Can Get The Free Comic Book Day Tristan & The Cuddly Defenders Comic Book

This is a big weekend for the Teddy Bear Tales, this is the first time we are offering a Cuddly Defender comic book for Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) and I want as many of you as possible to get your hands on it.

First up, if you want to get the Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders FCBD Comic Book in print join me at Collectors Corner – Bel Air, the comic book will be available here with the bonus sketch card print while stock lasts. Hope to see you there!

Don’t Panic!

If you are not at Collectors Corner – Bel Air store tomorrow (and you should be!) don’t panic! You can still get your hands on the exclusive FCBD Cuddly Defender comic book as a download straight to your favorite electronic device. You can find the book at:

On The Kindle (Kindle Format) – US – UK – DE – FR – ES – IT – NL – JP – BR – CA – MX – AU – IN
DriveThruComics (PDF Format)
Alternative Comic Book Day (CBZ Format)

These books will be available to download for FREE for the next four days!

Support Indies

If you want to support other Indie Creators on Free Comic Book Day please visit the Alternative Comic Book Day website and check out all the FREE titles available to download (in CBZ format), while you of course download the Cuddly Defender comic book.

Thank You!

We’ve got this far because of fan support, please keep reading our books and we will keep creating stories that you want to read! Y’all are amazing and I hope to make 2016 a great year for story telling.

Where You Can Get The #FreeComicBookDay Tristan & The Cuddly Defenders #ComicBook

This is a big weekend for the Teddy Bear Tales, this is the first time we are offering a Cuddly Defender comic book for Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) and I want as many of you as possible to get your hands on it.

First up, if you want to get the Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders FCBD Comic Book in print join me at Collectors Corner – Bel Air, the comic book will be available here with the bonus sketch card print while stock lasts. Hope to see you there!

Don’t Panic!

If you are not at Collectors Corner – Bel Air store tomorrow (and you should be!) don’t panic! You can still get your hands on the exclusive FCBD Cuddly Defender comic book as a download straight to your favorite electronic device. You can find the book at:

On The Kindle (Kindle Format) – US – UK – DE – FR – ES – IT – NL – JP – BR – CA – MX – AU – IN
DriveThruComics (PDF Format)
Alternative Comic Book Day (CBZ Format)

These books will be available to download for FREE for the next four days!

Support Indies

If you want to support other Indie Creators on Free Comic Book Day please visit the Alternative Comic Book Day website and check out all the FREE titles available to download (in CBZ format), while you of course download the Cuddly Defender comic book.

Thank You!

We’ve got this far because of fan support, please keep reading our books and we will keep creating stories that you want to read! Y’all are amazing and I hope to make 2016 a great year for story telling.

See You At Collectors Corner: Bel-Air For Free Comic Book Day #FCBD

Hello, we are just three days away from Free Comic Book Day (Yay!) and to celebrate all things comic book you will be able to find Tristan and me at the Collectors Corner Bel-Air Out-Post. I hope you come join us for what promises to be a fun packed day.

Where & When

Collectors Corner, Bel Air – Saturday May 7, 9am to 4pm

Free To Attend

Collectors Corner, 17 N Main St, Bel Air, MD 21014

What Will Be Here?

This is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY there will be free comics, cosplay and a number of events throughout the day… Plus this is your only chance to get hold of the Exclusive Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders FCBD Book in print! Supplies will be limited and each book will come with a sketch card print of one of the Cuddly Defenders!

What I Am Bringing 

The Tristan & the Cuddly Defenders FREE COMIC BOOK DAY Book!
Hero Ted – the Superhero Teddy Bear Comic
Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Comics: Out Of The Attic
Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Graphic Novel: Friends
The Teddy Bear Tales Illustrated Adventures One and Two
Tristan the Teddy Bear Goes to the Moon Imagination Adventure Story book
The Wonder Tales: Once Upon A Time Adventures Stories – Books One, Two & The Daughter Of Frost
Fabula Zero – Exposition Graphic Novel
The Cuddly Sketch Card Prints – Heroes and Villains with a Cuddly Make-over.
Full Size Prints – including Groot, Rocket Raccoon and more…
Original Art, Sketch Cards, Teddy Bears and more…

I will also be joined by Charmingly Geeky, the handmade Geek Collectors Nerd…  Tristan and I look forward to seeing y’all there.

 

See You At Fandomonium: A Library Comic Book Convention This Saturday In Rosedale

Next stop on the Alt World Studios convention tour is my first library show: Fandamonium at the Rosedale Library right here in Baltimore County. I’ve never done a Library based comic convention before, so this should be a new little big adventure for us all.

When And Where

Fandamonium, A Library Comic Book Convention: Saturday, April 30 – 1.00p.m to 4.00p.m

Location: Rosedale Library Meeting Room

Free To Attend

Rosedale Branch Library, 6105 Kenwood Avenue, Rosedale, Maryland 21237

What Will Be Here?

This is a mini-comic convention, so this is a great chance to stop by and talk to creators about their work, browse comics and dip your toe into the amazing work of comic book story telling. There also will be a ‘How To Get Into Comics’ Panels hosted by myself and David Crispino.

What I Am Bringing 

Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Comics: Out Of The Attic Issues #1 & #2
Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Graphic Novel: Friends
The Teddy Bear Tales Illustrated Adventures One and Two
Tristan the Teddy Bear Goes to the Moon Imagination Adventure Story book
The Wonder Tales: Once Upon A Time Adventures Stories – Books One, Two & The Daughter Of Frost
Fabula Zero – Exposition Graphic Novel
The Cuddly Sketch Card Prints – Heroes and Villains with a Cuddly Make-over.
Full Size Prints – including Groot, Rocket Raccoon and more…
Original Art, Sketch Cards, Teddy Bears and more…

Come out and support your local Library and their events! Tristan and I look forward to seeing y’all there.

First Look At The Mr Button One-Shot Comic A Very Different Teddy Bear Tale (NSFW)

This is a first look at a comic book page from Mr Button One-Shot. This is a very, very different Teddy Bear Tale about Mr Button who has decided to tackle the Monster under the bed problem in a very unique way. This isn’t a cuddly story and the following preview is not suitable for work, and it borderline Rated R… So you have been warned…

Mr Button, One-Shot will be debuting at Awesome Con 2016

Returning To Annapolis Book Festival This Saturday!

Yay! I will be returning the Annapolis Book Festival this Saturday at the Key School and you will find Tristan and me in the Comic Key at the Art Building. This will be a third year returning to this event and I look forward to seeing y’all there for what is a great little show that celebrates everything literature

Up… Up… And Away… With The Hero Ted Kickstarter Reward Sketch Cards

Recently the Hero Ted Kickstarter to get our Superhero Teddy Bear’s comic book published ended, and we were successful. One of the rewards of this project was a hand drawn sketch card of Hero Ted; also the first day adopters also got a sketch card for jumping on board.

Up… Up… And Away… The Sketch Cards

These mini-illustrations will going out with the Hero Ted comic book that is being released on May 7. Here are the Heroic cards below.

Thank you for backing Hero Ted, you can learn more about the comic book and pre-order it here.

We Baited Our Tiger Trap With a Tuna Fish Sandwich And Look What We Caught…

We caught Horace the Tiger… This special cuddly toy is searching for playtime, this lonely tiger has never experienced the joy of playing and to just go exploring.

Left forgotten on a storeroom shelf, Horace decided to set off on a quest to find his playtime companion after watching a young girl play with her Cuddly Bunny.

First he went exploring, discovering all the places children play and the hidden portals used by the Monsters under the Bed to travel from the realm of Underbed to our world. Now he travels from bedroom to bedroom stopping the Boogeyman and his Monsters under the bed from invading our bedtime; as he searches for his playtime companion.

Now Horace the Tiger has joined the Cuddly Defenders Toy Range, handmade in the USA by Custom Teddy Bear Artist Dot from Dotsbears you can order Horace to be your playtime companion here.

 

My 2016 Convention Season Begins At Hayfield Comic Con

The official start of the convention season 2016 for Tristan and me begins at Hayfield Comic Con this Saturday, a great little show that supports the Hayfield After-School Programs.

Where And When

Hayfield Comic Con

April 2, 2016 – 10am to 4pm

Free to attend. But, please enter the Epic Loot Table Raffle all funds go to the Hayfield After-School Programs.

Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315

What Will Be At The Con?

The Epic Loot Table: Hayfield Con does not charge an entry fee. We don’t want money to be something that bars people from having a good time, but we do have a fundraising raffle that will support Hayfield’s after school program. By entering the raffle you also receive the Hayfield Con Con-Quest, a scavenger hunt around the convention hall which can earn you more raffle tickets, as well as ensure you’ve hit all of the best con sights. The raffle prizes will range from indie artists works, to donations from various stories in the NOVA area.
The CosPlay-Ground: An area of cardboard cut outs, props and backgrounds where cosplayers can pose for photos and attendees can meet their favorite heroes.
CosPlay Contest: Just what it says. The prize last year was a replica Mjolnir.
LARP Demo: One of our local LARP groups will have a campground/battlefield within the courtyard embedded within the artists alley area. Here they will be demonstrating the basics of LARPing, and provide attendees the ability to see what it is like to LARP.
Panels: Three panels featuring both seasoned veterans and student voices will be spread throughout the day.
More: Video Game Tournaments, Artist’s Alley, and more comics than you can shake a stick at.

What I Am Bringing…

Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Comics: Out Of The Attic Issues #1 & #2
Tristan and the Cuddly Defenders Graphic Novel: Friends
The Teddy Bear Tales Illustrated Adventures One and Two
Tristan the Teddy Bear Goes to the Moon Imagination Adventure Story book
The Wonder Tales – Once Upon A Time Adventures Stories
Fabula Zero – Exposition Graphic Novel
The Cuddly Sketch Card Prints – Heroes and Villains with a Cuddly Make-over.
Full Size Prints – including Groot, Rocket Raccoon and more…
Original Art, Sketch Cards, Teddy Bears and more…

Also I will be accompanied by Charmingly Geeky, your source for all things handmade and geeky, from hand-made superhero rag dolls to custom jewelry.

Come out and support your local comic convention, Tristan and I look forward to seeing you all there!