The Future

The future is going to be amazing. Just reading a copy of Space Discovery: Fact & Fiction from 1979 right now and apparently the next 25 years of space travel is going to be amazing. We're gonna have space bases not only on the Moon, but maybe also the planet Mars. Incredible huh? The international governments will be trying to terraform the Mars to make it habitable. This is where they build up the levels of Carbon Dioxide in Mars' atmosphere to increase the temperature of the entire planet, thus melting the ice caps of Mars. Apparently it's a very hard thing to do, but then again, we seem to being a good job of it here.

Monkeys in Space

Trawl through enough science fiction and this theme will occur again and again. It hit full swing in the 1970's of course with the Planet of the Apes movies and TV shows but it doesn't stop there. This Arthur Ranson pic from a Judge Anderson graphic novel is one such novelty. Such a weird concept, but it's got it's roots in reality. The US, the French and the USSR all put monkeys into space at some point. In fact, monkeys were in space before humans. Sadly though a lot of these animals were lost in returning in the atmosphere or through parachute failure. It's all pretty interesting, although slightly sad. Have a read though. I've chucked a link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkeys_in_space

Judge Dredd...Another Reason I'm a Geek

The evidence is stacked against me. No matter how hard I try, I'm drawn to old comics, sci-fi feature films and I wouldn't feel too out of place at a Star Wars convention. I've given up saying I'm not and I've started embracing the fact that I'm a geek. Not quite a nerd. I don't like Star Trek enough and I use a Mac not PC. Plus, I couldn't fix my own computer to save my life. But, definitely a geek. 

I remember finding this annual in a charity shop and getting excited that it was published the year I was born. Then I convinced myself it could be valuable and that buying it would be an investment. Who am I kidding? This thing will sit in my bookshelf for the next ten years and will probably be joined by a few more graphic novels of a similar geeky ilk. It's in my blood. Some kind of genetic feature that will make my brain be interested in and drawn to  imaginary futuristic scenario's often involving lasers and space travel. Kinda like how evil bad guys are drawn to destroying the world, I think.

So if you're like me, and you know more about the history of the Old Republic than you do about modern history. Or more Vulcan words than those in a real foreign language. Embrace it. Don't be ashamed. What's so good about a real hobby anyway? Just face facts and realise, you're a geek and there's nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong at all. Nerds on the other hand, you guys are still weird. Get your life sorted out.

More on Arthur Ranson

The above is another favourite drawing from one of my favourite artist type guys, Arthur Ranson. Taken form a strip called Shamballa published by 2000AD sometime in the 90's (I'll chuck a link below so I don't get sued by anyone). I'm pretty sure it's based on some Tibetan temple somewhere. Probably in Tibet I guess. The way this guy worked was with a light-box that could change the size of the pictures he was working from and inks. He got a lot of flak from 'tracing' stuff, but it takes skill make something look this good. The ends justifies the means, unless it's war or a road trip to Slough. 

http://www.2000adonline.com/books/judge-anderson-shamballa.php

Arthur Ranson

Search for this guy and all you'll seem to find are a couple of links to info sites, adverts on Amazon and a orthodontist in California with the same name. No-one apart from the most serious comic book store guys no-one seems to have heard about him. Starting his career drawing Danger Mouse in the 70's this guy has got a serious amount of amazing work. I'm gonna try throw a few more scans of his work up on my blog so that at least the four people who read them will have an idea this guy's genius.