Dune: Edge of a Crysknife (2026)

Dune: Edge of a Crysknife (2026)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrators: Simone Ragazzoni / Andrea Scalmazzi / Francesco Mazzoli | Page Count: 112

The BOOM! Studios hype department are fucking hilarious. Described as a 'pivotal collection' in the 'expanded Dune universe', Edge of a Crysknife is the most vacuous, stretched-thin canvas of meaningless, desolate comicbook crap that serial franchise-milkers B. Herbert + K. J. Anderson have shat out thus far.

It promises 'two thrilling standalone stories exploring the myth and legacy of Shadout Mapes', at different times in her life. In reality, it's amateurish fanfic, with woeful dialogue that more often than not is just characters stating intentions. None of it has any weight or drama.

For those that don't already know, A Crysknife is the tooth of an Arrakis sandworm fashioned into a combat knife, traditionally wielded by Fremen warriors.

Shadout Mapes, a minor character in Frank Herbert's original DUNE (1965) novel, was of Fremen origin. I think the implication is that she is as deadly as a Crysknife blade's edge. Or mayhap that she lives her life as if on a knife edge?

Various: TV Pilots + First Episodes

There are many TV Series from yesteryear that I'd like to check out — either for the first time, or from a more experienced, adult perspective — but for various reasons don't have time to do so.

TV Pilots / First Episodes can help decide what to prioritise, so I'm taking that route. I typically get more joy from 70s + 80s TV than I do from modern stuff, so I'm starting there. Call it an 'age thing' if you want. I'm Generation X. Rather than let those encounters go to waste or be forgotten in the years to come, I've chosen to record some of them here. In the order watched:

Star Trek TOS Art by Leo Leibelman

Star Trek Art by Leo Leibelman

Oils on Masonite Board (afaik) | Year(s): Unknown

Ghost[s] in the Shell: Versions (1991—)

There's a lot of Ghost in the Shell content out there. But if you're new to the franchise, what order would you tackle them in? Can you skip any? Would you want to? If I was to gather up all that I own and offer it to a friend who had yet to experience anything GitS related, to avoid too much confusion I'd suggest that he/she approach them in the following order. Links to the relevant media's review page(s) will be included, when available. I fully expect that what follows will get a little complicated for people who aren't major fans (bad pun intended).

DUNE: The Official Movie Graphic Novel (2022)

DUNE: The Official Movie Graphic Novel (2022)

Author: Lilah Sturges | Artist: Drew Johnson | Colourist: Zid | Page Count: 120

If you look through the contents page of both this blog and my main one, The 7th and Last, you'll notice that I really like Frank Herbert's DUNE. Over the years I've read all six of the original novels multiple times.

Beyond the printed page, I've watched the David Lynch film so much that I could probably replay the entire movie in my head with a fair level of accuracy. And I've even watched the TV Miniseries about half a dozen times. Then there's the many video games, soundtracks, and previous comic book adaptations, all of which vary greatly in their relatedness and believability.

What I've not watched is the film version made by Legendary Pictures in 2021, for various reasons, none of which will add much to this review. The reason I mention it at all is because the comic book in question is an adaptation of it, not of Frank Herbert's original novel.

The film's fans claim it's very faithful to the source, so I figured I'd be in familiar territory, at least. Nevertheless, it means I'm writing about an adaptation of a film that I've not seen, which is a rarity for me. But I'll give it a try.

Voivod Comics (Mockups)

Voivod Comics - FAKE

I'd a lot of fun creating the Manowar Comics (Mockups), so started thinking about what other bands from my record collection would fit the format just as well.

Voivod wasn't my first choice (they were the second), but they were certainly the best one. Quite often the songs are stories in themselves, or part of a larger concept/mythology that's expansive and intriguing. The bands iconography, 'out-there' lyrics and concepts could make for an excellent and unique comic book read.

Covers would, of course, be by Voivod's drummer Away, but if he's too busy with making music to devote to interior art, then perhaps someone like Ian Miller or Dean Ormston would work, both of whom I feel could bring something unique but complementary to the table. 

The images that I found on the internet weren't as high res as the Manowar ones were. Some were full of awful JPEG artifacts, so I went for an 'independent comic, fanzine' approach, leaving some errors and 'jaggies' in place. The result was only partially successful, but it could've been worse. There's a few more below the cut.

Dune: The Waters of Kanly (2022)

Dune: The Waters of Kanly (2022)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrator: Francesco Mortarino | Page Count: 24 x 4 issues (inc covers, etc; it's only about 82 of actual story content)

'There was a traitor among the Atreides... a traitor.'

The Herbert + Anderson machine just keep shitting them out. And while it's well-known that you can't polish a turd, it seems you can stretch it out into four parts.

Set after the Battle of Arrakeen, as it happened in Frank Herbert's first DUNE novel (1965), it follows Gurney Halleck, the weapons master of House Atreides. In order to properly comment on the story I'll need to refer to the outcome of that battle, so there will be MAJOR SPOILERS for the first novel in what follows.

Folks who've read the novel will know that from Gurney's perspective his beloved Duke is dead, as is the noble's son and the Lady Jessica, all because someone inside of House Atreides lowered the shield walls, giving the Harkonnens a strategic advantage. Gurney and about six dozen other survivors lick their wounds and take shelter with smugglers. The Waters of Kanly invents a story of what he did while he was there, before his return in the original text.

Godzilla: Millennium Era Japanese Film Posters

Godzilla: Millennium Era Japanese Film Posters

Related to the Godzilla posts on The 7th and Last.

It's what the title says. Images are arranged in sequential order.

Godzilla: Heisei Era Textless Japanese Film Posters

 Godzilla: Heisei Era Textless Japanese Film Posters
Related to the Godzilla posts on The 7th and Last.

It's what the title says. Images are arranged in sequential order.

Godzilla: Shōwa Era Japanese Blu-ray Cover Art

Godzilla: Shōwa Era Japanese Blu-ray Cover Art

Related to the Godzilla posts on The 7th and Last.

It's what the title says. Images are arranged in sequential order.

2000 AD Profiles: The Clown

The Clown

Creators: Igor Goldkind + Robert Bliss | Appearances to date: 16

''Clothes make the man' is how the old saying goes. Of course the apparel we assume doesn't always reflect the pattern of our intentions. Garments conceal as much as they reveal. And for some there is no difference between the costume and the man...'

Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar (2021)

Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar (2021)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrator: Adam Gorham | Page Count: 42

[No Quote]

A one-shot story set in the DUNE universe, revolving around a Sardaukar colonel by the name of Jopati Kolona, who, according to the promotional blurb, must 'choose between duty and forgiveness', but it's not in any meaningful way, thanks to the weak characterisation and dull backstory that the 'elite' military leader is given.

Under orders from the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV, Col. Jopati participates in a situation that he deems dishonourable, and which gives rise to a moral dilemma.

Interestingly, the story's primary setting is the same as it was in the other one-shot by the same authors that I read recently, A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2021), which featured soldiers from the opposing army. The situations are different but occur around the same time. [1]

Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2021)

Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2021)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrator: Jakub Rebelka | Page Count: 41

"There is a power in memories... in stories."

An overpriced comic book adapted from the first ever DUNE universe tie-in short story from the combined incompetence of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

It purports to be issue No. 1, but it's really just a one-shot. It's just more publisher lies. BOOM!' Studios did the same with the Blood of the Sardaukar one-shot, too.

It's set in the year 10, 191 at the Battle of Arrakeen, which occurred in Frank Herbert's first DUNE novel.

A contingent of Atreides guards get trapped in an Arrakis cave during the conflict, and slowly begin running out of food, air, hope, or anything interesting to say.

The leader of the group is Sergeant Hoh Vitt, a storyteller from a long line of storytellers, who, it's alleged, has the ability to spin a yarn that's so all-consuming and influential to men's minds that it's considered a powerful and dangerous skill.

The Official Star Trek Fact Files (1997-2002)

The Official Star Trek Fact Files (1997-2002)

Authors: Various | Illustrators: Various | Page Count: 8512 (28 pp x 304 issues)

(Alternatively, 7904 not counting the cover + table of contents of each individual issue.)

Partworks - they keep making them, so there must be an acceptable profit margin in it for publishers, even though a huge percentage of folks will get pissed off with the duration and expense and give up buying the damned things before the final issue rolls off the presses.

The Official STFF ran longer than most, over five years, and anyone buying the bi-monthly issues was lucky if their copy wasn't dog-eared and coming apart at the seams, which were designed to come apart (they were perforated), but not, I think, before they even left the fuggin' store!

Information on what the Files contain is better documented on the dedicated Star Trek wikis (Memory Alpha, for example), so if you want a detailed rundown, I recommend visiting those.

What's below is just one person's thoughts on the publication. I didn't have the full collection, I stopped buying the issues when the store that I got them from failed to fulfil the request, but I'd a hell of a lot. I donated the entirety of what I had to a children's charity some years back, when moving into a smaller property, but I got years of enjoyment from them and am pleased that they also aided a good cause - and this post.

ABANDONED POST: Star Trek Voyager TV Movies

Star Trek: VOY: The [In]Complete TV Movies

Dirs. Various / 12 feature-length TV Movies / 1008 mins (approx total)

I've no plans to cover the individual seasons of Voyager on The 7th and Last blog, but because I did the TV 'Movies' for both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, I wanted to finish that timeline. There are twelve VOY two-parters in all and once again this post will be longer than the usual length. For the record, I won't ever be doing the same for Enterprise or Discovery.

Textless Film Posters: Part Three

Textless Film Posters: Part Two

Textless Film Posters: Part One

Masters of the Universe: Golden Books: Soft Covers (1983-86)

MotU: Golden Books: Super Adventure Book
Soft Cover Editions (1983-86)

Author(s): Various | Illustrator(s): various | Page Count: ???

Most of what I know about the Masters of the Universe: Golden Books publications was learned from a Vaults of Grayskull page, which is also where the majority of the images used in this post were obtained, so all credit to the folks there for what's presented here. If seeing the covers collected on a blog is of interest to you, too, then proceed below the cut:

Doctor Who: Relaunched Series Box Sets

Doctor Who: Relaunched Series Box Sets (2005-17)

Related to the Doctor Who posts on The 7th and Last.