I haven't written a regular review of comics and graphic novels since "The Newsletter of Artistic Influence" stopped printing several years ago. However, I was recently given the opportunity to take a preview of the new multi-platform media project "Parallel Man", specifically the comic book mini-series "Invasion America: Issue 1 of 7."

The premise of the Parallel Man is a return to the Multiverse Theory postulated by Quantum physics. Our Universe is like a pearl on a chain, side by side with a potentially infinite number of parallel universes. Like the television series "Sliders" and like one of my favorite role playing games from the 1990's "TORG: The Possibility Wars", the engine of the story is partially fueled by the ability to travel between these universes of possibility.

The method in Parallel Man is by far much more precisely controlled than "Sliders" or "TORG" however. During World War II, the Allied Forces in one parallel Earth developed the ability to travel from one parallel world to another.  The Ascendancy used this ability to defeat their version of the Axis by traveling to nearby universes they then mapped for resources, equipment and technology. They didn't stop there though. With a sinister name like the Ascendancy no one would be shocked to find that they proceeded to declare war and eventually conquer several of their adjoining parallel Earths.

When we come in to the story, the Ascendancy leader, third generation dictator Warren Cartwright III is issuing an ultimatum to Barack Obama. Meanwhile, one of the Ascendancy's undercover operatives has decided to go rogue. A squadron of Ascendancy peacekeepers is hot on his tail in no time at all though. He is pursued by female version of evil Jerry O'Connell, and daughter of fearless leader, Mackenzie Cartwright through a thrilling series of alternate Earths. I especially wanted to spend more time in Chinamerica Chicago, purely for unwholesome interests.

Visually, the comic book has a pulp style that is warmly reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons from the eighties and early nineties. The vehicles, weapons, and costumes place the style in a romanticized pop sci fi period that reminds me of being a kid again. I mean seriously, who can resist an airship that looks like it belongs with the G.I. Joe team flying over alternate Chicago with Bronze age dinosaurs on other dinosaur's backs.

Tomorrow night it returns once more. Welcome with me the Super Moon to our humble sphere. Looking for submissions of poetry dedicated to love, magic, & our friend, the Super Moon.

This was the last time that I met up with the Super Moon.

Super Moon: Balladeer

Damian Sheridan

Bone-bleaching White

Unterrestrial Distant

Considering the agent

Of space-clouds white

Whisper me your song

You’re the Moon

Immaculate and grand

Beautific and arcane

Eldritch like snow

Casting the net of what we

As objects of the Stellar

Derived from and are driven toward

Burning star love

Passion Ancient

Grinding out loud

The whisper of Unimpressable Time

Majestic Planetoid

Inspiring and Watching

Wan the Moon

 

Long Lost Brothers..Reunited?

 

Are Groot from "Guardians of the Galaxy" and Station from "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" secretly brothers?  I leave it for you to decide.

Okay at first glance I know what you are thinking.  Station is clearly a rather beaky alien hominid or two of animal origins.  Groot on the other hand is some kind of ambulatory hybrid plantlike thing.  Okay, point against them for first impressions.  These guys look nothing alike.  One clearly takes after dad, the other looks more like mom.

Delving deeper though, I think you will begin to come around to my way of thinking.

Firstly; Station is, according to lore, the most brilliant creature in the galaxy.  Whenever anyone talks to him/them though all they get is the name "Station".  The funny thing is though that people he's talking to understand what he means even though all he keeps saying is "Station".  They realize that "Station" can be everything they need to say to get their point across.  I "Station" you, dude.

Groot travels with Rocket Raccoon. When you strike up a conversation with Groot all he seems to say is "I am Groot".  However, first Rocket and then later other members of the Guardian team begin to realize the subtle nuances of  the phrase.  They start to realize when he says "I am Groot", he is really stating or asking a host of other things.

Point the second; Although not the smartest creature in the galaxy, Groot is a very thoughtful and intuitive giant plant-minid.  He is able to assess a situation and stimulate a host of biochemical changes leading to reviving stimulants, bioluminescence, active and passive defences, and even a host of offensive capabilities to protect himself and those he calls his friends.

Kind of similar to what Station was able to do with the stuff out of the back of Bill and Ted's van.  With a collateral run to the local hardware store enough pieces were put together to build good Bill and Ted androids to combat the evil ones and save the day...."Stayyshuuun"!

Thirdly; both Station and Groot, from small beginnings come big possibilities.

And.

So, setting their physical differences aside, inside Station and Groot are clearly blood/chlorophyll brothers.

In case you were still on the fence I would like to point out to you my fourth point that both Station and Groot love to dance. (Yeah, sorry I couldn't find the clip from the end of Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey where Station busts a move.  But it's there).