Showing posts with label aliens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aliens. Show all posts

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Why do the aliens invade?


Any number of MacGuffins or standard scifi tropes would likely do, to serve as impetus from otherworldly conquerers. But this story gave me a pretty good idea as to why aliens in GWW might have reason to take over our planet--and not care if the surface was scorched clean by death rays. As it turns out, the Earth may hold up to three times more water reserves than previously thought--deep underground.

The V mini-series from the 80s was right all along!
From The Guardian:
The water is locked up in a mineral called ringwoodite about 660km (400 miles) beneath the crust of the Earth, [emphasis mine] researchers say. Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen from Northwestern University in the US co-authored the study published in the journal Science and said the discovery suggested Earth’s water may have come from within, driven to the surface by geological activity, rather than being deposited by icy comets hitting the forming planet as held by the prevailing theories.

“Geological processes on the Earth’s surface, such as earthquakes or erupting volcanoes, are an expression of what is going on inside the Earth, out of our sight,” Jacobsen said.
So the Earth is, in fact, an even bigger source for water in the solar system. Not to mention the fact that the reserves could be inspiration for the "great cataclysm" itself. It makes sense, from a narrative standpoint why the subterranean-dwelling valids would want to jealously protect the Earth's remaining, untouched resources.

What more can I say, science is cool!

Read more

Friday, October 4, 2013

Try this setting for your next Gamma World game...

Every recipe begins with a good base...
Click image for publication info

Mix in some Mars Attacks miniatures from this upcoming game on Kickstarter...



Then add in a dash of background reading...

This post (skip to the bit on WW Doom)

...the first volume of the newly revived Mars Attacks comics.....

Click image for publication info

....a little pinch of the also newly revived Dinosaurs Attack! comic from IDW....

Click image for publication info

....plus a heap of James Stokoe's incredible Godzilla The Half Century War...

Click image for publication info

Then top it off with a little video* preview for your players:



Voila! A feast of post-apocalyptic mayhem--just in time for the weekend!


UPDATE: Gah! Apologies, that last clip has been yanked by WB. As soon as--I guess--the official one pops up I'll revise. Until then, here's a little something to tide you and your players over:




*Clip is a trailer for a movie coming out May 16, 2014 ;)

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Casting Call: Alien Overlords #2

So a long while back I was hemming and hawing over what to use as a base template for alien overlords. I wanted something gonzo, but not too wacky. They had to be intimidating and sufficiently weird. Here's our next crop of candidates:

Kelly Freas cover


Ovion from BSG

Here's an ovion concept by Ralph McQuarrie. Man, 4-LOM from Star Wars WISHES he had four-arms. 

Speaking of Star Wars, I always found the Quarren race particularly creepy (though I think I'd make mine indigo-skinned to up the "weirdness" aspect).


Skitters from Falling Skies

Selenites from First Men on the Moon

I guess I'm vacillating between squid and insects these days. Man that Freas cover is great though--grotesque, menacing as soldiers but also strange enough to look highly intelligent. Might just have a winner there.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Billy Ocean is awesome and obviously a mutant alien of some sort



Man, this is awesome--why don't I remember seeing this?

MISSION: Stat up that goat-lizard dude and make him a Gamma duke or baron in your next game! And I should have guessed that Jawas worshiped Billy Ocean.

Via io9.com

Friday, April 20, 2012

Sneak peek of IDW's new Mars Attacks! comic #1

OH YES, I WILL BE ADDING IT TO MY PULL LIST.




Story & Letters by John Layman
Art by John McCrea
Colors by Andrew Elder
...with a cover by sci-fi legend Wally Wood!

Images: Comic Book Resources, visit their site for more pics!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

1990s Planet of the Apes meets Alien Nation comes sooooo close...


...but no cigar. Still, it's at least worth noting this article up on io9 about a forgotten, 1990s Alien Nation / Planet of the Apes crossover comic called Ape Nation. At first glance, appears to have "Gamma World War!" written all over it. Here's the rundown:
Long story short, a Tenctonese vessel from Alien Nation time travels to Earth's apish future. Unlike the movie, these Newcomers have conquest on the mind.
Promising, right? Just to be sure, let's check it against the GWW litmus:
  • Mutants? CHECK. Ape-men are def. mutants.
  • Aliens? CHECK. L.A. County is chock full of space invaders.
  • Humans? CHECK. Doesn't look like they're featured, but still technically part of the PoTA universe.
  • Global post-apocalypse setting? CHECK. Just regular, old PoTA world though.
According to the article the story seems to focus more on power struggles (snore!) and getting aliens drunk on sour milk.

My heart pines for a true successor to the GWW title--something that really expands on the aliens coming to clean the clocks of humanity and mutant-kind leftovers. If only....

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Casting Call: Alien Overlords

This has been bugging me for a while. I want to be able to visualize what these buggers look like so I can flesh out their stats and give them a proper backstory. I have some ideas for both look and how they should play, but I'm not so wedded to them that I couldn't update it if I was inspired by something really interesting. My only rule is no greys. They're just boring. Yes, they may have seeded our civilization with ancient knowledge about how to construct the pyramids. They're also bland. But that' doesn't mean all cliches are out. So let's start with the obvious--big, headed aliens.

SCREEN TEST: BIG HEADED ALIENS, TAKE ONE:















I threw M.O.D.O.K. in there because, well, what the hay--he's freaky lookin'. Beholders are aliens. We all know it. And you've got to pay tribute to the martians. They're the ones who started it all!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Illustration Inspiration: the Work of Bill Hauser (updated)


This some fabulous, gonzo illustration madness by a guy named Bill Hauser here in the Twin Cities. These are mostly covers for metal/thrash bands (I think) and while I'm not much of a headbanger I'm digging on the detail and the wonderful character designs. There's a few gorier ones I didn't post, but in general I think the outright zaniness--and the skill level in which it's rendered--is just perfect for a Gamma-type setting. If I had my own George-Lucas-level-funded art dept. I'd make him Art Director!

Click to embiggen







Love his scifi stuff!


UPDATE 12-21-14: Here's a few more recent pieces. His stuff reminds me of the DCC zines that are making the rounds these days. 





Bill often takes commissions, you should definitely hire him!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Day the Saucers Came



Here's a lovely little video created by Matt McGee from Neil Gaiman's poem "The Day the Saucers Came." A lovely bit of inspiration to help capture the impending invasion of Gamma Terra. Enjoy!

Hat tip to Kuriositas!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Vintage Mars Attacks Cards Scans!


If there's a patient zero in post-modern America that fed the "gamma strain" into the pop culture mileu, the Mars Attacks collectible cards are a prime suspect.

Here's a few juicy scans posted on Flickr (hat tip to Boing Boing, BTW) of the set, as released in the 60s. They were, of course, the guiding inspiration behind Tim Burton's 1996 film.



Enjoy!