<Episode 33>

She could hear the usual noise and commotion coming from the common area as they walked through the hallways. Looking over at Jack she watched for a reaction. Much like she feared he started to shrink back a bit. Good thing they weren’t headed that way, it would have been too much too soon. Gently she took his hand and guided him foreword, he still tried to hesitate. Especially when a couple of Drakan passed them. She gave his hand a quick squeeze when it looked like he was going to take off. “Easy Jack,” she said, “we’re almost there.”

“I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t be here,” was all he said while he scratched his beard he’d grown. He started looking around like he was searching for something, or someone. Rachel quickly grabbed his face and made him look at her.

“We’re all alone,” she assured him. Subconsciously she started stroking his cheek until he calmed down. It’s been little over a month since it happened, and right now all she wanted to see some of that progress Dusty said he was making in public. “Like I said we’re almost there and I know you have to be hungry.”

“I shouldn’t be out,” was all he told her. “I shouldn’t be here.”

“Dusty said it’d be alright for you to get out and walk around for a little bit,” she explained to him again. “Just as long as we didn’t overwhelm you on your first time out. And Melissa said the cafeteria is pretty quiet this time of day.”

“I don’t know,” he said quickly. “They’re going to be there.”

Do not go backtracking on us now. “Our friends are going to be there. Sparky and Arron are waiting for us. Even Emily said she might join us.” She was trying very hard to not sound like she was talking to a child, but was worried it was coming out that way any way. “We can do this some other time if don’t feel like it right now. Just let me know alright.”

Jack looked unsure of himself then he replied, “I… I want to do this. I need to do this.” Rachel wasn’t sure but if it was her imagination or not, but she would swear on a stack of bibles some of his old determination returned to his eye briefly.

Rachel smiled slightly, “That’s the spirit.” Taking his hand again they walked the rest of the way. She stopped by the door before entering, just to give him a couple of moments to prepare himself. When he was ready Rachel led him in. Arron and Sparky were at the table both with a big smile on there faces. She glanced at Jack who suddenly found the floor very interesting. One step at a time she reminded herself. The cafeteria wasn’t as empty as she would have liked, but you couldn’t have everything. At least most of them weren’t staring at him.

“Hi there buddy,” Sparky greeted him.

“Hey man,” Arron said.

Jack returned it with a slightly weak, “Hey.”

“How’s the food?”, she asked as they sat down.

“About the same,” Sparky told her. “I don’t know what it is but the quality has been dipping for the past couple of weeks.”

“Dude, we’re living underground,” Arron said. “What kind of quality are you expecting?”

“Man you’re the rich kid,” he shot back.

“Here we go again,” Arron sighed.

“I’m just saying you should be with me on this one. You’ve gone from the finer things in life to this. I say you demand some better food. For morale if nothing else.”

“Leave Fido alone will ya.”

All three of them looked right at Jack. For a brief moment he looked liked his old self, although to Rachel it looked a bit forced. But Hell, right now she’ll take it. “I have to agree with these two,” she told Sparky.

“You just asked me hear so you can gang up on me didn’t you?”, he joked. “Usually I’d be a tad tee’d off, but I’m just glad my best bud is out of that stuffy ass room. This hole hasn’t been the same without you around.”

“I’ll go grab us some food,” Arron said as he got up.

“Thanks Arron,” Rachel told him.

“The kid’s been taking real good care of you bike,” Sparky told Jack. “Just like it was his own baby,” Jack just nodded. “Hell I think you might have a hard time getting it back.” She was certain he was trying to get a rise out of him, but apparently he wasn’t biting. Then he added, “Of course it’s a shame to just let it sit there. I mean a machine like that needs, no, wants to be out on the streets.”

“You’re not racing my bike,” Jack told him plainly.

Read the rest of this entry »

NEW MUTANTS #5
“The Calm”
WARLOCK IS BACK! Everyone’s favorite alien is back on Earth, but why? Also, see the effects that UTOPIA had on Illyana and the rest of her crew and witness the most vicious fight ever to grace the pages of NEW MUTANTS. The combatants? Cannonball and Dani Moonstar.

WONDER WOMAN #36
“The Rise of the Olympian” has changed Wonder Woman’s life completely, and it’s not over yet as repercussions are still being felt all over the world! In this issue, Diana finds herself fighting for her life against the man destined by the gods to take her place – Achilles, the Warkiller!

Read the rest of this entry »

I sat down recently to have a chat with Dan Ewing, who plays the badass cybernetic hybrid, Dillon, on this season of Power Rangers. In our interview, we discuss his role in the series, how things might have changed when their first showrunner was replaced, and what his response is to some fans’ criticisms.

Courtesy of The HeroPower Show.

-Dr. Tristan

I apologize that Ultraman doesn’t get a lot of love on HJU’s front page, but this……………. WOW. O__O Not only does it look kickass, but it happens to be directed by the Power Ranger legend himself, Koichi Sakamoto!

As of this trailer, consider myself SOLD! I’m going to have to check out some Ultra Galaxy episodes so I can be up to speed once this hits. The only other Ultrman thing I’ve seen was something called Ultraman and The Ultra Brothers or something. I have no doubt that all of you know what I’m talking about, and it was phenomenal. Looks like this comes out December 12th, so it’ll be quite sometime before it hits our shores. Which means I’ll have plenty of time to brush up on my Ultraman lore.

Here’s the Wikipedia synopsis:

The film is promoted to feature characters from Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Mebius, and Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle (NEO). The film is also to feature the first evil Ultraman named Ultraman Belial, who was imprisoned long ago by the Ultraman King and also feature’s Ultraman Zero son of Ultraseven. Ultraman Zero has an armored form called the Tecter Gear Zero. Belial has access to the Giga Battle Nizer, a device similar to those from the Ultra Galaxy series which gives him the power to control one hundred Ultra Monsters which he uses to attack the Land of Light in Nebula M78, the home of all Ultramen.

I say bring it on. If you wanna wear your Ultraman love, remember that we do have t-shrits.

That’s right. You got four more days to get in on this deal too, so I hope it’s pay day. You know those toys where you say, “Hey… that’s not that much. I could afford that!” Then you feel that swift kick to your shins when you see the shipping cost? But by then.. in for a penny, in for a pound.

For four more days, you get what you pay for. So that sexy IXA Caliber or Riser that’s only 10 bucks right now…. is still 10 motherloving bucks when you buy it. And if it’s your first toku toy… that’s one helluva deal. Get on it before time runs out.

Matt Mullins, aka Kamen Rider Wing Knight, scored himself a part in the movie Blood and Bone! This is one helluva fight, so hopefully this is but one of many to come in the flick. Keep an eye out for it!

<Episode 32>

He stared at the report in his hands for a long time, trying to comprehend what he was reading. It was a standard ambush, everything went according to plan. They were even able to capture the mole Perez had detected. The rest of the rebels were able to get away, but the mole was the primary objective. Still there was one thing that was not making any sense. He looked at Perez, who was standing in front of his desk, from over the folder. Raising an eyebrow slightly he asked, “He dropped to the ground?”

“I saw it myself Mr. Anderson,” he answered. “Davidson was midway through activating the system, then he just dropped to his knees.”

“Was he hit by one of our shooters?”

“That was my initial thought too. I even had even had the men search for any trace of blood. But I knew they wouldn’t find any.”

“And why were you so sure of this Mr. Perez?”

“It was the way he fell sir. He didn’t drop like he was shot from a bullet. He just dropped to his knees. In fact from what I saw he stared staring at the back of his hand.”

“His hand,” Anderson asked slowly. His head of the assault team just nodded in response. Anderson closed the report and leaned back into his chair, concentrating. What happened to Davidson? Perez coughed to get his attention. “Yes Mr. Perez?”

“I was wondering how soon until we can start interrogating the mole sir.”

“Ah yes, him,” he leaned foreword a bit. “I’m having medical fix up his leg a bit first. No point in giving the rebels a chance to paint us as barbaric after all. Torturing a helpless, injured captive and all that. We have a very tenuous relationship with the Drakan community as it is Mr. Perez. So don’t put any undo stress on it.”

“In other words,” Perez stated, “don’t target the wounded leg when we finally get the ok for the interrogation.” For a human he caught on pretty quick.

Anderson nodded, “Exactly Mr. Perez.”

“It’d be easier to get something out of him if we did.”

Locking his fingers together he told him, “Think of it as an opportunity to be creative Mr. Perez. Mr. Taylor will let you know when it’s your turn with the captive, so you may want to start thinking of ways of making him talk.” Perez said he would and left the office and him alone with his thoughts.

Anderson stood up and faced the window behind his desk. Clasping his hands behind his back he looked at the people below. Slowly his head turned and his gaze came upon the file on his desk. Once again he was left with the question, what happened to Davidson?

***

Read the rest of this entry »

UNCANNY X-MEN # 515
The effects of UTOPIA are felt here! One of the original X-Men makes his exit!

BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #2 (OF 3)
It’s a crisis in Smallville as Psycho Pirate attacks! Plus, Superman’s dead bride returns as a Black Lantern! And she joins in on the haunting of Smallville in the second part of this terrifying 3-issue epic from writer James Robinson (SUPERMAN, STARMAN) and artist Eddy Barrows (TEEN TITANS, ACTION COMICS)!
Read the rest of this entry »

We had a pretty damn good laugh on the latest episode of HJU Radio in honor of this badass villian of Kamen Rider. Thought I’d share it with the rest of you.

Click for a bigger picture.

FUCK YES! Bandai has heard the cries of our hearts, and given that joy back to God. Kamen Rider IXA gets a SH Figuart!

According to IgaDevil, IXA is coming out in January 2010 for 3,360 yen.
So the moment this badass goes up on HLJ.Com, you can bet I’ll have it pre-ordered.

Speaking of IXA…. the contest rages on.