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What makes a movie a Christmas movie?

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There is an age old question that has haunted people since the 80s… Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? It takes place at the holidays, there Christmas decorations, Christmas music playing, so doesn’t that make it a Christmas movie? Bruce Willis himself answered this question at his celebrity roast earlier this year when he said:

“‘Die Hard’ is not a Christmas move! It’s a God Damn Bruce Willis movie!”

I know many who would disagree with that sentiment, but that’s where this idea originated. Besides an obvious holiday theme, what makes a movie a Christmas movie?

A great example is the classic Gremlins. It has all the elements of a Christmas movie, just like Die Hard, i.e. it’s Christmas time, decorations, music, etc. The cute little Mogwi is a present for the main character. So what if they turn into deadly little gremlins that kill, maim, and destroy everything in sight. It’s still Christmas, right?

Tim Burton likes making non-Christmas movies at Christmas time. How can you forget Batman Returns with “the Bat, the Cat, and the Penguin” amidst the Gotham City Christmas tree lighting. Then there’s Edward Scissorhands and his freakish hands carving ice to make it snow every Christmas. These have that holiday feel, but are never really considered a holiday movie. I could list dozens more… Trading Places, Lethal Weapon, Rocky IV, and You’ve Got Mail to name a few.

Is it weird to watch movies like this at other times of the year or does it make you one of those Christmas weirdos that watches White Christmas in June? (Hint, I live with one of those weirdos so I know what I’m talking about.)

There are even classic movies that have nothing to do with Christmas but are usually only seen at the holidays. This is because they are family movies and, since families gather at the holidays, it’s the best time to air them. The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory are some of the movies regularly seen this time of year.

So if you’re tired of watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the tenth time since Thanksgiving, I’ve got four words for you… “Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Fucker!”

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon from Austin Macauley Publishing.

Update: The Outlander War is progressing with its first interior artwork

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I am happy to report that The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is progressing nicely through Austin Macauley Publishing and I have my first update.

For the book interior, I requested the Coat of Arms of Lord Bryan MoonDrake, the Gil-Gamesh of Avalon. This is the rendering they sent me. It’s a good likeness, similar to what I had in mind when I created it. Their first rendition had traditional medieval long swords, but I explained the importance of Twlight and Dusk, the Twin Swords of the Dragon Knight. They replicated them beautifully.

The Coat of Arms represents the three tenants of Lord MoonDrake: The swords are the symbol of his title as a Knight of Avalon and the Gil-Gamesh, the Eternal Champion of Avalon; the dragon is a symbol of his magical prowess as a DragonMage and, combined with the crescent moon, represents his name MoonDrake.

This artwork is a first step in working with the artists at the publishers for both interior art and cover art. They responded to my request for changes and came back within a week with the updated drawing. This is what you want to experience in that writer/publisher relationship.

More updates to come as the publishing process continues. I’m still waiting for them to finish editing and send me my manuscript back with red line edits, and cover art. I will keep you I formed as it progresses. Any questions on my publishing experience, please ask in the comments below.

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon from Austin Macauley Publishing.

Let’s talk about what’s right, and wrong, with the new Doctor Who

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So, we’re five episodes into the new season, and a new Doctor, of Doctor Who. I thought I’d take the time to give my opinion on what’s right, and what’s wrong, with the new season. I know that a few of you out there will have your own opinions, so please leave them in the comments and let’s discuss.

RIGHT — Jodie Whitaker — The casting of Jodie Whitaker as the Doctor was spot on. She has the right spunk, sarcasm, honesty, and inspiration of the past actors who have portrayed the Timelord. She is brilliant and has made the role her own. Watching her is like the series never left off. I like how she really gets into explaining things to her companions, not expecting them to get it like past Doctors. Again, RIGHT casting by Chris Chibnal, however…

WRONG — Writing — The current writers of Doctor Who are not keeping things up to the standards we Whovians expect. I think part of the problem is Chibal’s edict not to use classic Doctor Who villains. We like something new to be afraid of, but we also like the hits. I want to see Jodie take on the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Weeping Angel’s, and more! In addition, the plot holes in these episodes are big enough for a Mack Truck to drive through. I mean, what alien travels back in time to stop black people from getting equal rights? It was a powerful statement, but full of holes. Sorry.

RIGHT — Companions — These three companions work, enough said! I love the interaction between them, from the fawning romance between Yaz and Ryan, as well as Graham trying to get Ryan to “fist bump” with him every episode so far. The dynamic between them is great and I hope they can keep it up. Just watching two men be birthing coaches to another man is hilarious to watch. More please!

WRONG — No Christmas Episode — The best gift I get, each and every Christmas, is the Doctor Who Christmas special. After a long day of presents, food, and obnoxious family members, I always looked forward to a great night of television… But not anymore. They have decided to end the holiday specials because “they’ve run out of ideas.” I doubt that. I just think they’re being lazy. We love our Doctor Who Christmas Special and I hope they change their minds.

RIGHT — Everything Whovian — We are seeing the crazy banter between the Doctor and companions, talk about past exploits of previous Doctors, great use of the sonic screwdriver, the awesome new Tardis and theme song, even curious parents about why their daughter is with the Doctor. We are getting a lot of great stuff that is prime Whovian fare.

And finally, WRONG — Showrunner — I am going to give Chris Chibnal the benefit of the doubt for the rest of the season, but as of right now, I really think he’s the wrong fit for the show. I loved Broadchurch but a crime drama is not Doctor Who. He’s trying to be political, a little controversial, and emotional… Which is okay for Doctor Who, but he needs a better ratio in the mix.

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon from Austin Macauley Publishing.

Does controversy make for a good story?

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Who doesn’t like a juicy sex scandal, messy Hollywood break-up, or a political witch hunt? It makes for good theater and a good story. There have been books, movies, and TV shows based around any one of those themes. The question is, does it add or take away from a story?

I think most authors will say “it depends on how it progresses the story,” which I tend to agree with. But, to be honest, I didnt always think that way.

When I wrote my first book, Forever Avalon, I wanted to stay away from controversial issues. I just focused on a fantasy story, nothing for shock value or out there for a fantasy story. I had teenagers at the time and I wanted them to be able to read my novel.

Now, 10 years later, I’m working on my fifth book, and I am looking at more adult themes. I’m adding a little more sex into my stories, some controversial issues (rape, murder, etc.) and I don’t feel bad about it. I thought I would. I question myself with every chapter I write, but I’m sticking with it.

Currently, I’m almost done with the first book of a new fantasy series called The Last Magus about a man who discovers his magical power and the journey he goes on, from apprentice to adventurer. I have plenty of things going on, including a beating and attempted rape of a young woman. I didn’t know how to write that. I was afraid I was being sexist and a misogynist as I wrote that scene, but it was an important part of the story. More recently, I wrote a group sex scene between a male and female magic caster and three Naiads, not for shock value but to fill a hole in the story. In the end, it all worked for my storytelling.

I think watching anime has affected my rationale a little bit. One of the new anime’s I’m watching, Goblin Slayer, started off its first episode with a rape and murder of two female adventurers, and was quite graphic and controversial. It shocked me a bit too, but it did seem more real to me than other anime I’ve watched previously. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve watched some pretty vivid anime (Tokyo Ghoul, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) in my time. It’s just, Goblin Slayer started out like a regular adventuring-style anime and went to left field. But in doing so, I understood the story and the characters a lot more.

Does that make me a bad person? Am I a pervert deep down inside and venting that through my own stories. Well… maybe that last one a bit, but to be honest, you wouldn’t know it if you met me. I’m quite “old fashion” in many ways, but I love to tell stories. Sometimes, you have to be a little naughty, a little gritty, and sometimes controversial to make it real for the reader. Is that so bad?

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a paperback/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon from Austin Macauley Publishing.

It’s hard to pick a top moment from Doctor Who, but here goes

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If it hasn’t been obvious to people reading my blog, I am a diehard Whovian for life! Tom Baker is my Doctor, that says it all! Doctor Who is the best television series in the history of television (sorry I Love Lucy fans). It teaches us history, science, life lessons, and important things like “always bring a banana to a party!”

With more than 50 years and 13 Doctors to choose from, it’s hard to pick a BEST MOMENT from the monumental TV series, but I’m going to give it my best. Apologies in advance if I don’t mention one of your favorites, but please include them in the comments below.

11th Doctor’s Introduction — Matt Smith will go down as one of the great Doctor’s in the series. His introduction after a very sad departure by David Tenant was hilarious as he kissed his legs and checked for ten fingers, eyes, and nose like a father checking over his newborn baby. He even complained he still wasn’t ginger. However, I’m referring to the end of the episode, The 11th Hour, when he walked through a projection of all 10 previous Doctors and introduced himself. From that point on, you had no doubt that he was the Doctor and the universe better pay attention. “Basically, run!” showed us he was not one to be trifled with. After all, he was wearing a bowtie.

Missy Means Mistress — Throughout the first year of Peter Capaldi’s run as the Doctor, we were I reduced to the mysterious Missy. This crazy woman seemed to be wrapped up in the Doctor’s affairs, but no o e knew who she was, until the episode Dark Water when we learned her name was Missy, short for Mistress, the female nomenclature for THE MASTER. This was a huge reveal, shocking all of us to the core. I really think that the fans reaction to Missy was one of the reasons they went with Jodie Whittaker as the 13th Doctor. In any case, Missy ranks right up there as an awesome villain and a perfect foil for the Doctor.

The Titanic in Space — It was wierd enough that they built the Titanic, in space, but then you throw in the Doctor and expect everything to come out okay. This was a fun episode, but the thing that really stands out to me is David Tenant’s speech when asked who he was. He had such a serious look on his face and it really stuck as such a big moment in the history of Doctor Who. In those few seconds, we got everything we needed to know about the Doctor. It was a masterpiece in writing that any Whovian can recite. That’s what makes it memorable.

Don’t Blink — One of the best monsters introduced since the Daleks, and I know I’m going to get some flak for saying, but it’s TRUE. The Weeping Angels are a mystery unto themselves. “The Lonely Assassin’s” have been a part of some of the best episodes in recent memory. They were the cause of Rory and Amy’s death. How do you not get chills up your spine when you hear the laughter and fluttering wings of the “babies” in The Angels Take Manhattan? Or the voice of Angel Bob talking so monotone and scary as he describes dying to the Doctor in Flesh and Stone? I wish they would have made an earlier appearance in the series. Can you imagine Tom Baker taking on the Weeping Angels? I would watch that in a heartbeat.

10’s Long Goodbye — David Tenant had a great run as the Doctor, and his ending was even better. I’m not talking about his final speech… Well, “I don’t want to go” really isn’t a speech. I’m talking about his trip to visit everyone he met in his time as the Doctor. Seeing Rose a year before he met her, Mickey and Martha as married alien bounty hunters, saving Sarah Jane’s son, getting Captain Jack a date, etc. It was a great way to end it all. They wrapped it up neat and tidy, as “his song ended” but the story continued.

The last of my favorite moments in Doctor Who is courtesy of my Doctor, the 4th Doctor, Tom Baker.

Do I Have the Right? — I don’t think there’s a person alive who hasn’t thought “would I go back in time and kill Hitler as a child?” In retrospect, it was Doctor Who that gave life to that question. In the classic Genesis of the Daleks, the Doctor had the chance to end the Daleks before their reign of terror began, but did he have the right. He debated the issue with his companions as he held two wires inches apart. It is a memorable discussion in the philosophy of life and death in a sci-fi TV series.

So, the new series starts Sunday, October 7th. Let’s see if the 13th Doctor can make the list!

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon from Austin Macauley Publishing.

Take a trip back to your childhood through the Hundred Acre Woods

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nullWe all want that magic formula for staying and feeling young. For some, it’s exercising, eating right, no smoking or drinking, etc. For me, it’s watching things like anime, cartoons, and other movies and TV shows from my youth. We’re talking about the 70’s and 80’s, so that includes the classic Winnie the Pooh cartoons. This past weekend, I did just that when I went to see Christopher Robin. I will keep this SPOILER free so as not to ruin the movie for you.

This is definitely a movie that will make you laugh, make you cry, and give you that shot from the Fountain of Youth. I felt so alive after watching this movie. It has your basic plot of man working too hard, ignoring his family, needing a visit back to his childhood to make him see the error of his ways; but this is even better because it includes Winnie the Pooh and friends.

The first thing you have to understand about the movie is the setting. We’re talking England in the early 1900s, so for a young boy its boarding school, responsibilities after a parent dies, war, marriage and family, etc. This was the world of author A.A. Milne, and it was recreated with such precision. Another thing that was done perfectly was the characters. Don’t look for the cartoon Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, etc., but rather a faithful recreation of the art of Ernest H. Shepard. They look like stuffed animals that have been left outside in the yard, but they move and sound like the beloved characters.

Along with the story, you get to hear some of the familiar songs from the original Disney cartoons, like the Tigger song and Pooh’s morning exercise song, as well as some familiar quotes made famous by the characters. That’s what will tie it back to your childhood, at least for the adults going to see the movie; but there are plenty of new moments that will make you laugh and make you cry.

Pooh is as delightful and as charming as ever. He had a certain wit about him that you come to expect from Winnie the Pooh. For a “bear of very little brain” there is a wisdom to what he says that makes him a joy to watch. Personally, I am a diehard Tigger fan, and really expected him to stand out, but it was Eeyore that stole the show. The scene where he and Christopher Robin fight of the Heffalumps is hysterical. He had some of the funniest lines that made me laugh the hardest. Piglet is as adorable as always and, believe it not, former Doctor Who alum Peter Capaldi surprised me as the voice of Rabbit. It was a great ensemble for all these beloved characters.

227679_1063370351891_734_nThe human cast was also quite wonderful. Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, and Bronte Carmichael were brilliant as Christopher Robin and his family. The whole movie was so much fun to watch, from beginning to end, that I actually called my grown-up children afterwards and told them they better go see this movie. It not only reminded me of my childhood, but my time with them too. Want proof? Here’s me and my son with our “idols” at Disney!

You may or may not be a fan of these beloved characters, but I really don’t think that matters with this movie. It such a joy to watch, you won’t be able to help yourself. This a great movie, for couples, families, teenagers, young adults, anyone! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon.

 

The best thing about July is COMIC-CON!

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sdccThis past weekend was one of the best reasons to be a geek… San Diego Comic-Con! SDCC is the pinnacle of geekdom with tons of cosplayers, celebrities, and plenty of new trailers of upcoming movies and TV shows. It is, without a doubt, the mecca for nerds.

This year was no exception. With the debut of the most anticipated trailers for Aquaman and Shazam, along with the debut of Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor in Doctor Who, as well as the premiere of the new DC Comics “streaming” service and their flagship TV series, Titans, and the return of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, this was a monumental comic-con. I think, though, DC Comics stole the show with the myriad of movies and television to show off.

I have to start with television. There were plenty of trailers for the complete line-up of the CW’s DC shows, from The Flash to Arrow, Supergirl, Black Lightning, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. The biggest announcement from that is the theme for it’s mid-season crossover event and next new series… Batwoman. This character has grown in popularity as part of the mainstream Batman universe over the past few years and now, she gets a starring role on her own. From the looks of things, she’ll be part of Supergirl’s Earth. It should be exciting come December.

The DC’s new series, Titans, is a lot darker than the cartoon. When you have Robin declaring “F*#k Batman!” you know it’s got a grim future. The other characters appearance was questionable, at first glance, but with the added CGI, it’s a lot better. Starfire and Beast Boy are looking more like they should, and Raven’s coming along too. It should be a great start to their new service.

Star Trek: Discovery made a surprise showing with Captain Christopher Pike (first Captain of the Enterprise) taking over the helm and the hint of Spock as well, bringing the mainstream Star Trek universe in line with it. On the opposite side, the return of the popular Star Wars series, The Clone Wars, it seems that Star Wars universe is back-tracking after the end of Rebels. I know fans of the series like this, but personally, I wish they would go forward instead of backwards.

Doctor-Who-Series-Eleven-posterThe big TV debut at SDCC was Jodie Whittaker and the new companions to Doctor Who. The new trailer definitely showed us a strange, new world for the 13th Doctor, but not a lot of teaser-worthy material. There is still plenty of mystery about the new Doctor, her companions, and what they will face. “I felt if I was very much in someone else’s shoes,” Whittaker herself said of her first days playing the character, “which is an amazing way to start this journey.”

The one thing we do know is that the Daleks will not appear in the first season. Sad, but true, according to executive producer Chris Chibnall. “We need a pillar of hope in these times, “Chibnall added later to a roar from the fans about Whittaker being handed the keys to the Tardis. “That pillar of hope is Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor Who,” he added. “This Doctor treats everything with a sense of awe, wonder and respect.”

The last thing to mention about SDCC is the movie trailers. There were so many awe-inspiring trailers this year that there is not enough space in my blog to talk about them all. Aquaman was, by far, the best of the trailers. I mean, as soon as I saw a comic book accurate Black Manta, I was done. Give James Wan the award for best comic book movie director because this was awesome! It has lived up to the hype, so take my money and let me see the damn movie.

Shazam was on another level as it accurately portrayed the origin from the comics and gave us the movie Big in comic book form. Seeing Billy Batson learn to use his powers, complain about how to pee in his superhero suit, and generally act like a kid in a super-powered form is exactly what we were expecting from Shazam. Zachary Levi was perfectly cast as Shazam and his comedy props are definitely in use here. This is going to be a bright spot in the DC Universe movies.

Wonder Woman ’84 was shown to the audience at SDCC, but no trailer as of yet. The thing I found out recently is that it was being filmed at a defunct mall just blocks from where I live in Alexandria, Va., and I didn’t know about it. That could have been a big moment for me and I missed it. Unreal!

Besides the stars, celebrities, and the merchandise on display at SDCC, it’s always great to see the cosplayers come out in full force. These people know what it means to be a fan and show it in the hard work they do in making comic and movie accurate costumes. And yes, the women who cosplay are incredibly beautiful and sexy, so it makes it easy to watch them bring your favorite characters to life.

SDCC is a treasure to end the summer, at least for geeks, filled with plenty of surprises. This one was no exception. I wish we had a little more from Marvel, but I guess they’re keeping things under wraps, for now. In any case, I hope that one day I get to attend SDCC. It would be a blast.

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Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon. The Dark Tides is available for purchase as a book/ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon.

 

 

 

Ignore the reviews, Justice League is a geek’s wet dream

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JusticeLeague-IMAX-poster-1I normally don’t listen to a lot of movie critics when it comes to superhero movies, and I’ll tell you why. The majority of movie reviewers are not 100% certified comic book geeks. Additionally, those who are comic book nerds are such purists that even the tiniest of flaws ruins the movie for them. That being said…

I left the movie theater in awe, full of a giddy excitement over each and every “Easter Egg” I saw in the movie. That’s what Justice League did for me today.

You have to understand, I grew up in an era with spandex costumes, bad or relatively weak special effects, and scripts written by TV writers who never picked up a comic book in my life. The comic book movies coming out today are a million times better, and Justice League is one of them.

Okay, so here’s my warning… SPOILER ALERT!

I loved Justice League. It was a faithful culmination from Man of Steel, to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and then Wonder Woman. The story brought the League together in search of three “Mother Boxes,” alien devices that could destroy the world in the hands of the villainous Steppenwolf and his Para-Demons. That’s the basic background but the movie went even further than that.

We got to see the undersea kingdom of Atlantis and the first meeting between Aquaman and his future wife, Mera. I was concerned hoe they were going to do the undersea battle, and it was brilliant, especially when Mera pushed the water aside so she and Aquaman could talk to each other. It was that simple attention to detail that made that moment work.

The fighting was amazing, especially since we actually got to see a Green Lantern (but not THE Green Lantern) in the historic battle between Steppenwolf and the combined armies of the Amazons, Atlantians, men and Gods. And when Superman came back, it made the fighting even better. The League used everything thing they had fighting Steppenwolf, even to go as far as show the Batman’s vulnerabilities as a mortal man.

The “Easter Eggs” are so numerous, it’s hard to miss them and that makes me giddy even now:  Steppenwolf calls out the name Darkseid, the Green Lantern, Bruce talking about a round table with six chairs in a new HQ (set up in the old Wayne Manor (Holy #$%* Batman!), Cyborg getting his more traditional armor at the end (not to mention “Booyah!”), Superman racing the Flash (mid-credits) was right out of the comic book, and Luthor and Deathstroke talking about forming a league of their own (end credits) and how awesome Deathstroke looks. I mean,wow!

Are there ploy holes and challenges with how the story is laid out? Yes, but it didn’t bother me. I was seeing the comic book team I read as a kid on the big screen together. I was hooked from the very beginning, glued to my seat.

I also enjoyed a lot of the sentimentality and the comedy in the movie. Watching Superman standing the cornfield as his mother pulls up and sees that he’s alive brought a tear to my eye, as did watching Barry Allen dealing with his father in prison. Speaking of Flash, he provided some great humor throughout the movie. Watching the back-and-forth between Flash and Cyborg in the graveyard while they’re digging up Superman is comedy gold.

It’s up to you, but I would recommend it to everyone… GO AND SEE IT! Justice League (#2) and Wonder Woman (#1) are my top two superhero movies of 2017, with Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, at a respectable third. I really think Marvel was out shined this year, in my opinion. Thor: Ragnarok had too much comedy for my tastes and, to be honest, I wasn’t interested in another Spider-man origin movie.

I left the theater today in love with this movie. It makes me want to watch the next series of DC movies, anticipating the sequel to Justice League. I am geeked out over this movie, and I think you will too!

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51nd6H6sATL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_SKU-000941753Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Dark Tides is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Book Three of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon.

Watching anime, reading comic books, and playing D&D is the foundation of my imagination

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darkagesI love everything sci-fi/fantasy. I can remember reading X-Men and Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes comics in the 70s. I remember watching a wide variety of Japanese anime on UHF (if you don’t know what it is, look it up youngling) like Speed Racer, Marine Boy, Ultraman, Gigantor and others. I use to draw my favorite superheroes, cut them out, and play with them like action figures, and watch Superfriends every Saturday morning. I had all the “Glow in the Dark” monster models like Dracula, The Wolfman, and Frankenstein. I watched Hammer horror movies on late night TV, with Christopher Lee as Dracula. It was a great time to be a kid!

This was my youth, my influential years, and it was filled with everything geek, which explains why I didn’t date a lot when I was young too. In any case, these memories are the foundation of my imagination; but even then, my imagination was quite limited. At that time, my goal was to be a comic book artist. I spent every waking moment creating my own characters, their origins, etc. I was focused on that.

I went to college, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh , where I was still focused on being a comic book artist. Then, I had an awakening. I started playing a game that changed my life forever … Dungeons and Dragons! It was like a fire was lit inside me and it started burning brighter and brighter with each passing moment. My imagination was on fire!

When you hear those stories about people spending an entire weekend playing D&D, drinking beer, ordering pizza, playing a never-ending game. Yes, it’s true, because I did it. I was spending my weekends, constantly playing D&D, either as a player or Dungeon Master. It carried over when I joined the Navy. I played with a group on duty nights, weekends, and when we deployed. It was a mainstay of my daily life, and it was those games that forged my imagination.

Those experiences made me the man I am today. Those trips into the fantasy world of D&D helped me develop my skills as a storyteller. It was through D&D that I created the world of Forever Avalon. Though I don’t play anymore, there are so many of things that continues to fire up my imagination as I write. The slew of movies, like Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and King Arthur; TV shows like Game of Thrones, Merlin, and Arrow; and video games like Warcraft, League of Legends, and Assassins’ Creed; all of these make a jubilee of fantasy for a writer like me.

I’ve written stories almost all of my life, but I never really considered myself a writer. I wrote stories for my high school newspaper, and as a Navy Journalist. It wasn’t until my first book was published that I really began to consider myself as a writer. Since then, I’ve published one other book, The Dark Tides, and working on publishing my third book, The Outlander War, this year. Even in my full time job, I am now (by definition) a writer-editor for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). I have reached my dream job, writing full time.

Now, to continue living the dream. There are more stories waiting to be written, and I hope you like them.

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51nd6H6sATL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_SKU-000941753Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Dark Tides is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse publishing. The Outlander War, Chapter 3 of the Forever Avalon series is coming soon.

Attending San Diego Comic Con is on my bucket list, but not just yet

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It is a dream of mine to one day attend San Diego Comic Con! To walk amongst my people–geeks from around the world–would be an adventure in itself. There is so much going on, from television to movies, books and comic books, any media imaginable is on display at SDCC. The cosplay is amazing as everyone puts on their best costumes for SDCC. The stars are everywhere, and this year was no exception, as Justice League and Avengers: Infinity War went head-to-head this year. As Netflix and Amazon become just as relevant as any big name studio, so too does their offerings, from Marvel’s The Defenders to The Tick, these smaller characters are getting an upgrade to the small screen through these “pay-for” media services.

The firs thing you have to talk about is the trailers, both the released trailers and the “secretly recorded and released” trailers. Justice League definitely made the biggest impact because fans got to see all these great characters in action, and we finally got to see the villain, Steppenwolf. I think that’s why they have a slight edge over Avengers: Infinity War. For some odd reason, Marvel is holding onto their trailer so tight that the “bootleg” recordings is the only reason I saw their trailer. That is really a disservice to the fans who can’t make it to SDCC. Don’t get me wrong, seeing all their movie franchises on one screen is AWESOME but I only saw it in low-res bootlegs.

I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again, this is a great time for geeks. We have been waiting for technology to catch up and give us the superheroes we love on TV and movies, just like they are in the comics. It’s nerd paradise!

I really think that DC is starting to catch up with Marvel when it comes to movies and television shows.Sure, Marvel has a great lineup with all their Netflix series, from The Defenders to The Punisher, as well as the mutant series Legion and The Gifted on Fox, Cloak and Dagger on Freeform with the New Warriors with Squirrel Girl (yes, finally!). Agents of Shield and Inhumans on ABC rounds out a powerful line up of shows. These shows are (for the most part) grittier, down-to-earth, realistic versions of their comic book counterparts.

But DC has an amazing line-up going with their CW shows of Arrow, The  Flash, Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Plus, they’re adding Black Lighting, a Titans show on TNT, and Gotham is on Season 4 on Fox and getting better every year. Their shows are more like the comics with colorful costumes, the best villains and great storylines. They’re bringing in new characters, some updated characters and even some classics. I mean B’wana Beast? It’s just incredible. Sometimes, they variety of heroes passing through these shows is like watching the Justice League Unlimited cartoon. You’re always looking in the background just to see who’s there.

Fantasy shows aren’t too far behind either. Netflix’s Bright brings orcs, elves and magic into modern day Los Angeles, with Will Smith and Joel Edgerton. The trailer just blew me away. Even ABC’s Once Upon a Time is changing things up a bit, with a new town, new characters, new fairy tales, and it looks even more fascinating now.

This past weekend, I couldn’t tear myself away from YouTube of Facebook, just waiting for the next video or link to what’s been going on at SDCC. Even more fun is looking at the elaborate cosplay people come out with at a big event like SDCC. Tey get bigger, brighter and more elaborate in everything from comics to anime to video game characters.

So SDCC is definitely on my bucket list. It’s like a religious journey but for geeks. Sure, there are plenty of other comic book conventions across the country, but none hold the power of SDCC. It’s a definite check on the bucket list I need to check off.

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51nd6H6sATL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_SKU-000941753Mark Piggott is the author of the Forever Avalon book series. Forever Avalon is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Dark Tides is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iUniverse. The Outlander War can be previewed at Inkitt.