All posts by Captain Gearhead

Not Dead Enough (Alt★Hero: Q #2) – A Review

It’s finally here, and the worst thing I can say about it is that it took so long to be released. I can’t remember the last time I experienced this kind of anticipation for the next episode of anything. Comic books haven’t inspired much but anger, boredom, and nausea for many years…until Alt★Hero came along.

As much as I’ve enjoyed all the Alt★Hero releases, the first Q comic was my favorite. It ended on a high point (of a dramatic, not emotional, quality) and I did wonder if the next one could live up to the promise established by the artwork, plotting, and action.

Not to worry. The art seems like a slight step down from last time, but the writing is still very strong.

As the title implies, Roland Dane was supposed to die alongside the target of the deep state hit in South America right before Q made contact with him. Q temporarily convinced the Cabal that their “two-fer” successfully took out Agent Dane, then Q gave Dane a new life and new identity, as well as a new mission.

That mission involves getting some background on the replacement for the assassinated Secretary of State, and it isn’t long before Dane is feeling the heat from the kill-crazy Cabal.

So far as I know, real-life Q enthusiasts/allies/researchers/autists work almost entirely online, at sites like 8Chan (which, by sheer coincidence, of course, was shut down due to pressure from powerful and shadowy entities unbothered by Internet forums populated by people actually guilty of what they accuse 8Chan denizens). In this story, though, the anons are more deeply invested, and physically involved in Q’s clandestine operations–in a support capacity, at least.

Some of the technical details (particularly with regard to military minutiae) are still being flubbed–which is par for the course in just about all entertainment these days. Not since Marvel’s The Nam back in the ’80s have I seen consistent effort at technical accuracy in a comic book.

Exposition was handled quickly and deftly in the first issue, yet it feels like the main plot is still being set up. Action junkies will be delighted with how the narrative is being weaved, though the individual issues certainly seem to fly by quickly. I’m still as intrigued as a reader can be, but I hope I don’t have to wait this long again for #3.

Men, Boys, Role Models, and Advice Worth Heeding

It’s yet another motion-selfie on Youtube, but certainly worth listening to.

A strong father was lacking in my life. I think it was for most of my generation (“Generation X,” “the busters,” whatever it’s called now). It’s only gotten worse for boys ever since.

I loathe and insult the males I encounter out in the world today, but really: is it fair to blame them for their apathy, ignorance, and pathos? As masculinity is purged from our culture (in males, but encouraged in females), the probability of salvaging what’s left of our civilization grows more remote.

Where We Go One… (Alt★Hero: Q #1) – A Review

You don’t need to be a QAnon follower, or necessarily even believe in Q, to enjoy this comic. You don’t have to believe a man can fly to enjoy Superman stories either (although these days you probably do need to be a drooling commie NPC).

Chuck Dixon is in fine form here, mixing together compelling plot elements to weave a story that will be exciting and fascinating, judging by this first issue. Alt★Hero has struggled a bit with some of the artwork so far but I can assure you the visuals in this issue are superb.

The protagonist is a Treasury Agent. We are introduced to him as he and a team of other door-kickers are raiding a supposed counterfeiting operation. Through efficient storytelling, we learn that there is a mysterious cover-up underway, which this raid serves, and there is at least one compromised agent on the team.

Not everything sits well with Agent Dane. Something stinks about that op and how one of the suspects was snuffed. Is his heresy the very reason Dane is assigned bodyguard duty for a VIP visiting Peru? I can’t wait to find out.

For those who wonder, as they read, what this story has to do with Q…don’t worry. The dots will be connected by the time you’re done.

I do have a couple technical gripes: An M2 Browning .50, by itself, is not a “Ma Deuce.” But it will not only Swiss-cheese a pickup truck, its slugs will mangle the people inside the vehicle on their way through it. That Dane needed an M4 to take out the unscathed leftovers from an entire belt of .50 is kind of ridiculous. But Dixon apparently knows some veterans, so hopefully they will set him straight for the future.

Based on my reading of the first issue, I can’t recommend this series highly enough.

A Real-Life Indiana Jones

There’s a new book out that pulp fans, adventure addicts, and history buffs may want to check out:

Indiana MacCreagh by Roderick Heather.

Ever since the first Indiana Jones film hit the silver screen in 1981, there has been speculation as to whether the fictional character was inspired by real-life.

Gordon ‘Indiana’ MacCreagh is the stand-out candidate. An intrepid explorer, adventurer and big-game hunter, he was also a prolific author whose writing entertained millions around the world.

MacCreagh spoke several languages, he was a self-taught entomologist and social anthropologist. He was a pilot, musician and keen photographer who traveled extensively overseas including South America, the Indian sub-continent, China, Tibet and Africa. He also led expeditions to the Amazon basin and Ethiopia in search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant.

MacCreagh enjoyed a remarkable and fascinating life but the details are something of a mystery and full of contradictions. This book sets out to discover the truth behind the legend and to explore whether MacCreagh could indeed have been the inspiration for the Indiana Jones stories. It is not only a biography, but also a tale of adventure as well as something of a detective story. Based on detailed research, the author challenges the previously accepted version of MacCreagh’s early life and in so doing, provides a fascinating insight into the man, his personality and achievements.

Indiana MacCreagh – published by New Generation Publishing, ISBN 978-1-78955-500-4

Alt Hero # 6 – a Review

We are back in Europe for this issue. The Global Justice Initiative is trying to track down the French nationalist superhumans.

The nationalists use the catacombs under Paris to escape, initially, and their invisible benefactor (invisible in this issue, anyway) has some tricks up the sleeve to help them along. Writer Vox Day has inserted some in-jokes for his blog followers, but not in a way that harms the flow of the story.

Arkhaven’s production quality continues to improve from issue to issue. Aside from an acquired personal affinity for the legacy superheroes that the Hive Mind drones at Marvel and DC are hell-bent  on perverting, there’s absolutely no reason to read any of the cultural Marxist comic books anymore.

Captain Europa does provide an excuse for losing the fight in Issue 4: he was taken by surprise. Not sure how you can consider it a surprise when you’ve already been fighting with the guy for a while, but this could just be an insight into the character’s self-rationalization mechanism.

All the Arkhaven comics have been worth the time and money so far, but I’ll write about my favorite one next.

Hosanna to the Son of David

Some have been claiming for years that the conflict between left and right is irrelevant. As people who were once on the right adopt more and more doctrines and presumptions of the left, that would seem to be true. All conflicts on this planet will ultimately give way to one final conflict. Maybe you can see it beginning to happen right now.

The battle lines are drawn, and every human being must choose a side.

There are only two sides. There is no fence to sit on or gray area to dwell in. Jesus said those who are not with Him are against Him. If you are not on the straight, narrow path to eternal life, then you are on the wide, easy path to the second death.

Christianity is the faith of the empty tomb. Our Savior went into the grave as the Passover Lamb, but emerged as the Lion of Judah. The Prince of Peace is now the King of Kings. The three days He spent in the belly of the Earth, as prophesied in advance, was the turning point of world history. Our calendars reflect this even today in the post-Christian West.

As exclusive as the Kingdom of God is, there’s an open invitation to sinners from every nation, tribe and tongue. What Jesus did on the cross paid for your clean slate. That He overcame death and the time-space continuum proves that He has the authority to clean the sin off you and accept you as one of His own.

One day the Son of God will return to claim what is rightfully His, to eradicate evil, and restore what was perfect before Adam fell. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Choose to accept Him as Lord now, of your own volition.

Alt Hero #5 – A Review

We are back stateside, and the nationalist superteam has decided they need to win hearts and minds by fighting crime. Hammer and Rebel are teamed up on patrol to keep the streets safe.

But a couple of super-powered folks arrive from Europe to track them down and either kill or capture them. Their job is made easier when Hammer and Rebel, looking for criminals, are accosted by a cop instead. The vampire chick is surprised at how easy it is to take them out. Frankly, I am too…as well as disappointed.

But the tension continues to build, and the artwork has improved again. There’s an interesting story arc taking shape–and building (I hope) towards an epic showdown between the European and American superteams.

Get Alt Hero 5 here.

Read the review of Alt Hero 4.

Christianity Vs. Churchianity: Suppressing the Masculine

One of Vox Day’s readers relates some of his experiences in the Feminized Church:

 …I remember my mother stressing that Jesus was a superior man for not defending himself and being a victim. Combine that with a weak father with strong gamma traits and you won’t be surprised that I developed the typical passive-aggressiveness of a gamma. Just to name another example: I remember attending a bible lecture as a child where the (male) member of the church community who served there as a teacher told us that women were somehow stronger than men. I don’t remember the context, I only remember my astonishment (“don’t have men naturally more strength than women?”) but somehow accepting his statement in the end.

Does that resonate with your experience?

You’re not alone if one of the reasons you don’t care for the whole church scene is because the alleged men there all strike you as effeminate wimps. Moreover, in the average church, training males to be that way is a stealth priority.

Here’s some boilerplate messages used around the western world, requiring only some humor, pop culture references, and religious language to flesh it out and dispense it from the Churchian Pulpit.

MOTHERS DAY:

Women are heroic and strong–especially single mothers. They are also morally pure and more in tune with the Holy Spirit than men are. That’s why husbands should submit to their wives. When the Bible seems to say it should be the other way around…well, you have to understand (gaslight) it doesn’t really mean what it actually says because (feminist ideals disguised as theology), (pseudo-intellectual word salad), (male-shaming anecdotes), and (muh self-sacrificing mother and muh feelz).

FATHERS DAY:

Men suck.

You don’t do enough as fathers and husbands. You don’t do enough for the church. Since you are not morally pure like women, you are living in sin–whereas women’s only sin is not thinking highly enough of themselves. Men need to understand that they are always at fault for marital problems because (anecdotes). Since women are spiritually superior, men should submit to them in all things, as to the Lord. Watch Fireproof, War Room, and other Churchian movies made in the last 20 years, and follow the same pattern of male repentance. Remember: men engage in serious sin like embezzling and porn addictions, and require female leadership to overcome. In fact, lack of submission to a woman’s superior morals and spirituality is probably what led to your sin spiral in the first place.

EVERY OTHER DAY:

Married men, you’re all a bunch of losers. Just listen to these anecdotes (tales of abuse, cheating, etc.) The wife is the important person in the relationship–act like it.  If she is unfaithful, it’s justified because you failed her somehow. You don’t understand what leadership really is (not that men should be leaders, anyway). Being the king and priest of your household means giving women whatever they want at all times. And perhaps, if you live every second of your entire life exactly the way your wife wants you to, maybe she’ll feel up to rewarding you with a token gesture of respect, some sex, or even just a few minutes of civility. But don’t you dare demand any of those things–only she is allowed to make demands.

Unmarried men, you’re not married already because you’re unworthy. To become worthy, abandon your unfair desires that a woman needs to add value to your life for you to make her a permanent part of your life. You are the only one required to bring anything to the table in a relationship. She can say or do or be anything she wants to, with God’s blessing, got it? As soon as you encounter a woman who wants to use you like an ATM machine, kick you while you’re down after a hard day of work  every night, and otherwise suck the life out of you, it is your obligation to step up, man up, and commit yourself to a lifetime with no escape from her (unless she decides to divorce-rape you…which will be your fault). Maybe, if you’re really fortunate, one day soon you’ll be like one of these henpecked husbands in the congregation who I berate on Sundays for their toxic masculinity. Now hurry up and get married as soon as possible!

You can read the whole blog post at Vox Populi.

Avalon #2 – a Review

In Issue #1, Chuck Dixon introduced us to the city of Avalon, via two of the heroes working to keep it safe: Fazer and King Ace.

The moral dillema introduced in the first issue was not spread out…as I first suspected it would be…a la Iron Man’s battle with alcoholism back in the day. It was wrapped up pretty quick.

I think I might know where this is going: Fazer is going to become a supervillain with a grudge against King Ace. He knows King Ace’s identity, as well as his weaknesses…could prove to be a formidable adversary.

I can’t completely blame Fazer for holding a grudge, either. Having him thrown in the can for not donating the ill-gotten drug money to some random charity was excessively Boy Scout IMO. In any event, Chuck Dixon has effortlessly sucked me into the Avalon he is building. And there’s a good chance he may prove my theory wrong, too.

I didn’t like a lot of the art–not ready for Prime Time. But the story makes up for it, and there’s a general trend of improvement across the Arkhaven titles, so I’m sure the art will improve with it.

Meanwhile, Arkhaven is working on their first of a five-part series based on the Q phenomenon. Fun times…in some respects.