Why I collect toys

This is a topic that I have wanted to share for a very long time and have tried many times to do so. In each instance I would mess up, and then give up. The anger and frustration of not being able to adequately express myself, or feelings of inadequacy, always ruined my efforts. To be fair, this is not going to be a pic laden post, but rather a very introspective and personal look at how and why I got into collecting.

I was raised by my great-grandmother, and we lived in an old two-story house that she rented. Granny had an adopted son named Robert, who was my uncle. He was deaf and disabled due to several serious health problems which negatively affected his ability to lead a normal life. He had no friends, and he felt left out by the family. Because of this he suffered with depression and stayed to himself. He would sleep for most of the day, and only come out at night to eat.

Robert’s life was very sad, but I learned at a very young age that he was an extremely talented person. He collected comics and had hundreds of them neatly organized and stored away. I have seen issue number one of many that would make him rich if he were alive today. To get them, my great-grandmother would make weekly trips to a locally owned drug store where she bought her medicine, and once a month she would have someone take her to Kmart or Roses in a neighboring town.

Robert was an extremely talented artist and could draw anyone or anything. He collected and built model cars, often kit bashing them before anyone knew what that was outside of the special effects industry. He also collected toys. Robert’s room was upstairs, and to get there you had to walk up a flight of stairs to a large landing. There was a door that led outside onto a balcony, and his room was off to the right. I remember going into his room and being amazed at what I saw.

There were toys everywhere, all neatly organized and displayed. There were action figures and vehicles from every franchise that you could imagine from the 60s, 70s, and then early eighties. Micronauts, Battlestar Galactica, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, and yes Star Wars, and so many more! I was not allowed to touch his toys, and granny explained to me that Robert would often take them out to play with, and then he carefully stored each one of them in boxes. He had several large appliance boxes that he kept them all in to protect them.

Often when he would come downstairs, I would run up to Robert and hug him around his leg and hold on for dear life as he attempted to walk into the kitchen. He would reach down and pick me up with one hand, smiling and shaking his head. He would sometimes bring one or two of his toys’ downstairs and allow me to play with them, and then come back and get them later. I remember one instance where he brought down the original Colonial Viper and Cylon Raider from Battlestar Galactica, and we had a mock dogfight downstairs, walking around the room.

*Battlestar Galactica* Colonial Viper toy

Robert is also the first person that I know of who could kit bash and make custom action figures. This was in the days before super articulation, and he would often disassemble figures, and then use a hobby knife to cut the hands or feet off of one, and glue them onto another. He would repaint them and make custom figures. He once did this with a Cobra figure and a Falcon from Masters of the Universe. He cut the wings off of the bird and glued them onto the back of the action figure, then repainted the figure to match the orange, blue, and white paint scheme.

I went through a very traumatic event at age six, which caused me to become introverted at a very young age. I was molested by an older male student in the bathroom of a private Christian school. I also witnessed things that scared me, and both of these events combined caused me to grow up fearing people, particularly adults, and specifically those in a position of authority. To this day I am afraid of adult men who are authority figures, because of what I went through as a child. It is just one of those things that I did not discuss until twenty-six years had passed, and by then I could not overcome the fear, despite trying to do so.

I was left traumatized, and to this day I still have flashbacks of what happened to me. I was also bullied in school, beginning in the first grade. By the time that I got into middle school, the bullying and harassment was a daily experience. I was in different classes with the same kids, who would call me names, laugh at me, throw objects at me, and spit on me. They would slap me in the back of the head while seated, or while standing in line to go to lunch. I was shoved in the bathroom frequently where I would fall into puddles of pee and beat up on the playground.

I would try to stand around teachers, and some would let me, and others would not. They would make me walk away, and when I did, I was jumped by more than one student. They would do the same thing after school while waiting on my ride, or if I had to walk home. I hated school, and I did not want friends, because I was rejected by everyone. Even the teachers and principals would laugh at me, calling me a tattle tale. They knew that was not the case, and I was afraid of them too. The only place that I felt safe was with my great-grandmother.

During this time in middle school, I came home one day after being beat up to find that my uncle had given me his entire toy collection. I was in disbelief, as I looked at the boxes in my room and dining room. Granny never told me why he chose to do that, but I believe that it was because my uncle’s depression had gotten the best of him. I was happy and excited, and I thanked him, and of course he smiled back, but I was too young to appreciate and recognize the value of what I had been given. as time passed many of them would become broken or missing parts, and others sold or thrown away.

Robert was eventually sent to a home in another city to live, and As I got into high school the bullying only continued every day. In February of 1995 granny went home to be with the Lord. It was the most devastating thing that I had experienced at that time, and I felt so lost without her. My mom and I were forced to move in with my grandmother, and everything that I had was lost. All that was familiar to me, and safe, was now gone. I had no one to turn to that I trusted, and nothing from my childhood remained but a few good memories, and many bad ones.

Over the next few years, I came across the new Star Wars Power of the Force toy line by Kenner while out at a store with my mom. Seeing them made me think of Robert, and all of the toys that he had given me and trusted me with. Mom began buying me some of the figures, and despite not having any room for anything, I had a small trunk at the foot of my bed to keep them in. I collected several of the figures and smaller vehicles, and in 1999 I got my first job. I continued to collect them for a couple of years, before giving them to a co-worker for her kids.

I wouldn’t collect any more toys again until 2007, and the first figure that I got was the 20th Anniversary Edition Optimus Prime. From that moment on I began to collect toys from every franchise that I grew up with. G.I. Joe, Halo, Star Trek, Star Wars, and Transformers were the main focus of my collection, and by 2012 I had a collection valued in excess of $5,000. That same year I got married, and I was very happy, but it would be short lived. The girl that I married was unfaithful to me from day one, and I spent a year and a half trying to save someone that didn’t want to be saved. I was abused, and beat up by ex-wife, her mother, and her stepfather whom she had been in an affair with.

She left me for someone else, and I was left in the hospital with a concussion and fear. My ex-wife hated my toy collection, and despite doing everything for her because I loved her, I thought that if I sold them, it would prove to her that I loved her, so I did. I sold my entire collection for $250, as well as selling almost everything else that I owned at the time. I was heartbroken, and sad, and at that point I had no intention of ever collecting toys again. Two years went by, and I learned of the new Star Wars film soon to be released, The Force Awakens.

Though I had not bought any more toys, I still liked to look at forums and pictures online of how others customized toys and reviewed them. It was something that I wanted to try, and so I sold some things and went out and bought the two new X-Wings from The Force Awakens toy line. I was excited, and it made me feel like a kid again. I slowly began to remember some of my childhood, and two very special Christmas’ when I was very young. How I longed to go back in time and be there again! I did not have a real smartphone at the time, or any camera equipment for that matter, but I was excited and wanted to try to do a toy review.

*The Force Awakens* Resistance X-Wing Fighter

So, I stacked some books on top of my desk, and balanced the phone on its side against more books and filmed my first review of those X-Wings. The lighting and sound were bad, and the quality of the video was poor, but I enjoyed it. Out of that came the idea for my Youtube channel, Orion’s Belt Creations. I posted videos over the next several years, until I sold my collection once more to pay a debt. I again had no intention of collecting again, but I did. Over time I have slowly began to rebuild my collection, and now I have more toys than I did before.

I started a new professional YouTube channel, Dark Horizon Creations, and got serious about improving the quality of my reviews. I also invested hundreds of hours into learning how to customize toys and take pictures of them. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Autism. After spending six years trying to get help, I was finally able to get the answers that I needed. Having that diagnosis gave me insight into why I couldn’t keep a job, and why I had difficulty in social interactions and settings.

I have lived a life full of trauma from an early age, and throughout those experiences I could always come home to granny and my toys. They are what made me happy, and what took my mind off of what I was experiencing at school, and sometimes at home. To this day when my feelings have been hurt, and I’m crying, I can sit down and start working on a custom toy, and pour all of my energies into that. Some of my best work, be it creative writing, custom projects, or toy photography, have all been born from a place of pain and rejection.

There are many reasons why I collect toys, but of them I think that it is that connection to those years back in my childhood that mean the most. They are a thread that keeps me tied to a place that I miss every moment of every day. If time travel were possible, I would be gone in an instant, and I would choose to live forever in those years.

So now you know why I collect toys. It’s not about money, or popularity, it’s about memories, and one day when my life is said and done, it will be my love of toys that people remember me for.

My thoughts on the Jurassic World Franchise

Having recently viewed Jurassic World Dominion at home, I thought that it would be a fitting opportunity to take a look back at the franchise, and briefly share my thoughts on each movie, as well as the overall narrative of the saga.

To begin, I was introduced to Jurassic Park at a very young age. My sixth-grade science teacher required our class to write a book report on a non-fiction scientific topic, and then give a presentation on that report to the class.

Our middle school had a book fair during this time, and I purchased a copy of Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. I read the entire book, and then wrote the report, and gave my presentation to the class. At the end of that presentation, my science teacher, Mrs. Wafer, informed the class that Jurassic Park Wars not real, and that they had not cloned Dinosaurs! I was in disbelief.

At the time I mistakenly believed that fiction was fact, and that nonfiction was not. I recalled carefully selecting the book after seeing fiction on the spine of it, and presumed it was real. Mrs. Wafer was amused, but I was not.

I stop did not accept her assertion that Jurassic Park was not a real place, and that Dinosaurs had not been cloned. Two years later in the summer of 1993, I returned home from volunteering at a Baptist youth camp, and I learned that Mrs. Wafer had called, and asked if she could take me to see Jurassic Park in the theater!

I was shocked. She came to my home with her son and picked me up and drove me twenty miles to an area theater where she paid for my ticket and a drink, and let me to watch the movie.

I was awestruck by the opening scenes, and most moving to me were the Brachiosaurus eating leaves from the tops of the trees. They looked so gentle and peaceful, as if they had existed all along. I felt a deep sense of joy at what I saw.

Needless to say, I was amazed at the movie and has a lot of fun. It was a bright spot for me during a very turbulent time in my life. I was being bullied every day at school, and I was assaulted in class, in the bathrooms, and on the playground.

I hated school, and I hated the other kids because of how they mistreated me and rejected me. I became introverted and stayed to myself. I was afraid to go to school, and during this time I developed irritable bowel syndrome.

That same summer, my seventh-grade grammar teacher Mrs. Scoles called my great- grandmother and asked for me to stop by the school at the end of the year. So, I did, and I was taken to the school library where all of the teachers were working.

Mrs. Scoles stood up and had me follow her to her classroom, where she gave me two of the toy figures from Jurassic Park. They were a Dimetrodon and Velociraptor. She smiled and laughed when she saw how amazed I was to receive those toys.

I think that Mrs. Scoles was aware of what was happening to me at school, and she also knew how much I loved science and toys. Those two small acts of kindness by two teachers have never been forgotten, and both had a tremendous impact upon my life.

I bought and read The Lost World years later and saw the movie on VHS. I was amazed at the story, and quite honestly, I was more enthralled with the novel than the movie.

I felt that it was underwhelming to a degree, and could have been better had it more closely followed the plot of the novel. Jurassic Park III was even more of a disappointment to me, as it also pulled from the plot of The Lost World.

*“Oh look everyone, the people have come back to visit us!”*

When Jurassic World was released my interest in the franchise was renewed, and I felt that same sense of awe return as I saw the new park. It seemed as if John Hammond’s dream had become a reality, and that lessons had been learned. I enjoyed the movie but was saddened by the conclusion of the film. I felt that it was a mistake to use the ideas of the original film as a soft reboot to the franchise. It left me with mixed feelings as a fan.

“Wait, wait! No one needs to get upset, because we all have a three film contract.”

Fallen Kingdom was in my opinion, a critical misstep in creativity. I felt that it too, was underwhelming, much as The Lost World had been years prior. I knew that Jurassic World Dominion was going to be used to conclude the saga, and for the most part I enjoyed the movie.The conclusion was not what I was expecting and left much wanting in the way of knowing the end of the story.

*“What do you mean I’m not supposed to eat the dog?*“

I think that it was another misstep to bring the animals out into the modern world, which reduced their significance, and relegated them to more of a nuisance than the wonder of what they are. There are some good scenes, but there were also many avenues which could have better served the stories that were not taken. The most prominent being Isla Sorna.

I always felt that the sequels would have made better use of their time by moving the story there and allowing the sage to continue to evolve, while keeping the animals isolated from the world at large. In the novel The Lost World, its conclusion makes clear that the animals will eventually die out due to a disease infecting them which was caused by prions.

It was I think the author’s way of conveying how these wonderful animals weren’t meant to continue to exist alongside mankind. If anything, I think that the Jurassic World franchise should show us how fragile life on this planet is, and how utterly irresponsible we are in our care for it. We take little concern for our actions and decisions, not realizing that they are at the root of larger problems that they create.

That I think is the real lesson from chaos theory specifically, and these movies in general. We are not responsible enough with what we have been entrusted with by God, so how could we possibly undertake reviving an extinct species that we know very little about?

In the end I still enjoyed the movies, and I still collect the toys, which I think are one of the more lasting and positive aspects of the franchise. Jurassic World represents possibilities, but it also provides us with an opportunity to glimpse something much greater, that the world will never witness again.

An amateur gamer’s review of Halo Infinite

WARNING: THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN IN-GAME SPOILERS FROM THE HALO INFINITE CAMPAIGN, WHICH MAY FOREVER RUIN YOUR CHILDHOOD.

Introduction

The 2021 Christmas season has arrived, and with it the release of Halo Infinite. After being delayed for the past year, I have to be honest in saying that I had become concerned that the game itself, as well as the franchise, may be in trouble; thankfully that was not the case. So does the game live up to the hype, or is it a failed attempt at a soft reboot for the franchise? That’s what I am going to answer in my blog. I will say up front that I am not an expert gamer, nor will you find me live streaming on Twitch, but I am a fan of the Halo franchise, and have been since I first played Halo 3 in 2009.

I actually have not played any games for the past year, as I didn’t have a console, and I received an early Christmas present this year in the form of an Xbox Series S! I have to be honest in saying that I had no idea that I was getting one, as they were impossible to find, and I couldn’t afford one. I was also uncertain if I would get to play Halo Infinite at launch, and I did! Just being able to take part in such an awesome event is both fun and life changing in itself, and something that I have never been able to experience before now.

Campaign Overview

To begin, the campaign consists of fourteen missions for you to complete, which takes about twelve to fourteen hours depending upon the difficulty that you choose. I played with the game set on easy, so that I could enjoy the game and story as it progressed. In addition, you will find that there are a total of fifty-four additional objectives to complete, which include: twelve forward operating bases (FOBs) to liberate from the Banished, seven Banished outposts, twenty distress calls from UNSC Fireteams, and seven High Value Targets (HVTs) to eliminate.

These are present during each campaign mission, which cannot be replayed after you complete them. Once you complete the campaign itself, you can go back and complete any of these objectives that you missed. I have to say that my initial impressions of the game are that it is the best title in the franchise to date. It has superb audio and graphics, and the frame rate is seamless. Most importantly it is entertaining and fun, and has a very similar appearance and feel to Halo 3, while remaining its own unique entry into the franchise.

It took me five days to complete the campaign, and that was done playing an average of three hours a day. I really had fun playing this game, and the experience left me longing for more. I have no idea when we will see the first DLC drop, however I can tell you that a trademark has been filed already for something called Halo: The Endless. I have no idea if this is a future DLC, but I hope so! What follows is a breakdown of some of the major aspects of the game and story.

Characters

To begin, anytime that I play a video game the first thing that I look at are the characters and the story. With the Master Chief we have followed his journey since Combat Evolved made its debut back in 2001. The Master Chief has become the quintessential sci-fi hero of all time, with a very atypical background and personality. His story has been balanced and intertwined with that of Cortana from day one, and they complete and complement each other perfectly.

Knowing who the protagonists are, we next turn our attention to the banished, whom we meet in Halo Wars 2. Out of all of the adversaries that the Master Chief has faced over the years, Atriox and Escharum may prove to be more than his equal. Any adversary in the Halo franchise has been well balanced against the Master Chief and the UNSC, but these two present a threat that we have never seen prior to now, and I loved it. These characters make you feel like you are being threatened by them yourself, and it is awesome.

The Story

The second aspect of any game that I look at is the story. Anyone can draft a decent story to a game, but it takes emotion, passion, and research to craft a story that makes you feel like you are a part of it, and Halo Infinite does exactly that. From the opening battle at the beginning, to the cliffhanger at the end, I hung onto every moment of this game. I wanted to know more about the Weapon, the fate of Cortana, and how Zeta Halo fit in to the narrative. You can have all of the greatest in sound effects and visuals, but without the depth of creative storytelling, all you really have is an arcade game to pass the time.

Gameplay Physics

Next, I want to talk about the physics of the gameplay in Halo Infinite. The familiarity of the game’s controls are all present, allowing the player to jump right into the game with little to learn. I liked the ability to adjust all of the control settings, including the dead zone and the speed at which the horizontal and vertical movement is controlled, which provide a more realistic and snappy response when scanning the environment, and moving from one target to the next.

Weapons

Weapons manipulation is spot on, and the venerable MA5 has been replaced with the MA40. The M6 is out, and it’s been replaced with a much more realistic sidearm, the VK50 Sidekick. I didn’t feel like the Sidekick had the knockdown power of the M6, and that is due to the difference in caliber. The Sidekick is chambered for a ten-millimeter cartridge, whereas the M6 is chambered for the fifty-caliber pistol cartridge. The standout weapon in this game is the new VK78 Commando assault rifle, which is the first assault rifle in game that isn’t a bullpup. It fires the 6.5 Creedmoor round, and features an angled mag well, holographic sight, and it is a beast!

Audio

The game is recorded in 7.1, and I found it to be an immersive experience. The vocals are all clear and crisp, and the sound effects are among the best that I have ever heard in a video game. This is due in part to the extensive real-world recordings done by the sound team. They went out and made recordings of actual firearms, explosions, aircraft, and vehicles to incorporate into the game’s audio. No sounds that I am aware of were recycled throughout the game, and each sound is unique to a specific event or object during gameplay.

Graphics

The visuals were just as impressive, with incredible color ranges, detailing, lighting, and shading. For a sci-fi shooter, Halo Infinite is as real as it can get. The game is running at thirty frames per second on the Xbox Series S, at 1080P resolution. You can switch the game to performance mode, however it’s still going to output at 1080p, and not 4K, which is not an issue that I care about. I have a Hisense forty-three-inch 1080P LCD LED television, and that’s good enough for me. In all honesty, I don’t see what all of the fuss is really about with 4K and 8K anyway, and I don’t see where it would make any real difference in how the game looks.

Technical Issues

As for bugs or glitches I only experienced one episode of a Brute freezing in place early on during gameplay, and that was it. There was no loss of audio at all. I did however experience audio and video out of sync when recording game clips to my console, and still have not determined why it happened, or how to resolve it. To be fair, this same error has occurred when recording clips from Titanfall 2, and is not exclusive to Halo Infinite, and should not be used to reflect any criticism upon the game or its performance.

Final thoughts

Earlier this year, I stated that we would see Cortana either pretend to be the weapon, or else take over her matrix in order to have a second chance at her existence. It turns out that we see her story come to an end in Halo Infinite, and I don’t think that it was what any of us were expecting or wanted. I was really hoping that we would see the Master Chief somehow save her, but the fact is the damage is done, and there just wasn’t any way to bring her back. Her actions solidified her demise, and fans were left with a heart-breaking goodbye. I did not agree with or like this decision at all, and I believe that redeeming her would have been a more perfect ending.

*Cortana sacrifices herself to save John -117 from the Didact*

Instead, they replaced her with what is essentially a duplicate copy of Cortana, so I’m uncertain how that is going to play out in the future. The Weapon as she was called initially, was designed for the very purpose of capturing and removing Cortana if she became rampant, which is exactly what occurred. What surprised me was to see that she chooses to call herself Cortana at the end, which is only alluded to. Both characters are voiced by Jen Taylor, so it’s anyone’s guess how this all plays out in future DLCs. The Weapon is an innocent, happy character, and we see her being led in a way by the Master Chief, which we never saw happen with Cortana.

Prior to Infinite, my favorite game in the franchise was Halo 4, and I think that if I had a choice, Cortana’s story would have ended there. I think the rampancy story arc got out of hand and took the franchise in a direction that became less clear and determined. Infinite allowed them to bring a conclusion to that, while quietly resetting the course of the franchise along more familiar paths that are reminiscent of those in Halo 3. The issue that I have with that, is that keeping future gameplay confined to Zeta Halo will get old fast. No one wants to be stuck playing as the Master Chief on a ring for the next ten years.

If the franchise is going to move beyond all of the questionable events from Cortana’ s arc, then we need to see an expansive and open world gameplay that is not confined to a ring, or a single planet, but one that takes the player on a journey across the stars. Inevitably, I also think that we need to see the Master Chief retire. There is a lifetime of emotion, feelings, and memories that have gone untouched for him, and a story along those lines would help the staying power of the character if he’s around. Ultimately, I think that we need to see new characters brought in, that can take the reins from the Master Chief and move us forward beyond a singular hero.

Halo Infinite is full of action, depth, and emotion, but the real question is how will it surpass the legacy of the games that it is built upon? 343 Industries has stated that it is the last main entry into the Halo franchise for at least ten years, so how will that work? What is their plan? Not everyone plays or wants to see another Halo Wars title, and if this is the last game for at least ten years, is this the final entry of the Master Chief? If not, then what could be next for him, and why? Halo Infinite Leaves us with as many questions as we had before its release, we can only hope that the franchise doesn’t go down like the Infinity in a ball of fire.

What it takes to join Cobra

Cobra Troopers negotiating an urban environment

When discussing terrorist groups, there are two types that you hear about most on the news: Domestic Terrorist Organizations (DTOs) and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Either of these can be self-sustaining, or state sponsored groups, and they can range from a disorganized band of informally trained civilians, to professionally trained mercenaries, and former soldiers in a highly trained organization. There are currently seventy-two groups listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on the FBI’s Counter-Terrorism website.

All are independent groups working in specific countries or regions of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Central and South America, Europe, and Southern Asia. Some are off shoots of the same organization, with various regional identities having no formal ties to the host organization that they claim to represent. What isn’t on the list is one group that has evaded detection for years, and operates in the shadows on every continent.

It began as an attempt for revenge by a mentally deranged business entrepreneur from Springfield, Illinois. His brother lost his life in a car accident as a result of driving while intoxicated, and it started him down a dark path to revenge. He sold his home out from under his wife, stole her savings, and abandoned her and their son. He began financing domestic terrorist operations right here on American soil, and within just a few years his plot for revenge had evolved into a multi million-dollar enterprise.

He began investing in everything from communications to pharmaceuticals, to infrastructure and transportation. This shadow organization soon eclipsed even the most well-funded criminal and terrorist groups anywhere in the world. No one knew who they were, or where they were located. The scant intelligence that was gathered from other terrorist organizations all pointed to someone and something much deadlier, and much more powerful than anyone could imagine. That threat is Cobra. It is an emerging global entity, with assets, informants, and operatives in every country, and in every sector of society.

it is the single largest terrorist organization in the history of the world, and its exact numbers are unknown. As part of our ISR mission, we have pieced together intel from a source in Kosovo who is familiar with their recruiters, and what the requirements are to join Cobra. To begin, no one approaches Cobra, they approach you. Depending upon who you and where you are, it may be an invitation to a business dinner, or a football game. For others it’s a meeting outside of town at a local pub. Each candidate has already been screened for their background and familial history and ties, and then offered an opportunity to change their lifestyle.

Those who accept, are further evaluated for their loyalty before being whisked away to an undisclosed Island for training. Here we have learned that all Cobra recruits go through the same month-long assessment and selection process. We’re told that their training was designed and run by a former Blade with the New Zealand SAS Regiment, and that recruits are evaluated on a scaled back version of the Regiments selection process. If they succeed, they must undergo another psychological evaluation, before swearing total allegiance to Cobra Commander, the organizations founder and DeFacto leader.

If a candidate fails or is rejected by Cobra Commander, they are killed, and their bodies are either burned on the island, or weighted down and dumped off shore. Candidates who pass are put through Cobra’s infantry training program, which involves extensive small arms and small team tactics training. Depending upon the needs of the organization, some recruits receive advanced training in tracked and wheeled vehicles, demolitions, and target interdiction. We have also learned from our source that Cobra has its own Special Operations unit called Vipers.

These soldiers are said to be experts in Close Quarters Battle, urban combat, and desert warfare. They are also reported to train in Psychological Warfare operations, and used for Direct Action Missions. They are for Cobra what G.I. Joe is for the United States. These soldiers are reportedly hand-picked for a year long, advanced selection and training process, before being allowed to become a Viper. According to our source most recruits are sent back to their homes upon completion of their training, to be utilized as assets as needed.

This expansive network of human informants and operators loyal to Cobra Commander gives him unprecedented access and reach, into every sector of the world’s governments and societies. According to our source Cobra Commander is determined to rule the world through blackmail, fear, and intimidation. Their ability to continue to strike at targets and escape unseen means that there is more at play than we realize, and that puts us behind the curve. Now that we know what it takes to join Cobra, maybe we can use that to our advantage in the near future.

What it takes to become a G.I. Joe

I have been a fan of G.I. Joe for the past thirty-nine years, and tonight I want to discuss a subject that I have never seen anyone address until now, and that is what it would take to become a member of G.I. Joe if they were a real military unit. I am writing this article as a subject matter expert on the franchise, and taking information from the cartoons, comics, live action films, and toy line. I’m also basing it upon my knowledge of the special operations community, having spent the past thirteen years training with retired military special operations personnel.

To begin, we’re all familiar with the tag line that “G.I. Joe is America’s daring and highly trained special missions force.” The key is Special Missions Force, or Unit. If G.I. Joe were real, then it would be classified as a Special Missions Unit, or SMU. These are Tier One Special Operations organizations that conduct classified operations such as Direct Action, Hostage Rescue, Special Reconnaissance, and eliminating High Value Targets, or HVTs.

SMUs recruit candidates from Tier 02 and Tier 03 military units, but are not limited to them for selecting the right candidate. An example of a Tier 02 unit would be the U.S. Army Green Berets (Special Forces, Airborne) while a Tier 03 unit would be the 82nd Airborne Division. Candidates must meet a minimum set of requirements for that specific SMU in order to attend their selection course, and usually requires them to be a certain age, rank, and be able to meet a minimum physical training standard, as well as qualify for a Top-Secret security clearance.

Depending upon the unit, selection will vary, but is most often a month-long course designed to test a candidate’s abilities and commitment. They are looking for individuals who can think for themselves, and outside of the box. They must not only be able to endure physical stress, but they must also demonstrate the mental discipline required to complete selection as well. Candidates are constantly evaluated throughout the selection process by both the cadre’, as well as clinical psychologists who are watching the candidates during selection.

Those who complete selection usually undergo a lengthy psychological evaluation, followed by a six-month long training course specific to that unit. The attrition rates during selection can be greater than ninety percent, and as high as fifty percent during the unit training phase. So now that you have a basic understanding of what a Tier One unit is, and what is required to join, what would that look like for G.I. Joe? Would it be the same, would it be different, or would you be selected right off of the street?

To begin, G.I. Joe is classified as a compartmentalized unit within the United States Army, and does not fall under any conventional chain of command. The Commander would report directly to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), who in turn would report directly to the National Command Authority (NCA). G.I. Joe would be considered a Tier One unit, because that classification exists to determine the funding of the units within the Special Operations community, more so than it does to identify with their skill levels.

G.I. Joe was in fact inspired and modeled after a real-world Counter -Terrorist Unit, and that would be their primary role. That however, is where the similarities between G.I. Joe and other Tier One units would end. Despite being a U.S. Army unit, G.I. Joe would in reality be a multinational strike force, comprised of candidates from Special Operations units from around the world. These would be the very best of the best men and women in their respective fields of expertise. G.I. Joe itself is an acronym for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, and it would be the first and only unit of its kind.

It would require unprecedented diplomatic authority and immunity in order to carry out its mission, and would also become the most secretive unit in any military known to exist. In many ways, G.I. Joe operates and is structured as its own branch of the military, having both the assets, capability, and personnel to deploy anywhere in the world, by air, land, and sea. Where other Special Operations units would be required to coordinate and rely upon other conventional military units for logistical support, G.I. Joe would have no such requirement.

They would operate out of a fixed, permanent base at a classified location in the United States, as well as being forward deployed on their own aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Flagg (CVNJ-99). In addition, such a unit would be expected to maintain a small operational contingency deployed in strategic locations around the globe. G.I. Joe would maintain and operate their own air and land assets as well, meaning they have the capability to deploy to and operate in any environment, and be there in under eighteen hours of getting an alert. Their unique capabilities set the G.I. Joe team apart from any other unit in existence. As General Hawk stated to Duke in The Rise of Cobra: “when all else fails, we don’t.”

So, who would be qualified to go through the selection process for G.I. Joe, and what would that entail? To begin, G.I. Joe would not limit their candidates to a particular unit or branch of the military. They would select candidates based upon the needs of the unit, and would set similar standards as those in use by current Tier One units around the world. A candidate would have to meet certain requirements such as age, experience, qualifications, and rank. Trust is paramount within the ranks of G.I. Joe, and having the right people is key to their success and survival. I know of at least one civilian (Agent Helix), who was recruited to the G.I. Joe team, and both her existence and identity were kept secret from the rest of the unit.

That would be unprecedented in any other modern unit, in any military that I am aware of, but not within the ranks of G.I. Joe. The needs of the unit would dictate who is selected, and candidates outside of the military may be the exception to the rule, but they would not be excluded. The selection process itself would also be much different, as candidates would not be told the identity of the unit that they are volunteering for. They would be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and would undergo an extensive security screening conducted by Counter Intelligence operatives within the G.I. Joe unit, before being accepted to selection.

These highly trained agents would conduct interviews of the candidate’s family, friends, and neighbors, as well as looking at their criminal and financial backgrounds. They would look at every area of their lives, seeking out any reason that the candidates would be disqualified from being trusted to become a unit member. Due to the needs of the unit, team members might also seek out candidates that they have identified through current military records, and attempt to evaluate them through selective and informal exercises and tests, without them being committed to the selection process.

They would do the same for any civilian they may have identified who meets both the physical fitness standards, as well as possessing the skillsets that they are interested in or looking for. Once a candidate was approved for selection, they would receive orders to report for selection, and would be discreetly transported by commercial means to a pre-disclosed location. Upon arrival the candidates would meet up with a cadre’ member who would then escort them to the training site. Unlike other units, G.I. Joe would conceal from the candidates where their training would be conducted, and how long it would last. They would be kept in the dark, and would be briefed on only what they needed to know for operational safety, security, and training purposes.

Each candidate would be evaluated with a preliminary physical fitness test on day one, and upon successful completion of that, they would then continue the selection process. Unlike other SMUs however, selection for G.I. Joe would not be a rehash from their old units. Candidates would be evaluated through continuous evolutions designed to engage their thought process, while under extreme physical duress and stress. The cadre would be looking for individuals with a passive aggressive personality, who could keep their composure while under stress. The candidates would be required to conduct land navigation exercises over mountain terrain, wearing heavy rucks, while under an imposed and unknown time limit.

They would be tested on their ability to problem solve under fire, and conduct missions while rescuing downed team members. The cadre’ would want to know if the candidate meets their standards, and if they have the right attitude and mindset. If the candidates successfully complete the selection process, they would go on to complete a psychological evaluation, and if selected, would then continue their training with the G.I. Joe unit. Like other SMUs, G.I. Joe would conduct a six-month Operator Training Course, divided into training blocks for specific skills. Candidates would receive advanced training to become surgical shooters with small arms and sniper rifles, breaching, and Close Quarters Battle.

They would conduct Combined training exercises putting all of their skills to work, and then move on to more specialized skills training that is specific to the G.I. Joe team. If the candidates successfully completed the Operator Training Course, they would then be assigned to an operational team within the G.I. Joe unit, where they would continue to train when not deployed. So now you know what it would take to become a part of G.I. Joe, America’s top secret and highly trained Special Missions Unit. Next week, we will look at what it takes to become a member of COBRA!

My thoughts on Cosplaying for Star Wars, and The Rebel Legion

For years I had looked with envy at countless images online of Star Wars fans who cosplayed as their favorite characters from the franchise. It was something that I wanted to do, but couldn’t afford, and wasn’t confident enough to attempt to make on my own. Still, the desire was there, so I began doing research to determine where to begin. One of the first sites that I looked at was the Rebel Legion, which is an “official” cosplay group of sorts for characters within the Rebel Alliance.

To be accepted in the Legion, your cosplay has to meet their requirements of being screen accurate, right down to the identical materials used for the outfit on screen. They of course state on their website that it is meant to be a guide, however it still must meet their approval in order to be accepted, and then there are other requirements for membership as well. Being Autistic I knew that I could not meet their requirements, so I began to consider alternative options for creating a unique cosplay.

I knew that I did not want to cosplay as any of the known characters on screen. It always bothered me how all of the images that I came across were people dressing up as the same character! Though I understood their love and passion for the character, i did not share their desire to emulate them. I wanted something bland, normal, and yet unique. I wanted something that matched my personality, but was still within the Star Wars universe.

In early 2019 I had begun writing the manuscript for a Star Wars legends novel entitled Star Wars Rebel Destiny ( That manuscript was recently completed, and awaiting to be reviewed by the publisher). In the novel one of the protagonists is a member of the Alliance Army SpecForces, so In October of 2019 I set out to make a cosplay outfit based on my description of the character. Rebel SpecForces operating on a non-permissive world would not be in camo fatigues like the guys on Endor, but rather civilian clothes. Cargo pants, utility shirts, and civilian jackets.

They would be carrying blaster pistols, and have rifles that could easily be broken down and concealed in a backpack or other bag used by the local populace. They would have bandoliers for their weapon power packs, which could easily and quickly be stowed in the same pack, and then quickly removed when needed. Unlike bulky body armor, bandoliers are lightweight, simple, and easy to carry and conceal.

Building off of that, I went out and purchased a Wrangler long sleeve outdoor shirt from my local Wal-Mart. I began by using a pair of scissors to cut off the excess collar, and creating a stand up collar for the shirt. I then removed the buttons from the front of the shirt, and the flaps on the chest pockets. I used Khaki fabric of identical color to the shirt, as well as Velcro to create a flap to secure the front of the shirt and the pockets. I then rolled the sleeves halfway up, as this seems to be used often by characters within the franchise.

I ordered an Olive Drab Mosin Nagant bandolier from Amazon, and used a pair of existing Grey Wrangler cargo pants. I did not have the ability or material to create a rectangular belt buckle, so I used an existing Trainer’s belt by 5-11. I used an identical and larger sized belt for the gun belt. For the sidearm I chose to go with the Poe Dameron Nerf blaster, which is a replica of the Eirriss Ryloth Defense Tech Glie-44 Blaster Pistol. Though used on screen in the sequels, it was widely in use during the Galactic Civil War. I disassembled it and repainted it in Black and Gunmetal using Kyrlon spray paint. I made a holster for it using craft foam and Plasti-Dip.

Glie-44 combat blaster pistol and holster

For the blaster rifle I used the Cassian Andor Nerf blaster, which is based upon the Blastech A280-CFE. This is an updated and more powerful version of the standard A280 rifles used by the SpecForces on Endor. I completely disassembled it, and then used Krylon and Duplicolor spray paints to repaint it in Gunmetal Grey.

I completed my cosplay of the Rebel SpecForces character in time for Halloween, and went out that day and took some pics in a local Pine forest. I was extremely happy with the results, and took more photos the following month. Though I haven’t attempted any cosplay since then, it did allow me to learn some things first hand, and I got to experience all of the thrill of the moment that I was looking for. Still, I would have really liked to have shared that experience with other cosplayers who wanted to bring that Star Wars Battlefront vibe to life.

I think that the Rebel Legion is good for what it is, but it’s not the right outlet for me. I do not entirely agree with their standards, though I do understand why they exist and are utilized. I think that there should be an option for those like myself who want to cosplay in a group, but are not required to adhere to strict rules for background or general characters, and that isn’t seeking to be in the public eye through events, parades, and the like. The one notable aspect of the Legion is that they are involved in charities, which I wholeheartedly support. They are in a unique position to be able to carry out such things, and I applaud them for it.

My goals are focused entirely upon cosplaying for the purpose of photography and role playing. It allows me the opportunity to be immersed in the Star Wars universe in a more tangible way, without being involved in a group or organization.

My thoughts on the G.I. Joe Classified Series

Introduction

2020 was a very devasting year for many, but there was also good in the midst of the bad. One of those things was the release of the G.I. Joe Classified Series line by Hasbro.

When I first learned about this line in 2019 I was both excited and skeptical about it, having only rumors to go on.

When the figures were first released in June of 2020, the demand exceeded supply, and stores were quickly stripped bare by collectors and scalpers alike.

The Target exclusive Cobra Island sub-line fared no better, with limited inventory, and some stores putting out stock before the street date.

This caused confusion, and led to Hasbro redacting the street date by a week, allowing inventory to be placed out for sale.

What followed was a merciless attempt by scalpers to get their hands on as much inventory as possible, forcing collectors and consumers to turn to eBay as their only source for these figures.

This allowed scalpers to inflate aftermarket prices by as much as five times or more the actual MSRP of the figure, forcing collectors to meet their demands if they wanted to obtain them.

It was and is a serious blight on both the toy industry, and collector community alike.Early on I managed to snag several of the Wave 01 figures from an area Wal-Mart and GameStop twenty miles away, before their inventory disappeared.

I was eager to get the new Target exclusive Beachhead and Cobra Troopers, and began waiting for their release date.

I live in a rural area, so the nearest Target store to me is roughly fifty miles away. My first trip there last year proved to be a nightmare.

They had inventory on hand in the stock room, but the management present was not aware that the street date had been lifted, and because of that they refused to sell me any of the figures.

I would make several more trips over the following months, with nothing to show for it but an empty gas tank.

I finally caved in and purchased two of the Cobra Troopers on eBay for a whopping one hundred dollars each! Thankfully, that would turn out to be the worst experience that I have had with the Classified Series line to date.

Meet our demands, or you’ll never have us in hand!

Overview

The G.I. Joe Classified Series is possibly the most successful line of figures within the franchise, since the debut of the three and three quarter inch scale A Real American Hero line in 1982.

Each of the figures is based on the six inch scale, with each figure being scaled according to their character’s stature in relation to each other.

They boast thirty six points of articulation, and include at minimum one weapon, and at least one accessory, with most having several of each.

The figures also feature updated appearances and uniforms, which are based upon their original A Real American Hero designs from the 1980s.

Most of the weapons are futuristic, and are scaled down replicas of some Nerf blasters. This was done intentionally, to steer the line away from being seen as promoting firearms and violence in play.

This has been a point of debate among adult collectors who grew up as fans of the original G.I. Joe cartoons, comics, and toy line.

The idea is that G.I. Joe has always stood as a symbol of morality, pitching good versus evil on the battlefield.

The individual weapons, aircraft, armor, and boats were all portrayed as implements of war, and each episode of the cartoons and comics depicted G.I. Joe fighting Cobra forces.

The idea that depicting either G.I. Joe or Cobra using actual weapons has any bearing or negative influence over the hearts and minds of today’s youth, simply has no foundation in reality.

The Classified Series figures are not the first G.I. Joe line to be designed in the six inch scale, but they are the first to go into production.

A previous line based loosely on the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra figures was drawn up nearly ten years ago, but never went into production.

It is unknown why that line was cancelled, however it proves that the concept for a six inch line of G.I. Joe figures was seen as a valid direction to take the franchise.

Recently it was revealed in the updated Linkdin profile of Hasbro’s Senior Marketing Director Irvin Ducournau, that he was responsible for the development of a global brand strategy ( G.I. Joe Classified Series ) planned for three to five years.

If that’s true, then that would make the G.I. Joe Classified Series the third longest running line of action figures produced for the brand by Hasbro to date.

And if sales are any indication, it is has quickly become by far the most popular line as well.

My Assessment of the line

One thing that I strive for when I do a toy review is to remain unbiased in my report. I usually spend dozens of hours reviewing a single figure, including their in universe history, their production facts, as well as looking at other reviews.

Ultimately my assessment is based on my personal in hand experience with the toy. That includes addressing quality control issues that have been previously reported by other collectors and consumers, as well as offering my own opinion.

Overall I think that the G.I. Joe Classified Series has exceeded my personal expectations of the line, and it certainly lives up to the hype on social media.

I will say that my primary point of concern is with the weapons being made of soft plastic, as most of them have a tendency to be warped beyond the ability to correct.

If I could offer any suggestions for future waves, it would be to either include two weapons with every figure: a sidearm and a rifle, or to offer a weapons pack as a separate expansion kit that could be purchased at retail.

This would give collectors an additional means of outfitting their figures, and offer an attractive feature that would enhance the collector experience.

*G.I. Joe Classified Series Duke with warped rifle*

I think that the design team has done a tremendous job with this line, and so has the marketing team.

Their color choice, design, and layout on the packaging are both eye catching and simplistic. I also like the redesigned character abilities icons on the side panel, as it gives collectors an added feature to their experience with the figure.

I have found that some of the complaints by collectors and consumers are both biased and unfounded.

Conflict among collectors

First, when you are speaking about collectors, you are referring primarily to adult collectors who have been and are life long fans of G.I. Joe.

People collect for a myriad of reasons, but there are some of us who are more versed in this world then others, and can be considered subject matter experts when it comes to toys and toy collecting.

To that end, I want to address this issue:

There are some who use social media to compare the Classified Series with it’s only competitor, Action Force.

Any collector or influencer like myself, is going to offer their opinion when there is a standard to compare something to, but unfortunately that isn’t the case here.

The reason being is that the Action Force line of six inch military style figures has yet to be shipped from the manufacturer, and no one has these figures in hand to compare them to the Classified Series figures.

*Action Force? Is that* *like the girl scouts?*

Second, Action Force is a brand new start-up by a former employee of the Hasbro design team. Their target demographic is the adult collector community, whereas the Classified Series is marketed to collectors age four and up.

That means when designing these figures they were incorporating features that would appeal to a much broader consumer base than what Action Force is doing.

You also have to take into consideration that G.I. Joe has been around in one scale or another for the past sixty four years.

Action Force on the other hand is a new line, from a new start-up. The name Action Force originated in 1982 with Palitoy in Great Britain as a response to their failed Action Man line.

The new line was composed of multinational figures, but would soon include their own rebranding of G.I. Joe’s as well.

Once their trademark came up as available, it was purchased by Valaverse, and used to rebrand the Action Force line. The first wave of figures were offered through a kickstart campaign.

The video reviews that have been posted to social media sites like YouTube have mostly been of a biased nature, and used to promote the Action Force brand, while debasing the Classified Series.

With no Action Force figures in hand to actually compare to the Classified Series, these unprofessional reviews are of no merit to the collector and fan communities.

At best they demonstrate the polarizing views associated with individuals who have no regard for professional culture or ethics, and who offer no insight into the product itself.

Conclusions

The G.I. Joe Classified Series has brought new life to an old friend, and renewed interest among fans. It is a modern take on an eighties classic, that we all grew up with and loved.

In many ways it allows us to reconnect with our childhood, and experience emotions and familiarity with a far better time in our world, than the days in which we live.

The Classified Series has in fact, taken G.I. Joe fans by storm, and made our dreams come true. Despite opposition from a few, the G.I Joe Classified Series is here to stay.

Haslab RazorCrest

*Finalized Production Prototype of the RazorCrest*

Controversy has arisen like the Sith themselves over the most recent crowdfunding campaign by Hasbro; namely their Haslab Vintage Collection RazorCrest.

Originally intended to be a Disney Parks exclusive toy, the Vintage Collection RazorCrest was rushed into the Haslab domain when their intended project, a Dagobah swamp playset, received less than enthusiastic reviews at an early showing.

Initially fans were presented only with Gray Scale CAD renderings of the RazorCrest, and not actual images of the finalized prototype.

Before the Hasbro marketing team could blink, they had collected 9.8 million credits from twenty eight thousand backers to fund their latest idea.

The excitement throughout fandom would soon cease, however, as the shadow of the dark side was revealed.

*Gray Scale 3D Rendering of the RazorCrest*

During The Mandalorian Season Two Episode Six, Chapter Fourteen (The Tragedy), We find Din Djarin and Grogu on the Jedi homeworld of Tython, being attacked by remnant Imperial forces.

The defining moment of the episode sees the RazorCrest destroyed by a single blast from a turbolaser, with Din left speechless as his ship is vaporized in front of him.

Like Din Djarin, Backers of the Haslab RazorCrest were also left speechless, and quite frankly confused about the whole matter.

Many wanted to know why Hasbro would go to such lengths to release the RazorCrest, only to see it get destroyed within weeks of starting the campaign?

Many fans were angry, seeing it as nothing more than an expensive marketing strategy to keep fans buying toys from The Mandalorian.

For those of you who are not aware, toys for Star Wars are planned anywhere from eighteen months to three years in advance of their release, and the design team at Hasbro often works closely with the staff at Lucasfilm on their development and production.

The RazorCrest is no exception, so it stands to reason that Hasbro could have known that the iconic ship would soon meet it’s demise, a fact that did not sit well with many backers, which in turn caused them to withdraw their support.

Unlike the Millennium Falcon , the RazorCrest is a fairly new ship to the Star Wars universe, and seeing it destroyed so soon had a negative effect upon fans.

This was even more true with those who backed the Haslab project, having paid nearly four hundred dollars up front to secure their toy, and ensure it’s production goals were met.

Now it seems that Hasbro may have made an error in how they chose to release it. To be fair, any time a new concept for a toy is proposed, there are many considerations that must be reviewed.

Among these are production costs, and marketing. If it is approved to move forward, then an in house prototype is created, usually by 3D printing, and further analysis is made, along with revisions to the proof of concept model.

If it gets approved for production, then contacts have to be made for the tooling to be designed and produced, along with the actual production facilities,as well as the design and production of the packaging.

A production schedule is created, and a shipping date is given. All of which happen years before you actually see a toy on store shelves.

Like any other industry, there are financial risks involved with sales, and over the past eight years alone Hasbro has incurred an estimated five hundred million dollars in losses due to poor sales of their Star Wars brand toys.

One of the things that their marketing team would point out is that the bulk of their sales are from adult collectors and fans, rather than from parents buying toys for their kids.

This is one reason why Haslab was created, in order to give fans the toys that they really want, which would otherwise not get produced.

They began two years ago with Jabba’s Sail Barge, which saw nine thousand backers paying five hundred dollars each for the massive collectible.

Hasbro cashed in with five million dollars on that project, and I would guess that half of that was counted towards profit.

This time around Hasbro had three times as many backers for the RazorCrest, with almost double the money for a ship that has only been in existence for one tenth as long as the Sail Barge.

Clearly, the project revealed where the hearts and minds of Star Wars fans is at. That is, until they saw their new toy vaporized on screen! So what happens next?

“*I might need a ride back to Navarro…”*

Undoubtedly the project will move forward, and backers should still receive their product by fall 2021, barring any unforeseen circumstances that would interfere with production.

That being said, there are tens of thousands of fans out there like myself who will miss out on their chance to own the RazorCrest, simply due to cost. That is the downside to crowdfunding.

Not everyone can afford the total cost up front, and not everyone can afford to pay within the limited timeframe provided.

Whether Hasbro did or did not know about the ship’s demise is irrelevant in my opinion, as true fans of the show are still going to collect what they want, when they can.

The real issue here is the availability of the toy, and what could Haslab do differently? Given the lead time, I think that what is needed is a separate website that is financed in part, by an annual membership fee from collectors.

This would provide an opportunity for the design and marketing team to present fans with opportunities to provide feedback and input on future projects.

It could also provide them with a secure portal to set up a payment system for future Haslab projects. Doing so would ensure the projects still get funded, while allowing more fans to take part, and be able to share in the fun of having their own special toy for their collection.

It would also help to deter scalpers who are making money off of the current project, by offering it for twice the retail cost on the secondary market.

Even if we don’t see Din Djarin in another model of the RazorCrest , the ship will go down in history as one of the most iconic within the Star Wars universe.

And if you didn’t get in on the Haslab project, don’t fret, as there are always plans for 3D printed models like the one that I own online.

Here’s a link you can check out by Fine_Engineer with his free plans for the RazorCrest : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4607202

*My 3D printed RazorCrest from the files provided on thingverse by fine_engineer. The ship was upscaled 150% to accommodate the Black Series figures.*

The Mandalorian: Season Two Finale

This morning I watched The Mandalorian Season Two finale The Rescue, and I wanted to share my thoughts on it, as well as my thoughts on where the show may go next season.

To begin, I have to say that it was an incredible story, that had an appropriate balance between the action and the drama taking place.

The Mandalorian Season Two has been much better than the first season in my opinion, and has been much more fascinating overall.

The most important aspect of Season Two in my opinion has been Boba Fett; the writers decision to bring him into the narrative was probably the smartest move that they made.

What I didn’t care for was Bo Katan’s criticism of him, saying that he isn’t a Mandalorian, because he is a clone of Jango Fett.

If you notice in his response, Bobba always responds with Jango being his father, because that is who he really was.

For whatever reason Jango wanted a descendant, an heir, a son, and the only way that he could have that was by asking for a clone of himself to raise as his own.

Other than being a clone, Bobba was unaltered genetically, making him for all intents and purposes human.

It also means that according to The Way, Jango had chosen to raise him as his own, and this in itself made Boba his heir.

It also means that because Jango was a descendant of Jaster Mereel, that Boba is the direct descendant and heir to the throne of Mandalore, and not Bo Katan as she claims.

This presents an interesting angle to the narrative for Season three, since Din is in possession of the Darksaber, which by birthright should belong to Boba Fett.

The other aspect of the Season Two finale that I want to discuss Is Din, and his relationship with Grogu.

In all honesty I was not expecting Grogu to be rescued this season; my thoughts were that the show would follow a similar arc as The Empire Strikes Back, and end in a cliffhanger.

Surprisingly, the ending was presented in such a manner as it could continue, or it could be end the show if they so chose to do so.

That being said, we know that there is a third season planned, so where will the narrative go from here?

My guess is that there are niue answers forthcoming from Dr. Pershing and Moff Gideon as to what exactly they were doing with Grogu, and why they neede his blood.

I also expect that at some point we will see Grogu and The Mandalorian cross paths again, possibly at the end of Season Three as a final farewell.

With that being said, I think that the remaining stories still revolve around the answers surrounding Moff Gideon, and possibly Din having to go on a series of missions that in some way either assist the Jedi, the New Republic, or both.

I also expect to see a continuation of the narrative between Boba Fett and Din, or at least having their paths cross again.

Boba Fett has become more than a supporting role in the show, he is now just as important and prominent as Din Djarin.

The Mandalorian has all of the elements present that make it what George Lucas always envisioned for Star Wars to be.

It has the action that we see in the Flash Gordon serials of yesterday, but it lacks the feel of a science fiction western.

Whatever your feelings and thoughts are, The Mandalorian has captivated millions of fans worldwide, and forever established a new hero in the Star Wars mythology.

Quintessa: The Key of Cybertron

transformers-the-last-knight-1551477143 — *Quintessa* in *Transformers The Last Knight*

For those of you who actually enjoyed the live action Transformers films, I wanted to share a thought with all of you about the continuity of the movieverse plot.

Like many fans, I enjoyed the live action franchise, despite there being questions that were left unanswered at the ending of Transformers The Last Knight.

One of the most divisive of these is in regards to Quintessa, who she is, and where she comes from. After all, we learned from Optimus Prime in the first live action film that the AllSpark created worlds, and filled them with life, and that was how the Transformers race was born.

If that is correct, then someone intelligent was responsible for the creation of the AllSpark. That someone is most likely Quintessa.

According to an interview with Lorenzo Di Bonaventura (https://www.slashfilm.com/transformers-the-last-knight-credits-scene/) Quintessa is or was at some point human, but if that’s true then what is she now?

To answer that we have to look at the intro to Transformers Age of Extinction, where we are introduced to an armada of alien vessels entering the atmosphere of prehistoric Earth.

Here we see them deploying objects which hover above the ground, and are then detonated, turning organic material into molten metal.

We also are given a glimpse of these aliens onboard their ship, who are clearly biological entities, with mechanical enhancements.

We later learn that these devices Cyber form entire worlds, and the Living Metal is harvested and returned to Cybertron where it was used for among other things, to build the Transformers race.

Arcam’s Razor dictates that the most reasonable explanation is the correct one, and operating on that theory we can presume that the race of creators visited worlds which were uninhabited by sentient life, and Cyber formed them.

I suggest this because in Transformers Revenge of the Fallen we learn that the Thirteen Primes set out to find uninhabited worlds on which to build Star Harvesters.

Rotf-starharvester-2 — *Cybertronian Star Harvester constructed on ancient Earth*

These devices would detonate a local star, capturing it’s plasma and converting it into raw Energon. Doing so was the only way in which they could recharge the AllSpark once it was drained.

So unlike the Transformers themselves which rely on liquid Energon which has been processed from the ore, the AllSpark as Ratchet claims in Transformers contains raw power, which cannot be controlled by any Transformer themselves.

It leads us to consider then that the Creators used the Thirteen Primes to harvest power for the AllSpark, and set them over the race of Transformers, who were most likely used as laborers to do the creators bidding.

The only element that is left in question then is Quintessa, and it is clear from the interview with Lorenzo Di Bonaventura that they have already established a backstory for her.

Based on his statement, we can gather that Quintessa was originally a human being from Earth. We can also presume that she most likely survived a Cyber forming mission by the alien race, who captured her and retuned her to Cybertron.

There she was studied, and somehow integrated with their own technology, turning her into a life form unlike anything that was previously known.

This transformation gave Quintessa abilities and knowledge that no human would have been capable of having, and thus made her an asset to their race.

Quintessa would have eventually learned of Unicron’s existence, and known that in the future that she could not defeat the creators alone.

Thus she created for them a race of laborers using the AllSpark, with the intention of having them destroy both the creators and Unicron in the future, leaving only Quintessa to rule over Cybertron.

It would become her ultimate act of vengence from being taken from her world, and having it seemingly destroyed.

The eventual rise to power of Megatron, and his rebellion of the creators was most likely an uncalculated event for Quintessa, but one that she allowed in order to fulfill her own purpose.

Like the Fallen and Vector Prime, Quintessa appears to have the ability to teleport herself through the fabric of time and space, if only over short distances.

We could then surmise that she hid herself within Cybertron during the war, most likely surrounded by Autobot guardian knights who were oblivious to her intent.

Those who were escaped before she could kill them. The war ended as the AllSpark was launched into space, and without it Quintessa did not have the power to restore Cybertron on her own, leading to the events in each film.

The movieverse plot involved Megatron recovering the AllSpark, and the Fallen using the Star Harvester to recharge it’s power.

They would have then used the AllSpark to revive Sentinel Prime in order to teleport Cybertron to Earth, allowing Quintessa to kill Unicron once and for all.

Had Transformers 6 been written, we may very well have seen Unicron’s power harnessed by Quintessa to complete her original goals.

This summary has taken me nine years to complete, believe it or not, as I spent hundreds of hours doing research on this subject. I hope that it provides a takeaway for all of the movie verse fans, as well as presenting a closer look at things for those who were critical of the live action films.

Cybertron awaiting 91263 High Quality and Resolution Wallpapers — Cybertron restored and departing Earth