YouTube Expands Star Wars Discussion

Since the expansion films of Star Wars, we nerds have become more engrossed in its mythos and culture.  It has spawned its own cult or religious group in our modern age.  Even so, diehard fans of the films and comics have begun branching off on a multimedia site to present their passions.

Thanks to YouTube, we can expand the scope of the Star Wars universe through fan videos, legacy discussions, or just plain rantting.  YouTuber Jensaaari1, the famous nerd ranter is one of these people who help to expand and further the discussion of Star Wars.  Most notably his Verses break downs of specific Jedi against Jedi or Sith, he elegantly explains in up to 30 minutes presentations, detailing in clear dialogue each character's strengths and weaknesses.

These are not his only videos.  He also has a ton of different Star Wars videos over lightsaber combat and force abilities that he explains and sites his references.  I am just a lowly nerd, but I would put Jensaaari1, at an authority of Star Wars dialogue and discussion on most any topics.  Check out his channel.

Showtime's Penny Dreadfully Awesome

What an interesting show with a mix of 19th century Victorian characters.  Penny Dreadful takes Mary Shelly's: Frankenstin, Bram Stoker's: Dracula, Oscar Wilde's: Dorain Gray, werewolves, and demons.

The funny thing is, with the seriousness of the plot and characters, Frankenstein's monster does acknowledge Shelly's writings.  So far, no other author of the horror tales relate in such ways yet.

Actually this Sunday, 6/30/14, is this short season finale'.  Do miss it.  The show is really awesome.  With an introduction of new characters and the intermingling of the familiar ones, this plot has lots of mystique, violence, undertones of more going on with each character that the story is not revealing, and lust.  Lust.  Yes Eva Green is looking superb in her Victorian, dry and dafty dress and hair.

Josh Harnett who plays an American traveler in London, running from his past is quite they mysterious person.  Something is hinted at this when.he reads letters from his father.  He has been hired by Sir Malcolm Murray as a hired gun, in search of his daughter Mina Harker who has been taken by a vampire.  Thrilling story.  Catch it tonight!

Star Wars : Expanded Universe more Interesting than the Films

As a kid of the early 90's, Star Wars was a big movie influence in my life.  I'm talking about Star Wars before they digitally enhanced it.  Though I did have my mom take me and my best buddy to go see the enhanced films in the crummy theater in my home town when they came out.

I didn't really take into consideration until my early to mid twenties, the ever expanding mythos, back stories, and characters that Dark Horse comics has brought to life.

I did not becoming me aware of the complete reshaping of the Star Wars galaxy until I played Star Wars The Sith Lords which was set hundred if not a thousand or more years after BBY or SW E4.

The original idea behind this blog is to connect my felllow force users who don't know about Tython, Korriban, Dunx, Exar Kun, Darth Malak, and Revan; to a whole new and open story.  More recently, Dark Horse has come out with Dawn of the Jedi.  This comic series isn't an origins but very close.  It doesn't go back to a "traditional" begining but sheds light on the Jedi beginings and the conquest of the Ratakan Empire as it expands and clashes with the Jedi order.

In this story, it is made clear that the force was a while.  Both light and dark sides were equally used and not considered good over bad.  Like the yin and yang philosophy, balance was key.  Unlike the films and comics following the Skywalker lineage, there was only balanc if the dark side was obliterated.

This beginnings series does show that too much use of the dark side was corrupting to the user.  I am unsure if the  Ratakan Empire was able fully wield the force but they did have force user slaves that hunted others for them.

Another comic series is Tales of the Jedi which gives more insight to different Sith Lords , artifacts, planets, and Sith magic.  It also expands on Protosabers and Jedi weaponry.

There is much more but it cannot all be covered.  Check Amazon or eBay for the Tales of the Jedi and TFAW.com for Dawn of the Jedi.  You won't be disappointed.

Comics: A hot market on eBay

I don't know if it has always been this way or not but a few months ago, I got an idea to start selling comic books on eBay.  I've been an eBay memeber for many years but have done more buying than selling.

With the recent blockbuster hits from Marvel's The Avengers and Capatin America, X-Men, and The Wolverine, it peaked my interest in buying up comics, getting them professionally graded and selling them. 

As a kid, I collected comics.  Always have and still do.  I even attend the Comic-Con in Chicago once in a while. 

So I started to look throught what I had since the 1990's and used Google to find out their worth.  Worthless.  Modern Age comics aren't worth the paper they are printed on.  As a matter-of-fact, a comic is only worth what someone will pay.  I learned that through buying from eBay. 

Needless to say, superhero comics from as early as the 1950's through the early to mid 1970's are what's hot.  Spider-Man, Batman. Adventure Comics, The X-Men and/or The Avengers is what's selling like hot cakes.

With that, the thing to remember is to understand the condition of the comics.  Unless it is a key issue, anything old is only slightly valuable.  Silver Age comics in general are collectable, but it is key issues that make the big bucks.

Once you have secured a few comics, you have done tour research, if the comic is in good condition, then it will be better to get it professionally graded by a third party company such as the CGC.  Their grading will give you a sold ideas of what the comic is worth by the issue and its graded condition.

Using comicpriiceguide.com or comicbookrealm.com will give you two ideas of the market value and you can plan accordingly.  Craigslist is a horrible idea to sell these on because there is more hassle in dealing with people.  You and the people who buy from you are less protected than an online auction that uses PayPal.

Take this niche of wisdom, don't make the same mistakes, and good luck.