Monday, May 31, 2010

June Edition - Review of Jeremiah


Blackjack Fairgrounds is going to be doing a series of reviews of other post-apocalyptic stories. Our first one is the TV series Jeremiah.

Jeremiah ran from 2002-2004 on Showtime. It starred Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Jeremiah and Kurdy, a Jake and Hawkins type of team. It was created by J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5) and based on a Belgian comic series by Hermann Huppen.

Jeremiah is set 15 years after the big death, where a virus killed most of the world's post-puberty population. Jeremiah is the story of the children that survived. The first season was a "Wagon Train to the Apocalypse" type of story format - Jeremiah and Kurdy visited a new town every week. Jeremiah and Kurdy worked as a team for the Thunder Mountain group. There was a series arc of what happened to Jeremiah's parents and what was the mysterious Vahalla Sector.

In the second season, the stories were more like Jericho, since most of the action took place in two base locations (Thunder Mountain and Millhaven). Millhaven was the staging base that Jeremiah ran. The series arc quickly took center stage and the Thunder Mountain group and the series ASA equivalent (Daniel's group) clashed.

Since both Jeremiah and Jericho are post-apocalyptic there are similar elements. There is Morse Code used in a couple of episodes of Jeremiah. There is also a Mushroom Cloud in one episode. Jeremiah even has a mysterious Mr. Smith.

Jeremiah and Kurdy are very similar to Jake and Hawkins, with Kurdy being more street smart and Jeremiah often getting in trouble and needing to be rescued.

The ending of the series is emotionally fulfilling, but I wish that the series had been continued. I felt they rushed the series arc to finish by the end of the second season. I also think there was a lot more story potential left.

There is one scene so reminiscent of Jericho that it brought tears to my eyes. Right before the finale, they reintroduced the American flag and you see it superimposed over the Thunder Mountain stronghold.

The second season of Jeremiah has been released as an Amazon exclusive DVD, so now the whole series is available for those who missed it.

Jeremiah Comic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_%28comics%29

Jeremiah Series: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290966/

Friday, April 23, 2010

April Edition of Blackjack Fairgrounds

We hope that you enjoy your time at Blackjack Fairgrounds. Remember the rules: no guns, thieves will be strung up, buyer beware, and be sure to leave before nightfall!


Issue 3 of Jericho Season 3 - Civil War

Jake and Hawkins are on the road as Wanted Men. Forced to enter into enemy territory, they must use the help of the Jericho Resistance to make their way through an Allied States processing town on the Texas Border. Disguised as refugees, our heroes must maneuver past hi-tech cameras, armed ASA soldiers and local black market thugs to continue their mission to find terrorist John Smith.

Order Link



Cover A & B
$3.99 each













Reviews
Axiom's Edge Review
Video Review by Medabotsoundwave
Comic Attack's Review
Michael Sautter's Review


Questions

What will John Smith tell us?
How will they get OUT of Loomer Ridge?
Will Uncle Emmett stay in Jericho?
When will issue four come out?

Friday, March 12, 2010

March Edition of Blackjack Fairgrounds

We hope that you enjoy your time at Blackjack Fairgrounds. Remember the rules: no guns, thieves will be strung up, buyer beware, and be sure to leave before nightfall!

Today's edition will be a review of the post-apocalyptic version of Richard III performed at the City College of San Francisco. The director, John Wilk, stated that this is one of Shakespeare's most compelling plays. It deals with the politics of greed which destroys the fabric of a society and this parallels the corporate greed that has helped weaken our education system.

The set was what you would think of as post-apocalyptic - the shell of a destroyed building. They had jagged plastic hanging from the window frame that looked like broken glass and they used that as a backdrop for a film projection. They showed a black and white film of clouds passing by, so you got the feeling that outside the building nothing was alive.

The costumes were modern grunge with a little bit of Hollywood Pirate thrown in.

With such a radical change in scenery and costuming, I was hoping this would be an adaptation of Hamlet III. Unfortunately it was not, it was the Shakespeare play performed with the original verse and prose. I've always found it jarring to hear Shakespeare's plays out of context and this play was no exception.

The actor who played Richard III, DeWayne Spalding, was very good and reminded me a bit of John Goetz.

Although I was hoping for more, the play was still enjoyable.

Next month, we will be looking at the third issue of the Jericho Season 3 - Civil War comic.

Friday, February 12, 2010

February Edition of Blackjack Fairgrounds

We hope that you enjoy your time at Blackjack Fairgrounds. Remember the rules: no guns, thieves will be strung up, buyer beware, and be sure to leave before nightfall!


Issue 2 of Jericho Season 3-Civil War Comic


Jake and Hawkins are on the road as Wanted Men. Forced to enter into enemy territory, they must use the help of the Jericho Resistance to make their way through an Allied States processing town on the Texas Border. Disguised as refugees, our heroes must maneuver past hi-tech cameras, armed ASA soldiers and local black market thugs to continue their mission to find terrorist John Smith.

Order Link



Cover A & B
$3.99
each





Reviews:
The action continues in issue two of the 'Jericho Season 3, Civil War' comic book
The Full Rundown on Issue #2 of Jericho Season 3
Jericho Issue #2 (Video Review)




Questions:
Was Dale's action justified?
What was Major Petrella's decision?
What did Stanley think of Mimi's surprise?
Where is Chavez?