What is even happening here.

Spock: T'Laina, you are not part of the bridge crew. This is highly illogical.

T'Laina: I am playing with the enterprise I got at the expo today.

Spock: That is not the Enterprise. Everything you have just stated is highly -

T'Laina: Illogical?

Spock: Precisely.

Anyway, I had tons of fun at the Expo - Michael Dorn is hilarious, and adorable. I will be posting a lot over the next few days, because I also found bags of treasures!

1991 Presents Hamilton Gifts Star Trek Mug - Sulu

My Boyfriend came to me one day and said that he had been at the local thrift shop - and that he had a gift for me. Fist he gave me a disgusting monkey three feet tall, furry, ugly, and dirty. I am still quite sure that it was a joke. But then he gave me a bag with a mug inside:

There are quite a few of these mugs out there, with different members of the crew featured. These mugs were distributed exclusively by "Presents", a division of Hamilton Gifts. Like many things, these ceramic mugs were made in Korea. On the front is a picture of the crew member (Sulu), and the text around the image reads "The voyages of the Starship Enterprise - To boldly go where no man has gone before".

On the back of the mug is the crew member (or ship's) name - coming toward you in 2D WARP SPEED. I am very fond of the artwork done for these mugs. On the bottom of the mug it states that the artwork was created "Star Date 0786.28 by Susie Morton of Planet Earth".

He has found me another mug since then - with Captain Kirk - but I have yet to take pictures because of the state of my camera. Until then, here is a picture of me drinking milk out of my Sulu mug:

(my ears, from that angle, look slightly pointed - I don't mind)

Doodle Story Time - Destructive Dalek and Giant Spock

I do a lot of drawing, practically every hour of the day. Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) on the one day when I was supposed to do a "sketchbook assignment" I didn't want to draw. I didn't want to do anything, but I had to hand something in. So I drew like a five year old and created a story that only barely made sense if you were hit in the head.  

To read it, start at the Dalek and go counter-clockwise. To enlarge, right click and open in a new tab/window.

I drew it in ink, and decided today that I would color it using Sumo Paint. I actually love how derpy everything looks, especially the Dalek and Spock. Maybe I should draw like a five year old more often.

But probably not.

I Can Build the Enterprise - I Can Build it Nine Times!

Some of the best things I have found were found in a dusty room behind badly cared for comics and 1980's newspapers. I haven't been to that particular antique shop lately, though - I ended up spending hundreds of dollars every time I went there.

One of the last things I got at that shop was a Star Trek "The Original Series" Make Your Own Starship Kit - the USS Enterprise NC-1701.

When I started to put it together I realized that I needed some kind of glue. Being the inexperienced paper-model-thingy-maker I am, I used white glue. That was not a good idea, I found - the paper got all wiggly, it took forever to dry, and for some reason it kept getting really grimy.

Fortunately, it didn't turn out too badly - I was actually quite surprised when I held the finished product in my hands and it actually looked like the Enterprise. I don't know what I expected it to look like, maybe a mutant cat-blob.

I used the kit's cover for a folder to hold random papers when all of the pieces were punched out. It is still my very favorite.

I had a camera with me while I was working on this model, so I was taking pictures of my progress the entire time (it took my clumsy fingers and I about six hours to complete). Below are (in order) the photos I took, for anyone who is interested.

Just look at that fancy photography. (Sarcasm!)

I would like to eventually get some model kits for the original Warbird and Bird of Prey. Hopefully I can find some around here - if not, I might order some.

PS. anyone who got the Homestar Runner reference is my hero.

Vintage Star Trek Comic - The Choice Part Two

A couple of days ago I started putting up "The Choice" from a 1987 Star Trek comic. If you missed that, I would suggest reading part one before continuing. Whether you have already read part one, or just don't care - prepare yourself for the exciting conclusion!

Click images to enlarge.

Where we last left off, the Enterprise was within an atom, there were two Kirks, and they were about to fight to the death. The previous universe's Kirk came to take over the ship and forewarn the solitary being that possesses "free will" about "the choice" that will have an impact on the universe.

Spock just stands there LIKE A BOSS.

With Spock as Kirk's second and the Previous-universe Kirk choosing not to have a second, they choose their weapons and engage in battle.

Throo-woom m... uuurrrUUURRRuuurrrUUURRRuuurrr...

Suddenly the Enterprise in under attack! By... the ENTERPRISE! Previous-universe Kirk was supplied with it and is able to control it mentally. I guess Kirk turns into a pretty epic multi-tasker later in his life and can fight "enemies" and control ships with him mind at the same time. I'll bet this alternate Kirk is also designing a wedding dress and playing chess across the universe in his mind right now...

Ka-ZING! Fffzzap! Fffzzap!

Shheroosh! ZZZWISH! (I'm really loving the sound effects)

Kirk orders Spock to get Lt. Nova to the bridge with her cybernetic helmet and have her plug into the ship's guidance system. She does, and the Enterprise "comes to life".

Now things get strange (for me, anyways) when Spock answers Kirk. His words are just so... un-Spock-like. First Scotty sounds like he's Jamaican, and now Spock starts speaking like he is Scotty: "But Captain! The Strain on her will be too great! It will drive her MAD!" which makes more sense when you realize he is talking about Lt. Nova and not the ship. Still, I can't see him speaking with such frenzy and I always imagine Spock saying this with a Scottish accent (for some unknown reason). 

I think I overthink these things.

ZOOOM! ZOOSH! ZOOGE! etc!

Previous-universe Kirk ties up Scotty, and then has Kirk in a compromising position. Then he doesn't. More stuff happens. Kirk's phaser fires...

Nothing is ever more bad-ass than wearing fencing suits.

FFFRIIII! - The sound of death.

He is merely stunned, because the real Kirk wouldn't put his phaser on kill. He's just too cool. They send Previous-universe Kirk back in to space, but he appears on the bridge as a "ghost". Who was the man who held the key to the future?

PS. The first panel always cracks me up. What is Kirk doing? Why is he hitting Scotty in the ass?  What is going on here?

Take that, Scotty.

It was Kirk. Kirk was the one with the choice and he made his choice when he decided not to kill Previous-universe Kirk. Before they can ask him if it was the right choice, he disappears. (It is my opinion that he did, because the other Kirk seemed like he was quick to kill. So, by doing the opposite, he exercised free will?) The only real problem now is that they are still "nowhere". Solution: Band together and concentrate while Lt. Nova wears her groovy helmet.

It just looks like she's wearing a bath towel around her head.

If Kirk made the WRONG choice, then the universe as they know it may no longer exist! Something goes wrong, and the universe is... GONE!

Troll Universe.

Just kidding. The universe is back. Kirk and Spock get super-philosophical about free will and choice (the free will paradox has kept me awake many a night).

Dramatic close-up of Spock's face.

And thus concludes the story. Wasn't that fun, boys and girls? Stay tuned for more scans in the future.

Vintage Star Trek Comic - The Choice Part One

I was going through my box of comics this morning, and I came across the Star Trek comic from 1978 that I got at an antique book store: Star Trek: A Dynabrite Comic - The Evictors and The Choice. The price on the cover is 69 cents - I only wish comics still cost that much, instead of the 5-20 dollars I am used to.

As always, click images for larger, readable scans.

How impossibly epic!

While reading the introduction (out loud, to all of those around me - whether they cared or not) I used my epic-shatner voice. It's the only way to do it. But wait - who is that with Kirk? And why are they fencing, of all things?

But fencing is Sulu's forte!

Then suddenly: atoms, and the birthplace of the universe! No origin story has ever been so captivating! I can hardly tear my eyes from the page! They are practically glued on with excitement!

The birthplace of the universe!

Atoms! Comets! Planets! Moons!

And back to the Enterprise.

Now on to the action - where we see Scotty running to his station while shouting in a... Jamaican accent?

Aye, mon, makin' like hares, mon.

All of the sudden, STUFF happens (oh no, not STUFF!) and they find themselves... NOWHERE! (Insert dramatic music)

Mr. Spock, assess the situation!

Nowhere! (To be precise)

We find out that they may just be in... someplace RADICAL! A capsule floats around outside... menacingly and capsule-like.

In the atom... everything is fine?

Inside the primal atom, they prepare to board a pod that is controlled by Lt. Nova - she wears a suit that allows her to control the pod with her movements. I can just imagine her sitting there, wiggling her arms around.

I want that suit. Really badly.

Just moments after the cylinder is captured and brought on board, it begins to open, unaided by the crew! (Suspense!)

Gee, could it be someone's double? Again?

Somehow Kirk often seems to gain a double, and this is no different. "Kirk" jumps out dramatically and immediately begins giving orders.

Except he wear a blue uniform. And not even a cool science-blue like Spock or McCoy.

Finally we get an explanation by "Kirk" himself! I won't ruin it for you, you will have to read it for yourself, before moving on.

Over and over! And over! And over!

Finally we come to the end of part one - where we find out why exactly he had to get to this Enterprise... and we end with an agreement: A fight to the death! The last panel is my favorite. I don't know why, but I find it highly amusing every time I see him wave out his hand and declare, "I'm GAME!"

I'm GAME!

That's it for part one of "The Choice". I regret I will have to keep you in suspense, check back in a day or two for the conclusion!