A Letter of Concern to MP's

Following on from the ridiculous response I received and yet more incidents of anti-trans sentiment in the media I have written a letter of complaint and concern about the increasingly common occurrences to my local MP in hopes of some kind of action.

I am aware, however that such concerns may fall on deaf ears.  As such I am asking any who read this post and share the same concerns to do the same.  There is also no reason to simply stop at MP’s, but also voice our concerns to other individuals that may be in place to help promote change.

Below is the letter I sent out, please feel free to copy it or simply draw inspiration from it to join in the fight against the anti-trans press.

Dear Mr Hollobone,

I was recently reading about the apparent suicide of transgender teacher Lucy Meadows following the negative attention and public ridicule she faced at the hands of journalist Richard Littlejohn and the Daily Mail.

I am a firm believer in freedom of speech, however, it is becoming clearer and clearer through articles run through various newspapers and magazines that a handful of journalists are using freedom of speech as a way of justifying what can only be described as harassment and hate speech towards transgender individuals. 

A recent example is the much talked about case of Joe Burchill and the Observer, a piece so filled with negative sentiment and prejudice that is was removed from the Observers website.  I joined the scores of people that wrote a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about the article. The response I received, however, was shocking. 

The Press Complaints Commission admitted that the article did contain negative views and opinions towards transgender people and used false information to insult and degrade them, yet claimed that as she was attacking trans people as a whole and not any individual person than there was nothing they could do about the article in question.

Now we have another incident where a member of the British press has attacked a transgender individual in what can only be viewed as an attempt at ruining the poor woman’s career and personal life.  The fact that Miss Meadows took her own life soon after must be due in some part to this article.

I want to be able to complain about the incident, to approach the right people and make my case heard in order to avoid any further incidents like this and the Burchill article.  Unfortunately I feel that any complaints raised about anti-trans sentiment will swiftly fall on deaf ears.

As a transgender woman myself I can assure you that such articles are upsetting and damaging to the trans community.  Due to negative stereotyping and prejudice we are not given the respect and understanding we deserve. 

Something needs to be done in order to correct these mistakes and ensure that transgender people are taken seriously and given the respect we deserve.  I cannot believe that any other group of people would be allowed to be openly mocked and bullied in this way.

I hope that you will be able to raise this issue in Parliament and ensure that such incidents don’t happen again in the future.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Yours sincerely,

Amy Walker.

 

Amy.

xx

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Were We Even Taken Seriously?

Some of you may remember that a few months ago I wrote a piece about the comments made by Joe Burchill in The Guardian about her distaste towards the Trans community.  Her article was filled with disgusting hate speech and inaccurate views on transgender people.  The Observer and the Press Complains Commission were flooded with complaints over the piece and the article was eventually removed from their website.

I myself joined the hundreds of other who filed a complaint about the piece as today I received a response from the Press Complaints Commission regarding their decision regarding the article.  Here is the e-mail I received;

Commission’s decision in the case of

Two Complainants v The Observer / The Daily Telegraph

The complainants were concerned about a comment article which responded to criticism of another columnist on social networking sites. The article had first been published by The Observer. Following The Observer’s decision to remove the article from its website, it had been republished on the website of The Daily Telegraph. The Commission received over 800 complaints about the article, which it investigated in correspondence with two lead complainants, one for each newspaper.

The complainants considered that the article contained a number of prejudicial and pejorative references to transgender people in breach of Clause 12 (Discrimination) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. They also raised concerns under Clause 1 (Accuracy) that language used by the columnist was inaccurate as well as offensive, and, furthermore that the article misleadingly suggested that the term “cis-gendered” was insulting. Additionally, concerns had been raised that the repeated use of terms of offence had breached Clause 4 (Harassment) of the Code.

The Commission first considered the complaints, framed under Clause 12, that the article had contained a number of remarks about transgender people that were pejorative and discriminatory. It noted that the Observer had accepted that these remarks were offensive, and that it had made the decision to remove the article on the basis that the language used fell outside the scope of what it considered reasonable; however, the Observer denied a breach of Clause 12 because the article had not made reference to any specific individual. Clause 12 states that newspapers “must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual’s race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability”. However, the clause does not cover references to groups or categories of people. The language used in the article did not refer to any identifiable individual, but to transgender people generally. While the Commission acknowledged the depth of the complainants’ concerns about the terminology used, in the absence of reference to a particular individual, there was no breach of Clause 12.

The Commission also considered the complaint under the terms of Clause 1, which states that “the press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures”. Complainants had suggested that the terms used in the article to refer to transgender people were inaccurate or misleading. Whilst the Commission acknowledged this concern, it was clear from the tone of the article that these terms were being used to express an opinion. Whilst many people had found this opinion deeply distasteful and upsetting, the columnist was entitled to express her views under the terms of Clause 1(iii), so long as the statements were clearly distinguished from fact. The same was true in relation to the columnist’s assertion that the term “cis-gendered” is offensive. Viewed in the context of the article as a whole, particularly in light of the fact that the article had been deliberately identified as a comment piece, this was clearly distinguishable as an expression of her opinion about the term rather than a statement of fact about how it is perceived more broadly. This did not constitute a failure to take care over the accuracy of the article, for the purposes of Clause 1(i), and neither was there any significant inaccuracy requiring correction under the terms of Clause 1(ii). There was no breach of Clause 1.

The Commission turned to consider those concerns raised under Clause 4, which states that “journalists must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit”. It made clear, however, that the publication of a single comment piece was not conduct which would engage the terms of Clause 4. There was no breach of the Code.

The Commission acknowledged that the complainants found much of the article offensive. Nonetheless, the terms of the Editors’ Code of Practice do not address issues of taste and offence. The Code is designed to address the potentially competing rights of freedom of expression and other rights of individuals, such as privacy. Newspapers and magazines have editorial freedom to publish what they consider to be appropriate provided that the rights of individuals – enshrined in the terms of the Code which specifically defines and protects these rights – are not compromised.  It could not, therefore, comment on this aspect of the complaint further.

Now I might have misunderstood what was written here, but it seems to me that the Press Complaints Commission has turned around and said that ‘yes it is filled with hate speech, but because it’s directed at a group rather than an individual and it’s the authors own opinion then its okay.’

I just cannot help but find this decision baffling.  How is what was written not considered to have breached the clauses stated in the email?  Is it okay to be bigoted and hateful if it’s a general hatred?

I find myself wondering if they have found these apparent ‘loop-holes’ if the comments in the article had been made about people of a different ethnicity or religion of the author.  Do you think they would have given the same response if it was a hate piece about an ethnic group?  I doubt it.

This looks to me like yet another case of trans people being ignored, of people thinking that it’s okay for trans people to be mocked and hated because in their minds we’re not a legitimate group of people, that we’re trans because of a lifestyle choice rather than because it’s something that we have no control over.

It’s disgusting that the Trans community is still treated this way, that our views and opinions are just considered a joke.  I have never had very much faith in the press and this whole sorry affair has given me even less.  I am truly disappointed and sickened by this result.

Amy.

xx

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Green Lanterns Light Part Three

Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns

‘Revenge of the Green Lanterns’ has three main story arcs.  The first story deals with Hal Jordan and Green Arrow Oliver Queen going up against the villain Mongul.  Despite being the son of the original Mongul, Hal finds himself facing someone who looks just like the man that set him down the road to the worst period of his life.  With Ollie along as backup the two of them fight the alien powerhouse until they are eventually overpowered and put under the control of his Black Mercy plants.

Hal and Ollie find themselves in their apparent ideal lives until their fantasies turn sour and they are forced to live their worst nightmares.  Finally able to break their way out of the control of the Black Mercy the two of them fight Mongul into submission and fore him to leave earth.  The experience leaves the two of them battered and bruised but with a new outlook on their lives and re-evaluate what is really important to them.

Hal and Ollie fall victim to the Black Mercy.

The second story sees Hal and Batman team up to fight the villain The Tattooed Man.  The two of them have a rocky relationship playing over from Green Lantern: Rebirth but manage to co-operate long enough to bring the villain to justice.  The main heart of the story, however, is Hal and Bruce learning to become friends again.  The story even features a scene where Bruce uses Hal's ring to conjure a construct of his parents.  The experience and the fact that the two of them both witnessed loved ones die when they were young helps to mend the bridges between the two of them.

The third story picks up on story threads left hanging at the end of the previous book when the Green Lantern Tomar Tu rash lands on Earth, something that disturbs Hal to the core as Tomar Tu was one of the Green Lanterns Hal murdered when possessed by Parallax.

Batman uses Hal's ring, briefly becoming a Green Lantern.

Tracing Tomar Tu’s point of origin to the Manhunter controlled sector of space Hal pleads with the Guardians to let him investigate, but they refuse his request.  As a result Hal and Guy Gardner disregard orders and go in search of other Lanterns that might be held captive by the Manhunters.

Travelling to the Manhunter planet the two of them find several long thought dead Green Lanterns held captive by the Manhunters and their master, Cyborg Superman.  Cyborg Superman and he Manhunters have been using the captured Lanterns to power their latest form of Manhunter machines and Hal and Guy must find a way of freeing their comrades.

The ‘Lost Lanterns’ have to work alongside the man that once tried to kill them in order to defeat Cyborg Superman and his Manhunters, something which is hard on both sides especially as they are unaware that Hal was not in control of his actions when they last aced him.  Hal and Guy eventualy manage return the ‘Lost Lanterns’ to Oa where they are welcomed back into the corps.

The Lost Lanterns strike out at Hal.

‘Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns’ is definitely a book of two halves, with the first two stories focusing on Hal teaming up with other earthbound heroes in the form of his best friend Green Arrow and Batman.  The two stories take the time to have a closer look at Hal’s relationships and how they have changed since he returned from the dead and how people treat him now that his actions have been vindicated.

The second half of the book takes us in a very different direction by making Hal face up to what Parallax did whilst in possession of his body.  Despite being forgiven by many of his peers the ‘Lost Lanterns’ only view him with contempt as from their point of view he recently tried to kill them.  Not only does this allow Johns to re-introduce a number of the classic Green Lantern Corps, but also gives added depth and conflict within the Green Lantern Corps as a whole.

The book also returns the Green Lantern villains Mongul and Cyborg Superman to the front lines, two characters that have many negative connotations for Hal Jordan and have caused some of the worst events of his life.  Initially Superman villains the two of them are now firmly amongst Green Lanterns greatest foes.  Along with the returning threat of two of the worst villains Hal has ever faced we are given a brief look at the formation of the Sinestro Corps and the first appearance of Arkillo, who will go on to become one of the main Lanterns in the Sinestro Corps and the Lantern universe as a whole.

Green Lantern Corps: To Be a Lantern

‘To Be a Lantern’ follows suit from ‘Revenge of the Green Lanterns’ and contains three stories.  The first story follows Soranik Natu and her sector partner Myrrt as they travel to the planet Betrassus and become involved in a plot to assassinate the royal family.  However, when Lantern Myrrt is killed Guy Gardner joins Soranik to get to the bottom of things.

Together the two of them discover a plot by one of the princes of Betrassus to try and become a Green Lantern, even if that means killing his family and any Green Lanterns that stand in his way.  Once brought to justice and facing execution Soranik presents Myrrts ring to Princess Iolande, making her Soraniks new sector partner.

'To Be a Lantern' marks the first appearance of Princess Iolande.

The Second, short story follows Guy Gardner as he takes some shore leave on the holiday planet Restoria.   Long time Lantern villain Bolphunga arrives on Restoria looking to end his grudge against Gardner.  What ensues is a brilliantly fun, sometimes over the top, run around Restoria as Guy searches desperately for his stolen Power Ring whilst battling Bolphunga.

The third story follows Guy and a Lantern called Thos as they investigate a kidnapping plot that leads them to Ranx, the sentient city.  The two of them must contend with various criminals, the Children of the White Lobe and Ranx itself to save the young woman from a terrible fate.

Bolphunga returns to ruin Guys holiday.

Three interesting and engaging stories that offers a wide variety of Lantern adventures intermixed with some great character elements, we also get to see how Soranik is dealing with being a Green Lantern, something her people hate, and how it has effected her life as a surgeon on her home world of Korugar.  There is also a subplot throughout all three stories that follows Vath Sarn and Isamot Kol as the two of them have to learn to work together and trust each other after years of fighting each other in planetary war.

A great first volume to the ongoing Green Lantern Corps series that continues to build upon the characters introduced in ‘Green Lantern Corps: Recharge’ as well as introducing more new characters and bringing back older elements from the Green Lantern mythos.

Green Lantern: Wanted: Hal Jordan

‘Wanted: Hal Jordan’ follows Hal as he attempts to bring the justice of the Guardians of the Universe to Earth, specifically to the Chechnya rebels that recently held him and his friends hostage.  However, the world does not see him as the intergalactic police officer he actually is but rather just another costumed hero and applies their own laws to him.  When Hal enters restricted airspace in his pursuit of justice and is subsequently framed for murder Hal becomes a fugitive from the Global Guardians and the Justice League of America.

As Hal battles to prove his innocence it is revealed that it has all been a plot by the crazed Amon Sur, son of Hals predecessor Abin Sur, to take Hals ring and follow in his fathers footsteps as a Green Lantern. 

Amon Sur joins the Sinestro Corps.

During the battle against Amon one of Sinestros yellow power rings arrives on Earth searching for a wearer.  Initially choosing Batman to become a member of the Corps Batman rejects the ring, sending it searching for another bearer, which it finds in the form of Amon Sur.  Hal battles the newly powered Amon Sur until the ring transports him away, leaving Hal to wonder about the implications of what has just happened.

In the second story the Star Sapphire gem returns to Earth searching for a host to possess that Hal Jordan will desire, leading to it taking control of both Carol Farris and Cowgirl.  As Hal fights to survive against the Star Sapphire and free his friends from its grip the leaders of the Star Sapphires, the Zamarons, come to realise that things cannot carry on as they are.

The Star Sapphire possesses Hal's friend Cowgirl.

Taking the gem back to Zamaron they forge their own power battery and power rings, deciding instead to form their own Star Sapphire Corps to save love within the universe.

‘Wanted: Hal Jordan’ takes the time to look at how Hal differs from a number of other super heroes by taking the time to look at the fact that he does not do what he does as a ‘choice’ but because it’s his job.  At his core he is a police officer, though with a precinct that covers dozens of planets.  This is where much of the conflict comes from in this story, where Hal has to fight against local law in order to do his job.

The Zamarons collect the various powers, hinting at more to come.

The second story also takes the time to examine the history of the Star Sapphires, of how the gem possessed its host compared to the power rings of the Green Lantern Corps.  Changing the Star Sapphires to reflect the Green Lantern Corps, changing them to ring wearers instead of people possessed by the Star Sapphire gem allows the writers the free reign to create more interesting characters and engaging stories.

Green Lantern Corps: The Dark Side of Green

In the first story ac of ‘The Dark Side of Green’ Guy Gardner and new recruit R’Amey Holl are sent to assist the veteran Lantern Von Daggle to perform what can only be described as a black-ops mission.  Leaving behind their Power Rings and their uniforms the trio don all black and use powered discs that they must swallow in order to complete their mission.

The three of them travel to the Dominion home world in order to stop a deadly new threat that will destroy not only the Dominators but threaten life though out the galaxy.  Forced to wok in the shadows and employ tactics that even Guy hesitates to do the three of them enter a deadly battle that tests each of them to their limits.

The beautiful R'Amey Holl teams up with Guy Gardner.

In the second story the Corps comes under apparent attack from within as Lanterns that visit the Lantern planet Mogo start to act out of character and even become murderous. 

When Guy Gardner is believed to be guilty of murdering fellow Corps members he heads to Mogo for help but finds more trouble when he is pursued by Soranik, Iolande, Vath and Isamot and further attacked by the mysterious force that is targeting Lanterns that visit Mogo.  Realising that a greater threat is present the other Lanterns trust Guy Gardner enough to believe his innocence long enough to combat the menace.

Mogo's partner, the amazing Bzzd.

‘The Dark Side of Green’ gives us two amazing stories that, as the title suggests, shows us a darker side to life in the Green Lantern Corps.  The first story is filled with action an intrigue whilst the second shows us what can happen when the Lanterns themselves come under attack from within.

The best part of the book, however, has to be the introduction of Mogo’s sector partner Bzzd.  A sentient talking fly Bzzd is a great match to the planet Lantern Mogo and quickly went on to become one of the breakout characters of the new Green Lantern era.

Amy.
xx

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Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Review

Tear out your enemies spines to replenish your health.

I recently purchased Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance as I enjoyed the demo and am a big fan of the Metal Gear series.  Before the game came out I was very much in two minds about it due to the massive differences to the other games in the series.  Gone are the stealth elements of the previous titles, replaced instead with action and combat.

Shifting four years into the future after the events of Guns of the Patriots the game puts you in control of Raiden instead of series mainstay Solid Snake.  Introduced in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and transformed into a cyborg ninja in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Raiden is a very different person to Snake, with lots of demons in his closet that come back to haunt him in this game.

Raised on the battlefield as a child soldier under the cruel tutelage of George Sears, the third clone son of Big Boss known as Solidus Snake, Raiden was so vicious and sadistic as a child solider that he became known as Jack the Ripper.

Sunny makes a surprise and enjoyable return to the Metal Gear series.

This comes into play a great deal in Rising as Raiden has to not only face his past as a child soldier and embrace the darkness inside of him but try to prevent other children from falling victim to the same traumatic childhood that he once faced.  Using this as the main driving force of the story adds more to the plot than a simple revenge drama and adds more depth to Raidens character.

The action in the game also plays very well, enabling you to easily step into the shoes of a cyborg ninja and perform all of the amazing feats that we have seen them perform in pervious games.  Fiendishly simple to learn but challenging to master the games combat system is so enjoyable that you will find yourself actively engaging in combat every chance you get, even in those moments where you have the choice to avoid further combat.

The destructibility of the environments allows you to cut your way through trees and cars and collapse raised walkways to bring your foes crashing down around you.  The game is also littered with an assortment of Metal Gears such as the returning Rays, Geckos and Dwarf Geckos as well as a host of new mechanical enemies that builds upon the already established mythology of the series that Metal Gears became a widespread threat after the events of the first game.

Rising lets you play as original cyborg ninja Grey Fox.

The boss battles in the game are all vastly different with some of the most unique battles in the series to date with set pieces that are so epic and over the top that you will have a massive smile on your face as you slice your way through them.  The final boss battle in the game is also one of the all time best in the series and will have you wanting to replay the battle straight away.

Metal Gear Rising is a great addition to the Metal Gear universe that takes a big step away from the game play of the past and steps boldly in a new and exciting direction.  Hopefully the first game of many with Raiden as the star this could easily be the first instalment of a whole new era for Metal Gear, giving players something that compliments the stealth elements of the other games of the series.  Along with some great over the top characters and a crazy music score Metal Gear Rising is an amazing, if somewhat short game that will soon be boosted by some very exciting downloadable content.  9/10

Amy.

xx

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Doctor Who 'Prisoners of Time' Issue 2 Review

Issue 2 of IDW’s ‘Prisoners of Time’ is a far improvement on the somewhat lacklustre first issue.  Focusing this time on the second Doctor and companions Jamie and Zoe as they visit an intergalactic shopping centre and get involved in busting up a slave ring.

It may sound rather dull, and the first half of the book simply follows the trio as they wander around the shops and eat some lunch but the characters feel so true to their onscreen counterparts, the conversations are interesting and engaging and the backgrounds are filled with so many little Easter eggs for fans that you will not get bored.

The Tardis materialises in a shop specialising in Police Boxes.

The action shifts up a gear as they become involved in the shady slave trading that goes on in the shadows of the shopping complex and we’re even treated to an appearance of the classic Ice Warriors, whose first appearances were during Troughton’s era on the show.

As in the Pertwee episodes the Ice Warriors are not the villains of the piece and builds upon the idea that whilst some of the race have been adversaries of the Doctor not all of them are ‘evil’.  It also, I feel, helps to build excitement to see their on screen return in a few months time in the upcoming series seven episode.

The Ice Warriors work with the Doctor to free the slaves.

The art in this issue is also a marked improvement on the third, with each of the characters immediately recognisable and full of expression and the small little mannerisms that make the characters instantly recognisable.  The backgrounds are also a beauty to see, with many of the panels filled with bright and vibrant goings on that will have you spending time simply looking at the artwork trying to pick out all of the little hints to the rest of the Doctor Who universe, such as a shopping Sontaran and a Babel Fish shop, a nice little nod to Douglas Adams’ time on the show.

A fun read that captures the essences of the characters perfectly and full of beautiful artwork.  A great improvement of quality to the first issue that I hope continues on throughout the rest of the series.  8/10

Amy.

xx

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Things Just Keep Getting Worse

Okay, so it’s been a while sine my last post about me and my transition but that’s really been because there’s not that much to talk about.  I’ve spent the last coupe of months trying to get my psychological referral from my doctors to the gender clinic.  After being on the phone for hours and talking to dozens of people chasing it up it finally gets into the hands of the people that need it.

That’s when the problem came up.  The person dealing with my referral at the gender clinic informs me that the referral letter they have isn’t from a proper psychologist but a standard counsellor.  Backtracking through my records she tells me that after my initial meeting with my doctor, sixteen months ago, that my case was handed over to the community mental health team.

Instead of handing my case over to a psychologist however, they sent me to a counsellor.  The result of that means that everything I have done towards my transition and moving my referral forward over the last year has all been for nothing.

Perhaps that’s being a little harsh, the gender clinic has my case on their desk now and are working on getting things resolved for me but the fact that I have spent so much time chasing things up and jumping through loops only to find out that what they have in front of them now is ‘useless’ is a big blow.

I cannot help but feel that everything I have done over the last year has been useless.  I feel like I’ve been treated like a joke by the NHS, that when I went to them with my problem they just didn’t take me seriously.  Instead of handing my case over to the people that I should have been sent to I was sent somewhere else, almost like ‘well, it’s not a real problem.  They’re probably just depressed.  Send them to counselling.’

I’ve spoken to a lot of trans people, I’ve read dozens of books and documents and personal accounts and all of them seem to agree that the worst part of the whole process is the wait.  Having to try and carry on with your life when you feel like things are falling apart and you’re just stuck waiting on other people to help you.

Being stuck in that kind of limbo, of trying to cope with the every day dysphoria that’s always invading your life and driving you crazy is hard enough as it is, without finding out that all that time has been wasted. 

Everyday things seem to get worse and worse, the feelings of a broken and painful life just increase, with every day feeling like a waste because I’m not getting to be me.  I feel like I’ve lost out on so much of my real life already and time still keeps on passing by without anything getting better.

I know that the people who know me will probably disagree, telling me that ‘at least they’ve got your case now’ or ‘people know you’re trans and are treating you as Amy’.  All these things are true, but it’s not enough.  I still hate who I am and that’s not going to change until I do.

I don’t know what’s going to happen with my referral now, I have no idea what kind of time frame I’m looking at or how far back to the start of the process I’ve been pushed.  What I do know though is that each and every time something like this happens my depression and hatred for my life gets worse.

I don’t want to sound like I’m overly dramatic or looking for sympathy, that’s not what this is about.  I’m not looking for people to comment and give me sympathy, this is just me venting.  I jut don’t know how much more I can take before I reach breaking point.  It’s just getting too much for me.

Amy.

xx

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Doctor Who 'Creature From the Pit' Review

Lady Adrasta takes the Doctor prisoner.

he Tardis receives a distress signal from the planet Chloris, where metal in all its forms is rare and highly valued.  The Doctor, Romana and K-9 investigate the area around the Tardis and discover the remains of an enormous egg in the jungle.  The planet is ruled by the vicious Lady Adrasta who controls the planet's very last metal mine, holding on to power through the Huntsmen and the Wolfweeds.

When Romana and K-9 ar3e captured by Adrasta the Doctor descends into the Pit, where he meets Organon, an astrologer thrown there by Adrasta some time earlier, and then comes face to face with the Creature.

The Doctor discovers that the Creature is not just a monster as everyone previously believed, but an ambassador sent to Chloris from another world that was thrown into the Pit by Adrasta.  The Doctor must find a way of freeing the Creature whilst saving his companions and putting an end to Adrasta’s evil plans.

The Doctor is cornered by the Creature.

'Creature From the Pit’ begins like many other ‘monster’ episodes of Doctor Who, with the threat that the Doctor must overcome to save the people of the planet.  However, it quickly turns the formula around on us and had the Creature as another victim and the true monster being Lady Adrasta.

Not only are we given a great change in this standard formula, but the final episode also switches gear on us again as the Doctor and the Creature must work together to save the planet from an external space based threat, shifting the action from the jungles and mines of Chloris to the Tardis.

An episode that plays with your expectations of the standard Doctor Who formula and tries some interesting new things that make this story stand out from many of the other ‘monster’ episodes.  7/10

Amy.
xx

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Green Lanterns Light Part Two

Green Lantern: Rebirth

Green Lantern Rebirth begins with Kyle Rayner returning to Earth in a spacecraft, violently crashing down at Highway Hill in New Mexico.  A pair of hiker investigate the wreckage to find the injured hero who tells them to warn people that ‘It has a name’ before falling unconscious.  We then see that his ship contains a very special cargo, the coffin of Hal Jordan.  His ring begins to repeat one word over and over again ‘Parallax’.

A series of strange events all begin to unfold, pointing towards Hal Jordan, whose spirit I now joined with the powerful mystical entity The Spectre.  Hal Jordan pronounced judgement on one of his old villains, Black Hand, and burns one of hi hands to ash.  Guy Gardner’s new shape shifting ability goes out of control and causes an explosion that destroys his bar but leaves only one item untouched, a statue of Hal Jordan.  Coast City, long since destroyed, appears to return out of nowhere with the only building being Hal Jordan’s home.

Disturbed by these events the Justice league track down and confront Hal Jordan, who insists that he is not responsible for theses events.  During the confrontation John Stewart appears to go insane and attack the rest of the league.

Hal Jordan’s old Green Lantern ring that he had given to Green Arrow for safe keeping duplicates itself and flies onto the finger of the dieing Guy Gardner, healing him and making him a Green Lantern once again.  He then falls under the same influence that has affected John Stewart and goes insane. 

Kyle Rayner is only just recovering when he is attacked by Kilowog, a Green Lantern from another sector who is acting as strangely as the others.  Saved just in time by the Guardian Ganthet he is told that he must protect Hal Jordan’s body whilst Hal himself has to battle for his soul against both the Spectre and the entity Parallax.

Hal Jordan resurrected.

Green Lantern Rebirth was the very beginning of Johns’ run on Green Lantern and reintroduced a number of characters to the Green Lantern universe. Not only does he make Guy Gardner a Green Lantern once again but he also brings Hal Jordan back from the dead.

The only problem he faced, however, was the fact that Hal Jordan died a villain.  Yes, hi death was a self sacrifice to save the Earth and he had since joined with The Spectre and was trying to make amends for what he had done, but how do you go about forgiving a character that killed many Green Lanterns, destroyed the Corps and even at one point tried to unmake the universe?

Easy, it wasn’t really him.  Johns took the idea of Parallax, the name Hal took on when he turned evil, and made it into something greater than it had ever intended to have been.  Johns introduced the idea that Parallax was in fact an ancient living entity of fear, the enemy of the Green Lanterns that was long ago imprisoned in the Central Power Battery on Oa.

By having Parallax possess Hal, something that even went so far as to explain why the character had started to go grey at such a young age, he made Hal just another victim of Parallax.  Though he still had a long way to go to prove himself in the eyes of some of the other characters Hal Jordan was alive again and mostly redeemed. 

Green Lantern Rebirth not only established the concept of the Emotional Entities, but brought back the all time classic Green Lantern Villain Sinestro.  Easily explaining away his apparent death almost a decade before as part of Parallax’s plan to control Hal Jordan Sinestro was now back to wreak havoc on his arch nemesis.

Green Lantern Rebirth is the perfect example of how to take what has come before, the good and the bad, and use it to create something so much greater than it ever had been.  Johns easily integrated the previous stories and established something that would go on to be the foundation of one of thee greatest runs in comic history.

 

Green Lantern Corps: Recharge

With Hal Jordan returned from the dead Kyle Rayner and Guy Gardner are summoned to Oa by the Guardians of the Universe to help to rebuild the Green Lantern Corps.  Charged with helping to train the new recruits.

Across the universe the newly forged Green Lantern rings search out those that can serve the Corps.  Among the new recruits are Korugarian surgeon Soranik Natu, Ranninan soldier Vath Sarn and Thanagarian Saurian Isamot Kol.  During the recruitment drive Ganthet tells the Earth Lanterns that several Green Lanterns have been killed by the sudden and inexplicable appearances of black holes. 

Disgusted with being chosen to be a Green Lantern, due to her planets history with Sinestro, Soranik Natu quits the Corps.  She leaves Oa, using her ring to fly her home before eventually giving it up to find a new bearer.  On her way back to Korugar a black hole opens up and swallows her.  Once she awakens she finds herself in some unknown location, surrounded by giant webs and the corpses of several Green Lanterns. 

Picking up a distress signal sent out by her ring the others set out to find and rescue her, but end up stumbling across a much larger plot that not only threatens the Green Lantern Corps but could go on to destroy Oa itself.

Soranik is chosen by a Power Ring.  Much to her dismay.

Green Lantern Corps Recharge is a great follow on piece to Green Lantern Rebirth, taking what the other book had done and using it as a spring board to bring back the Green Lantern Corps. 

The book introduces a number of new characters that would go on to be a major part of the Green Lantern universe over the following years in the form of Soranik Natu and mismatched sector partners Vath Sarn and Isamot Kol.  Despite the fact that the book is only five issues long and deals with other characters the three new additions to the cast each has their own moment to shine and are given enough insight and back story that you know exactly who they are and what drives them.  Recharge also reintroduces a number of classic Lanterns into the new series including Brik, Stel, Green Man and Salak. 

The villains of the piece, the Spider Guild, are effectively creepy and menacing and their insect like society and swarms of soldiers mean that the Corps have plenty of enemies to fight against, ensuring that the action never gets boring.

Despite being a team book Recharge is Guy Gardner’s moment to shine through.  When the Spider Guild attacks Oa and all hope seems lost its Guy that stands up and leads the Corps to victory.  With a rousing speech, a deep love for the Corps and a refusal to loose Guy tips the balance and wins the day, with even Hal Jordan following his lead during the battle.

Perfectly bringing back the Green Lantern Corps and showing us that Guy Gardner is by no means the nasty character he was once portrayed as but a true hero with a heart of gold that just doesn’t like to show it Recharge is an amazing piece of work.

Green Lantern: No Fear

Green Lantern: No Fear marks the start of Geoff Johns’ run on Green Lantern as an ongoing series and this first volume contains two main storylines.  The first story deals with the rebuilding of Coast City and Hal Jordan trying to get his life back on track after being dead for so many years. 

Having moved into the mostly deserted Coast City Hal is once again an Air force pilot at Edwards Air Fore Base.  Hal is trying to juggle his new job with the responsibilities that come with being a Green Lantern.  Unfortunately for him his two lives clash when a new and deadly form of Manhunter arrives on Earth searching for the remains of a damaged Manhunter that is being held in the custody of the Air Force.

Hal fights the upgraded Manhunter and narrowly avoids a second destruction of Coast City.  However, his public victory over the machine shows people that Coast City is under Green Lantern’s protection once again, encouraging more people to make Coast City their home.

Hal fights for his life against the Manhunter robot.

In the second storyline reintroduces the classic villains Hector Hammond and the Shark, who have become embroiled in the dastardly schemes of a band of vicious alien scientists that have been experimenting on humans.  Having to fight these new aliens, along with The Shark and Black Hand Hal has to save Hector Hammond from being dissected. 

This second arc, though in some ways a throw away story, carries on with the story of Black Hand that began in Green Lantern Rebirth.  Given a new hand by the alien scientists that has the ability to draw the life force from his victims it begins a story that would go on to play out in some of the major points in the coming nine years of Green Lantern.

Hal battles the monstrous Shark.

Green Lantern: No Fear is a fine beginning to the ongoing Green Lantern series and reintroduces some of the classic villains from the previous forty years as well as setting up plots that would play out over the coming story arcs.  

It also nicely establishes Hal’s civilian life, both his relationship with his younger brother and his family, who know that he is in fact Green Lantern, and his work life.  A book with some great character moments and amazing action sequences.  A great start to the new era of Green Lantern.

Amy.

xx

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Goodbye Dillon.

I have two pet rats, or rather one pet rat now.  Last night the two of them were playing in their cage as normal, running around and play fighting, stealing from the piles of food they made at opposite ends of the cage.  This morning one of them had died.

His name was Dillon.  When I first went to buy my rats his brother, Dutch, was the liveliest in the pet shop, was straight up to me and curious and wanted to play so he was the first one I picked out.  The choice for the second wasn’t as easy, none of the others had the perkiness he had.  That’s when I noticed Dillon.  He was the runt of the litter, barely half the size of the others.  When the other rats ran and hid together they pushed him out of the group.

Seeing how he was being treated by the others I knew he was my second pick. 

The next two years Dillon and his brother were beloved pets.  I played with them every day and came to see very distinct personalities in the two of them.  At the beginning Dillon was very skittish and didn’t want anything to do with me.  As time went on though he warmed to me and became incredibly friendly.  Where Dutch would run around and crawl up my sleeve Dillon was always happy to just sit in my hand of perch on my shoulder.

I loved Dillon and loosing him hurt.  I’m worried about his brother, about him being lonely without Dillon as the two of them have never been apart.  Knowing that rats don’t live very long hasn’t lessened the blow at all, or prepared me for the event.

Dillon was a lovely pet who showed his affection.  I will miss you Dillon.

Amy.

xx

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Green Lanterns Light Part One

This week it was announced that Geoff Johns was to leave his epic run on Green Lantern after nine amazing years.  Johns has turned Green Lantern around over these last nine years, taking what many would class as a second string character and made the series into one of the most popular books in comics.  With four spin-off books, a motion picture, video games and television series Green Lantern has grown to epic proportions and owes its success to Geoff Johns.

Johns first began his career in comics and DC when he pitched the idea for Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., a book based on the second Star-Spangled Kid (later renames Star-Girl) and her stepfather.  The success of Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. led to him being offered the opportunity to co-write JSA, a run that would go on for a number of years and receive critical acclaim. 

Johns' first work with DC, the introduction of Star Girl.

From there Johns went on to work on a number of major comic book characters, including Teen Titans, The Flash and even The Avengers over at Marvel.  However, despite how well received and successful his time on these other titles none of them had the impact quite like his time on Green Lantern.

It is important to remember that before Johns came onto the book Hal Jordan had been dead for a number of years and remembered for being a murderous villain, John Stewart had only just returned to being a Green Lantern after spending a number of years crippled and away from heroics, Guy Gardner was now a shape shifter and Kyle Rayner having exiled himself into space.

Hal Jordan as the hated villain Parallax.

 The Green Lantern universe was in a sorry state, but then Johns produces Green Lantern Rebirth and changes the face of DC and Green Lantern forever.  Not only does he return our beloved characters to their Green Lantern status but he also manages a task many would have believed impossible, he redeemed Hal Jordan.

Over the coming parts I will take a closer look at the story arcs Johns has worked on during his time on Green Lantern, the various spin off books it has produced as well as the effect it has had on other media such as film and television and how he has transformed Green Lantern into one of the most popular comic book characters of our time. 

The Green Lantern Corps.

Amy.
xx

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