Operation: Terminator

Week one-seventy-three of Operation Graphite – theme: Terminator.

So far the reviews are a little disappointing, but part of me is still curious what this new attempt at reinvigorating the Terminator franchise will accomplish. So many who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s still adore films and shows from that era, so bringing back these properties seems like a great idea, but rarely do these reboots, remakes, and rehashes ever seem worth it. Fury Road was the only film this summer to absolutely excel at rebooting a story. While I still want to return to many of these worlds (still waiting for that Airwolf feature) if you’re gonna do it, you have to do it right.

We are slogging though summer blockbuster season, and there are still months yet to go. We’ll take a break from movies for a while, as there is more to summer than just the cinema.

Contributing cyborgs from the future:

Shock – The Terminator

shawnbrookwilliams – Terminator Reimagined

Week 174: Merica

The theme selected for week one-seventy-four of Operation Graphite will be: Merica.

Since Independence day is upon us, I figured another July 4th theme was in order. The word, Merica has become a slang for this nation of ours, sometimes used pejoratively, but often used in a light hearted, joking manner. Much like regional dialects smash words together to form one word mumble sentences, the truncated slang is both lovingly used, and also dripping with sarcasm.

Academically, that slang term must be both infuriating for history buffs, and biologists. There is a species of sea snails called Merica. Merica, was also the name (pronounced differently) of a pre English, Anglos Saxon kingdom that lasted for three centuries.

Forget the snails and Viking fodder, this week is all about OUR ‘Merica, easy to make fun of, difficult to defeat. There are traits to love, and others ripe to mock. Some see our nation as the unassailable world power, others see it as a work in progress. While some would have us return to our past, others strive for progress. This week you can either show your audacious patriotism, or your satirical irreverence towards our great nation which allow both freedoms.

Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: Merica

All art work is due on Thursday, 7.2.15 Submissions will be published the following weekend around 7.3.15

Operation: Magnoliophyta

Week one-seventy-two of Operation Graphite – theme: Magnoliophyta. 

  
Aparently my scanner wasn’t too into the flower themed grey op either, as it appears to have conked out on me. That, and a busy few days has left me rather late with my post. 

Future weeks will also be less punctual, as I have a lot more going on with my schedule. Posting dates will be a bit more loose. I’ll still shoot for Fridays, but I might not get the after action report out till the weekend going forward. 

I’m sure my two readers will be devistated. 

Shock – The last known photo of the Kensington Amazon expedition

Week 173: Terminator

The theme selected for week one-seventy-three of Operation Graphite will be: Terminator.

There is going to be a fifth Terminator movie, by someone who spells worse than I do. More importantly, this new film has been hole heartedly endorsed by James Cameron, the creator of the original (good) Terminator films. Legend has it, that the inspiration for The Terminator was a nightmare that Cameron had of a half robotic skeleton chasing him. This was the genesis, genisis, no wait it’s genisys… for Cameron’s idea of a sci-fi slasher film that helped catapult Arnold Schwarzenegger to the mega star he is, or was back in the 80’s. 

James Cameron has said that this is the true Terminator 3, as he too hated the last two films in the franchise. Truthfully, they weren’t that bad, they are no where near as abysmal as what became of the Alien or Predator franchises. Still,  neither of those later Terminator films were up to Cameron standards, until now.

Sadly, the dumb ass marketing dept. at the studio ruined the movie by telling the whole story and plot twist in the god damn trailer. Way to go assholes. The art of the movie trailer is dying in the hands of incompetent studio heads. If no one sees this movie, maybe it was because the fucking trailer already did the job of telling the whole god damn movie.

Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: Terminator

All art work is due on Thursday, 6.25.15 Submissions will be published the following Friday, 6.26.15

Operation: The Iron Throne

Week one-seventy-one of Operation Graphite – theme: The Iron Throne.

The last Game of Thrones episode of the season is this Sunday. Those who read the books have some insight to the impending chaos, but this season, they nolonger know entirely what is going on. With probably two season left, speculations, fan theories, and possible outcomes are being debated. The books and series will have forked, and one report said they will each end differently. And of course, the biggest question is, who will end up on the Iron throne?

Before last weeks episode, the idea of Shireen on the throne sounded pretty nice. Those hopes were burnt to a crisp. Maybe Stanis will get to sit on the Iron throne, perhaps it is destined, but I hope he would not keep it for long. Every other hope or speculation as to whom might end up king (or queen) of the seven realms is up in the air.

In a Song of Fire and Ice, where the true enemy of mankind is a horde of frozen necromancers, fire would seem to be the solution. The hope that Daenerys is able to take all of Westeros is not only the most logical, but the most optimistic, as long as she dose’t inherit her fathers madness, the restoration of the Targaryen house would be as close to a happy ending as you are ever going to get in a George R.R. Martin story. Another positive outcome might be the unlikely accession of the Starks. Bran’s got his own thing talking to tree people, but Sansa on the throne with her assassin sister keeping enemies in check would also be pretty sweet. I wouldn’t mind seeing the matriarch of house Tyrell on the throne, or even the Martells. Emma Peel or Dr. Julian Bashir might make great arch monarchs, but those seem unlikely.

Now, there are a few other possible fuzzy, happy outcomes, but westernness is not a fuzzy happy place. The scheming Littlefinger would love to find his way on the throne, but seems most powerful when he’s causing chaos from the shadows. The Lannisters still have their sway, but the only two likable ones are out of the running. There is always the Ironborn, vicious pirates who worship a lovecraftian corpse god, and the Freys and their five billion children. Neither of them would be too nice on the throne

For the purely nihilistic, the age of man might fail, and frost bitten necromancers and their army of undead wrights are a perfect solution the the revolting virus that is humankind. For all their petty squabbling, the fighting over a throne might not be worth a damn when no one stands a chance against the long winter of ice and darkness.

Still, the absolute worst outcome, the psychotic, and masochistic Boltons. Torture, pain and suffering is all The Seven would know if they took the throne. An army of frosty death sounds pretty nice in comparison.

Contributing Houses:

drafturgy – R’hllor

Shock – The Bastard King

Week 172: Magnoliophyta

The theme selected for week one-seventy-two of Operation Graphite will be: Magnoliophyta

What the hell is this theme all about?

Angiosperms.

What?

Flowering plants.

Why is that the theme?

We’ve covered quite a few fauna, I figured it was time to cover some of the flora.

Perhaps you are missing the point of this military themed, comic book and action movie centric drawing blog. 

Well, I’ve tried my best to keep up with the military jargon, and the overall body of topics are fairly high in testosterone. However, it should be noted, I’ve made it a point to wander outside of the wheelhouse of the topics usually reserved for adolescent boys. The various literary, animal anatomy and abstract themes were an attempt to elevate the tone of the project and challenge the artists.

Artists? It’s pretty much just you.

Ok, normally yes, its a solo mission.

And you think drawing flowers will bring the rest of guys back? You could’t even get any one to jump on board the Mad Max theme.

Exactly, If that much diesel pumping testosterone won’t build up the ranks, then it’s time for a Crazy Ivan.

Is that a left or right turn?

I can’t remember really. Either way, we are knee deep in the summer blockbuster movie themes, there is plenty testosterone and popcorn left. I thought maybe we need a drastic contrast to the previous, and following weeks theme.

What are we doing the week after then?

Killer robots sent back in time from the future.

Cool, maybe I’ll be back then.

Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: Magnoliophyta.

All art work is due on Thursday, 6.18.15 Submissions will be published the following Friday, 6.19.15

Operation: Jurassic World

Week one-seventy of Operation Graphite – theme: Jurassic World.

When the original Jurassic Park came out in 1993, the look of the dinosaurs was cutting edge. Not only was the early CG dinosaurs a huge achievement for its time, most dinosaurs were handed with a hight degree of accuracy. Before then, most movie dinosaurs were huge, cold blooded, lumbering beasts who dragged their tail. Jurassic Park was one of the first times people could see how these prehistoric creatures might have really looked and moved. This was the early 90’s, and many discoveries and revelations have been made since then. For starters, it was discovered that DNA can not last more than a few million years. After 65 Million years, there would be no hope of resequencing dinosaurs from fossilized blood in amber. Perhaps there is hope for mammoths, giant land sloths and terror birds, but dinosaurs… impossible. Also, it is now believed that many dinosaurs were completely feathered. Sadly, it doesn’t look like they will be adding that update to the new film. Before the plumage discovery, even the coloring and markings of terrible lizards were completely speculative, but now that there are feathers, the variety of colorings and feather types are vast. Just look at the difference between species of bird, each one plucked would almost look identical to the next one of a similar size. Imagine how varied and different dinosaur coloring could be with feathers. No one will ever know if they were perfectly camouflaged like an owl, or bright and vibrant like a macaw.

Shock – Utauraptor

Week 171: The Iron Throne

The theme selected for week one-seventy-one of Operation Graphite will be: The Iron Throne.

Season 5 of Game of Thrones is drawing to a close. It was a bit of a rough season, only really picking up with episode 8. Tyrion meeting Daenerys, along with some White Walker action help pick the show out of the god awful Bolton slump. Just a few episodes to go, and pretty much anything can happen. No really, they’ve shot way past the books, no one has a clue what will happen next. How is the season going to end? How will the show end? and who will end up as King or Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. This week we delve into speculation, nihilism, and George R. R. Martin’s cruel word-craft. Who do you thing will end up on the Iron throne? Who do you hope, or fear might claim the Iron Throne in the end? This week is your chance to speculate.

Please submit any drawing or painting, using traditional or digital media, that fits the theme: The Iron Throne.

All art work is due on Thursday, 6.11.15 Submissions will be published the following Friday, 6.12.15