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Commander Rick interrupts Second Nature to look at how comics and science fiction translate to film and vice versa. Interviews with Bob Kane (creator, Batman), Frank Miller (writer, Robocop), Kevin Eastman (co-creator, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Max Allen Collins (writer, Dick Tracy), Dave Stevens (artist, The Rocketeer), Larry Niven (sf writer), George R.R. Martin (sf writer), Bill Sienkiewicz (comic book artist), Rick Geary (comic artist), Michael W. Kaluta (comic artist) and Harlan Ellison (SF writer and critic), with film clips from Batman, Duck Tales, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (movie and cartoon), Total Recall and Akira.
Commander Rick interviews many top comic book creators on the central theme of North American comics: heroes and superheroes. Frank Miller (writer, Robocop), Elaine Lee (writer, Starstuck comic), Will Eisner (ground-breaking comic creator, The Spirit), Trina Robbins (artist, Rosie the Riveter), Gilbert Hernandez (co-creator, Love and Rockets comic), David Lloyd (artist, V For Vendetta), Denys Cowan (artist, The Question), Chris Claremont (writer, The Uncanny X-Men) and Bob Kane (creator, Batman) offer their opinions, while science fiction writers George R.R. Martin (Wild Cards) and Larry Niven (acclaimed "hard sf" writer) take a realistic view of superheroes. The Flash TV show is profiled, with clips from the show and interviews with actor John Wesley Shipp and executive producer Danny Bilson. Nichelle Nichols (Commander Uhura) discusses the nature of the hero in Star Trek.
Commander Rick celebrates the 50th anniversary of Will Eisner's landmark comic strip, The Spirit. A lengthy interview with Eisner is highlighted by tributes from Denis Kitchen (publisher, Kitchen Sink Press), Bob Kane (creator, Batman), Sergio Aragones (artist, Mad Magazine), Trina Robbins (comic book artist), Kevin Eastman (co-creator, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Frank (Robocop) Miller.
Commander Rick "censors" TVOntario host Enrico Gruen's Second Nature to discuss censorship with Frank Miller (Robocop 2 writer), Charles Vess (comic book artist), Denys Cowan (artist, The Question), David Lloyd (artist, V For Vendetta) and Elaine Lee (writer, Starstruck) from the world of comics, and speculative fiction writers Harlan Ellison, Spider Robinson, Jack Vance and Clive Barker.
Commander Rick has been watching B-movies, and discusses aliens with science fiction authors George R.R. Martin, Larry Niven, Jack Vance, Gregory Benford, Nancy Kress, Leslie Gadallah, Spider Robinson, George Zebrowski and Judith Merril (founder of Toronto's Spaced Out Library). From the world of comics, Rick interviews Mark Verheiden about Alien and Predator, and Elaine Lee about Starstruck.
Commander Rick looks at the collaborative process in comics and speculative fiction, featuring science fiction publisher Jim Baen and writers Gregory Benford, Judith Merril, George Zebrowski and Canadian husband-and-wife team Spider and Jeanne Robinson. Starstruck collaborators Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta are joined by Uncanny X-men writer Chris Claremont, The Question artist Denys Cowan, Incredible Hulk writer Peter David and Frank Miller, who writes Hardboiled and Give Me Liberty.
In his geosynchronic satellite, Commander Rick examines the treatment of stereotypes in comic books and speculative fiction. Interviews include Will Eisner (who discussed Jewish issues in his comics), Denys Cowan (one of the first black professionals in comics), Elaine Lee (on the challenges of creating characters of different ethnic backgrounds than her own), Hispanic comic book artists Sergio Aragones and Gilbert Hernandez, Chris Claremont (writer of the multiracial Uncanny X-Men), Trina Robbins (one of the few women artists in comics), Jack Womack (discussing minority characters in his work), and Star Trek's Commander Uhura, Nichelle Nichols, one of the first black women on TV.
"Language is a virus from outer space" - William Burroughs. Commander Rick speaks the language of comics and speculative fiction with sf writers Gregory Benford, Jack Vance, Jack Womack, Kenneth Oppel, Guy Gavriel Kay and Pamela Sargent, with comic creators Terry Beatty, Mark Askwith and Terry Beatty. British animator Nick Park (Peter Gabriel's video Sledgehammer) shows models and clips from his award-winning feature, Creature Comforts.
To coincide with International AIDS Day on December 1st, Commander Rick looks at the treatment of sex and AIDS in comics and science fiction. Interviews include science fiction publisher Jim Baen and writers Tanya Huff, Garfield Reeves-Stevens, Gregory Benford, Pamela Sargent and George Zebrowski. From the comic book scene, Rick talks with Los Bros Hernandez (Love and Rockets), Mark DeMatteis (Moonshadow), Fabian Nicieza (New Warriors) and Todd McFarlane (writer/artist of Spiderman, the best-selling comic book ever). Editor Trina Robbins and contributor Steve Leialoha talk about the comic book fundraiser Strip AIDS USA. Star Trek's Commander Uhura, Nichelle Nichols, and B-Movie trailers from Sinister Cinema are also featured.
Commander Rick debates the impact science and technology are having on society with science fiction writers Gregory Benford (PhD, Physics), Robert Sawyer (computer programmer), Jack Womack (neo-Luddite) and fellow techno-peasant Spider Robinson. Rick attempts to control the technology onboard his communications satellite Reality One by wiring together a "pow-R glove" -- with hilarious results!
This show is brought to you by the letter M! Commander Rick profiles French comic book artist Moebius (Jean Giraud), the ground-breaking creator of Metal Hurlant a.k.a. Heavy Metal. On the eve of the Toronto Public Library's Spaced Out Library new identity as The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy, the Commander also pays tribute to Judith Merril, one of the earliest and most influential women in the field of science fiction.
The Commander will once again be spending the holidays alone this year, and has decided to look at the role of families in his favourite genres: Why do comic book characters band together to form surrogate families? And why does science fiction portray families as both the protector and as the greatest threat? British comic book artist Neil Gaiman talks about his book Violent Cases, and comic book artists Bill Sienkiewicz and Matt Wagner discuss the representation of families in their work. From the science fiction side of the fence, Rick talks with writers Garfield Reeves-Stevens, Lewis Shiner and husband-and-wife team Pamela Sargent and George Zebrowski.
Commander Rick's music show, featuring his pirate radio station CMDR: highlights include the week's top 10, SF writer Spider Robinson singing, Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart on why he's an avid SF fan, Edward Scissorhands musical composer Danny Elfman, SF writer/music critic Harlan Ellison. Other interviews include: comic book creators Gilbert Hernandez, Steve Leialoha, George Pratt and Bill Sienkiewicz; fantasy authors Charles De Lint, Tanya Huff and Guy Gavriel Kay; and SF writer Lewis Shiner. Featuring videos from Rush and Level 42.
Commander Rick looks at the importance of setting in evoking future worlds with his guests: speculative fiction writers Gregory Benford, Charles De Lint, Candas Jane Dorsey, Leslie Gadallah, Tanya Huff, Donald Kingsbury, Nancy Kress, Larry Niven, Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens, Jack Vance, and award-winning SF cover artist Frank Kelly Freas. Will Eisner, Rick Geary, Bob Kane, Charles Vance and Matt Wagner discuss the role of setting in comics.
Disney's release of the restored version of Fantasia inspires Commander Rick to look at animation. Rick discusses the pivotal role of Fantasia with original Disney animator Ollie Johnston, restoration sound supervisor Terry Porter, and animation historian Charles Solomon. Japanese animated feature Akira is discussed with its North American distributor Carl Macek and comic book artist M.W. Kaluta. Also, David Fine talks about his Gemini-award winning short George and Rosemary, Claymation creator Will Vinton discusses his California Raisins, and British animator Nick Park discusses his British Academy-Award winning feature, Creature Comforts.
Commander Rick wants to discuss Robots, a subject near and dear to his heart, but NanCy, his Nano-Cybernetic 3000 computer, foils his plans and changes this week's topic to Artificial Intelligence. Rick's guests include Robocop 2 screenwriter Frank Miller, SF editor Judith Merril, SF critic Brian Fawcett, Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy creator Douglas Adams, with SF authors Gregory Benford, Donald Kingsbury, Nancy Kress, Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens, Pamela Sargent, Robert Sawyer, Lewis Shiner, and George Zebrowski. With clips from Hardware and Robocop 2.
Orbiting the planet in his communications satellite, Commander Rick (with the aid of his trusty computer - Nancy) wonders whether there is truly a Canadian voice in science fiction and comics, or whether these artforms have become Americanized. Rick's guests include SF writers Spider Robinson, Harlan Ellison, Guy Gavriel Kay, Nancy Kress, Gregory Benford, Candas Jane Dorsey, Tanya Huff, Dave Duncan, Judith Merril, and Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens, with Will Eisner, Moebius, Bill Sienkiewicz, Denys Cowan and Chester Brown from the world of comic books.
Commander Rick gets funny, with: Farmer/Author Charlie Farquharson (a.k.a. Don Harron); Douglas Adams of Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy fame; Dan "Bizarro" Piraro; Mad Magazine cartoonist Sergio Aragones; and SF writer Spider Robinson.
Commander Rick highlights some upcoming projects to watch out for, including: Will Eisner's new graphic novel, To The Heart Of The Storm; Neil Gaiman's latest issue of The Sandman; Todd McFarlane's new Spider-Man; George Pratt's timely examination of war, Enemy Ace; Alice, the long-awaited new Woody Allen film; and Anijam, an animated feature by cartoonists from around the world, produced by Bambi Meets Godzilla creator Marv Newland.
Commander Rick's horror show, starring: British horror writer/director Clive Barker; Swamp Thing artist Steve Bissette; Good Omens co-author Neil Gaiman; Black Water 2 editor Alberto Manguel; Mike Mignola, artist on Clive Barker's Hellraiser; Canadian horror writer Garfield Reeves-Stevens; Marvel Comics writer Louise Simonson; horror writer/cartoonist Gahan Wilson; and Julian Grant, the Canadian distributor for B-movie home video company, Sinister Cinema.
Commander Rick explores the wonders of marketing with his guests: Simpsons creator Matt Groening, with show producers James L. Brooks and Sam Simon; Kevin Eastman, co-creator of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; horror writer Peter Straub, author of Koko and Ghost Story; Batman creator Bob Kane; Robocop 2 screenwriter Frank Miller; fantasy writers Terry Brooks and Guy Gavriel Kay; Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit; Wild Cards creator George R.R. Martin; writer Jack Vance reminisces about his friend, Dune creator Frank Herbert; married writers Spider and Jeanne Robinson; and Bill Marks of Vortex Comics, Jim Baen of Baen Books and Fabian Nicieza of Marvel Comics. Rick spoofs the Home Shopping Network, Calvin Klein's Obsession commercials and American express.
Commander Rick examines the role of violence in comics and SF, with his guests: Aliens 3 director Walter Hill; Canadian fantasy writers Charles De Lint, Shirley Meier and S.M. Stirling; American SF writers Lewis Shiner and Jack Womack; horror writer Peter Straub; and Terry Beatty (Ms. Tree), Steve Bissette (Taboo), Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Todd McFarlane (Spider-Man), Bill Sienkiewicz (Big Numbers), Walt Simonson (Thor) and Ty Templeton (Stig's Inferno) discussing violence in comic books.
Chaos theory is being hailed as the other major scientific development of this century after relativity and quantum physics -- featuring author James Gleick (whose 1985 book brought Chaos to the world's attention), Bill Sienkiewicz, artist on Big Numbers (a 12-issue comic book series about chaos theory), Commodore Amiga computer product manager Jeff Evans, with computerized fractal images by computer hacker Caleb Howard and U.S. animators Art Matrix and Panspermia from Karl Sims/Thinking Machines.
Commander Rick explores different froms--novella vs. short story, trilogy vs. series--in comics and speculative fiction, with his guests: Bizarro cartoonist Dan Piraro, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, Sandman writer Neil Gaiman, Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont, Spirit creator Will Eisner, Love and Rockets co-creator Gilbert Hernandez, V For Vendetta artist David Lloyd, Stig's Inferno creator Ty Templeton, speculative writers Dave Duncan, Crawford Killian, Tanya Huff, Guy Gavriel Kay and George Zebrowski, and SF editors Jim Baen, Marianne Neilsen and Judith Merril. With clips from Misery and animation from Dan Piraro.
Commander Rick sings the praises of Daniel Clowes, Peter Straub and Marv Newland. Daniel Clowes, the writer/artist of the alternative comic books Eightball and Lloyd Llewellyn, Private Eye, has been compared to David Lynch for his story-telling style and surreal sensibility. Peter Straub won the World Fantasy Award in 1985 for his novel, Floating Dragon, and has since penned such best-sellers as Koko, Mystery, Houses Without Doors and co-wrote The Talisman with Stephen King. Marv Newland created the animated cult fiavourite, Bambi Meets Godzilla, and a slew of other cutting-edge underground classics. Rick shows some of his favourites, including Sing Beast Sing, Black Hula and Lupo the Butcher.
Commander Rick looks at the importance of myths and archetypes in comic books and speculative fiction with Walt Simonson, Chris Claremont, Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner, and Arkham Asylum co-creators Dave McKean and Grant Morrison from the world of comics, and Canadian writers Robert Sawyer, Charles De Lint, Guy Gavriel Kay, horror expert Robert Hadji and horror writer/director Clive Barker. With clips from The Doors, The Adventures of Superman, and Frankenstein.
Commander Rick looks at the role of villains in comic books and science fiction with his guests: Taboo publisher Steve Bissette; comic writers Neil Gaiman (The Sandman), Archie Goodwin (Wolverine), Max Allen Collins (Dick Tracy), Fabian Nicieza (The New Warriors), Louise Simonson (Superman), Kate Worley (Omaha, the Cat Dancer), with comic book artists Ty Templeton and Mike Mignola; Canadian speculative fiction writers Tanya Huff, Charles De Lint and Garfield Reeves-Stevens; and American authors Nancy Kress, Jack Womack and Peter Straub.
The hoopla surrounding Earth Day on April 22 inspires Commander Rick to take the pulse of the planet as diagnosed in comic books and speculative fiction, with: SF humorist Douglas Adams; Canadian comic book artist Ty Templeton; Sinister Cinema distributor Julian Grant; Taboo publisher Steve Bissette; Science Matters co-author James Trefil; and SF writers Robert Sawyer, Spider Robinson, Garfield and Judith Reeves- Stevens, Larry Niven, Gregory Benford, Lewis Shiner, Nancy Kress, Pamela Sargent and Lois McMaster Bujold.
The representation of women in comic books and speculative fiction, discussed with comic book creators Trina Robbins (author, Women In The Comics), June Brigman (Barbie), Louise Simonson (Superman), Kate Worley (Omaha, the Cat Dancer), Elaine Lee (Starstruck), Chris Claremont (The Uncanny X-Men) and Steve Bissette (Taboo); with SF writers Lois McMaster Bujold, Leona Gom, Karen Wehrstein, Tanya Huff, Candas Jane Dorsey, Pamela Sargent, Gregory Benford, Terence Green, and Science-Fiction Studies editor Veronica Hollinger.
Commander Rick examines the question of how we will spend our leisure time in the future with groundbreaking cyberpunk writers William Gibson (Neuromancer) and Bruce Sterling (Schismatrix), SF funnyman Douglas Adams, Nebula Award-winning SF writer Lois McMaster Bujold, Canadian SF writers Candas Jane Dorsey, Andrew Weiner and Terrence Green and Canadian anthologist Alberto Manguel (Black Water 2), with American SF authors Christopher Hinz, Jack Womack, Gregory Benford. From the comic book side of the fence, Rick is joined by Mark Chiarello (creator, Stars of the Negro Leagues) Todd McFarlane (Spider-Man), Walt Simonson (Thor) and Louise Simonson (Superman), Ty Templeton (Justice League), Fabian Nicieza (The New Warriors), Steve Bissette (Swamp Thing), and Neil Gaiman (Sandman). Featuring never-before-seen footage of how Commander Rick spent his spare time when he was still earthbound.
