Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Hal Jordan #1

Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Hal Jordan #1
DC Comics
$2.99, color, 32 pgs.
Writers: Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti, Donald De Line, Adam Schlagman
Artists: Jerry Ordway, Tyler Kirkman

One of five Green Lantern film prequels, the others focusing on Abin Sur, Kilowog, Sinestro, and Tomar Re, Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Hal Jordan is intended, one would presume, to supplement the movie-going experience by filling in details not found in the silver screen rendition of everyone’s favorite Emerald Warrior.

Unfortunately, this one-shot is comprised almost entirely of scenes taken directly from the film, from Jordan’s father’s death to his acceptance of the ring to the barroom brawl with a superior officer. The story, “Being Human,” is told via a conversation between Tomar Re, who deeply believes in Jordan, and Sinestro, who thinks fear will prevent Jordan from being a worthy Green Lantern. About the only thing new, other than said conversation, is a brief appearance by a grinning, towel-wearing, beer-swilling Guy Gardner.

The issue does include an original (if routine) backup tale starring Ngila G’rnt, the purple Green Lantern from Inguanzo (a war-ravaged world in Sector 542) who made her debut in the film.

Both stories are beautifully illustrated, but ultimately non-essential.

Meet the Author

This summer I'll be appearing at the Oklahoma Video Game Expo in Tulsa and the Classic Gaming Expo in Vegas. My publisher sent this photo to help promote these and other book signings.

Texas Pinball Festival 2012

As usual, this year's Texas Pinball Festival is in Grapevine, which is near Dallas and Fort Worth. The event is happening Friday, Saturday and Sunday (March 23, 24 and 25). I always go, and I always have a great time. For more info, check out their website.

Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984 - NOW IN PAPERBACK!

Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984 has been released in soft cover for only $25, available for pre-order through Amazon. I got my copy this week, so if you decide to go ahead and order the book, you shouldn't have to wait long to receive it.


You can order the book HERE.

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This thoroughly researched reference work provides a comprehensive guide to popular and obscure video games of the 1970s and early 1980s, covering virtually every official United States release for programmable home game consoles of the pre-Nintendo NES era. Included are the following systems: Adventure Vision, APF MP1000, Arcadia 2001, Astrocade, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, Fairchild Channel F, Intellivision, Microvision, Odyssey, Odyssey2, RCA Studio II, Telstar Arcade, and Vectrex.

Organized alphabetically by console brand, each chapter includes a history and description of the game system, followed by substantive, encyclopedia-style entries for every game released for that console, regardless of when the game was produced. Each video game entry includes publisher/developer information and the release year, along with a detailed description and, frequently, the author's critique. A glossary provides a helpful guide to the classic video game genres and terms referenced throughout the work. An appendix lists a number of "homebrew" titles that have been created by fans and amateur programmers and are available for download or purchase.

ACCOLADES FOR Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984:

"a labor of love...comprehensive...recommended"
--Library Journal

"a great-looking new book"
--classicgaming.gamespy.com

“thoroughly researched”
--Game Informer

“a must-read...both fun and informative, a highly recommended purchase”
--Video Game Collector.

"Brett Weiss knows his video games, and this book is a must for all fans"
--Bart Bush (former editor of Larry Bieza's Pinball Price Guide)

“Weiss’s deep familiarity with his chosen subject matter is an asset of the text, and as a writer he conveys information clearly and without pretension...Weiss’s reviews of obscure games make the book a treasure...impressive and fun book...valuable...the breadth of coverage here is astounding...a fun read and a nostalgic trip supreme...undeniably smart, historically valuable and wide-ranging in coverage”
--GameCulture Journal

Doonesbury

In case you live in a city where your newspaper elected to run a reprint instead of today's sure-to-be-controversial Doonesbury strip, here it is (click on the image for a closer look).

Spring Videogame Preview

Check out my spring videogame preview in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. You can read the online version HERE.