Atomic. Bacteriological. Chemical. No, not the laundry schedule for the Ulysses (although Clive’s socks do require extra attention after a week in a vac-suit cleaning CycloMedia’s solar panels). We’re talking about classic 2000AD strip The ABC Warriors. They’ve been a constant feature of the comic since 1979, so there’s a lot to talk about. Join the robot revolution!
A.I was planned and prepped by Stanley Kubrick, then taken over by Steven Spielberg after the auteur’s untimely death. The resulting film is a strange mix of the two director’s signature styles, and even now it polarises opinion. Rob and Clive take a detailed look at the film, its themes and the inhumanly excellent performance of Haley Joel Osment.
Let’s go in search of the Blue Fairy…
(we apologise for the state of Rob’s voice. The space lurgy has him in its snottily-tentacled grasp…)
A female assassin clad in leather straps, dealing in extreme violence, having sex whenever she feels like it with multiple partners… did we mention this was an animated series that went out on MTV in the early 90s?
Aeon Flux is a strange mixture – a kinky, arty mashup of Euro sci-fi style and arch, deliberately impenetrable storytelling. Rob and Clive try to figure out what the hell was going on…
A show that started as a spin-off from one of the most successful fantasy shows of all time managed a rare feat–carving out its own voice and identity.
Rob and Clive celebrate the David Boreanez-starring Angel, and mourn a endlessly inventive show that unfairly disappeared before its time. I mean, how can you not love a programme that featured eps where the brooding hero was turned into a puppet, or revealed his inner thoughts through the medium of karaoke?
In the crowded arena of TV shows featuring super-fast, super-secret helicopters, Airwolf was the stand out. Mean and moody lead? Check. Comedy sidekick? Checky-check. Conspiracy and tension between the Airwolf crew and the agency they ostensibly worked for? Check-o (in the first season, at least).
Rob and Clive run through the story, dig out the old cello and yes, even take a pass at the theme song…*
*I didn’t say it was a good pass…
HOLY SMOKES! CycloMedia is getting worse, and the situation becomes ever more desperate for our hapless duo. As the ship is lashed by energetic particles, the question has to be asked… could this really be the end for the Ulysses?
Rob and Clive review:
Attack Of The Crab Monsters
The Atomic Submarine
Arena
The Astronaut’s Wife
Abraxas, Guardian Of The Universe
OH NO! Rob and Clive have piloted the Ulysses right bang slap into the middle of an ion storm! With energetic particles scrambling CycloMedia’s logic circuits, the deranged AI is stuck in a recursive loop, demanding more and more input.
Can our hapless heroes snap CycloMedia out of it before the radiation fries them all?
Rob and Clive review:
After Earth
Avatar
AVP: Alien Vs. Predator
AVP: Requiem
Attack Of The Puppet People
The red-headed stepchild of the Alien franchise gets a brisk going-over from Rob and Clive. Surrealist French director meets a series that badly needed a shot in the arm. It’s pretty out there. Worryingly, they find lots to like in Alien Resurrection. Have they been out in the depths of space maybe that little bit too long?
Controversy on the Ulysses, as Rob confesses a sneaking admiration for David Fincher’s bleak take on the Alien franchise. Can Clive talk him back to his senses, or does our noble astrogator have a point?
One thing’s for sure: this time, it’s personal.
A highly influential take on the notion of the superhero team that would arguably lead to the cinematic version of The Avengers that we know and like quite a bit. But who are The Authority, and why should we care?
Rob, Clive and CycloMedia lay out the characters and story beats of a comics series that still has a lot of bite.
EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS 