Reading Again--The Sixth Gun: Boot Hill

Here are my thoughts about this story arc, the final one of the series. 

-Nate

Boot Hill 48-50

This story arc ran for three issues, published in April, May and June of 2016. Here are my impressions:

• It's strange to think back about waiting a whole year for this series. At the time it was rather excruciating, but definitely worth the wait.

• The final battle in this arc is truly epic; I wonder how it would play out with the Savage Worlds RPG. One might need to use the rules for Mass Battles, along with a few individual conflicts happening at the same time.

• The fact that this story arc takes place in Boot Hill means that we see old faces returning again, and that helps make for a great finale.

• Finally, I see what they did there with the characters of Gord and Kalfu. At the time, of course, I didn't know what bearing that would have for the series Shadow Roads.

Reading Again--The Sixth Gun: Hell and High Water

Here are my thoughts about this story arc. 

-Nate

Hell and High Water 42-47

This story arc ran for six issues, published from August 2014 to March 2015. Here are my impressions:

• The first issue of this arc presents a good deal of exposition—important, but one could become impatient for advancing the storyline.

• We get to see the King of Secrets! He and his servants make a striking impression.

• Shards of the King's mirror could make for useful relics, given that they connect to similar items carried by Knights of Solomon in the field.

• “The Six seeded messengers into each new world.” That is interesting, especially when combined with the different forms that the Six have assumed in various worlds.

• At the end of Issue 43 we see someone standing behind Kalfu. I don't recall if I guessed who that was when I read that issue for the first time, but we eventually learn that it is Gord Cantrell, who struck a deal with that crossroads demon.

• The appearance of Kirby in his changed form is intriguing. For one thing, it confirms that the snakemen are made from existing humans, which could be a good plot hook. Secondly, it opens the possibility that someone could undergo the transformation process, and yet still retain a semblance of their true identity.

• Finally, we see a lengthy battle that sprawls throughout a small town. This could make for an exciting encounter in an RPG session, using a town such as Fort Griffin as the backdrop.

• Oh—riding the Thunderbirds into battle is awesome!

Review of the Uncharted Movie

-Nate

Review of the Uncharted Movie

I finally had a chance to see this movie in the theater. While I know about the video games, I have not played them. Even so, I love the genre, and this one looked like it would be fun to see on the big screen. Here are some of the my thoughts about it.

• The opening surprised me, since it was in the middle of a set piece action sequence that had been highlighted in the trailers. I could see this working in a gaming session, too, though. Take the heroes, drop them into a predicament, and then once they figure out how to escape from it, reveal just how and why they were there in the first place.

• I don't love morally ambiguous protagonists, and the lead characters in this movie had a lot of that at the start of the film. Even so, they had good chemistry together, and so I was willing to give them a chance.

• Being a pickpocket at a restaurant where you are also employed as a server seems like a bad way to make a living.

• The puzzles and physical items in this film were better than what I'd expected, and the water trap added some fine drama.

• There are a couple of effective surprises in the story, too.

• The final action sequence, involving helicopters airlifting old shipwrecks over the open sea, was fun. I doubt that the physics of the scene actually works but, if you except the premise, then it makes for great action. In fact, I think it might fare even better in an RPG session, in which the GM need only describe the scene, and leave it up to the players to imagine the specifics.

• Finally, there are plenty of elements at the end of the film that could lead to sequel movies. I don't want to spoil them, but it seems clear that the filmmakers are hoping to establish a franchise. As I was satisfied by this installment, I'm definitely open to seeing more of them in the future.

Reading Again--The Sixth Gun: Not the Bullet, But the Fall

 Here are my thoughts about this story arc. 

-Nate

Not the Bullet, But the Fall 36-41

This story arc ran for six issues, published from December 2013 to May 2014. Issue #41, The Grey Witch, is technically a standalone issue, but I include it here as this arc provides a natural lead-in to it. Here are my impressions:

• Whereas the last arc provided major character development for Becky, this one clearly moves the story into the endgame. Just as I'm looking at my home campaign for this year, with a handful of sessions remaining, this one shows how to raise the stakes and start wrapping up important elements.

• The meeting between Missy Hume and the heroes, and what happens from there, makes it clear to everyone that this is happening.

• Does this arc give readers a glimpse into how snakemen are created?

• The standalone The Grey Witch gives us a deep dive into Griselda's background, which is informative.

• On the other hand, the decision that Becky makes regarding her pistol at the end of the arc left me perplexed and wondering how it leads into the next one.