When I moved in to my new place last year one of the things I was most excited about was setting up my new game room. With a home-made 6×4 table and a wolrd of board games and 40k to play, I couldn’t wait to put up decor and set up my hobby room. I never thought of naming it until I shared with my RevPub partner my WIP of Commissar Yarrick’s legendary Tank, The Fortress of Arrogance.
I learned of this mighty armored vehicle from Chains of Golgotha and immediately loved the name. I knew when I started my guard army (built almost ENTIRELY from rage quitters and scrap and a couple of boxed sets admittedly) a version of Yarrick’s pulpit would have to be included. Here’s my version:
When I shared this she commented that it would be a good name for my game space, and I started work on a sign that night that mimicked the “official” markings on the tank as it appears in the Apocalypse expansion. Here’s what I’ll print for my door:
Built from some Skull line art, and some simple Illustrator work it captures enough of the original and still makes a good readable sign for the door!
As for the Fortress itself it’s progressed a bit. I was able to get my fantasy armies out of boxes with the addition of the two new inexpensive glass curios, and even added some shelves for the Blood Angels/Flesh Tearers that used to be crammed into the bottom shelf of my IG curio (a couple of chaos engines too big for my storage boxes are up there too.)
As I get things painted (which I’m working on now, my Vostroyan command squad is up first) I’ll share them. As can easily be seen I have a lot to paint, but I like to build and play, so painting always seems to take a back seat!
Villainy and villains. Often we find them more compelling than the heroes of the story, even when we crave their defeat. There are many kinds of villains and many great ones. They can be tragic heroes or pure chaotic evil, so classifying villainy can be difficult. James Rolfe did a great list of the “baddest bad guys” using the criteria of who was really the “baddest” not the best villain or most evil, just the one who was through and through…BAD. He made a great list and it’s hard to disagree with his findings.
Following in his footsteps, and wrapping up the three-year anniversary month of threes, I thought I’d do my own criteria and give what I see as the most intimidating and imposing villains I can think of. The criteria here are a little more difficult to ascertain, but intimidation is rarely strictly physical. Once we leave the school yard the threat of “I’m big and gonna beat you up” doesn’t have the same weight as it once did. This immediately discounts the Jason Vorheeses and Godzillas of the medium. Similarly intimidation and having an imposing personality is usually just that, personality. The fact that these villains are human and show their humanity makes their villainy more imposing. It might seem a bit convoluted but hopefully the selections will help explain. So starting off with number three:
The Hunger Games – President Snow (Donald Sutherland)
“I like you…be careful…”
Before hipsters start to protest I ask everyone look the man himself. He is, in the world of Panam, supremely powerful. He has a family we see in his periphery and a public persona that is both calming and resolute. Then you see him interact other characters, Seneca and Katniss were frozen like the prey of a cobra. Plutarch, despite his confidence, maintained his composure by attempting to play Snow’s game his way to impress him with his own imposing declarations. In the books we see more of him, hear from him more, and get to know him more. His limited use in the films makes him even more intimidating. Sutherland plays him in a manner as cold as the character’s namesake. He speaks with a quiet voice, like thunder in the distance, so when he merely suggests it would be easier if parties agreed not to lie, explains it is not favorable to root for the underdog, or instructs you on the value of hope versus fear you listen. Wide-eyed and terrified at nothing more than the power of his…words. His intimidation is based entirely on his ability to tell you the truth in ice-cold realism with the absolute knowledge of what he can do. He can make you vanish in silence, make you obsolete in front of a roaring crowd, and send you into hysterics with a flower delivery. He’s that imposing.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris)
“Rest assured, if you attempt to bring destruction down upon me, I shall do the same to you. My respect for you, Mr. Holmes, is the only reason you are still alive.”
How can you gone wrong with the Napoleon of crime? I’ve seen several versions of Dr. Moriarty and Jared Harris captured something that I found truly captivating. His Moriarty has an extreme patience and remarkable Zen-like nature that makes him even more frightening than Hannibal Lector. Moriarty’s intimidation is that, portrayed in the manner Harris played him, you feel he’s smarter than you. It’s not a physical intimidation, because as I said above what does that mean to grown people? It’s a feeling of helplessness that even Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock feels during parts of the movie. You feel at his mercy, as though he holds every card and you hold nothing…even if you’re holding everything. Anyone who has ever been in the presence of a real master knows this form of intimidation. And we’ve seen the result of someone far below their league when they attempt to compete. Moriarty is so wily he forces Holmes to chase a red herring at the opera just so he can watch him fail from a box seat. He attempts to start World War I and simply shrugs when he doesn’t pull it off. He can torture you singing opera in German…and just might be able to take you in a fist fight too. I’m not sure I’ve seen a more impressive supervillain…certainly not one who was this cold, this brilliant, and this realistic. Harris’ performance is wildly underrated and for me he’s the Moriarty to beat.
Apocalypto – Zero Wolf (Raoul Trujillo)
“When I catch him I will peel his skin and have him watch me wear it”
I don’t believe I’ve seen a character on film in recent years quite as intimidating as Zero Wolf. Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto received general indifference after its release. It was in Mayan. Directed by a man who had just gone through some serious personal issues. It had questionable historical veracity. But forgotten amidst all of that is what an incredible film it is. The film revolves around fear (The Nolan Batman films could have learned something about real fear in this movie…), specifically fear instilled into a small village by warlike, desperate neighbors who seek human sacrifices. The leader of these hunters: Zero Wolf. Decked out in jaguar jaws, wolf skulls, and human bones he is a massive, brutal, cunning leader. Since we spend most of the film in the captivity of these hunters or fleeing them, they had to represent a truly incredible threat and, though there are numerous hunters, they all fade into the jungle when in the presence of Wolf. He gives commands silently (watch his directive to his men to spread out and attack), can intimidate with few words (“Are we doing what you say now? Shall we try that?”), exudes power and menacing intent through extreme calm and stoicism, and is powerful enough to force that stone knife right through your sternum. More than just a vicious hunter you see he is a person. He has a son he cares about dearly and it’s both tragic and frightening when he is provided the motivation to relentlessly hunt Rudy Youngblood’s Jaguar Paw throughout the latter half of the film. It’s this humanity that makes him such a cold customer. He cares about his legacy and his offspring, but is simultaneously ruthless in the prosecution of his tasks. He is a man hunter, and he treats it like a passionless day job, until it’s made personal. Both his indifference and his cruel obsession cause tension in their own ways. Zero Wolf is possibly one of the most effective villains in years and he is used with remarkable skill to drive the plot, dramatically increase tension, and intimidate the audience. He’s intimidation personified and the most imposing villain I think I’ve ever seen.
I’ve been a cat owner essentially all my life. We got my lil sister Sweetie Pie when I was three. Jack-Jack was an adoption of a 12 year old boy who needed respite from his busy house. Tony and Gino were adoptees from the Katrina disaster. Razputin, my current baby, was an adoptee who wouldn’t let me leave without him. I’ve had a full menagerie in my life, but I always come back to cats as the lil furry companions I relate the most to.
Over the years I’ve found some things that cat owners will completely understand. In the spirit of our Third Anniversary I thought I’d mention the top three things cat owners understand.
3.) They are the pauper kings/queens of the residence:
Every cat rules his or her house. At least they believe they do. Strangely however they are all entirely reliant on their chosen hairless housemate for food, water, and entertainment. It’s unusual to have a tiny little fur-face essentially tell you what to do (and you do it…at least you’d better) when you are, at least logically, the boss round the place. As royalty they can also be adorably mentally abusive. They will innocently use noise (mreoow…mreeeeow…MREEEOW) to get you up at 2am. Then look at you like, “what? Oh did that wake you? Sorry, but as long as you’re up…look at this toy! Or these treats! And pet me here!” They can destroy your whole world [40k players understand how a furry monstrous creature, eternal warrior, with hatred (all models), and 12D6 attacks can wreck your gaming s**t]. Then look at you with a sweet kitty face and make you love them for it. If that’s not the behavior of an insecure monarch I don’t know what is…
2.) They see many things…maybe even dead people…
They will stare. Stare at things. There’s nothing there…but there’s SOMETHING there. Sweetie (miss my lil sis) stared mostly at ME. It’s unnerving to be eyed by a predator. Even a little cute one. Jack-Jack (he was connected to me and we gave him the best last years of his life we could) was nearly blind but his hood-eyed scowl often drew attention. Tony only stares to smash things and even as a senior cat now he still has that young man athleticism. Gino (miss my lil crazy booboo) would just stare…at dust or fuzzies or microscopic particles only visible with an electron microscope. Raz stares up walls and at ceilings. But often…there’s nothing there. At least nothing I can see. Occasionally I’ll spot a tiny bug or a spot on the wall that has his attention. But sometimes nothing. He’s intently staring at the air. And cats do that. Just stare, fascinated by the various nematodes and bogeymen only visible to cat-kind. I know this. I’m not worried about it…but every now and then I’m drawn into the fantasy. I get up to check what he’s staring at. I think he does it to laugh at me…
1.) You mean NOTHING….but you mean everything…
Cats are the world’s greatest actors. They make you feel tiny, usually from self-important cattitude, but in the end one slow blink, one head butt, or one nose touch lets you know that, even though they make you feel utterly beneath contempt…they’re as glad to have you as you are to have them. I know my various babies liked to pretend I mean nothing to them…but for all the kitty bravado they all loved to have me there…even when all they wanted was for me to be in the same space as them. And for us, we’re happy to be in their space too.
Look for Life with Raz Cat coming soon on RevPub! A webcomic series featuring stories from life with a Mad Russian Blue!
Last week I shared my three greatest fighters of all time. This week I thought I’d share my three favorite fights of all time.
3.) Mike Tyson vs. James “Buster” Douglas (1990): While many might not see this as a “great” fight I can barely think of a fight that deserves to be recognized more. Mike Tyson was viewed as an unstoppable force in the heavyweight division. Some revisionists state that he had never “truly been tested” however looking at his fights with Frank Bruno and Razor Ruddock he had been tested he had just come back to pass the tests. Iron Mike was starting to show signs of distraction and outside-the-ring drama that would mar his later career; however his victory over Douglas, a perennial underachiever, was never in doubt (42 to 1 if the legend is to be believed). Douglas took the fight and during the lead up to the clash his mother tragically died, and rather than cancel the fight Douglas used it as inspiration. For one night, ten rounds, Douglas was the greatest fighter who ever lived. He controlled the space in the ring like a master, knew his range, controlled and bullied Mike, showed courage when he got knocked down, and came back to dominate the so-called “Baddest Man on the Planet.” All “long count” nonsense aside, Douglas fought the perfect fight. The uppercut he slammed into Mike’s jaw in the tenth round is still amazing to behold, and watching the biggest underdog in history fight his way to victory under the most dramatic circumstances is still one of the best stories in sports history. Mike, who I have come to respect and appreciate for his self-awareness and honesty, finally retired in 2006. When asked how he felt with his career ending he responded that his career ended in 1990, citing the first time his aura of invincibility dissipated and he was handed his first loss in a great, great fight.
2.) Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns (1985): For years this was THE greatest single fight of all time. Hagler and Hearns both lived in the shadow of media darling Sugar Ray Leonard. When they met in 1985 everyone knew it would be a short, vicious battle but no one knew how short and how vicious. In three rounds Hagler and Hearns gave the world some of the greatest combat ever. Hagler, known to be a tough but smart bully boxer charged Hearns immediately. Hearns slammed his vaunted right hand into Hagler, briefly stemming Marvin’s charge and breaking the hand in the first round. Looking at this fight now you get the feeling when Hearns landed his right and Hagler barely wobbled back…the fight was over. Hagler continued to pummel into Hearns toward the end of the first and into the second round. During the second Hagler was cut and in the third, fearing a stoppage due to the gash, Hagler again bulled his way to Hearns and battered him to the canvas. Less than nine minutes of action, but it showed the heart and desire of both fighters and, unlike the fights we have often today, showed two warriors willing to leave everything in the ring to win.
1.) Arturo “Thunder” Gatti vs. “Irish” Micky Ward I-III (2002-2003): I’m calling this one fight as it really is 30 rounds of beautiful combat that took place over 13 months. The first fight is a true legend. Gatti showing his heart, with the best single round ever, the famous ninth, that saw Gatti go down from a Micky Ward left hook to the liver only to rise (itself a herculean feat) and win the tenth. In the second fight Ward was knocked down in the second round, a rare occurrence, and then dominated for the remaining eight rounds. The third fight saw Gatti dominate early, only to break his right hand and fight Ward off one-handed. The two most honest, honorable, tough fighters you could ever see in a single fight, as we got three fights. They became so close from the experience that Ward trained Gatti at the end of Arturo’s career. Sporting events are entertainment, pure and simple, but when Gatti and Ward were in the ring you couldn’t help but feel elevated by the range of humanity they displayed during their 30 legendary rounds.
Of course depending on what might happen in the next few years something may show up to unseat one of the above great fights…but it’s doubtful. Boxing isn’t dead. It goes through phases of ups and downs, but always comes back, usually on the shoulders of a new, exciting, successful fighter. There’s still a lot to get excited about under the hot lights of the boxing ring. We shouldn’t let the disappointment of a superfight of the two so-called “best” fighters weaken our interest in the sport. The above fights show it to be one of the most exciting and humanly dramatic forms of entertainment.
It’s time for a reality check. Over the weekend “the two best fighters of their generation” fought in what was a very disappointing showing. Of course anyone who followed the sport knew it would be (as “superfights” almost always are). Mayweather is too skilled defensively and too protective of his undefeated record to pull a Sugar Ray Leonard circa Montreal in 1980 to make it interesting, and Pacquiao is too small and has slipped a bit into one-dimensionality to force Floyd to do so. But there has been a lot of talk as both of these fighters being “all-time greats” as though there is generational forgetfulness on what a real greatness looks like.
Of course “who is the greatest fighter ever” is entirely based on opinion. There is NO answer and rather than say this is a “definitive list” of the greatest fighters of all time I thought I’d say these are the 3 greatest fighters in MY opinion, meaning the ones I like to watch the most and whose abilities have made us stand in awe. And neither Pacquiao, and I love Manny and think he has accomplished a lot, nor Mayweather, who has made a career avoiding the hardest fights, have come close to these legends.
3.) Marco Antonio Barrera: Probably an strange choice for many, but Barrera was without a doubt a pound-for-pound all-time great who could both box, counter, or brawl. In legendary performances against Erik Morales (who many fans appreciate more for his all-guns blazing style), a beautiful chess match with Prince Naseem Hamed (who he battered essentially into retirement), and an all guts battle with Kennedy McKinney Barrera showed ring intelligence, heart, power, and adaptability that is almost never shown nowadays. He could jab southpaws, blast you with right hands, and crush you with left hooks to the body. An aging Barrera looked helpless against the young hungry Pacquiao in their first fight, but lured him into a slower pace in their second. Barrera has faded from collective memory in modern boxing, but people wanting to learn how to be an effective boxer-puncher-brawler need to sit down and watch Marco’s 75 fights.
2.) Roy Jones Jr: This is going to be unpopular, I know, but I have my reasons. In his prime Roy was supernatural. He was the fastest, wiliest, most elusive fighter to ever live. Robbed at the Seoul Olympics, he turned pro in 1989 and essentially didn’t lose a fight (one controversial DQ) until 2004. He had power in both hands and made other all-time greats look like absolute amateurs. Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Virgil Hill, all great champions made to look slow, awkward, and helpless again Roy Jones. Light Heavyweights, who in any other era would have battled it out for light heavyweight supremacy, skilled fighters, all called uncompetitive and weak challenges. Montel Griffin, Reggie Johnson, Clinton Woods, and Julio Gonzalez, all shelved with contemptuous ease. Even mandatory and lesser defenses against David Talesco (who followed Roy calling him out for months only to lose 12 out of 12 rounds against a one-handed Jones) and Richard Hall (one of the greatest of Roy’s performances) showed what an artist he was. He started at junior middleweight, became middle weight champion, super middleweight champion, light heavyweight champion, and cherry-picked a heavy weight title, easily beating John Ruiz. As with most fighters who rely on athleticism over well-schooled boxing ability, he faded badly and from 2004 onward has had a career that has been a shame to see (though he can still turn on some preternatural abilities even at the age of 40+) but if you look at his career from his heavy weight performance backward to his pro-debut you will see possibly the greatest-skilled pound-for-pound fighter ever to live.
1.) Roberto Duran: What needs to be said? Duran turned pro in 1968 (a year after Ali was forced into exile). Was lightweight champion, possibly the greatest lightweight of all time, from 1972-1979, handed Ray Leonard his first defeat to become welterweight champion in 1980, defeated young champion Davey Moore to become junior middleweight champ and took the greatest middleweight champion in the modern era, Marvin Hagler, to his only 15 round defense in 1983. He won the middleweight title from tough, younger, stronger champion Iran Barkley (scoring the fight’s only knockdown) in 1989. And even won a minor Super Middleweight title from journeyman Pat Lawlor in 2000 (19 years after Ali retired!).Fighting in FIVE decades, winning titles in FOUR. Duran was a brutal warrior with a fighting IQ above anyone who has ever stepped into the ring. He didn’t always look brilliant and lived an entire life in the ring, showing excitement, depression, indifference, joy, rage, and pride under the hot lights. Known for his aggression, Duran was also one of the greatest defensive fighters to ever fight, very hard to hit with clean shots and able to stand in front of you and still be elusive while crushing you with either his left or right hand. There’s never been a more effectively aggressive and brilliant street fighter to ever step into the ring. One Hundred and Thirteen fights. In the modern era that is epic and they are some of the greatest ring performances in history.
Just for fun three honorable mentions:
Marvin Hagler: Essentially unbeatable. He was another guy who could fight, box, brawl, or counter punch. His last fight, a shame, where he was out-PR’d by Sugar Ray Leonard in the ring. Even as a Ray Leonard fan I think Hagler won it on aggressive, effective punching, but beat himself by starting too slowly and giving away the first 3 rounds. Marvin was involved in the greatest single fight ever. Out-willing, out-fighting, and out-slugging dangerous puncher and brilliant boxer Tommy Hearns in under three rounds.
Arturo Gatti: Not the most skilled fighter, but good god what a heart and what a warrior. He could lose every second of every round and you’d still cheer for him because he never stopped trying. He could be battered into a swollen pulp and with one left hook change your life. His ring life is linked forever to his wars with Mickey Ward; probably the three greatest fights of all time. You were always on the edge of your seat when Arturo fought.
Vitali Klitschko: Yeah. I said that. Vitali is one tough mo-fo. Though not showing his brother’s pure athletic skill, this is a guy who never was a afraid to fight anyone. Anywhere. Any time. He NEVER lost from being out-fought, losing only twice and only through injury; once from cuts and once from having an injured shoulder. Never knocked down, never knocked out, never visually in trouble in a fight. Vitali was one hell of a smart, strong, SOB who would have been a threat to just about any heavyweight. Ever. Even Mike Tyson says so!
I grew up reading Dark Horse Predator comics and Wizard Magazine. As I moved into other comics, I founds lots of characters to love, but one I always knew about but never read was Judge Dredd. I recognized the character, but didn’t know much beyond the iconic appearance until the last 5 years or so.
Judge Dredd (1995)
In the 90s the mega action stars of the 80s were looking for vehicles. As Sylvester Stallone’s biggest franchises, Rambo and Rocky shifted from classic to semi-farce (at least for a decade or so) Sly began looking for other franchises to be his next big thing. He tried it first with Demolition Man but went for a recognizable character film with 1995s Judge Dredd.
Since I didn’t know about the character at the time I admit I rather enjoyed the film. It went for a “big” story, introduces the world, the judges’ council, then immediately breaks into a story of a character trying to bring it down. It was still exciting, had great 90s special effects (love that bodyguard-bot), and good characters. Stallone made a great Dredd, he certainly had the look, and Diane Cannon was also effective as Judge Hershey.
It came out in the extended Lethal Weapon fallout when every character had to have a “buddy” comic relief aspect. They chose Rob Schneider to basically play himself and proves to be the weakest part of the film. The other aspect of it is Dredd sacrilege but is a direct result of the Stallone-vehicle reality of the movie. They show Dredd’s face. Constantly. Something the creators of the comic have consciously decided not to do (as he is the faceless embodiment of righteous but fascist judgment in Mega City).
It was a Judge movie but still a Stallone movie and also a 90s action movie. It was bright, colorful, and very much a product of the 90s comic movie industry, basic popcorn entertainment. Fun but tossable.
Dredd (2012)
After what a lot of fans consider to be mor Tinseltown than Mega City outing of 1995’s Judge Dredd 2012 brought a reboot in Dredd. With a faceless Karl Urban as the titular Judge, it made the gritty judge movie for the modern era. Films, even hero films, took a dark turn and Judge Dredd is perfect in a “dark” thematic world.
Karl Urban is excellent as Dredd. I didn’t even know it was him, and therefore accepted him more easily as the character. Olivia Thirlby is also fantastic as psychic Judge Anderson, a dynamic female character in modern action movies. Dredd doesn’t treat her like a woman, he treats her like a rookie. Only bringing up her gender when the possibility of capture by savage gangers is a possibility. Lena headey makes a for a sufficiently creepy villain as Ma-Ma and she’s surrounded by a circus of terrific character actors playing terrific characters.
One of the best aspects of the film is its “day-in-the-life” feel. It is a rousing action film, but in the end Dredd explains his miniature war in Peach Trees Mega block as “Drug bust. Perps were…uncooperative…” it looks great, is well-acted, and gives us a look at a different kind of comic character.
These movies show how these films are products of their time and both work very well. Essentially the 2012 Dredd ignores the previous version, but both were successful movies; the first a fun 90s-style action flick; the second a gritty, modern sci-fi crime movie.
Neither is overtly disrespectful of the origin material and the reboot classy-ly makes its own movie without deriding the original. So a viewer can watch 1995s Judge Dredd, enjoy the fun 90s glory of it; then watch Dredd and appreciate the millennium brutality of Mega City crime fighting.
That’s the current state of reboots and remakes in my opinion. Some are good, some are bad, but admittedly it’d be nice to see a brand new intellectual property out there… Til then… It’s Judgment Time Hollywood. At least make more Apes and Dredds, and less Clash of the Titans and RoboCops…
When I shared this she commented that it would be a good name for my game space, and I started work on a sign that night that mimicked the “official” markings on the tank as it appears in the Apocalypse expansion. Here’s what I’ll print for my door:
Revenant Publications 