Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy - Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
There was a Natalie Portman movie that adapted the first story. I haven't gotten around to seeing it yet.
But I heard about a weird creepy bear.
And yes, that's in the novel series. Annihilation is cold and antiseptic by design. It's written as a journal entry from a character whose name has been reduced to her function: The Biologist. But she has another name. A term of endearment given to her by her deceased husband.
Ghostbird.
She is part of an all-female expedition into a section of the South called the Forgotten Coast that's been overrun by alien flora and fauna. It's now known as Area X. And the very land has changed.
There's an organic tunnel. Or is it a tower? With glowing, living biblical language out of a nightmare written upon its walls. And then there's the old lighthouse.
This series honestly feels like it's neo-Lovecraftian, with an alien presence so pervasive, that it alters perceptions and the very sanity of those who enter it.
Bronson Pinchot does a standout job of the three narrators, starting on the second book.
If you're looking for something creepy and weird, this book will check off those boxes.
Nacelleverse 0 by Melissa Flores and various artists from Oni Comics
So the guy who produced The Toys that Made Us, Brian Volk-Weiss, bought the licenses to a bunch of 3rd tier 80s toy properties.
And his production business, The Nacelle Company, is making a bunch of cartoons involving the Rock and Ryan Reynolds. They'll be re-releasing new versions of the toys along with a series of comics from Oni.
And I used to have toys for a lot of these rebooted properties.
RoboForce, Sectaurs, and Power Lords in particular.
My brother and I used Hun-Dread from RoboForce as a makeshift Decepticon. Same for Prince Dargon from Sectaurs. And I integrated Adam Power into our limited stint with Masters of the Universe toys. I remember all of these "also ran" action figures fondly.
I have no room for new toys. But this comic. And probably the cartoons. They totally hooked me with nostalgia. The comic's story with the character re-introductions was fine. As was the art. But the premise of restoring all these old properties in a shared universe, it's just too interesting for me to ignore.
Even if it sucks. I gotta see what they do with this stuff.
I gotta.
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