*FLASH: Classic Galactica Returns!*

[Tommy]

:)

This just in from Dynamite...






THE CLASSIC CREW RETURNS!
Dynamite Sends Classic Battlestar Back Into Orbit


June 29, 2006, Runnemede, NJ – Dynamite Entertainment today released images and information on their upcoming launch of an all-new Classic Battlestar Galactica comic book series.

The opening story arc is written by Rick Remender, illustrated by Carlos Rafael and featured two incredible covers – one by legendary artist Dave Dorman and the other by Talent Caldwell!

“Who doesn’t have a soft spot for this show? It helped start it all,” exclaimed Dynamite Spokesperson J. Allen. “New Battlestar is of course tremendous and stands on it's own. We're very fortunate to be able to do a “Classic” Battlestar series! This gives us a chance to show the reader adventures they’ve never seen featuring the original Adama, Starbuck, Apollo and the rest of the crew. Rick’s having a blast, and Carlos is an incredible find. And we will show interior pages in the coming weeks! Dave Dorman will be the regular cover artist and we’re pleased to have Talent on board with issue #1 for the special 50/50 cover. Pass the ambrosia and let out the daggits!”

Remender himself cuts to the chase of what makes Battlestar so great, even close to 30 years later: “I think as a kid in the mid seventies all you could think about was "Star Wars," so when "Battlestar Galactica" showed up it was on. The convoy in Battlestar Galactica is all that's left of humanity and if they make a wrong turn-- bye-bye human race. That connects on a few levels and it's the core to the drama of the series. “

Issue #1 on the all-new, Classic Battlestar Galactica comic book series is available in September, and available for PRE-ORDER now!



http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com/images/ClassicBattlestarSG1.jpg

CLASSIC BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 (JUL063041) Written By Rick Remender; Art By Carlos Rafael, Covers By Dave Dorman (50%) And “Special Guest Cover” By Talent Caldwell W/Matt Banning And Dean White (50%)!

Dynamite Entertainment launches their ongoing CLASSIC BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series from writer Rick Remender, artist Carlos Rafael along with series cover artist Dave Dorman –a fully painted piece from Dorman -- and issue #1 special guest alternate cover artist Talent Caldwell (joined by inker extraordinaire Batt and colorist Dean (“Punisher”) White!

Thought dead, left behind by Galactica and stranded on a planet over run by Cylons, Starbuck and Boomer must make a harrowing journey into the heart of a Cylon strong hold in hopes of stealing a ship large enough to carry themselves and the planets remaining human population and return to Galactica… if they can find it.

FANS, ASK YOUR LOCAL RETAILER ABOUT THE CLASSIC BSG #1 VIRGIN DORMAN COVER!

FANS, ASK YOUR LOCAL RETAILER ABOUT THE CLASSIC BSG #1 NEGATIVE ART EDITION OF THE CALDWELL COVER!

ALSO AVAILABLE: CLASSIC CYLON SILVER FOIL COVER TO ISSUE #1 (PHOTO COVER) AT THE MSRP COST OF $19.99!

FOR ART AND MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com/htmlfiles/p-C105310.html

Note: Classic Battlestar Galactica #1 will be heavily promoted in Dynamite Entertainment House Ads, through prominent online sites such as Newsarama.com, ComicBookResources.com and others, as well as interviews and ads in consumer publications such as Comic Shop News!



ABOUT DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling titles and properties. Beginning with their Army of Darkness comic book series – launching as the #1 independent comic in July of ’04 – and recently ranked the #1 selling Independent Horror comic -- and continuing to their best-selling Red Sonja series – issue #0 alone selling over 240,000 copies and ongoing issues and one-shots recently ranked among the best-selling titles in unit sales and dollar volume – and not only has Dynamite consistently released Red Sonja as THE top selling single comic outside of Marvel and DC Comics, Dynamite successfully places more titles in the Top 100 than most non-Marvel, non-DC publishers. Dynamite’s new monthly Battlestar Galactica series is the company’s first major launch of '06, debuting with an impressive 175,000 copies in initial orders sold for the introductory #0 issue. The recently released ongoing Highlander comic book series has exceeded 100,000 copies for issue #0.

Now, in addition to the ongoing Red Sonja and AOD series, DYNAMITE has released the all-new Battlestar Galactica comic by Greg Pak and Nigel Raynor – launching with a specially priced #0 issue, having sold in excess of 175,000 copies and recently featured in the pages of TV Guide, A classic Battlestar Galactica comic book series, Xena by John Layman and Fabiano Neves, a Darkman vs. the Army of Darkness mini-series and is preparing the Lone Ranger with Brett Matthews and John Cassaday – and Dynamite has more on the horizon!

In addition to the creators mentioned - Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics, including Alex (Justice) Ross, John (Astonishing X-Men) Cassaday, Michael (Superman/Batman, Aspen Comics) Turner, Jim (All-Star Batman) Lee, Michael (Red Sonja) Avon Oeming, Mike (Red Sonja/X-Men) Carey, Jim (Justice) Kruegar, Greg (The Incredible Hulk) Pak, Brett (Serenity, The Lone Ranger) Matthews - as well as working with up and coming new talent and enhancing strong creators!

The company also produces new and classic material from such creators as Paul Gulacy and Doug Moench’s Six from Sirius, Tim Truman’s Scout, Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso’s Borderline and other titles including Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar, in addition to reprint editions of classic Red Sonja material and more.



For updated information on Dynamite Entertainment and their titles, please visit the Dynamite website at
www.dynamiteentertainment.com (http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com/htmlfiles/)




Tommy. :cool:

[Lucifer]

I'm looking forward more to this classic BSG series than I am the new one and I think it has far more potential. Plus, I think I would buy this series for the Dorman covers alone.

Can't wait.

[sschroeder]

I'm looking forward more to this classic BSG series than I am the new one and I think it has far more potential.
Classic might have more freedom in that it is not constrained by the events of an ongoing television series.

However, I wonder if there are enough old series fans left to support this title.



Plus, I think I would buy this series for the Dorman covers alone.
I find comics too expensive to buy just for the cover. Since the publisher has been releasing scans of the covers anyway to build excitement, it isn't even necessary.

[Lucifer]

I wonder if there are enough old series fans left to support this title.

I wonder that as well. ...especially with the $3.50 price point.



I find comics too expensive to buy just for the cover.

I wasn't talking literally, but I would like to have a few Dorman BSG prints to go along side my Dorman Star Wars prints from about ten years ago.

[agentalbert]

So when does issue # 1 hit stores?

[JRybandt]

So when does issue # 1 hit stores?

looks like 10.25.06!

/joe

[3D Master]

Classic might have more freedom in that it is not constrained by the events of an ongoing television series.

However, I wonder if there are enough old series fans left to support this title.

Oh, there are, most certainly are there enough. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if CBSG will outsell NBSG. Without 25 years of CBSG fans trying to get a continuation, there would be NO NBSG. There were enough CBSG fans, that universal figured a continuation would sell, and SciFi to think that they'd get an easy start audience for the crap that is the NBSG.

At least until this "set during the series, and even episodes" bull is over. For 28 years fans of the show have been clamoring and working toward a continuation that honors the original, what happened after that last episode. They create a comic, and what do they do? SET DURING THE FIRST SEASON/EPISODES. GAAAAHHH!!!

[agentalbert]

I think the new BSG is better than the old one in every conceivable way. I'm talking strictly about the TV shows, not the comics. It seems like a lot of fans of only the old series resent the success of the new one.

I like the new comic, but I'm looking forward to the Classic series as well.

[3D Master]

I think the new BSG is better than the old one in ever conceivable way. I'm talking strictly about the TV shows, not the comics. It seems like a lot of fans of only the old series resent the success of the new one.

I like the new comic, but I'm looking forward to the Classic series as well.

What success? You mean the success of convincing a few critics to put positive spin on things and rave about how 'good' it is, despite the fact that barely anyone's watching, and even that low number is going down?

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-battlestarseasonthreeratings,0,6745094.story?coll= zap-tv-headlines

To illustrate the 'success' of Battlestar Galactica. Buffy and its spinoff has been gone from tv for 2 years now. It's magazine is selling. The same company that publishes the magazine, published the same magazine for Battlestar Galactica. The BSG magazine, despite the show still being on the air, has been cancelled because not enough people were buying it.

[JRybandt]

What success? You mean the success of convincing a few critics to put positive spin on things and rave about how 'good' it is, despite the fact that barely anyone's watching, and even that low number is going down?

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-battlestarseasonthreeratings,0,6745094.story?coll= zap-tv-headlines

To illustrate the 'success' of Battlestar Galactica. Buffy and its spinoff has been gone from tv for 2 years now. It's magazine is selling. The same company that publishes the magazine, published the same magazine for Battlestar Galactica. The BSG magazine, despite the show still being on the air, has been cancelled because not enough people were buying it.

that's not the reason for its cancellation and not a factor showing the success or failure of the show. Ratings are still good this year, and the show has been great from from the get-go this season.

If you don't like it, that's fine, but let's not open the "Classic vs. New" can of worms on this board....

and regarding your post above about story setting, I think we played it as best we could with what we're doing. I'm not convicned we could ever get a concensus going of classic fans and their vision for the continuation of the series...

/joe

[dilbertman]

To illustrate the 'success' of Battlestar Galactica. Buffy and its spinoff has been gone from tv for 2 years now. It's magazine is selling. The same company that publishes the magazine, published the same magazine for Battlestar Galactica. The BSG magazine, despite the show still being on the air, has been cancelled because not enough people were buying it.

That's not the reason for its cancellation and not a factor showing the success or failure of the show.
What was the reason for the magazine being cancelled?

Jim :confused:

[JRybandt]

What was the reason for the magazine being cancelled?

Jim :confused:

Not my place to say, just that it wasn't cancelled for the reasons speculated upon here is all...

/joe

[3D Master]

that's not the reason for its cancellation and not a factor showing the success or failure of the show. Ratings are still good this year, and the show has been great from from the get-go this season.

The ratings are not, they're down, and going further down. And why else than 'not selling well' would anyone cancel a magazine? Hey, we're making bucket loads of money selling this thing, they're selling like hot cakes, but you know, we don't like money, so we're going to cancel it.


If you don't like it, that's fine, but let's not open the "Classic vs. New" can of worms on this board....

and regarding your post above about story setting, I think we played it as best we could with what we're doing. I'm not convicned we could ever get a concensus going of classic fans and their vision for the continuation of the series...

You don't need a concensus of classic fans. The only thing you can be sure about is that they want a CONTINUATION! Why else do you think they've been compaigning for one for 28 odd years? The other thing you can be sure about, is that they do NOT want comics that play during that first year and espcially not during the episodes. Far too many chances to screw up with regards to that episode; I've heard fans on some boards call it disrespectful to those episodes, even if the stories/comics fit.

And no, if the sales of the in-series comcs do well, that does not mean the fans like it, it meas the fans know that if it's sold well, the in-series will end soon, and we'll hopefully, finally, get those stories playing AFTER that final episode, continuing it, and exploring what happened to those characters and their dynamics afterward.

[agentalbert]

Not my place to say, just that it wasn't cancelled for the reasons speculated upon here is all...

/joe

How many issues were printed?

[JRybandt]

The ratings are not, they're down, and going further down. And why else than 'not selling well' would anyone cancel a magazine? Hey, we're making bucket loads of money selling this thing, they're selling like hot cakes, but you know, we don't like money, so we're going to cancel it.

I don't have the nuimbers in front of me, but I believe they have the same audience they did last year, if anything was down, it may have been the premiere, slightly. As for the mag, again, you're speculating without knowing the reason or having contact with those that make these decisions, trust me when I say your speculations are not correct.


You don't need a concensus of classic fans. The only thing you can be sure about is that they want a CONTINUATION! Why else do you think they've been compaigning for one for 28 odd years? The other thing you can be sure about, is that they do NOT want comics that play during that first year and espcially not during the episodes. Far too many chances to screw up with regards to that episode; I've heard fans on some boards call it disrespectful to those episodes, even if the stories/comics fit.

And no, if the sales of the in-series comcs do well, that does not mean the fans like it, it meas the fans know that if it's sold well, the in-series will end soon, and we'll hopefully, finally, get those stories playing AFTER that final episode, continuing it, and exploring what happened to those characters and their dynamics afterward.

When I said concensus, I meant a concensus of the direction of the continuation would require for x amount of classic fans to agree and I'm not sure that would ever be possible... imagine if we did a continuation and it wasn't "the one" that a segment of the hardcore fan base wanted? That's why it seems to be a no-win situation for any publisher...

Also, You have to take into account that we're not just making a comic fro Classic Battlestar fans, we're making a comic for the entire potential audience that enjoys comics, and that means some level of acessability and give anbd take with the hardcore fan-base.

/joe

[JRybandt]

[QUOTE=JRybandt]I don't have the nuimbers in front of me, but I believe they have the same audience they did last year, if anything was down, it may have been the premiere, slightly. As for the mag, again, you're speculating without knowing the reason or having contact with those that make these decisions, trust me when I say your speculations are not correct./QUOTE]

Bless you Google (the bold part is the key here to what I was saying, I'll pull other ratings info once I find them about the second and third episodes):

Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Premiere Disappoints
Posted October 11, 2006
http://entertainmentnow.wordpress.com/2006/10/11/battlestar-galactica-season-3-premiere-disappoints/

The season 3 premiere of the Sci Fi Channel critical favorite and recent recipient of a Peabody Award, premiered last week with a 1.8 rating (1.0 A18-49). That’s a shade under 2.2M viewers (2.16M).

That pales in comparison to the show’s second season premiere back in July of 2005 (3.05M viewers), but is on par with where the series left off back in September of last year (about 2.1M viewers).

Though 2.2M is not terrible for a Sci Fi channel show, when you factor in all of the great press and media exposure the series has recieved as of late by fans and critical press alike, a stronger showing was expected.

Battlestar Galactica (2004) premiered as a mini-series in December of 2003. The show, whose roots date back to the 70’s cult favorite Sci-Fi show, was re-imagined by Ronald D. Moore of Star Trek fame (”The Next Generation”, “Deep Space Nine” and a brief stint on “Voyager”).

Bowing to strong ratings (3.90M viewers for the first part of the mini-series and 4.46M for the second part), Sci Fi and Sky One (from the UK) immediately commissioned work to begin crafting the show into a tv series. It premiered its first season in the Fall of 2004 on UK television, before making its way over to the United States by way of Sci Fi in the Summer of 2005.

The mini-series averaged a 3.2 rating (4.2M viewers), the first season a 2.4 rating (2.9M viewers) and the second season a 2.0 rating (2.4M viewers).

In related news to the show, rumors had begun circulating that NBC was interested in picking up the show and airing it on their network. NBC told Sci Fi wire that “There is no truth to this rumor” (Galactica Rumors Squashed [Sci Fi Wire])

New episodes air every Friday at 9:00 PM on Sci Fi.

Now, keeping an audience 3 years in for such a complex and involved show is no easy feat -- on Friday nights remember. This far in, I'm not sure who could have tuned into the opener without seeing any of the previosu eps and found it instantly accessible... I wouldn't be surprised in the last couple of episodes maintained the numbers from the premiere, and I certainly don't think "they're down and going down further" -- from the first season, sure, but that was a couiple of years back at this point... also remeber, most traditional TV viewing is down, who knows how many people are watching BSG via iTunes/Pod?

/joe

[3D Master]

I don't have the nuimbers in front of me, but I believe they have the same audience they did last year, if anything was down, it may have been the premiere, slightly.

The premiere 1.8, the one after that 1.6, down another 11%. It's now got less than half the audience of the first episode(s).


As for the mag, again, you're speculating without knowing the reason or having contact with those that make these decisions, trust me when I say your speculations are not correct.

I do not need to speculate, it's simply common sense. A magazine that makes bucket loads of money, will not get cancelled, period.


When I said concensus, I meant a concensus of the direction of the continuation would require for x amount of classic fans to agree and I'm not sure that would ever be possible... imagine if we did a continuation and it wasn't "the one" that a segment of the hardcore fan base wanted? That's why it seems to be a no-win situation for any publisher...

Also, You have to take into account that we're not just making a comic fro Classic Battlestar fans, we're making a comic for the entire potential audience that enjoys comics, and that means some level of acessability and give anbd take with the hardcore fan-base.

:sighs: You do not need a concensus, you need a good writer that can write good stories. As long as you do not go the exact opposite of what Battlestar Galactica was (read new BSG), than you got it right. Do you think writers of tv series and other comics give polls every other month to check what fans want?

Further, whether you're making it for hardcore fans or not, doesn't matter. We're not even talking hardcore fans, we're just talking fans, and potential readers who are not fans. The ones who are casual fans, and the ones who are not fans at all, won't care whether it's a continuation or not either way. Thus, by doing comic books that are not continuations; you'll lose the hardcore fans, and get no readers that you wouldn't get if you had a continuation.

[JRybandt]

:sighs: You do not need a concensus, you need a good writer that can write good stories. As long as you do not go the exact opposite of what Battlestar Galactica was (read new BSG), than you got it right. Do you think writers of tv series and other comics give polls every other month to check what fans want?

I think we're talking past each other, but to some, the new show is not in the exact opposite direction, and you're missing my point about concensus, because when you say this...


Further, whether you're making it for hardcore fans or not, doesn't matter. We're not even talking hardcore fans, we're just talking fans, and potential readers who are not fans. The ones who are casual fans, and the ones who are not fans at all, won't care whether it's a continuation or not either way. Thus, by doing comic books that are not continuations; you'll lose the hardcore fans, and get no readers that you wouldn't get if you had a continuation.

I still think this: That creating a continuatiuon of the series would only appeal to hardcore fans, and finding the right writer/continuation would leave anyone open to al sorts of "you did not do it right, it should have been done this way" whereas what we're doing appeals to everyone if doen right.

I'll be curious to hear what you think about issue #1 (which is out next week)...

/joe

and this week's New BSG? Holee Crap was that a good episode, no matter how many people were watching!

Edited to add: I don't think I've actually said this anywhere, but I am a fan of the original and the new series. The original holds a special place due to age and nostalgia and the new is a brilliant reimagining of the concepts that endured from the original (and from its inspirations).

[3D Master]

I think we're talking past each other, but to some, the new show is not in the exact opposite direction, and you're missing my point about concensus, because when you say this...

I still think this: That creating a continuatiuon of the series would only appeal to hardcore fans, and finding the right writer/continuation would leave anyone open to al sorts of "you did not do it right, it should have been done this way" whereas what we're doing appeals to everyone if doen right.

The only ones who are going to care about not continuing something right, are hardcore fans beyond hardcore fans. The only way you could not continue it right, is if you directly contradict something from the show, and writing stories during that first season, there's a far higher chance of you doing that, than when you continue things.

Further, casual fans aren't going to care. That's why they're casual. People who are not fans, who've never seen it, must certainly aren't going to care.

And it does not appeal to everyone, it doesn't appeal to me, and I frequent a BSG board filled with TOS fans, and from them the same sounds come; what? What's the point? Why in series? Multiple things about just 10 dissected pages have already gotten reactions that it plainly contradicts the way a character would act, all of them would prefer a continuation, and there are already those who have called it outright disrespectful to the series; no matter how good it is, putting those in between the episodes is simply disrespectful, according to some.

You'll turn more fans off than on.


I'll be curious to hear what you think about issue #1 (which is out next week)...

If I bother getting it. I was going to get it, with the assumption that eventually, and hopefully soon, there'd be comics beyond that first season. But from the way you're talking, there'll never be an comic that continues the show, even if the comic lasts 40 years. Which means to me; what's the point? Those stories can never really be interesting, and going to be boring. I know the characters in an out, I know those who live and die. Which means I know that all the characters that cannot possibly be killed off, and whenever a new character is introduced, I can see the big words "RED SHIRT" printed all over him/her, and can probably predict in how many pages he/she'll bite the bucket. After all, you can't even add a new significant long running recurring, or even regular character, because than the question comes; why don't we see him/her on the bridge during the episodes. It'll be boring quick shoot-em-ups with not a single growth and change ever being made to the characters, because if you do, you'd contradict the show. You can't have them go through a life changing event after all, if it never shows up in any episodes that occur chronologically after the events in the comic.

[epaddon]

No continuation stories after "The Hand of God" = NO SALE from me.

And in the process, you might as well kiss off 100 percent of the very people that in blunt candor, you *need* if you actually want this title to have the slightest chance of succeeding.

"Battlestar Galactica" is not a television show like original "Star Trek" which was formula driven, and which you can write an infinite number of new stories set within that original five year mission. It was a show with an ongoing storyline filled with character development, that in 1979 left us with some open questions we wanted to learn more about. Would Apollo and Sheba become romantically involved? Would Starbuck and Cassiopeia commit to each other? Would we see Starbuck learn that Chameleon was his father? Would Baltar be rescued by the Cylons after being set free by Adama? How would Baltar's release generate repercussions for Adama from the Council of Twelve? Would we see Commander Cain and the Pegasus return? Would we see Count Iblis plot his revenge? Would there be more clues to Earth's location?

Of course there are many of us out there with our own ideas of what might have happened next. I've written more than two dozen fanfics exploring that idea myself, but at the same time I've been more happy to read the alternate accounts of other fanfic authors and been equally entertained by them. I enjoyed the early issues of Max Press's comics series as well as those done by Realm Press, because at least I was seeing some forward momentum. Maybe they weren't the way I would do it if I had the ability to put forth a continuation, but I could enjoy ANYTHING so long as it was done in a spirit true to the series, with regard for continuity and a thorough understanding of what actually happened in the episodes (I disliked Richard Hatch's novels because he didn't pay any attention to what happened in the episodes and gave us a continuation story that was wildly implausible because he didn't do his homework). For you to suggest that a continuation is impossible because we have so many personal visions of what we would have liked to see happen I think, in all candor, is a dangerous misreading of what we original series fans are like. We are NOT fans whose love of Galactica has endured because we loved the Viper designs and the cool battle scenes (this I fear is what Ron Moore and company never understood, but that's another story), but because we came to care about the characters and storyline as it was developed and wanted some forward momentum in it that we haven't been able to see in the live action medium since 1979. We're more than ready to see a new vision in the comics format.

What we are not ready for, and which is frankly not acceptble, is a concept that stagnates the series with an endless stream of dead-end stories set within the first season where we know, as 3D Master has pointed out ably, there can be no character development or growth, or any resolving of some interesting questions raised by the episodes, and where sadly everything in the end is going to contradict those episodes altogether. You can not simply say, "Hey, I'm going to do eighteen stories set before Serina gets killed in "Lost Planet Of The Gods" because what you do then has to take into account of what happens in ALL the episodes and how you can perform this balancing act of letting the characters stay true to how they ultimately acted in the original series episodes that take place later on. That frankly, requires a balancing act that entails far more risks than going ahead with a singular vision that builds off of "The Hand Of God" with what happens next.

I urge you, as a fan of the original series, who after all the indignities we've been forced to suffer these last few years, would so desperately like to see an official Galactica product I can embrace, to reconsider this decision and gear this comic book toward the goal of continuing the series. You will attract far more readers and far more sales with this approach because above all, the core base of TOS fandom will embrace it and do their part to spread the word about it. Without that core base, this comic can not in all candor, succeed because it will generate only bad will and bad word of mouth in the end.

[martok2112]

Hello.

Speaking as a fan of both versions of Battlestar Galactica, I would like to add that I think it would really be nice to (perhaps eventually) go the continuation route in the original series comics.

If I may, going on the notion that there might be some dissent among the fanbase as far as how such a continuation story would be received, perhaps I can put your minds at ease with this knowledge. Many fans of Classic Battlestar Galactica have written fanfictions...especially continuation fanfics. However, we are very supportive of each other, in our efforts. :) Eric Paddon has written a virtual second season of continuation fanfiction, and I've written a couple of epic continuation stories in which Galactica does find Earth....and there are many many more out there by other fans. But, with the exception of a really grievous character error, or perhaps a genuine lack of research, fans have accepted myriad continuation tales without complaint. Instead, they view each story as a unique take on how Galactica might have continued.

I truly believe that that is how the TOS continuation fans would receive a continuation story from your company...as a unique take. The exciting thing about writing a continuation story is the delight in the responses you might read about your work. "Oooh...wow...I had never considered that before. KUDOS!" :) All they want is a logical, well-written continuation tale that entertains them. It doesn't necessarilly have to be one fan's, or one group of fans' "vision" of a continuation. Just something really good in an official publication...the only thing they ask is that it stays true to the feel of Classic Galactica.

We all know that fans of a given property are as diverse in vision as our global population. But, the fans of this show are united in their desire to simply see a good continuation story. I think there is potential here. I've seen the artwork, and the snippets of story online, and I think you could really have something special...in both your current story, and in a possible continuation.
:)
Respectfully, and wishing you much success on BOTH Galactica projects,
Steve Dunlap (aka Martok2112)

[Agent Scooter X]

Hi,


First and foremost I just want to say congratulations and thank you for being the current publishers to create new stories set in the classic Battlestar Galactica universe. I have been a longtime fan of the original Battlestar Galactica and I am so looking forward to purchasing and reading the 1st issue and beyond.

However to be honest, I do share the same skeptisms and concerns about the direction of this storyline as epadden does This concern is also shared by many of my fellow Battlestar Galactica fans both in real life and the online communities.

1) Why is the story being set and interwoven during the events of the episodes of the first (and unfortunately only season)?

Sure it's opportunity to fill in some plot holes and other elements but virtually all fans of Battlestar Galactica would like to see new stories set after the events of the final episode "The Hand of God".

Fans like myself wants to see what became of the characters after the cancellation of the original series and how their lives has turned out and where they’re heading.

Sure the space battles and the fire fights with the Cylon centurions are cool and nifty but it was the characters and their relationship with others and the drama that is every bit as important as is the epic battle sequences.

What ever happened to Baltar? Did Adama keep his part of the deal and released him from the prison barge?

Did Apollo and Sheba ever get sealed?

How and when does Adama die?

Will Starbuck ever find out that Chameleon is his real father?

I would especially like see the return of Commander Cain and the Pegasus as well as the return of Count Iblis.

I can’t understand why any writer and/or artist would not want to explore these storylines.

Is it because Dynamite is being restricted by the editors and/or Universal from writing stories that take place after the events of the first series ?

2) If Dynamite ever do write stories based upon the first season, do you plan on ignoring the Galactica:1980 series?
Many fans would rather forget that series ever existed.

3) Have the writers ever re familiarize themselves with the series by watching the DVD set of Battlestar Galactica::The Complete Epic Series ?

4) Are the staff aware of Director Brian Singer and Producer/Screenwriter Tom DeSanto's (X-Men/X2/Superman Returns) Battlestar Galactica production ?

Their production was a continuation of the original series set 25 years later. It was mere weeks from filming until the attacks on 9/11 and after the delay the Sci-Fi Channel took over the production and did a remake/re-imagination..

An Adaption of Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto’s pilot movie and/or continuing storyline would be sweet.



Much information of Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto's storyline and set designs and preproduction art can be found at:

Cylon.org

http://www.cylon.org/bsg/desanto-revival01.html

http://www.cylon.org/bsg/DeSanto-int01.html


5) The original Battlestar Galactica series is often bashed by the producers of the re-imagined series as well as the fans of the re-imagined series for being too fluffy and happy go lucky and being too sugar coated. That criticism does have some merit but in reality the original Battlestar Galactica could not live up to it’s full dark potential because the network censorship of that era in the late 70s television..

Will the Classic Battlestar Galactica comic series have a dark compelling premise that network censors never allowed during the network prime time of the late 70s ?

I hope so. :)



Anyway I hope the staff at Dynamite Entertainment didn't mind my feedback and suggestions. I look forward to supporting and purchasing the Classic Battlestar Galactica comic book series and hoping for it to be a success.

However please reconsider future plans on writing and publishing continuation stories (rather than the constant side stories). Side stories may most likely result in many fans like myself to lose interest and stop buying.

I really don’t want that to happen. :(

The Classic Battlestar Galactica fans deserve a well written, published and successful comic book run..

Thank You,

Mark

[dilbertman]

Hey Mark

Long time no see, nice of you to stop over here. I to I'm looking forward to this comic. Lets hope they do a good job. If not, give it to someone that does care for the old show.

Jim

[Agent Scooter X]

I don't have the nuimbers in front of me, but I believe they have the same audience they did last year, if anything was down, it may have been the premiere, slightly.
/joe

Hi Joe here's a copy of the ratings numbers:


Episode title Airdate Rating

Galactica miniseries pt.1 December 8, 2003 3.2

Galactica miniseries pt.2 December 9, 2003 3.8

33/Water January 14, 2005 2.6
Bastille Day January 21, 2005 2.3
Act of Contrition January 28, 2005 2.5
You Can't Go Home Again February 4, 2005 2.5
Litmus February 11, 2005 2.5
Six Degrees of Separation February 18, 2005 2.2
Flesh and Bone February 25, 2005 2.5
Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down March 4, 2005 2.1
The Hand of God March 11, 2005 2.2
Colonial Day March 18, 2005 2.3
Kobol's Last Gleaming pt.1 March 25, 2005 2.2
Kobol's Last Gleaming pt.2 April 1, 2005 2.5

SEASON 2 RATINGS

Episode title Airdate Rating

Scattered July 15, 2005 2.6
Valley of Darkness July 22, 2005 2.0
Fragged July 29, 2005 2.0
Resistance August 5, 2005 1.9
The Farm August 12, 2005 2.0
Home pt.1 August 19, 2005 2.1
Home pt.2 August 26, 2005 2.1
The Final Cut September 9, 2005 2.0
Flight of the Phoenix September 16, 2005 1.9
Pegasus September 23, 2005 2.0
Resurrection Ship pt.1 January 6, 2006 2.1
Resurrection Ship pt.2 January 13, 2006 2.0
Epiphanies January 20, 2006 1.9
Black Market January 27, 2006 1.8
Scar February 3, 2006 1.9
Sacrifice February 10, 2006 1.8
The Captain's Hand February 17, 2006 1.7
Downloaded February 24, 2006 1.8
Lay Down Your Burdens pt.1 March 3, 2006 1.8
Lay Down Your Burdens pt.2 March 10, 2006 1.9

Season 3

Ocupation (2 episodes) October 6,2006 1.8
Exodious Part 1 October 13, 2006 1.6
Exodious Part2 October 20, 2006 1.4



Also here's a ratings graph. Please excuse the GINO label on the graph. It's the only graph that I could find on short notice.

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2302/ginoc1ec7.jpg

[Agent Scooter X]

Hey Mark

Long time no see, nice of you to stop over here. I to I'm looking forward to this comic.


Jim

Hey Jim, it's good to see you too.

Longtime no see. How ya been ?



Lets hope they do a good job.

I'm hoping also. I will be giving it a chance. I’ll admit to being less than enthusiastic because of the side story rather than a continuation.

However, if I have the time, I will try to pick up the first issue sometime tomarrow.



If not, give it to someone that does care for the old show.

If I'm not mistaken, Bryan Singer (as a guest writer) wrote a few issues of X-Men last year for Marvel Comics.

Wouldn't it be great if Tom DeSanto did the same for Dynamite and adapt his BSG script for a 4 -issue mini-series. :D

Tell me that wouldn't sell.

[epaddon]

It'd be nice to hear some kind of answer from the powers that be to the concerns we've tried to raise regarding this point. Since I am acquainted with everyone of these people from other forums, I know I can speak for all of us in saying that are intent is not to provoke any kind of ill-feeling or flame-war with those responsible for this upcoming comic book. But what we do represent is a great deal of concern that the bigger picture of what is important to the Battlestar Galactica fanbase is being missed completely by this seemingly singular determination to avoid continuing the saga altogether.

[JRybandt]

It'd be nice to hear some kind of answer from the powers that be to the concerns we've tried to raise regarding this point. Since I am acquainted with everyone of these people from other forums, I know I can speak for all of us in saying that are intent is not to provoke any kind of ill-feeling or flame-war with those responsible for this upcoming comic book. But what we do represent is a great deal of concern that the bigger picture of what is important to the Battlestar Galactica fanbase is being missed completely by this seemingly singular determination to avoid continuing the saga altogether.

Don't have any answers other than what was discussed upthread, not that we're not listening to these points being made though...

/joe

[martok2112]

Hi, Joe. I am glad to hear that you are listening to these points. :) I sincerely hope they prove that there is an audience that does want a continuation.

Respectfully,
Steve

[3D Master]

"Fracking" does not exist in Classic Battlestar Galactica, there's only "frack" and "felgercarb".

"Cigars" does not exist in Classic Galactica, they're called "fumerellos".

Starbuck would never call Commander Adama, "Adama" in an official capacity. It's "Commander", or "sir". I don't think he's even ever called him "Adama" in a social setting. Starbuck is not a guy who attacks his superiors like that. He's respectful. If he has a problem with things, he addresses it without becoming abrasive.

[epaddon]

The first two points don't bother me that much since admittedly some of us fanfic writers have fallen prey to the use of the term "Fracking" independent of that other show, and I have sometimes wondered if one can use the term "fumarello cigar" in reference to the idea that a "fumarello" is a particular brand name or type of cigar.

But the third point is the most serious one and is quite correct. Starbuck *never* challenges the brass like that, and always has enough sense to use the term "Commander" when he's in front of Adama.

[dilbertman]

Hey Jim, it's good to see you too.

Longtime no see. How ya been ?

I'm hoping also. I will be giving it a chance. I’ll admit to being less than enthusiastic because of the side story rather than a continuation.

However, if I have the time, I will try to pick up the first issue sometime tomarrow.

If I'm not mistaken, Bryan Singer (as a guest writer) wrote a few issues of X-Men last year for Marvel Comics.

Wouldn't it be great if Tom DeSanto did the same for Dynamite and adapt his BSG script for a 4 -issue mini-series. :D

Tell me that wouldn't sell.
Mark

Been good, saw Tom DeSanto out at Comic Con this summer.

As Tom has said in the past, 'As soon as I have that sort of power, the fans should know that I will use that power to get the old girl out of drydock and tell this story.'

Jim

[dilbertman]

Classic Galactica #1 Review

Overall pretty good.

Art & Color - You need to keep this team for this book.

Writer - Again very good, but have a few things in need to say here.

Starbuck would not address Adama as Adama it would be Commander.

Days,weeks,hours,cigars,fracking where never used in TOS. Frack was, but not fracking.

Starbuck is talking to himself way the much.

Please us this as away to improve this book and not an attack. Looking forward to the next book and together we can hopefully make this a great book.

Jim ;)

[JRybandt]

Classic Galactica #1 Review

Overall petty good.

Art & Color - You need to keep this team for this book.

Writer - Again very good, but have a few things in need to say here.

Starbuck would not address Adama as Adama it would be Commander.

Days,weeks,hours,cigars,fracking where never used in TOS. Frack was, but not fracking.

Starbuck is talking to himself way the much.

Please us this as away to improve this book and not an attack. Looking forward to the next book and together we can hopefully make this a great book.

Jim ;)


Did an "hour" slip in there? That's on me, not Rick, I thought II'd gotten all the measurements in there, what is Galactica for day and week?

As for fracking, well, if frack exists, than "fracking" isn't too out of bounds ;)

/joe

[dilbertman]

'Hours'

Is on the top of the page where Starbuck wake's up. Frack was used like damn/shit, so fracking is like saying damning/shiting.


Dogs, in the human society of Battlestar Galactica, are known as "daggits". Boxey's robot daggit, Muffitt II, is a mechanical replacement for the one he lost during the destruction of Caprica


Felgercarb - from Battlestar Galactica (also seen spelled feldergarb, feldercarb, or felgergarb) usage context appears to be similar to "bullshit" or "bullcrap"/ also a term for garbage and/or mechanical sludge in more polite usage. Once it was used as an interjection (as in "damn"). Although not seen in the series, according to series creator Glen Larson, a 'felger' was a bovine-like animal with six legs and multifaceted eyes that was written into several of the early Battlestar Galactica scripts, but is actually seen in Futurama.


Time units and their closest Earth equivalents
micron(s) - second
centon (sen'-tawn) - minute
centar, centares (sen'-tar, sen-tar'-ays) - hour
secton(s) (sek'-tawn) - week
sectar, sectares (sek'-tar, sek-tar'-ays) - month
yahren (yah'-rain) - year
millenium - 1000 years


Other units
metron - unit of distance
maxim - 10 meters
hectar - 100 meters
metric - 1 kilometer

kilon - unit of power (1 kilowatt)
megon - unit of mass (1 megaton)
laxon - unit of dry measurement (1 bushel)
voltons - voltage unit (1 volt)
wavelon - unit of wavelength
radion - unit of radiation
ergon - unit of energy


Currency
There are several recognized units of currency, including Colonial cubits, Orion Cheques, quantums and markers.

You can also check here.

http://www.kobol.com/archives/BG-FAQ.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica_units

Jim

[spcglider]

I still think this: That creating a continuatiuon of the series would only appeal to hardcore fans, and finding the right writer/continuation would leave anyone open to al sorts of "you did not do it right, it should have been done this way" whereas what we're doing appeals to everyone if doen right.

I'm going to step in here and speak a 2 cent piece.

I can't agree with your statement above. Every new writer on every comic series faces exactly this problem. When some new writer takes over X-men or Spiderman, they run the risk of "ruining" the property... taking the continuing adventures of that magazine in a direction that hardcore fans won't like or appreciate. Its not a new phenom here.

I'll admit, it takes a certain kind of talent to pick up a 30 year old storyline and, with as few hiccups as possible, carry it on as though it never stopped, but it is possible. It just takes a little application and familiarity with the property.

Every writer who steps into a continuing series is risking a fan saying "you didn't do that right it should have been THIS." And if that's what scared off Dynamite from doing a continuation, then they're thinking too much about what the fans think instead of thinking about creating a quality comic series. The best work in comics is that which doesn't come second-guessed.



Edited to add: I don't think I've actually said this anywhere, but I am a fan of the original and the new series. The original holds a special place due to age and nostalgia and the new is a brilliant reimagining of the concepts that endured from the original (and from its inspirations).

I'm no fan of the new show, but I am fully willing to admit the flaws of the old. There's nothing wrong with the new show technically. It is very well made. All around an excellent modern television offering. Its just not what I want to watch. Its not my gig. And it certainly isn't what I call Battlestar Galactica.

My bottom line came when I sat watching the new show... TRYING to get into it. Every time they did an homage to the old show or provided a little musical sting from the old show or made reference to an old episode, all I could do was sit there and wish I was watching the OLD SHOW.

I wish the new show all the best. I hope it continues on for many seasons. And I hop ethey take it in their own direction and completely make a new and different thing out of it. That way the differentiation will be complete and comfortable.

-Gordon

[spcglider]

As for issue one, I was happy to see it.

Despite what I've posted above, the folderol about whether it's after HOG or during the first season makes very little difference to me. As long as there are no concious deviations from what we know as "reality" from the show.

I was quite pleased to know that somebody out there realized that a market exists for classic Galactica fiction. And something other than Richard Hatch's egotistical ramblings. He's a nice guy, Richard, but those books... ugh. I know his character's name was Apollo, but suddenly manifesting god-like powers? Too much. Exactly what I mean when I say "deviations".

I've been in touch with both Rick and Carlos offering any help they should need as far as references and info on the series. I've gotten some pretty good questions from them too. And I've tried my best to provide them with as accurate information as possible. Photos, mini essays on colonial money, rank, etc. Its been my pleasure and quite a bit of fun.

BTW: Someone listed a bunch of Colonial units earlier. That's the list that finally was assembled after all the episodes were in and the show was cancelled. Strangely enough, the word "centon" originally meant "a day" in the pilot telemovie. Whether the complete series bible hadn't been established at that time or whatever, it eventually got whittled down to "minute" over the course of the show. If you listen to the conversation with Sire Uri about the approach through the Nova of Madagon and the message that Adama gets while they are in orbit of Carrillon, the context is clearly "day". But the writers fell in love with the word and used it again and again eventually settling it to mean "minute". Just a bit of trivia.

Anyhow, Issue 1 is not a bad thing nor a poor offering. it shows terriffic promise. I eagerly await issue #2.

-Gordon

[dilbertman]

Gordon

Nice to see you here. Now STOP following me.

Jim :p

[spcglider]

Dilbertman, I'd stop following you if you'd stop posting stuff like:

"Hey! There's a realy cool Galactica related thread over at...." :p

Now, if you posted something like:

"There's a whole new KARAOKE thread opened up over at..."

I'd stay away as though bad singing would kill me. And it might.

Just got this URL over at Fleets:

http://www.geocities.com/sjpaxton/concord.html

It's Sue Paxton's concordance site. For the good folks at Dynamite who are giving us lovely classic Galactica, it will serve well. Its excellent reference for all that stuff we've been talking about.

If I'd remembered it's existence before now, I'd have passed it on to Rick earlier!!

-G

[Star/BuckRogers]

How many issues were printed?

Battlestar Galactica(Remake): 7.

Stargate: 13.

Star Wars: 66.

Star Trek: 129.

Links:-

BSG: http://www.titanmagazines.co.uk/titanmag/app;jsessionid=B174224ACD0C03DF4D7997E14329E657?se rvice=external/Product&sp=S206

Stargate: http://www.titanmagazines.co.uk/titanmag/app;jsessionid=B174224ACD0C03DF4D7997E14329E657?se rvice=external/Product&sp=S86

Star Wars: http://www.titanmagazines.co.uk/titanmag/app?service=external/Product&sp=S88

Star Trek: http://www.titanmagazines.co.uk/titanmag/app?service=external/Product&sp=S87