FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS!
By FRANCO
It’s been a rough couple weeks for the nerd sphere, especially in the Star Trek realm. First Walter Koenig and then Patrick Stewart. Both were hard to take.
I feel like when things like this happen, we lose an old friend. Even though I had never met either of these gentlemen and I know they were not their characters. Patrick Stewart was not Captain Picard. He was not Professor X. But in our minds he was. He was a friend and someone we sided with. They were the good guys.
I looked this up once — psychologists call these parasocial relationships. I get it, but I think that people who are into comics, sci-fi, and fantasy tend to get more invested with the characters. Star Trek always seemed to be that special franchise that became a core solidifying group within itself. Stories I’ve heard/read all tend to suggest that the cast became a club. Once you did a Trek show or movie, you were welcomed into the family. I think that happens on the fan side of things.
It certainly happened to me. Comics and sci-fi are what fueled me in my younger years, providing entertainment and an escape. Later, I was able to make friends based on these same hobbies and interests. Heck, now that I’m older, I even do a podcast called Aw Yeah Trek Watch on the Word Balloon Network. Check out last week’s episode (above) with our tribute to Stewart, including some of our favorite episodes, encounters with the icon and even the Trek books and comics. It was a fun remembrance of the things we love so much about Star Trek, and what an acting powerhouse Sir Patrick Stewart was.
We’ll always have Captain Picard, even if we mourn the passing of Patrick Stewart.
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Want more FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS? Come back next week!
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— Dig These 13 COMIC-BOOK HALLOWEEN Mashups. Click here.
— No QUESTION About It — Art Opens the Door to Wonder. Click here.
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Franco and his forehead have traveled the world and he writes and draws stuff. Franco is the creator, artist and writer of Patrick the Wolf Boy and Aw Yeah Comics! Franco has worked on books/comics, including Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures. Franco was also a high-school teacher and is one of the principal owners of Aw Yeah Comics retail stores. Dan made Franco add that he has won three Eisners.
Check out his new Kickstarter, for Skelly & Ghost, a heartwarming tale of two friends on a quest to find something they’ve lost.
