Mr March

Nice job. I've encountered the "poorly printed source image" problem many a time while building presentable line art for my site. While sometimes filters and adjustments can mitigate the problems of poor print quality, often times the only way to get around the issue is to fix it by hand. As powerful as Photoshop is, sometimes one just has to do things the hard way. Well done on your graphics. The hard work shows.

I like this post and believe some of your thoughts inform one of the big lessons many of us learned years ago, which is to think of Macross in terms of itself and forget about Robotech. Perhaps that realization naturally comes with age and maturity, but partially it stems from simply re-evaluating the reason why we're all online sharing Macross fan talk among each other in the first place (well, most of us anyway). I will say that as focused as I was on Macross fandom, the creation of a fansite was an eye-opening experience in context of broader fan reaction. While there have been some few bad reactions to the site (even from Macross fans), I was not prepared for the greater positive praise for the site beyond Macross World. Several online communities, even Robotech related, have enthusiastically embraced the site. I've even indirectly encountered numerous fans online promoting and defending the site, which is something I never expected anyone would do. Fans from all kinds of properties (Macross, Robotech, Battletech, Gundam, Evangelion, Patlabor, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc) and from all around the world (UK, Japan, Russia, Brazil, etc) have e-mailed me about the site, offering thanks, asking questions or just to say hello. Call me a bit jaded, but given how poorly many of us have acted online in the past and the way it continues with each new generation, I was never expecting much from anyone. It was delightful in this particular circumstance to be proven wrong If there is one thing I want to endorse in your post and draw from my own experience with a fansite it is that more fans should engage others online in support of whatever property they admire rather than combating the other fandoms. I know there is much to be upset about in regards to HG/Robotech and I'd be lying if I didn't admit those demons never completely go to rest. However, Macross is so much better served in the eyes of both fans and non-fans if the franchise is simply celebrated rather than defended from HG/Robotech or forcibly preached unto the unconverted. Trust me, I've received more support from far more fans through building a fansite than I ever would have winning a thousand internet wars. You've raised a VERY important point in your post Jasonc and I want to do all I can to help promote it.

"Inception" is that rare kind of film in which posting hyperbole-stuffed enthusiastic praise carries with it no guilt. Single-handedly saved summer movies...the one film that doesn't need 3D to sell the audience a heightened experience...a master filmmaker at the top of his game...a triumph that transcends the cliche of that label. I'd call "Inception" a religious experience if it weren't so damned good "Inception" has a compelling story that demands your attention. A powerful cast so well utilized that not a single actor or line is wasted. An amazing score that one will not soon forget. Sublime camera work that never calls attention to itself and only draws you further in. Fantastic special effects that mesh with the film rather noticing where the money was spent. Masterful use of unique set design/locations to visually guide a complex narrative. Action packed, funny, dramatic and totally fulfilling. This is the first post-Matrix film to finally realize the FULL visual potential of that promise. I wanted to watch "Inception" a second time before it was over. Even if you don't like the film, "Inception" is the best of the money you'll spend poorly 5 out of 5.

Yeah, the English is not bad at all. In some ways, it reads eerily like something I would have written for the VF-19 profile on the M3. Same sort of method, using what we see in the anime to build something readable for the profile. But I suppose now that we have the Chronicle, Macross trivia has become much more plentiful

Think of the carbon footprint!

Maybe it's just a bad vibe along side that bad photo, but I'm not sure I understand Marvel's plan behind the build up to The Avengers. As I understood it, each of the individual Avenger films (Hulk 2008, Iron Man/Iron Man 2, Captain America, Thor, etc) were supposed to act as primers for the audience. A way to introduce these second-tier super heroes and familiarize the film-going public with names, faces and powers before eventually unveiling "The Avengers". But with Terrence Howard having been replaced for Iron Man 2 and now word coming down that Edward Norton will not be the Hulk in The Avengers, what is the point of all this continuity when the actors will just be recast anyway? It makes one wonder, if Thor bombs at the box office, does Marvel have someone else in mind to recast for Thor's appearance in The Avengers? Perhaps Marvel is not counting on the continuity as much as they originally let on, but given all that exposition in Iron Man 2, that's kinda hard to believe.

Looking very sexy. Well done.

I just wanted to explain my work, so no need to worry. Your drawing is good. I like it. Well done.

In the upcoming profile, I'll include the magazine scan of the new head unit as an additional picture to view, but I'm not much good at drawing a new head on the original Kawamori artwork. Besides, it's really the "color scheme" itself that is the most important part of the custom. Since I edited out the concept art gun pod and put in the canon gun pod and DYRL-style hands, I figured I've done more than the official artists. Enough to ensure the picture is a close approximation and will be unique fan art

The Harry Potter films are an example of a veto backdoor contract, just one that wasn't exercised? Because that's what was being discussed in those posts. As for individual properties, I assume nothing. As RD Clip mentioned below, realities play a part. The vast majority of all property owners never have any control in a film adaptation, even the big ones. J.K. Rowling happens to have as much money and influence as the most powerful people on the planet, which mitigated the circumstances of her property sale to WB (which has been explained many a time as an exception to typical studio property purchases and Rowling herself admitted no control over aspects of the film such as director). There was also the "little" matter of her future books and tentpole considerations for purchasing a property-in-progress. Getting back to the point, HG would have no such control. If not even the HLP can dictate to Paramount who will head a new "Dune" adaptation, a property owner like HG isn't going to pull a coup.

Okay, here is the updated version. I added DYRL-style hands and revised the number "101" on the chest with a more accurate font (see source picture in my post above). Enjoy! nexxstrait Thanks. Hope you like this updated version too.

Glad to see everyone enjoying it The source reference material actually just reused an old piece of VF-1J line art from Macross Perfect Memory (which featured the old concept art Gun Pod and the round, TV-style hands). See the attached picture below. I scanned a new version and modified the canon Gun Pod into place. But Talos has told me the actual manga uses the DYRL-style hands, so I'll have to modify that as well.

My website has some material if it can help... VF-27 Lucifer (on the Macross Mecha Manual) Dalong.net also has some model kit pictures, including the manuals with many drawings. Should be useful in many ways Dalong.net VF-27 Model Kit Hope that is of some use.

If there ever was such a contractual caveat, I know of no contemporary example from Hollywood in which such an option was exercised by the original property owner. Not saying it's never existed, but it would be a rare and unusual exception if it did (or perhaps common, yet not feasible in any practical circumstance). More wishful thinking than anything. Rule of thumb, the film will have zero input/control from HG. It'll be WB's baby.

With help from Talos, I built a colored version of the VF-1J Battroid from Macross The First. I made a new scan of the full detail VF-1J (with some Photoshop adjustments to install the canon Gun Pod instead of the concept art Gun Pod). Still got a little bit of fine tuning to do, but it was fun to revisit the VF-1 after many years away from it. Hope you all like it.

I can't comment on merchandising or any other part of what the WB/HG agreement might be. What I do know for certain is WB Studios will do what they want with their owned property (even fail to produce any film at all), until such time as their agreement with HG expires and the rights revert back to the original property owner. How much HG is compensated for the rights is unknown and would depend upon many factors (fair market value, demand, box office performance of contemporary 80's film adaptations, etc). As for HG's publicity, again in regards to the film adaptation, HG will have zero legal/functional control or input into the film. Why would HG say they do if they don't? Ignoring this is HG and their reputation for the moment, because it's smart marketing and public relations. It creates buzz, it assuages fan fears, it makes people say; "Oh, but I was told HG is involved, so this film is SURE to be faithful with their involvement". Also remember the nature of Hollywood with its glitz, glamor and notoriety. Small-minded people (like those at HG) will embrace their thread-thin association with Hollywood and talk themselves up so others will believe that HG are part of a big cultural event that is a major Hollywood summer tentpole film. Hack "author" Kevin J. Anderson talked up his "involvement" in the new "Dune" adaptation at Paramount. Turns out the guy has jack to do with it and hasn't a clue what's actually going on, but that never stops these people and their egos. That's just the most recent example. Read about any rights owner that has sold their property rights for a film adaptation and it's the same. Even the films that work often have issues between owner and studio (ex: Tolkien estate vs. New Line Pictures).

I can guarantee you that whichever one of the major Hollywood studios are involved in a live action Robotech movie, Harmony Gold will have ZERO input. Far more powerful, richer and more respected property owners have sold rights to Hollywood and they've never had a say in the film adaptations. When Hollywood makes an adaptation, property owners are paid upfront and the studio alone retains rights ownership for a specified number of years to make the film adaptation. In those years of studio property ownership, no one else but the studio has input into how the film is made unless the studio wishes it. The studio decides the directors, the producers, the writers, etc. The only time the original property owner gets involved is if someone goes far out of their way to offer them that courtesy (read; Robert Rodriguez/Frank Miller re: Sin City). If HG or their reps try to sell anyone on "co-producer" BS or some other "we're involved" crap at a convention, blog post or interview, that's all it will be: BS and crap. Hollywood studios are at the top of the food chain. When property rights are sold to the studios that's where the original owner input ends and they don't deal any other way.

Slashfilm has a great article about the film written by a fan who has just given up on Shyamalan. The Last Airbender The Last Straw for this Shyamalan Fan It's a good read and hits many points worth considering.

It doesn't get much geekier than building a fan site

Quite possibly the most entertaining toy reviews I've ever seen. Hilarious and informative. Give this man a contract!

For some reason there is a ridiculous amount of white space to the left, right and bottom of each picture, requiring a lot of horizontal scrolling to find the actual images. Not sure if it's a problem with your pictures, or my browser, or the forums. At any rate, the custom looks good. Needs a bit more detail but the actual accessories are very well done. Fine work.

Using the 1920 x 1200 high-definition standard resolution.

Very interesting website. I think I'd best send notice to the fella that a VF-1 Valkyrie or YF-19/YF-21 would be a wonderful and very fitting addition to this Photoshop project

I haven't got my last issues yet, but from what I've got so far (up to issue 45) it's not been covered. Overall, the coverage of minor color variants in the Macross Chronicle has been somewhat schizophrenic. They've covered some variants that I expected but excluded others which featured equal or more prominence in the animation than those the Chronicle chose to include. Perhaps they chose to include minor color variants only where they had room to include them in the publication, which could explain why the coverage is a little inconsistent.

Do you have 1920 x 1200 or higher resolution versions of 2, 3 and 4? I'd love to get a hold of those.