Site of the Week -- June 28, 1999
omics readers might have felt a certain frisson while watching The Matrix,
as shell casings flew across the screen like snow in Buffalo, N.Y. That's
because the film's conceptual designs were created by Geof Darrow, the
renowned artist whose work includes the hyperviolent graphic novel Hard
Boiled. Now Darrow has drawn a comic called Zion Archives, scripted by the Wachowski
brothers, that has been posted on The Matrix's Web site. It's just one of
a series of standalone stories set in the world of The Matrix whose purpose
is to give new insights into the complex story and setting of the film. The
contributors read like a current Who's Who of comics, including Paul
Chadwick, Neil Gaiman, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Harlan Ellison. A word of
warning: like the film, these comics are not for children.
-- Brooks Peck
Site of the Week -- June 21, 1999
hen it comes to fans, few are more enthusiastic or exacting than the followers of the BBC's legendary SF series Dr. Who. So it almost goes without saying that the official Dr. Who Web site had better be good. Really good.
And, luckily for both fans and the BBC, it is.
The Official Dr. Who Web Site combines the design of a professional
site with the fannish elements of an amateur one. It forgoes a slick,
Flash-filled look for a simple, newsy design. There are the standard nuts-and-bolts elements visitors expect from an official site, but it also features episode guides, write-ups on the series' multiple Doctors and a much-used discussion forum.
One of the site's best elements is its 60-plus-episode television compendium. Going beyond simple episode reviews, the compendium includes "things to watch for" snippets and "myth-busters" sections that debunk some of the crazier stories surrounding various Who episodes. The front page includes links to current discussions in the forum and, for truly rabid fans, there are even printable collector cards featuring the series' myriad aliens.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- June 14, 1999
eru Lars may only have a few moments onscreen in Star Wars, but
that's enough to grant her an immortality of sorts on the Web. Aunt Beru's Place chronicles the life and death of Luke
Skywalker's kind and reassuring "aunt." The site captures all of Beru's
idiosyncrasies, from pride in her cabbage stew to her frustration at losing
an annual bake off to Huff Darklighter's wife.
The Carol Brady of the Star Wars universe introduces visitors to her
family, including her grumpy-but-lovable husband Owen and her whiny,
rambunctious nephew. She explains why Tatooine milk is blue (clue: Banthas
aren't just for riding) and drops hints about her love life with Mos Eisely
bartender Wuher.
But what has to be one of the best parts of the site is Beru's very own
action figure--a very limited release (complete with blue milk) from
Kenner. The only question remaining is, does she have a kung-fu grip?
-- Kenneth Newquist
