Axiom's Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy

By John J. Joex

One more show returned this week with new episodes, Human Target, and saw an improvement in its numbers from where it was before taking a two week break. The show pulled a 2.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 7.8 million viewers. Still not great numbers, but at least something to build on. Chuck dropped by a tick from the prior week going from a 2.4 rating to a 2.3, while Lost saw an improvement from its season low numbers last week as it increased to a 4.3 rating and 9.5 million viewers. Ghost Whisperer improved its performance from the prior week and Medium stayed about steady. This week, FlashFoward returns from its extended hiatus so check back with us in one week to see if that one manages to reverse the declining trend in the ratings that it saw last Fall.

Here is the full breakdown of the numbers for all of the Science Fiction and Fantasy shows that aired on the broadcast networks this past week:

Source: TV by the Numbers

Previous Results: Still Mostly Repeats

For more on the Cancellation Alert for each show, see our Cancellation Watch column

By John J. Joex

We know the fates now of more than half of the Science Fiction and Fantasy television shows airing.  Those in the renewed column are as follows:  Smallville, Supernatural, and Vampire Diaries at the CW, Fringe at FOX, and with Stargate: Universe and Sanctuary at Syfy.  I have not official heard word on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but trust me that it will be back.  And Lost ends this season (though beware of spin-offs).  In the cancelled column so far are Dollhouse (FOX), Eastwick (ABC), and Past Life (FOX).  That leaves nine shows still waiting to hear whether they will live on for another season.  I will touch on each of these briefly starting from those most likely to be renewed and moving to those in big trouble.

Chuck (NBC):  This series lives on the bubble and seems to thrive there.  Its numbers aren’t great (they never have been), but it has the advantage of airing on the fourth place network.  I’d say this one is almost certain to get a nod for a fourth season.  Cancellation Alert: Low

Human Target (FOX):  It hasn’t made a huge splash in the ratings, but it’s done okay.  It’s also a very Prime Time friendly show with lots of action and adventure and little in the way of story arcs.  I see FOX holding onto this one for a second season.  Cancellation Alert: Low

Caprica (Syfy):  This one has really underperformed in the ratings and some consider it to be in trouble.  But Syfy has said they will stand by it and I can’t see them just abandoning the franchise.  The series has also received a lot of good buzz from the critics.  I believe that’s enough to earn it a second season, but it will have to improve its numbers if it wants to stick around longer than that.  Cancellation Alert: Moderate

Ghost Whisperer and Medium (CBS):  The former has been a Friday night mainstay for the eye network that has consistently performed well on a typically low viewership night.  The latter has finally provided a decent lead-out show for GW that does not experience a drop in the ratings at the 9 PM hour (in fact it has improved on its lead-in several times).  Both typically win their timeslots each week, but Fridays in general have seen an erosion from the numbers CBS enjoyed last year.  On any other network, I would say these two would be safe, but CBS has shown a high level on intolerance toward declining numbers (witness how they axed last year’s Eleventh Hour even though it ended the season in the Top 25).  The network has also proven quite unfriendly to the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre (again, last year’s EH, along with Moonlight and Jericho).  I’d put the odds in the favor of both shows, but you just never know with CBS.  Cancellation Alert: Moderate

Legend of the Seeker (Syndication):  I thought this one was doing okay in its second season ratings-wise (the quality has dropped off a bit, though), but its syndicator Tribune Company has announced they will not pick it up for a third season.  That’s not a definite cancellation, though, as its production company will try to shop it to other syndicators and to the cable networks.  The fans have started a raucous campaign to support it as well (see our Save My Show page for more info).  It’s probably about 50/50 on whether this one will return.  Cancellation Alert: Medium

Heroes (NBC):  Who knows about this one and who really cares anymore?  Its numbers were atrocious this season, but NBC has still suggested it could return.  I say let it rest in peace.  Cancellation Alert: Medium

V (ABC):  From a sheer numbers perspective, you would expect this one to get a second season nod seeing as it averaged a 3.7 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic across its four episode “premiere run” last November.  But then if you look at where it started vs. where it ended (going from a 5.1 rating all the way down to a 3.1), you see its not on very solid ground.  If it can hold onto the numbers it ended with, I believe ABC might keep it around.  If it sees any sort of downward trend, count it gone.  Cancellation Alert: Medium

FlashFoward (ABC):  This is another ABC show that started strong in the ratings then quickly headed south and I think it’s in much more trouble than V.  This one has also seen a lot of behind the scenes shake-ups and has had its episode order cut.  By all appearances, ABC has lost confidence in FlashFoward and will let it go after it wraps up its first season.  Cancellation Alert: Elevated

You can follow the status of all the shows currently airing at our Cancellation Watch page and also look for my weekly Ratings Results column to see how your favorite shows are doing.

By Sam Christopher

Finally! In the final issue of JLA: Cry for Justice, the idiot archer known as Green Arrow does something I can get behind and now we’ll be told it was wrong somehow. And now I’m thinking—wasn’t it the archer in the Squadron Supreme, Marvel’s ripoff of the JLA, who first misused their creations and abused their position of power? And Marvel’s own Hawkeye started out as a villain for Iron Man. Apparently, people with bows and arrows just can’t be trusted—despite the message of Avatar. Well, except in this case, as far as I’m concerned anyway. On the other hand, it does go to show that all those high-minded principles can easily go out the window when deemed necessary (see Star Trek VI and Spock’s scene forcing a confession and info from Valeris). This series has been excellent all around, even though I’ve carped about the portrayal of that lunk-head, Prometheus, but that’s just me. I like James Robinson’s Justice League, even though I didn’t get all the drama surrounding letting Prometheus go here. I kept thinking, “Let him go, get the codes, have Zee track the guy down later.” But I also realize it may not be that easy. Problem with this kind of story—this kind of morality play—is that so many can’t seem to understand that different tactics on one side call for change of tactics on the other. It’s easy to say that killing is wrong and we don’t kill but how many innocents have died because Batman won’t kill Joker? Kal-L, the original Superman, killed the Anti-Monitor, Barry Allen killed the R-Flash, Wonder Woman killed Max Lord—are we really not better off without these villains whose sole purpose in life was the murder of innocents for no other reason than because they had the power to kill others with impunity? And I know, I know, I’m dragging realism into comics but that’s where these artists have taken us. When it’s all light and cartoon I can look at it light and cartoonish but when they tout the grit and realism of the stories they also have to take the hits and swipes that come when readers don’t feel they’re being realistic enough. The amalgam pencils of Mauro Cascioli, Scott Clark, and Ibraim Roberson worked out well here, too. They added to the sense of realism and the heightened drama of this piece.

And with a little lull in the Ender’s Game series based on the novels, Marvel brings us the Orson Scott Card: Ender’s Game: Mazer in Prison One-Shot. This tale, based on a short story by OSC I haven’t read, tells how a Lieutenant Graff was assigned to find a replacement for Humanity’s Savior, Mazer Rackham. Rackham saved humanity mainly by not doing what he was told, doing what he thought was right in combat instead. Realizing this, he likes the maverick Graff almost immediately, and entrusts his own, and humanity’s, future in the Lt. As Graff would tell Rackham later, “ Once again, Admiral Rackham, with only one weapon in your arsenal, once again you knew right where to aim it.” And, once again, OSC oversees while someone else, in this case Aaron Johnston, scripts and someone else, in this case Pop Mhan, draws the pictures. Another excellent adaptation in this excellent series.

By Sam Christopher

They finally decide to pay off the Flash:Rebirth with the sixth issue, and this ultimate chap is all right. Barry has to stop Eobard from traveling to the past and murdering Iris West before she can become Iris West Allen. They make a big deal—Barry and Wally do, anyway—about how the past can’t be altered but if that’s really true why does Booster Gold have his own series? And speaking of our favorite “greatest superhero no one’s ever heard of”, where is BG and why isn’t he on hand here trying to stop R-Flash from altering the unalterable past? And why didn’t Booster or Rip Hunter prevent—or reverse (get it?)—the murder of Barry’s mother? Just something I thought about. The end of this great story, especially that last panel, by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver was worth the wait, internal logic problems aside.

There’s a mystery afoot in Gotham City Sirens #9, a mystery that takes the girls to the offices of one Edward Nigma. It involves another girl who, at first blush, seems to have been killed by our Sirens themselves—makeup, vine, claw marks— and who is first seen by the reader falling from the sky into the girls’ swimming pool. Where did she come from? Who did this to her? And why? The only clue, besides the shuck and jive that Nigma figures out immediately (first rule of private investigation is that the client is always lying; I watch The Rockford Files), is Selina’s having heard the girl say, “Doctor…” as she flew past to her death. Best part of the ish: Harley’s Day, especially her “three hour battle with Red Master, Lady Cataclysm and Killobot 7!” Worst part: The hidden villain I’ve never heard of, but he has a chance to get better. Final thought on this book this month: I think werewolves are better than vamps (and vampires don’t sparkle).

And, finally, Kara Zor-L of an alternate universe Krypton (unless they’ve changed her origin again this week and I missed it) and Princess Diana of Themiscyra face off in the latest Battle of the Busts in Wonder Woman #41. And, yes, it ends up with one of them tying the other up—although it may not be who you might think. All this because Ares, rather than have kids the normal way, decided to clone the New Gods’ Glorious Godfrey (isn’t what these brats do pretty much what GG did in the Legends mini all those years ago, except on a different scale?). After the inevitable super-heroine reconciliation, PG and WW switch roles, so to speak, and Power Girl’s diplomatic skills are pretty much what you’d expect, at first anyway. And in an unrelated note—except maybe for diplomacy purposes—Achilles finds the mansion chosen for him by Diana all right but is actually far more taken with the realtor she sent specifically for him. Name of “Patrick Cleese”, if that means anything to you. An excellent, fun-filled ish that ends one story while transitioning us toward another.

By John J. Joex

The third issue of Jericho Season 3: Civil Wars is here at last and delivers yet another excellent installment in the series.  Hawkins and Jake break into a military prison to free John Smith who they hope can help in the impending conflict with the ASA.  Meanwhile, in Jericho, Eric and Mary prepare for their wedding as he uncle Emmett arrives form the east and berates the townspeople for accepting the presence of the ASA.  I have to say that this book has really exceeded my expectations so far and has done a magnificent job of carrying on the feel of the television series. As each segment plays out, I can just see and feel the original actors leaping off the page. In fact, this issue really made me regret once again that CBS cancelled the show because the hour long format would have allowed them to expand on the stories relegated to only 22 pages in the comic book. Still, the writers make the most of those pages and cram in a ton of story while also succeeding in not making us feel they are throwing too much at us at once (like what we saw with the second season because they were trying to get too much into only seven episodes). And Alejandro F. Giralbo’s artwork continues to excel as well. He does a fantastic job of capturing not just the likeness of the original actors but also the mannerisms of the characters they portrayed. I just can’t say enough good about this series and if you are a Jericho fan who has not started following it yet, it’s time to jump on board.  You can read my detailed synopsis of this issue, along with issues 1 and 2 at our Jericho Season 3 page.  And the next issue should be making its way to the stands sometime in May so stay tuned.

Buy this Issue of Jericho Season 3 from TFAW.com

By John J. Joex

Have you tuned in for FOX’s adaptation of the DC comic series Human Target yet?  If not, you need to clear you schedule on Wednesdays at 8 PM EST and make this appointment television.  Not only does the show give us a witty, tightly-written, action/adventure yarn each week, it has also packed each episode with any of a number of faces familiar to Science Fiction and Fantasy fans.  This of course begins with the show’s excellent cast which includes Mark Valley in the lead role (he played Olivia’s late beau John Scott in the early episodes of Fringe) along with his two assistants played by Chi McBride (cantankerous Emerson Cod from Pushing Daises), and Jackie Earl Haley (Rorschach from Watchmen and soon to appear on the big screen as the next Freddy Krueger).

These three along with the  variety of veterans from other Science Fiction and Fantasy shows each episode has paraded across the screen have have really made this a standout series.  I do not know if the producers have intentionally sought after these familiar faces to give Human Target some additional genre cred or if it just happened that way, but it gives yet another reason to tune in each week.  Following are the faces that I have noticed so far across the first six episodes:

Ep 1 – “Pilot”: Two Battlestar Galactica vets joined in for the inaugural episode – Tricia Helfer (Number 6) and Donnelly Rhodes (Doctor Cottle)
Ep 2 – “Rewind”: Yet another ex-BSGer Alessandro Juliani (Felix Gaeta) stopped by along with Sean Owen Roberts (Painkiller Jane)
Ep 3 – “Embassy Row”: Smallville mainstay from that show’s early years Emmanuelle Vaugier (Dr. Helen Bryce) guest-starred.
Ep 4 – “Sanctuary”: Could the presence of William Mapother (Ethan from Lost) suggest a possible connection to that show’s sideways world? Also, Sam Huntington (Superman Returns, Fanboys) made an appearance.
Ep 5 – “Run”: Kristin Lehman (Strange World, Andromeda, Century City) stopped by, and the presence of William B. Davis (Smoking Man from The X-Files) made us a bit nervous (conspiracies and alternate universes colliding?).
Ep 6 – “Lockdown”: Alias uber-geek Kevin Weisman (Marshall Flinkman) stopped by to play, well, an uber-geek.  And yet another X-Files vet, Mitch Pileggi (Assistant Director Skinner), made an appearance along with Autumn Reeser (Valentine).

The series returns tonight after taking a break for a few weeks and has a couple more faces that genre fans might recognize as well in Leonor Varela (guest-starred on Stargate: Atlantis) and Kim Coates (various guest-star and supporting roles including Smallville and the Hercules mini-series from 2005).  In addition, an article on Sci Fi Wire reveals that Lenny James (Jericho), Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica), Amy Acker (Dollhouse), and Moon Bloodgood (Journeyman, Terminator: Salvation) will be showing up in the coming weeks.  So be sure to tune in and play the game of “what genre show did that guest-star appear on?”  Or just sit back and enjoy this comic book come to life which delivers a fun, very entertaining, over-the-top hour of television.

Watch Full Episodes of the Human Target Online at Hulu.com

Go to TV.com for more info on the Human Target including Episode guides and Cast bios

Pickup the first issue of the all-new Human Target comic book series as well as the collections of his previous adventures at TFAW.com:

Do you reddit?  If not, then perhaps it’s time to join the conversation.  Reddit.com is a social networking site that has many sub-reddits that would interest Science Fiction and Fantasy fans.  Axiom’s Edge sponsors one such sub-reddit called The Sci Fi Scroll where we post links to news, updates, reviews, rants, and so on from the genre.  We basically just post links to articles we believe our readers would want to read.  You can join in on our reddit and submit your own links as well, whether it is to articles you stumbled across and want to share with other Science Fiction and Fantasy fans or to your own blog posts.  In addition, you can upvote the posts that you like (and downvote the ones you don’t, though we prefer to limit those clicks) and thus the more popular links will rise to the top of each group’s main page.  We encourage everyone to get involved, and you’ve got nothing to lose because it’s free to join.

There are plenty of other sub-reddits that Science Fiction and Fantasy fans would enjoy as well.  Many of these are more discussion oriented where you can submit a link to an article (or just a rant if you want) in order to generate a dialogue with the other members of the group who have similar interests to your own.  Following are several that we recommend and I’m sure you can find even more that interest you if you poke around the site for a while (and feel free to share your findings with us).

Sci Fi Reddit

Their description: Science Fiction, or Speculative Fiction if you prefer. Fantasy too.

This one is more of a discussion reddit, though plenty of people submit news stories and/or commentaries relating to the genre as well.  They highly emphasize not including spoilers in your post title.

Fantasy Reddit

Their description: This reddit will focus on literature, gaming, graphic novels, websites, movies, art, pictures and more. Anything related to Fantasy.  Tolkien, steampunk, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Wheel of Time, World of Warcraft, Discworld, medieval genres, magic, etc.

Zombies Reddit

Their description: The Zombies subreddit was created to host submissions regarding gatherings, movies, books, music, theater, speculative science, and games featuring the flesh (and/or brain) eating dead.

Star Trek Reddit

Their description: Welcome to the Star Trek subreddit! The most active (well, as far as we know) Trek hangout on the web!

Stargate Reddit

Their description: All things dedicated to the Stargate TV series. SG-1, Atlantis, Universe, Games and everything else.

Lost Reddit

Ongoing discussions about all things Lost.  A great place to hang out as the series wraps up with its sixth and final season.

Writing Reddit

Their description: A subreddit for the written word: fiction, nonfiction, your own creative writing, popular authors, and so on.

I just received word directly from Devil’s Due Publishing that Jericho Season 3 #3, the comic book continuation of the TV series, will indeed hit stands tomorrow, March 10th (we had previously heard a rumor of that date, but now it’s confirmed and you can completely ignore any release dates TFAW.com has for the book).  The comic has so far carried on the story from where the television show ended after its second season and has delivered an excellent tale that should satisfy  fans jonesing for more  Jericho.  Check back with us shortly for a full run-down on Issue #3 including a detailed synopsis and a review, and be sure to pick up your copy as well.  (Read Johnny Jay’s review of Issue #3)

Get Issue #3 of Jericho Season 3 at 20% off from TFAW.com

Following is just a brief highlight of comics coming out over the next two weeks, and check out all the new releases at TFAW.com:

Hulk Let Battle Begin (One Shot)  (Marvel)

Due out on or about March 10th

It’s a beatdown of literally monumental proportions when the Hulk and the Wrecking Crew wage war in our nation’s capitol! And when the dust settles, what of Washington DC will remain unsmashed?!  All this plus rocking extras giving YOU the goods on WORLD WAR HULKS – the upcoming Hulk mega-event!!

Nemesis The Imposters #1 (of 4) (D.C.)

Due out on or about March 10th

For Thomas Andrew Tresser, aka Nemesis, the world of metahuman espionage is never what it seems. After his recent ‘reeducation’ at the hands of the Global Peace Agency, Nemesis finds himself thrust back into the real world with enemies seemingly around every corner.  Tasked with uncovering the truth about his mission and the true identities of those hoping to unleash a great evil on the world, Nemesis is forced to confront the fact that he may not be able to trust anybody in the universe – including himself.

Enders Game: Command School Prem HC

Due out on or about March 10th

The companion series to New York Times bestseller Orson Scott Card’s award-winning novel Ender’s Game returns!  With time running out for the human race, Bean is assigned to Dragon army under the command of the legendary Ender Wiggin, but their relationship is a bruising clash of egos and agendas from the start – and it only gets worse when Dragon face their first battle.

American Vampire #1 (D.C.)

Due out on or about March 10th

Witness the birth of a brand new species of vampire in this new ongoing series that begins with five extra-sized issues featuring back-to-back stories by exciting new writer Scott Snyder and the master of horror himself, Stephen King!  When notorious outlaw Skinner Sweet is attacked by an old enemy (who happens to be a member of the undead), the first American vampire is born… a vampire powered by the sun, stronger, fiercer, and meaner than anything that came before.

Army Of Darkness Omnibus Vol. 01 TPB (D.E.)

Due out on or about March 10th

Continuing the all-new line of MASSIVE Dynamite Omnibus Editions! Designed for reading (or, in this case, DEVOURING) a HUGE chunk of awesome Dynamite Comics in one sitting!  This time around, Dynamite presents the first 18 issues of the acclaimed Army of Darkness series in one massive omnibus! Featuring the movie adaptation based on the screenplay by Sam and Ivan Raimi, and illustrated by John Bolton, as well as the first four story arcs from the ongoing series — Ashes to Ashes, Shop till You Drop (Dead), Ash vs. Re-Animator, Old School, and the shorts stories presented in Tales of the Army of Darkness! Featuring the work of Also includes a complete cover gallery!

X-23 #1 (Marvel)

Due out on or about March 10th

X-23 has spent her short life being used by those in power, from the military to the X-Men. But when she is forced to confront a being who can control her life with nothing but a thought, will X-23 finally learn how to fight — not for others, but herself? Guest-starring NYX!

Last week the Tribune Company announced that they would not pick up fantasy series Legend of the Seeker for a third season in direct syndication.  This news set fans ablaze and kicked a fan campaign to show support for the show into high gear (it had already been ramping up because of news of the show’s drop in ratings).  However, writer and co-executive producer for the show Mike Sussman has told fans to take it easy and just “chillax” because LotS is not in trouble yet.  Following is the message he posted Friday on his Twitter page:

Everyone, please, chillax. #LegendoftheSeeker has *not* been cancelled. Plans are ongoing for season three. Spread the word.

This appears to be some good news for fans of the show, though not as good as an official renewal for a third season.  Fan support at this point definitely could not hurt the show’s prospects and may help ABC Studios as they shop it to other venues.  You can get more information on the fan campaign at the Save our Seeker site and also at our Save My Show site.