Posted by Os Davis in comic books, hockey, science, sports of the future | 0 Comments
What the puck? Hockey goes to Zarmina, Stan Lee to NHL
Could it be that folks noticed the opening week of NHL hockey this year? In the science-fiction sports realm, at least, the Canadian national pastime has been getting a bit of play lately.
Pop astronomy geeks like BuckBokai were certainly intrigued by tales of Gliese 581g, a.k.a. Zarmina, a so-called “Goldilocks Zone” planet 20.5 light-years away on which water may exist and homo sapiens could live – albeit in a narrow band between perpetual scorching sunlight and continuous night.
Even more happily, the geniuses over at io9 (and specifically artist Daniel Spitzer) have checked out the tachyonoscope to assure humanity that life – and partying – will be rife on Zarmina within 120 years, sometime after the invention of that matter/antimatter warp drive always fretted over on ST:TNG, of course. In what is perhaps an indication that the presence of Great White Northers as well as Russians on Zarmina, a hockey league will be established and competitive skiing will also be on the entertainment timetable.
Meanwhile, in an idea more firmly 21st-century (though no less out there), the National Hockey League has joined forces with Stan Lee on its newest promotional idea to be unleashed during the All-Star break. Lee will be creating a series of characters based on each (North American) hockey team.
So readeth in part the NHL’s official press release: “This partnership creates the platform from which to launch Stan Lee’s vision for his latest superhero franchise, The Guardian Project, which will encompass the creation of 30 Guardians (one to represent each NHL team) as a new series of superheroes, with a creative concept that organically and authentically incorporates various NHL elements but is not set in the world of hockey.
“‘I’ve always believed that every great plan starts with a great story,’ Lee said. ‘In the creation of Guardian Media Entertainment and its unique and unprecedented relationship with the NHL, I truly believe we have the perfect combination from which to launch 30 new superheroes and excite young fans around the globe. Excelsior!’”
(Okay, Lee didn’t really say “Excelsior,” but he should have; unless J.K. Rowling owns the copyright to the word by now…)
“Created and developed by Lee and Tony Chargin, Executive Vice President of Creative Affairs at Guardian Media Entertainment, and Jake Shapiro, each Guardian derives from its corresponding hockey team — complete with special powers representative of each team and city. These 30 Guardians will be unveiled together in a special presentation during the 2011 NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 30 in Raleigh, North Carolina…”
Below runs Lee’s conceptualization of the Dallas Stars’ guardian character, looking more than slightly derivative of the annoying robot figures FOX Sports insists on sticking over sponsor messages.
What say, true believers, eh?
