Steven Spielberg Turns 67: Today In Science & Science Fiction
This article is more than 2 years old
With the release of Jaws in 1975, director Steven Spielberg pretty much invented the modern blockbuster. The success of that film, and the ones that followed, has afforded Spielberg the freedom to make damn near anything he wants. And lucky for us, he’s always had a passion and a talent for making unforgettable science fiction films, many of which are among the most highly regarded movies in the genre. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. E.T.. Jurassic Park. And that’s not even counting the ones he’s been involved with as a producer, such as the Back to the Future and Men in Black movies. Hell, even his flawed films such as A.I., Minority Report, and War of the Worlds are epic and visually arresting.
Spielberg turns 67 today, and shows no signs of slowing down. A check of his IMDb Pro page has the guy involved with, or rumored to be involved with, a whopping 20+ titles, which is longer than many working directors’ entire C.V. His upcoming slate includes quite a few science fiction projects, including Jurassic World, the Extant TV series starring Halle Berry, Microsoft’s Halo series for Xbox, and the adaptation of Daniel Wilson’s Robopocalypse. GFR recommends celebrating with birthday cake and a back-to-back screening of Close Encounters and E.T..
Today in Comics
Black Science #2 (Image Comics)
Run-amok reality! Grant and his crew escape the madness of the lightning sea-swamp only to be flung into a futurepast trenchworld, where the Sons of the Wakan Tech-Tanka wage never-ending war on the savages of Europe! How did the Anarchist League of Scientists end up this deep in the onion? Who among them sabotaged the Pillar?
Ghostbusters #11 (IDW Publishing)
Every December in Rhinebeck, New York, a celebration is held in honor of Sinterklaas. One of the inspirations for the legend of Santa Claus, Sinterklaas brings presents for good little children, and punishes the bad.
But this year, the Sinterklaas seen in Rhinebeck isn’t a man in a costume… it’s a sinister spirit set on haunting the children of the town!
It’s the Ghostbusters to the Holiday rescue as Happy Horror Days continues!
Great Pacific, Vol. 2 (Image Comics)
Over a year has passed since industrialist adventurer Chas Worthington founded the New Texas Settlement upon a floating continent of trash. But while growth has been strong, true sovereignty and statehood will come at a cost even he cannot afford. The frontier tale of sci-fi, scoundrels, mayhem, and monsters continues!
Mars Attacks Judge Dredd #4 (IDW Publishing)
The Martian mayhem comes to an explosive conclusion! The full-scale invasion has begun, and even Judge Dredd finds himself overmatched by the Martian forces. Judge Anderson has a plan, however, but can Dredd bring himself to seek the aid of the Mega-City Mafia?
Mass Effect: Foundation #6 (Dark Horse Comics)
Jacob and Miranda’s mission takes a deadly turn as the duo find themselves in the gun sights of a vicious batarian warlord! Mass Effect 2 and 3 lead writer Mac Walters continues the thrilling series set during the events of BioWare’s blockbuster science fiction trilogy!
The Midas Flesh #1 (Boom! Studios)
Fatima and her space crew have decided to return to Earth — a planet completely sectioned off, abandoned, and covered in gold-to find out exactly what happened to this once thriving planet and see if they can use that knowledge against the evil empire that’s tracking them down. As luck would have it, they just landed the most powerful weapon in the universe: some ancient dead guy’s body.
Saga #17 (Image Comics)
Prince Robot IV gets everyone into trouble.
Star Trek #28 (IDW Publishing)
The climactic chapter of the Klingon-Romulan War! Kirk and the Enterprise have one last chance to prevent galaxy-wide cataclysm… but at what cost to the crew? Star Trek Into Darkness writer/producer Roberto Orci oversees this all-new story set in the aftermath of the blockbuster film!
Star Wars: Dark Times – A Spark Remains #5 (Dark Horse Comics)
The fight is on! Darth Vader and his numerous forces are besieged with death traps. A showdown with the Jedi who lured Vader to this doom is inevitable — and now Darth Vader is angry. Do not underestimate the power of an angry Sith!
Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #1 (Dark Horse Comics)
During the Clone Wars, a single trooper — left for dead during battle — comes to hate the Jedi generals who abandoned him. Years later, he lives on, bitter and angry, until hearing tales of a great warrior. Now, this clone believes he may have found the leader he should have been following all along . . . Darth Vader!
Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Force War #2 (Dark Horse Comics)
The Je’daii go on the offensive against the invading Rakatan Empire! Xesh uses his Force Hound training to locate the Rakatan command center, which sparks an ambitious plan: infiltrate the enemy stronghold and kill the supreme commander. But Xesh has not accounted for a traitor in his own ranks!
The X-Files: Season 10, Vol. 1 (IDW Publishing)
For years they investigated the paranormal, pursued the “monsters of the week,” and sought the truth behind extraterrestrial activity, along with the grand conspiracy surrounding it rooted deep within their own government. But when Agents Mulder and Scully reunite for a new, ongoing series that ushers The X-Files into a new era of technological paranoia, multinational concerns, and otherworldly threats, it’ll take more than a desire “to believe” to make it out alive.
