SG1_Spoilme review:
THE OFFICIAL STARGATE MAGAZINE
Issue #2
Newsstand Price: $6.99 + tax
Subscription: $37.75 ($6.29) 10% savings
Comes out every two months – issue #3 due February 24, 2005
Issue #2 follows in the footsteps of the first issue, being a glossy stock magazine, being 68 pages in total (including both covers). 15 pages are devoted to cover & back pages, requisite ads, table of contents, subscription info, and ‘coming attractions’ for issue 2, leaving you with 51 pages of actual content.
The layout remains basically the same as the premiere issue, which is good. The print still remains small in some articles, but since it probably saves on cost and gives you more text, it’s okay. That’s what they make magnifying glasses for …
In last issue’s review, I pointed out that the photo quality was inconsistent, ranging from pretty sharp to washed-out green. While it’s picked up a bit, that green problem is still an issue, as is sharpness. On page 8 and 9, both Carter and Sheppard look a tad too much in the green/yellow spectrum, as does Carter on page 11. Some photos look a bit washed out, while others have a bit too much contrast. The biggest example of differing quality is the inserted poster, which many fans will be using cotton gloves to remove so as not to put fingerprints on the photo of either John Sheppard or Jack O’Neill, the two characters/actors who receive the bulk of the profiles in this issue. Alas, Jack O’Neill is looking a tad bit green (bad sushi?), he’s not very sharp (no, I’m not talking about his wit<G>), and the contrast is too high. His vest is black, and blue in the shadows, and you can’t make out details. Posters require DETAIL. Now, on the flip side, you can look for stray threads on Sheppard’s black shirt. And count the hairs on his chest. On a totally different point, why isn’t this photo available as an 8x10 from MGM or on the official site? Sheppardholics will be in heaven.
[Note: image of both posters is up at http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/sg1_spoilme/ - you don’t need to join group to go take a peek at the pic]
Anyway, if nothing else, make the photos in the poster as sharp as possible!
***********************************
THE CONTENT:
1. TIMELINESS: For a savvy net fan, most of the news is again, old news, but the articles have stepped up in content, so it’s okay.
2. SPOILERS: Yup, spoilerphobes will have to skim the mag with slightly unfocused eyes to avoid some tidbits… To do that, do NOT read the episode guide bars on pages 8, 10, and 11 (the first one for SG1, the latter two for SGA). They give away the premise for each episode for the rest of the seasons for both shows.
3. ORIGINAL CONTENT:
The NEWS UPDATE section contains the following stuff that basically, most internet fans know
>Sweepstake winners get their own SG1 avatar (a 64-year-old woman named Alene Smalley, from Oregon, won this honor)
>Michael Shanks lends voice to book recording
>SG1 and SGA are both renewed – however, even they’re in the dark as to who has signed for SG1
>Amanda Tapping is expecting a baby
>Michael Shanks and his wife had a baby girl
>Wisconsin fan Nathan Fleming won the walk-on role from SciFi to appear in both SG1 and SGA (although the mag divulves he’ll appear in “Moebius” and “The Siege”, respectively).
>Dan Castellaneta (who voices Homer Simpson) is guest starring in the episode “Citizen Joe.”
>Richard Dean Anderson visits military hospital (but has nice pics and more info)
>Convention update: Creation’s listing
However, the magazine has scooped all the fan sites in this one:
>Joe Flanigan is penning a script for the second episode of Atlantis. Although the actor is interested in Sheppard’s backstory, his script will concentrate on exploring the inner workings of the city of Atlantis. He’s writing the script over the hiatus between seasons 1 and 2 as “it would be impossible for me to write it during shooting.”
And
>How they used ‘cutting-edge techniques’ on the episode “Gemini” which contains two Carters.
BIGGER ARTICLES that have lots of new stuff in them
>Interview with PETER DELUISE
>Interview with RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON (page 19 contains some tiny spoilers for “Reckoning”)
>Article on TOP 10 BATTLES in SG1. My only quibble with this is that it was drawn off Gateworld’s poll on exactly the same topic. Alas, polls such as this can be ‘stuffed’ by fans (and yes, they are – if you visit enough mailing lists you can actually find people talking about several times on the same poll (usually in regards to favorite character of volatile topics such as ‘ship’). Anyway, what saves this piece is that author Sally Reeve went behind the scenes on those battles (aka talked to the ones) to give fans in-depth anecdotes of how they were done and any problems, etc.).
>Interview with JOE FLANIGAN
>Interview with ROBERT COOPER
>DANIEL’s NOTEBOOK: This time, they cover the “Killer Legos from Outer Space” (my term!<G>) aka Replicators.
>Interview: DON S. DAVIS
>Mission Debrief: “The Other Guys” (one of my least favorite episodes, BUT, I really like Patrick McKenna as Harold in RED GREEN, so it wasn’t all bad – I just didn’t like seeing Harold on SG1)
>Interview with JOHN BILLINGSLEY (“The Other Guys”)
>Letter page: 4 letters from fans
>Article on the Stargate SG-1 novels, which US fans can’t get except through convoluted or expensive means. Darn. The site should run a contest for North American fans only to win some of these books.
>A Day in the Life of ANDY MIKITA (just what does he do? It doesn't say...)
THE POSTER
This time, the two leads of SG1 and SGA, O’Neill and Sheppard, are featured on either side of the poster. Sheppard wins hands down on photo quality and choice of photo. I do like Jack, but a sharper, better photo would have been nice. You can also find a small photo of the posters on the second page of the table of contents.
Overall, this issue has gone up in quality from the premiere issue. If they do present old news, they have a different spin on it. And they’ve scooped the fan sites in some places, which is good.
ISSUE #3 promises
Brad Wright interview
Chris Judge interview
SG1 merchandise
Mission Debrief: “Heroes” with Teryl Rothery
Daniel’s Notebook: The Tok’ra
Double-sided poster
*************************************************
THE CREDITS (upgraded from last time)
EDITOR
Sharon Gosling
NEWS EDITOR
Darren Sumner
DESIGNER:
Stu McKay
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Ned Hartley
MANAGING EDITOR
Brian J. Robb
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE
Kristy Bratton
Sally Reeve
THE OFFICIAL STARGATE MAGAZINE
Issue #2
Newsstand Price: $6.99 + tax
Subscription: $37.75 ($6.29) 10% savings
Comes out every two months – issue #3 due February 24, 2005
Issue #2 follows in the footsteps of the first issue, being a glossy stock magazine, being 68 pages in total (including both covers). 15 pages are devoted to cover & back pages, requisite ads, table of contents, subscription info, and ‘coming attractions’ for issue 2, leaving you with 51 pages of actual content.
The layout remains basically the same as the premiere issue, which is good. The print still remains small in some articles, but since it probably saves on cost and gives you more text, it’s okay. That’s what they make magnifying glasses for …
In last issue’s review, I pointed out that the photo quality was inconsistent, ranging from pretty sharp to washed-out green. While it’s picked up a bit, that green problem is still an issue, as is sharpness. On page 8 and 9, both Carter and Sheppard look a tad too much in the green/yellow spectrum, as does Carter on page 11. Some photos look a bit washed out, while others have a bit too much contrast. The biggest example of differing quality is the inserted poster, which many fans will be using cotton gloves to remove so as not to put fingerprints on the photo of either John Sheppard or Jack O’Neill, the two characters/actors who receive the bulk of the profiles in this issue. Alas, Jack O’Neill is looking a tad bit green (bad sushi?), he’s not very sharp (no, I’m not talking about his wit<G>), and the contrast is too high. His vest is black, and blue in the shadows, and you can’t make out details. Posters require DETAIL. Now, on the flip side, you can look for stray threads on Sheppard’s black shirt. And count the hairs on his chest. On a totally different point, why isn’t this photo available as an 8x10 from MGM or on the official site? Sheppardholics will be in heaven.
[Note: image of both posters is up at http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/sg1_spoilme/ - you don’t need to join group to go take a peek at the pic]
Anyway, if nothing else, make the photos in the poster as sharp as possible!
***********************************
THE CONTENT:
1. TIMELINESS: For a savvy net fan, most of the news is again, old news, but the articles have stepped up in content, so it’s okay.
2. SPOILERS: Yup, spoilerphobes will have to skim the mag with slightly unfocused eyes to avoid some tidbits… To do that, do NOT read the episode guide bars on pages 8, 10, and 11 (the first one for SG1, the latter two for SGA). They give away the premise for each episode for the rest of the seasons for both shows.
3. ORIGINAL CONTENT:
The NEWS UPDATE section contains the following stuff that basically, most internet fans know
>Sweepstake winners get their own SG1 avatar (a 64-year-old woman named Alene Smalley, from Oregon, won this honor)
>Michael Shanks lends voice to book recording
>SG1 and SGA are both renewed – however, even they’re in the dark as to who has signed for SG1
>Amanda Tapping is expecting a baby
>Michael Shanks and his wife had a baby girl
>Wisconsin fan Nathan Fleming won the walk-on role from SciFi to appear in both SG1 and SGA (although the mag divulves he’ll appear in “Moebius” and “The Siege”, respectively).
>Dan Castellaneta (who voices Homer Simpson) is guest starring in the episode “Citizen Joe.”
>Richard Dean Anderson visits military hospital (but has nice pics and more info)
>Convention update: Creation’s listing
However, the magazine has scooped all the fan sites in this one:
>Joe Flanigan is penning a script for the second episode of Atlantis. Although the actor is interested in Sheppard’s backstory, his script will concentrate on exploring the inner workings of the city of Atlantis. He’s writing the script over the hiatus between seasons 1 and 2 as “it would be impossible for me to write it during shooting.”
And
>How they used ‘cutting-edge techniques’ on the episode “Gemini” which contains two Carters.
BIGGER ARTICLES that have lots of new stuff in them
>Interview with PETER DELUISE
>Interview with RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON (page 19 contains some tiny spoilers for “Reckoning”)
>Article on TOP 10 BATTLES in SG1. My only quibble with this is that it was drawn off Gateworld’s poll on exactly the same topic. Alas, polls such as this can be ‘stuffed’ by fans (and yes, they are – if you visit enough mailing lists you can actually find people talking about several times on the same poll (usually in regards to favorite character of volatile topics such as ‘ship’). Anyway, what saves this piece is that author Sally Reeve went behind the scenes on those battles (aka talked to the ones) to give fans in-depth anecdotes of how they were done and any problems, etc.).
>Interview with JOE FLANIGAN
>Interview with ROBERT COOPER
>DANIEL’s NOTEBOOK: This time, they cover the “Killer Legos from Outer Space” (my term!<G>) aka Replicators.
>Interview: DON S. DAVIS
>Mission Debrief: “The Other Guys” (one of my least favorite episodes, BUT, I really like Patrick McKenna as Harold in RED GREEN, so it wasn’t all bad – I just didn’t like seeing Harold on SG1)
>Interview with JOHN BILLINGSLEY (“The Other Guys”)
>Letter page: 4 letters from fans
>Article on the Stargate SG-1 novels, which US fans can’t get except through convoluted or expensive means. Darn. The site should run a contest for North American fans only to win some of these books.
>A Day in the Life of ANDY MIKITA (just what does he do? It doesn't say...)
THE POSTER
This time, the two leads of SG1 and SGA, O’Neill and Sheppard, are featured on either side of the poster. Sheppard wins hands down on photo quality and choice of photo. I do like Jack, but a sharper, better photo would have been nice. You can also find a small photo of the posters on the second page of the table of contents.
Overall, this issue has gone up in quality from the premiere issue. If they do present old news, they have a different spin on it. And they’ve scooped the fan sites in some places, which is good.
ISSUE #3 promises
Brad Wright interview
Chris Judge interview
SG1 merchandise
Mission Debrief: “Heroes” with Teryl Rothery
Daniel’s Notebook: The Tok’ra
Double-sided poster
*************************************************
THE CREDITS (upgraded from last time)
EDITOR
Sharon Gosling
NEWS EDITOR
Darren Sumner
DESIGNER:
Stu McKay
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Ned Hartley
MANAGING EDITOR
Brian J. Robb
CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE
Kristy Bratton
Sally Reeve
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