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Before my wife and I started having kids, I imagined some day in the distant future, bouncing my son or daughter (or both!) on my knee and trying to figure out how to introduce them to the wonderful comic book characters I knew as a child. The movies are too adult and the cartoons I watched as a kid are just plain old.

I started buying toys. Then, there was a line from Marvel called ‘Spiderman and Friends‘. These featured little kid versions of my favorite Marvel heroes. I snatched up everything from teethers to board books to action figures and vehicles, anticipating the demise of the current Super Hero trend.

The beginning...

When I was a kid, I would literally sit down with the TV Guide and plan my Saturday morning. I remember the excitement of revisiting old animated friends and finding new ones. I remember the slow let down as noon fast approached, and I knew that the animated adventures would soon give way to golf and Star Trek reruns (I just didn’t get Star Trek at the time. Now I get excited when I happen to find one, but I digress)…

I’ve mourned the loss of cartoons to get excited about for quite some time. I just can’t get into Phineas and Ferb, Chowder, or the like. They’re just… boring. I’ve watched my three year old watch these shows, and she looks kinda bored too.

But I am delighted to report that the folks at The House of Ideas, the wonderful people at Mighty Marvel have once again unleashed good old fashioned action and adventure to the Saturday morning lineup in the form of Super Hero Squad!

Now I’ve seen other blogs/reviews that are miffed that this show is for kids and not for ‘Marvel fans’. I’d like to offer an alternative stand point. I happen to think this is the perfect show for Marvelites.

Even if I didn’t have a young child in my home, I would love this show. It has everything you could want: Dr. Doom, M.O.D.O.K., Fin Fang Foom, and relics scattered across the world that offer infinite power. And that’s just the first episode! Make mine Marvel!

I’m continually confused by so-called ‘true fans’ that poo-poo every new version of their favorite heroes. What did you find appealing about super heroes in the first place? I’d bet it wasn’t for hard-hitting deep dark storylines. If you’re anything like me, it was the appealing way that good and evil were in an epic struggle and there were no blurring of the lines. Sure, that’s not real life, but since when did stories about mutants and monsters have to be ‘realistic’?

Back when I blogged about ‘Batman: The Brave and the Bold‘, I applauded Warner Bros. for bringing camp back to Batman and reminding us what Saturday morning was all about. I now applaud Marvel for bringing us more fun than you can shake an Infinity Sword fractal at.

With Super Hero Squad, Marvel has come up with a way to keep children and their parents happy. Children may delight in the action, but adults can appreciate the humor. And it’s not the ‘let’s talk over the kids’ heads and giggle at the innuendo’ kind of humor that’s found in most cartoons. Lines like ‘Hulk not do math. Hulk SMASH!’ and a bumbling Silver Surfer are all in good fun. The title cards are send offs of classic Marvel covers. I could go on and on.

My point is, you’re only as old as you feel. If you’re a Marvel fan and don’t like this cartoon, then you must be feeling pretty old. Lighten up, or better yet…

I dare you not to hum the theme song to yourself after watching this…

If you want to know more about Super Hero Squad or want to stream full episodes, make sure you visit the official home of Super Hero Squad online!

“Who came up with pancakes?

‘No, Dear, you can’t have cake for breakfast, you can have fried cake with syrup for breakfast.

Load up on that and try not to nap.’”

-Jim Gaffigan

I can remember getting up in the morning to the smells of my father cooking breakfast. One of his favorite ways to break the fast was by cooking blueberry pancakes. He didn’t use just ordinary pancake mix however. Oh, no. That wasn’t good enough. He would fry up blueberry muffin mix into the shape of a pancake. These blueberry monstrosities were then covered in butter and syrup. These things were so thick, so heavy, and so rich that two bites were usually good for me. As a kid, I remember enjoying those first few bites, and then I’d be sorry. A few days later though, I was at the breakfast table awaiting a serving of blueberry muffin-pancake hybrids.

The strangest thing about this ritual was that sweetened cereal was not allowed in the house as I was growing up. My mom would use maybe a third of the sugar you’re supposed to use in Kool-Aid. Needless to say, my brother and I grew up not even adding sugar to cereals such as Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies.

I remember a time when my cousin came to visit, and we brought in food items that before were forbidden: his favorite cereal Corn Pops, and his favorite soda Mountain Dew. This was a bit different than the Corn Flakes and Diet Pepsi that generally populated our cabinets and refridgerator. If memory serves, this resulted in several sugar-induced comas for me and my un-acclimated little body.

So now I find myself a father, writing this blog while eating a bowl of Kellogg’s Frosted Krispies. We generally keep the sugary cereals to a minimum in our home, but I can explain the Frosted Krispies! This is pretty good actually.

When I saw that such a cereal existed, I nearly walked right on by. But then I stopped and saw the promotion on the front of the box: with only 9 tokens or $9.99 plus 1 token, I can have my very own Starfleet ensignia T-Shirt, in honor of the new Star Trek movie coming out May 8th!

The box only pictures Science blue and Operations red, but I’m holing out hope that the order form will include Command gold! ‘I am Captain Kirk!!!’

But I digress.

The questions I have for all of you is this: What traditions for ‘the most important meal of the day’ did/do you have? Do you do anything different than your parents did? How do you keep breakfast healthy when we’ve been trained to think that the only thing that ‘sounds good’ for breakfast is something completely sugary or cholesterol ridden (I didn’t even get to sausage and bacon…) ?

Any thoughts?

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After my wife got off the phone, I opened my laptop, knowing full well that my little ol’ blog would not have any comments, and that I would just be blogging some sappy entry about my horrible, no good, very bad day and no one would get past the first line.

My WordPress dashboard loaded.

I blinked.

I had 1 comment.

I clicked it.

It was from Kevin Dilmore!

I was shocked. I was amazed! I was stupefied.

For anyone not ‘in the know’, Kevin Dilmore has written many Star Trek novels and e-books alone and with Dayton Ward. You can find a list of their works here.

I friended Kevin and Dayton on Facebook after entering the now discontinued ‘Strange New Worlds’ Star Trek short story contest. In the course of looking for some advice, I discovered Dayton’s site and blog. I’ve been a fan of Dayton and Kevin ever since. I never really expected either of them to actually notice me on Facebook, I was just a fanboy following around a couple of my favorite writers.

Fast forward to a couple of days ago. I have been experimenting with social networking and blogging. I wrote a silly little blog about the new Batman cartoon, Batman: The Brave and the Bold. You can read that blog here.

I am on Twitter. (Just follow howefitz) I’ve set up Twitter to automatically update my status on Facebook. So when I completed my Batman blog, I announced it on Twitter, which also announced it on Facebook! I can only imagine this is how Kevin saw it, and felt compelled to comment!

And that is how the very first comment on my modest little blog came from one of my heroes. This is social networking at work, folks! Thank you Twitter and Facebook! And I especially thank Kevin Dilmore. You’re the man! You single-handedly pulled me out of my funk today, and my wife and I thank you!

-Justin

Bitterness aside, and without any further ado, I give you ‘The Stars Are Not As Far As You Think.’

The Stars Are Not As Far As You Think

Justin M. Howe

“Computer, erase that entire personal log.” Sisko said, deleting the last remaining evidence of his crime.

#

Benny Russell, hands shaking, removed the last sheet of paper from his typewriter. He planned to crumple up the story and throw it away. What had he done to Sisko’s universe? His precious fantasy seemed to be crumbling all around him. But then, real life was crumbling too, wasn’t it? Benny saw himself as a prisoner of war. It was an old war that had come to a climax in his life the night Jimmy died. Shot in the street over a crowbar, his ancestry, and someone else’s ignorance. Benny had never in his life felt completely helpless, but as the two officers pulled him away from Jimmy’s bullet-ridden body, he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do to prevent such senseless loss of life. Ben Sisko, however, had a choice, and as carefully as he thought he was in bending the rules, his actions still resulted in death.

Benny made another move to destroy this latest piece of the Deep Space Nine saga and stopped himself. No, he thought, Ben said he could live with it, and so can I! But could he?

#

Captain Benjamin Sisko stood in front of the mirror, absent-mindedly fiddling with the pips on his collar. He had done what he had to do. He had dragged someone else into war. The Romulans could very likely tip the scales in the Alpha Quadrant’s favor. All it had cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self respect of one Starfleet officer. Garak had called it a bargain, Sisko called it a travesty. A travesty that he could live with.

The sound of his door chime roused him from his reverie.

#

The doorknob turned and the door swung open, revealing the severe countenance of Nurse Jens. “Mr. Russell?”

“Yes?” Benny answered timidly.

“You have visitors in the common room.”

“Visitors?” Benny asked.

“Come with me please.” Jens said, without any further explanation. With apprehension and dread, he did so.

#

The doors to the wardroom slid aside with a hydraulic hiss as Sisko approached. This “welcome to the fight” party in the Romulans’ honor was one of the more solemn occasions Sisko had ever been a part of. The room was filled with people talking and shaking hands, but the realities of war were visible in all their faces.

Along the walls, the display screens were glowing with tactical displays of the fifteen bases recently struck by the Romulans along the Cardassian border. One screen however, displayed the current casualty list, which now included a few Romulans. Sisko thought of the two casualties who didn’t realize they were even in the war. He knew they could never be added to any casualty list. To the rest of the Federation, their deaths remained results of mysterious accidents. He turned and saw his senior officers and best friends sitting around a table. He decided to join them.

#

The dread and apprehension left Benny at the sight of his old friends from Amazing Tales sitting around a table at the end of the common room. At his approach, Jules stood and thrust out a hand, “Well, you’re looking well.”

“We all miss you, Benny.” Kay said, giving Benny a warm hug.

“I’ve missed you too,” Benny said, “All of you.”

“It’s great to see you, Benny.” Albert said. “How are they, um, you know…”

“Treating me here?” Benny finished, letting Albert off the hook. His other friends smiled warmly and nodded. Except for Herbert, who scowled at the thought of his friend being mistreated.

“Not too bad.” Benny noticed Herb’s expression soften slightly. “They’ve allowed me to keep my typewriter. They say that exploring my fantasies isn’t necessarily unhealthy,” his voice took a more serious, darker tone, “as long as it stays fantasy.”

Herb leaned forward, His scowl returned. “This isn’t right Benny and you know it!”

“Of course I do, but that won’t change a thing! I am a black man with his head too full of dreams! It’s always gotten me into trouble. I should have known this was coming. Heh, who am I kidding, even that knowledge wouldn’t have stopped me. I have to get these stories out and damn the consequences! These stories are needed. They have a purpose.” Benny hung his head. “But they’re locked up in here with me.”

Everyone glanced at each other with nervous anticipation. Benny didn’t notice as he said, “Maybe Jimmy was right. The only way my people will get to space will be to shine shoes and clean toilets. The only people who would buy my stories are locked in here.”

Kay leaned over and placed a gentle hand on Sisko’s forearm. “Hey, you don’t believe that and neither do we.” Benny looked at his friends who nodded in agreement.

“I just wish there were more of you out there.” Benny said.

“Well maybe there will be.” Kay reached down, picked up her handbag, and set it on the table. In an attempt to lighten the mood, she said, “We brought you a gift.” From the handbag she removed a small, wrapped, rectangular object, which she handed over to Benny. He turned it over in his hands. A book? Books were his passion, but this gift was bittersweet to a man who couldn’t join the party.

“Well, old chap,” Jules said, teeth clinched around his unlit pipe, “Aren’t you going to open it?”

Benny laughed in anticipation. “Okay, okay, I just hope it isn’t a copy of Don Quixote!” he said with a laugh, and tore into the package. His breath caught in his throat when a familiar Roy Rittenhouse illustration of an even more familiar space station emerged. Along the top of the paperback’s cover was the title: Deep Space Nine. Along the bottom read, “The original novella and six short stories set on the edge of the final frontier! By Benny Russell”

#

Ben Sisko read the PADD that his first officer, Major Kira Nerys had handed him. Their new Romulan allies had hit six more bases in Cardassian territory and showed no signs of stopping. “I wouldn’t have thought it, but it looks like the Romulans are gonna be good to have around!” Kira said, that mischievous fire glowing in her eyes.

“It certainly looks like we’re on the right path, doesn’t it?” Sisko answered, rubbing his temple.

“Sir, are you alright?” Dr. Bashir asked.

“I’m fine,” Sisko said, shrugging the doctor off, “I’m just tired.”

“Are you sure? We could go down to the infirmary if you’d-“

Sisko suddenly grabbed his head, the PADD clattering to the deck.

#

Benny suddenly dropped his copy of Deep Space Nine and grabbed his head. Before his vision gave way to darkness, he heard Jules mention something about an infirmary…

#

When Sisko awoke, he was in his quarters, in the dark. He must have fallen asleep. Did he dream the party? “Computer, what time is it?”

“The time is 25:20” the computer answered.

He had missed the party. Sisko wondered why no one had come looking for him when he didn’t show. He leaned forward and rubbed his bald scalp. He probably would go to the infirmary to see about this headache.

Sisko looked back up and noticed a pair of eyeglasses lying on the table. He looked around, trying to see who could have left such an antique in his quarters. Then he noticed a shadowed figure in the chair across from him. The shadow appeared to be asleep. Sisko got up and walked over to the man. “Computer, lights.” He said softly, so as not to wake him.

It seemed incredible, but the man looked exactly like Benjamin Sisko. Such things were uncommon but not unheard of in the twenty-fourth century. Deep Space Nine had once been visited by Thomas Riker, who was a duplicate of Commander William Riker of the Enterprise. Sisko rarely used a transporter, however, and wasn’t aware of being involved in any accidents when he did. Then he noticed the way the man was dressed: he wore a plain white shirt and white pants that looked like something you might see in twentieth century Earth. Realization flooded over Sisko like an icy wave.

Placing a hand on the man’s shoulder, Sisko gently shook him awake. The man blinked a few times. When he looked up and saw Sisko, he grabbed his glasses from the table, tried to put them on upside-down, corrected them, and jumped out of his chair, all in one motion. He frantically looked around the alien surroundings. “Where?” He looked at Sisko. “Who?”

Sisko stood up straight and flashed the man his most charming grin. “I am Captain Benjamin Sisko of the Federation space station Deep Space Nine. You must be Benny Russell.”

#

When Benny awoke, he found himself lying on Sisko’s couch. The captain must have put him there. He must have fainted. “You okay?” Sisko asked him from the chair Benny had occupied a few moments before.

“I-I think so.” Benny said as he sat up.

“Can I get you anything?” Sisko asked, rising. “Water, Coffee?”

Benny knew what he wanted, “Raktajino?”

Sisko couldn’t help but laugh as he strode to the replicator. “Two raktajinos, hot.” The drinks coalesced and Sisko brought one to Benny and returned to his chair. Benny eyed the steaming mug in his hand. “You know, you drink this stuff so much, it made me want to try it.” He raised the mug to his lips and took a small sip. Benny whistled. “This is stronger than Cassie’s brew!” he said, setting the mug on the table.

Sisko laughed, “The Klingons don’t do anything halfway. Would you like some kava?”

“No! No, it’s good just the way it is.” Benny said, getting to his feet. “Deep. Space. Nine…” he savored each word as he roamed around the room, taking everything in. “How did I get here?”

“I was going to ask you that very same question.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have many answers.”

Sisko sank in his chair. “I haven’t had many answers lately either.”

Benny turned to face him. “What’s wrong? You look like you have the weight of the entire Alpha Quadrant on your shoulders.”

“You sound like my father.”

Benny gave him a sideways grin. “Tell me what’s troubling you; I might be able to help.”

Sisko couldn’t suppress the anger he’d been holding back. “Haven’t you done enough?”

Benny got very quiet. “You know, Ben, when I wrote that business with the Romulans, I couldn’t believe it myself.”

Sisko stood. “The Romulans?” He spit the word. Sisko stared at Benny in disbelief. “This is not about the Romulans and you know it! But it does have to do with the Dominion and this damned war! This is a war that you created and I’m left to stop. Why can’t you write a treaty, so Starfleet can get back to exploring space rather than blowing it up?” Tears welled up in Sisko’s eyes, so he went no farther, ignoring the single tear that ran down his cheek.

Benny collapsed into a chair, stricken. Benny thought about his writing. He thought when Benjamin Sisko came out of his head and into his typewriter, the stories had written themselves. He thought about the Preacher. “Ben, I used to think the way you do.” Ben turned back to listen to Benny. “I thought I created you, but your adventures came to me too easy. You have been such a terrific force in my life that in some ways I feel like you created me.” Silence filled the room as Benny stood and approached Ben. “Ben, listen to me. I have celebrated every one of your victories. I have mourned all of the losses. Don’t think for one second I don’t know what you’re going through.”

“Jimmy…” Sisko muttered.

“I knew he was a good kid. Every time I thought I could get him to come around, he’d go right back to his foolish ways.” Benny looked Ben straight in the eye, tears now streaming freely down his face. “I tried to save him, Ben. I tried to show him and others like him that there could be a better future for us. We will get to space, and we won’t have to ride at the back of the rocket! Because human beings are worth more than that!” Sisko now let his tears flow as well. It was hard to comprehend that the pain and suffering that Benny Russell endured originated from the same planet as Ben Sisko. “’The paths of the Prophets can often lead to misery and pain.’ You can’t save them all, Ben. But you can serve the greater good. Believe it or not, you have served the greater good. The Dominion stands against everything the Federation stands for. If you hadn’t done what you did, the Dominion would have eventually conquered and enslaved the Romulan Star Empire along with the rest of the Alpha Quadrant. You knew that and you reacted. No one will hold that against you.”

Sisko let Benny’s words sink in. “Thank you, Benny.”

Benny gave him a warm smile. “It’s nothing you didn’t already know.” He patted Sisko on the shoulder. “Before I go, I wanted you to know my friends got my stories published.”

Sisko brightened. “That’s wonderful!”

“It’s a small run, but maybe a few people will read it. We’ve both won battles. All we can hope is that we can win the war. Just remember if you ever feel that you bear this burden alone; I’m right there with you, every step of the way… And don’t forget about your friends right here on the station!” Benny started to fade away.

Sisko extended a hand. “Thanks again.”

Benny took it, “Give ‘em hell, Ben.” he said just before he faded completely away.

#

Sisko’s eyes opened to the sight of Julian Bashir doing a cranial scan. “I can’t understand it!” Julian complained.

“How long was I out this time, Doc?”

“Only a few minutes, and then the condition was gone.”

“That’s still a good thing, isn’t it, Doctor?”

“You do seem perfectly healthy, but in this instance, I would love to find out more about these synaptic potentials you’ve been experiencing. Let me run a few more scans.”

“Save them.”

“What?”

“Save them for another time.” Sisko said as he hopped down off of the biobed. Sisko left Julian, bewildered, in the infirmary.

In the corridor, he tapped his com badge. “Sisko to Dax.”

“Dax here.”

“Can you meet me at my ready room, old man? I have something I want to get off my chest.”

“On my way.”

#

Jack tossed and turned in the room next to Benny. He had just awoken from a nightmare that he was tied to a giant typewriter by a costumed super-villain. He banged on the wall. “Hey you! Can’t it wait until morning?”

Apparently it couldn’t. It was bad enough Benny had to tell them all his stories during the day, but now he had to keep them up all night with the clack-clack-clacking of his typewriter? He was sure that he could do something about this…maybe the right complaint to Dr. Wycoff…

End

You can read my other Star Trek fiction at fanfiction.net

Peace and long life,

-Justin