In this issue, the RedPhoneZone takes another shot at video game casting, the first time since issue #2, when we put The Legend of Zelda on the Casting Couch. We then take a look at the Helm of Doctor Fate in our Characterization segment. We wrap things up this time with a few Confessions of a Movie Snob with the 2010 Dreamworks Animation film, Megamind!
About The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda, occasionally called Legend of Zelda or Zelda, is a high fantasy action-adventure video gameseries created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It was developed and published by Nintendo, with some portable installments outsourced to Flagship/Capcom and Vanpool. Considered one of Nintendo’s most important franchises, its gameplay consists of a mixture of action,adventure, and puzzle solving. The series centers on Link, the playable main character and protagonist. Link is often given the task of rescuing Princess Zelda in the most common setting of the series, Hyrule, from Ganon—also known as Ganondorf—who is the primary antagonist of the series. However, other settings and antagonists have appeared throughout the games, with Vaati having recently become the series’ secondary antagonist. The story commonly involves a relic known as the Triforce, which is a set of three golden triangles of omnipotence. Link holds the Triforce of Courage, Zelda holds the Triforce of Wisdom, and Ganon holds the Triforce of Power for various reasons between the different versions of the game. The protagonist in each game is usually not the same incarnation of Link, but a few exceptions do exist.
As of April 2010, The Legend of Zelda series has sold over 59 million copies since the release of the first game, The Legend of Zelda, and continues to be successful worldwide. The original Legend of Zelda is the fourth best selling NES game, of all time. The series consists of 15 official games on all of Nintendo’s major consoles, as well as several spin-offs. An American animated series based on the games aired in 1989, and individual manga adaptions which are officially endorsed and commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997.
About the Helm of Doctor Fate
Artwork for the cover of the unpublished Doctor Fate vol. 4, #1 (2007).
Doctor Fate (also known by the diminutive, Fate) is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear within DC Comics‘ universe. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55 (May 1940). In 1940, the character also became a founding member of the Golden Age superhero group the Justice Society of America.
Initially, Doctor Fate was Kent Nelson, the son of archaeologist Sven Nelson, who died after Kent opened the tomb of the ancient wizard Nabu. The orphaned boy was trained by Nabu in the arts of magic.
After DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, several different versions of Doctor Fate were introduced, but were relatively short-lived. Doctor Fate’s appearances in other media and comics set outside the continuity of the DC Universe (for instance, in the DC animated universe) tend to be of the original Golden Age Kent Nelson incarnation.
In the Golden Age, Doctor Fate possessed the abilities of flight, invulnerability, telepathy,telekinesis,superhuman strength,teleportation,intangibility, and fire & lightning blasts while wearing the Helm of Nabu. Fate later switched to a half-face helmet when he felt Nabu’s personality taking control of him. The switch stripped Fate of most of his powers, but left him with his flight, superhuman strength, and invulnerability.
During the Silver Age, Fate’s abilities expanded to include astral projection, energy manipulation, the ability to create energy constructs, mind control, and the ability to travel between alternate Earths at will. Fatewas unable to counteract spells that had already been cast and in effect.
The various Doctor Fates have wielded the Helm of Nabu, which allows the wearer to communicate with Nabu’s spirit and boosts the user’s magical abilities, the Amulet of Anubis, which housed the souls of previous Doctor Fates and the Lords of Order and the Cloak of Destiny.
About Megamind
Megamind is a 2010 animated superhero comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and Red Hour Productions, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was released in the United States in Digital 3D, IMAX 3D and 2D on November 5, 2010. It features the voices of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross andBrad Pitt. The film is directed by Tom McGrath.
