Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

Patience pays off once again - the third issue of my Stargate toy comic is available to read, right now!

www.pizzarat.net/2026/02/11/s...

Posed along the back of a rustic building are the characters DR. RANDALL STRYKER, LT. MATT WRIGHT, MAJ. ELLEN COOPER. Cooper declares, "EXCUSE US! WE KNOW BETTER THAN TO BLINDLY FOLLOW ORDERS FROM A STRANGE MAN ON AN ALIEN PLANET!" Cage replies, "I'D LOVE TO UNPACK THAT STATEMENT... LATER!"

As demonically empowered creatures advance on him in his Eldritch form, Cage begins summoning a ball of energy above his open hand. "DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS!" he shouts. "WE'RE UNBOTHERED, CAGE - YOU'RE A POOR WIZARD!" one replies.

General Jack O'Neal ("played" here by an action figure of Pedro Pascal) says, "I
DON'T REACT WELL TO THREATS."

Alexander Weir ("played" by an action figure of Walton Goggins) replies, "OH, I MAKE STATEMENTS, NOT THREATS."

February 11, 2026 at 2:25 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

exhibit number 56,347,984,265,111 as to why we so desperately need campaign finance reform

a chart illustrating the amount of money (and, one presumes, corresponding influence the donors have brought to bear... or should it be bought to bear?) raised from super PACs by both Michael Bennet and Phil Weiser's campaigns for CO governor.

Per the article, "Rocky Mountain Way, the super PAC supporting Bennet, has raised over $3.3 million from 82 donors who have contributed an average of nearly $44,000 each. The group’s top donors, accounting for half of its total receipts, are former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Brighter Future for Colorado, a so-called dark money nonprofit that does not disclose its donors.... Weiser also has super PAC support from the group Fighting For Colorado, which has raised $562,651 since it was registered in August 2025. Seventy-one donors have contributed an average of $7,947. Its top donors — Jason Mendelson, Tom Ray, Arthur Reimers and Jim Kelley — are all venture capitalists or private equity investors who have contributed $50,000 each."

January 20, 2026 at 7:02 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

There's a new special guest antagonist to the team at Stargate Command in the second issue of my toy comic...

(the shows really had the number of the dickwad tech billionaire class, and I'm hopeful my contribtuiom will live up to the previously-set standards)

www.pizzarat.net/2026/01/14/s...

Alexander Weir ("played" here by an action figure of Walton Goggins), along with his masked military escort, waltzes into Stargate Command and declares, "STARGATE
COMMAND! ISN'T THIS AN EXCITING DAY? I'M ALEXANDER WEIR, AND I AM AT YOUR DISPOSAL DURING THIS TRANSITION."

Richard Woolsey ("played" by an action figure of Robert Picardo) raises his hand, asking, "...WEIR? I'M AFRAID I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT YOUR NAME MEANS QUITE A LOT TO ME."

Scratching his head, Sgt. Louis Jones tries to explain to Woolsey, "HE'S NOT RELATED TO DR. WEIR, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING."

Weir strikes a commanding pose, declaring, "MAYBE NOT BY BLOOD, BUT WE SHARE A COMMON SPIRT, I ASSURE YOU!"

January 15, 2026 at 5:06 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

If you've been waiting patiently to see what happens in the next issue of my Stargate toy comic... good news! It's posted, and ready to read, whenever you want!

How about right now?

www.pizzarat.net/2026/01/14/s...

The possibly-stranded SG team members walk away from the inactive Gate, into the nearby forest. Stepping forward, Lt. Matt Wright declares, "It's time to seek out some new life!" Major Ellen Cooper, his oldest and best friend, asks, "Why do you always say that?"

In a mysterious establishment, a man calling himself Anthony Cage approaches the SG team, saying, "You came through the gate, eh? It's a shame you can't go back."

Cage leads the SG team on a mad dash through an open door. Team leader, Colonel William Stryker, declares, "Let's get out of here!"

Brandishing a small talisman, Cage raises his hands, and the air around him crackles and hisses with mystical energy. "You left me no choice!" he shouts as he summons forces nearly beyond human understanding.

January 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

i've been inconsistently working on a blade toy comic for about 5 years now, and if i'm closer to finishing it than marvel is to getting the MCU version of blade into production...

i guess one of us should buckle down and finally make it happen

blade in a dark garage, wearing his sunglasses, and drawing his sword from its scabbard as he remarks, "why can nobody just stay in their lane?"

blade angrily stabbing down with his sword in a dark alley, and screaming

January 9, 2026 at 9:34 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

to tweak a line of General Ursus'

the only good human... is Ricardo Montalbán

Armondo and Caesar in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, an utterly unfuckwithable duo

December 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

I've been collecting a lot of GI JOE Classified action figures, despite not being a huge GI JOE fan, trusting that I'd know what to do with them when the right toy comic idea hit.

Once I started sketching out my Stargate idea, my past purchases were justified!

www.pizzarat.net/2025/12/10/s...

Meeting Mr. Woolsey and General O'Neal at Stargate Command, Colonel William Stryker waves and says, "JACK! RICHARD! I'D SAY YOU BOTH LOOK GOOD, BUT, YOU KNOW. TIME
RAVAGES US ALL."

While testing the latest version of his robotic assistant, Dr. Randall Stryker remarks, "THE TABLET'S RESPONSE TIME IS STILL... LACKING!"

Major Ellen Cooper salutes and observes, "SIRS, DOCTOR. IT'LL BE THE HONOR OF MY CAREER TO MAKE SGC'S LAST-EVER GATE TRANSIT WITH YOU."

Lt. Matt Wright mirrors Cooper's salute, saying, "ANYTHING LYING IN WAIT FOR US WILL REGRET EVERY CHOICE IT EVER MADE."

December 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

I've been scripting and collecting the critical pieces for a Stargate toy comic in the second half of this year - starring a new cast of characters, and with cameos from some familiar faces, like all good spinoffs do - and the first issue is live, right now!

www.pizzarat.net/2025/12/10/s...

Two soldiers standing in front of a tunnel going into the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, the iconic entrance to Stargate Command.

Richard Woolsey and General Jack O'Neal ("played" here by action figures of Robert Picardo and Pedro Pascal) walk through a corridor inside Stargate Command.

Woolsey laments, "I ONLY WISH MY EMAILS WENT TO THE RIGHT JACK O'NEAL ON THE FIRST TRY! THERE'S YOU, THE ONE WITH TWO L'S, AND WITH JUST THE ONE!"

O'Neal responds, "WE HAVE A FRATERNITY!"

Staring into the inactive Stargate, O'Neal remarks, "NOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS RING HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET. IT'S WORTH GETTING MUSHY OVER, I MEAN."

Woolsey's turn to muse on the Stargate, and the current state of things, saying, "GENERAL, COLONEL... YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE, KNOW TO RESPECT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND! ...EVEN
IF THIS CHAIN IS CHOKING THE LIFE FROM US, AND DRAGGING US TO THE OCEAN FLOOR."

December 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

Cap would agree with me that these jerks* running the government today don't have an exclusionary claim on patriotism

*he might say jerks but I would prefer... other, stronger language

the mafex captain american in kind of an awkward running pose

the mafex captain america reaching over his head to retrieve his shield from his back

the mafex captain america using his shield to, well, shield himself

the mafex captain america, unmasked, holding his shield in both hands in a somber sort of pose

December 8, 2025 at 7:29 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

Obviously, I couldn't turn down discounted power armor Kyle MacLachlan

an action figure of Kyle MacLachlan as Hank MacLean from the Fallout TV show, suited in power armor, with toy explosions going off around him

an action figure of Kyle MacLachlan as Hank MacLean from the Fallout TV show, suited in power armor and pointing emphatically

November 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

some more great comics got delivered today

a row of comics, including the second volume of the Superman Triangle Era omnibus, the fifth volumes of both the recent Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant comics, and the first volume of Absolute Martian Manhunter

November 23, 2025 at 11:02 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

we need another character to pick up the detective munch baton and make guest appearances all over the damn place

i vote for

john francis daley as doctor lance sweets from bones

November 23, 2025 at 10:42 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

the dream of the 00's is alive at best buy

a rock band-compatible guitar controller that is available to purchase at a major retailer in 2025

November 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

How are Daredevil and Stick going to get out of this one??

www.pizzarat.net/2025/11/12/d...

The Weapon of Vengeance ("Hellverine") stands atop a skyscraper with a quartet of Hand ninjas at its back. "I didn't know I had so many friends..." the demonic spirit observes.

Backed to the skyscraper's edge, Daredevil and Stick ("played" here by an action figure of Donnie Yen from John Wick 4) take a moment to assess the situation. "I think we're officially outnumbered," Stick says. "Isn't that when it's most important to focus up?" Daredevil asks.

November 14, 2025 at 3:24 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

If the cover of a comic is supposed to be an eye-grabbing image, that gets you to pick it up and take a closer look, then I hope that the cover of my latest Daredevil toy comic is a good one

www.pizzarat.net/2025/11/12/d...

Daredevil and Stick ("played" here by an action figure of Donnie Yen from John Wick 4) stand against the nighttime New York skyline, framed in the silhouette of the Weapon of Vengeance ("Hellverine")

November 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM

Phil Wrede

@pizzarat.net

I know it's been a bit since we last checked in with Daredevil and Stick, in their battle against Kingpin, the Hand, and the Weapon of Vengeance ("Hellverine"), so if you've been wondering what happens next... you're in luck today!

www.pizzarat.net/2025/11/12/d...