"Have no fear! Once again I will save the day!"

Not anymore. (sigh) Somewhere out there, a squad of Autobots is missing its Lieutenant Commander.

Aron Kincaid, the voice behind Generation One's mighty and sophisticated Sky Lynx, has passed away. My heart and the heart of every oldschool TransFan goes out to his family and friends. The man played probably the most magnificent bastard of a Cybertronian ever, a character who did everything big and with grand showmanship--and had no problem making sure that you knew it.

Prime picked up an Encore-series reissue of the Sky Lynx toy ('reissue' being a bit of a misnomer to Japan collectors, who didn't get the toy back in the 80s) at some past convention. It was well within sight when Prime told me the news last night. I think I hugged that toy for a good hour, trying not to cry.

Some days, I think I ought to just say 'screw it' and see about moving to the L.A. area, else I'm never going to meet very many more of the people who helped, in ways large or small, to shape my childhood. (I have to face it, as great as BotCon is, the people behind it have a time of it in trying to get new guests. Seems like even holding it in Pasadena only imparts a bit more leeway.)

Wonder what Prime would say about such a move. Probably, the phrase 'I don't think so', in his best Rhinox voice, would be used...

--Weasel, "We miss you, Commander Modesty." (/sad grin)

Thanks for the Memories

It is with a heavy heart that I post this: Robert O. Smith, the voice of Soundwave from Transformers: Cybertron, has passed away. To some, he will be the master DJ from Planet X, but to me he will always be known as Genma Saotome from Ranma 1/2.

Ranma was a huge part of my teenage/young adult years. There are a lot of memories attached to that series; it was one of my first hardcore forays into anime. Hearing this news is a bit like hearing I've lost a family member. I never got the chance to tell him how much I enjoyed his voice work and how many fond memories of Ranma I have. I wish I could have at least told him 'thank you'.

Since I didn't have the chance anywhere else, I'll say it here: Thank you, Mr. Smith. For everything. I just wish I could have told you that when it really counted. I'll miss you.

Farewell, Grasshopper

David Carradine has been found dead.

I shall miss you, Kwai Chang Caine.

"Son, I'm a lot of things. A liar's not one of them."

So long, Uncle Bobby B. You'll be missed.

"Close the Iris."

Don S. Davis has passed away at the age of 65.

It's all I can do not to cry right now.
So long, Hammond of Texas. We'll miss you.

Thanks for the Memories

Stan Winston died Monday.
He was responsible for scaring (and scarring!) the hell out of me when I was a teenager; I was 18 in 1993 when Jurassic Park was released. Those damned raptors seemed so real.... I had nightmares for months. Good times, I tell you.

Thanks, Mr. Winston. Your work was brilliant. You will be missed.

Farewell, Dungeon Master

Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, has died.

I have a lot of fond memories of playing D&D with my friends back in my high school and college days. All I can say is thanks for the memories, Gary. You'll be missed.

"..."

From Shakesville:

Marcel Marceau has passed on.

"Among those kids was maybe an Einstein, a Mozart, somebody who (would have) found a cancer drug," he told reporters in 2000. "That is why we have a great responsibility. Let us love one another."

Godspeed, Mr. Marceau. The world is a lonelier place without you.