Star Trek and DC Comics characters invade the casino gaming floor

There has been a recent wave of familiar faces from the comic world that has been invading slot machines and video poker screens in casino halls. These characters have been a staple in best-selling comic books for decades already and featured in numerous media adaptations on TV and the big screen, catapulting them into household names worldwide. It is, thus, not surprising to hear that some of the comic book superheroes are now being patronized and loved by casino high-rollers worldwide.
Star Trek series
Coinciding its premiere on the small screen, Star Trek first hit the comic book store in 1967. Since then, several publishing companies have carried the Star Trek franchise including Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as well as Gold Key Comics, Malibu Comics and Wildstorm. The Star Trek comic books are currently being written and printed by IDW publishing. With the popularity of its universe of characters, from Captain James T. Kirk and Spock to Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Commander William Riker, Star Trek was soon brought to the gaming platform. For instance, numerous casinos in Las Vegas house a series of Star Trek slot machines, like Wynn Las Vegas, The Palazzo, Fremont, Luxor and The Venetian. With two games entitled Star Wars and Star Wars: Against All Odds Castle Jackpot hosts Star Trek games for the online casino market. Both the live and online versions of Star Trek slots games are created by WMS Gaming and International Game Technology (IGT). DC Comics characters
Among the comic kingdom’s best-sellers that have successfully migrated to the casino hall are the famous superheroes of DC Comics. As one of the publishing houses that precipitated the “American golden age of comic book” from 1930s-40s, the present-day “Justice League” team of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern, among others, is one of the world’s most popular and bankable comic book series with tens of thousands of issues since 1936. DC Comics’ wide readership has encouraged the company to expand its reach to the casino-going public, teaming up with Amaya Gaming Group’s Cryptologic to develop slots and video poker games for its characters.

A very rare bird indeed! A couch left on SE Halsey in the dead of winter. If you can brave the (for Portland) extremely cold temperatures, this couch can be yours.

For over six years I have been posting robots here every Friday. Friday Robots have become, if not the bread and butter, then certainly the oil and gears of the blog. Lately, though, I’ve been feeling a bit hemmed in my my self-imposed deadline. Starting January 1st, Friday Robots will no longer be appearing weekly. Instead I’ll make them more of a spur of the moment thing. Whenever I’m feeling inspired to draw a robot, I’ll share it with you. Who knows? This could mean you’ll see even more robots than ever. And, when I’m in the midst of working on an issue of Falling Rock, like I am now, I won’t feel stressed about having to take time away from to draw a mediocre robot. It’s a win-win.

Have a great December and may all the robots you meet be benevolent.

The very first Friday Robots

A very special post on the occasion of Friday Robots’ 3rd Anniversary, to which partner bloggers Stabbone & McGraw and West Lawn Park contributed.

Hey Portland,

This Sunday I will be selling my books and sundries at the Magnetic North winter commerce event. Stop by, pick up a gift in the form of Falling Rock. Hope to see you there!