Full Disclosure: I have known Jeffrey Morris for over twenty years. In that time, our friendship has gone from tight to contentious to non-existent. We diverge on many social and political issues — we’re like objects that cannot occupy the same space at the same time, without disastrous consequences. But this will not stop me from extolling his absolute genius.

Yes, it is me again, harping on the issue of diverse media. This issue won’t go away anytime soon, especially when big name/big voice people like Matt Damon are so utterly clueless why this is so important.

Diverse media isn’t about changing races in existing media, or pulling a Harry Potter and sprinkling brown, black, and yellow people throughout establishing shots. It is about telling diverse stories, from diverse viewpoints, and disabusing the notion that straight-white-maledom is the only position from which stories should emerge.

The world is much bigger than straight-white-male power fantasies, and our media should reflect this. This is something that Jeffrey Morris and Future Dude Entertainment do quite well. They present diverse characters, diverse stories, in diverse worlds, through diverse mediums. And the offerings are pretty amazing.

Future Dude Entertainment is slowly encroaching on the app/game, film, television, and comic/graphic novel spaces. It is a slow takeover, but they are about to be a major player sometime very soon. At this moment, they have quite a few properties either produced or in development. Here is a small sample:

Parallel Man: Comic, Short Film, App

Oceanus: Short Film, Graphic Novel

Venus: Graphic Novel

Brainstorm: Comic/Graphic Novel

What separates Future Dude Entertainment is Morris’ insistence that the stories be based on real world science and tech. As the intellectual and aesthetic descendant of Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Syd Mead, Jeffrey has made it his life’s mission to present science in a way that is both engaging and entertaining. And he succeeds.

Each of his properties is anchored in scientific concepts that, with a Google or two, can be explored. Using real world science as the basis for the various stories makes everything feel a bit more real — despite the fantastic ways this science-based reality is presented. The final product may be out there, but its origins exist in our shared world.

The world building for each project is something you rarely see. The worlds feel lived in and populated by people we know and have affection for. The tech is designed with integrity and functionality, but you will still marvel at the sleek lines.

I don’t know about any of you, but many of the designs gave me the same feeling as when I saw the Hammerhead from Space: Above and Beyond. That space-faring fighter was so amazing when I first saw it.

The craft in Oceanus hit me the same way.

The narratives are serviceable. There aren’t too many surprises or innovative story techniques, but the tales are tightly plotted and lean more toward adventure than just straight ahead action. And this is a most welcomed change.

While I adore Sci-Fi, in comic and celluloid forms, stories are usually reduced to fighting. I enjoy and good fight as much as the next person, but to be immersed in a tale of exploration, or be made privy to a scientific mind trying to solve a problem, is refreshing to the point that I wish more folks would adopt this narrative choice. We don’t always need ass-kicking and explosions. Sometimes it is nice to see brains in action, over fisticuffs, guns, and things that go boom.

I highly recommend any and all Future Dude Entertainment offerings. Get you some. You’ll be glad you did.