My Happy Place

On the subway today, there was an ad about finding your happy place.  Of course, it was their way of convincing you to go to Aruba, but it still got me thinking.  What was my happy place?  What was the one place I was totally happy and at peace?  My answer surprised even me.  The convention floor.

I just love being on the convention floor, wandering through the booths and seeing all the people.  On the con floor, you get to be exposed to some many new things, all at once.  If you are bored, just turn around and look at something new.  Lonely on a line?  Just turn around and make a new friend.  It doesn't even have to be a comic con; I love any convention.  Just being there makes me feel excited and joyful.  I drive Wysefyre and Getsuyobi crazy days before a con, checking and double-checking info.  Even with all my preparation, I never know what I will see or who I will meet.  It is just the most fun a person can have, especially if you are me.

And yes, the jammed-packed floors and heavy bags killing my back do bug me a bit, just like the average person.  But I wouldn't trade them for the world, because being on the floor is still the awesomest place to be.  


So, are there any people out there that agree with me or am I just a crazy person?



Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

[IGH] at the Movies: Men In Black III

We got a chance to check out the next chapter of the MIB franchise, Men In Black III.  Was it a worthy sequel for us?  Let's see what we both thought....


Wilderowens' review


The MIB films have been filled with a fun and whimsical feeling. However, I went into this film with an impending sense of dread. With sequel after sequel scrambling for a few bucks, I was afraid to see this. Plus, the time travel storyline has been done so many times.  I was wrong to be worried though. Sonnenfeld did manage to keep this franchise fun and whimsical throughout. He handled the time travel gracefully and had plenty of funny one liners to keep the audience entertained.

Tom Lenk's Newest Instant Classic

Our very favorite Tom Lenk went with his buddy Andrew Putschoegl to Whistler, British Columbia, to take part in the Olympus 72 Hour Filmmaker Challenge. They had to handle the concept, writing, shooting, and editing a 5-minute short film in less than three days.  Take a look at their newest opus, Ladybeast.

Quickie-view with Daniel Johnston

While I was at MoCCA Fest, juggling my volunteer duties with wandering the floor, I got exactly two minutes with Daniel Johnston, creator of Space Ducks, at the Boom! Studios booth.  If you can't place the name, then just think really famous indie rock musician.  Squeeee!

My first question was to learn about how his comic came to be.  The way he tells it, his sister encouraged him to come up with a cartoon character. Since he loves to draw ducks, Space Ducks just came to mind.  Over the next few days, Daniel did the drawing and his brother printed it up.

[IGH] on Books: OPERATION: Montauk by Bryan Young

Have you ever read a book that not only captured your attention but took such a hold on you that you felt physically compelled to read it? That's how I felt reading OPERATION: Montauk by Bryan Young.


Rather than attempt to try and summarize the story, I think I'll let the author himself provide the synopsis:

[IGH] at the Movies: The Avengers

Yes, we got to see The Avengers early. We are that cool. "Marvel" at our awesomeness. But enough bragging, here is what we thought.

Wilderowens' Thoughts

Marvel has been soundly beating DC on the big screen for the past few years and they just raised the bar.  The Avengers was everything you could want in a superhero flick.

For all of the Joss naysayers, you were so wrong. Our man Whedon stayed true to the characters while adding his own brand of humor in the mix. Each character was explored and had a path to walk through the film.

The Changing World of MoCCA Fest

This past weekend, I attended the premiere event in the east for indie comics.  In case you haven’t made it to MoCCA Fest, it is a fundraiser for the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.  The festival is also a great opportunity to truly hobnob with the indie creators of today.

Like last year, I attended as a volunteer, not only to get the perks of volunteerism, but to hang out with a amazing group of geeks.  I was assigned to the A/V team, which meant I was working all of the panels.  Unlike last year, I didn’t get to watch any panels this time around.  I did get plenty of time to wander the floor and meet some new people as well as catch up with some old friends.

Gary Panter accepting the Klein Award

In my opinion, the floor of MoCCA Fest had a much different feel than last year for a few reasons.  The individual creators were more likely to try and get your attention.  I felt that more and more people were stepping up to show me their creations.  This is exactly what the fans need, and I think it helped the energy in the room.  Another great addition was the presence of Boom! Studios and Archaia Entertainment.  These publishers represent a more mainstream presence at this event, but they didn’t take away from the indie feel.  As one Boom! representative told me, they’re trying to bring their more indie titles, not big names like Irredeemable.    Despite all of these great things, the floor still seemed fairly uncrowded.  I imagine that holding it the same weekend as Stumptown on the west coast hurt attendance.

No matter what, MoCCA Fest is still the premiere place to find new indie comics on the east coast and hob nob with all of these awesome creators.  With each table, I had the chance to meet the brains behind great comics, and every purchase I made went straight to the creator.  Especially in this economic climate, that makes me feel great.  I highly recommend that you add this to your con list next year.

Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Ode to Amok Time

I moved this weekend. I finally left the quiet suburbs to join the masses in Brooklyn. I left behind a lot of people and places and my beloved car for a 3 floor walk up A LOT closer to my day job. With only 48 hours till my move, I needed to move quickly in wrapping everything up.


One of the saddest goodbyes was my local comic shop, Amok Time. It is pretty ironic that I just freshened up my pull list for them only a short while ago. Now, I had to cancel that brand new list.


I have been going to Amok for years.  In fact, it was my first comic shop. When I started reading comics, it was to the friendly staff at Amok that I turned to for my Buffy fix. Whenever a new book came out that they thought I would like, they added it to my stack. And I would talk geeky with them like nothing else. 

I have always visited other shops but they were never my central hometown store. I liked having my geeky "Cheers," where everyone knew my name and was happy to see me.


So now I'm completely unpacked and settled in. And yes, it isn't far to go back and visit the staff at Amok Time. I definitely will in fact. Still, it is a sad place to leave behind. 

Thanks to the staff at Amok Time for everything!

Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

IGH at the Movies: Cabin In The Woods

Cabin In The Woods is the latest piece from Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard. It's a horror/thriller about five college kids that go stay at a cabin....in the woods. I would give you more to the synopsis, but it would spoil it for you. Really, this film is filled with so much interweaving detail that it is hard to talk about! Basically I can say someone dies.

I tend to get so into movies that I stopped watching horror for my sanity. I only broke this rule because of Joss. So glad I did. This is such a good movie that it was worth the scared feeling. It is a film that I am still thinking about, even days later. CitW just stays with you, like a fungus you have grown to love.

The acting was spot on, with lines delivered right and sold perfectly. My particular faves were Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. They both stood out in their roles and conveyed varying emotions at the drop of a hat. This film is also jam-packed with Whedon staples, including a brief scene with the intern , played by Tom Lenk!

So go see this, even if you are terrified. (My cure for being scared is watching a few episodes of Community.) Totally worth the money and time to check out the Cabin In The Woods.

Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

IGH at the Movies: Hunger Games

The Hunger Games opened on March 23^rd, and I was there for a midnight showing, prepared to get my review of it out for all of you. So why did it take me so long to write my review? Well, as luck would have it, during what I think is the most emotional moment of the movie the film broke. For those of you who have already seen the movie, it broke right between the moment in the Games and the moment in the District (if that makes sense).  It involves the three-finger salute. The film broke so badly, we had to switch theaters and after that, it was really difficult to get sucked back into the movie. I had to wait until I could see it again, which I finally did yesterday. So, without further ado, I present my somewhat late review of The Hunger Games.

I love this movie. I think it has an incredibly strong script, great cast, and is extremely well executed, but having read the books several times over, it was hard at times to separate the movie from the books. In fact, I would go so far as to say this is a movie you should see BEFORE reading the books, so you don’t fall into the trap I did.  Seeing it again helped me look at the movie with a fresh perspective. So, let’s talk about the movie.


                             SPOILERS!!!!!

We'll start with the cast. You could not ask for a better cast. Jennifer Lawrence was made for this role. She is Katniss Everdeen. I cannot think of anyone else who could have played the role as well as she did. She makes me excited for the other movies.

The boys – Josh Hutchinson as Peeta and Liam Hemsworth as Gale. Liam is only on screen for moments, yet he makes an impression, and Josh really surprised me. I didn’t know what to expect with him. It bothers me a little bit that he doesn’t meet the physical representation I had in my mind, and his mouth hangs open a lot, but he’s Peeta. The moment I was completely sold was when he did his interview with Caesar Flickerman. They shared a laugh, and then sat as mirror images of each other. I don’t know if that was a director’s note or improved, but it worked. My only question about him is did anyone else think he looked like he stepped out of the old Hawaii Five-0 when he was in that blue suit? Maybe it was the sleepiness, but that’s all I could think about at that moment.

In adaptations I do prefer the characters to look similar to how they are described in the books. Donald Sutherland as President Snow did not look at all like I had originally thought, BUT he embodies the character in spirit so well, that it doesn’t matter at all. The same goes for Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. For some reason, I saw Haymitch more like a combination of Presidents Taft, Cleveland, and Teddy Roosevelt. Don’t ask me why, I’ll never know. But Woody did a great job. His character was changed a bit. Haymitch is supposed to be a sloppy, fall down drunk, and it’s a great comedic element to an otherwise, horrific story, but here, he’s not. Now he’s more of a manipulator and actual mentor. He’s in it. One great scene is showing him schmoozing with people trying to get sponsors. It works really well, and it shows that he genuinely cares about the outcome of the Games. Still, I would have like to see him fall down at least once.

Elizabeth Banks is brilliant as Effie. I like her better in the books, but that is more of a script issue than anything Elizabeth did. The physical transformation she went through is quite impressive.

There was a lot of controversy surrounding the casting of Rue, which made absolutely no sense, given that she was actually cast from the description in the book, but regardless of all of that, Amandla Stenberg was everything I could have imagined Rue to be, and she did an amazing job.

I could go on about the rest of the cast, but that would take forever, so I’ll just say, everyone brought their A game to this. I know certain scenes were changed because you can’t have this strong a cast and not give them anything to do. It wouldn’t make sense. *Side note – check out Wes Bentley’s beard. It’s a sight to behold and it’s all his. *

Let’s move on to the design and scenery.

From the first moment you see District 12, you feel as if you are in the world of Panem. Aside from the casting of Jennifer Lawrence (we’ll get to that in a moment), this had to be the most spot-on accomplishment of the movie. The dreary poverty of the districts compared to the crazy opulence of the Capitol successfully set the stage for the impending rebellion.

My first thought upon seeing the Capitol was it was like Atlantis. The structures gave the impression of a city on the water. In that first moment, I was like Peeta, overwhelmed by its extravagance.

I loved the training room. I’ll talk more about the plot in a moment, but I loved how the Gamemakers were above everyone watching down on them, because it helped make Katniss’ somewhat underwhelming private session more interesting.
The arena was well done, but I was disappointed in the Cornucopia. The book describes it as gold, and it was a black/silver monstrous thing. It made for an interesting contrast with the rest of the surroundings, but it’s one of the few design elements I believe could have been better executed.

The other element that was good but could have been better was the fire outfit. Before the movie came out, it was one of the most discussed pieces. Designers were creating their own image of it, and I think compared to some of their ideas, the movie version was a little bit of a fail. It was good, but not great. It didn’t make a big impression. Heck, some of Effie’s clothes made a bigger impression than that.

Speaking of, the Capitol clothes were a little insane. It was like as if one had stepped into The Wizard of Oz in that first moment when Dorothy lands in Oz, opens thedoor, and finds everything in Technicolor. So many colors.

But enough about that, let’s talk about the most important aspect of the movie: the plot.

There are several minor characters missing such as Greasy Mae, Darius, and Madge. I think I miss Madge the most, but it’s understandable why they were cut. I just wish they had been there because they helped give more insight into Katniss.

The mockingjay pin – its meaning and how it was used was completely
altered. It becomes the symbol of the revolution, but they hid it in the movie. Instead of Cinna talking about how unfair it was that Katniss had to go through the games and secretly attaching the pin, he could have had a line about keeping it as her token, and she could remain oblivious until the next movie.

I’m being a little nitpicky, I know, but that was the overall feeling I kept having. There were little moments and lines that were taken out, but if they had been kept in, relationships could have become deeper, and situations could have taken on a different context. Perfect example is Peeta doesn’t say anything about blood poisoning. In book one, the blood poisoning line is practically a throwaway line, but in book three, it has a special and important meaning. Or the moment when Katniss and Peeta gang up on Haymitch for the first time. They do it together in the book, but in the movie, it’s just Katniss and the knife. Having that moment would have shown them acting as a team for the first time, and then they wouldn’t have had to have that weird moment on the chariot where Katniss flinched away from taking Peeta’s hand. It’s little things like these that took me out of the movie a bit.

Time was sped up for the games. What should have taken weeks seemed to take only a few days. The two most noticeable events are the riot in District 11, which does not happen until book 2, and Peeta and Katniss in the cave. The cave was important because of how it developed their relationship. We all know Peeta was nuts about Katniss, but no one could be sure of her feelings for him until he was dying. It felt rushed. And by moving the District 11 riot up, we are denied them giving Katniss the bread that was meant for Rue, and I’m not sure if they will be able to have certain scenes that were in book two in the movie.

I don’t want you to think I thought all changes were bad. One of my favorites was to show Seneca Crane in the control room, and Caesar Flickerman giving us the play-by-plays. Loved the trackerjacker explanation. It was a stroke of genius. Showing just how much of a “reality show” the games were really helped set the stage for what’s to come in the next movies.

One of the biggest differences I saw was that Katniss understands just how messed up the Games is. I felt her anguish over Rue, but when she saluted the cameras, it felt like she knew how defiant she was being, and the same goes for at the end with berries. She appeared to be more cunning in the movie, whereas in the books, she doesn’t understand how important her actions are and what they mean to the rest of the Districts. It makes me wonder how she is going to be portrayed in the other movies.

It’s these little changes that made me at times sad for their lack of inclusion, but also hopeful and excited to see how the other movies are going to turn out. Even though The Hunger Games has lost its director, I believe if the next one keeps the tone, then we are going to be treated to something incredible.

So, if you haven’t seen The Hunger Games yet, get yourself to a theater. If you have, go see it again. It’s worth it.

Spring Cleaning Your Comic Pull List

Borrowed from Londoner's Eye

Hello Spring! Traditionally, spring brings showers, flowers and cleaning.  With all of the traditional spring cleaning going on, make sure you take care of the other aspects of your life. One area I try to take care of is cleaning up my comic pull list. Making sure that you are happy with the pull list is good for you and your local comic shop. It saves you money on your purchases, and it prevents excess stock from cluttering up the shelves.

I have worked out a 6 step process in refreshing your pull list. Please make sure you have enough time to
dedicate to this!

1: Contact your Local Comic Shop for a copy of your pull list.
While I'm sure you are thinking that you know everything on your list. It is possible that something might be on your list that hasn't been published in a while or was added by mistake. This means you won't forget a single title.

2: Pick out the comics that you are dying to read.
You know, the ones where you put down the latest issue and can't believe it is another whole month until you find out what happens. These are definitely keepers and should go on your new list.

3: Look at what you are behind in reading but still buying.
Ask yourself why you are still buying them. Is it because you genuinely love the series or are you just buying because you like the writer/artist/character? Take a hour or two to read the next issue(s). If you want to keep reading, it's a keep. If not, delete it.

4: Look at what's left.
If you are buying something you aren't even reading, it is a delete.

5: What else are you reading?
Take a look at the comics you have been buying that aren't on your list.  If they are something you are dying to read, add them.

6: Add up how much everything costs.
If you can't afford it, go back and prune some more. On average, prices fall between $2.99 and 3.99. You can check a price at Diamond Comics Previews. If you are feeling lazy, you can ballpark it by using $3.99 for all of them except for DC titles.

Now just submit the shiny new list to your LCS and make sure they know it is replacing the old one.


Congrats! Now you can go to get your exciting comics every week and even have some spare room to add new series!


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

IGH at the Movies: American Reunion

Brought to you by our friend Mister Jackal over at Inner City Geeks

They're Baaaaaack!

This week in theaters, Jim, Michelle, Finch, Kevin, Vicky, Oz, Heather, Jim's dad and Stifler are all back in the latest installment to the American Pie franchise, American Reunion. If you can't really tell by title, this movie is based around the Class of '99 high school reunion. American Reunion is written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, best known for the Harold & Kumar series, bring us a great addition to the series that has entertained many people for over a decade.

Who doesn't want a nicer world?

That is a serious question, with a more serious and scary discussion behind it. But let's for a second just imagine a more tolerant world. It would be a place where everyone is accepted, no matter what. Well, one show has dared to imagine a more tolerant world: Husbands, The Series. Husbands, from writers Brad Bell and Jane Espenson, is the first show that shows what the world might be like after we have a national amendment approving Gay Marriage. It follows two celebrities that get married one night in Vegas, and they try to make it work. In the end, they are just like any couple because they are in love.

Take a look at the first episode and you will be hooked:

Wasn't that great?! Now that you are in love, make sure that you help Husbands continue! They are raising money for the second season and are so close to their goal! Check out their kickstarter video now!

Go to their Kickstarter page now and support the world's first marriage equality comedy! Entertainment changes the world, so hopefully Husbands will be an important step in making our world a more tolerant place.


I understand that this can be a volatile issue, so please be nice in the comments below.


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Mmmm Pi!

Found on eveandersson.com

In case you didn't realize, today is every math nerd's favorite day.....Pi Day!  Yes, today is 3.14159265....well you get the idea.  Pi is awesome, fun and very nerdy.  Take the time to celebrate those continuing numbers with your family and friends and to irritate your boss!

I remember my first Pi day.  I was in 6th grade, and we had a fun math teacher that had the whole grade gather to talk Pi.  We all had to write papers about the history of Pi for a contest and mine won honorable mention!  I know that doesn't seem like a big deal, but I was very anti-homework back then.  It got in the way of my reading pile.  Funnily enough, we even had ice cream cake that was shaped like 3.14.  This is one of my most treasured memories, just because it was so much fun.

If you think that walk down memory lane was cheesy, just think about this: Pi is not perfect, yet never ending.  Sounds pretty profound, huh?

Enjoy your very own slice of Pi today!

Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Fairest #1 Review

I'm not sure what I expected for Bill Willingham's latest "Fables" spin-off, but I found myself both a little disappointed and wonderfully surprised. 


MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!

Johnny Wander at the Midtown Book Club!!!

From left to right: Ananth, Yuko, John and Conrad.

As always, I had a blast at the February Midtown Comics Book Club.  February's book was Johnny Wander: Vol 1.  The creators, Ananth Panagariya and Yuko Ota, were there to answer all of our crazy questions. I was also excited that John and Conrad (few of the books' stars) were in the audience.  As always, Thor and Zoe hosted the affair to a packed audience!

In case you haven't read Johnny Wander yet, it is a web comic that follows the real life antics of Ananth, Yuko and their friends.  Yep, this one is totally true.  It is written by Ananth and drawn by Yuko.  While it doesn't have a storyline, reading it is like reading a comic about myself.  It is cute and funny, and also something they are comfortable with their parents seeing!

The two of them have been working on JW for 4 years.   When coming up with the title, they chose Johnny Wander because it could be anything, not just a comic.  That way, if they branched out to other ventures, the name still fit.  Their original intent was that JW would be a side project.  However, it became so popular that it's become their main source of income.

Thor asked them why they went with a story a day rather than overarching plot, and Ananth said that each character is easy to pick up for new readers.  Yuko added that time-wise it is easier to keep up with as well.

Then they were asked just how they decide what makes it into the comics?  Actually, some things don't make it because all of their parents read JW.  Both of them said that they avoided using inside jokes to make it easier for readers to follow along.  Yuko did say that they ask before they use a story. The stories that did make it in were lightened up a bit so they were funnier rather than dark.  One story that fits this bill perfectly is the ant story.  It is funnier because John admitted at the book club that he has a deathly fear of ants!

I take good pictures!

Finally, I got to ask my question!  At the beginning of the book, there is a very sweet quote that I just love.  I wanted to know where it came from and it turns out that Yuko wrote it.  As she puts it, Ananth has no rhythm, so poetry is just out of the question.  On the flip side, Ananth did draw one comic, which looks pretty close to the rest of them.

This was a super fun night, and now Johnny Wander made it into my web comics bookmark folder.  Definitely check it out, you really won't regret it.  The March book is The Stuff of Legend, and creators Mike Raicht and Charles Paul Wilson III will be there!  Come on down and join us!




Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Interview with Peter Bagge, creator of Reset

Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

I had a chance to chat with Peter Bagge about his upcoming series, Reset.  You may recognize Peter from his work on Apocalypse Nerd.  The book blurb from the Dark Horse Comics press release really explains Reset best:  "If you could relive major events in your life, would you take a stab at making things better—and would your best attempts only make things worse? Or would you use your second chance to put your most twisted, perverted fantasies in motion? These are questions washed-up actor and comedian Guy Krause asks himself after he signs up to be the main research subject for a virtual-reality experiment."   Doesn't that sound awesome?  Just wait until you see what Peter Bagge had to say about it!

Sunday Links for February 19

It has been a crazy week for Wysefyre and I, with both of us running around crazy, then passing out.  Still, the geek world marches on with news.

Julie Taymor is sitting pretty with her ridiculously awesome settlement from Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark producers.  Can someone give me $10k a week?!
(via Nerd Bastards)

In reboot news, a director has been procured to do a new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  My heart is torn between excitement and fear with how Jonathan Liebesman will handle my precious turtles.  Only time will tell.....
(via Collider)

Comic Book Men premiered this week with "meh" and "blah" reviews.  Personally, I was bored during the five minutes I watched but others stuck through the hour and were offended more than bored.  Did anyone out there like this show?
(via Newsarama)

We held a contest this week for a autographed Conan #1 and the winner has been emailed!  Go check your inbox now and see if it was you!

Until next week.....


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Interview with Cole Haddon, creator of The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde

I had the awesome chance to chat with Cole Haddon, the brains behind The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde from Dark Horse Comics.  This was particularly fun, as I am a huge fan of this story.  On top of that, Cole is just a hysterical guy.  If you want to find out, make sure you follow Cole Haddon on twitter!

Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

IGH: We all may recognize Thomas Ayde, the inspector in The Invisible Man, as the hero in this story.  With this story as the prequel of sorts for The Invisible Man, will the Adye we see in that case be the same man from the original tale?

CH: First off, good catch. Most people fail to make the connection between my Inspector Adye and H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man. I’ve often said The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde is his “secret origin,” and so, to answer your question, yes, the intention has always been that Adye would become the hero of that novel…or, rather, my interpretation of it.

IGH: We watch Ayde begin to understand the world around him, through his education and corruption by Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.  Ultimately, do you think he finds a sort of peace?

CH: I think Adye has a long road ahead of him. He’s identified himself as a person of very specific beliefs his entire life, and, by the end of The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde, that’s all been taken away from him. He’s rudderless, but also full of cautious optimism that maybe, just maybe his re-education by Hyde has prepared him for the monstrous world that’s been opened up to him. So, yes, I think he does find a sort of peace…that won’t last.

IGH: In your afterword, you mention that Adye's betrayal of Hyde is forgiven because he makes up his own mind.  I felt that Adye never betrayed Hyde, instead he just proved that he learned from him.  In looking back, do you still feel that Adye betrays Hyde?  

CH: I think that Adye betrayed his friendship with Hyde, but fulfilled his responsibility as a human being according to Hyde’s code of ethics. It’s the great irony of the story, as far as I’m concerned. Hyde’s ethics are much more solid and humanistic (despite his homicidal “madness”) than any of the “good, upstanding” characters we meet in the comic book.

Sunday Links for February 12th

This week has been one filled with ups and downs.  While prepping for a week filled with awesome events, Wysefyre and I found out that Whitney Houston passed away.  We just want to thank Ms. Houston for her contributions to the music industry.  Our thoughts are with her family and friends.

Friends fight this week as Tony Moore filed lawsuit against Robert Kirkman over ownership of The Walking Dead.  This isn't the time they have fought in court, so it is especially sad to see them back here.
(via iFanboy)

GeekGirlCon 2012 has dates!  The hit of 2011, GeekGirlCon 2012 will be August 11-12 in Seattle, WA.  Start planning to go now!
(via GeekGirlCon)

A call for help has been issued to geeks!  There is now an online petition asking for people to boycott Marvel until they recognize Jack Kirby's rights as a creator and make recompense to his heirs.  A few fans are supporting this, including one that will be boycotting Avengers in solidarity.  However, I doubt there will be enough boycotting to make a difference to Marvel.
(via Robot 6, Comic Alliance)

Make sure that you enter our contest to win a Conan #1 and Conan poster, both signed by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan!  It's a great issue from Dark Horse Comics!
(via [insertgeekhere])

Until next week.....


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Review: Conan #1 plus a chance to Win!

Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

Remember way back in October, when I got a chance to interview Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan about the Conan series?  Well, issue #1 is out this week, and it rocked my world!  This first issue follows Conan as he jumps on board of a ship while he is running from the law and falls in the path of Belit, the Queen of the Black Coast.

Never reading Conan before, this was an interesting intro in his world. The story provides only a little background, but you are engrossed from the start. Right away, Conan's charisma makes you root for him.  This character shows honor that a hero should have, especially when he helps the ship captain defend himself.  Still, we see Conan's flaws when he puts others in danger to save himself.  This looks like it will be an interesting source of character development in the future. 

Best In Show

Editor’s Note: Since the amazing Christopher Guest celebrated his birthday this past Sunday, here is a look back at one of his amazing films.  And no, it’s not Princess Bride!  Our fav contributor Teacup takes a look at the hilarious Best In Show!  Happy Birthday Chris!

I recently sat down to watch Best In Show, a comedy by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. Best in Show follows five dogs and each their eccentric owners on their quest to win 'Best in Show' at the fictional Mayflower Kennel Dog Club Show. Guest and Levy's other works include the cult classic This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind.

 

The film is in documentary style, or, to be more specific, mockumentary style, parodying both the people who attend and compete in dog shows and the documentary style itself. Presenting the story in documentary style is a storytelling choice I'm not usually fond of, but Best in Show makes it work. The documentary style, in which the actors speak to the camera and help tell the story, makes a film more intimate, as if you're being spoken to by the actors on screen, creating a deeper connection between the audience and the actors. It also allows the filmmaker to treat their subject matter in a completely serious matter, which is great for a comedy. Each neurotic character trait and each awkward moment is intensified by the supposed 'real life' aspect of the 'documentary.' And Best In Show is definitely full of awkward moments and neurotic character traits.

Manic Video Monday!

Hi everyone! How's the new year been for everyone so far? It's been pretty busy for us here at IGH, but we didn't forget about you wonderful people. As you can see, we're starting to get back into the swing of things, and this year is going to rock. We have a bunch of great things happening here, and we can't wait to share them with you.


One of the things I've been doing is going through all the videos I've been sent or found. There were a lot of videos to sift through. Here are a few.


Warning: Strong Language





via Geeks Are Sexy


Warning: Contains SPOILERS!!!





via The Mary Sue

Sunday Links for February 5th

Happy Superbowl Sunday!  Whether you are rooting for the Patriots or the Giants (GO BIG BLUE!!!), I hope you have a fun day!  If you could care less about the Superbowl, this is for you....

This brilliance is from The Oatmeal.
If you don't read this web comic, you need to.

In other, more geek-related news this week:

It was announced that the popular studio Pizza Island ended this week.  The studio, filled with indie female comic creators, let their lease lapse since so many of them were moving onto new things.  Pizza Island will always be remembered as an awesomely creative space.
(via Comics Alliance)

The Watchmen prequels were officially announced this week, to much dismay by readers.  You can't go onto almost any site without complaints.  Still, not all prequels turn out bad....
(via MTV Geek)

Non-Player, one of the biggest premieres of 2011, is being made into a movie!  Surprising, since we haven't even gotten issue 2.  I guess that means the script going forward is amazingly good.
(via Bleeding Cool)

In the you-read-my-mind news this week, Alamo Drafthouse is releasing Princess Bride branded wine! A bottle of the As You Wish White is a huge want for Valentine's Day for your hunny.
(via The Gothamist through The MarySue)

Until next week......


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Scott Snyder at Midtown Comics: The Hottest Ticket in Town!

The January Book Club at Midtown Comics was Scott Snyder discussing his Batman graphic novel, The Black Mirror. It was a night of surprises like the Midtown Comics crew hasn't seen for the book club before.

That afternoon, I got an email from a friend telling me to get to Midtown Comics right after work. I thought he was just excited to see me. I ended up leaving work late and rushed over there. What I found was not what I expected. The alley next door was filled with lines of expectant geeks. And I mean filled. I went upstairs to find out that people had been waiting since before 3pm. Normally, the book club is 10-20 people, so I was completely thrown.

Sunday Links for January 29th

Den of Geek writer Andrew Blarr proposed an interesting thought:  Is the biggest threat to Doctor Who their fans?  Not sure I agree with all of his points but some are intriguing.
(via Den of Geek)


Just like last week's DC announcement, Oni Press reveled their new logo.  What are your thoughts about this?  And who do you think will be next?
(via Oni Press)

Archie Comics is on the verge of destruction with the latest battle in their ongoing court case.  Co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit has been ordered again to stay away from the company and employees while the control of her shares is being decided.  I truly hope that Archie and the gang survive this.
(via Robot 6)

Never thought this would happen, but Polish politicians donned Fawkes' masks to protest the government's actions.  It's definitely an awesome sight to see.
(via Bleeding Cool)


Until next week......



Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Sunday Links for January 22nd

In exciting party-like-it's-1999 news, SOPA and PIPA came to a very quick halt this week after the web shut down in protest.  With Reddit and Wikipedia leading the charge, sites blacked out like crazy.  Soon after Congress members started dropping their support.  Even though SOPA and PIPA have only been tabled, hopefully this means that work on bills that make sense will finally happen!
(via Mashable)

In huge comic news, DC Comics unveiled their new logo.  It is very different than their past logo and not every fan is thrilled.  What do you think?
(via DCU: The Source)

Don't know about you but I am still excited about the announcement that Star Trek 2 went into production finally!  I am a trekkie/trekker and can't wait to see what Abrams does next.
(via Cinema Blend)

I have been recently obsessed with Skyrim and a friend sent me this Skyrim drinking game called Fus Ro Drink.  Despite that fact that if you play it will probably kill you, it looks like fun!
(via FailBlog)

CBS announced that they ordered a contemporary Sherlock Holmes series.  Take it from me: Watch the already existing BBC contemporary Sherlock Holmes series.  You won't be disappointed.
(via Den of Geek)

Until next week......


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

It's 2012, time to get smarter!

Getting a bigger and better brain should be everyone's New Years' resolution. But how do you do that without a mad science degree? Well, it is pretty easy. Just join the Geek Girls Book Club!

In the random chance you haven't heard of the Geek Girls Book Club, here is the story. Waaaaaaay back last year, you might remember hearing about a certain NY Times reviewer saying "While I do not doubt that there are women in the world who read books like Mr. Martin’s, I can honestly say that I have never met a single woman who has stood up in indignation at her book club and refused to read the latest from Lorrie Moore unless everyone agreed to “The Hobbit” first. “Game of Thrones” is boy fiction patronizingly turned out to reach the population’s other half." Well, when GGBC founder Nicole Girtman saw that, she was angry. Then she decided to proved that author wrong. Thanks to that article, Geek Girls Book Club was born! Less than a year later, its members come from all corners of the world.

Of course, our first book was The Hobbit, and since then we have touched on almost every geek genre. January's book is the wildly popular Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. So grab a copy and start reading!  On January 28, head over to the GGBC website, GoodReads page, FB Group or Page, or Twitter at #GGBC, and chat with geek girls and guys (yes, we have boys!) about your favorite parts of the book! 

So take this opportunity to get a little smarter and make some new friends. Hopefully I will see you there!


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

Sunday Links for January 8th

We started the new year on a sad note.  In the past week, we lost Bob Anderson, an Olympic fencer and movie swordsman.  We knew him best swinging a lightsaber as Darth Vader in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi."  We also lost Richard Alf, one of the founders of San Diego Comic Con.  Alf was an early benefactor of SDCC, and is a huge reason it is what it is today.  You will both be missed.
(via Huffington Post and The Beat)

This week also brought the disturbing news that there is an upcoming Twilight musical.  While it seems it will be a sarcastic parody, it still saddens me.  Hopefully the Star Alliance can put an end to it......
(via Entertainment Weekly)

For everyone getting as obsessed with Skyrim as I am, check out this fan-made Monopoly board.  It is a great backup in case the power goes out.
(via Geekologie)

With 2012 just beginning, iFanboy has some very, erm, interesting predictions for the new year.  Let us know your predictions for 2012!
(via iFanboy)


Until next week.....

Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!

A Look Back at 2011

As I read all of the 2011 recap posts, I thought back through my highlights of 2011.  All of my major geek highlights are because of you, and [insertgeekhere].  And while the big news items of 2011 are important, I wanted to share with you my own personal highlights.

In the past year, [insertgeekhere] has grown by leaps and bounds.  Our family has grown by hundreds, and I just want to say welcome to all of our new fans.  I am so thankful that you are supporting us.  Our best addition has to be Teacup, a new contributor we met at NYCC.  In the new year, expect to see many more great posts from her.

I never thought that the blog would bring so much into my life, but this year proved me wrong.  In the past year, I have met more comic writers, artists, and editors than I ever thought I would.  Interviewing people like Scott Allie, Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan, and John Ostrander has made me feel much cooler than I am.  The best people I have met though are the other bloggers and fans.  I have made more friends around the world than I ever thought possible.

Looking back at 2011 makes me excited to see what 2012 brings for us.  I can't wait to see what insanity Wysefyre and I stumble into, because I know it will be fabulous.


Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!  See you on the other side.  ;)


Like what you just read? Let us know in the comments below and keep up to date by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr!