Let me premise this post as the title states, it’s a non-spoiler review of the newest Star Wars movie that I was lucky enough to get 7pm tickets on the Thursday it premiered. Gone are the days of midnight showings! I snagged a few tickets for the non IMAX 3D showing of the movie and I can sum it up with one word: YES!
Out of all the properties in the comic book space, I have always gravitated towards Batman; maybe it was seeing Michael Keaton don the cowl when I was growing up or how that Seal song, “Kiss From a Rose,” always got stuck in my head whenever I heard it. Either way, Batman was a part of my life at an early age, from the dark and brooding Tim Burton flicks to even reruns of Adam West’s campy but enjoyable Batman tv show.
It wasn’t until Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy started that I chose to pick up comic titles apart from the current Batman run. There were a lot of non-canon books written and drawn by brilliant writers and artists that ended up becoming part of the Batman legacy; and it’s in these standalone books that I want discuss the impact they’ve had not only on the character but his world as well.
This past weekend in the spacious San Jose Convention Center, a unique convention took place that blew my socks off. Aptly named Heroes and Villains FanFest for the mission to bring together celebrity and artistic talent under one room for the fans. That’s why it’s called “FanFest” because the group that organized this event wanted to focus on the fans and not the talent invited to attend. It’s an interesting idea that is quite refreshing amidst the larger conventions that focus on either too many things or limit the celebrity interaction.
Heroes and Villains FanFest in San Jose is actually the first time this type of convention was held anywhere. The creators and organizers of this FanFest all were a part of Walker Stalker Con held in various cities. And their main mission was to somehow capture this idea of connecting fans with celebrities and providing a memorable experience. In my opinion, they did a great job and Heroes and Villains FanFest was one of the most fun and memorable experiences I’ve had at a convention in awhile. This was made in part by the amount of celebrities present such as Stephen Amell, John Barrmowman, Lord Mesa, Paul Blackthorne, Karen Gillan, and Hayley Atwell.
If you’ve been following along with what’s being going on with the Marvel Universe right now, you’ve noticed that your favorite books have been missing. If you haven’t been following along, then don’t feel bad, it’s quite confusing because Marvel’s summer story arc, Secret Wars, has been dominating their current lineup.
If you’re not too familiar with the 1984 Secret Wars, the story revolved around a place called Battleworld where a supreme being called the Beyonder brought the characters of the Marvel Universe together to fight it out. So, what’s the difference with this summer’s Secret Wars? Everything, except the name of the story arc and the place Battleworld.
This past weekend, Wizard World decended on the Bay Area for the first time. I was able to attend this con on Sunday and was pleasantly surprised how much fun it was. I attended with my 18-month old son along with my twin brother and his son and met my coworker and his daughter there as well. So I guess you can say it was a family affair.
If you’ve ever wanted to check out the world of steampunk, this comic is for you. It blends stunning artwork with very smart writing, along with a glimpse in the world of steampunk, villains, and an antagonist who is very much so the title of the comic. It reads as a detective comic as we follow our mechanical heroine through some unbelievable circumstances as she searches for the truth behind the emergence of another mechanical girl. If that sort of thing intrigues you, then you’ve come to the right place!
If I was ever asked which Star Wars trilogy that I relate to the most, I’d have to say the Original Trilogy. I actually never got to see this set of movies in the theaters because Return of the Jedi came out during my birth year but as a kid growing up, this definitely helped shape my love for sci-fi and epic space stories.
Hey Shortboxers! This review of Marvel’s newest installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a bit late but we’re here to chat all things Ant-Man. But before we do, if you haven’t checked out our Just the Facts: Ant-Man post, we recommend reading that first and foremost. It’ll be worth it, believe me.
