Birdman Review

After a seriously false start yesterday, I ended up in the theatre. I had missed my first two choices in movies so I went with a random choice that the couple behind me in line were going to see. Having never even heard of the movie, it's fair to say that I had zero expectations. For those that know me, I did confirm that this wasn't a horror movie because with a title like that, one never knows.

According to IMDB, the movie is about:

" A washed up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of a Broadway play."

The movie starts Michael Keaton, who I honestly haven't seen in anything in ages. I know that he's done quite a bit, but I just haven't seen it. No fault to the poor actor that I can't manage to get out more.  When I first realized who the actor was and that the premise involved him playing an iconic superhero who then goes on to lesser things after retiring the role, I wondered how much of the film was autobiographical. I mean, c'mon...Birdman...Batman...it's not much of a stretch.

In fact, the role seemed a little too real, so this morning, I hit up Wikipedia to double check that the man had a career after Batman.  Turns out, he hasn't done any Broadway work, his career may have peaked, but he hasn't been out of work and this whole connection is just him poking fun at his past role. Whew! My research also showed me that this movie has been nominated for about eleventy billion awards. In fact, Mr. Keaton actually won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. This is where I get confused.

When I saw this movie yesterday, the theatre was actually full of old people. No, seriously, I was probably one of five people under the age of near 70. Watching it, I don't recall more than a single chuckle throughout.  So, how this movie ended up the Comedy section baffles me. It's just not a comedy and it most certainly isn't a musical. Comedies should make people laugh and musicals ...well, they should be musical.

This movie is drama all the way. It's a serious story of how we let go of one thing because it's come to define us, just to discover that the struggle to find a new identity is a real one. The cast for this movie does a brilliant job with their roles, but by the end of the movie, I was wondering what time it was. The movie just seemed to drag and for once, I didn't stick around for the credits. Those who know me, especially my long suffering children, know that I always stick around for the credits. They fascinate me. I also feel that if these people took their time to put together what I just enjoyed, they deserve for me to see their name.

Walking out into the snow, slush, and cold, I could only think, "Well, I would have paid $5 for this, but I wouldn't pay $8.50." The story was good, but not great. The actors were very good in their roles, but could have been amazing if given the opportunity. Overall, this is a movie that I don't regret seeing, but it's not making my "Omg, I have to have this on the shelf list."

The Problem With Being a Nerd

Image via Tumblr

The other day, I was approached about writing for a site that considers themselves to be a nerd blog. Now, I  confess that I've read all of one post on their site, but my immediate reaction was that I don't think I'd have anything to possibly contribute. I know that one of the two contributors writes about comics/games and I have no idea what the owner writes about. It bothered me though that I was so quick to reply with, "I have nothing to offer."  It bothered me more than the fact that the owner immediately responded with something along the lines of me not being a fit, after all.

Why was I so quick to jump to that answer?  Is it because I really believe that I have nothing to offer to a nerd blog? Is it because I run a geek site of my own and I rarely write for it so it'd almost feel traitorous for me to start writing someplace else? Or is it because it's really hard to be a nerd within the nerd kingdom sometimes?

The term nerd these days encompasses just as much as the term geek.  It used to be that these were very separate terms with different definitions. To some, they still are. For the most part though, I hear them interchanged without anyone blinking.  The problem is that they encompass so much. It's become overwhelming. The idea of picking just one subject to write about is like asking a person to reach down into a pile of gemstones and pull out the one tiny chip of a diamond that's in there, but you can't look as you reach. It's a blind pull.

So, when I was asked, my brain panicked and tried frantically to sift through any and all of my interests to find the one thing that would make my writing worth writing.  A panicky brain is not a good brain. I blanked. If asked the same question right now, I would have the same answer. I don't know. There are too many options and so many that I don't feel like any sort of expert in.

This leads me to the other problem when being asked to write for a site like this, nerd panic. This is a very really thing, folks. It's that feeling you get deep inside when someone asks about your fandom. It's that series of thoughts that go buzzing through your head:  "What if they don't like my fandom? What if I don't do a good job of representing it? Will all the nerds/geeks hate me?"

I would love to say that even a geek/nerd as secure as myself and who stands up every single day for the individual and that your fandom is not my fandom and my fandom is not your fandom, but no fandom is better than another, is immune to this, but I'm just not.  It can be hard to be a nerd in today's kingdom of nerdom. There are so many things to be a fan of and each and every one of these has a handful of ultra-nerds that know every single detail about whatever it is. Those are the ones who scare us; the ones who not only know everything, but will be the first in line to tell you that you're wrong.  The last thing any of us want to hear is that we're not really a geek or a nerd or a part of the community.

After all, humans are meant to be a part of things. We're meant to seek out those like us and to join with them. To be told that we can't be a part of that is not only humiliating, but on some levels, it's also painful. It's as if a piece of your identity is being ripped away and depending who you are, that can be a tiny piece or it can be a huge part of who you feel that you are. There are some of us who live very solitary lives and when we connect with a group of people and we feel as if we're a part of something, it is a very big deal.  We've finally found a place where we fit in. Knowing that there are those who could rip that away from us is very scary. It's why people won't speak up about their fandoms or they keep them secret. Yes, there are closet bronies, browncoats and whovians. They exist and they exist because these shows represent a piece of their own personality and there is a fear that if they speak up about them, someone may judge that piece of them. Sometimes, it's more than a show, a comic, a movie; it's a piece of us on paper or screen.

So, why didn't I jump at the chance to do something that I love (writing)? It's probably a blend of all of the reasons, but the biggest one? A fear that my fandom, my geek girlness would come under attack and it's easier to accept that someone doesn't see you as one at all than to have them see a piece of your very self and have them rip that apart. Remember folks, that just because someone may not know what color the blade of grass was on some far off planet on some far off date doesn't mean that they don't heavily relate to some character who is standing on that same blade of grass and because they relate, it's like watching themselves. Each of us is entitled to not only our own fandoms, but our own level of fandom.  Next time someone asks me to write, I'm hoping that I remember this and I step out, even if I'm afraid, and I write some kick ass piece for a site that celebrates that very premise. 

Make Comics Like the Pros

A step-by-step guide to all aspects of comic book creation--from conceptualization to early drafts to marketing and promotion--written by two of the industry's most seasoned and successful pros.
Every aspiring comic book creator wants to know: what separates the beloved comics of major publishers like Marvel, DC, Valiant, and Image from all the rest? Fan-favorite comic book writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente reveal the secrets of comics' top talents in "Make Comics Like the Pros." The authors take readers step by step through the comics creation process from idea to finished work, and along the way offer examples and insights from their own careers as well as their collaborators'. Not only that, but Pak and Van Lente also join forces with Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Colleen Coover to produce an original comic inside the book! With its unprecedented level of insider access, "Make Comics Like the Pros" gives comic book hopefuls the tools they need to reach the next level of sequential arts stardom.

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 Ever wondered just how many people it takes to make a comic book and what all of those fine folks do? This could just be the perfect book for you. It covers everything and does it in such a way that is easy to follow along and learn a lot along the way. Throughout each section, folks in the industry tell you how they do their job and do it well. As someone who has a minor role within this industry (both as an editor and reviewer), it was a delight to see the full behind the scenes make up for any comic.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments, and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Foundations in Comic Book Art

A comprehensive guide to creating and developing comic book and graphic novel art, from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), one of the world's leaders in sequential arts instruction.

Artists seeking a way to break into the exciting world of sequential art first need to master the tools, techniques, and habits used by their favorite pencillers, inkers, and digital artists for creating dynamic, exciting comic artwork. In Foundations for Comic Book Art, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)—a leading force in art and design education—enlists one of its top instructors, John Paul Lowe, to provide aspiring comic book makers with a thorough primer for creative comics, featuring must-know concepts like contour drawing, mastering perspective, using photo-reference, and adding digital patterns. Examples from the works of SCAD faculty, alumni, and students are paired with Lowe’s easy-to-follow, step-by-step lessons and exercises for readers, demonstrating the vital processes all would-be sequential artists have to know before joining the ranks of the comic book–making elite.

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As soon as this book came out of the envelope, there was a mad grab for it by my thirteen year old. He's really the only one of us who has any amount of artistic ability (at least when it comes to drawing) and as he flipped through the pages, I could tell that he would be coming back to this book many, many times. When I had a chance to read through it, I was especially taken with the fact that the author appreciates individuality and leads the reader through the book in a series of chapter leading from easiest to most difficult. So long as you don't skip ahead, anyone with artistic drawing ability should be able to follow along and certainly to learn. I know that I learned a lot and while I had a very solid appreciation for what my artist friends do when they work on comics, this just cemented just how awesome that they are. If you have any interest in comic book art, becoming a comic book artist, improving your own artwork or just want to flip through a book with some amazing work in it, written by someone who is down to earth, pick up this book. It's another that I'm suggesting for the holiday gift giving season.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Tic Tac Tome

Think you’re pretty smart? Turn the pages to play your moves and watch as Tic Tac Tome beats you forward, backward, and diagonally. Tic Tac Tome features more than 1,400 pages, hundreds of draws and losses, and just one way for a clever reader to win. No apps, batteries, or touch screens required—Tic Tac Tome is powered by good old-fashioned book smarts. It’s deceptively simple, endlessly addictive, and (nearly) impossible to defeat. Complete with introduction and FAQs for the unfamiliar and unsure, Tic Tac Tome is the smartest book you’ll ever cross.





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Okay, let's face it. We've all played this game at some point in our lives. Some of us are better at it than others, but none of us could imagine that a book could beat us. This book, in all it's swagger, declares that it's going to do just that. Well, let me tell you, I couldn't put this darn book in its place. Granted, it never beat me and I'm sure that the war is far from over, but I couldn't beat this darn thing..yet.

With the holidays coming, this would be a great gag gift, stocking stuffer, secret santa or white elephant gift. It's fun and if you can ignore it's pompous attitude, you'll get hours of enjoyment out of it. If nothing else, you can watch as your friends and family take on one little book with a big attitude.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. No matter what this book may tell you, all thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Never Underestimate A Hermit Crab

Hi all! It's been a while since I've been able to dip my fingers back into the reviewing pool. I spend most of my time making sure all of our reviews get posted and that our reviewers are busy folks! However, this gem showed up in my mailbox and I just had to take the time to share it with all of you.

Never Underestimate a Hermit Crab is a brand new book released by Silver Dragon Books. If you know me, you know that I've been harassing the fine folks at Zenescope to make more use of this brand so seeing that made me squeal just a little bit. On top of that, if you purchase the hard cover edition, a portion of the proceeds go to PAWS: Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. Those two things alone were enough to have me smiling before I even opened the cover.

Once that cover was opened though, I couldn't stop turning the pages. In fact, my twelve year old was curious what I was reading and he stayed with me all the way until the last page. So, you know there has to be quality there. The story is simple, but cute and one that had a message. Just like the hermit crab, you should never underestimate yourself. The drawings are just like the ones on the front cover and one that I actually loved seeing in black and white. I honestly feel that if they had been done in color, it would have taken away from the story.

What was wrong with it? You know how picky I can be...Nothing! I loved this book. My twelve year old loved* this book. The only thing missing is more to this series. In fact, I'm already vaguely pestering Daniel about adding more to this series. I have an idea for the next book.... *grins*

Want to know more? Check out the book's Facebook page and Silver Dragon Books.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the sole purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Niagara Falls Comic Con 2013

There's something wonderful about attending a comicon for the first ever time. You have no preconceived notions based upon prior years' attendance and you have no idea what you're walking into. Such was the case this year when I travelled to Niagara Falls, ONT, Canada to attend the Niagara Falls Comic Con.

I wasn't sure that I'd be able to make this one because I'd have to leave less than a week after returning from Phoenix, but the gods were smiling down upon me and on Thursday, I headed to Niagara Falls. One bonus of going to cover an event such as this? When you're being interrogated by the Canadian Border Patrol and you say comicon to one who just happens to be a nerd, everything changes. Instead of do you have anything illegal, it's do you know who the guests will be? What are the hours? Where is it located? Best border crossing ever!

Now, what I didn't stop to check was which days the con actually happened! I'm so used to three day events, that I drove over on Thursday, expecting to be at the con on Friday. Nope! Turns out that it's a two day only event. Luckily for me, some of my closest friends live in Niagara Falls so I got to spend the day (and non-con time) hanging out with them!

Saturday dawned bright and early..reallly early because I had to head to Rob and Nicole's house so that I could catch a ride with Rob and gang down to the convention center. This was an experience that I've never had before and I have to say that the morning chatter and company was a pleasant change from heading in by myself! Since Rob was helping head up the volunteer corps, I got to hang out in the lobby and get a real behind the scenes look in how things were run. While there were certainly things that I would change, everything went incredibly smoothly and I was impressed with the two ladies that I saw making sure everyone knew what was going on.

Once inside, I think everybody was blown away by the turn out. I watched the volunteer staff whip into action though and I have to say that I was very impressed by how they all handled the unexpected entry delays and the need to shift lines. Every single volunteer that I came in contact with was friendly, outgoing and was working hard at making this a fantastic event.

Before I tell you about the rest of the awesomeness for the weekend, I do want to touch upon a few things that I feel could have been done better.

1) This is called a comic con, but most of the guests were actually in the entertainment field and had nothing to do with comics. I'm one of those fussy people that feel like a comic con should be more comics than entertainment or at least have a balance. To have more entertainment makes it an entertainment expo. Granted, this is a pet peeve of mine and it may not bother anyone else.

2) The floor layout. - For some reason, they had the food vendors in a rather awkward spot right next to artist alley. I wish I had a floor sketch to show you.  This really needed to either be in the lobby or in one corner of the room so that when it got busy, it wasn't blocking the aisles and preventing people from actually getting up to the tables.

3) Training/Preplanning - I'm not going to be as harsh about this as I am with more experienced conventions because this was only the third or fourth year for this con and I do know that there is a learning curve. I also know though that you do need to learn from your mistakes. While walking the floor, I spoke to numerous vendors who said that the whole check in process was a bit of a mess. Nobody knew who was supposed to be where and there wasn't anyone there to check them in on the docks. I noticed this same problem with the volunteers. These are all issues that should have been nailed down. The volunteer teams should have been all given assignments and given some training on how to handle those assignments.

4) Wristbands - Okay, we all know this is a pet peeve of mine. I despise wristbands. They're cheap (which is why cons go with them) but more importantly, they're so unsanitary. Have you ever seen the gunk that builds up on one of those? *shudders* Plus, this con had gone with a particularly cheap wristband that snapped off with very little effort (mine broke when I caught it on a door handle) and they weren't allowing anyone with broken wristbands back into the event.

I have one or two issues as a press member, but those are better taken up with the convention since they don't affect regular attendees...Now, you've heard my bad...let's focus on some good.

1) The convention location. - I love an event with plenty of doorways and one that's wide enough to allow traffic to mill about without everyone running each other over. This place easily handled that.

2) The guests themselves. - While small, this convention did a good job of not only bringing in some wonderful guests but also making sure that they were set up so that people would get a chance to meet their
favorites. The guests that I got to speak to all seemed happy and were friendly.

3) Variety in Vending - There's nothing worse than attending a convention where every single table is selling the same exact product. I loved the fact that I could buy everything from caramel corn to comics, from jewelry to jazzy etched glasses. There really was something for everyone and I applaud the planners for creating that variety.

So, that's the rundown, but I know you're waiting for the bottom line...Would I attend again? Yes. Without a doubt. I'm eager to see how they take the challenges from this year and turn them into successes in coming years. I would encourage them to put themselves out there more and really draw in the comic community. When I spoke about the event prior, not many had ever heard of it. I think it's time to change that. With any luck, you'll see me slipping through the crowds in 2014.

Family Pets #1

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote one of these myself. Let's see if I remember how it's done, shall we?

Some of you may be familiar with the author of Family Pets. He goes by the name Pat Shand (we're pretty certain that's his real name too!) and you've seen his name around these parts for such books as Godstorm and Robyn Hood, both of which are put out by Zenescope.

Now, he brings us a whole new tale and this one with the all ages subsidiary type thing of Zenescope, otherwise known as Silver Dragon. If you've been around me for long, you've heard me bemoaning the fact that nobody has done anything with this company and there is such potential for amazing there. Well, it seems finally the comic gods are listening! Well, it's that or they're like merciful heavens, Katrina, hush, we got it. Either way, it's happening and it's starting out with Family Pets! Aaaannndddd...we were sent a copy to check out! Woo! *ahems* Sorry. I may have had a bit too much sugar tonight. Let's get to the actual review, shall we?

 After turning sixteen, Thomasina begins to accept that her life will remain unremarkable… But when she wakes up one morning to discover that her foster family has been turned into pet animals, her ordinary life will turn into an extraordinary adventure! The series is written by Pat Shand and artwork by Sarah Dill. 

The Good:
This is a fantastic introduction to what is going to be a hit series. Why a hit series? Well because people are going to like it, of course! What makes it so wonderful? Well, if memory serves, it's my job to tell you that, right?

In all seriousness, this is a book that I would consider to be a great introduction to comics, if you have children who are interested but you don't know where to start. While we're used to far more adult subject matter from Mr. Shand, this books brings the story down to a level that anyone can enjoy. In just the first issue, you'll meet a girl who could be any girl. If you're like me, you'll recognize some of the folks in the story to be people in your own life. Pat gives us a story that we can all somehow relate to from the very first panel.

Did I mention the art? Nope. I haven't but that doesn't mean it's not fantasimus because it is! (Is fantasimus a word? No? Well, it is now. Consider it a hybrid of fantastic, smashing and mystical/magical.) Sarah Dill isn't an artist that I was previously familiar with but she brings the characters to life in such a way that your eye is drawn to what's important. There's not a ton of filler and for this book, personally, I found that perfect. The art is family to the story and that's just how it should be.

The Bad:
Here's where I have to get nitpicky...are you ready? I promise it'll be okay. You can even hold my hand..here we go ....

Honestly, it was pretty tough coming up with anything bad about this book. I found some grammatical type things that probably only I would notice and if I hadn't been editing for the past four days straight, I may have overlooked them. For the casual comic reader, I can't imagine them being noticed.

There's only one other thing that I can think of and honestly, it's not even a bad thing. It's more of a personal taste thing. When Silver Dragon announced that they were stepping up their game, I got excited because I have a 12 year old son who is on the fringes of really being into comics. He frequently asks about two of his favorite titles and if anything is ever going to happen with them. With Family Pets, I had hoped to find another book for his meager arsenal. Sadly, this won't be it. He's at the age where a female main character just isn't going to cut it for him. However, I don't want to label this a "girls only" book. I don't believe that it is and I think the more we get into this series, the more children and adults of all ages will be drawn in it.

The Summary:
Do you have children? Buy this comic. Do you read comics? Buy this comic. Do you like animals? Buy this comic. Have you searched your whole life for a guy whose vest looks like snake pattern? Buy this comic. Do you want to know what happened to Step 3? Buy this comic and then bug Pat to tell you.

Seriously though, this is one of those comics that grabs you from page one and keeps you until page 22. You won't have a single regret if you rush to ComiXology on May 1st and pick up this gem.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, random babblings and opinions are those of the very worn out reviewer. 

The Guardian's Playlist

It's a rare thing these days when I pick up something at a convention, tuck it into my backpack, take it home and finally find the time to read it simply to fall in love with it. When I met the author at Wizard World - Ohio, I thought she was this fantastic woman with the right convention attitude and I had hopes that she would do well that weekend. Her son made me laugh and I thought they made a fantastic pairing and it was pretty great to see them sharing the convention scene. However, like so many things I pick up, I didn't put much hope in the book wow'ing me. Before I go on and tell you just how wrong I was, let me show you the back cover of the book so you can see what the book is about:

Click to make larger if it's too small!

Right, so I was wrong. It does happen and in cases like this, I am always thrilled when it does. Honestly, when I first read the book cover, I cringed and thought, "Oh no, not another in your face religious fiction piece." Let me stop myself and you right there. It's not. Yes, there are angels and yes, her faith comes into play. However, that's where the religious stops and a fantastic story takes over. These are characters that you grow to love and to care about. When the book ends, you search frantically for the next installment because you need to know what happens to your friends. You may even go so far as to contact the author to ask about the next installment, in a completely non-stalker like way, of course. 

In all seriousness, this was a book that once I started reading, I didn't want to put it back down. The story drew me in and kept me right there up until the final period on the final page and I can't wait for the first capital letter on the first page of the next book in the series. With any luck, we'll be allowed to review it and I can let you know if it held up to the fantasticness that was the first book.

To find your very own copy of the book and more information about the author, head over to http://www.theguardiansplaylist.com/

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer and were not influenced by angels or demons so far as we are aware.

Geek-o-Rama's Geeky Gift Guide Part 5

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Up here, the days turn brisk and snow falls and everything is lovely. There are snowball fights and icicles. Even better though are the days and nights curled up on the couch, watching geeky movies to my heart's content and reading comic books while sipping a cup of hot chocolate. This year, my wish list is geared a bit more towards my kids with a bit of me and a bit of business thrown in.

1. Atari Flashback 4 - This topped my kids' wishlist for this year. They're excited to see the "terrible" graphics and to check out some of the games that their mom grew up with. As for me, I think it's fun to share these things with them as I raise up another generation of geeks. (Retails for about $50)

2. Write or Wrong - Back in April, I got to meet Dirk Manning. Not only is he super awesome, but he has a brand new book on the market. It's filled with 5 years of his column that he writes for Newsarama. If you're at all interested in the comic book industry, how to create comics or how to get them published, well, how can you resist adding this to your wish list? (Retail price: $17)

3. Phineas & Ferb Holiday Favorites - Betcha think this one is for the kids, right? Well, only kind of. We are huge fans of Phineas & Ferb in this house and what better than some of the amazingly fun songs that we've heard on the show? As a sometimes dj, music always appeals to me. (Retail price: $7)

4. Sonic Screwdriver Pen - Ok, little known fact. I love office supplies. Yes, it's true. Okay Okay, it might not be much of a secret. I have a minor obsession with post it notes and sharpies. I also love pens..lots of pens...and this pen is a Doctor Who pen?!? Gah! Seriously, how cool is this? (Retail price: $29.99)

5. 3Tb External Hard Drive - This one? Totally for me. With the number of comic books and write ups that we're handling these days, I am badly in need of an external desktop hard drive for backup purposes. What I love about the larger drives is that they give me some room to grow, which is pretty much mandatory for a site such as ours, not to mention photographs and music and all of those day to day files that I'd "die" without. (Retail price: $150-200)

House of Night

Until recently, Zoey Redbird was an average high-school student worrying about grades, boys, and breakouts. But priorities have a way of changing when you’re Marked as a vampyre, enroll in the vampyre academy House of Night, and have to figure out a whole new social hierarchy, affinities for elemental magic, and physiological changes that make you crave blood! Collects issues #1-#5 of the series.

Follow Zoey, and her group of devoted friends, as they turn to The Fledgling Handbook, a historical vampyre tome, in hopes of better understanding this big, new world of vampyrism.

* The magical world of New York Times best-selling authors P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast comes to comics!

The Good:
As a fan of the House of Night books, I was beyond excited when the site was offered a chance to review the first comic version of the books. I wasn't disappointed. The stories are fantastic and I love getting a look into the history behind the plot line. I really liked seeing the characters drawn out. Nyx was by far my favorite. She's just as beautiful as I ever imagined.

The Bad:
If you're not familiar with the books, you're going to start out very lost. This is one of those books that really needs a character guide or something along those lines to help it really work as a cross promotion.

The Summary: Fans of the House of Night books are going to want to add this gem to their bookshelves. With Christmas coming soon, I can certainly add my vote to the group saying buy this, buy this! If you're not familiar with the books, I would suggest that you start with at least the first of those and then add this one to your wish list!

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are 100% the individual reviewers.

Tunnel Tail

• Tunnel Tail is a new free mobile gaming app available on the App Store and Google Play™.
• The action-packed Tunnel Tail app is completely free – all characters, all levels.
• Tunnel Tail takes the player underground where mouse tribes struggle with the dark forces of the Lumini who seek to destroy both the mouse and human worlds. The player is the last hope the mice have to finally win their freedom.
• Tunnel Tail is the latest release from the developers at Schell Games.
• You can find more information about Tunnel Tail, along with fun activities, at tunneltail.com or by visiting Tunnel Tail on Facebook or YouTube. 

I first learned about this game when I was Austin attending Wizard World Austin. It's hard to resist stopping at a booth where they have a large television playing their game trailer. On top of that, they had tables stacked high with t-shirts. I stopped and had a great time talking with the gentleman at the table, who was both passionate and excited about this game. I couldn't resist. I downloaded it then and there (and walked away with a shirt for doing so) and promised to review it the first opportunity that we had.

Now, since this game is totally kid friendly (if you're ok with your child playing fighting games), I also downloaded it to the iPad and let my 11 year old check it out.  His take on the game:

"It's good. 5 stars. 9.5/10. It's an action role playing game with a cool setup that's pretty easy to learn." Yep, he was clearly feeling extra cooperative at the time of this review. From a parent's perspective..any game that can hold an 11 year old's attention for a good chunk of his allotted game time must be a good game.

From an adult's perspective...I can't disagree with anything he said. I don't generally love playing games on my phone, but even this one is simple enough that I have no problem. The graphics are fun and the game play is simple but not so simple that you get easily bored.  If I have one complaint it's that we can't have multiple profiles. This means that his account is set on the iPad and mine is set on the phone. I would much prefer that we could play this on a variety of devices with the same account or at least have the option of having multiple profiles on the same device. I do appreciate though that there is a semi-multiplayer function that allows you to "borrow" mice from a friend's burrow which is pretty handy.

Overall, if you like cute and fun games that involve saving the world and involve battling against the powers of evil, download this game. It won't cost you anything to check it out and you just might like it.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this game in exchange for this review. However, you can get the game free too! All comments, thoughts and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Wizard World Austin Wrap Up Part 3

I bet you thought I was never going to write this, didn't you? Well surprise! I did!

Sunday's are often the most dreaded of con days for a lot of people. We're all exhausted, the crowds are thin and for some of us it includes a sadness that another time among our geek friends is coming to a close.  However, because of that, I try to be just as happy and cheerful on Sunday as I am on day 1 of any event. I've been told that someone being happy often leads to others being a little bit happier.

Since I had covered 2/3 of the exhibitor hall between Friday and Saturday, this allowed me to spend a bit more time talking to folks on Sunday. Per usual, I was there before the doors opened and this gave me a chance to hang out and talk with some of the volunteers. I love doing that. You never know who you're going to meet or the stories that you're going to hear. Since it was a bit of a slow morning, I got to hang out with a photographer who was super friendly and told me about his wife's upcoming book and was just generally a great guy to run down the door opening clock with.

From there, he took me over to the Museum of the Weird folks who were also super cool and who are going to work with me to bring all of you a Places to Dine/Check Out in Austin feature sometime in the future. After that, it was time for me to get to work so I figured out where I'd left off the day before. Again that L shaped room threw me off, but being the smart girl that I am, I figured it out and started talking to people.

People on Sunday ran the board when it came to enthusiasm. I had the smiling faces, the exhausted groans and one particular company who was practically jumping up and down with excitement. These guys were awesome. Not only did we sit and talk...yes, sit. They actually invited me to come behind their table and chat...but we also just had a lot of fun talking about comics and life within the industry. Plus, they gave me a bottle of water. For someone like me who spends all day on their feet, talking..these guys were my personal heroes. I can't wait to start working with them.

I also got a chance to talk for a few minutes with the folks over at Hound Comics. They were so happy that I'd dropped off those baked goods that one guy actually came out from behind the table and gave me a big hug. Keep your eyes open because I have a strong suspicion that we'll be adding them to our regular review list soon.

After the work was done, it was time for fun. Okay, it was time for shopping. I had done most of my personal shopping on Friday,but I did have to pick up goodies to bring home for the boys. This also gives me one more chance to scout the floor for any cool new things that I might have missed. In this case, I'd done a pretty thorough job (go me!) so it was just a matter of stopping by the Zenescope table to pick up an empty box (seriously, those guys rock!) in case I might need it for packing. While I was waiting for that, I sold a Wonderland trilogy for them and then headed on my way. Yep, that's right. I left the convention a whole 30 minutes before the actual end of day. This almost never happens but I had finished up my work and I knew packing was going to take while. Plus, I was supposed to have dinner plans but sadly, that didn't come about. Dang life getting in the way of food and friends!

So, that was Austin con for this reviewer. My personal take on it? If you live locally, it's worth checking out. There were some fantastic companies and folks in attendance. If you're into geekery, you'll find something to make you happy. Compared to Wizard World Ohio, they had a ton more panels which were well worth checking out. I honestly think that there was a bit of something for everyone. Will we be there next year? That's still to be determined only because of the cost of travel. If we were local, you can bet it'd be a yes for sure.

Wizard World Austin 2012 Wrap Up Part 2

Believe it or not, the day I could have slept in because it was quiet was the day that I had to be up the earliest! I'm telling you, I lead one glamorous life. Typical con day routine : Get up, get around, check email, check Facebook, head to the convention. I wasn't honestly feeling breakfast so I decided to skip that and head right down to the convention center. It might have had something to do with my excitement about finally meeting Shawn and his wife, Sun (see the bakery post for more information about her) for the first time in person.

So, it was off to the convention center. Since I was anxious combined with oh crud, Saturday parking is always miserable, I actually ended up at the convention about 45 minutes before the VIPs and Press could access the show floor. Oops! That's ok though because it gave me time to check out some of the costumed folks standing in line and chat with people.

 I love that comic conventions give all of us grown ups a chance to safely play dress up. It's something that a lot of us never outgrew and other than Halloween, we don't really get a chance to indulge in. It's something that I honestly want to do but haven't gotten comfortable enough, plus, is it really professional? Oh the dilemmas! However, on Saturday, there were some fantastic costumes spanning ever genre and comic book imaginable. A lot of them I recognized and there were quite a few that I didn't. No matter though. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and the volunteers were keeping everyone's energy levels up while we waited to get inside.

Once inside, I headed over to see someone that was drawing free pictures based upon any one question he asked you. Unfortunately, he chose to arrive late so a lot of people didn't even realize he was there or what he was doing. Tip to vendors..be there and ready to go when the doors open. Otherwise you give off an unprofessional vibe to those who walk by early in the day. After I received my drawing (which I will try to scan and post another day), I headed back to Artist Alley.

The one thing that I didn't love about this convention was the odd L shaped layout*. It made it more difficult for me to remember where I had been and where I hadn't. I have a tendency to be pretty straightforward in how I handle the vendor floor. I start in the front and work my way up and down each aisle until I get to Artist Alley and then I do that section separately. The L shape totally threw me off.

That didn't stop me much though! I managed to get through a decent sized chunk of "the alley" before it was time to go out and meet Shawn and Sun to say hi and to pick up my baked goods. Since I wasn't 100% sure how long it would take them to get to the convention center and park, I found a chair and relaxed while watching everyone walk by. Again, people watching at comicons is a fantastic way to waste an hour or two if you have it to waste.

There were some amazing costumes. I especially loved the girl dressed as a weeping angel. She stayed in character for ages while people took photo after photo. Sadly, the one that I took of her earlier in the day just didn't come out good enough for me to share with you, but I can say that anyone willing to stay in character for photos is dedicated to their character and a real hit with the convention attendees.

When Shawn and Sun arrived, they were also dolled up in fun Weird West costumes. Sadly, I didn't get to snap a picture because Sun rushed right off. I'm not sure where she headed to, but she was in a hurry to get there. Luckily, I got to talk to Shawn for a few minutes, snag a hug (and those bakery boxes) before we were both off to do our own things at the convention. For me, it was to drop off a couple of bakery boxes before heading up to the Zenescope panel.

True to form, this was the only panel that I managed to attend all weekend. One of these days, I'm going to manage to actually attend two or more. Until that day comes, Zenescope panels will always be top of my list. In this panel, Stephen and Pat filled us in on what Zenescope is up to and what we can expect. Here's just a bit of what they shared:

• Robyn Hood issue #1, written by Pat Shand, is the 2nd highest selling issue for them, not only this year but ever.
• Wonderland will continue in 2013 with Madness of Wonderland (written by Dan Wickline). Watch for that in February or March.
• Mark Miller will be continuing work on Jungle Book.
• Pat and Raven Gregory are in the process of pitching a book with 2 male leads.
• The pilot for the Animated Series is now complete and they were in the process of pitching it to various networks. 
• Zenescope works with a multitude of online sites, including Geek-o-Rama..yes, he said us out loud to the crowd!
• This was Pat's first ever panel and he mentioned that he'd brought 20 Pat Packs* with him in the hopes of selling out at this convention.

After the panel, I walked back downstairs with Pat while Raven talked a mile a minute in his ear (via cell phone technology). If you've never been the 3rd party while someone is talking to Raven on the phone, I highly encourage it. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud a couple of times. Raven's enthusiasm can be heard, for sure.

Sadly, by this point in the day, I was feeling tired and a little run down, so instead of getting back to work, I decided to finish handing out my baked goods. The folks loved getting those pretty pink boxes and it was a lot of fun to surprise them. I'm thinking that this is something we should work on continuing at other conventions. I'd love to work with small, local companies to get their name and product out there and to treat our site friends with a yummy treat. 

Once I finished that, I managed to meet back up with Walter and the kids..Did I mention that they were there too? Crud, I bet I didn't! Well, they were and the kids were full of energy and having a great time. There's something magical about 5 and 6 year olds and their enthusiasm for life and all things magical and mysterious. We made our dinner plans and then they were off to a fantastic time at a local museum. I wish I'd gone with them. It sounded like so much fun!

For me though, there was more convention. I had to meet up with Shawn again so that I could give him his prize pack for the giveaway. With the handing off of the baked goods and running to the panel, I had completely forgotten to earlier. Luckily, he managed to spot me in the crowds and so I got another hug and he let me take this picture of him. I confess that I was having trouble with the lighting at that point, but I did want to show off how Geek-o-Rama contributors have fun too! Sadly, Sun wasn't with him so I couldn't get a photo of the two of them together. They made a great looking couple in their costumes.

After we parted ways again, I decided that I was worn out enough that I could safely sneak back to the hotel and relax before I met up with Walter and the kids for dinner. Turns out, I was wrong. I stopped by a few tables on the way out just to say see you tomorrow and yet again got sucked into the Zenescope table. Pat and I stood talking for a while, I sold more of their books for them and actually had someone come to the table looking for me so that they could get more information about the site. It was the first time something like that had happened and honestly, I felt a bit like a celebrity for a minute there. I can't imagine how someone like Pat feels every time someone comes up and asks him to sign their books for them. I'm wondering though if I shouldn't spend more time pimping other people's books at conventions since people seem to know that the best chance of finding me is at that table...

So, my plan of leaving early was a total bust, but it did mean meeting some more awesome folks so it was worth hanging around a bit longer. From there, it was back to the hotel where I plugged my poor dead phone in and relaxed until it was time to meet up with Walter and the kids. We had a fantastic dinner together, where Ohana and I totally beat Walter and Turk at the word search (or maybe it was a tie because we all started cheating..). The kids zonked out and we ended up carrying them to the car but I hope that they had fun too. 

Once back in the hotel, I glanced at the clock and groaned. Morning was going to come far too early but another good con day is always worth the lack of sleep that may come with it. Come back tomorrow for the Sunday wrap up and general summary! 

* Did you find the answers to yesterday's prize giveaway? If not, they were: 

• The L Shaped Layout
• Zenescope's list
• 20 Pat Packs
• Me (no, I didn't say this but c'mon...that one was a gimme)

Since nobody answered any of these, this book will return to the giveaway vault for another day.

Pirate Eye

Join ex-pirate and now high-seas detective Smitty as he searches for a beautiful yet elusive lass who has stolen the heart of an influential politician. But can he find her before her deadly secret is discovered? Blimey!

The Good: I don't know where to start. It's been a while since I read a book that  I honestly wanted to re-read the second I finished reading it the first time. This is one of those books. The story line is fantastic. The art is gritty and dark and maybe a bit noir. It fits the story in such a way that rarely comes along.

The Bad: This book won't be available on store shelves until December. That's right, we got a sneak peek!

The Summary: Run, don't walk to your local comic book store and pre-order your copy of this book. I mean it. You won't regret it. The story line is adult but adults love comics too! Just to make your local shop folk's job a little easier, it's Diamond Code OCT120722. Seriously, it's Dick Tracey meets Captain Jack Sparrow. What's more thrilling than that?

For more information about Pirate Eye or Action Lab Entertainment, check out their website and their Facebook page.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All comments, thoughts, opinions and general ramblings are those of the individual reviewer.

Angelwolf

”Ever looked out at the city,

the night embraced her like a lost friend,

below the silent gray mist rises like a ghost,

her refuge,

a 30th floor apartment,

her lover nameless,

dying on the floor behind her,

as she walks to the end of the balcony,

dangling her toes off the edge,

”men,”

she cries as she pours the last few drops of wine,

into a glass..."

The Good: Here we have a new take on the age old Werewolf and Vampire story. In Angelwolf, there are well, angelwolves. These are angelic versions of werewolves, saved by God himself. We have a head vampire determined to destroy them and any/all remaining werewolves on the planet. It's a new take on an old war. Don't worry, for those Twilight scoffers, nobody sparkles and everyone is pretty kick butt.

The Bad: I'm not sure that I'm in love with the artwork in this book. While it tells the story, it has an almost unfinished feel to it. Of course, art is so subjective that someone else might love it. My other other issue with this book is an age old one when it comes to reviews. If you're going to publish a book, please make sure that you have someone who is good with grammar and spelling proofread it for you. This book wasn't overflowing with issues, but I caught at least three to four when reading it.

The Summary: Here's another book brought to you out of the genius that seems to live in and around Phoenix, Arizona. I have no idea what they're putting in the water out there, but they seem to grow comic writers and artists like giant pumpkins on the vine out there. This book might not be world record pumpkin big but it is certainly one I'd pick to carve for my front porch. If you'd like to know more about this book, check out their Facebook page.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All comments, thoughts and general ramblings are those of the individual reviewer. 

Rifit

Sometimes we get lucky and make just the right connections and end up having a ball with a new review. That was the case when we met the folks over at Rifit. Rifit is a brand new product, recently launched at Stan Lee's Comikaze. In fact, they've actually partnered with Stan Lee's Sportsball World, an upcoming game app. We were lucky enough to be sent not only the standard version of the Rifit but also some of the really cool Stan Lee Sportsball World characters.

Still no idea what a Rifit is? Well, that's probably because I haven't told you. Since it's easier to show you than tell you, check out this really cool video:

Roger, who agreed to be my testing partner, was super excited when we opened the box. He immediately set to work on figuring out how these worked (we hadn't found the how to video yet!). Him and I spent at least an hour flicking and flinging these all over the house. Honestly, for such a simple toy, we had the most fun. The best part? We got to invent our own games and our own rules because there is no right or wrong with these. Plus, since they're made of a soft foam, there wasn't any major risk to the breakables in the house. Now, since no cool toy review is complete without a video of it in action...May I present to you...Roger and our front yard:

and...since we actually took 7 different videos, I give you one more for the fun of it...

Bottom line? Check these out. We had a total blast playing with them. Put it this way. The kid liked them so much that he even crawled into the bushes after one of the takes didn't go as planned when the wind kicked up. If you know my kid, that's saying something. In the video, we're using one of the "plain" Rifits but check out these guys:

These are characters from Sportsball world. This cross promotion looks really cool and we're hoping to check it out as soon as it goes live. With any luck, we'll be showing you a review of that, as well.

Until next time, have you Rifit today? (Yes, it became a verb in our house, not just a toy...)

Geek-o-Rama received product for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and commentary belong to the individual author.

Repo! The Genetic Opera

In the year 2056 - the not so distant future - an epidemic of organ failures devastates the planet. Out of the tragedy, a savior emerges: GeneCo, a biotech company that offers organ transplants, for a price. Those who miss their payments are scheduled for repossession and hunted by villainous Repo Men. In a world where surgery addicts are hooked on painkilling drugs and murder is sanctioned by law, a sheltered young girl searches for the cure to her own rare disease as well as information about her family's mysterious history. After being sucked into the haunting world of GeneCo, she is unable to turn back, as all of her questions will be answered at the wildly anticipated spectacular event: The Genetic Opera.


Some of you may be familiar with the idea of shadowcasting (A group of people that performs a movie in front of a screen while that movie is playing; they essentially pantomime the movie.*). Most people equate it with Rocky Horror, but guess what? It's done with Repo! as well.

This past weekend, I finally had the chance to head down to Jackson, Michigan to the Michigan Theatre to see The Michigan Theatre Players in their version of Repo! The Genetic Opera. They only perform this show once every few months so it was lucky for me that my schedule opened up and I could drive on down.

I have to start out by saying that I love the theatre that they're in. It's old and you can tell that at one point it was very classy. Right now, it looks more like it's in the rehabilitation stages but that's absolutely perfect for adding to the atmosphere of a show like Repo!

Grave Robber with a Jr. Repo Man

With most of these performances, the cast comes out to do some sort of pre-show. Quite often it involves audience participation. In this case, however, the cast performed vignettes representing deleted scenes from the movie. Some were good, at least one was a little awkward but it was an interesting introduction to the show itself, for sure. This was followed up by a costume contest with the top two yell getters receiving free concessions. I think it would have been fun for the cast to throw in a free vial of Zydrate to again tie in with the film/show, but either way, the people on stage seemed to have fun.

Then, the lights went down and the show began...

My general take on the show? It was well done. The cast knew their lines and they knew their marks. Quite often shadowcasting is done essentially as a pantomime. Think of it like well, miming..lip syncing..However, this cast actually delivers the lines. This is a touchy area for some fans of the shadowcast. Some like it and some absolutely hate it. I don't tend to mind it when it's done right. I made a note during one of the scenes that if you're going to say the lines, you have to be dead on. There were a few times when the lines being delivered by Rotti would be on screen and then you'd hear them right after from the actor. It tends to be distracting from what's going on. That being said, they knew their lines. They just need to work a bit more on the delivery.

Thankless Job stole the show!

In some shows, you have cast members who come out on stage, win over the audience and everyone else fades into the background. In this case, while this cast was young, it was well rounded. I was highly impressed with the girls playing both Luigi and Pavi. Their performances drew you in. Graverobber, while young, delivered a performance that showed he was passionate about the show. Nate/Repo Man was intense in the right spots, a frustrated parent in others and a crazy nut job when the time called.

My one major problem with this performance? Not the costumes. While some were clearly works in progress, they were all well put together. Not the cast. Though, Nathan needs to work on that slap he delivers to Shilo. I want the sound and the illusion. Sadly, it was the audience. Repo!, just like Rocky, is built for audience participation and this audience sat silently for most of the show. My guess is that this is simply because Repo! is not nearly as performed as Rocky and so people just haven't learned that they can jump in and have some fun with it too.

My suggestion to the cast? Fill yourself out with some extras who just want to have some fun. Make them your attackers in the fight scene (invisible ninjas are cool too though!) and make them Genterns. Get them to prompt your audience or scatter a few throughout the audience to start the call backs. Once that ice is broken, your audience will jump right into the fun.

For those of you who are interested in checking out this show, I do want to warn you that the Jackson cast adds in touches of realism and it may not be for everyone. Then again, if I can handle it, I suspect most of you can as well. We all know what a wuss I can be. Not in Michigan and still want to see the show? Don't panic. Panicing never helps. Instead, click on this pretty little link and find the closest group performing. Personally, I can highly recommend both the Jackson, Michigan performance as well as the Toledo, Ohio performance. They're both a different take but both very good. If you're a fan of Rocky Horror, be sure to check out the Michigan Theatre Players performing it at this year's Detroit Fanfare!

Until the next time I can see either show...you'll probably hear me humming the various songs. Dang those catchy rock horror operatic tunes...

*http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shadow%20cast
*Photo Credits: Jeff Dobbs