It’s that time of the year…COMIC-CON!

This is an exciting week. Not only because it’s the one year anniversary for this blog…but also that it coincides with the biggest geek fest in the world: SAN DIEGO COMIC CONVENTION INTERNATIONAL!

Again, I am going into this unsure if I have a pass or not (though I have many leads working on it). This time my partner-in-Con will be Brandon, as a kinda farewell gift before he moves to the Philippines.

Here are the top 5 things I’m looking forward to this year:

1) Random acts of celebrity sightings. I only care about celebrities when they’re relevant to my life. Which is why I only care about them at Comic-Con. Last year I had people randomly walk past me (cast of The Big Bang Theory) and within visual sight (Olivia Munn). Really, there are only three people I really want to meet. Summer Glau, Kristen Bell, and Olivia Munn. I haven’t heard if Kristen Bell is going to be there, Summer Glau has a panel for her new NBC show, and Olivia Munn is usually around the G4 booth. Other than that, I’ll be okay with surprise run-ins while walking the floor.

2) Actually going to panels. The lines get long quick, so I’ll really have to be on point for this. I really want Brandon to go to the Tron panel. There’s a bunch of panels for TV shows (The Big Bang Theory), video games (Halo: Reach), and movies (Thor) I’d like to catch. There’s nothing like being in a room full of fellow fans getting excited about every little piece of spoiler information you have the privilege to receive.

3) Nerds Gone Wild! In cosplay. I’m excited to see who dresses as what. Who puts that extra effort. Who should have put less effort. Who should have came as something else. This is probably the best part of the convention.

4) Friday is Star Wars Day! Nuff’ said.

5) Sunday is the day for those looking for deals. All the big companies dump all their excess freebies. Booths are usually looking to unload all their stuff at reduced prices. Temptation is a big thing. A shrinking bank account is bigger. I look to find a healthy medium which allows me enough money to drive back home.

We’re still trying to compile our ideal Comic-Con schedule. There are also plenty of non-Comic-Con-related activities going on this well too. So I’m pretty sure no one is getting any sleep.

Last year I wanted to blog after each day. I won’t promise that this year seeing how that was an utter failure. But if I can, I will do my best. Check back!

But if you can’t go this year, G4 is going to have live coverage. It’ll be like you’re there without all the sweaty nerds!

On The Poll: Do you agree with Chris Evans as the new Captain America?

During my blogging hiatus, some big nerd news came out. After a lengthy search, Paramount Pictures named actor Chris Evans for the role of Steve Rogers aka Captain America for the upcoming film, Captain America: The First Avenger.

If you remember, I did an entry about who was being considered for the role and my personal pick, Jason Lewis, won out on my poll. But looking at the rumor mills, he wasn’t even in the running. Too bad. Channing Tatum was supposedly one of the finalists and I would have thrown a brick at someone if he got it. A more established actor, John Kransinski from NBC’s The Office, was supposedly in the running and while I love him as an actor, I could never see him as Captain America. All I can imagine is him doing that funny smirk he always does while the Red Skull tries to kill him. And I guess Ryan Phillippe really wanted to do it. I would’ve been okay with that, if only to make his son proud of him.

From reading other blogs, message boards, twitters, facebooks, and other nerd outlets, many seemed to be skeptical about Evans as Capt. The main issue seems to be how he played Johnny Storm in the previous Fantastic Four movies:

I don’t like actors playing multiple characters in the same fictional universe as well. But, seeing as I’ve completely disowned those Fantastic Four movies because of their awfulness, his portrayal of Johnny Storm doesn’t exist…at least in my mind. But…then again, if he wasn’t able to pull off the first role, how can I entrust him with an even bigger role?

Overall, I’m very skeptical. But he’s Captain America now, for better or worse. I hope he can prove us nerds wrong. If he doesn’t…we’ll be calling for the ‘Death of Captain America‘ movie sooner than later.

What do you think?

Captain America vs. Tea Party Protesters!

I love when comics and real-life politics collide.

Even though Captain America is a character that would scream right-wing mascot, he’s made some decisions that the Republican National Committee may not exactly agree with (I go a little more into detail here). Now he’s taken a stand against the Tea Party Movement, which must have broken their pro-American hearts. This makes me like Captain America a little bit more.

Of course Marvel had to apologize. In a time when the industry is suffering financially, the last thing they need is a boycott from anyone. Marvel isn’t a political organization actively promoting a political message. But because of the inherent nature of the creative process, stances are bound to be made. The writers/ creators’ personal beliefs are going to influence their artwork. ALL art is political.

Lastly, I’m going to be looking for this issue. The fact that they’re going to change future prints will make this a collectors item.

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Marvel Comics’ depiction of anti-tax protesters inspires anger, apology

Since 1941, Captain America has been one of the most popular comic book characters around. The fictional super-patriot fought Nazis during World War II, took on those who burned the American flag during the Vietnam era, and raked in hundreds of millions of dollars for Marvel Comics along the way.  Now, the appearance that he is taking on the Tea Party Movement in a storyline about investigating white supremacists has forced Marvel to apologize for the comic hero.

Issue 602 of the comic features Captain America investigating a right-wing anti-government militia group called “the Watchdogs”. Hoping to infiltrate the group, Captain America and his African-American sidekick The Falcon observe an anti-tax protest from a rooftop.  The protestors depicted are all white and carry signs adorned with slogans almost identical to those seen today in Tea Party rallies like “tea bag libs before they tea bag you” and “stop the socialists.”

Reposted: Reaching Out To Filipino Creators

I got this article over twitter. I think for me, it’s a good bridge between my nerd side and political side. Also, it’s a good reminder that we have a lot of really talented artists out there involved in the mainstream. They work for the big companies but are also trying to start their own stuff. While I don’t think they should be giving their money to the Philippine Red Cross, they’re doing what they can, can’t hate on that too much.

These disasters affect everyone, including the nerds. Filipino nerd empowerment!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23333

Reaching Out To Filipino Creators

• by Kiel Phegley, News Editor
• More from this Author Buzz up!

• Category: Comic Books
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Posted: 13 hours ago | Updated: 12 hours ago

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Francis Manapul Flash art, auctioned off for the Filipino relief effort

One of the oft-cited strengths of the comics industry is its ability to pull together and organize help for members in need, but for every highly publicized event or auction to benefit well known mainstream creators, there are plenty of events impacting comics creators fans don’t hear about.

Case in point: after the dual typhoons Ketsana and Parma struck the coast of the Philippines, leaving a path of many casualties and even more citizens displaced due to massive flooding and property damage, a number of local comic book creators found themselves without access to their homes or the materials to do their jobs. While the island nation is much smaller in population than America or even Great Britain, Filipino creators have taken the western comics market by storm over the past few years. Aside from top name talent like Philip Tan, Francis Manapul, Leinil Francis Yu and more, dozens of creators who come from the Philippines or still reside there contribute to a wide range of comics here and in their own thriving industry.

But while many artists have been hit hard by the storms and their aftereffects, the local comics community has rushed to their aide as led by cartoonist Gerry Alanguilan. While most fans may recognize Alanguilan’s name thanks to his frequent work inking Yu on titles like “Wolverine” and “Superman: Birthright,” as well as collaborating with other A-list talent, the creator also writes, draws and publishes his own work as part of the Philippines’ thriving home-grown comics scene with titles like the cell-phone-themed thriller “Sim.” Alanguilan told CBR that it’s his prominence within the local comics community that led him to organize auctions to benefit his fellow creators affected by the storms.

“Most comics creators live in Metro Manila, which is the National Capital Region of the country, located towards the southern area of [the hard hit area of] Luzon,” he explained. “Some creators, like myself, live in the outlying provinces. Creators like Bong Dazo live in the provinces north of Metro Manila, while creators like myself and Carlo Pagulayan live in the provinces south of Metro Manila.

Alanguilan donated the cover to “X-Force” #104, featuring his ink over Whilce Portacio’s pencils

Disney Buys Marvel: The Parody

It’s been a few weeks since Disney’s purchase of Marvel and the explosive ‘civil war’ aftermath between fans.

We’ve had time to sit down, think, marinate, digest, etc the whole situation. Even if your opinion hasn’t changed, I think we all can come to some sort of unity. What’s that unity? Here it is…

I’m a Marvel…and I’m a DC: Green Lantern vs. Deadpool

Thank you to Brandon for the link!

In case if you haven’t heard (or you’re not a nerd), they’re making a Green Lantern movie due out in 2011. Ryan Reynolds will play Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern (which is a DC character).

But…if you saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine, he also played Deadpool (which is a Marvel character).

Conflict of interest? I don’t seriously think there will be. But it’s fun to imagine that there is! That’s where youtube’s ItsJustSomeRandomGuy comes in. They have a series parodying the “Mac vs. PC” commercials called “I’m a Marvel and I’m a DC”. Enter nerd hilarity.

5 Cobra Commander Terror Plots That Might Actually Work

Yeah, this is outdated already. But oh well, I’m almost finished (FINALLY) with my review of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. We need some humor to brighten up our day. And Palin jokes never get old. NEVER.

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5 Cobra Commander Terror Plots That Might Actually Work

By Chris Sims August 1, 2009

http://www.cracked.com/article_17666_5-cobra-commander-terror-plots-that-might-actually-work.html

Cracked usually runs articles about things you used to watch when you were a kid and how, upon further examination, they are way more retarded than you remember. We secretly hate our younger selves for being such embarrassing dumb asses, and pointing out how stupid the Smurph language is helps us cope with the anger.

So we were all ready to point out how far-fetched Cobra Commander’s plots for world domination were, but the more we remembered, the more we were reminded of the news.

#5.

The Wrong Stuff

“We possess the ultimate weapon of control! People trust television! It’s their friend! They believe what television tells them about the news, television… even G.I. Joe!”

The Plot:

In one of their many attempts to use television for evil, Cobra Commander uses stolen satellites and an inexplicable headquarters in the Himalayas to take over the airwaves, broadcasting Cobra TV to turn public opinion against G.I. Joe and in favor of their snake-themed one world government.

Programming includes classic movies with the endings changed to reflect a more anarchistic world view, a version of the Smurfs that was even more socialist than the original, and while we didn’t actually see the Right-Wing Australian punditry of The Zartan Factor, we’re pretty sure it was in there somewhere.

Why It Might’ve Worked:

For an organization that once tried to conquer the world through mind-control chewing gum, this is actually not a bad plan. Sure, their shows are bad and the re-cut movie endings are stupid, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from the fact that Two and a Half Men is the highest rated comedy on television, it’s that people will watch anything, especially if it’s stupid. Seriously, just try getting through one of Jimmy Fallon’s monologues without wishing you were being indoctrinated into the ranks of the Televipers instead.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 OFFICAL LAUNCH TRAILER!

Not that I have any game console that would allow me to play this, nor do I have the time to commit to playing, it is something to look forward to when I go back to San Diego. The game play centers around the “Secret War” and “Civil War” story lines, so that should provide for some interesting scenarios.  I hear they’re going to have a secret Mickey Mouse unlockable character…

Naw I’m just kidding. The first game was fun to play, I’m sure this will be a good follow up. Oh, and it comes out on Sept. 15. Let me know if you get it (so I can come over and play!)

On the Poll: Who should play ‘Captain America’ on the big screen?

With the success of the Iron Man movie and hype building up for its sequel, Iron Man 2 (due out in 2010), and the feature-length film, Thor, in development (due out in 2011), Marvel is building steam for its planned feature-length blockbuster, The Avengers. With most of the Avengers crew locked in (no word on the Wasp and Ant-Man, even if they’re going to be in the film, yet), the big question remains: Who will play Captain America in The First Avenger: Captain America?

This was a popular topic of conversation within my nerd horde days after Disney purchased Marvel. My sister even started the conversation on her facebook.

I know, Captain America is the posterboy for this pro-America, ultra-nationalistic attitude that makes us anti-US imperialists throw up. But to give him some credit, he hasn’t always agreed with America. Regardless on how you may feel about his imagery and politics, he’s an important fixture in the Marvel Universe.

With that said, who will be awarded with this coveted role?

Does $53 million X 30 years = Keeping Comic Con in San Diego?

An artist's rendering of an expanded San Diego Convention Center on the bay side. (Tucker Sadler Architects)

Today is a comic book themed day. Just saw this on twitter from my good friend Liza. That’s a whole lot of money, especially considering the financial crisis we’re in. But there is the potential to recover the money spent from the revenue brought in from large conventions, tourism, etc. San Diego is already an attractive place because of the weather. Plus, I’m sort of biased because I want Comic-Con to stay at home. Since I’m not a current resident, it’s tough to say. Especially since I’m still trying to find classes to add in our severely underfunded CSU-system. What do you think? (VOTE IN THE POLL AT THE BOTTOM)

The $53 million question

The yearly price to expand San Diego’s convention center is revealed and has city and tourism officials asking . . .

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/16/1n16center002234-53-million-question/?metro&zIndex=117325

By Jeanette Steele

Union-Tribune Staff Writer

2:00 a.m. June 16, 2009

A San Diego Convention Center expansion being championed by Mayor Jerry Sanders and the tourism industry got a price tag yesterday – at least $52.5 million a year in new taxes or fees over three decades.

Options being discussed include a $1 to $2 surcharge on San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego admissions, a 1 percent to 3 percent tax on food and drink sales and an increase in the city’s hotel tax from 10.5 percent to as high as 15.5 percent.

Convention center officials want to add 400,000 square feet to the bayfront facility, saying they stand to lose large, lucrative trade shows to cities with bigger exhibit halls.

The poster child for flight risk is Comic-Con International, the San Diego-born pop-culture extravaganza.