6 Geeky Things I’m Thankful For
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and the whole Mills clan is gathering at my parents’ house for a big meal, good times and probably some television. We don’t have any real traditions for the holiday. It’s just a big, fun get together, where my father, brother and I chat about all the movies and TV shows we’ve seen, the comics we’ve read and the video games we play.
Though there may be a few comments about when grandchildren might show up to share in those same activities.
This takes me back
Whenever my family gets together, we invariably talk about all the geeky things we love to do. We never discuss politics, religion, world events or anything of the like. Why bother? All politicians are shifty and corrupt. All organized religions are shifty and corrupt. And world events aren’t nearly as interesting as Big Hero 6. So for the holiday this year, I’ve decided to share with you all the 6 geeky, pop culturey things I’m thankful for this season!
Join me after the jump! And please share your own in the comments!
A Day For Movie Trailers Starring Children
As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, the cool movie trailers are going to start ramping up. Next year is only a few weeks away, and as I understand it, there are movie studios who are going to actually try and compete with Avengers: Age of Ultron. To do that, they’re falling back on familiar franchises with movies that star young boys.
First up is Jurassic World, which promises…I dunno. It’s either going to herald a return to glory for Jurassic Park or turn this franchise into the equivalent of Friday the 13th movies. And be on the lookout for star Chris Pratt. Every single line he has in this trailer seems straight out of a parody, especially at the 1:42 mark. Seriously, he might as well be in an SNL skit.
Jurassic World comes out on June 12.
The second film is Pan, telling a prequel, of sorts, to the classic Peter Pan story. This movie is probably going to bomb terribly, like John Carter. Not only did they cast a white actress to play Tiger Lily, but Capt. Hook is a good guy in this film. They seriously brought in Blackbeard the Pirate just so that they would have a pirate in this film while still being able to make Capt. Hook a hunky good guy. It’s ridiculous.
But here’s the trailer anyway!
Pan hits theaters on June 26.
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Beta Ray Bill Can and Should Appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
I never thought I would see the day where Thor was a household name. Marvel Studios has accomplished a lot in the past 7 years, but I am still most amazed at how they have turned previously unknown heroes like Thor, Iron Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy into bonafide celebrities. It’s amazing. There are kids out there who want to dress as Thor for Halloween. The Dark World was a truly great film, and I still herald it as one of Marvel’s best. I am legitimately excited to see the third one, Ragnarok.
I just think it should also include Beta Ray Bill, one of the greatest and weirdest comic book characters of all time. Yes, I’m talking about Horse Thor.
Comics, everybody!
Shortly after leaving the theater when the first Thor film debuted, I joked to myself that there was no way Beta Ray Bill would ever fit into what Marvel was building. But now we’re several films deep, including the amazing and alien-filled Guardians of the Galaxy, and I have completely changed my mind. Beta Ray Bill should appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
And if you’ll join me after the jump, I’ll tell you how!
Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 11/22/14
This was a weird week for comics, and I mean that in the best way possible. It was another big week, stretching my wallet to its limit, but I actually found myself passing on a few of my usual reviews. Both Avengers and New Avengers came out this week, continuing Jonathan Hickman’s massive Multiverse story, but I found that both issues, while good, were far too dense to properly discuss. I would have confused myself. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the new issue of Harley Quinn was just too simple and weird to devote too much time. So I skipped it too!
But I do have some quality reviews for you henchies! Spider-Verse continues, and I’m still enjoying it – though check out my review this week of Spider-Woman #1 at Word of the Nerd for the storyline’s first major misstep.
Comic Book of the Week goes to Lumberjanes for a fantastic finale! But the big disappointment is Wonder Woman #1, which pretty much does everything I feared it would now that Azzarello and Chiang are gone. Adding to the weirdness this week is the new issue of Uncanny X-Men, which robs me of my hero, Cyclops.
You’re not the man whose action figure I bought!
Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #10, Batman Eternal #33, Batman and Robin #36, Lumberjanes #8, Uncanny X-Men #28 and Wonder Woman #36.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Howard the Duck
Fresh off his laughter-inducing cameo at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy, Howard the Duck is going to get a new ongoing series at Marvel in March! It’ll be written by Chip Zdarsky, who is absolutely hilarious on Sex Criminals at Image, and drawn by Joe Quinones. Based on the preview art so far, I already love the look and feel!
Hey, that duck is wearing a hat…
Zdarsky and Quinones were interviewed by Entertainment Weekly about the comic, and it sounds pretty neat. Zdarsky’s a big comedy go, so it’s going to be something of a comedy book about an angry, exasperated Howard working as a private eye in a New York City filled with superheroes.
Said Zdarsky about the series:
He’s an everyman who happens to be a duck! He’s angry, exasperated, and he’s had it up to here with the world around him, but he’s trapped here! Infinitely relatable! I love the contrast of Howard against both the normal world of us hairless apes and the weird worlds of Man-Things and Dr. Stranges and Spider-Mans. Cause he doesn’t fit into either, really. I’m just going to continue exploring those contrasts, but my ultimate goal is to make it funny. Marvel has taken chances on funny books and injecting humor into superhero titles, so I want to make sure this is worth some chuckles here and there. God, I’m picturing the reviews now: “Some chuckles here and there.” Shoot for the stars, Chip!
Sounds like a pretty solid take on a Howard the Duck comic to me!
The year of the duck
Let the build up to a new Howard the Duck movie begin…
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Henchman-4-Hire 