Mouse Guard scribe David Petersen was at GenCon this weekend, and he's posted this brilliant poster for the upcoming RPG on his blog... I just wish Gary Gygax had lived to see this. Kenzie stabbing through a D20 is one of the nerdiest images I've ever seen, and it's my new desktop. This game was supposed to come out "Summer 2008", but Mouse Guard time always seems to move verrrry slowly, why, because quality takes time.
Historical Context: I'm particularly excited about this game because the first RPG I ever played was a homemade campaign based on the Brian Jacque's Redwall series. I loved those books all through grade school, and the chance to roleplay a mouse with sword still holds a great deal of allure. Although if I remember correctly, the last time I did it ended with our entire party being killed by a badger in the throes of Bloodwrath, who may or may not have actually been a member of said party. These things happen.
How much did I love The Dark Knight? So much I had to draw a frenzied, semi-illegible stick figure comic about it. Maybe not so much ABOUT the film, it really just summarizes the first half hour. It's one of those. Bonus feature: a collapsed interpretation of the Rachel Dawes arc.
HUGE SPOILERS after the jump for anyone who didn't see it...seriously.
TO BE CONTINUED?
Hey, fandom isn't always pretty. Here's what I remember of Rachel Dawes.
you may not see girls in this photo, but trust me, they were there
A few weeks ago, literary workshop space 826 NYC threw a fundraising event with a hell of a high concept; Dungeons and Dragons....with girls. And while there's always been at least one girl in attendance during any RPG session I've ever embarked on, I can imagine that many DnD aficionados, through little to no fault of their own, have never had the chance to quest with an adventurer of the double-X persuasion. And that is an innuendo as well.
The organizers insured some female attendance by making registration free for girls, and it worked; about a third of the crowd were ladies, it was just like the inclusive nerd paradise I've always dreamed of. A lady-type even won the grand prize of the night; a luxurious golden crown. For the record, I was the first one to die at my table, due to my gonzo warrior playing style.
A few more pictures from the night, including the crowned winner....
It was a strictly 21 and over affair (maybe not that strictly), so the basement-food classics (doritos, pizza and candy) were paired with cans of Bud and bottles of Stella. The alcohol was also a brilliant stratagem on the part of the organizers, because in true 826 NYC fashion, cheats could be bought for "donations" to the charity pot. The more empties that accumulated on our table, the more our party was willing to shell out bucks for the chance to roll do-overs.
Here's our party facing four goblins...this is after I tried to steal from jewels from the eyes of a statue. Now, I personally know you don't do that, but does my character? No. Hence, goblins. That's just how I "roll". (--dies--)*
The winner was the player who had accumulated the most experience points by midnight; and here she is; Tracey, the Monarch of DnD Night! I was at a table with one of her friends (also a girl, and one of the more impressively committed RPers at my table), who took this photo after the big night. That crown was heavy and metallic, not some chintzy plastic thing. Shiny...
Planet of the Apes Various showtimes @ Ziegfeld Theatre, 141 West 54th Street, Manhattan
Sure, you could see the original movie, or you can just watch the video below, a screen adaptation of Stop The Planet of the Apes: I Want To Get Off...
The Ruins preview, Jonathan Lethem talks Omega, and crazy comic strip brilliance, after the jump... Tuesday, April 1
The Ruins has a terrible poster. You'd think in this, the age of amputation pron, they could come up with a slightly creepier image than a person with leaves and twigs on their neck. Of course a bad ad campaign doesn't necessarily correlate to a bad film - April Fools! It almost always does. But seriously, from 6 - 8, there will be Ruins swag and free screening passes for a preview on April 3rd. Although the most worthwhile thing you will likely get out of the evening is the drink special; $2 Margaritas!
If any comic on the stands deserves a Q&A it's this one; perhaps the creative team will help to decode a bit of the symbolism and straight-faced absurdity that characterizes this book. The talk starts at 7pm, with signing to follow, so bring yer books!
7pm @ Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street, Manhattan
I was really excited when I saw this. Ben Katchor writes comics that get published in a number of places, including a San Francisco free weekly paper that I used to read. I LOVED reading his comic, but looking at his website, I have no idea which of his many comics I was reading- they all seem to be about hotels in one form or another. That may not sound exciting, but trust me, they're absurd and hilarious and the artwork is stunning. If you need to be convinced, check out this episode of Hotel and Farm about sleeping on beds of lettuce.
If you like to search for cartoons on YouTube, you are familiar with the mind-numbing inanity of AMVs, or Anime Music Videos. AMVs cater to people who enjoy watching cartoons recut to gothy pop songs, or those who get off on pretending their favorite characters are lip-syncing to novelty pop songs. I am no stranger to blinding fandom and the strange things it makes a person devote their time to, but I draw the line at editing cartoons that have already been edited.
Sadly, as this blog continually introduces me to new lows in my threshold for geeky crap, I have to admit the above video (the Best Comedy winner in the 2008 Boston AMV Awards) is really fun. It features a collection of clips by a guy named (sigh) Ranmafan477 who edits an AMV series called The Anime Network, which syncs anime clips with, among other things, Saturday Morning Cartoons intros from the 1990s. And we all know how awesome those are.
The above video was shot at the convention itself, and though the video quality is weak (but watchable), hearing the audience reaction is a blast. Hit the jump for a menu of where the best stuff is. 00:00 - This Chip and Dale parody is boring unless you love Gunsmith Cats. 00:30 - Hilarious, I don't want to give anything away. 00:54 - Darkwing Duck - these Disney Afternoon ones just don't do it for me. Audience loves it. 01:18 - Bit that will only be funny if you have at least a passing familiarty with Inuyasha, which I'm afraid I do. Audience goes nuts. 01:41 - Power Rangers parody that seems redundant. 01:44 - Amazing Death Note/Beetlejuice mashup.
Then there's a bunch of clips from movies and TV synced with anime, which I personally find less engaging, till we get to... 5:12 - A very well-edited take on one of my favorite modern Nicktoons, The Fairly Oddparents.
What was shown in Boston appears to be a "Best Of" reel, but if you want more all six episodes of The Anime Network can be seen on Ranmafan447's YouTube page. Episode Six has a nice high quality version of the Beetlejuice/Death note thing.
I'm crying as I type this because that painting has given me Stendhal's Syndrome. This breathtaking piece of high/low art was posted on Wired's Submit Your Best Star Wars Tribute Photo contest, and was submitted by a Mr. James Baker. Says he:
"This is a painting that I have hanging above the fireplace in my living room. It's about 60" tall. I always loved the Napoleon painting by Jacques-Louis David of him crossing the St Bernard Pass. I worked with a painter to recreate the painting with a stormtrooper leading the charge..."
Just think, this work might have been lost of the confines of James Baker's living room if not for Wired's contest, which by the way is currently being dominated by old Star Wars graf, a big picture of Boba Fett's stupid head, and shockingly, girls in Slave Leia costumes. Philistines! Hit the jump for a side by side comparison with the original, inferior Napoleon version... There's actually a bunch of different versions of the David painting, the distinction between which I'll leave to Art History Majors and Wikipedia.
Two things jump out at me about when comparing these two (hit the pic for high res if you want to see what I'm talking about):
1. The horse in the Trooper painting is brown instead of white, so as to bring out the pristine beauty of the Imperial Armor. Artists are clever.
2. What's with that wheeley cannon thing in the background, replicated precisely from the David version? Shouldn't that be a bantha or something? I don't think wheels exist in the future. Artists are not so clever after all.
Nitpick aside, this is some seriously committed fandom, both in inception and the fact that dude has this hanging in his living room. I hope it wins the contest. Vote for it, won't you? Don't get distracted by the Slave Leias!
The future of American politics is MySpace? Are all the candidates trying to launch indie rock music careers? Winograd and Hais will lecture on how much the intra-net has effected the current campaigns, and will sign copies of their new book. How I long for the day Americans can use Wii votes for elections, and the long silent reclusive nerd voice will be heard.
Science Fiction Lounge, John Woo Anime, and Russian Animation... Tuesday, March 25,
A weird 1920s Russian sci-fi movie with a live sound track by a "first class improviser's quartet". Hit the link to hear samples of the musicians. 10 bucks plus a $10 drink min, reservations are recommended.
7pm (Doors at 6:15) @ The ImaginAsian, 239 East 59th Street, Manhattan
The original Appleseed movie was fun in a confusing, kind of boring way. But at the New York Anime Festival I saw a clip of the opening scene of this "upgraded" version of the film, produced by John Woo, and let's just say it featured flying birds and people shooting guns with two hands. IMPORTANT: RSVP at that link ASAP, you're supposed to do it by 12pm on Monday.
Check out that animation - Miro, right? Budovskiy will talk about the past, present, and possibly future of Russian Animation. Though as far as I'm concerned, this is the last word in Russian animation...
I'm not going to lie. I saw Hard Boiled in high school, and I thought it was kind of boring. But I'm not an action connoisseur, and I do appreciate the status this film holds among many film geeks, in particular fans of Hong Kong ultraviolence. And even if you don't have a particular affinity for Hard Boiled, this screening has a pretty awesome gimmick - the film will run on three screens simultaneously, one showing the new, remastered DVD edition and the other two running the rickety old version. This is like porn for spec nerds. Plus it's totally free, oh except for a $10 drink minimum, but dude, it's St. Patrick's Day.
Real life teleporters, and Greg Pak, after the jump ... Tuesday, March 18,
6pm @ The New York Academy of Sciences, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St. at Barclay St., 40th fl, Manhattan
For all our advances in this modern world, iPhones and DSes just don't make up for the glaring lack of teleporters, time travel, and invisible planes. Theoretical Physics expert Michio Kaku will lecture on issues discussed in his book, Physics of the Impossible, and will hopefully give us all reason to believe that the stuff seen on Star Trek may someday make it into real life. Also I want a Portal Gun. RSVP is required on the website, tickets are $25 for nonmembers, $15 for students, and $10 for members.
6pm @ Jim Hanley's Universe, 4 West 33rd St., Manhattan
Got some Hulk-related fanboy questions for Greg Pak? Want to strike up a Socratic dialogue about Action Philosophers with author Fred Van Lente? Too bad, cause this discussion and signing is all about their work on Incredible Hercules, and how the book comes together from script to finished art. But you can probably sneak in some geeky questions about their other stuff too. Just make sure you bring a copy of Incredible Hercules #115 to get signed, so you don't look like a dick!
Film critic J. Hoberman is celebrating his 30th year at the Village Voice, so BAM is showcasing a number of films he memorably reviewed, or just plain liked a lot. Hoberman will introduce this screening of Eraserhead, who called it a "piece of post-nuclear guignol" in his original 1977 review.
Comic bloggers, Lost, and gym class flashbacks after the jump... Tuesday, March 11
Comic bloggers on parade! If you have any questions about where the comic industry is headed (or the comic blogging industry), this is the place to get your voice heard. Tickets are, as always, a mere $5.
7pm @ Some Gym in Manhattan (you need to RSVP for the address)
Dodgeball may generally be associated with positive memories for geekanerds, but you're all grown up now and surely decades of playing first person shooters have sharpened up your hand eye co-ordination. Registration is $15, which guarantees you at least two games. Winners get two pitches and free Pizza at the Boss Tweed after party. Losers get to feel bad about themselves. The website says it's co-ed, friendly, and 22 and over. Thursday, March 13
6:30 @ Professor Thom's, 219 2nd Avenue, Manhattan
Free jello shots whenever someone says "oceanic 6" or punches Ben. I don't even like Lost, and I know that's awesome. I passed by this place last week, they've got the show on a bunch of huge screens and the volume is cranked, if you're concerned about missing some valuable info in a public setting.
7:30 @ The New Museum Theater, 235 Bowery, Manhattan
Improv Everywhere is gently subversive organization responsible for the No Pants Subway Ride and recent internet video sensation, Frozen Grand Central Station. In their seven year history, the group has executed over seventy missions full of frivolity and good natured mischief. They're like the bizzaro version of Anonymous. This event is $8, and will include screenings of some of their past missions and a talk with founder Charlie Todd (ATTEND THE TALE). You should show up with no pants on, I bet they'd think that was hilarious.
Serious brawls and bogus journeys after the jump... Saturday, March 8
This is actually the grande finale of a four-state tour, and the winner of NYC's qualifying round will go directly into the finals, battling it out with winners from across the nation. Full rules are on the official page, but basically 256 people can sign up, and registration starts at 3pm....so if you want to play you better plan on making a day out of it. Brawls are one-on-one, which is total bullshit, but whatever. The grand prize is a crystal-coated Wii (oh America/Japan and your embarrassing decadence), a home theater system, and of course the game. There are three other prize packs, again, check the link.
7pm@ Hugs Drive-In Theater, 108 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
The myspace page is cryptic, but apparently this is free and you get free popcorn too. Presumably you don't need a car, but what do I know. I'll tell you what I do know...
I'm telling you people, low-fi recreations....they're reaching critical mass. This production promises to recreate live on stage, scene by scene, the entirety of Spielberg's finest work of cinema. How will they do it? Much paper mache is said to be involved, and probably no small amount of theatrical ingenuity. This event has been talked up quite a bit from the Village Voice to the NYTimes, so I know I'm getting there early.
UPDATE 3/4/08: If you missed this, we've got a full report.
Your chance to meet a whole bunch of comic creators, after the jump... Tuesday, March 4
Midnight @ Midtown Comics West, 200 W 40th Street, Manhattan
If you really want to stalk Peter David, you actually have two event options; at 8pm at Comic Book Club, Peter will talk nerd shop with the lads from The Stack, so if you go to that first you can have something to talk to him about during those all important 20 seconds when he's signing your copy of Dark Tower (or any of the other great books he's writing, for that matter).
7pm @ Housing Works Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, Manhattan
French comic-book creators Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian, the duo responsible for the award winning comic anthology Get A Life, will talk about "the global graphic novel", which sounds very grandiose and probably has something to do with Tin Tin.
Wow, so many comic artists are doing events this week! They must all be in town to see the Jurassic Park show. Adapted from the book Three Days as the Crow Flies, '85 is a graphic novel about NYC in a tumultuous time, with lots of drug addicts, artists, and other off-the-grid grittiness.
All Day @Jim Hanley's Universe, both locations in Manhattan and Staten Island
Happy birthday Superman! Please note this is not some sort of lame publishing date sort of birthday, but Kal El's actual birthday, as cited by editor Julie Schwartz. Given that today is leap year, Kryptonian days are different than earth days, and a number of other crazy factors, this birthday thing is much more complicated than it seems, you can read about it here but it honestly it was too much even for me. THE POINT IS: 50% off all Superman merch at Jim Hanley's. This probably opens them up to lots of nerd arguments like, "Absolute Dark Knight: Hard Cover Edition is totally about Superman! He's in it, isn't he? He's an essential component of the story, he's in the last act!"
David Bowie sketch party and King Kong, after the jump... Saturday, March 1
I hope you aren't sick of hearing about these David Bowie themed events, because I'm not sick of writing them. Dr. Sketchy's offers life-drawing sessions with a heavy emphasis on sexiness and geekiness, two things you so rarely see together. This month's event will feature the lovely Madame Rosebud in a variety of David Bowie guises, which promises to be all sorts of androgynous fun. Table reservations are all booked, so show up early ($10 at the door) if you want to grab a spot on the floor.
This is the absolute place to be this weekend if you have any interest in King Kong whatsoever. Come to the 1pm show to enter the Fay Wray Scream-Alike contest for a chance to win a year's Film Forum membership, a King Kong 2-Disc Collectors Edition DVD, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, and a chance to scream on the Today's Show! I promise you that is the most you will ever win for your ability to scream like a girl. Hit the link for a list of very respectable celebrity judges and more neat prizes.
$27, 6:30pm @ The Times Center, 41st St b/w 7th + 8th, Manhattan
Advanced tickets are sold out, but there's going to be some available at the door at 5:30pm. Now if you couldn't tell from the heading this talk is supposed to be about theater or somesuch nonsense, but don't let them get away with that. Rise up and demand Cox and McShane improvise a William Stryker / Al Swearengen showdown.
Comic talk and drunken video gaming after the jump...
$5, 8pm @ The People's Improv Theater, 154 W 29th St, Manhattan
Just about the only big weekly event in NYC that's unabashedly, unironically geekanerdy. Oh, and it's funny. This week's edition features Cable/Deadpool creators Fabian Nicieza, Reilly Brown, and Nicole Boose.
You're gonna buy new comics today anyway (aren't you?), so you might as well get a 20% discount on them! Yeah yeah, I couldn't find anything better going on today.
These guys have Rock Band, two Wiis, a PS2, N64, NES, Atari and a buncha big screens. Sounds like a load of casual gaming fun, and word is free tequila may be flowing...
8pm @The Bleecker Street Theater, 45 Bleecker St, Manhattan
Not entirely unlike the Cut & Paste Design Tournament, an Art Battle is an exhibition of work that artists create right there in the gallery. It'll be like one of these cheesy speed-painting videos, but much slower and more artsy.
Movies movies movies after the jump... Saturday, February 23
@ The Museum of Modern Art (Titus Theater 1), 11 W. 53rd St, Manhattan
If you're still trying to get your Oscar betting picks together, this film might deliver some insight on what it has historically taken to win the big ones, having won Best Picture, Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Director, and Screenplay in 1975.
Sunday, February 24
The 2008 Oscars
8pm @ Various Places
There aremanyOscarparties around the city, but none I thought looked particularly interesting or geeky, and all of which are expensive. It's a living room sort of event anyway.
6:30pm @ Museum of Modern Art (Titus Theater 2), 11 W. 53rd Street, Manhattan
Boy this sounds horrible. Shitty cell phone video quality blown up to fill a theater-sized screen? If you say so, MOMA! I can't help but be curious. One entry is called "They Can Shoot Me But They Can't Kill Me And Neither Can You" and that sounds really good.
Ain't no party like a toy trading party cause a toy trading party don't stop! Get the Dunnies you need for your collection in a more socially gratifying environment than eBay. Plus eBay buyers usually won't accept original artwork or other toys as payment, and chances are some of the cool cats at this trading party will.
I finally saw Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, and it was lots of nasty fun. I love it when a plan comes apart. Film historian Foster Hirsch will moderate a conversation with Sidney Lumet, who has a directed a whopping forty-four features in his fifty year career, and I guarantee you've heard of at least ten. A limited number of tickets will be available at the box office on the day of, call (212) 727-8110 for details.
Nerd trivia, Rock Band tournie, and old timey anime after the jump... Tuesday, February 12
8pm @ Black Rabbit Bar, 91 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn
The website says this is "the world's nerdiest trivia night". I think the world's nerdiest trivia night is not being held in a bar, but in a tenth grader's basement. But enough about me and my sordid past. Timmy Williams of ubiquitous The Whitest Kidz U Know hosts with pseudo-celeb Amiee Carlson. Smarties win shots and a there's a $25 bar tab for the winner.
6:30pm @ Virgin Megastore Union Square, 52 East 14th Street, Manhattan
What's it take to win these things? Skill? Showmanship? Pink and red valentine's day themed costumes? I don't know, but you can win a $500 Virgin gift if you figure it out. Sign up ahead of time at NYC Virgin Megastores, it's free.
7pm @ The Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, Manhattan
Seriously old school anime from the early 30s! Originally silent, these shorts are accompanied by new music and live benshi narration. $10 or $4.50 for students.
As part of their Science Fiction Films at Seward Program, our librarian friends will be screening half-hour film versions of "Quest" and "All Summer In A Day". I have to admit to never having read Quest, but it appears to share a endless-night theme with All Summer In A Day, which I think is on most grade-schoolers reading lists. And it should be read by all kids everywhere to make them conscious of how truly horrible and cruel they and their peers really are. Self knowledge is the only path to self improvement, after all. I hate kids.
Political powers and George Romero in person, after the jump... Tuesday, February 5
C'mon, you love voting on Wii Votes. This is just like that, there might even be a computer voting terminal. Make sure you know your polling site by hitting the title link, and have at it.
7pm @ AMC Empire 25, 234 West 42nd Street, Manhattan
So of COURSE this is sold out, but the website says some stand-by tickets may be available on the day of the event. So get to the theater like, that morning, ask the ticket people, and you may have a chance to see the man himself talk about his latest work of zombie carnage. This one is satire of both internet addict and film students, which is weird because I don't recall Romero ever calling me up and asking for my life story, but there it is. Tickets are $18 bucks.
