Nerd Lunch Episode 54: Give it a Chance 2: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Posted in books, monsters, podcast, TV shows, vampires with tags , , , , , , on September 25, 2012 by Paxton

Nerd Lunch Podcast

We have arrived at Episode 54 of the podcast. This week we return to a previous topic called Give It A Chance. We first did this topic back in Episode 24 in which we gave anime a chance and we had Shawn Robare as our guide.  This week Jen Usellis (Episode 11) returns to the fourth chair to guide the three of us geeky guys through the world of Sookie Stackhouse.  That’s right, the three of us read Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris, the first Southern Vampire Mystery and the genesis of the TV show True Blood.

Dead Until Dark Sookie Stackhouse

Jen guides us through the gothic horror romance genre and teaches us all a thing or two about why this series is so popular.  We mostly discuss the book, but there is a part at the end in which we discuss the first few episodes of the TV show starring Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse.

We learn this week that two of the three of us have watched the show and that two of the three of us hate the vampire called “Bubba” in the novel.  We also learn that vampire Bill has a stupid name and is a “black hole of charisma”.

Lots to learn, lots to hear in this episode.  Download it from iTunes or listen to it on Feedburner.

Or, listen to it within your browser here.

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Review of Oz Book 8: Tik-Tok of Oz (1914)

Posted in books, pop culture, reviews, Wizard of Oz with tags , , , , , on September 18, 2012 by Paxton

Following the Yellow Brick Road

Baum wrote the 8th Oz book, Tik-Tok of Oz, in 1914, one year after The Patchwork Girl of Oz.

This book is titled after Tik-Tok, the mechanical man.  The character of Tik-Tok first appeared in the third book, Ozma of Oz, but has also appeared in each subsequent book. Tik-Tok may be more familiar to people based on his appearance in the 1984 movie, Return to Oz.

Tik Tok in Return to Oz

A year before this book, in 1913, Baum attempted to stage a play based on a story that was heavily adapted from the third Oz book, Ozma of Oz.  He called it The Tik-Tok Man of Oz.  It was this play that would serve as the basis of this eighth book in the Oz series.  However, despite being named in the title, this book isn’t really about Tik-Tok, it’s more about the Shaggy Man and his quest to find his brother.

The story starts off with Queen Anne of Oogaboo forming an army to conquer the Emerald City. However, Glinda mixes up the roads between Oogaboo and the Emerald City forcing the army to March around Oz aimlessly. The group meets up with Betsy Bobbin and her mule Hank. Queen Anne wants to have them arrested but Shaggy Man comes along and convinces her not to. Shaggy Man explains that he’s out looking for his brother who has become a prisoner of the Nome King (last seen in The Emerald City of Oz). When Queen Anne learns of the Nome King’s riches, she instead decides to conquer him instead of Ozma and the Emerald City.  The group then travels to the Nome King’s domain to get Shaggy Man’s brother back and they have several adventures along the way.

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Nerd Lunch Episode 53: Drilldown on the Christopher Nolan Batman Trilogy

Posted in Batman, movies, podcast, pop culture with tags , , , , , on September 18, 2012 by Paxton

Nerd Lunch Podcast

Welcome to episode 53. This week we are joined by Christian from the Atomic Geeks podcast.  Christian is here to discuss the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy now that it is all done and finished.

Nolan Batman
(Via itno.co.uk)

Since we are discussing this trilogy, Jeeg had to bow out since he has not seen the last movie.  And believe me, that was a wise decision because we spoil the HELL out of this trilogy.  So if you haven’t seen any of these movies, don’t listen because we don’t hold back.  And Christian makes sure to say SPOILER ALERT after he says his spoiler.  So, caveat emptor.

Download this episode from iTunes or Feedburner.

Or, listen to the show from within your browser here.

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Nerd Lunch Episode 52: Strategic Plan for the future of DC Comics’ movie franchises

Posted in Batman, comic books, movies, podcast, Superman, The Flash with tags , , , , , , , on September 12, 2012 by Paxton

Nerd Lunch Podcast

This week on the podcast we are joined by William Bruce West, a fellow pop culture blogger.  Our discussion? We finally talk about DC Comics and the current situation they are in with their movies.

DC/Warner Bros movies
(Via The Playlist)

We talk about what they’ve done right and what they’ve done wrong. We talk about why we think nearly every one of DC’s major comic character movies suck (besides Batman). We discuss weaknesses and opportunities. We discuss what we want to see out of them moving forward. Essentially we’ve come up with a strategic plan for Warner Bros/DC for moving forward with movie adaptations their comic book franchises. I think we pretty much figured it out.

See how by downloading this episode from iTunes or on Feedburner.

Or just listen to the show from within your browser by clicking here.

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9 days left to support Strange Kids Comix Magazine #3

Posted in magazine, nostalgia, pop culture with tags , , , , , on September 7, 2012 by Paxton

Issue #3 of the Strange Kids Club Comix Magazine has 9 days left on Kickstarter and less than $200 left to be fully funded.

There is a lot of content packed into this issue of the anthology by a lot of really awesome contributors.

Here again is the amazing cover by Jason Edmiston:

SKC Comix #3

Also packed into this issue are creators like Brent Engstrom, Jon David Guerra and John Rozum. There is also written content by such blogging luminaries as Brian Adams (Cool and Collected), Shawn Robare (Branded in the 80s) and myself (here).

You will not want to miss this.  Plus, each level of contribution has tons of extra swag you can grab.  But those contribution levels are slowly becoming sold out.  So get over there while you can.

Now head over to this issue’s Kickstarter page, show your support for this most awesome collection of art and content.  You will not be disappointed.

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