Fanboys Anonymous

Artist Ray Bruwelheide is the man behind the very interesting comic strip Viridian City, which depicts the world of Pokémon in stark contrast to what the series usually represents. Rather than appealing to the child in all of us, it is a much more adult, gritty, dark interpretation that evokes themes from crime dramas and horror/thriller mysteries with a noir feel.

When I came across this I thought it was particularly interesting, so I reached out to Ray to get some more information about where this idea came from.

Q: How did you originally get into Pokémon?

A: The same way everyone around my age did, I think. I was in 4th or 5th grade when it first came out, and I had a subscription to Nintendo Power at the time, so I was basically the perfect target demographic for it. Plus, all of my friends played it as well so it was inescapable.

Q: Everyone has a favorite Pokémon, so which one is yours?

A: I'm most familiar with generation 1, so the first that comes to mind is Kabutops, because an ancient crustacean horse-shoe crab Pokémon with blade arms is about as cool as it gets. I'm also partial to Blitzle and Crustle.

Q: What was your motivation for starting the Viridian City comic?

A: When I started it, I had a lot of free time and a well-paying job, so I wanted to make something that represented what I was thinking about at the time, and that ended up being a stylized, adult take on something that was really important to me as a kid.

Q: What did you draw from for inspiration? Was this interpretation based on anything in particular?

A: Well there's the obvious answer of "Pokémon and film noir," but more specifically I was looking at a lot of work by J.C. Leyendecker who was an amazing illustrator from that period (and later became Norman Rockwell's mentor) as well as plenty of Bioshock and the 2001 animated Metropolis.

Q: What are your thoughts on the reception it has received so far?

A: Mixed, honestly. I obviously love the positive reception it has received and all the great feedback, but the cynical part of me also realizes that on the Internet, it's easy to have formulaic success by combining two things people like or have nostalgia about. Most nerdy blogs these days are pretty full of posts like "My Little Game of Thrones Ponies" or "Breaking Bad Adventure Time" and it just seems so predictable.

Q: What are your plans for the future of Viridian City? Are you going to continue making up new strips?

A: Yeah, but slowly. The pages currently up were created in 3 batches with plenty of time between. I shot myself in the foot a bit by setting the level of detail so high. The pages look good in the end but require a lot of time.

Q: What other projects do you have under your name and coming up in the future that you want to let others know about?

A: I've got a game in the works that won't be seeing the light of day for a while, but new info on that and on future Viridian City stuff will show up first on my personal art tumblr

* If you're an artist who would like to be featured on Fanboys Anonymous or join the website as a contributor, get in touch with us!

What began as a chance encounter during an essay assignment has turned into a full-blown reincarnation of what could possibly be the first female superhero. Move over Wonder Woman; Nelvana of the Northern Lights is back, and she's ready to kick some ass—in a nice Canadian way.

Nelvana by Michael Walsh

Hope Nicholson is no stranger to comics or superheroes. A self-proclaimed nerd, Nicholson is extremely passionate about Canada's Golden Age of Comics and has produced a documentary outlining the era. Aptly titled Lost Heroes, the doc features the history of Canadian superheroes and their creators. Among them is the legendary Adrian Dingle, the man behind Nelvana of the Northern Lights. She stumbled upon the female superhero while researching a paper for her BA program and, despite the lack of information around Nelvana, the character immediately resonated with her.

"I never actually had access to read any of her stories for the first few years after I heard about Nelvana," Nicholson explains. "It was more her history and place in history that fascinated me. The stories themselves are fairly good for their time, but it's really their failed potential that caught my attention."

When she decided to take a stab at collecting and reprinting the Nelvana comics, she did so with the blessing of the original copyright holders whom she'd had the opportunity to get to know while filming her documentary. They granted Nicholson and her partner, Rachel Richey, exclusive rights to reprint Nelvana. The two then put together a fantastic Kickstarter campaign (now closed) that not only provided the means to collect/scan the comics and reprint them but also allowed the partners to commission art pieces from local and internationally acclaimed artists for inclusion in the book.

So exactly how difficult is it to resurrect an almost forgotten Canadian female superhero? Nicholson and Richey have had to jump through a few hoops in order to procure the pages needed for reprinting. "In most cases, we've had to physically travel to private collections or ask for submissions," Nicholson says.

Only one private collector allowed us to take issues home to scan. We did have to skip the Library and Archives vast collection though, as their digitization procedures were either too expensive for our budget if we allowed them to do it, or not high-quality enough for our purposes if they allowed us to do it (photographs, no flash, from several feet away). There were a few collectors that turned us down or didn't get back to us, and in one case, regretfully informed us that they would have loved to help but had recently sold off their entire collection.

While a great many people were enthusiastic about the project, there were a few who had some doubts. Nicholson defends her decision to reprint an almost unknown superhero and understands why some people might not grasp why she would undertake this project. "There was some resistance to resurrecting the comics, mostly from people who were surprised to see that anyone would be interested in spending the time to do this."

Devoting time to source the long-forgotten comics was precisely what Nicholson and Richey did. Not all the comics were found, and Nicholson knew they would need to have an alternative in mind if they wanted to see the project through to completion.

I wasn't sure if I would be able to find every issue in decent shape, but had enough back-up plans that I felt it would be a worthwhile leap to make. In the end, there was one issue, #3 that I only found one copy of and it was too delicate to scan, but luckily a 1970s microfiche of this issue was in re-printable condition so I was able to make it work.

Hearing that Nelvana was going to be reprinted, some comic collectors worried that the cost of the rare issues would increase due to the attention drawn to the comics. Nicholson agrees. "It certainly did [raise the cost], with an issue of Nelvana recently selling for $14,000 dollars, when last year it was only 2,000 at most." Not bad for an Inuit demigoddess who has been under the radar for mainstream collectors for almost 75 years.

Nelvana by JR Faulkner

With Kickstarter backers to placate and an approximate release date of April 2014 for the book, how close is Nelvana to completion? Nicholson is clearly excited, and possibly a little relieved, to say, "We are DONE! I am so glad to officially say that. We are putting the book together and are aiming to submit it to the printers shortly. It should be in my hands in late April/early May when we will begin our mail-outs. The larger retailer release is planned in the fall if all goes according to plan."

Want to get your hands on a copy NOW? Grab yours at conventions, online through the official Nelvana website, and at select comic shops while quantities last. Check with your local retailer to make sure they didn't miss this!

What do you think about Nelvana's resurrection? Are there other long-forgotten titles would you like to see reprinted? Let us know in the comments below! Happy reading!

I had the great fortune to interview ambitious Tennessee playwright Harrison Young. Online Fighting and A Cocaine Comedy are his first plays to be produced on the stage, but he plans to do even more to give the people what they want—and some of what they didn't know they wanted. His work has tickled the funny bone of audiences from Knoxville, Tenn., to Manhattan, and now through the internet via interview. Without further ado, Mr. Young.

Aaron: Let's get straight to it: A/S/L?

Harrison: (laugh) 28. M. Brooklyn.

A: Where did you grow up and attend college?

H: Well, I grew up in Celina, Tennessee. It is a small town. I was in the first graduating class of Clay County High School in 2004. Just so you have an idea of how big a school it is, we had a big class of 77.

A: Very large.

H: Oh yeah, it's humongous. So after graduating I moved to Knoxville with three classmates, to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in the fall of 2004, where I would eventually graduate in 2009.

A: Awesome. So, what drew you to playwriting?

H: I enjoyed writing in various ways growing up, but I never really knew how to use it. I tried doing little children’s novels as an 8-year-old. Didn’t work out too well. I wrote a little bit of poetry in high school.

A: What kind of poetry?

H: Sonnets.

A: (laughs)

H: What? I like the sonnet format.

A: Were they addressed to anyone?

H: They weren’t, “To you, from me,” kind of things, but you know, I’d have someone in mind when I wrote my sonnets. It didn’t work too well, but maybe you have a line or two that works and go from there.

As far as getting into playwriting, it was in college whenever I took a playwriting class with Kali Meister. I got to write a little bit of sketch stuff before 2008 but as far as just focusing on, “This is how you write a beginning, a middle, and an end, strong introductions,” any number of things like that, it was that one month workshop that did it. It was non-credit by the way but it did as much for my career as most classes at UT (University of Tennessee).

A: That’s pretty damn interesting.

The work you are known for so far is comedic writing. What are some of the influences that made you want to take that route?

H: Comedy is a wonderful filter for life. I think I come from a funny family. I think of my dad growing up. He had one of the first jokes I can remember: “My son is pretty good when he’s asleep. He just can’t sleep enough.”

A and H: (share a laugh)

H: I enjoyed that joke so much that I would finish the joke for him even with it going against me. I just loved the idea of humor enlightening one’s life. My brother is probably the funniest person in the family. He’s in the Navy, so you can guess what kind of jokes those are. My mother has a wonderful sense of wordplay too.

Also, I enjoyed comedy stand up as an art form. I think the first album I listened to was Jeff Foxworthy’s You Might Be a Redneck If… album.

A: The classic, of course.

H: Later on, my friend introduced me to bootleg copies of the audio files—not the video—of some Comedy Central Presents episodes. That way we could listen to them in the car.

A: Oh, this is before YouTube took over.

H: Yeah, this is before iPods. Before you could purchase the entire discography and listen to it a few minutes later. Like, “Oh look! Someone has Windows 98! Wow! Oh man, and a burnable disc drive! I just hope I have enough batteries to enjoy this thing.” So I would listen to Jim Gaffigan, Dave Attell, Pablo Francisco, whoever else we could get a copy of. It was a blast to enjoy that with friends.

So basically, I’ve always had a comedic filter and have enjoyed exploring that through whatever means.

A: It definitely shows.

The two plays that you have had produced so far are about niche topics: cocaine and video games. Are you aware of any other stage productions that have centered around either one?

H: For video games, yes. When I moved to Brooklyn, I learned about the Video Game Festival at the Brick Theater. That really caught me off guard, because in Knoxville everyone said (about Online Fighting), “This is so original.” A really nice woman said, “This is the most creative play the Tennessee Stage Company has ever done.” That was very nice. But a year a half later, I move to Brooklyn and there’s an entire festival dedicated to plays about video games. And here I am thinking I’m some big guy because I had one. It was a nice way to bring me back down to earth.

As far as cocaine goes, there’s a play called This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan, one of my favorite playwrights. The play deals similarly with coming across somebody else’s cocaine that they were planning to sell. It’s been done before, but I hope to one day join their ranks because I admire the work that’s come before my own.

A: That’s totally new to me. I did not know about This Is Our Youth.

H: It’s real life, man.

A: Indeed it is. Although that is stranger than fiction.

So moving on to your first play, Online Fighting. Would you mind giving a quick blurb on what the show is all about?

H: Sure. It’s about two old friends who rekindle a feud. The play begins when a system glitch unblocks gamertags for their online console accounts, and they are forced to talk to each other. We later learn that one of them won a national video game tournament and took the loser’s girlfriend, which led to the bad blood between them.

A: That will definitely make you salty. You already got your ass whooped, and then he takes you girl too. It certainly ups the stakes a bit.

H: There is salt all over this play.

A: Maybe you should ask for a sponsorship from Morton.

H: I think we can arrange something. Salt Presents Online Fighting by Harrison Young.

A: The characters from Online Fighting, are they based on anyone you know in real life?

H: Not particularly, is going to be my answer.

There is a mom character in the play. She’s not my mom, but there are similarities and correlations because I have a mom. The mom in the play has alcoholic tendencies, but I don’t think of my mom that way. She’s seen the show and I’ve reassured her that I don’t think she’s like that.

A: That’s one of the many tensions between an artist and the art itself.

Who would you say will have the most fun watching Online Fighting?

H: Video gamers, but I feel fortunate that audiences of all kinds have enjoyed it so far. Video gamers will get the Easter eggs, like when someone says, “Objection!” or the Konami code. That’s not so important for mothers who didn’t really play games. I think the reason they enjoy it is because they hadn’t been exposed to the world of video games and the excitement that comes from it. They’re getting to see something in a different way that friends and family enjoy. Seeing it in a more linear fashion through theatre could make it easier to understand. I think everyone gets something a little different from it.

A: That makes sense.

Your second show, A Cocaine Comedy, covers the worst case scenario for someone trying cocaine for the first time. How did you come up with the idea?

H: I was offered cocaine for the first time at some point in college. I declined because I heard all my life, “Just say no,” "Crack is whack," and all of that stuff you are supposed to say. Even though I said “no” and felt good about that decision, I still wondered what it was like, who would find out about my use, stuff like that. I finally reached the question, “What’s the worst that could happen?” Instead of finding out by trying it, I decided to write a play about peer pressure which goes back to the comedy filter.

Fear is a very real emotion. Comedy sometimes benefits from that, like laughing while nervous. A Cocaine Comedy plays off that. When Richard fails to stand up to the peer pressure and tries cocaine, two police officers kick in the door and arrest him. That is the first scene of the play.

A: Spoilers!

H: Oh yeah, spoilers.

A: Well, the first scene is also the last scene of the first act. It’s a pretty neat way of doing things.

H: I think of Breaking Bad’s pilot episode in particular with the way that intro begins. I won’t spoil the first episode of Breaking Bad. But it’s fun as a viewer to see something the second time around that you didn’t notice before.

A: Yeah, let’s not do that for the two people in America who haven’t seen it yet.

A Cocaine Comedy received positive audience feedback during a table reading at the PIT Theatre in Manhattan on December 23, 2013. How do you think it will be received in Tennessee, a place with a more conservative attitude towards drug use?

H: The Tennessee Stage Company is having three readings of the play for their new play festival. The first reading was well received. I got a Facebook post—which we know is as good as a New York Times review—from an elderly lady saying very kind things, so I feel much better than I did before. But the concern is always there because the title is strong. Most people who are going to be offended by this won’t come. And the ones they do and are willing to leave in the middle of a show probably will probably do so after the first six pages.

A: Are you referring to the testicle stomping?

H: Yeah, absolutely. Tank Gates, the governor of Texas, stomps on them in the name of self defense for America. I hope this part of the interview is safe for work.

A: Unless you work for the Miami Dolphins, probably not.

Last question, and then I’m going to let you go. Officer Mondragon is a police officer in the play who takes on the role of bad cop/hype man. Please explain what that means.

H: There’s a good cop, bad cop team in the show. Officer Mondragon is a bad cop. Early on, we learn that their police techniques have not been working. Tank is framing people to give the impression that his task force is cracking down on crime, but needs the police duo to to find real results because an election is coming up. That plants the seed. The police have to try something new. The two cops decide that bad cop/hype man is the way to go.

Mondragon intimidates suspects with various hip hop references. I believe there are over 40 references in the process of doing his job. For example, a suspect might ask if Mondragon is going to hurt him. Mondragon would respond with, "My mind’s telling me, 'No,' but my body is telling me, 'Yes!'"

A: It's so unfortunate that readers can’t hear the enthusiasm you have for that R. Kelly reference.

H: You could use all caps.

A: The editors will shoot down all caps, but we’ll find a way to make it clear.

H: But yeah, it’s just a lot of fun references to relatively popular lines in rap. Not just throwing them in like Family Guy, but using them to tell a better overall story.

A: I definitely think that after reading this, people will be excited to see more from you. We will see how things go.

A recording of a stage reading for Online Fighting can be found at the end of the post for this interview, which I recommend everyone take some time to watch. We will be closing for now. Thanks to Fanboys Anonymous for the opportunity to do this, and to you for making time.

H: Handshake.

A: Handshake.

H: My pleasure.

What a guy, huh? I had a lot of fun doing the interview, and I hope you all had as much fun reading it. Please take a moment to share your thoughts with Fanboys Anonymous in the comments section, and take a look at the stage reading of Online Fighting below. Thanks for reading.

"Ever had an obsession?" film director Damian S. Simankowicz asks. "Something you started for fun, but then it became more and more interesting to you? You'd wake up and think about it. When you slept, you dreamt about it. And then maybe it started talking to you…"

Damian states, for the record, that he's perfectly sane. At least he thinks. But there's this cybernetic girl that won't leave him alone, not until he can at least get her a blaster and a starfighter. Yeah well, get in line, lady. Me and a few generations of '80s kids, Star Wars fans, and Star Trek fans (to name a few) were here first, so it looks like the writer and artist of brand-new indie digital comic Sage: Escape is stuck with you!

Sage: Escape, at least its debut issue, is quite easy to describe, but that doesn't make it any less imaginative than any die-hard sci-fi fan could ever expect. The year is 3042, and as Friendly Corp commits genocide (aggressively taking back real estate from its own clients), sending out their assassins "The Salesmen" to do their wetwork, one of their new experiments has gone missing.

Sage, a cybernetically enhanced young woman, is loose on the streets of the famous floating Cray City, a satellite orbiting Mars that is owned by a wealthy family, much like a future Illuminati. Suffering partial amnesia where her AI programming isn't thinking for her, Sage only knows that she must uncover the truth behind the mass slaughters. Tearing her way through Cray City, avoiding the automated police drones and criminal aliens and cyborgs, her adventure really begins when she is forced into a battle of wits with bounty hunter Raamon, who is being paid to take her back to the corporation.

Damian brings not only his own knowledge of cinematic code and convention from the film industry he has been a part of for so long, but also a huge love of the sci-fi genre and all the sub-genres that lie in its looming shadow.

Starting up Sage: Escape, he not only wrote it but also illustrated it himself, like a man possessed. Upon originally reviewing the first issue that he sent me, I was a total bastard and pointed out some inconsistencies, mostly regarding the artwork. Less than a day later, I got another email from him. Damian humbly stated that my observation confirmed his belief, and then offered me a thoroughly improved version of the issue that he'd immediately gone to work on after reading me. Here is a man who the big comic brands should be talking to. Damian S. Simankowicz is indeed a creative workhorse.

And let's face it, if Darth Maul's a fan, who will argue?

Damian's love of sci-fi is clear. Here is a universe that is completely original, yet familiar by reference. There's a bit of Star Wars and Star Trek, Robocop and Total Recall. The human cultures of the future take today's society and politics into consideration while flipping the coin on what life in the next millenia could be.

On one hand, the corporations of the future, weaponizing people with cybernetics, have automated the police state with drones. This has rendered human law—as it is today—redundant in the eyes of big business. With today's sociopolitical and liberal movements fighting the likes of Wall Street and riots spreading worldwide in the face of unpunished corporate crime, this could become reality.

On the other hand, the story is centered around the plight of Natura, an Australian city massacred by Friendly Corp, where Sage is originally from. The Crays, the most wealthy human family in the universe, are descended from African-Americans. It all makes me think Farscape meets The Fifth Element. It's a world "shared" by self-appointed royalty, cyborgs, aliens, farmers, and miners. I like this dynamic!

Like the solo outings of many of our favorite comic book characters, this first issue reads Sage's mind and states the obvious, mostly, through an inner monologue. I get the sense it's not just Sage thinking to herself, either. She's mostly cybernetic and searching to reconnect with her stolen humanity. Even part of her mind is cybernetic, and the way she reads on the page, it really is as though her programming is doing the thinking for her. She constantly calculates her next move, like an assassin does.

Aside from the artwork, which can only improve as Damian has already shown, I thought the dialogue between characters started out a little empty. Sage: Escape's debut focuses more on telling a straight story rather than endearing us to any characters. Take into consideration the fact that we've yet to become accustomed to any "Sageisms"; she's new, and like any other writer, Damian will learn over time. This is a colorful world full of characters who have yet to find their way, and I think Damian has a fight to make something special here. Sage: Escape definitely has the potential!

Q&A with Damian S. Simankowicz


1. Where did Sage (the character and the story) come from? You mentioned to me recently that there's quite a close bond between you and this unique character that's been "waiting to be brought to life?" 

She’s been around for years. Whenever another project would get stuck, I’d write Sage plots instead. When I’d come home after a big night out and still be wired, I’d turn up the stereo and draw segments of her universe. An early story had a male warrior (Nihil) in the lead role, but a teenage girl worked better. I took some visual traits from a coworker buddy, and hey presto! Sage just arrived. Her peers have been around for while too. For example, the villain Groth (see Mars Gambit 2 &3), I’ve been drawing him since I was in high school—and that was a long time ago!

2. Have you always been a comic fan? How long for, and what are your favorite characters and story arcs? 

Yeah, I always loved comics. My dad would buy every Batman and Superman issue, plus all the DC crossovers. As I grew up I got into Death’s Head 2, Ghost Rider, Morbius, Blaze, Nightstalkers, and Lobo. And then Dark Horse rocked my world with the Aliens series. Their first The Thing mini series is also incredible. But my all-time favorite characters and story arcs come from Simon Furman’s rendition of The Transformers. I followed him from the UK series, onto the American title, and now I’m reading the Regeneration One continuation of that story. All time favorite character? Optimus Prime. Favourite story arc? Optimus becoming the new Prime in the original War Within.

3. You've come into the world of comics from the film industry. Is this something you've planned to do for a long time or is it a case of jumping in at the deep end as a fresh approach to your artistic tendencies? 

Honestly, I never had the nerve to do a full comic by myself. It’s kinda intimidating. But one day I realized Sage’s universe was created, and the characters were off and running. But they only lived in an over full folder on my shelf. So I thought, why not see what the public thinks? So I made a first issue print, and some friends helped me launch it at a few pop culture expos. And guess what? The public bought the comic. And liked it. And asked, “So what happens next?” and “When’s the next issue out?” Then suddenly I had the nerve. And I knew it was time. I was going to let the Sage: Escape characters and universe out of the folder and put it into an ongoing series. And I was going to do everything in my power to tell the story authentically and honestly. Well, lucky for me, those close friends who helped me launch the original print also stuck around for the ongoing series (‘cause I don’t know the first thing about making websites).

4. Considering the qualities you took into film and the skills and knowledge you learned from that, what do you feel you've most brought into comics with Sage: Escape? Which of your qualities as a director did you feel really helped you to get into the creative process here? 

You know I hadn’t thought about it until you mentioned it, but you’re right. I storyboard Sage: Escape like it’s a film shoot. I draw all the shots (panels) on paper and arrange them in an editing pattern. In fact, I figure out the line of direction as if the panels were to be filmed. I even approximate different lens focal lengths in the artwork, even though there’s no camera. It’s the same creative process. As for qualities? The ability to stay focused and work hard.

5. I noticed quite a few cinematic conventions and stylistic references to classic and modern sci-fi in Sage: Escape that made it easy to familiarize myself with this future you've created. I felt that you'd drawn a little from the likes of Fifth Element, Star Wars, the original Aeon Flux cartoons, even a bit of Robocop and Nemesis. What are your favorite sci-fi movies? 

I’m passionate about most of the major sci-fi franchises that everyone else is into these days. But here some of my favourite late night go-to sci-fi flicks: Nemesis (the Olivier Gruner one), 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars ROTS. And even though it’s not cinema, Patrick Troughton's Dr. Who episodes.

6. You also earlier mentioned that a lot of your friends read comics digitally these days. Was that the basis for your choice to go digital?

Yes, so many people read comics on tablets. It’s just the easiest way to get a new title out there. Having said that, I’d like to get Sage: Escape into print one day; most people I know collect graphic novels.

7. In comparison to the filmmaking process, what has been the most enjoyable aspect of producing your debut comic? 

The most enjoyable aspect of producing this comic is working with my friends. I get to create with people that watch the same shows I do, collect toys, and enjoy going on terrifying rides at theme parks. The Sage team is…a little different.

8. Your team has worked independently here, and on a limited budget. For the Fanboys out there looking to follow in your footsteps, what are the most important things you've learned through this experience so far? 

When I wrote and drew the first Sage: Escape ashcan, I was working six days a week. I worked on Sage late at night and on Sundays. I took the next year off and self funded to get the Mars Gambit mini series and Sage: Escape website going. We now have some financial backing, which enables me to continue working full time on the series. The rest of the team have full-time professions and give up their weeknights and some weekend time to make everything happen. Creating a series from the ground up takes a considerable amount of will power and proactivity. There are no short cuts. If you decide to give it your all, these are the most important things I’ve learned so far: work with people who have expertise and integrity. Seek out their opinions. Treat them well. Keep improving.

9. Will you be looking for artists in future and who would your dream artist be? 

I would say no, but that would be a lie, because I’m working with an artist right now on another one of my titles. Thing is, this artist and I are into all the same films and have a lifelong obsession with the genre of that series. Also, the public likes his art, and that counts. So, I’m not looking for new artists, but you never know. As for a dream artist, I’m very interested in the work of Stewart McKenny. People know him from Clone Wars Adventures and DC Super Friends. But he also does magnificent portraits. I have one of his 8th Doctor prints in my office, signed by Paul McGann. So I’d be curious to see where that collaboration would go.

10. Any chance Sage might end up on the big screen some day? 

(Laughs) I might just focus on establishing the story canon at this point. I’m halfway through the art of the follow-up miniseries, and it’s full steam ahead!

Damian, thank you for joining us, and we wish you all the best!

For regular updates on Sage: Escape, visit the Facebook page. For how to get your hands on a copy, head over to sageescape.com.

Sound off, Fanboys! Tell us what you think of Sage: Escape in the comments section below, feel free to share with your comic-loving friends and thanks again for reading!

It's a very special edition of Geek Speak, as we welcome guest Ciji Thornton onto the show. She joins us to discuss her time competing in various video game tournaments including Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Street Fighter. We learn about her roles as a star on series such as WCG: Ultimate Gamer, The Tester, and Robot Combat League. We also ask about her role in breaking gender boundaries in gaming, her tattoos, and how much she likes cats. Check it out in this packed episode of Geek Speak!

Fanboys Anonymous is here once again to shed some spotlight on another member of the geek culture movement, this time focusing on the cosplay side of things with our showcased individual: Sara Moni.

Q: "What got you interested in cosplay in the first place?"

A: I always love dressing up and since I never celebrated Halloween, cosplay was the next best thing!

Q: "How long have you been cosplaying?"

A: Seriously since 2010
Q: "What was the first event you ever went to and what did you dress up as?"

A: I dressed up as my own psychedelic version of Alice, and I went to a party my family was having that was Mad Hatter themed.

Q: "How much time usually goes into making your costumes?"

A: Anywhere from two or three days to two or three weeks.


Q: "What has been your biggest challenge participating in the cosplay community?"

A: Money! LOL there are always going to be limitations with cost and travel.

Q: "What are some of your favorite things that you enjoy most about cosplaying?"

A: Bringing life to some of my favorite characters and doing the costume justice for other people who are fans of the character.

Q: "If you had to pick, what has been your favorite costume you've made so far?"

A: Sailor Pluto


Q: "What advice or tips do you have for people who may want to get into cosplaying?"

A: Think about characters you love. Don't be afraid to do your own variation if canon is too difficult. Have fun and meet friends that share your fandoms!

Q: "Do you have any upcoming cosplays that you're working on right now or looking forward to doing in the future that we can look forward to as well?"

A: I am going to debut my first sci-fi costume, my first Zelda costume, and I am rebuilding my wood elf for Renaissance fair!

In an age of information technology and online applications, Michael Burhan searches for the best storage solutions and data protection at the IP EXPO at Earls Court London as he attempts to find the best data solutions for both your personal and social environments. So take a tour with Britain's brightest and biggest companies as they help to simplify cloud data and link your data in order to provide you with the best possible solution for all your data needs.

Gary Witts from Data Storage 356 talks about data recovery and management, highlighting the need for cloud services as technology progresses. Mike also discusses the use of cloud servers in games such as GTA Online that had record amounts of users from day one.



Kieran O'Connor discusses data protection and how his company Acronis manages to hold and support data across virtual, physical and cloud platforms.



Alan Thake discusses Eset's vast variety of protection, explaining the need for protection without taking over your hardware, with a simplistic user interface that enables the user to keep their computer free from virus attacks.



John Speakman from Purdicom discusses the utilization of Wifi in everyday life, securing contracts from the London underground to social media wifi, and the way this product is changing the business.



Devin Akin elaborates on Social Wifi, and how Airtight Networks has innovated this technique and managed to utilize social networking and integrate it with small business promotion.



Mike Davis talks about Centrality's role in providing a broad virtualization via hardware integration by stepping down various versions of Microsoft Windows, allowing the operating system to be used on any machine. He talks about Windows 8.1's new features and why this could virtually change the way that businesses manage their networks in general.



Thomas Case talks about Appsense's integration with mobile and physical hardware, and how they can manage more than one client—especially from the mobile and tablet platforms which no other company has managed to do prior. We also discuss data access and user privileges and how all that has changed as technology has grown.



And finally, Sanil discusses Data Protect's role in cloud and data management, allowing companies to simplify their cloud and data storage needs, removing all the legal jargon in order to provide the best service for business and personal use with no fuss.



All in all, the Expo managed to provide an enlightening experience, opening doors to various new and innovative procedures using modern and existing technology that has been adapted for social and network integration. As Fanboys and IT professionals ourselves, we need to come to terms with how our data is utilized, and how firms like the one's being interviewed can aid the user without removing their rights entirely.

In terms of the way we use Wifi, Social Wifi is an innovative way for the user to become more of a promoter for small business, getting high speeds with a cost of a tweet or a like, which gives the user more control. This shows how far we have come in terms of data management and social interaction.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Asian pop sensation J Da Costa.

In this video, we talk about her time away from the industry and about her new album. J serenades us with her soulful voice and shows us why her star is still on the rise.

J is widely known in the Asian music circles from her time working with Jakal and the Hypnotise crew on the album Still Blazing and most notably the single "Pit Stop".

You can check out the full interview here:

The following is an exclusive interview with the winner of the $50,000 cash prize on USA's new hit reality series Summer Camp: Chris Grant. The interview was conducted on Aug 7th, 2013 on The Dace Man Show on Mega Powers Radio.

Follow The Dace Man on Twitter @TheDaceMan

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Check out episode 7 of The Dace Man Show with regulars Mike Paden and Brian Gibson! Also very Special Guest CHRIS GRANT!!

Join The Dace Man this week as he tackles:

Weird World News

• Troy Walker had a blown perfect game when the racking mechanism triggered blocking his ball. In his do over shot he finished the game with a 297. 
• An Australian woman caught up in a scam ended up paying $1,200 for two pieces of fruit when she was under the impression she was purchasing two iPhone
• Sharknado....Did it really happen?

Sports News

• 12 MLB players were suspended due to the Bio Genesis Scandal. A-Rod was the 13th name but he has appealed the 211 game suspension. Will this keep A-Rod out of the HoF if convicted?
• The Dallas Cowboys went head to head with the Miami Dolphis in pre-season action Sunday winning 24-20 
• Cooper returned to practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after the concert incident.

Celeb News This Week:

• Amanda Bynes is getting back on the right track with a cocktail of medications to treat what appears to be schizophrenia.
• Lindsay Lohan is apparently on the right track as well banning alcohol from all places she goes.
• Simon Cowell has been all over Celeb news this past week for having an affair with his friends wife who is now having Cowell’s child.
• The documents that Lady Gaga was trying to suppress were successfully hidden from the public
• Terrance Howard was accused of beating his ex wife.

Also the fan favorites of the High Five Reality Shows and the Douchebag of the Week

Step into the Crazy Train with Chris "The Dace Man" Dace this week on The Dace Man show....queue the Final Countdown!!!

Check out The Dace Man Show live every Wednesday at 8pm EST on Mega Powers Radio. As well as all archived episodes!

Episode 7 of the monthly Fanboys Anonymous roundtable discussion meeting podcast revolves around reviewing Iron Man 3, going back to look at Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what's coming our way with Phase 2.

Hosted by Tony Mango, the panel includes Sean Mitchell, Michael Burhan, Brandon Liggan, Sam Lascio, Nikki Mills, Nick Abrams with special guests Ashley Stens and Larry Deuber.

Some topics we address:

• Iron Man 3's Mandarin twist
• Is this a good start to Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
• Looking back on Phase One movies Captain America: The First Avenger, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Avengers
• The Iron Man trilogy as a whole
• Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Solder, and Avengers 2

You can watch all the parts of the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!




Also check out the interviews with the fans in the line for Iron Man 3 at Cinemark: