Posted by
The Dace Man
- Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 121 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, Frank Ward, and Gibby!!
::SPORTS NEWS::
The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game ofWho Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week,and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
What is up Dacetacular Nation? We're just three days out from the largest geek gathering in North America, New York Comic Con, and we have even more Fanboy news to deliver.
Now we all know when it comes to a Marvel panel, chances are you won't be able to see shiz on the Internet until Marvel wants you to see shiz on the Internet. Well, luckily the folks over at Netflix feel that it's time to share the exclusive footage from NYCC with the masses now, so yours truly went on to the old YouTube and brought you the first look at Season 2 of Daredevil.
I know I'm stoked, so I hope you enjoy it. Remember to come back and let us know what you think!
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a walking stick—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) just recently received a shakeup as four new films were announced and several that we've known about for months have had their release dates shifted around. We don't know exactly why any of these decisions have been made, but if plans have changed, clearly Marvel thinks this is the best course of action going forward. Considering their track record, do we have any reason to doubt this is for the best?
Still, there remains a mystery surrounding the three films that have yet to be identified beyond their release dates. What could they be?
Ignoring all of the films from Fox and Sony, as well as things on the DC field (obviously), here are the live-action MCU films scheduled to be released over the next few years:
COMING IN 2016
May 6, 2016 — Captain America: Civil War
November 4, 2016 — Doctor Strange
COMING IN 2017
May 5, 2017 — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
July 28, 2017 — Spider-Man
November 3, 2017 — Thor: Ragnarok
COMING IN 2018
February 16, 2018 — Black Panther
May 4, 2018 — Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1
July 6, 2018 — Ant-Man and the Wasp
COMING IN 2019
March 8, 2019 — Captain Marvel
May 3, 2019 — Avengers: Infinity War, Part 2
(End of Phase 3)
July 12, 2019 — Inhumans*
* rumored to be possibly cancelled and replaced with a new property
COMING IN 2020
May 1, 2020 — ???
July 10, 2020 — ???
November 6, 2020 — ???
Option A) Newly Acquired Properties
It may seem like there are far too many characters to choose from in the list of Marvel superheroes, but that list is just going to grow over time rather than shrink. There are still characters waiting in the wings that have been under Marvel's control for a while, but the plans haven't been set into motion.
Ghost Rider is a character who needs the time off. We've had two films with Nicolas Cage that were beyond awful, to the point where the only superhero film I've seen that I consider worse than Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is the most recent Fantastic 4. Bringing this property back from the dead would take much more work than just doing another film.
We all can see that Marvel has been smart about how characters are grouped together. With the films, we see The Avengers team consist of the heavy guns that have a wide range of global consequences. With the television world, more outlying concepts are explored, as the background players of S.H.I.E.L.D. are brought to the forefront along with the upcoming Damage Control series. The street-level New York City grunge characters surrounding Heroes for Hire are grouped together for the Netflix faction, as they would be out of place standing next to Thor.
Ghost Rider is a character who deals with some mystical elements that could cross over into Doctor Strange, but I would tie it more into any possible future that the Blade series has. Vampires, demons, Hell itself and all of the more horror-based genre stories just have a much higher chance of meshing with each other than do new films that would come out to introduce that side of things. It's too dramatic of a shift for these movies to suddenly start dealing with God and The Devil and so forth.
If there are any newly acquired properties that stand a chance in getting a feature film made about them, it's Fantastic 4. This is already an uphill battle, considering the failure of the three previous movies made about these characters, but perhaps the name itself will be good karma: the fourth film will be fantastic. The world of geekdom seems to agree that if anybody can bleed gold out of this barren wasteland of a property, it's the team of Disney and Marvel under Kevin Feige's direction.
More importantly than the sheer act of proving that they're capable of doing things right when they've been done so wrong in the past is the scope that Fantastic 4's characters bring to the table. Don't forget that this doesn't just boil down to Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm, and the most underutilized villain in superhero film history, Doctor Doom—we also would open up Phase 4 to Galactus and Silver Surfer, have stronger ties to Inhumans, Atlantis with Namor, strengthen the backstory of the Kree by including the Skrulls, give us a new potential "big bad" with Kang the Conqueror, and even open up space further with The Annihilation Wave and The Negative Zone.
Don't be surprised, though, if instead of seeing the Fantastic 4 at the forefront of a movie, you see them used as supporting characters in a movie about Silver Surfer or something else along those lines, just to introduce audiences to a new version and letting them decide whether they enjoy it before putting a whole movie's success on such a weak future foundation. Yes, that joke was intentional.
Option B) Already Existing Properties
We all know The Defenders will be a Netflix series that takes at least some priority over the next few years. With the success of Daredevil and the impending success of its second season as well as Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, we'll be heading toward a crossover event of The Defenders similar to how the films all converged into The Avengers. A lot of people have buzzed that they think this could mean a film for the franchise, but I disagree. The relationship between Marvel and Netflix for this series is far too dependent upon the big crossover happening on the Netflix platform for Marvel to just abandon them and burn that bridge to be self-serving. Yes, we might be able to see these characters show up in the actual films, but as cameos in other adventures rather than their own. It's much more likely that someone such as Punisher will get his own solo series on Netflix rather than transition into a fourth feature film.
The safest bet is that 2020 will see volume 3 of Guardians of the Galaxy, as the first and second films will have come out in 2014 and 2017, respectively. That is a three-year gap that would carry over into 2020 perfectly. If Marvel is looking to kickoff Phase 4 of the MCU with a bang, the idea of Inhumans isn't super strong. That property is already muddled, with its storyline playing out in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. so much that I can't imagine there being all that much left to cover in a film several years down the line. Would anybody really care at that point?
As weird of a movie as Doctor Strange can end up panning out to be, I think the reception to the character already has warranted discussion of a possible sequel. It's going to be a game changer in some ways, where a lot of future plotlines about the more mystical world will revolve around it, so its importance can't be pushed aside, similar to how we haven't had another Hulk film. The big green goliath is an offshoot of Captain America more than anything else, but Stephen Strange is the one opening up portals (metaphorically and literally) to whole new dimensions of the MCU. If the slot that currently has Inhumans scheduled for July 12, 2019 doesn't get replaced with Doctor Strange 2, which would be another strong way to start Phase 4, then I can see May 1, 2020 being the second outing for Doctor Strange and his cast.
Don't forget about Spider-Man, though. I don't think I need to explain just how much of a juggernaut this franchise has been at the box office and why the 2017 reboot will have a lot of eyes on it. If it's successful (and I think it will be) then we definitely will see another film scheduled sooner than later. The good news for Marvel is that there's a chance Sony's involvement will make it easier for them to insert a fourth film on the schedule rather than take up one of these spots. Although I don't expect a Spider-Man film to open up in November, nothing's currently slated for that time frame in 2019, which could mean either that Spider-Man gets the July Inhumans spot and then that Marvel film gets pushed back to November, or maybe Sony takes the hit by opening up in the fall.
2020 also has the potential to expand with spinoffs of what we've seen elements of before. Let's say Captain Marvel is a hit, and with the introduction of The Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy, there's interest in doing a Nova film. That's expansive and could work well with Phase 4, so that's definitely a possibility.
The same mentality goes for making something surrounding Thunderbolts, which are sort of the Suicide Squad of the Marvel world. In the past, we've seen that Sony desperately wants their own Suicide Squad with the Sinister Six, but I'd have to imagine Kevin Feige is more than smart enough to realize how dumb of an idea that is. The Sinister Six works so much better as the antagonist group facing Spider-Man in one of his films rather than trying to turn them into protagonists. However, Thunderbolts could be a good means to include Hulk and a team of more destructive characters in a film that doesn't actually have the Hulk name in its title, getting around the distribution problems of why we're not getting a new solo Hulk movie.
My Predictions
May 1, 2020 = Doctor Strange 2 or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
July 10, 2020 = Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 or Fantastic 4/Silver Surfer
November 6, 2020 = Fantastic 4/Silver Surfer or The Nova Corps or Thunderbolts
+ some kind of television series partnered up with Netflix dealing with the more supernatural side of things involving Ghost Rider, Blade, and other similar characters
Keep in mind that this is just my prediction for what we're getting as opposed to fact. In actuality, Marvel itself may not know what those three films are going to be. Since the release dates for Black Panther and Captain Marvel have been switched around numerously due to the inclusion of Spider-Man in the pantheon of characters to choose from as well as the insertion of Ant-Man's sequel, this could just be a case where Marvel has booked these dates and will fill in the slots later on down the road based on what performs well, contractual obligations, and more.
What do you think those movies will end up being? Are there any new characters you'd like to see brought into the fold? Tell us your predictions and preferences in the comments below!
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Hey there Fanboys, The Dace Man is back with yet another tidbit from the spectacular New York Comic Con. I had the pleasure of attending several panels this past weekend, and as I waited with fellow Fanboys for the Batman panel on Saturday afternoon, I stumbled upon a panel presented by MTV that caught me off guard because, well, I was hooked by it.
It was the familiar faces of the actors who portrayed Deathstroke in CW's Arrow and Gimili from Lord of The Rings appearing on the screen that drew my attention to The Shannara Chronicles. Now, I know what you're thinking: MTV producing a sci-fi television show? That's nucking futs! These guys polluted TV with Jersey Shore! Well, I can't make up your mind for you, but I will say I've already set my DVR for this show, so that should tell you the trailer (which you can check out below) speaks volumes.
The panel went on sell me even more, despite the uncomfortable bromance between Manu Bennett and Austin Burns, on the journey of the story and how closely the show stays to the book. Plus, for those of you just looking for additional eye candy on television, Poppy Drayton definitely brings it, with just an edge of badass.
So without any further ramblings, check out the trailer and make your own decisions.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case an Elf Stone—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
During New York Comic Con 2015's panel for Cartoon Network's Regular Show, executive producer and star J.G. Quintel is asked, "Is there ever anything you wrote that was taken out of the show but you wish could have stayed?" He replied not only with a story but with a relevant sneak peak clip of an upcoming episode from Season 7 titled "Benson's Pig."
Regular Show returns with the second half of Season 7 on October 28th on Cartoon Network. Let us know in the comments below what you're excited to see happen.
Fanboys Anonymous would like to thank TV Store Online for being one of our sponsors for New York Comic Con 2015, providing us with some awesome Legends of the Hidden Temple shirts so our people not only could find each other easier in the sea of people on the busiest day of the convention but also could take some group photos and have some fun during our down time.
Halloween is coming up, and if you're looking for something to spice up your costume, TV Store Online has so much apparel to choose from in the geek culture spectrum, including TV shows, movies, music, comics, games and more.
If you want to pick up one of these shirts specifically, you can find them here. My suggestion: pick the Silver Snakes. I could use another teammate to earn me a pendant so those temple guards don't get us!
Stay tuned for more updates, photos, videos and so on from New York Comic Con 2015 and the Fanboys Anonymous team.
For years, The X-Files fans everywhere wanted to believe Mulder and Scully would pair up once more to solve paranormal mysteries and gather evidence to finally make the unbelievers understand we are not alone.
Carter, Duchovny, Pileggi, and Nanjiani.
The wait is over. Well, at least if you were one of the lucky people to attend the series panel at New York Comic Con, where the first episode of season 10 was screened three months ahead of its television premiere.
In the first episode of the six-episode event, Mulder and Scully are urged to reopen the X-Files when evidence of a massive government coverup concerning aliens is brought to them by Tad O'Malley, a Bill O'Reilly-esque televangelist who hosts a show on conspiracies, played by Joel McHale.
Following the episode, the show creator Chris Carter, David Duchovny (Fox Mulder) and Mitch Pileggi (FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner) joined moderator and host of The X-Files Files podcast Kumail Nanjiani for a panel and Q&A.
So why is the showing coming back now?
Carter admitted he finally decided on doing it after receiving a call from 20th Century Fox informing him that Duchovny was interested, but that the story needed to be right. Carter says:
When you bring a show like this back, you do it for the hardcore fans. They're the ones who put you there, so you're bringing it back with them in mind. At the same time, you always hope to attract and/or entertain as big an audience as possible. So we don't belabor it for the hardcore fans, but we make sure there's a hook for the newbies.
Carter also noted the show will follow a mythology for the first two episodes and bookend with it on the final one. The four episodes in the middle will be stand-alone and will bring some much loved characters back, including the Lone Gunmen.
As for Mulder and Scully, they are no longer a couple. "We wanted to be true to the passage of time," Carter explained. "I was going under a bridge, and on the bridge above us it said, 'Life has many bumps in the road.' I think Mulder and Scully have hit one of those." [Sniff.]
Will this be the final season? Only time will tell. Duchovny hinted he would be interested in another season if the fans wanted more. Is that even a question?
Couldn't make it to The X-Files Panel at Comic Con NYC? For now, you can enjoy the trailer and believe me when I tell you: This season will be awesome!
Are you excited for the new season of The X-Files?
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Sunday, October 11, 2015
One of the biggest panels at this year's New York Comic Con was a co-op for the Marvel and Netflix television series Jessica Jones and season 2 of Daredevil. Both are heavily anticipated, and the queue line was absolutely packed mere minutes after the doors opened up, reaching capacity at what I can only assume to be close to a recordbreaking pace.
The panel still filling up
The panel started off with Jeph Loeb jumping ahead of the script and calling out Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, and Mike Colter to assemble as the first look of three-fourths of our Defenders lineup. We're still missing Iron Fist, but that will come soon enough.
Our first clip of the night was a highlight promo of season 1 of Daredevil, which led into a trailer for season 2, showing off quick flashes of Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page in a church, Elodie Yung's Elektra Natchios, and Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle. It looks like the overarching theme of this season will be how pain and grief can fuel people. Our full cast as well as Joe Quesada and showrunners Doug Petrie and Marco Ramirez dished on some details, but naturally kept things tight-lipped as much as possible. Yung revealed her legitimacy in being a bad ass while Bernthal focused on his promises that he will not mess this important role up. Cox detailed some of the training he did to simulate being blind and the organizations he's worked with since signing on for the first season. Apparently, Elden Henson has been asked by people on the streets why he was mad at his friend, while Deborah Ann Woll more often than not gets mistaken for a lookalike of herself, rather than as her actual self. All in all, the next season seems to have the same atmosphere and attention to detail that the first season did, so nobody should be getting nervous that it won't be as good if not better than before.
This opened us up to the world of Jessica Jones. As expected, the cast was very scarce on the details for this, too, mostly complimenting each other on how talented they are and how much of a great process it was to work with everyone. One reveal was that the character of Jeryn Hogarth will be gender-swapped and played by Carrie-Ann Moss, who was one of the many to praise Ritter on her performance and how she represents the next generation of strong women, a group that Moss was part of herself when she played Trinity in The Matrix series.
The meat of the panel, though, was a screening of the first episode in its entirety. Without spoiling too much, the first thing I have to say is that Jeph Loeb's warning at the beginning about adult themes that some may not be able to handle is true—this show is dark. While Daredevil was graphic on the violent side of things, the trigger for this show is rape. The focal point of the series is Jessica's posttraumatic stress disorder after having been controlled by David Tennant's Purple Man, who has the ability of suggestion, controlling minds, and convincing people that they want to do things that they certainly don't want to do. Many things are implied but not shown. Then again, some things are flat-out shown, including a sex scene between Jessica and Luke Cage. Yup, episode one and those two are already at it, which got a nice round of applause from the enthusiastic audience.
My first reaction is to think that I might not like this as much as Daredevil, but I did definitely enjoy it, so I'm hoping this is just the first episode jitters and that things will pick up even more as the season goes on. One way or another, I'll definitely be checking it out, and I wholly advise everyone else to as well.
Stay tuned for more updates from New York Comic Con as well as more about the television shows coming from the tandem of Marvel and Netflix!
Hey Dacetacular Nation! The Dace Man is back with even more New York Comic Con coverage with some information from the panel "DC Comics - Batman: The Bat-Universe," which featured several speakers including Amy Chu, James Tynion IV, Khary Randolph, Tom King, Tim Seely, Peter Tomasi, Greg Capullo, and of course, Scott Snyder.
One of the major focal points was the storyline following Jim Gordon as Batman and the new villain Mr. Bloom. How does Jim handle the responsibilities of working with the Justice League, and what is Bruce Wayne up to in his absence from the mantle? Also, what is freaky about someone with a flower on his face? Fans clamored for the return of Bruce to the cowl, and Snyder urged them to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Talk turned to a solo run for Poison Ivy that will debut in the coming months and explore the botanist side of Pamela Isley as well as the villainous personality we all know and love as she tries to prove that she is innocent of a murder she is accused of committing.
By far the star concept of the panel was Robin, featured in many ways with Robin Wars, We are Robin, and seemingly everyone's favorite, Grayson. The legend of the Robin character will be expanded upon as Grayson will return to Gotham and defect from Spyral while those who have been inspired by the mantle of Robin will fight to honor its legacy. It is the 50th anniversary of the character, so they want to focus on why Dick Grayson is one of the best in the superhero genre and doesn't get as much credit as he deserves.
Not too many bombshells were dropped as far as news goes, but the future looks interesting for the Bat family in the next few months! Stay tuned for more information as New York Comic Con continues!
What is up Dacetacular Nation? The Dace Man back with some more New York Comic Con coverage—this time, Marvel's Cup O' Joe panel, which consisted of Joe Quesada and several others who are working on various titles at Marvel Comics right now.
First, the group tackles the up-and-coming projects that are part of the aftermath of Secret Wars. We will be seeing several new Inhumans titles, including more from Ms. Marvel, Uncanny Inhumans, and All-New Inhumans. The Marvel paperback universe is tackling developments in the world of Inhumans that pulls a little from the events of the television and film divisions. Some other characters seeing a revitalization including Amazing Spider-Man (with and without Deadpool) and Daredevil.
The other hot topic for paperback at Marvel is the Star Wars franchise. With the news of Lando coming to the end of its run, we see the beginning of a new five-part series of Obi-Wan and Anakin launching in January. There's also a new event called Vader Down along with the Darth Vader Annual, which will see everyone's favorite Sith lord go up against an entire Rebel Alliance force. Another Star Wars Annual will revolve around a spy's mission to assassinate Emperor Palpatine.
Look for these titles in the coming months as well as more information and coverage of New York Comic Con from The Dace Man and Fanboys Anonymous!
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Saturday, October 10, 2015
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Taylor Gray, Ashley Eckstein, and Dave Filoni held a press conference at New York Comic Con 2015 to shed some light on season 2 of Star Wars Rebels, the Seventh Sister, the future of the franchise, and more.
You can watch our footage of this press conference below.
Make sure to subscribe, like, favorite, and share it with your friends!
Video shot by Mike Paden & Frank Ward.
Edited by Mike Paden.
What is up Dacetacular Nation? The Dace Man here bringing you some 2015 New York Comic Con coverage. Seeing as this is a Marvel panel, I don't have any video footage and what pictures I did take are blurry due to S.H.I.E.L.D. interference. Let me see if I can paint you a pretty picture with my words.
Seeing as this is a television-themed panel, the master of ceremonies was none other than Jeph Loeb. He walked out to the iconic NYCC podium to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D theme and thunderous applause. Mr. Loeb then proceeded to welcome us back to another year of the convention and reminded the audience this was where the prime time shows are first announced. After gushing over the fans with gratitude and feeling the excitement in the air, he played with the crowd to see if it was primarily Team Carter or Team S.H.I.E.L.D. This triggered Clark Gregg to the stage, claiming he heard his theme in the beginning and apologizing for being late. The crowd erupted with "Coulson" chants which Jeph tried to settle down. Once the crowd quieted, Jeph shooed Gregg offstage in order to air a message from the stars of Agent Carter, but first thanked many behind-the-scenes players like Joe Quesada, who happened to be sitting two rows back from me.
The clip began with Haley Atwell (Peggy Carter) and James D'Arcy (Jarvis) regretting they couldn't make it to this year's New York Comic Con due to filming in Los Angeles. They went on to joke that unfortunately, Dominic Cooper would not be able to return to the second season to portray Howard Stark because he had simply vanished. The duo then turned to exit down a path but ran smack into a painted wall. As the camera pulled back, we saw Dominic sweeping. The clip ended and the focus returned to Loeb on the stage, who explained to the audience that Dominic—along with Bridget Regan and Enver Gjokaj—would be returning, with the addition of several new characters to the Marvel Universe. The last piece of Carter talk revolved around an exclusive clip of Jarvis and Carter in one of Howard Stark's cars—cue lots of sexual jokes about Howard and the gadgets within the car to help him with his moves.
Loeb ended the Carter segment, and a fan yelled out something inaudible to me but to which Loeb responded, "I have people in Hell's Kitchen to take care of you." After a smile and lots of laughter, Loeb summoned Gregg back out for a fan question and answer session.
The first question asked to Loeb and Gregg was the involvement of The Inhumans in television with the upcoming movie in 2019. They both expressed great interest and excitement about getting to explore the evolution of Inhumans over the next four years. Clark went on to say how cool it is to see people with powers on his show. The next question revolved around which main cast member would they most like to see evolve into an Inhuman. Clark conveniently kicked the question to Loeb, who gave the standard answer of "you need to tune in and find out." The following question asked what happened to Lola and would we see Mutants—Loeb said he couldn't answer, but Gregg cut him off and said he could. He goes on to explain the mutants are trapped in a realm of "copyright" and hopefully one day they could all get along. Loeb reminded us that that was Gregg's opinion, not Marvel's. Gregg took one last jab at the copyright issue, saying, "So there's no Deadpool crossover this season?"
Loeb quickly moved on to the next question, which sparked more banter between Gregg and himself. Next up was an early screening of the third episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for this season. All I will say is: watch it, it's phenomenal.
Well, that's all the New York Comic Con coverage I have for you this time. Make sure you check back frequently for more con coverage!
Doctor Strange #1 cover
by Bachalo, Townsend, Vey and Irwin
"The Way of the Weird"
I'll admit, right from the start, I have been looking forward to this latest take on Dr. Strange since it was announced by Marvel in June. With the build-up including the announcements of top talents Jason Aaron as writer and Chris Bachalo on art, the anticipation surrounding this "All-New, All-Different" series was always going to be big.
In a major way, Doctor Strange #1 delivers on expectations.
The idea of a new series utilizing a character who has had a prominent role in Marvel's big Secret Wars event is a sensible commercial decision. As the crossover event cast the spotlight onto Strange, and with the same character stepping up on the other side of the megalith Marvel multimedia machine with a titular movie in the works, the stage was cleared to bring a fresh take on the comics scene for the good doctor.
As the title for this issue indicates, there is a good deal more weirdness to be associated with the character this time around. This is best seen, rather than described, and Chris Bachalo heads an artistic team that is on point, filling the pages with striking detail.
Bachalo seems like the most obvious and logical choice to bring to life the wonderful world of Doctor Strange. As demonstrated by his recent run on Uncanny X-Men, there is a larger-than-life feel to his art, mixed with page designs and layouts that bring a surreal quality to the pages. It is his grittiness and portrayal of dirty, real-world landscapes that will help ground this version of Dr. Strange.
As we open the cover and are greeted by a one-page flashback on the origin of Dr. Strange, it is hard to imagine what might come next; however, once we turn the page, there is no going back. The audience is hit with four—that's right, four—double-page splash and overlay pages even before we get to the title page. The panel arrangements and page designs evoke the sense of other-worldliness where events are taking place in the "ectoplasmic plane," yet they revert to a more rigid and conventional grid format when in the real world of the Marvel Universe. This feature seems crucial in the establishment of this issue and the series at large as a way to define the difference between the planes of existentialism in which Doctor Strange takes place.
The inkers also come to the fore here, with Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin, and Al Vey all adding to the flavor of the art. They have worked with Bahcalo previously, and the collaboration continues to bring out the best of the art's qualities. A prominent example of this is on the fourth and fifth pages, where a photo of a toy teddy bear is incorporated among the other panels yet the ink work blurs the lines between photo and drawing.
Bachalo shows off the All-New All-Different Dr. Strange
The colors are picked from a palette of green, yellow, pink, and purple hues. Bachalo keeps the colors tight, controlling the effect of the "weirdness" as a result. This approach also makes the occasional blues, browns, or reds stand out more, particularly on Dr. Strange's clothing. The attention on the colors develops a sticky moodiness that is pervasive.
Also feeling a sense of belonging is Jason Aaron, who takes on the writing duties. Aaron's story sets up a good platform for a lengthy, ongoing series with big story arcs, much like we have seen in his work on Thor: God of Thunder. It is clear that that this issue is just the beginning of a story that will be drawn out to attract an audience for the long haul. Issue #1 does well in providing context on who Dr. Strange is and his role in the wider Marvel Universe, and it is nice to see some background details so obviously planted in the story and portrayed in the art for this purpose. This makes the character accessible to new readers while grounding the issue in established continuity.
As Aaron builds the character, it is good to see the Doctor's interactions with others draw out the rules by which this series will be governed, for example, there are consequences for using magic in the Marvel Universe. We are already starting to see the character and his abilities have meaning; add this to his witty banter with the other wizards or witches he calls friends, and we have some nice scenes that further bring out his character. While this take on Dr. Strange embraces the magical aspects of his character, it seems grounded in a humanity that could only belong to the Sorcerer Supreme.
The magic show is about to begin!
It is also fun to look out for information and clues that could be important in the future of this series. I learned this from reading Aaron's run on Thor, and it is a great experience to indulge in. While we are busy taking everything else in we also get to see what a day in the life of a wizard or witch is really like in the Marvel Universe—certainly this is high on the weirdness scale.
As Aaron balances the need for background with the opening action piece, the only drawback is that the end of the story can't keep up the same level of intensity. While this doesn't reduce the quality of the issue in any regard, it feels like a good TV series, where we have to tune in next time to see what happens next. It is also in this manner that Aaron can build a wider sense of suspense for the series, but in this case it was a nice segue into a bonus story at the end of the issue.
The bonus story, written by Jason Aaron with art by Kevin Nowlan, builds on the preceding one from a different angle. Entitled "The Coming Slaughter," it builds a healthy level of intrigue and mystery for the series going forward. Not only was it a nice surprise at the end of the issue (I honestly didn't know it was there until I got to it), the consequences of the story it tells add weight to the implications of the series itself.
It would be great to see the bonus story continue as an ongoing feature of the series (what better way for Marvel to ensure readers get their money's worth of comic goodness?), but regardless it was still a nice addition to this issue.
With that, this is what we thought about the first issue of Doctor Strange. But we really want to hear from you...
So what did you think of this this issue? Has it piqued your interest in the series as well? How on point was the art for Doctor Strange? Make sure you tell us what you thought of the book by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook or Twitter and make sure you come back as we continue to explore the weird world of the All-New, All-Different Marvel!
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 119 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, Frank Ward, Gibby and Patty McTitties!!
::SPORTS NEWS::
The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game ofWho Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week,and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
On this edition of Channel Surfing, we join Chris "The Dace Man" Dace as he reviewsthe premier season of AMC's Fear The Walking Dead!
He'll give you the scope on this week's episode as to what went down with a hint of Dacetacularness. So put down that remote control, sit back, and enjoy this brand new edition of Channel Surfing. I'm calling for the few, for the proud, and for The Dacetacular: Let's start channel surfing!
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course, the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a TV remote—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
Various members of Fanboys Anonymous will be attending New York Comic Con 2015 at the Javits Center this October 8-11. We'll be recording an upcoming episode of the Group Meeting podcast as well as filming some stuff on the floors with cosplayers, vendors, artists, conducting interviews and more.
If you would like to schedule an interview or participate in our footage in some fashion, leave a comment below or reach out to us through our contact form and we'll try to set some things up!
One of the newest shows on television this season that I've been checking out is The Player on NBC, starring Philip Winchester as Alex Kane, a security consultant and former military operative who is coerced into being a pawn in a deadly game of high stakes to stop random crimes. A group of wealthy and influential people have grown tired of betting on regular games, so they've developed a system that predicts crime and like to wager on whether or not a chosen "player" will be able to foil the assassination attempt, theft, etc. in question.
It's a show that borders between high concept and the most basic type of story out there, but despite its flaws, it's caught my attention enough for me to watch the first and second episodes. I like it, for better or worse, and I'll continue to watch the rest of this season. As such, I figured I would put up some predictions on what I think is going to happen over the course of episodes 3 and onward. The wager is just my ego, which is a much better deal than Alex has in his own missions, at the very least.
Prediction #1 - Saving Ginny Is the Primary Bet
This isn't the craziest prediction, I'll admit, but it's perhaps the most central storyline of the show, so it needs to be addressed. Obviously, Ginny did not die in the first episode, as evidenced by the lack of the tattoo on her finger. Sure, the DNA test confirmed that it was her, but Alex even says that he thinks the results were tampered with, and we as the audience have to agree with him. So what actually happened, then?
I'm assuming Ginny was replaced by a duplicate of sorts just to bring Alex into the fold for the game. As far as what that duplicate is, I'm leaning more toward a Jane Doe with a close physical resemblance who had skin grafts to make her look just like Ginny, rather than some kind of a clone or something a little more fantastical. Ginny, meanwhile, was kidnapped and is being held captive as part of a bigger bet going on. At the beginning of the story, the primary overarching wager was whether or not Alex could figure out the ruse and save Ginny while he was up against the odds of all the other challenges presented to him, which lesser members of this consortium are betting on. The final mission for this season will be the act of Alex actually retrieving Ginny and making her safe.
Prediction #2 - Cassandra's Boyfriend = Villain
At the end of episode 2, we were introduced to Cassandra's boyfriend, Nick, who is described as "a good guy with morals caught in the web of century-old conspiracy" by Deadline. I don't buy it. He acts like he doesn't know what Cassandra is wrapped up in, but that's exactly why I'm suspicious.
There's probably a good portion of the viewers who think Ginny is involved in a conspiracy and will turn out to be evil, but I think that's too easy. Granted, Nick being evil is an easy go-to twist as well, but I think he's expendable in that way. There's no chance that both Ginny and Nick will be the sacrificial lambs and ever-so-good love interests to two of our protagonists and used as bait or anything of the sort. If that does indeed happen, the writers should be ashamed for not being able to think of anything more.
Nick turning on Cassandra is something that will give her a chance to show her vulnerable side. She's been shown so far as the one with the eyes on everything, but what will it do to her self-esteem to find out that the one thing she should have been paying attention to the most was right in front of her the whole time? The woman who spies on people 24/7 with cameras everywhere was utterly blind when it came to her boyfriend.
This will also be an opportunity for Cassandra and Alex to have a heart-to-heart about not really knowing their significant others—a theme that our hero has been beating into our heads quite a bit. Ginny knew the bad man he was and changed him. Cassandra will have thought Nick was a good man, but was proven wrong.
Oh, and then Nick totally bites the bullet, cause he has to.
Prediction #3 - Mr. Johnson is in the Game
Right now, we are supposed to look at Mr. Johnson as a real asshole and a somewhat vile human being. He seems like a violent jerk who has terrible morals and probably doesn't pay his taxes (or am I just mixing up the character and Wesley Snipes?) We've all heard stories about how intense things can get when you're dealing with the people who run a casino, unless you're gambling from the safety of your home like at RagingBullCasino or another online service. Maybe you win just a little too much and you're told to leave. Maybe they think you're cheating and your fingers just happen to wind up broken. You know, things happen.
One way or another, the goal right now is to make the audience not trust him, and similar to the situation with Nick, I feel that's a misdirect of sorts. Mr. Johnson is the pit boss and has beaten people up, called for an assassination with an overseas hit on the man who "killed" Ginny, and seems to be the man in charge with everyone under his control. So what happens when he realizes that he's not been the man at the top of the totem pole, but a player himself?
This could either be a revelation at the end of the season or it could just be used for one episode, perhaps the fourth, titled "The Big Blind," but I do think it will happen in some fashion.
Prediction #4 - The House Will Fall
The common phrase for casinos is that the house always wins, but things will come crashing down for the season finale. Unless you know it's the final season, the best way to end the show for a finale is to set up some kind of a cliffhanger where everything we know it has changed. It's too easy to just toy with the idea of a main character being killed off, because we know as soon as the announcement is made that that cast member is returning, any threat is gone. Changing the show's dynamic, though, is something that can definitely happen, and there's nothing that would be a bigger shift for the series than if Mr. Johnson, Cassandra King, and those responsible for controlling this game have their world spun upside down.
Prediction #5 - Cancellation
The house isn't the only thing that will find itself in a bad spot. Honestly, despite how I'm enjoying the show and will continue to watch it, I'm not absolutely loving it like some of the other shows I'm watching. I don't think I'm alone in saying that it's somewhat average, and if it were to be cancelled I wouldn't be devastated. Right now, it's sitting at a 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is obviously not that good. TV By the Numbers tracks its ratings as a 1.2 in the 18–49 demographic and considers its chances for a renewal to be rather slim. I haven't seen all that much marketing for it, and the only star in the cast is Wesley Snipes, who doesn't have the drawing power necessary to give it the boost that it needs. Neither does it seem the quality of the shows is hitting it out of the park enough with the audience to create positive buzz. Worse shows have gone on to have multiple seasons, but better shows have been cancelled, and I think this is going to end on some kind of a cliffhanger that never gets wrapped up as the series will be cut short without a second season to continue on.
Those are my predictions for the first and possibly only season of The Player, but I'm curious to know what you think. Are you enjoying the show, or does it not do it for you? For that matter, did you even know that it existed? What's going on with Ginny? Will we ever learn Mr. Johnson's first name?
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, October 1, 2015
Welcome to the first of a possibly ongoing feature here on Fanboys Anonymous called "Six Flicks Picks" wherein I will list all of the upcoming films that are scheduled to be released in the United States for the month and break down which ones I'll watch in theaters, which ones I'll wait to rent at home, and which ones I'll be skipping out on entirely. After going through the list, I'll choose which six films stand out to me as the ones I want to see the most, even if there are more or less than six that interest me.
Take note that the list below is based primarily off the expanded nationwide USA release dates on IMDB and as such, some information may be different. I may be missing some limited releases or the dates may conflict with other release dates, so if there are any corrections that need to be made, please let me know in the comments below!
Without further ado, let's start things off with what's coming soon to theaters in October 2015!
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2015
He Named Me Malala
Synopsis: A look at the events leading up to the Talibans' attack on the young Pakistani school girl, Malala Yousafzai, for speaking out on girls' education and the aftermath, including her speech to the United Nations.
Will I watch? = No
Freeheld
Synopsis: New Jersey police lieutenant Laurel Hester and her registered domestic partner Stacie Andree both battle to secure Hester's pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Will I watch? = No
The Martian
Synopsis: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Will I watch? = Yes
Partisan
Synopsis: Alexander, a boy who has been raised in a sequestered commune, finds that his increasing unwillingness to fall in line puts him on a collision course with Gregori, the society's charismatic and domineering leader.
Will I watch? = No
Shanghai
Synopsis: A '40s period piece that revolves around an American expat who returns to Shanghai in the months before Pearl Harbor due to the death of his friend.
Will I watch? = No
Sicario
Synopsis: An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by an elected government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
Will I watch? = Maybe
The Walk
Synopsis: In 1974, high-wire artist Philippe Petit recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.
Will I watch? = Maybe
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2015
Big Stone Gap
Synopsis: In a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, self-proclaimed spinster Ave Maria Mulligan finds her life shaken up and forever changed after learning a long-buried family secret.
Will I watch? = No
The Final Girls
Synopsis: A young woman grieving the loss of her mother, a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom's most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film's maniacal killer.
Will I watch? = No
Hell and Back
Synopsis: Two best friends set out to rescue their pal after he's accidentally dragged to hell.
Will I watch? = No
Knock Knock
Synopsis: When a devoted husband and father is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse
Will I watch? = Maybe
Pan
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old orphan Peter is spirited away to the magical world of Neverland, where he finds both fun and dangers and ultimately discovers his destiny—to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Steve Jobs
Synopsis: Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Victoria
Synopsis: A movie shot in a single take about Victoria, a runaway party girl who's asked by three friendly men to join them as they hit the town. Their wild night of partying turns into a bank robbery.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 16, 2015
All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records
Synopsis:All Things Must Pass is a documentary that explores the rise and fall of Tower Records and the legacy forged by its rebellious founder, Russ Solomon.
Will I watch? = No
Beasts of No Nation
Synopsis: A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.
Will I watch? = No
Bridge of Spies
Synopsis: An American lawyer is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Crimson Peak
Synopsis: In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds...and remembers.
Will I watch? = No
Experimenter
Synopsis: Famed social psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted a series of radical behavior experiments in 1961 that tested ordinary humans' willingness to obey authority.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Goosebumps
Synopsis: A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R.L. Stine after the writer's imaginary demons are set free on the town of Greendale, Maryland.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Room
Synopsis: Escaping from the captivity in which they have been held for half a decade, a young woman and her five-year-old son struggle to adjust to the strange, terrifying, and wondrous world outside their one-room prison.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Truth
Synopsis: Newsroom drama detailing the 2004 CBS 60 Minutes report investigating then-President George W. Bush's military service, and the subsequent firestorm of criticism that cost anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers.
Will I watch? = No
Woodlawn
Synopsis: Love and unity in a school torn by racism and hate in the 1970s.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 23, 2015
Burnt
Synopsis: Adam Jones is a chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
Will I watch? = Maybe
Difret
Synopsis: Three hours outside of Addis Ababa, a bright 14-year-old girl is on her way home from school when men on horses swoop in and kidnap her. The brave Hirut grabs a rifle and tries to escape, but ends up shooting her would-be husband. In her village, the practice of abduction into marriage is common and one of Ethiopia's oldest traditions. Meaza Ashenafi, an empowered and tenacious young lawyer, arrives from the city to represent Hirut and argue that she acted in self-defense. Meaza boldly embarks on a collision course between enforcing civil authority and abiding by customary law, risking the continuing work of her women's legal-aid practice to save Hirut's life.
Will I watch? = No
I Smile Back
Synopsis: Laney Brooks does bad things. Married with kids, she takes the drugs she wants, sleeps with the men she wants, disappears when she wants. Now, with the destruction of her family looming and temptation everywhere, Laney makes one last desperate attempt at redemption.
Will I watch? = No
Jem and the Holograms
Synopsis: As a small-town girl catapults from underground video sensation to global superstar, she and her three sisters begin a journey of discovering that some talents are too special to keep hidden.
Will I watch? = No
The Last Witch Hunter
Synopsis: The last witch hunter is all that stands between humanity and the combined forces of the most horrifying witches in history.
Will I watch? = No
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension
Synopsis: n/a
Will I watch? = No
Rock the Kasbah
Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck music manager discovers a teenage girl with an extraordinary voice while on a music tour in Afghanistan and takes her to Kabul to compete on the popular television show Afghan Star.
Will I watch? = No
Suffragette
Synopsis: The foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State.
Will I watch? = No
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 30, 2015
Carter High
Synopsis: During the 1980s, Carter High School in Dallas, Texas was a football powerhouse. This is the story of four of the student athletes whose off-the-field activities cost them their future.
Will I watch? = No
Our Band Is Crisis
Synopsis: A feature film based on the documentary Our Brand Is Crisis, which focuses on the use of American political campaign strategies in South America.
Will I watch? = No
Scout's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
Synopsis: Three scouts, on the eve of their last campout, discover the true meaning of friendship when they attempt to save their town from a zombie outbreak.
Will I watch? = No
The Wonders
Synopsis: Nothing will be the same at the end of this summer for Gelsomina and her three younger sisters.
Will I watch? = No
SIX FLICK PICKS
Even though this isn't a super strong month for me, I do still find it difficult to narrow down the top six choices. I actually have seven on this list that I would be interested in watching at some point, even though I don't actually plan on seeing any of these in the theater except for one. Which films make the cut?
6. Pan — This movie only very, very narrowly beat out Burnt for the final spot and was easily the toughest call I had to make. Both of them seem interesting, but what gave the edge to Pan was its source material. While Peter Pan is not my favorite character of all time, I'm familiar with the story, so I'm interested to see what this prequel has in store. Another reason is its tone. Everything else on this list is so serious, and Pan could be something I'd see if I didn't want to sit through hours of melodrama.
5. Sicario — Supposedly, Emily Blunt is awesome in this. When I first saw this trailer in front of Black Mass, I nodded to myself that there was definitely a chance I would check it out. If I miss it, it won't kill me, but if the reviews are good enough, I think I'll get around to it eventually.
4. The Walk — Part of me is really, really curious as to what this movie looks like in IMAX, but part of me also doesn't want to throw up. The story itself doesn't seem that interesting, and I couldn't care less about tightrope walkers, but enough buzz has gone into this that I'm wondering if my ignorance about the tale should just be pushed aside.
3. Bridge of Spies — Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to have to watch this in preparation for the Academy Awards anyway? This looks interesting, but the looming possibility of awards nominations seals the deal.
2. Steve Jobs — Speaking of awards, what are the chances Michael Fassbender gets some glances his way for Best Actor in this? I'm a PC, not a Mac, but I still will watch this movie unless it gets lambasted enough to change my mind.
1. The Martian — This is the only film I plan on paying to watch in theaters almost for sure. From what I've heard, it's a good film, and the trailer got me interested immediately.
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out episode 119 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Frank Ward, Gibby and Patty McTitties!!
::SPORTS NEWS::
The NHL, MLB, NFL, and our favorite: curling!
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
Gibby brings the class to the show with weird things going on in the world!
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Frank-tastic facts for your everyday life
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace is back, and he's packing a punch since he's on some diet pills and Red Bull. Get ready Hollywood!
Plus the occasional game ofWho Said It, the crowning of The Doucebag of The Week,and much, much more, only on The Dace Man Show.
As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until the next time, for the few, the proud, and, of course,the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case a comfy seat in front of your computer—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!
Listen live to The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST on Mega Powers Radio.
When I set out to find my next favorite musician, there are three places I look: Spotify, the opening acts for my favorite bands, and recommendations from friends. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of seeing a social media post about an indie musician out of Boston. Always up for hearing new talent, and yes, I am partial to the male voice, I began listening to and fell quickly in love with Troy's voice. His upcoming EP When The Lights Came has a raw sound of inspirational emotion. From the pop sound of the title track "When the Lights Came"to the slower piano arrangement of "The Lucky Ones," there's a wide arrangement on the EP. "Song Man"has to be my absolute favorite; it begins with a slow beat, but before you know it, it quickly moves into a catchy trance that has you not only singing along but also trying to decipher the meaning of the lyrics.
Troy was kind enough to answer a few questions for Fanboys Anonymous and give me a sneak peek of his EP, which I know you guys will absolutely love!
FA: Your newest single, "Coward," is written in conjunction with Restless Waters by Jessica Park. Can you tell me how that process worked?
Troy: Yes! Very exciting to be a part of Jessica's new book. She is a brilliant author and a wonderful person to work with. Jess and I had been talking for a couple of years about working on a project together, and when she decided to write Restless Waters she knew that it was the right project. The process for writing "Coward" was really great in many ways. It challenged me in a way that no other song that I've written has. All my songs are very personal and pulled out of life experiences. So attempting to write a song about a fictional character was a bit frightening. But Jess really gave me a great understanding of who Sabin was and what he was dealing with. It turned out that I felt a strong connection to his character, and that gave me a good idea as to how the song should go. Working with Jess was a pleasure; she really gave me complete freedom to dive in and attempt to portray Sabin through this song. So with her guidance I tried to vaguely encompass all of the things he is dealing with in the book so people that know the character could relate to it and it would be authentic to him, but also so that people that aren't familiar might be able to connect as well.
FA: It looks like you have an EP coming out soon. Can you tell me more about when to expect it? From what I've heard it's been "coming" since early this year, yet I only see a single from it. Unless it is out and can't find it?
Troy: You're right, my EP When The Lights Came has been on standby for quite a while now. I've really been waiting for the right time to release it. It looks like that time might be very soon! I released the single "Rosary" last summer along with a gorgeous music video, and it has been doing quite well, but I really wanted to release the EP in a unique way. The collaboration of "Coward" with Jessica led to her using many of my songs on the EP in the book as well, so as it turns out, I'm happy that we waited to release it. It feels a bit more special now that it will begin its life within the book.
FA: What types of music should we expect from the EP? Is it similar to your other singles or a new sound?
Troy: My goal for the EP and all of my music has been to maintain simplicity but still achieve a big and impactful sound. So the EP is definitely in line with "Coward" and "Rosary." I've been working with Dante Lattanzi of Caelum Music Production on all of the tunes, and he has completely captured everything I was looking for. The songs are very personal and emotional, so I wanted to allow them to convey that with little distraction.
FA: Do you feel any special connection to any of your songs, more so than the others? I know this is like picking a favorite child, you can hate me. Ha, ha.
Troy: I do feel a special connection to all of my songs actually, I don't know if I could pick a favorite. If I had to I might say "Rosary" and "Restless Lady" are my two favorites because they came out of very painful memories of losing my father. "Rosary" was inspired by a conversation that I never got to finish with my dad, and "Restless Lady" is kind of a tribute to my mom for being so strong after my dad passed away. I also feel a special connection to "Restless Lady" because I named the song after a song that he wrote many years ago. I opened his old Gibson Acoustic guitar case and I found a musty handwritten lyric sheet of his song "Restless Lady," and about 30 minutes later I had completed the song. I've never written a song that fast before or after, so this one is a special one for sure.
FA: Do you prefer working in a band or as a solo act? Do you like having more creative control over the work without the risk of disagreement from band members?
Troy: There are definitely pros and cons to both. At the moment, I am loving what I am doing as a solo act. I do enjoy the freedom to do whatever I think is right and to explore whatever type of direction a song leads. That being said I think it is really important for me to have other opinions, so I have other people that I respect and trust that I'll share ideas with and make sure I'm not crazy most of the time. Having Dante as a partner also makes life easy for me as a solo act. As an incredible multi-instrumentalist, he can really bring anything to life and makes it easy to explore so many different avenues.
FA: Where did your interest in music begin? Were there any people in your life who encouraged and helped your creative talents along the way?
Troy: My father was a musician. He met my mom while he was playing gigs. Music was always in my house growing up, so I loved music at a young age. Although I didn't start pursuing it until I was in college, I always loved to sing. My family has encouraged me ever since I began to write songs; it feels great knowing that they love what I'm doing. Every musician that I've played with over the years has also helped me in some way. I like to learn from everyone, and just having the fortune to know and have played with some incredible people has really helped me grow as a musician.
FA: For people out there who haven't yet had the pleasure of listening to your music, how would you classify your sound?
Troy: This is a tough one. And I should probably have this answer ready because people ask me all the time, but I've had a hard time putting my own label on it. I guess I can just quote from a blog called Jamsphere that summed it up pretty good in my opinion: "It's like Eddie Vedder meets Otis Redding over at Daryl Hall's house on a Sunday afternoon."
FA: Are there any comparisons out there that you absolutely hate? Or for that matter love?
Troy: I don't think I've ever been put off by a comparison. I guess I look at any comparison as a compliment. I do love when I hear an Amos Lee or Kings of Leon comparison though. Two of my all-time favorites.
FA: What (or Who) are you a fanboy of?
Troy: I was/am obsessed with the movie Avatar! I thought it was the most incredibly moving piece of art I've ever seen. I've gotten a lot of shit from my friends for this, but I don't care. I saw it in the theater about 10 times and probably watched it at home about 20 times more. I still feel moved every single time.
FA: Light saber or magic wand?
Troy: Well when I was a young boy I was a very amateur magician, so I'd have to say magic wand.
FA: Favorite book?
Troy: Restless Waters by Jessica Park
FA: Favorite band?
Troy: Kings of Leon
FA: Favorite TV show?
Troy: Friends
Listen to "Coward"below and let me know your thoughts in a comment!
