Fanboys Anonymous

With the political stand offs going on in Washington, everlasting hunger throughout the world and global warming slowly heating the planet to an unbearable temperature, we find ourselves inevitably asking the question... Who would win in an Epic Rap Battle Between some of the greatest minds in the history of science anyway? Ok, Maybe not, but since you have no government, people are starving anyway and you are going to be broiled like a brisket soon enough, you may as well stick around and find out. These Epic Rap Battles of scientific History promise to be bloody battles, fit for the coliseums. Find out who won and why.

Thomas Edison was a classic inventor and is the fourth most prolific one in history. He was not an inventor of insane ideas, but rather the inventor of everyday ideas, things we still use today, including the creator of modern home power. His most talked about invention, which was the nearly modern incandescent light bulb, is the most credited and discredited accomplishment of his life. He, in fact, did not invent the light bulb, but he perfected it…within reason. He invented the first practical incandescent with a marketable bulb life. This little stone thrown into the turbines of truth is really no issue; The Wizard of Menlo Park has 1,092 other patents to fall back on, including pioneering in the recording devices we use today for sound and video. The very car you drive today is initially powered by a concept Edison invented, the car battery. Edison, as smart as he was, was sort of an everyday man, taking what jobs he could, before he became the inventor he is known as to this day.



Nikola Tesla, one of my favorite scientists, on the other hand, was the model for many science fiction mad-scientist books and movies today. His whole persona was unique, and he was the epitome of a scientist ahead of his time. The interesting thing is that he was able to brainstorm and build concepts that are beyond most of us. His Tesla Coil is the invention most known by ordinary people, although it is not the most used. This high-frequency, high-power extraordinaire is responsible for building a resonator (only 7 inches long) that was said to be able to shake building foundations, and he was able to transmit electricity through radio and to light unlit light bulbs in homes that were not connected to power. His X-ray is still used medically all the time. The funny thing about Tesla—which perhaps isn't so funny, is that he was so convinced of his ideas, and for good reason, that he would throw his own funds behind them. As a result, even though his many inventions had fetched him a pretty penny, as he neared the end of his life Nikola Tesla was still living the lifestyle of an average middle-class man. The daunting task of making worldwide communication a possibility and delivering electricity to every home was at first spat upon by the media and eventually by the people, then demolished by the government, moves that inspired years and years of conspiracy theories that are still argued today. Ultimately, his Wardenclyffe Tower drained him. It—and we—had taken everything.

What makes the square-off between Edison and Tesla interesting is that, at one time, they knew each other quite well. Actually, Edison was Tesla's boss…quite literally. Tesla began working for Edison in France as an electrical engineer and was quickly put in charge of handling the most difficult issues in the company. Eventually, Tesla claimed that he could redesign Edison's inefficient motor and generators, delivering much better service for less. Edison, jokingly or not, responded "There's $50,000 in it for you, if you can do it." It was later discovered that Edison's company did not have that sort of money to give away just willy nilly. Surprised by the fact that Tesla actually did do it, Edison claimed that he was only joking, saying, "Tesla, you don't understand our American humor." Edison offered him US$10 a week raise over Tesla's US$18 per week salary, but Tesla refused the offer, immediately resigning.


Keeping in mind that Tesla very well may be my favorite scientist, for a couple reasons, I still felt that Edison won the battle. Although it portrayed him as somewhat of a miser, I suspect that he probably was a kidder, and I know he also was sort of a "smarter than the average man" average man. Tesla more than likely did misunderstand, but the battle portrays him as only giving two s**ts about money, a correlation made from his shrewd business practices, and that portrayal puts Tesla on defense. It was because of this that Tesla, as true as his statements were, finds himself being dragged around a bit. Let me know what you thought.



Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking represent contending ideas concerning matter. Einstein's theory doesn't argue against the idea of multiple universes being consistent in makeup from blast to freeze, but it doesn't argue a connection either. In fact, it doesn't even talk about it. There could be an infinite number of universes exactly like ours from start finish, and there could even be potential for travel from one to the other via the wormhole, which was a topic of which Einstein was a fan, however, simply because they share everything alike does not mean they are connected. Each and every universe is born with a certain amount of mass. That's not to say they can't have differing masses, unless they are literally the same, but that mass, whether converted to energy or not, remains forever. As universes expand (a concept currently being argued against), combine, tear apart, or any scenario you can imagine, his theory states that the original matter will always remain no matter where it ever appears in the infinite unknown. Most of the friction between this theory and Stephen Hawking's original black hole theory is created by the "fact" that matter cannot be changed and should therefore be forever identifiable by its wave function.

Stephen Hawking, however, one of today's most renowned theoretical physicists and cosmologists, argued in his Black Hole Theory that state is just another stone we're stepping on, that wave function information can be lost and, in consideration of the The No Hair Theorem, must be. Stephen Hawking discovered by equation that black holes omit a form of radiation—Hawking Radiation—the only known energy that does, in fact, escape the hellish gape of the monstrosities. This should be an impossibility, because no force, including light, can escape its grasp, but he argued that information can be and is lost. The problem was that there was so much paradoxical friction with Liouville's Theorem, which states that the density of system points, in the vicinity of a given system point traveling through phase-space, is constant with time. Hawking's was not a popular opinion; however those that did decide it was worth looking into found ways to justify the theory.

A lot of good that did. Hawking had done the math incorrectly, later admitting that the information is in fact preserved, but his theory still set a new standard for thought. In 2004, Stephen Hawking's new emerging theory on black holes tipped the world on end. Surely one of the great minds of our time has a solution to his own black hole information paradox. His answer? The information is preserved, it just goes elsewhere, or even to another time in the universe's infinite life, which means that the sooner we create vessels and some way to reach the center of a black hole without turning to mush, the sooner we will be able to discover the vast and unending other universes or go back and stop ourselves from doing something we regret. Of course, that all has its own paradoxes to be kept in check. After several more years of equations and headache, Stephen stumbled upon a new truth—that information never left the universe, that there was no time machine or universe gateway and that black holes simply evaporate away material, crushing and melding it until the code is unidentifiable and releasing it back into the universe when it dies.


Wow! Who might have known that Einstein was such a terrible person? From what I've heard, read, and gathered from other media, Einstein was exactly the opposite, but he sure was a mean and terrible person when he ran into Stephen Hawking at his local rap battle club. Stephen was set up to lose this one, just as he was forced to concede in his science. My opinion is based in the fact that more thought was put into Einstein's bombs, as they used his theories, coupled with the meanest name calling I've ever heard. Hawking ended on a good note, but he spent his first verses simply name calling and bragging inexplicably. Either way, it's important to note that Stephen Hawking has made so many more contributions to science than just his black hole blunder, which, incidentally, in itself, did a lot to help explain black holes. It's also important to note that, with infinite potential, such groundbreaking minds as Hawking's and Einstein's can only solve so many equations in a lifetime. I consider their contributions equal. After all, it's difficult to improve upon good ideas. Ask anyone who's ever written a book/movie sequel.

Drop an opinion and let me know what you think.

Check out Episode 16 of The Dace Man Show with regulars Gibby, Nikki Mills, Frank Ward, and Michael Burhan! The return of DAN RAUP!!! As well as call-in guest Jeff Croop!!

Join The Dace Man this week as he breaks down the following:

::SPORTS NEWS::

• Flyers say farewell to head coach Peter Laviolette.
• Joe Girardi signs a 4 year deal with the devil…er…we mean the New York Yankees.
• Dan Snyder sticking to his racists guns and will keep the Washington Redskins name.
• NFL Week 5 is in the books.
• MLB postseason is underway, and the division series are wrapping up.

::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::

• The man doesn't understand the concept of weird and just gives us more news.

::CELEB NEWS::

• Kris and Bruce Jenner goes splitsville like the Ugly Kardashinan and Lamar.
• New Mexico newspaper says R.I.P. to Walter White.
• Lauren Hill freed from prison time to go tour to pay back debt.
• Miley Cyrus hosts SNL.
• Who's gonna die Sunday, October 13th on the all new The Simpsons?

Also The DaceMan's High Five: Top 5 SNL Hosts and the Douchebag of the Week. All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show!

Step onto the crazy train with Chris "The Dace Man" Dace this week on The Dace Man Show…cue the Final Countdown!!!

Follow The Dace Man on Twitter: @TheDaceMan

Catch The Dace Man Show every Wednesday at 8pm EST on Mega Powers Radio.

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The late 1990s were a magical time for video games. We started 1995 coming out of the 16-bit golden age of gaming and ended 1999 with the start of the next generation of gaming. From the SNES to the Playstation and all the way to the Sega Dreamcast, never before has the industry moved along so quickly  in such as short space of time. Video games grew out of the "kid stuff" of the early 90s and into an industry that engulfed all age groups. We morphed from 2D side scrolling sprites all the way to fully realized 3D landscapes. Everything was bigger and better.

So here I am today, about to whittle down a time spanning three console generations (including PC) into 16 of what I consider to be the best of the best. There's a lot to choose from, and a lot of favorites are off this list right from jump street. I am basing this on my own gaming habits and knowledge; I can't in all fairness put a game on this list that I didn't play, and others just did nothing for me. This list might divide people, but I come to back up my thoughts over the next 4 weeks. So without further ado, here are my top 16 greatest games of the late 90s.

16. Diddy Kong Racing: Nothing brings people closer together like a kart racer. Since the arrival of Super Mario Kart on the SNES, kart racers have become one of the quintessentials for any party (right up there with a good fighting game and good music peripheral game). In the late 90s everyone was seemingly dipping their toes into the kart racing pool. I could have gone with Mario Kart 64, the grand-daddy of the modern kart racer, or I could have chosen the more graphically polished and tighter-controlled Crash Team Racing, but I chose the middle of the two, 1997's Diddy Kong Racing (DKR). Developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64, this game took the gameplay of Mario Kart 64 and evolved as much of it as it could. The biggest evolution was having a story mode in which you are guided by a Middle Eastern elephant genie to save a small island of creatures from the wrath of an evil space pig. Seems legit. From there, you travel across different themed areas (from prehistoric times to a snowy mountain land to a small medieval village), race other characters new to the Donkey Kong universe (two of them getting their own games in Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad fur Day), and battle a quartet of mini bosses. Meanwhile you're unlocking trophies in order to gain the right to race against the evil space pig, Wizpig, for the fate of your friends and their island. New to the mechanics were different vehicles, including hovercrafts for racing over water and planes. Also new were the weapons, which take the standard missiles, boosters, and invulnerability and upscale them, turning a simple missile into a barrage of ten missiles or a simple oil slick into a momentum-killing bubble. What makes DKR a more well-rounded party game over other games such as Crash Team Racing, however, is its multiplayer mode. Not only did it take the battle mode from Mario Kart 64, but it also added variations of scavenger hunts. Where Crash Team Racing just copied DKR for the PlayStation 1, DKR took the gameplay of Mario Kart 64 and evolved it every step of the way. It's a game that is essential for not just any party but also for anyone who has a Nintendo 64.

15. Tony Hawk Pro Skater (THPS): Released in 1999, THPS redefined its own genre. Up until that point, even in the heyday of the mid-90s extreme sports fad, you didn't have many games that brought that extreme sports feel to video games in a big way. Sure, you had the Cool Boarders series, but that was more a downhill racing title with very little (and from what I remember, clumsy) emphasis on tricks. THPS was one of the first modern titles (I say that because I do remember 720 and Skate or Die from the NES days) to put the emphasis on the tricks themselves. However, tricks would be nothing without good controls and good level design, and those hallmarks are what made THPS live on and dominate its field for as long as it did. It had a perfect arcade "pick up and play" feel to it. Within a few runs, you were grinding, flipping, and grabbing your way to gold, linking up combo after combo. Another memorable facet was the soundtrack: THPS was a franchise that could take pride in having one of the best-made soundtracks in all of gaming, and part 1 was no exception, having a well-rounded list of memorable 90s skate punk classics. Yet what I think really put the game over the top and was most unlike other games before it was that you actually got to play as the skate legends themselves. From Bob Burnquist to Bucky Lasek to the man himself, Mr. Tony Hawk, you got to actually play as them in game. You got to pull off the legendary 900 as the man himself! At the time, that was a big selling point. As the series went on there were many copycats from other companies such as THQ (MTV Sports Skateboarding) to Acclaim (Dave Mirra Pro BMX) and even Konami (Evolution Skateboarding), but none could keep up with the series until 2007's Skate. By then, however, the series had hit a wall, having evolving as much as it could with its previous incarnations before delving into unnecessary bloating (remember Ride?). The series then laid dormant until 2012 when Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD was released for the PlayStation Network/Xbox Live, which was not only a revisit to the past mechanics of the series but also garnered positive fanfare and criticism from the press. The future of the series might still be shaky at best, but no one can take away the impact that the first game had on video gaming in the late 1990s.

14. Earthbound: I'm just gonna come out and say it: I am not the biggest fan of all role playing games (RPGs). Over the years I have tried to get into certain franchises, but usually the only ones that have stuck with me are more action-based RPGs such as Elder Scrolls, Champions of Norrath, and Diablo. The ones that I find hardest to get into are what you would consider the atypical Japanese RPGs such as Final Fantasy. This presents an issue, because a lot of people would consider the mid- to late 90s as a golden period for these games. In my research I gave many of them the chance to allure me, but out of all the main contenders, only one really stood out for me: 1995's Earthbound.

What is it about this cult gem, developed by HAL Labs and produced by Nintendo, that stands out to me over the likes of Chrono Trigger and the long-fabled Final Fantasy 7? What really stood out to me, besides being a pretty solid RPG in its own right, is the fact that it's so different. Your main protagonist is not some orphaned boy seeking revenge or some loner with a troubled past. He's a young boy with a loving family who is called upon by a mysterious young girl to save the world. The whole game has an offbeat sense of humor to it that sets it apart from the standard melodrama of RPGs of that time. Very rarely does the game get too heady in its themes, even toward the end (which if you know the back story, is pretty disturbing). Yet what really sets it apart are the in-jokes and references. There are countless nods to classic poetry, artists and their works, and even multiple references to the works of The Beatles. Heck, the game even breaks the fourth wall multiple times, most notably with having a talking dog who is actually inhabited by the spirit of the game's lead developer. It's this kind of offbeat mood that really sets Earthbound apart from the standard sword and sorcery RPGs like Chrono Trigger or cyberpunk outings such as Phantasy Star. The game is really hard to find, and expensive to boot, but if you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend it.

13. Shenmue: Released in 1999 at the launch of the Sega Dreamcast by Sega AM2, Shenmue is a game that many modern titles owe a lot to in terms of trailblazing. Before Grand Theft Auto started the frenzy of open world exploration, before Resident Evil opened up the idea of interactive quick time events, before games such as LA Noire and Heavy Rain opened up gamers to the idea of story-driven adventure games, Shenmue was doing all of those things and more. Shenmue was an interactive detective story set in 1986 in which you play Ryo Hazuki, a young man attempting to solve the mystery behind the death of his father. You do this by going around towns talking to patrons and collecting info along the way to help your discovery. This isn't the only thing you're able to do, as Shenmue also boasts a level of world interactivity that was years ahead of its time. You could go into arcade shops and play full-length Sega arcade titles, interact with prize machines and collect little knickknacks, or even play games like pool. There are fights in it as well, complemented by the fighting engine, which borrows heavily from AM2's previous franchise, Virtua Fighter. Also mentioned are quick timed events that play out during cut scenes and can affect how the story plays out. Shenmue was truly a groundbreaking game, and although its production cost was more than it could even make back (at a then record-breaking 40 million), it has amassed many accolades and has a rabid fan base that is clamoring for a conclusion to the cliffhanger ending left by the game developers with Shenmue 2. For being a title that could truly call itself a trailblazer, Shenmue gets on this list of the greatest games of the late 90s.

With that, we end the first part of the countdown. Next time we will see which games break into the top 10. A hint: The dead will rise, and the only two heroes who can stop them are a muscle-bound ass-kicker in sunglasses and the Prince of Darkness.

First of all, let me just say that Archer is definitely one of the best, most consistently hilarious animated shows—and just comedies in general—on TV right now. If you've never seen an episode, open a new tab on your browser right now, go to Netflix, and binge. Go ahead. I'll wait.

"DAAAANGER ZONEEEE!"

All done? Good! Now you see what I mean. With all the references to Top Gun and "Danger Zone" on the show, it was only a matter of time until someone created a mash-up with that song, but I wouldn't have expected that someone to be FX. Sure enough, earlier today they uploaded the mash-up on the official Archer YouTube Page. Not surprisingly, it's just plain awesome and definitely a fantastic way to get us pumped up for the season 5 premiere in January. Without further ado (and if you didn't already click that link), here you go!

With Villains Month finally drawing to a close, comic shelves are now fully stocked with the worst villains the DCU has to offer. After the wonderful surprise that was Aquaman 23.2: Ocean Master, I decided to go back and give a couple titles a try. Although the infamous likes of General Zod and Brainiac were tempting, I decided to stay on the second tier and check out Flash 23.3: The Rogues.

The Rogues have always made for great character stories. I can respect that DC can't start much in what is essentially a one-shot issue and decided that The Rogues may then be the perfect candidates for a Villains Month solo joint. The piece opens with a flash forward as The Rogues break into Iron Heights to free The Trickster. This scene is a perfect introduction to the team and really nails what makes them great. Sure, they may have campy names like Captain Cold and The Weather Wizard, but these aren't your traditional villains. Guys like The Joker and Darkseid are pure evil. They don't suffer complicated emotional strife that leads them to conquer planets and sabotage monkey bars on public playgrounds. They just do it because they are evil. While this can be plenty of fun, it allows for characters like The Rogues to really shine in comparison. They have a moral code that makes them something of anti-villains.

The issue jumps from the breakout back to a break-in attempt on a bank. The heist ultimately fails, because the structural integrity of the old mine they tried to use becomes compromised. Again, the piece does a nice job of using plot elements to expunge character details. The Rogues are crooks, not butchers. Ultimately they decide "the price isn't always worth the score" and turn back when they realize their robbery attempt will collapse the building.

The troupe elects to blow off their frustration in true Rogue fashion, inside a saloon. Here things get a bit dialogue heavy, but tactfully so. It catches readers up with the ramifications the recent Flash stories have had on the Rogues and further explains the various team dynamics. After most of the team blacks out, The Glider makes a decision that really sets this issue apart from many of the other villain issues I've read so far, she opts to risk her life to free Mirror Master from his mirror prison.

I know DC can't start much in these books; however, Flash 23.3: The Rogues found a way to have some significance despite the lack of a story arch. Mirror Master's successful release, and Glider's subsequent stumble into a coma, are real plot events that progress the Flash universe. Although watching The Riddler's heist was fun, this feels like a real issue with real consequences that really merit my readership. Following all of this, Captain Cold awakes, has a breakdown, and tries to rob a bank himself. Fortunately, he's rescued from the police and, with a little help from his friends, makes peace with the guilt he has over the misfortunes that befell the team during his tenure as leader. The reconfigured Rogues then go to free Trickster, bringing things full circle and setting the stage for the issue's second major defining moment.

Whereas many issues may have ended simply with the reuniting of the Rogues, this one goes on to show the team emerging from jail to find the villains in charge and Central City destroyed. In another great character moment, the team doesn't do the classic villain thing and rub their hands together as they scheme diabolically. No, the Rogues are a different brand of villain. That was their city that just got destroyed, and they are pissed. It's a great lead-in to a new mini series and a great way to end an issue.

September is over, but their are loads of villains left to cover. Who are you enjoying? Let us know with a comment below and check back for more DC Villains Month Spotlight.

It’s a great time to be a Whovian. With the 50th anniversary and a regeneration just around the corner 2013 began as an exciting year for fans of BBC series Doctor Who. After rumors began circulating of missing episodes being recovered, however, the dreams, and speculations, of Who fans everywhere exploded. It has now been officially reported that NINE EPISODES have been found.

While the number is lower than originally speculated, fans of the late Patrick Troughton have plenty of cause to celebrate as all nine episodes follow the adventures of the Second Doctor. With these new additions, The Web of Fear story is now complete and The Enemy of the World is only missing one episode. The BBC will soon announce that all nine episodes will be available on iTunes as of tomorrow.

This comes as joyous news to Who fans who previously grieved the loss of 106 classic episodes that the BBC destroyed in the 70s to make room for storage. While episodes have been slowly recovered in an increasingly bizarre list of locals, this find is particularly special as it boasts the largest number of episodes found at a single time. This means Who fans should continue to search the globe because you’ll never know where in space and time they’ll find lost episodes next. Did anyone check Djibouti? We should check Djibouti.

The classic kids' 90s shows such as Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and Captain Planet are forever etched in the minds of those who watched them. These memorable titles ring bells to this day, and plenty of YouTube retro junkies post them still. Perhaps they forever will. Among these never-forgotten titles is a name that we don't hear so often unless we happen upon him on a news channel or are lucky enough to grab a few words from an interview in a magazine. He dazzled us with science and a quirky childish persona from 1993 to 1998 through 100 fascinating episodes. Guess who?

Encore or no? Drop some lines and let me know.

Gail Simone's run on the relaunched Batgirl series has been pretty well received by both fans and critics alike and, for my money, is easily the best written of all DC's New 52 titles. With the second TPB (Knightfall Descends) due for its UK release next month, this is perhaps a good time to revisit the first volume (The Darkest Reflection) to see just what it is that's had Batfans all aflutter.

Batgirl never could get the hang of that 'Live long and prosper' thing.

We don't need another hero

I must admit I've always had mixed feelings about Batgirl. On the one hand, I tend to subscribe to the idea of Batman as a loner and I find it difficult to buy into the number of second-tier vigilantes who tend to make up the extended Bat-family infesting the rooftops of Gotham.

Batwoman? A glossy gimmick best left back in the Silver Age. Azrael? There is no way the Bat would tolerate his psychotic activities. Damian? Ugh. A Bat-son? Really? The Spoiler? A joke. Anarky? Just ... why?

On the other hand, having grown up with the original Batman TV series in the 1960s, Batgirl - specifically the Barbara Gordon incarnation of Batgirl - has always been an integral part of the Bat-universe for me. I know I should find her bright and perky disposition completely at odds with the grime and gloom that pervades every other aspect of Gotham but, somehow, the city just isn't the same without her!

So, when I first heard that DC intended to allow Barbara Gordon to strap on her utility belt once more, my mixed feelings became positively scrambled! Whatever you might think about Alan Moore's decision to let the Joker shoot poor Babs through the spine, without that life-altering event, she'd never have reinvented herself as Oracle: computer genius, master hacker and all-round information broker to Batman and, indeed, the entire Justice League. And now she was going to leave all that behind?

Bang! Luckily for Barbara, the Joker only ever uses those guns with the silly flags inside!

History can be rewritten

For those of us who don't hang on every word in DC's press releases and rely on the comics themselves to tell us what we need to know, Batgirl's history in the New 52 universe is more than a little confusing. The fact that Barbara Gordon was shot and crippled by the Joker is still canon. Whether or not she ever operated as Oracle is not entirely clear but, based purely on the issues collected in The Darkest Reflection (Batgirl issues 1-6), it seems not. Whether or not Stephanie Brown or Cassie Cain ever donned the Batgirl mantle is also a little grey but, again, it's probably safe to assume not.

It's the car, right? Chicks love the car!

As with many other of the New 52 titles, this rewriting of recent history presents a serious hurdle for the book to overcome. Comic fans can be rabidly loyal to their favourite characters and many devotees of Cassie and Steph, therefore, were quick to voice their dismay at the idea of Barbara supplanting their she-bat of choice.

Similarly, fans of Oracle quickly made it clear that they were unhappy to be losing the only disabled heroine in the DCU and one of DC's few strong female characters who didn't dress in spandex or flash her cleavage. For Barbara to leave her wheelchair behind and successfully resume swinging from Gotham's gargoyles, she wouldn't only need a great surgeon, she was also going to need a damn good writer.

It's not who you are underneath ...

And that's where Gail Simone comes in. Simone, of course, has a huge reputation - firstly as an ardent critic of DC's treatment of female characters, and secondly as an award winning writer on the Birds of Prey title. But, approaching this book for the first time, none of that mattered to me. I'd never read Birds of Prey and the only work of Simone's I had read were a few issues of her frankly unimpressive run on Wonder Woman.

Everybody wants to be a bat!

In The Darkest Reflection, however, she proves to be superbly suited to the task of bringing Barbara Gordon to life. She clearly feels very close to this character and both Barbara's dialogue and her frequent internal monologues sound natural and convincing. I tend to be highly critical of the writing in comics but here Simone shines. She writes in a voice which successfully squares the cheery optimism of Barbara's 1960s TV persona with the determined mental toughness of the survivor shot and paralysed by the Joker in the 1980s.

Sometimes the original really is the best!

In Simone's hands, we have no trouble believing that Barbara Gordon is a character who, having regained the use of her legs, would brush herself down and confront her fears and self-doubt head on.

As she pits herself once again against super-powered criminals and costumed psychopaths, we can understand why. Unlike her dark, brooding mentor, she isn't driven by a deep-seated need for justice or revenge. Simone convinces us that Babs is out there because she loves it; she was born to be Batgirl. Her "Barbara Gordon" identity is never just a convenient mask as Bruce Wayne's is so often described, but when she's flinging herself from rooftop to rooftop at the end of a Bat-rope, you just know that's where she belongs.

Whether soaring across the Gotham skyline or patrolling the streets on her trusty Bat-cycle, Barbara's joy and enthusiasm at being back in the cape is genuinely infectious!

... it's what you do that defines you

As for the story itself, there's a lot to like in this first volume. There are superheroic fisticuffs aplenty, and we're introduced to two new villains: a serial killer named Mirror and a super-powered assassin called Gretel. Gretel comes across as a fairly generic super-villain (psychic powers) but, just as the best Bat-villains throw some aspect of Batman's own psyche into relief, Mirror is clearly a vehicle to highlight Barbara's own sense of survivor's guilt. It's not exactly subtle, but it's a nice touch all the same.

Characters from Barabara's past also make a brief appearance. Batman (or rather Bruce Wayne) and her former lover Dick Grayson (as Nightwing) both cross her path in this volume. As is so often the case when superheroes meet, she and Nightwing quickly fall to fighting each other rather than criminals, but again Simone comes up trumps, taking this hackneyed scenario and giving it a new and poignant twist (sorry - no spoilers!).

In her day job, Barbara is a librarian. Best not to let your books get overdue.

While these cameos provide a link to Batgirl's past, however, the book also has an eye on the future. At a time when it seems to be increasingly unfashionable to show heroes "off the clock", Simone takes a particular delight in sharing Barbara's personal life with us. In this volume we meet two new characters who enter her domestic life: her new housemate Alysia and, without giving too much away, someone who seems destined to provide an overarching plot line which could run for some time.

'Knightfall Descends'. Presumably the villain will becalled Tautology.

Rise!

In summary, Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection is a mainstream superhero book of the highest quality. It relaunches Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, successfully weaving together her tragic past with her action-fuelled present, while setting in motion some interesting sub-plots for the future. It strikes a fine balance between keeping us entertained with her costumed crime-fighting activities, and giving us an insight into the thoughts, feelings and motivation of a very human character; a character we can (and do!) actually care about.

The second volume of Simone's relaunch, Knightfall Descends, is released in the UK in paperback on 5 November and I pre-ordered my copy as soon as I'd finished reading Volume 1. Have you ordered yours yet? Or do you still see Barbara's return as a Bat out of Hell?

Geek Speak LIVE! is a weekly radio show with an explosion of nerd conversation. Join hosts Craig Kellerman, Travis Goss, and Michael Burhan as they rant on movies, TV, video games, comics, cartoons, technology, and whatever else is sparking our attention.

:: This week we discuss ::

South Park - One of the funniest and most controversial TV shows of all time. What are some of our favourite episodes? We also discuss the upcoming "Stick of Truth" video game as well as the past games.

Actor of the Week: Kevin Smith - We review Kevin Smith's entire filmography including Jersey Girl, Mall Rats, Clerks, and Dogma.

Before I get on with the review, I want to make something clear to you, the reader. I have never read a single issue of "Green Arrow" or have seen any of the previous episodes from season one of the television program, "Arrow." I have dived in with no knowledge of the world this show depicts.


Arrow HD Wallpaper

However, this is a review of the season premiere episode, "City of Heroes." We could call this my first impressions review.

Continuing where season one left off, Starling City is still recovering from a mechanically engineered earthquake which has killed hundreds of people. As a result, Queen's mother was placed in prison for her involvement. Additionally, a band of thugs, calling themselves "The Hood" (a gang who were inspired by the city's vigilante), blame the Queen family for what has happened to the city and want to avenge those who have died.

Knowing Starling City is in dire need, Diggle and Felicity go searching for Oliver, who retreated to the jungle. While searching for him, they were saved by him from an explosive trap. Then, there is a flashback to five years previous on the island where Queen, Slade Wilson and Shado were living together after the cruise ship Queen was on with his father was sabotaged.
Since I did not know the full backstory, I asked a colleague to fill in the blanks for me.

"Oliver was on a cruise with his dad and Laurel's sister and it crashed via sabotage; so, he was stranded and the island's filled with mercenaries and all sorts of other horrors since it's used as a bit of a prison dead-zone," said Anthony Mango, founder of Fanboys Anonymous.

After some convincing, Oliver agrees to return to the city and finds it in disarray. His sister, Thea, now owns his club and has taken up a relationship with Roy. If this is not enough, he also learns his family's company is on the brink of a financial takeover.

Now, I could go on about the entire episode, but I do not believe in spoilers. However, as an outsider giving his perspective on a show I have no prior knowledge of, I will say this was one of the most intriguing shows I have seen. I have watched other shows based on classic comic books, although, not too many of them would I consider to be memorable (then, again, I did enjoy The Flash when it aired in the early 1990s).

After watching this episode, I am convinced I should go back and watch the entire first series of this show.


Since Travis gave you a rundown of the episode from his perspective, I figured I'd throw in my two cents as well. Frankly, I loved it. Arrow's first season took a while for me to get into, but I was able to mostly because of the character of Tommy. With his death at the end of the season, I figured the show would drop down in quality, but it seems like they've figured out the tone and pacing much better this time around. Although I still miss Tommy on the show, and I still think that Laurel is nothing but a pain in the ass, Roy is stepping it up and becoming my favorite character. Thea's also handled a bit better so far as well. I'm not sure I'm going to miss Summer Glau's character once she makes her exit from the show (despite how I like Summer Glau herself), but who knows…maybe she'll end up being worthwhile. The implementation of the knockoff "Hoods" gang, albeit a total ripoff of the Dark Knight trilogy (which shouldn't be a surprise, considering how much of this show has been patterned off that series), was a nice way to get the name change for Green Arrow and justify his return to the city. All in all, very entertaining, and if this episode is any indication of what is coming for this season, I'm excited to see what's next.

What are your thoughts on season 2's premiere? Are you excited about The Flash and all the other characters that will be introduced this season? Give us a comment below!

Want to know what happened the past few days in nerd culture? WEEK IN GEEK is your quick fix to catch up with the rest of the fanboys out there.

VIDEO GAMES

The International Committee of the Red Cross wants there to be consequences from your actions in video games that violate the Geneva Convention.

My take: Give me a break. It's a video game. Let people fantasize and do things that you don't want them to do in real life. What's next, punishing people for not following traffic laws in Grand Theft Auto?

Mad Catz has a console coming out similar to the Ouya called the M.O.J.O. which will cost $250.

My take: I know I won't be getting one. Will you?


COMIC BOOKS

Villains Month apparently did very well for DC Comics, topping the charts and selling over 4.3 million copies.

My take: Good job, DC! If you're interested in reading up on this, check out Ryan Little's latest posts on the subject..

HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES

Author Tom Clancy passed away at the age of 66.

My take: Our condolences to his friends and family.

TECHNOLOGY

Apple will be having an invite-only conference on October 22nd, which is the same day that Microsoft will launch the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets.

Paden's take: Could this involve an unveil of the new model of iPad?

MISCELLANEOUS

Alice Cooper could be playing the Green Goblin in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark?

My take: .....weird....

IGN reports that there are even more plans for Disneyland to feature Star Wars in the amusement park.

My take: I've only been to Disney World, but more Star Wars is always better. Disney just keeps upgrading with the likes of Star Wars and Marvel in their ranks.

Hey Hey Hey Fanboy Nation, It is I, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace returning with another YouTube Spotlight segment. This week we dive into the world of sports. We find four young lads to review Sunday football for you, the crazy NFL fans, but with one twist—they're hammered. Featuring the 1214 Crew Reviews Team (Brian, Pat,  Justin, and Anthony), the four yellow and hammer soldiers of Sunday Night Football review the current week of football. Kicking it off at the beginning of the regular season, the Review Crew attempts to break down top plays and games…well, to the best of their ability. Clearly, when you mix alcohol and football you get a kickass result, and this web series is that. You can catch weekly uploads on Brian Johnson's YouTube channel by clicking here. These guys post up a video each week recapping the NFL, so grab a beer and drink along. Here is NFL Week 5 reviewed by the 1214 Crew.



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. Until then, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer and a seat in front of your computer and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

The comic book medium encompasses dozens of genres from horror to space opera, but with his new book Sex Criminals, Matt Fraction has added an unlikely party to the list: sex comedy. Although this may seem contradictory to the usual "youthful" image surrounding comics, the book takes a high concept approach to telling a story about humans and sexuality that wouldn't be possible in anything but a comic.

Sex Criminals, at its core, has a ton of promise. The premise is simple; every time leading lady Suzanne orgasms, she freezes time. It's fun, it's unusual, but it goes almost entirely unexplored in this first issue. The opening pages solve one of the immediate concerns surrounding a book with such an adult theme—the depiction of intercourse. In Sex Criminals, intercourse retains a sense of mysticism by being drawn with waves of color that hide the naughty bits of the parties involved. This is a nice way to lead into the origin story of Suzanne, a young girl whose exploration of sexuality leaves her largely disenfranchised and generally underwhelmed. She soon realizes sex isn't easy to learn about no matter how genuine the angle you may approach it from. There's a nice bit of heart in this section of the story as well as a nice societal jab. The structure of the issue, however, leaves all of this quickly behind.

The entire first issue encapsulates three timelines: Suzanne's middle school life after she discovers her powers, her meeting Jonathan at a party, and the two of them inside a bathroom "doin' the deed." Although the middle-school years are good for character development, and the period in which the book spends the majority of its time, this costs the series any real sense of driving action. The flow of exposition does meet an exciting impasse when Suzanne discovers that Jonathan, a young man she randomly hooks up with at a party, shares her ability. This is the book's one big stride toward establishing an overarching narrative for the series, but it is given only a couple pages to play out and no real opportunity to set things up apart from a single moment.

The final page shows Jonathan and Suzanne emerging from the bathroom in which our story began, guns in hand, toting large duffle bags. While this moment is exciting to me, it's only because I have heard interviews with the writer, who has explained that the story will go on to follow the two as they use their powers to commit crimes. This is somewhat implied here, but there's never really any action to drive the story or to imply the two would immediately turn to a life of crime. Although comics may certainly be comedies, an exposition-heavy issue such as this could really use something to up the ante and make it more than a bloated origin issue. That said, the issue sets up an interesting character in Suzanne, whose exploits outside the sack may prove to be more exciting than those in it in issues to come.

Back at the 2012 San Diego Comic Con, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros gave eager fans a sneak tease at their upcoming reboot for Godzilla. Unlike the travesty that was shown in theaters back in '98, this one looks to recapture the roots of the world's most famous kaiju. Released as Gojira in Japan, Godzilla told the tale of nature striking back at mankind who abused their own power and authority. While the first movie was dark in tone, having to do with mankind facing the consequences of their actions, the many sequels after lost this darkness opting out for a more lighthearted romp. Eventually, the series become nothing more that a monster of the week type of movie with Godzilla facing a new threat every sequel. This all came to a climax with the final movie Godzilla Final Wars where Godzilla faces off against every monster he's ever gone up against, including the Americanized version of himself now re-named Zilla.

Now imagine a Pacific Rim cross over.

The teaser shown at San Diego was done before any film work began on the film, thus it doesn't represent the final product. However, this doesn't stop the teaser from capturing the same tone as the Gojira we all know and love. It goes so far as to include elements from J. Robert Oppenheimer, contributor to the Manhattan Project.



Since places where the teaser video is being hosted seem to be taking it down, I've written up a description below of what can be found in the teaser.

The teaser pans over the wreckage of a destroyed city, most likely done by Godzilla. We see many people dead, as well as a few survivors. We eventually see a couple of skyscrapers, one with a huge hole in the center reminiscent of what was seen in the '98 movie. From there, we see the corpse of a monster which seems like it might be Anguirus. There have already been talks of more Kaiju appearing in this movie, and this shot seems to solidify this statement. As the trailer comes to a close, we finally get a glimpse of Godzilla, who lets out a loud roar.



Also of note is that this trailer plays a short sound bite of J. Robert Oppenheimer.  J. Robert Oppenheimer is often referred to as the "father of the atomic bomb", having played a major role in the Manhattan Project during WWII.


Disregarding the giant hole in the center of a building, which might be a tongue in cheek reference to the '98 movie, this does what it sets out to do. It captures the essence of what made the original Gojira such a timeless classic.

What do you think?

Episode 45 of the I Got Gameplay podcast is now online. In this episode, Michael Burhan, Travis Goss, and Miguel Leon discuss gaming franchises that should have died a long time time ago, from Sonic The Hedgehog to the final fantasy series Miguel lists the most offending franchises that makes his skin crawl.

You can check out the episode by clicking on the following links:

Lybsin: http://smarkoutmoment.libsyn.com/rss

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/igotgameplay/id570120518

Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/nerdgenious/igotgameplay?amp;refid=stpr

You can subscribe to the podcast's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/IGotGameplay

Blog Talk Radio:

You can join the discussion by going to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/igotgameplay

Join the IGG army in style by purchasing an I Got Gameplay T Shirt from our store:

To order yours just click on the link below!

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In this episode of Rose Colored Reviews, I take a look back at the Super NES classic Star Fox.


Rose Colored Reviews takes a look at Star Fox (SNES)

I share the premise of the story, the popularity of the game as well as its stylish graphics, and my memories of this fantastic piece of gaming nostalgia.


If you love what you have seen, please like, comment, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

On a happier note, she nailed her audition for Ghost Rider.

Any Doctor Who fan knows that there’s a fair bit of tragedy embedded in the DNA of the last Time Lord. That said, The Doctor always finds a way to keep his spirits high and to find the best in people, which is the best way to face a new rumor claiming over 100 classic episodes, originally thought lost, have been found. Unfortunately, many of these rumors, like time in the series, prove to be malleable.

The consensus amongst the various reports claims that 106 episodes have been discovered in a TV station in Ethiopia to which they were sold after originally airing in the 1960s. Said tapes are supposed to contain episodes depicting The First Doctor as played by William Hartnell and The Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton. It’s almost poetic that the early adventures of The Doctor have remained lost as the character himself remains an enigma despite his years on television.

Still, many fans are rejoicing over the chance to see more of The Doctor’s early adventures.

Unfortunately, reactions from various members of the Doctor Who staff are sobering. So far, no statements have been made by the BBC, but with the Doctor Who 50th anniversary just around the corner, it would be fair to theorize that they could be rolling such a big announcement into their plans for the celebration. Rule number one is that The Doctor lies. Could this be true of the staff as well? Similar rumors have surfaced before so the best anyone can do is sit with their fingers crossed and hope not to have both their hearts broken.

Grand Theft Auto V is has quickly become one of the most commercially successful games in history, and that's really nothing to be surprised about. The franchise has historically broken records and redefined its medium nearly every time a new iteration of the game has been released. With the game being just about 3 weeks old at this point almost everything has been discussed, reiterated, and regurgitated onto the Internet that one could possibly say about the game. However, there is one point that hasn't seemed to catch the world's attention; what the Rockstar Games Social Club has opened the door for in terms of interconnectivity.

The Rockstar Games Social Club is barely a new concept, being a staple of the company's gaming interface since Red Dead Redemption was released. For Grand Theft Auto V, they added a few new innovations to the crew system that really make it special. The hierarchy system within crews allows you to delegate certain roles and responsibilities to each member of your crew, which is a great tool that allows for a deeper, richer multiplayer experience. You can entrust executive decisions to your closest buddies, whilst delegating smaller tasks to others who may not have earned your trust.


The idea of the hierarchy system is much more complex than it looks at first glance, however. The Rockstar Games Social Club has an interface all on your own that allows players on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 to connect with each other as well, which enables an experience that borders on cross-platform play. If a crew leader plays on PS3 and promotes his buddy on Xbox 360 to the "Commissioner" rank in his crew, that person has all of the powers of the crew leader. Through the Xbox 360 network that player can now hire new members of the crew, promote them, and even kick members off of the crew.

What does this mean for gaming this time around? With this system, Rockstar has given many gamers a glimpse into the future. This little link between Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users will not only force loyalists of both companies to put aside (some of) their differences and work together as a unit, but it will also bust open the door for more developers to come up with ways for everyone to play together regardless of what system they've invested in.


Of course, this isn't total console synchronization. I still can't play with my buddies who happen to have chosen the Xbox 360 over the PlayStation 3, but we can still be on the same crew and interact with each other through the Rockstar Social Club and, to some degree, that means we're playing together. Considering Rockstar Games' penchant for trend setting in the game industry, don't be surprised if other developers find ways to incorporate system mixing into their games further down the line.

Do you guys think that Rockstar might have something here? Leave a comment below, and check back here at www.fanboysanonymous.com for any and everything GTAV.

Brick and mortar comic stores are special places. There are few institutions these days that exist for the sole intention of satisfying the needs of a specific niche, less still embody the increasingly archaic idea of a business whose patrons are welcome to linger, for no purpose other than to share in the camaraderie that a shared passion entails. Once upon a dream there were ice cream parlors and candy shops where kids could gather. While all those things have faded, comic shops remain, with their steadfast dedication to storytelling and captivation. If comics are the modern mythos, then comic shops are their bards, keeping the masses up to date on the adventures of giants and steering us toward the wisdom we can gleam from their exploits.

At least in theory.

At this point the argument hits a junction. To ask if comic stores help or hurt the comic industry also requires the question of whether or not they are really necessary. I believe the two points go hand in hand and can be answered in tandem, although they must be done in the order of their asking.

I've been reading print comics weekly for some time now, my personal experiences taking me to shops from sea to shining sea as well as abroad. In my travels, I am sad to say that the businesses I have entered, much to the detriment of the comic industry as a whole, have rarely been worthy hosts to my beloved heroes. Much like the American film industry, comic companies do not have direct control over their primary distribution agent, i.e., comic shops. There is no standard of behavior or quality control that can be exerted. Almost every Wednesday Warrior I've met has a comic shop horror story. Mine have ranged from filthy holes in the wall to condoned alcohol consumption that borders on abuse. Worse than the actual store layout is the dice roll of person inside.

I once had the opportunity to speak to a young woman who eagerly asked about comics when she saw me reading one. She explained she did not regularly follow them because the patrons and employees of her local store had criticized her to the point that she did not feel she was welcome. I wish I could say her experience was an isolated one, but I know it isn't. Many comic stores often have a suspicious stigma toward curious new customers. With comics becoming more and more "mainstream," simply saying you like Marvel may be cause for sneers, and confessing an affection for Hawkeye may you get you laughed at. The condescending comic nerd is a cruel stereotype, but it is an effective one for shutting down intrigue in newcomers to the medium.

Sadly, the simple fact is that current comic sales are not enough to warrant such frivolous selectivity in terms of fan base. A graph of yearly comic sales over time is soul crushing. The ship is sailing, but these are turbulent waters. Better sales would make for less dependency on gimmicks, crossovers, and events. It behooves us all to have more fans, but the barrier to entry, which is already high enough from decades of canon, is made even steeper still by an unwelcoming environment. This is before you even consider the lack of store availability. Many who learn I love comics are shocked to learn that monthly comics are still in publication. It's a dangerous time, but there's hope. I believe comics are a medium with a power like no other. These aren't just stories, they are the adventures of icons. I believe that young girl was just the sort of person who needed comics, and her store failed her.


I know she was failed because I wasn't. My local store is wonderful, and after seeing so many others I understand how lucky I am. When I first started reading, employees and other customers were wonderful teachers. I found a place where I could learn about this amazing and ever-expanding narrative world. Although such information is readily available on Wikipedia, an Internet search cannot compare with having all those stories at your fingertips and a guide to walk you through it all. I believe in this strength lies the true power of comics. These are not just stories, they are modern epics. The heroes of the big two have come to stand for something, and their decades of trial and tribulation make for a narrative experience unlike any other. Comic stores play an important role in that. I'd argue that a TV show wouldn't be the same if you simply had a box set released once a year. Comics, which are more intricate and ever expanding, similarly rely on a constant outflow of story to fully embrace their potential.

This is where the latter component comes into play. Can digital outlets remedy the situation/replace comic stores?

It would be easy to argue that services like Comixology and Amazon could make a comic store irrelevant. You could simply get your comics digitally or wait for trade paperbacks and never have to play the roulette game of entering a comic shop. If years of lending books to new readers have taught me one thing, it's that the landscape of comics is harder to navigate than a game of Jumanji. (Come on five or eight!) I pity the fool who is an X-Men fan hoping to jump into the comics blindly, with no prior comic reading experience. That said, I think vertical integration can be dangerous. It only took three issues to change Nick Fury into Mace Windu. While I think it is good, if not imperative, to capitalize on the success and subsequent new interest created by the recent wave of comic films, I do not think this should come at the cost of continuity, especially when comics can still be accessible given the help of a top-notch distributor. Furthermore, if comics are to be the modern mythos, then we should continue trading stories in the way that has worked for thousands of years, between excited parties who can revel together in the sensation of an exciting yarn.

Getting into comics can be difficult. A good store may be hard to find. Although the stories are good, it takes some time to get up to speed. There's interest, but there's also work to be done to bring others along for the ride. Maybe this means it would be best to have a place where you can go to learn about them and enjoy them with like-minded individuals. Wait a minute, we already do. Now we have to keep them that way.