Posted by
Sean Hamilton
- Sunday, February 15, 2015
Cyclops #10 cover
by Alexander Lozano
When the going gets tough, the tough get sneaky…
There are twists and turns in this month's issue of Cyclops that lift the quality of the story to a more buccaneering level. It is great to see writer John Layman ramp up the action and set a course for collision as the characters fire broadsides at one another.
We are deep into this arc, so much so that there is only one more issue before the series intertwines into The Black Vortex event currently rampaging across the Marvel Universe space. Given the little time left until the remaining original X-Man from the past is joined with the rest of the other time-displaced members, will we see Cyclops emerge on the other side of the event? Only time (and some solicitations from Marvel) will tell.
Layman appears to be wrapping up the story in issue #10 only to blindside readers with a surprise twist at the end. The action is paced well, with some interspersed father-son bonding moments. By the time the issue concludes, you come out feeling hooked for the next issue. The good thing is that it is a fun ride to the end.
Much of this is to do with the pacing set out by Javier Garron's art. While I am still not the biggest fan of the art depiction, overcoming this is not difficult, as you let yourself be carried along in the story. I do like the action angles and shots that Garron selects to tell the story. There is a dynamism here that lends itself to the story.
Cyclops and Corsair run for the lives
As always Chris Sotomayor's colors are on point. They enhance the artwork to deliver feelings of space battle and pirate shenanigans that are dazzling and bright. Without Sotomayor, this book would not have held on for as long as it has. Couple this with the absolutely stunning cover art by Alexander Lozano, and it keeps me coming back to a book the hasn't lived up to expectations generally. I am slightly tempted to just take all the covers and start some sort of epic giant wall collage.
We are not alone here
As we move ever closer to The Black Vortex and Secret Wars I am intrigued to see what happens with this series. I like it, don't get me wrong; this issue is a stronger one than some of the other more recent issues, but ultimately I wouldn't miss it if it were to end. Like the Nighcrawler series, which is about to close, it has delivered on its mission statement. Without some more invigoration, it may be consigned to the soon-to-end Marvel Universe as an unmemorable space pirate jaunt.
What did you think of this weeks issue of Cyclops? Did you feel this is picking up as a series? What do you think of the covers? Tell us below or head over to the Fanboys Anonymous Facebook or Twitter and leave your mark there.
On episode 11 of the 4 Reel Movie Club podcast, Fanboys Anonymous members give their thoughts on four of the Oscar nominees for Best Picture (among other things) at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015.
Host: Chris Dace
Panelists: Tony Mango and Briana Gaitan.
THIS MONTH'S SET OF MOVIES:
The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Birdman
You can watch the podcast below. Make sure to subscribe!
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Friday, February 13, 2015
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 86 of The Dace Man Show with host Frank Ward! It's another Frank Take Over, and this time it's a complete Iowan Invasion! Join Frank Ward, Jefferson Brown, and Travis Sullivan as they take over The Dace Man Show in The Dace Man's hiatus!
What did the Iowan crew discuss this week on The Dace Man Show? Word from down on the corner is that they introduced some new segments. Also, the Iowan Crew discussed how great the state of Iowa really is as a jab at the usually dominant New Jersey crew.
With The Dace Man, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, and Tricia all M.I.A. this week, anything goes. In one of the final shows of Frank broadcasting from his home state Iowa, the new team gives you a show to pay homage to the state of Iowa!
All that and more on this week 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.
Hey, hey, hey, Dacetacular nation! Check out Episode 85 of The Dace Man Show with hosts Dace, Gibby, Nicholas Andrew, Frank Ward, and Patty McTitties!
::SPORTS NEWS::
NHL rankings
NFL SuperBowl!
Spring Training is coming!
Plus more
::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY::
He stiffed arm us.
::FRANK'S CORNER::
Facts about Masturbation.
::ON CAPITAL HILL WITH NICK ANDREW::
Chris Christie and Vaccinations a hot topic issue!
::CELEB NEWS::
Dace brings you the hottest stories coming out of LA.
::Who Said It::
VS
Gibby Sings and 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.
Posted by
Anthony Mango
- Thursday, February 12, 2015
Welcome to the latest edition of Making the Grade—a new review format segment here on Fanboys Anonymous where we break down the five major components of something and give it a score based on the standard report card lineup: A, B, C, D, and F for a total failure.
The next report card is for the latest film adaptation of the comic books from the mind of Mark Millar, entitled Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Kingsman: The Secret Service—directed by Matthew Vaughn; written by Jane Goldman (screenplay), Matthew Vaughn (screenplay), Mark Millar (comic book), Dave Gibbons (comic book); starring Taron Egerton (Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin), Colin Firth (Harry Hart / Galahad), Mark Strong (Merlin), Jonno Davies (Lee), Jack Davenport (Lancelot), Mark Hamill (Professor Arnold), Michael Caine (Arthur) and Samuel L. Jackson (Valentine).
WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW
CHARACTERS: B+
Our protagonist, Eggsy, is a fully fleshed out character in all of the ways that one could hope for. His journey makes sense and the conclusion is earned. Thankfully, he's also joined by several other colorful characters, which would seemingly be difficult, considering how so many of them are supposed to be stiff, emotionless drones. Colin Firth's Galahad is charming, Mark Strong proves that he doesn't always have to be the villain to be awesome, and Samuel L. Jackson is super fun to watch as the antagonist.
The only reason this film doesn't get an A+ or A– is because there are a good number of characters who really don't stand out from one another. Eggsy's friends are just his friends and nothing more, which also goes for the friends of his stepfather. Still, it isn't necessary for these characters to have any more traits than that, so it's forgivable.
ACTING: B
Is this a film with performances about which people will be talking for a lifetime? Of course not. However, even though it was a leap to think of Colin Firth as a badass or to trust that they would not overplay the trope of Sophie Cookson as "the badass chick who can fight just as well as the men," these and the other characters were pulled off successfully. My point is, given the material and the type of movie they were going for, they achieved their goal.
VISUALS (FX, MAKEUP, COSTUMES, SETS): B–
There are only two slight hiccups when it comes to visuals. First, the fight scenes can sometimes feel a little as though they sped them up, which would be disappointing if that were the case. Second, the opening title sequence was a tad cheesy, although that may have been intentional to establish the tone of the film, so I'm willing to give that a pass.
Makeup was on point, as were the costumes. This film makes me want to go out and buy a new suit and an umbrella. For the most part, the sets are great, although the prison cells did come off somewhat cheap. Then again, there are several nods to old James Bond films throughout the movie, so this could easily have been a clever way to save on the budget and reference how Dr. No and the older Sean Connery films were guilty of these cheap sets as well.
MUSIC & SOUND: A
Once again, Henry Jackman proves that he knows how to balance an original score that works with serious action but also peppers in songs that can make the soundtrack lighter and make sure the fun doesn't get lost in the tension. If you're fond of the Kick-Ass music, you'll feel the same about this. The final fight scene was particularly well done, and the music is a huge reason why. Of course, the credit is shared with Matthew Margeson for his contributions to this part of the film.
TONE (ACTION, ROMANCE, COMEDY): A
If you hear that this is a film from the makers of Kick-Ass, you should know what you're getting into, as it is essentially the same tone balance.
ACTION: The fight scenes were awesome, gritty, and had the right mix of realism and fantasy. After all, this is a comic book movie and not a documentary.
COMEDY: Originally, I disliked Samuel L. Jackson's character having a lisp, as it felt like a forced joke. While I still think that is pretty much the only joke that doesn't fully land, I was pleased to see them address it full-on with a joke about the Brits in the film speaking so funny instead. Otherwise, every other joke in the movie had me smiling, chuckling, or laughing out loud.
ROMANCE: Admittedly, I'm disappointed that there wasn't more of a romance between Roxy and Eggsy. It was hinted at but never really established, not even ending with some triumphant kiss or anything of the sort. Then again, it did play up a different aspect of the spy genre, with the Princess Tilde character fulfilling a much more over-the-top version of what the Bond girls frequently boiled down to, so that scores points in the romance category alone.
FINAL GRADE: A
If you're asking me how much I enjoyed this movie, it's an A+. I LOVED it. However, this report card system is meant to judge things based on all merits, with a perfect A+ score going to something that should win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and also be entertaining to watch. This never will do the former, but it is certainly the latter. So far this year, I've watched nearly every movie nominated for the top prize at the Oscars, yet this is easily, hands down, without a doubt my favorite movie I've seen since January 1st. To be honest, this is my favorite movie I've seen in months, and I watch a lot of movies from a variety of different genres. I highly recommend this movie to anybody who is fond of this type of film. For those who would be turned off from the rated-R elements, you might as well skip it, but if that's not a deal breaker, don't skip out on this.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE?
Greetings, Fanboys and Fangirls! This is Sam Lascio talking about some updates we've heard about the Marvel/Sony Spider-Man deal.
One of the things that people wondered when they heard that Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures were going to start sharing Spider-Man was how the money was going to be split up. Was Marvel going to take some of the profit off of the solo Spider-Man films? Was Sony going to get a piece of the pie whenever Spider-Man appears in a team movie? Well, it's been announced that Sony will get all of the money that the solo films make, and Marvel will get all of the money from the team-up films.
This feels like Marvel has made off like a bandit. They didn't pay Sony to use Spider-Man, and now they get to use him in their films. Will this dramatically increase their profits? No, but that's fine, because they didn't spend any money to get Spidey, so ANY money they make is nothing but profit. On the other hand, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 may have made almost $710 million, but it didn't do what Sony was hoping it would do. For all the money they poured into it, and the hundreds of millions they poured into marketing the film, the actual profit from the film wasn't as it appears. Sony is really hurting right now, and even if Marvel Studios is stepping in to help them out with their solo movies, the mixed critical and fan reaction makes it difficult to simply pump out another movie. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 currently holds (as of 2/12/15) a 53 percent critic rating and a 67 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so although technically most people liked it, this is clearly a departure from the first The Amazing Spider-Man film, which holds a 73 percent critic rating and a 77 percent audience rating. This is going to put a potential dent into the 2017 Spider-Man film for those movie-goers who hear the news of another reboot and say, "Yeah, but I didn't really like the last one." So, since Marvel Studios assumes no financial risk with a solo Spider-Man film, Sony has (potentially) a lot to lose if this new movie isn't great.
Now, onto the bigger topic at hand. The second update we received about the Marvel/Sony "partnership" is that Sony has simply pushed back the release date of the Sinister Six movie, and that writer/director Drew Goddard is still on the project.
So wait...does this mean that the Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man continuity is still in play? Well, no. At least, I sincerely hope not. All this really means is that Sony believes in what they were doing for this film, so they want to continue moving forward. Does this mean we're going to see this Sinister Six?:
Most likely not. We already have news from Marvel and Sony that this will be a new Spider-Man, and therefore a new a continuity. This means that the chances of seeing Dane DeHaan's Green Goblin or Paul Giamatti's Rhino again are practically zero. What this tells me is that we're going to see a fresh take on the Sinister Six. Whether this movie will come before or after Spider-Man (2017) wasn't completely made clear, but I'd wager that we'll see this after the 2017 film. Some sites are reporting that the Venom movie and the female-led spin-off movie are also moving forward, but none of the sites I trust have mentioned them, so when more news is announced, I'll be sure to update you!
Could Spider-Man (2017) set-up this Sinister Six film? Which villains will make up this "new" Sinister Six team? Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea that Sony won't see any profit from the Marvel Studios films that include Spider-Man? Let us know in the comments section! Thanks for reading, everyone! My name is Sam Lascio, and I am a Fanboy!
It is not uncommon nowadays to find a AAA game out there with a white (usually male) protagonist saving the day. Should this be a cause for concern? Is this even an issue at all? What we see as a norm in the video game industry could also be an underlying bias that has taken hold.
Enter Pause, a new segment on Press Start. Join Sam Tuchin as he walks you through different controversial topics circulating the video game industry. In this edition, Sam will discuss the representation of race and ethnicity in modern games (or lack thereof).
One of these things is not like the others...
Of course, many games require the use of a Caucasian character for lore-based or historical reasons. Aside from those exceptions, however, maybe the gaming industry should better represent the diversity of the world that we live in, let alone the audience that plays these games.
Whether or not you think this is an issue is unrelated, since it is apparent that this is an actuality. Check out the video below to see Sam's thoughts!
What are your thoughts on this topic? Also, what issue would you like to see Sam tackle in future iterations? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have two newcomers against each other, with Mamrie Hart squaring off with bubzbeauty. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET H)
Mamrie Hart
[YouTube Personality, Comedian]
Yet another newcomer to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament, Mamrie Hart was born in New Jersey and raised in North Carolina. Her fan-favorite and award-winning You Deserve a Drink launched her into fame. While she has been known to go on tour with fellow Internet Goddess competitors, Mamrie has made her fame and name on YouTube. As a newcomer it will be interesting to see how far Mamrie will go in the tournament.
Bubzbeauty
[YouTube Personality, Beautician]
Yet another newcomer to the Internet Goddess Tournament this year is bubzbeauty. This beautiful bundle of joy brings the Internet beauty tips while entertaining the masses. Hailing from Northern Ireland, bubzbeauty brings an international flair to this tournament in her debut year!
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have two former contestants from last year who didn't make it past Round 1 facing off against each other, with Taryn Southern versus Lauren Francesca. This time, one of them will definitely advance. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET G)
Taryn Southern
[YouTube Personality, Singer, Comedian]
Our next contestant has many talents as well as some notable roles as she builds up her acting resume. However, Taryn Southern got her start via the likes of YouTube. She is both a singer-songwriter and producer of the YouTube hit "Hott4Hill." With the success of this video, Taryn was able to take off and grab many more roles on television as well as place in the top 50 of the third season of American Idol. Still actively landing roles on television as well as on the web, Taryn stays busy and has also the looks to make it past the first round in the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament!
Lauren Francesca
[YouTube Personality, Actress]
The Mother Monster herself Lady Gaga has been parodied by several actresses and, hell, even by Weird Al Yankovic. The ones that stick out on the Internet, however, have to be the several reoccurring parodies involving the lovely Lauren Francesca. Starring in several "Key of Awesome" videos, Lauren has won the hearts of many nerds and geeks and branched off into her own channel as well as Hollywood. Landing a role in the movie Muck and still producing several YouTube videos, Lauren is one Internet beauty to keep an eye on going forward. Lauren has returned to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament and is looking to make it farther than the first round!
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have newcomer The Gabbie Show in a tough fight going up against last year's winner, Catie Wayne. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET F)
The Gabbie Show
[YouTube Personality, Vine Artist]
A newcomer to the Internet Goddess Tournament, Gabbie is a YouTube Personality and Internet Vlogger. Joining YouTube with her quirky sense of humor, Gabbie has managed to reel in about 93 thousand subscribers and start an Internet phenomenon with her twerking video. We welcome her into the tournament as she takes on a tough competitor here in the first round.
Catie Wayne
[YouTube Personality, Vlogger]
The champ is here. That's right, fans, Catie Wayne is the reigning, defending 2014 Internet Goddess, and she's back to retain her title in 2015. In late 2008 Catie Wayne burst onto the Internet scene with an energetic vlog under the character of Boxxy. With high energy and talking about everyday life, Boxxy took the Internet by storm, including the infamous site 4chan. Hers was a character that was so unique it hooked the attention of the Internet audience. Boxxy was one of the original Internet phenomenons and generated a lot of attention both positive and negative.
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have newcomer Hannah Hart facing off against someone who made it into Round 2 last year, Brizzy Voices. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
Making her debut on the Internet in 2011, Hannah decided to record herself as she tried to cook in the kitchen in a drunken state, and from there it was onward and upward. Hannah is now known for her comedic and cooking abilities as well as for being a published author. It is no surprise that she would find herself in the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament!
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
Posted by
The Dace Man
- Tuesday, February 10, 2015
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be
open for voting. In this round, we have two newcomers as grav3yardgirl goes toe-to-toe with Grace Helbig. Check out
their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other
brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET D)
grav3yardgirl
[YouTube Personality, Fashion/Beauty]
Best known for her "Does This Thing Really Work?!", "First Impression Friday," and "Follow Me Around" series, grav3yardgirl is a newcomer to the Internet Goddess Tournament. Debuting at the tail end of 2010 on YouTube, she now has over 4 million subscribers and close to 800 videos available for her adoring masses. She is known for taking the "As Seen on TV" products, trying them as the fans watch, and following up with reviews. It will be interesting to see how this newcomer fares in the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament.
Grace Helbig
[American Makeup Demonstrator, Entrepreneur]
Yet another newcomer to the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament is Grace Helbig. Hailing from South Jersey, she immediately has this author's attention [#represent], she went to school at Gateway High, and that's right down the road from me. She debuted on the interwebs in 2008, and it has been onward and upward ever since. She has made appearances on various television shows, and E! has even signed her to her own late-night special. So before she leave the world of YouTube, she should be included with the greats!
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
The Internet certainly has its set of stars that are world renowned. Of those stars, we've seen a rise of talented, witty, and beautiful women who have taken the Internet by storm. Join me, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace over the course of the next few weeks as we crown the 2015 Internet Goddess.
From February 8th till the 21st, brackets A–H of the tournament will be open for voting. In this round, we have two former contestants from last year squaring off as Laina Morris faces Colleen Ballinger. Check out their spotlighted profiles below and vote. Voting for this and the other brackets on the left side of the board ends on February 21st, 2015!
ROUND 1 (BRACKET C)
Laina Morris
[YouTube Personality, Actress]
No doubt you have seen the creepy ex-girlfriend meme pop up somewhere on your Facebook feed. That now familiar face is another entrant into our 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament. The Overly Attached Girlfriend has popping up on our feeds since June 2012 and has also posted videos to YouTube parodying several love songs from artists such as Police, Backstreet Boys, and Taylor Swift. Fully embracing the Overly Attached Girlfriend role, Laina soared to Internet fame and has been a part of Internet pop culture ever since. In the 2014 tournament Laina managed to make it to the Heavenly Sixteen only to fall short to 2014 Internet Goddess Runner Up Lara De Wit. How will she fare this year?
Colleen Ballinger
[YouTube Personality, Musician]
Created solely in jest with the rest of the world of YouTube, Miranda Sings was given birth by the beautiful Colleen Ballinger. Pumping out videos every Tuesday and Friday since 2008, Colleen still goes hard when it comes to the YouTube world. She was even able to take the act on the road; the artist behind Miranda Sings has performed her cabaret acts at sold-out cabaret spaces and theaters in major U.S. cities as well as London, Dublin, and many major cities across the globe. Cashing in on the satire of the everyday singer, Colleen still goes strong. Colleen has returned for the 2015 Internet Goddess Tournament. After making it to the Fabulous Four last year, will 2015 be the year of Ballinger?
CAST YOUR VOTE BELOW
Don't forget to tweet @ your favorite and spread the word on her message boards, forums, fan pages and so forth to show your support and rally the troops!
Check back to find out the results of this poll as well as the other matches that we have coming your way.
Also, don't forget to come back to find out what else Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn) along with the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Until next time, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and in this case, an Internet browser—and return to the Dace-Sphere soon. See ya next time, keyboard warriors!
Ever since Breaking Bad ended about a year and a half (!) ago, there's been talk of a prequel spinoff focusing on fan favorite Saul Goodman back when he was Jimmy McGill. Anyone who knows me (or anyone who read my reviews here on Fanboys Anonymous) knows that I adore Breaking Bad, so admittedly I was a little nervous about that idea. However, I'm happy to say that Better Call Saul is off to a very strong start and could wind up being an excellent addition to the Breaking Bad universe once it fully finds itself. Basically, if you enjoyed Breaking Bad, you won't regret giving Better Call Saul a chance. AMC gave us a two-night premiere, so I'm here to talk about the first two episodes: "Uno" and "Mijo."
SPOILER ALERT for both Better Call Saul as well as the end of Breaking Bad. You've been warned.
I thought that starting with a look at post-Breaking Bad Saul was perfect. In Saul's last Breaking Bad scene before going off with Ed the disappearer to Nebraska, he told Walt that, best-case scenario, he'd be managing a Cinnabon in Omaha. Sure enough, "Uno" opens by showing us "Gene."
Clearly Saul...I mean Jimmy...I mean Gene has seen some better days.
It was actually pretty sad to see the effect Walter White had on someone who seemed invincible. What I think that opening scene could be suggesting is that the entire Better Call Saul series is just an extended flashback/memory, and if the writers go that route, I think it would let them really play with the timeline and show us more glimpses of things like that. Here's hoping!
After seeing the first two episodes, I feel very confident in this show. "Uno" was really pretty slow as it established Jimmy McGill's life and his relationships, but "Mijo" picked up the pace big time. That desert scene in particular was dripping with tension, so much more than I expected from this show. It's also clear that this show will work without Walter White; Bob Odenkirk seems more than capable of carrying Better Call Saul, and he's doing a great job of showing little hints of the future Saul Goodman in Jimmy. ("Discreet, like a stripper pole in a mosque.")
Now this is what I'd expect from Saul Goodman
I'll try to keep this short and wrap it up with some other thoughts:
I'm really enjoying Jimmy's relationship with Chuck, even though I have to wonder how much of Chuck's illness is real and how much is in his head. (I'm looking at that radiation sensitivity in particular.) I also have a strong feeling that Chuck will not make it through season one, and that'll really push Jimmy's transformation forward through the confirmed season two.
I'm sure future episodes will develop their characters more, but for now I'm left wanting to know more about the other lawyers at Hamlin, Hamlin, & McGill. I don't know how to really read Howard yet, and we know basically nothing about Kim except that she and Jimmy have some sort of relationship. I trust Vince Gilligan and his writers though. They know character development.
I want to see more from Mike, too! He's one of my favorite Breaking Bad characters, so I want to see him do more than just work as a parking attendant hounding Jimmy over the parking validation stickers. It was amusing, especially in that montage in "Mijo," but I could see it wearing out its welcome very quickly. Luckily it seems like conflict between those two will really be coming to a head in the next episode, so hopefully Mike starts getting more to do.
Tuco was an awesome surprise, and it was great to see him again. However, in order to help the show find its own identity and stand on its own, I hope that's the last we see from him for awhile. That's why the writers made a good call with introducing Nacho. He'll most likely be the one interacting with Jimmy on a regular basis, and he almost seems like the Saul Goodman of this show, in that he'll be introducing Jimmy to this seedy underworld in the same way that Saul will later do for Walt and Jesse in Breaking Bad.
Hopefully that's the last we see of the twins. They moved the story forward, and seeing Jimmy try to bargain with Tuco for their lives was excellent, but what's left for them to do? After they each had a leg broken, I'm sure they want nothing more to do with Jimmy, and I'm sure he'll be perfectly content with not seeing them anymore. He's got enough on his plate to worry about now.
Any fears I may have had about Better Call Saul have pretty much been dissipated, so I'm really excited to see where the show goes. What did you guys think of this two-night premiere? Sound off in the comments below!
The Wytches have their clawing fingers sunk deep into you and there is no getting them out.
Scott Snyder and Jock and Matt Hollingsworth have wrought a monster in the comic industry with Wytches. It is pervasive, intriguing, and a little bit terrifying, but oh so good.
As we get toward the end of this first arc of the series, the creators are upping the tension and allowing just enough wiggle room for a few surprises in the story.
I enjoy the series so much that I binge-read the first three issues again prior to reading issue #4. For added effect I did this late at night, by myself, in a dimly lit environment. I didn't plan it this way, but it sure made a difference for the feel of the experience while reading Wytches.
Issue #4 delves back into the world of Sailor and Charlie Rooks, but deeper, with more back story and context. We get to see better context of the main characters' motivations, with added weight to the mythology of the Wytches. It is the fleshing out of the protagonists that drives home this issue and sets us up for the two-part climax of the arc.
The carnival is in town...
As always the art is supremely balanced with the mix of other-worldliness and playfulness that characterizes this series. The splatter effect and layering of Hollingsworth's colors mesmerize the reader, bringing home the corporeal effect of the Wytches' magic. Jock drives home the fantasy with his off-angled art. This is most obvious in the depiction of the Wytches, as we get glimpses of Sailor down the burrow that houses them.
Wytches leave a mark on Charlie Rook
The more the series continues the more obvious it becomes that the true horror is not in the monsters lurking in the shadows but in the monsters we hold inside us. The imagery, both figurative and literal on the page, examine just what humans are capable of in their own dark moments. It is the human psyche that seems to really terrify Snyder, with the writer allowing his fellow creators to show this in a more comprehensible and artful manner.
What is overwhelmingly obvious by now is the pull and reach of Wytches as a series. I have those close to me who have never been big comic readers, ever, until this series piqued their interest. This is not lost on Snyder, who, as reported by Newsarama in a recent interview, explains the changing nature of comic book audiences. Wytches is poised to capitalize on this changing tide of readership.
Sailor's parents come to terms with Wytches
Are you one of those readers who can't put down Wytches? Have you been hooked by the monsters' talons? Let us know below or hit us with a comment on Facebook and Twitter, tell us what you love or hate about this issue and the rest, then make sure to come back later this month for issue #5 as the first part of the series begins to close.
Developing Devs is a brand new segment being introduced to the Press Start line-up. We take a look at some of the lesser-known video game developers out there and bring their accomplishments and growth to the limelight.
In this edition of Developing Devs, dive into the history of WayForward, a developer best known for its work on the Shantae platforming titles.
Watch how it got its start, how it gradually began to mold an identity for itself, and where it is now!
What do you think of this developing dev? What developer would you like to see us cover next? Let us know in the comments below.
Hello Fanboys and Fangirls! This is Sam Lascio, dropping the bombshell that we've all been waiting for:
Spider-Man is back home! (Kind of)
Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios have finally reached an agreement that will bring Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Not many details are out at the moment, but here's some stuff we know for sure:
This is a "new" Spider-Man (not connected to the Andrew Garfield films).
Spider-Man will first appear in an MCU film, then get his own standalone film produced by Sony Pictures. That second film is slated for July 28, 2017.
The standalone film will be co-produced by Feige and the Marvel team, as well as Amy Pascal from Sony.
"Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own, and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films."
Marvel and Sony are looking over possibilities for MCU characters to appear in the standalone Spider-Man films.
Marvel has also made announcements regarding changes to the release dates of future slated films:
Thor: Ragnorok - November 3, 2017
Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 - May 4, 2018 (unchanged)
Black Panther - July 6, 2018
Captain Marvel - November 2, 2018
Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 - May 3, 2019 (unchanged)
Inhumans - July 12, 2019
This now makes Inhumans come after Infinity War Part 2, and pushes Black Panther until after the third Avengers film.
What do you think this means for Phase 3? Do you think Sony will be able to handle keeping control of Spider-Man but adhering to Marvel's Cinematic Universe continuity? Do you think Marvel will change the release of Infinity War Part 1 to reincorporate Black Panther? Does the fact that Spider-Man will appear before his 2017 solo film mean he'll definitely be in Captain America: Civil War? Let us know what you think in the comments! Thanks for reading, everyone! My name is Sam Lascio, and I am a Fanboy!
