“If you’re sitting up there in your silly little space ships with all your silly little guns, and you’ve got any plans on taking the Pandorica tonight, just remember who’s standing in your way! Remember every black day I ever stopped you, and then, and then, do the smart thing. Let somebody else try first!”
-Doctor Who, “The Pandorica Opens”
This is it, kids. Comic-Con 2010 starts this evening with Preview Night at the San Diego Convention Center. If you’re as wildly unprepared as I am, please allow me to assist you. Whether you’re attending the show or checking in from afar to get the latest news and inside info, you can follow the exploits of Fanboys of the Universe in several fun and easy ways. Let’s list them, shall we?
1. Twitter
This will be the main go-to, I think, for distributing information from the show. I will be tweeting from panels, the vendor floor and the Prism Comics booth throughout the weekend.
2. FanboysoftheUniverse.com
Well, this goes without saying. I’ll be posting daily blog entries on the main page, summing up each day’s events. This will also be where I post any podcasts or videos. Plus, you should check the Forums to see if any site members post pics or recaps.
3. Facebook
I will funnel alerts through Facebook when there are updates to the main page, or if something particularly earth-shattering occurs (like meeting Dolph Lundgren).
4. Foursquare
The Prism Comics booth will be available as a check-in location on Foursquare, as are many other exhibitors and events at the show. If you want to know each and every time I go to the Mattel booth, or when FBOTMs stop by Prism, or what bar I’m stumbling into or out of, just add FBOTU as a friend. I just signed up for this, so I have exactly zero friends. Come join me, won’t you?
And that’s it. Wow! Remember when I used to go to Comic-Con with a pencil, some paper and a heart full of dreams. Well, thankfully all that has been replaced by the cold, lifeless hand of technology. Yay!
So, be sure to follow the FBOTU shenanigans all weekend long! Wish me luck. Here I go.
The penultimate episode of Series Five of Doctor Who aired a few weeks ago in the UK, as well as on countless computer monitors since then, but I managed to miss it. It just aired in the US on BBC America this weekend, but I managed to miss that, too. Luckily, it became available on iTunes shortly after the US broadcast, so I was able to buy and download it there. Why would I buy something that’s just going to re-run for free on TV for the rest of the week? Well, it only seemed fitting to watch a magical, futuristic TV show on my brand new, magical and futuristic iPad! Woohoo!
I must admit that moments after I bought the iPad on Saturday, I experienced a nauseating wave of buyer’s remorse. There was really no pressing need for me to have it. I’ve gotten by without it all these months since its release. The main reason I picked it up is because I was playing with one in the store and decided to see how Fanboys of the Universe looked on it. (FYI, the Apple Store and Best Buy both just love it when you have FBOTU running on all of their display models.) Then I reasoned that displaying the site on an iPad at Comic-Con was somehow more magical and futuristic than using my netbook (which was magical and futuristic last year, but looks terribly dated now). As I carried my purchase from the store to my car, I immediately began chastising myself. “There is absolutely no reason for me to have this.” In fact, I left it in the box and over to one side of my desk much of the weekend, while I entertained thoughts of taking it back. Then...then I missed Doctor Who.
Truly, I got a little giggly as I watched, not quite believing I was watching the Doctor on a tablet right out of science fiction or The Jetsons. I suppose I could have watched it on my iPod, yet the size of the iPad makes all the difference. Somehow, the device feels infinitely advanced, yet uncommonly personal. The Doctor says, “Never ignore coincidence.” So, it’s no mere coincidence, I think, that Doctor Who has very similar qualities. Good sci-fi not only shows you a technologically advanced future or worlds beyond the imagination, but it also makes such flights of fancy real and personal to its audience. So, while I haven’t been 100% on board this season, I must say Steven Moffat and company have crafted a deeply emotional and satisfying episode. River Song returns to deliver a dire warning to the Doctor, and she’s not alone. Joining her, in cameo appearances, are pivotal characters from throughout the season, tying all the previous adventures together extremely well.
River, played to such sexy and confident perfection by Alex Kingston, has become one of my favorite characters, due in no small part to the fact that she serves as the only connection to the previous series. She has gone adventuring with Tennant, and that gives her great credibility here. As for Amy, my concerns that she’s “Donna-Lite” are largely unfounded. In many ways, she is much more a creation of the Doctor than any previous companion. He shaped her childhood, her psyche, her relationship with the world and other men. As we head into the finale, she is quite literally the center of his universe and he is hers. I do care about her. And while I still think she’s terribly bad at pretending to fall around the TARDIS, I can overlook that, because, ultimately, I hope she finds happiness and what she’s really looking for, which isn’t Rory or the Doctor, but herself.
I will most likely be watching the finale at Comic-Con with a thousand other people and not on my iPad. At first, anyway. I’m sure I’ll watch and re-watch it on my little friend, though. And if people get tired of my hawking FBOTU at Comic-Con, I’ll just hold up my tablet, press play and satisfy the masses with a rousing speech from the Doctor:
“Come on, look at me! No plan, no back up, no weapons worth a damn. Oh, and something else: I don’t have anything to lose! So, if you’re sitting up there in your silly little space ships with all your silly little guns, and you’ve got any plans on taking the Pandorica tonight, just remember who’s standing in your way! Remember every black day I ever stopped you, and then, and then, do the smart thing! Let somebody else try first.”
-Doctor Who, “The Pandorica Opens”
For several years now, and especially since starting Fanboys of the Universe, Comic-Con has practically grown to full-on holiday status. It’s like the new Christmas, which is odd, because I always described Halloween as the new Christmas. Which leaves Christmas feeling more and more like a moderately festive Arbor Day. Calendar confusion aside, Comic-Con is less than a week away; I’ve put out cookies for the Con Fairy; and I’ve been busy gathering FBOTMs to hang out at our booth at the show. Unfortunately, July Fanboy of the Month Joseph will not be there. It would have made perfect sense to have him there, since he’s this month’s FBOTM and all, but we’ll have to try again next year.
However, we do have March 2009 FBOTM Rafael and August 2008 FBOTM Paul (aka the Gay Comic Geek) stopping by to meet people, pose for pictures and spread the word about Fanboys of the Universe. If you’re going to Comic-Con, be sure to follow FBOTU on Twitter. That’s primarily how we’ll be making announcements, sharing news and giving stuff away. Don’t miss out, kids. Sign up today! Now, on with the good stuff:
• Get your free desktop calendar, featuring July FBOTM Joseph, on the Downloads page.
• Check out the latest photos from Joseph’s shoot in the Gallery.
• Learn all about Joseph and what turns him on in the FBOTM Lounge.
• Watch Joseph’s behind-the-scenes video in the FBOTM Lounge or on the FBOTU YouTube page.
By the way, because of Comic-Con, there will be no FBOTM Friday next week. (Aw, sad face.) Not to worry, Joseph will be back the following Friday in all his glory. Brush up on your Comic-Con carols and have a great weekend!
Just about the only thing that melts my cold, cynical heart is something I like to call “triumph of the human spirit.’ This phenomenon comes in many forms, from the silly to the sublime. On the silly side, I always love when human beings do something weird and out-of-the-ordinary simply for the sake of fun. Here’s an example. Improv Everywhere has made a name for themselves staging scenes in and around New York. Their latest production places a pivotal scene from A New Hope on a New York subway car. Why not?
Check out some of their other videos here, especially the Ghostbusters in the New York Public Library.
If you don’t get emails from Marvel every five minutes (like I do), you might have missed this week’s odd turn of events in The Avengers movie saga. On Friday, Marvel tossed out a nasty press release announcing their decision not to work with Edward Norton again. Norton, as you may recall, is the actor who most recently played Bruce Banner in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. This should be sort of a non-issue, though a disappointing one, since Norton has been very vocal about his love for the character and his interest in being part of an Avengers film. Except Marvel President Kevin Feige didn’t just relate this information, but chose to nail Edward to the wall with a blatantly bitchy dismissal. Check this out:
“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”
Meow! In cat fight terms, that was Marvel taking her earrings off. Be warned, though. If you’ve ever bitch slapped a William Morris agent, you know what’s coming. In a response that practically screamed, “Who do these comic book kids think they are!” Brian Swardstrom, Edward’s agent, responded:
“This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light…We know a lot of fans have voiced their public disappointment with this result, but this is no excuse for Feige’s mean-spirited, accusatory comments. Counter to what Kevin implies here, Edward was looking forward to the opportunity to work with Joss and the other actors in the Avengers cast, many of whom are personal friends of his. Feige’s statement is unprofessional, disingenuous and clearly defamatory. Mr. Norton’s talent, tireless work ethic and professional integrity deserve more respect, and so do Marvel’s fans.”
Grr! Agent smash! Well, the earrings are off and drinks have been thrown! If you’re like me, you popped some popcorn, got comfortable and waited for Marvel’s bucket of crazy to spill forth. I imagined Kevin Feige releasing some surveillance footage of Edward Norton punching orphans. Alas, the (seemingly) final word on the matter came from the former Mr. Banner himself. Posted as a screen capture (of all things!) on his Facebook page, Edward adopted his best “aw shucks” demeanor and said:
Mr. Norton’s classy response seems to put an end to any chances of Alexis and Krystle plunging into the fountain, but, on the surface, I have to hand it to the guy. I still wish he were playing Banner. He would have lent some much-needed star power, and a good balance for Robert Downey, Jr.‘s mugging, in an Avengers movie. But now Robert will be taking center stage, surrounded by lesser-known actors, with only Samuel Jackson standing in the way of an Iron Man and (To a Lesser Degree) the Avengers title change.
Before I pat Edward on the back and send him a basket of muffins, I’d like to take a closer look at the anatomy of this mini-scandal. Who knows what actually happened in negotiations? But not knowing has never stopped me before, so I imagine Marvel proposed a pay cut and had probably already promised top billing to RDJ. Edward, of course, wasn’t going to accept that, but Marvel didn’t want to look any jerkier (or cheaper) than they already do. So, to save face, they released their nasty statement, placing the blame on Edward for not being a team player. Edward, of course, didn’t want to look jerky, either, and nothing would make him look jerkier than responding in rant form to Marvel’s dismissal. So, why do you pay your agent 20%? Oh yeah, so he’ll blast the bully and look like the hothead, leaving you the chance to come in at the end, calm and cool, looking like Audrey Hepburn while Joan and Linda are scratching each other’s eyes out.
So, what does it all mean? Well, Marvel still looks kind of jerky, but it’s nicely balanced out by Swardstrom’s histrionics. And the star completely avoids dirtying his hands. And, in a bizarre coincidence (or not), on the same day as his benevolent statement, Edward is appointed United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity. Nothing says “team player” more than the United Effing Nations! Take that, Marvel!
That still leaves us without a Hulk. How about Eric Bana? He’s bound to be cheaper than Edward. Why, I paid him $3 to mow my lawn just last week. Or, if they want to skew younger, I nominate Zac Efron, mainly because I’d like to see him wandering around, dazed, half-naked and clutching his stretchy purple pants.
Marvel had better hurry, though. Comic-Con is next week, and the clock is ticking. Just don’t make Kevin Feige angry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. Just ask Edward Norton.
