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nerdalert

January/February 2015

THE EVERYNERD MAGAZINE

Index 3

Index / 2

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

4

AT THE MOVIES 2014: The Year Sci-Fi Got Its Crap Together 8

EAST ASIAN DRAMAS Coffee Prince

11

AT THE MOVIES There and Back Again: A Hobbit Retrospective

14 EVOLUTION OF THE TCG Hex: Shards of Fate 17

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM Pat Broderick Versus Cosplayers And The State Of Comic Cons 20 LEAPING INTO COSPLAY CULTURE 23 WHEREIN I ENDEAVOUR TO FINALLY READ THE HOBBIT 26 FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures

About the cover artist Bernadetta Pastuszka is a Polish illustrator and comic book artist currently living in Spain. She likes to travel and meet new, interesting people that inspire her. She enjoys a good book and also independent cinema. In her free time she paints Icelandic landscapes or works on her own graphic novel.

29 HBO VS. SHOWTIME Entourage vs. Episodes 32 FROM FAN FICTION TO PROFESSIONAL FICTION 34 ATTACK ON TITAN 37 INHUMANS 101 40 THE DEATH OF LOCAL MULTIPLAYER

Letter from the Editor / 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

by Juan Dougnac

January! … Or, should we rather say, February?

Life is full of surprises and little bumps: what might look absolutely sure in one moment, at the next can become impossible, and vice versa.

Unfortunately, we are no exception to this. Though we are all committed to this project, it’s impossible to ignore the pressure that our jobs, families, etc. exert over us in this time of the year. That’s the reason why this issue covers both January and February. We apologize for this.

One thing you can be sure, however, if that we won’t compromise on the quality of our articles. One of the greatest nerd events of December was the launch of the third Hobbit film. In addition to the Smaug in our cover, we have included two articles related to that topic. On the first one, Ren Van Der Tang gives us his view on both the last film

and on the trilogy as a whole. For the second, Todd Zverloff talks about his ambivalent views on the book, and the struggle he went through in order to finish reading it.

Desie Buckman gives us another east Asian drama review, this time “The First Shop of the Coffee Prince”. Glen Gottilla gives us his take on the best science fiction films of 2014, and Ian Yarington shares his take on one of comic conventions’ latest controversies, along with a comment on cosplay and cosplayers.

I hope you have all spent a very happy holidays, and wish you all the best for this 2015.

Regards Juan Dougnac PS: Stay tuned to our facebook page, for we have a few surprises coming in the next few weeks!

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: JUAN DOUGNAC

HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NERDALERTMAGAZINE

COVER ARTIST: BERNADETTA PASTUSZKA

NERD.ALERT@GMX.COM

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: RAE YUNG WRITERS: ADAM ATKINSON

REN VAN DER TANG

SAM BRUCH

IAN YARINGTON

GLEN GOTTILLA

TODD ZVERLOFF

HUNTER MULDER DESIE RICKMAN CAITLIN SMITH ALL IMAGES ARE REPRODUCED UNDER TERMS OF FAIR USE.

At the Movies: 2014 / 4

AT THE MOVIES

2014: The Year Sci-Fi Got Its Crap Together

By Glen T. Gottilla When I hear Hollywood is producing science fiction films, I usually groan. This is due to the fact that ninety percent of what Hollywood considers good science fiction is actually a ninety-minute-long toy commercial. If it is a Transformers movie then it’ll be a three-hour-long toy commercial. If it’s a new Star Trek movie, it will sacrifice a true sense of awe for special effects-driven action set pieces, poorly executed humor and a script that pilfers the original series for story ideas. I am sorry, but the new Star Trek movies suck. On the bright side, though, they still have one hell of a cast.

“

Ninety percent of what Hollywood considers good science fiction is

”

actually a ninety-minutelong toy commercial.

2014, however, was something different: I found myself enjoying quite a few science fiction movies. The second half of the year unleashed eight high end, big budget films.

Some had huge promise, like “Godzilla” and “X-men Days of Future Past” but three other films stole their thunder. “Snow Piercer”, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Interstellar”

were the movies that truly stood above their peers. Snow Piercer is the best acted of the three, while Guardians has the most fun and “Interstellar” is perhaps the most scientifically accurate film since “2001”. In short, 2014 has been one of the most impressive years for science fiction films to date.

SNOWPIERCER “Snowpiercer” is a political allegory from South Korea. The film deals with class warfare and the nature of rebellion. It takes place in the future, seventeen years after the world has frozen over completely and all that’s left of humanity stuck riding a super train, the Snowpiercer. All you need to know is the rich live in the luxurious front cars and the poor barely survive in the massive caboose.

Chris Evans plays a man named Curtis, a survivor of the frozen apocalypse who rides in the back of this massive train. After seventeen years of squalor he leads his fellow dissidents of the back in an attempt to storm all the way to the front car and take control of its sacred engine. It becomes a revolution which changes the lives of the passengers and the fate of humanity.

Normally I can’t stand the contained settings of the films like this. I get claustrophobic watching thrillers that take place on planes, submarines and trains.

I thought it would be the case for Snowpiercer, but fortunately it wasn’t.

Director Joon Ho Bong brings, pulls this

At the Movies: 2014 / 5

off by treating each car of train as if it’s a country or region. The back of the train is grimy, dark and crowded, but as the rebellion pushes through the train, the cars become cleaner, brighter and opulent.

When products like machine parts are no longer available, people call them extinct. It’s almost like the characters are well aware of the human race’s inevitable doom.

“ ” When products like machine

parts are no longer available, people call them extinct.

The film also has moments of pure insanity, with things I am more accustomed to see in comics written by Garth Ennis or Rick Remender. This includes cross train firefight, a schoolroom shootout, and then a New Year’s Day brawl which is only topped by the end of the film with its final plot’s plot twist compounded by heart-wrenching revelations.

The cast is rounded out with William Hurt playing Curtis’ mentor, Kang Ho Sung as one of the train’s designers and Ed Harris as Wilford, the Snowpiercer’s creator. On a personal note, I think that as serious acting goes this is Chris Evans’ best to date, going to darker places than I have ever seen him go before. In short this is a movie everyone should see. A warning, though: it’s gory, bleak and dark, so don’t let the kids watch.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY “Guardians of the Galaxy”, based on the marvel comic of the same name, reminded us of how much fun STAR WARS can be, something George Lucas seems to have forgotten. It brought us to beautiful utopian cities, dangerous prisons, and to a space station built inside the skull of cosmic giant. The finale was a massive sky battle above a city.

SNOWPIERCER DEALS WITH CLASS WARFARE AND THE NATURE OF REBELLION

This is also the first big movie directed

by James Gunn, who back in 2011 brought us “Super”, a twisted low budget movie that could be passed off for a KickAss clone, save for the fact that it had a ton of heart...and so does Guardians of Galaxy.

That line that John C. Reilly’s character says to the Guardians at the end of the movie sums it up: “I have a wife and child on Zandar, Thanks to you they are still alive,” then shortly cuts to a scene where he is greeted by them as they fly off to some other planet. Gunn reminded us that there are people in those destroyed cities, there is a reason why the good guys need to win.

This is something I have never felt from

At the Movies: 2014 / 6

watching the “Man of Steel” or the last three “Transformers” Movies: I would watch the heroes nearly destroy the cities they were supposed to save and felt nothing. James Gunn brought the heart back to the summer blockbusters in a way that few directors can.

“

James Gunn brought the

heart back to the summer

”

blockbusters in a way

that few directors can.

Another thing I love about this movie is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. All the comedic elements work, whether it’s the smart ass comments from Bradley Cooper’s Rocket and Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill , the literalness of Bautista’s Drax or Groot’s scene-stealing antics. Zoe Saldana’s take on Gamora was that of a hardened warrior and at times a big sister to Peter Quill’s easygoing attitude. I truly loved the fact that all of the villain speeches were interrupted. That evil speech routine is the biggest comic cliché in the world and the guardians felt the same way.

INTERSTELLAR In November, Chris Nolan released “Interstellar”, a science fiction film with a heavy emphasis on hard science and a clear understanding of why we need to go out into space. It’s getting really grim on old Planet Earth and NASA starts working on a solution. While combing the skies, they discover a wormhole in Saturn’s Orbit that links our solar system to stars in far off galaxies.

After a few years of exploring a group of promising exoplanets, NASA sends a team to recover planetary data and the astronauts who were left to evaluate the planets.

The Team is comprised of the three scientists and a pilot named Cooper. The story spans decades as the astronauts and their families deal with the expanse of time that this interstellar expedition consumes.

This is where “Interstellar” truly shines: the film understands the toll that must be paid by a person who travels into deep space.

Nolan pays a great deal of respect to the law of gravity, showing the incredible effects of being near a black hole.

The team lands on a planet that orbits a massive blackhole, and while it’s not being pulled into it just yet, the singularity’s gravity has warped time, making an hour on that planet the equivalent of almost a decade everywhere else in the universe.

Nolan plays on this by showing how time has changed for everyone back on Earth.

Nolan also pays attention to how theoretical physicists believe wormholes will behave: instead of having a big whirling hole in space, we have a sphere, a bub-

ABOVE: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY REMINDS US EXACTLY HOW MUCH FUN STAR WARS USED TO BE. BELOW: “INTERSTELLAR” IS PERHAPS THE MOST SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE FILM SINCE “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY”

“

At the Movies: 2014 / 7

”

Science fiction is one of the best genres for storytelling, but only in the hands of the right filmmakers.

ble reflection of other side of the wormhole. It’s quite beautiful and might be what the real thing actually looks like.

Nolan not only pays respect to science, but also shows the emotional toll of the protagonists’ situation. Humanity dealing with a dying planet, with Cooper’s family losing hope as the years pass by while the astronauts are stuck playing catch up with their families by watching thirty years’ worth of video mail. Interstellar goes into some very dark places of the human condition before the uplifting finale, which lets Cooper see humanity’s future amongst the stars.

“Interstellar,” “Snowpiercer” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” were substantial films

that show that science fiction is one of the best genres for storytelling, but only when it is one the hands of the right filmmakers. Snowpiercer is a political commentary that is on par with the original “Twilight Zone” and “Outer Limits”. “Guardians of the Galaxy” has all the fun that other blockbusters promise us but fail to deliver and “Interstellar” took the risk of attempting to create a real experience for the viewer. The one question I have is this: Is 2014 the beginning of new trend in the film industry or just a shooting star?

About the Author Rowsdower Zap Rowsdower, is also known by the name Glen T. Gottilla. He currently resides in Kevin Smith Country, USA. That’s New Jersey to those not in the know. He is a writer with many ideas and too many opinions. He loves Science Fiction, horror, comedy and Action. You know guy stuff, but don’t let that fool you, he does have a sensitive side. Hell, the man cries when dogs die in movies.

He is currently working on a comic book series called Grudge Division, an alien conspiracy epic which spans nearly 70 years. He is always on the lookout for artists and writers to work with. Upon contacting this man, one should bear this in mind: never look him in the eyes, his deadly alpha predator instincts will perceive this as a direct challenge and destroy you with his lethal atomic breath. If you can survive that initial encounter, please remember that this creature is looking to make a name for him that is more than a Facebook handle lifted from an episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

East Asian Dramas: Coffee Prince / 8

EAST ASIAN DRAMAS

Coffee Prince SCORE: 4/5

One common trope in Korean dramas is the hilarity and confusion that follows female characters who are mistaken for men.

This trope is utilized in the popular 2007 series “커피 프린스 1호점,” or “The 1st Shop of the Coffee Prince.”

Unlike other gender-bent dramas I have seen, the main character doesn’t deliberately dress like a boy. Go Eun Chan, portrayed by actress Yoon Eun Hye, is a 24-year-old woman working several odd jobs in order to help her family pay bills and send her sister to school.

Due to her haircut and how she dresses, people tend to assume that she is a man, even though she always denies it.

One of those people is Choi Han Gyeul, (Gong Yoo), the heir to a large coffee business who lounges around in life with no career direction. Eun Chan and Han Gyeul first meet through a robbery-by-delivery-bike. Afterwards, Han Gyeul accus-

es Eun Chan of being teamed up with the would-be thief, which Eun Chan denies.

The story of this drama really begins when Eun Chan’s mother loses an expensive ring and her family is strapped for cash as rent day is nigh. After another chance meeting with Han Gyeul, she strikes a deal to pose as his gay lover. Han Gyeul mistakenly continues to think that Eun Chan is a man because of her appearance, but he decides to use her as an excuse to ward off potential fiancées and bring an end to the blind dates his grandmother, Chairwoman Bang (Kim Young Ok), has arranged for him. Hilarity ensues as Eun Chan dresses up in a suit and follows Han Gyeul around on his blind dates.

While all of this is happening, Eun Chan develops a crush on one of her neighbors after she befriends his dog, Sweeper. An established music producer, Choi Han Sung (Lee Sun Kyun) pines after lost love Han Yoo Joo (Chae Jung An), who broke up with him after an eight-year relationship to follow another man known as DK. When Yoo Joo returns to Seoul and Jung An takes her back, Eun Chan becomes heartbroken, but forces herself to move on from her feelings.

East Asian Dramas: Coffee Prince / 9

“ ” I developed a serious case of second-lead syndrome for Han Sung.

YOON EUN-HYE’S TALENTS ARE MANIFOLD: SHE’S AN ACTRESS, SINGER, DIRECTOR AND MODEL

Yoo Joo’s sudden presence has a toll on Han Gyeul as well, who harbored feelings for her during the time that she dated his cousin, Han Sung. However, he does not have time to chase after her and make her his as Chairwoman Bang forces him to either start running a coffee shop or be cut off from her company’s riches. Left with no other choice, Han Gyeul takes up the first job of his life to open and run “Coffee Prince.”

Needing another job, Eun Chan continues to pretend to be a man so that Han Gyeul would hire her onto his all-male staff. As the two become closer, they begin to secretly develop feelings for each other. Eun Chan begins to feel guilty for tricking Han Gyeul, while he struggles through his confusion and begins to question his sexuality.

What I truly appreciate about this dra-

ma was just how realistically Yoon Eun Hye portrayed her character as a woman commonly mistaken for a man. I have seen a few dramas with this same concept, but the ladies always came off too feminine to seriously be seen as a man. Eun Hye effectively pulls off the mannerisms of a young man and sells the role (though I would’ve placed her character at a younger age than 24).

The male lead is surprisingly likeable for a Korean drama. Han Gyeul may not be a fan of the working life, but when given no choice, he not only steps up to the plate, but he strives to do his best and not deliberately run it into the ground. He creates a second home for his employees and in return, they work hard for him. The coffee shop becomes the main focus of the show and Han Gyeul, Eun Chan and

East Asian Dramas: Coffee Prince / 10

the others bond over several outings together. Despite their rocky beginnings, the budding romance between Han Gyeul and Eun Chan is believable and doesn’t seem forced, although at times it may feel rushed in a drama spanning only 17 episodes.

However, as much as I liked Han Gyeul, I developed a serious case of second-lead syndrome for Han Sung. This is a term describing drama watchers who end up rooting for the second male/female lead, even though there is almost no chance of them winning out at the end. They are characters normally introduced to make the male/female lead look like the unworthy one, as well as to add drama to a relationship that was already set in stone.

Before Yoo Joo returned to send Han Sung’s head and heart all into a frenzy, he was incredibly sweet to Eun Chan and after discovering her feelings for him, a large

part of you will want to see her succeed in winning his affections. And unlike Han Gyeul, Han Sung instantly realized that she was a woman and was the first to see her feminine appeal. While Han Gyeul and Eun Chan grow closer, you will weep for Han Sung as he begins to question his rekindled relationship with Yoo Joo as she acts indifferent to their relationship and he begins to recognize his feelings for Eun Chan.

A heartwarming drama with hilarious antics from the supporting cast, a “bromance” that slowly develops into romance and a statement on fighting for love of yesteryears, “Coffee Prince” is a great introduction into the many great dramas South Korea has to offer. With an average runtime of 60 minutes, the 17- episode drama can easily be finished over two weekends, or just one if you’re determined. “Coffee Prince” is available on DramaFever or Viki.

About the Author Desie Rickman is a young and aspiring writer who prefers writing that conversates rather than writing that lectures.

This budding author plans on writing a novel with new strong, female characters for girls and women around the world. She loves discovering new books and music, as well as watching anime and foreign dramas. Discover her alter ego ‘Meiko Matsuri’ of NexusGen Radio, where she gives a voice to the unheard on its blog at www.matsuriradio.com.

At the Movies: There and Back Again / 11

AT THE MOVIES

by Ren Van der Tang

There and Back Again: A Hobbit Retrospective SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! Beware! This article contains spoilers for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

At the Movies: There and Back Again / 12

This is going to be a bit of a retrospective on all three Hobbit movies, as well as a review of the third and final one, and a post-mortem of the whole undertaking.

Going into the third Hobbit movie I felt like these movies hadn’t really been adding much to the story. Sure, they’re visually spectacular, but nothing of any real value was added when compared to the book.

The book has humour, a richly textured world, and an exciting story. The movies have... humour, a richly textured world, and an exciting -if badly paced- story. They take longer to watch, back to back, than most people will spend reading the book, however.

To say that this is a profound failure on the part of the movies is an understatement.

But wait! It’s not all bad. There are lots of reason why someone who loves Middle Earth mythos would want to see this movie. The characters. Oh heavens, the characters. Pretty much every major character is on point, has a few defining scenes

somewhere in the trilogy, and so much more room to breathe than they had in the novel. It’s wonderful to see Thorin go from gruff to friendly, and then watch him take a swan dive into the deep end, all of it portrayed superbly by Richard Armitage. The elf king Thranduil makes for a convincing, troubled diva, and Martin Freeman as Bilbo is an island of cozy normalcy.

There are some missteps in this department, however. The romance between Tauriel and Kili stands out as especially forced and cringe-worthy, no less for its sad end. Luke Evans as Bard is fine, but merely “Fine” is easily overshadowed by the thundering presences of Thorin, Thranduil, and the other main characters.

Okay, okay, let’s address the elephant in the room: they turned one book into three films. When I walked out of the cinema after watching The Desolation of Smaug I felt it would end up being the most pointless of the three movies, and I stand by that. It has no coherent beginning (in fact, I can’t even remember exactly what it started on) and arrives at no clear resolution. The resolution of the second movie occurs about five minutes into the third, where it has, quite cleverly, been repurposed into a beginning. Would the second movie have been better if it had ended on Smaug dying? Absolutely.

Would the third movie have had a much weaker opening? Almost certainly. And that, I feel, is the issue with cutting the thing in three. It isn’t that there isn’t enough story to work with, though.

The first movie never ran out of things to say, the second muddled along a bit, and the third is reasonably lean for a two-and-a-half hour movie. And really, people often point out that the

At the Movies: There and Back Again / 13

book is very thin compared to the door-stopper that is Lord of the Rings, but a lot happens in the novel that is narrated in a sparse, matter-of-factly way. To give all of that space on the big screen was always going to take a bit of time, and they could easily have made two generously proportioned movies out of this story.

No, the issue is that there just aren’t any good points to leave off one movie and pick up the other. An Unexpected Journey’s ending was reminiscent of The Fellowship of the Ring’s, with the promise of a journey, but Desolation picks up... somewhere. With the question of where to put the death of Smaug, the writers were obviously between a rock and a hard place. The truth is, there was never a way to get three functional movies out of this story, and I can’t imagine this was an honest artistic decision that went awry rather than a cynical, financial one.

For the third movie, Jackson & Co pulled out even more massive amounts of CGI than ever before. Dain Ironfoot, voiced by Billy Connoly, is almost entirey CGI, sav-

ing a few shots from behind where he consists of just a wig and a hat. The set is CGI, the armies are one hundred percent CGI. The larger shots are well composed, but there are some scenes, Dain’s especially, where there is no sense of force or momentum, like when the CGI dwarf headbutts the CGI orc.

The ending is hardly something to write home about either. The film spends more or less the entire runtime, well, running. Just bolting through everything. Here’s a fight, there’s another fight, the dragon is dead, dwarves are attacking, no wait, orcs are attacking! And then it fails to escalate sufficiently for any real sense of climax. Fili and Kili die, Thorin has his death-duel with Azog, and then... Bilbo goes home. There’s a really, really forced and unnecessary reference to Aragorn at the end, and then Gandalf warns Bilbo about the ring. Bilbo dismisses the wizard’s concerns cheerfully, and comes home to find that his estate is being auctioned of as he’s presumed dead. In the end, it felt like the movie stumbled and just gave up.

About the Author Ren van der Tang is a queer voice actor and writer of science fictive fantasy, aiming to soon move to New Zealand, but in the meantime you can find him in the Netherlands.

He’s on twitter as @cynicuswrites and occasionally even tweets, or you can find him on tumblr as steelbark, where you can see stuff he reblogs.

Evolution of the TCG: Hex / 14

EVOLUTION OF THE TCG

by Sam Bruch

Hex: Shards of Fate

Homo Erectus is commonly known as the first upright humanoid person.

After thousands of years of being arch backed and knuckle dragging, Homo Erectus stood tall, innovating mankind from then on. We owe a lot to it for being the stepping stone to the advanced life forms we are. Without that step we would still be in trees. I am exaggerating greatly with this example but I wanted to lay it out in describing what I think is the next evolutionary step in TCG gaming, Hex: Shards of Fate.

This is the very first online MMOTCG (Massive Multiplayer Trading Card Game), and is currently in open beta. This game appeared in the limelight on Kickstarter in the

spring of 2013 at the hands of Cryptozoic, the company responsible –among many others- for the World of Warcraft TCG from 2010 to 2013. This kickstarter blew their initial goal of $300,000 out of the water by hitting a whopping amount of $2,278,255.

Cryptozoic got instant fandom by showing the future of combining TCG gameplay (collecting cards, building decks, playing tournaments, etc.) with intricate MMO elements (forming guilds, leveling up, performing raids, selling loot in a full auction house).

A good part of the game’s appeal comes from mechanics that could never work in a physical TCG. For example, the doubleback. Every card has a back with the Hex logo, but click on the cards back again and you will see the doubleback. This shows a list of your card’s stats, and achievements you can obtain to level it up. Finally, one of the biggest features of Hex soon to come is the equipment aspect, where you can find weapons and armor in the PVE (player versus environment, as op-

Evolution of the TCG: Hex / 15

posed to PVP or player versus player) experience and equip it to your champion, granting certain cards in your deck’s new abilities. Sadly the PVE, guilds, and doublebacks aren’t put yet, but the PVP lineup already has two sets and is addictively fun.

Hex is the most polished and well working digital TCG I have played. The organization, the combinations, and the strategies that can come from the online format are unlimited, which builds the excitement and the hype. For now the only way to get cards is through the Starter Trials, winning tournaments, and buying card packs, but as soon as PVE is incorporated, all items and packs will be available to be obtained in quests.

The PVE pits you against the world in several different dungeons, letting you make options and choose your path, affecting the outcome of the story and your reward. Also, not every PVE encounter will have you use the basic card mechanics of the game. Some may have you play a match of Hex, while others have you answer riddles or solve a puzzle.

There are many aspects to keep the player interested and happy, not the least of which is the aspect of not having thousands of cards lying around the house just to get damaged or lost: your entire collection is right there, automatically organized.

“

There are many aspects to keep the player interested and happy,

”

not the least of which is the

aspect of not having thousands

of cards lying around the house.

THE INEVITABLE COMPARISON I could go on and on about Hex’s brand new innovations and stunning story all day long (I would know, I have been playing since closed Alpha), and I cannot stress enough how much I recommend this game. But I feel I must address a gigantic elephant in the room. This elephant is that every time I show Hex to someone interested in TCGs, they instantly write Hex off as a Magic the Gathering clone.

My case was not helped when Wizards of the Coast, issued a lawsuit against Hex in May of 2014 for copyright infringement.

Not much has been said about the lawsuit since it was announced, but it did not slow Hex down, they are still plugging along. But I am still asked, “Why should I play a Magic clone when I have Magic?” My answer is that Hex is the furthest thing from a clone that it can be. It is true, the same basic mechanics exist, 20 life, 60 card deck, 7 card hands, attack defense style combat system, similar card abilities. As a long time Magic player, I notice and understand the massive similarities in game mechanics.

However, I ask you to revisit my first paragraph about our good ole buddy, Homo erectus. Even though we share the same organs and basic appearance as Homo erectus, we are in no way, “clones”, nor does that make Homo erectus any less important to the human race. In a similar

Evolution of the TCG: Hex / 16

way, Magic laid down the groundwork, inspired Hex to emerge and improve on the limitations set by a “in real life” card game.

Due to Magic’s leap of innovation in the field, it allowed Hex to straighten its spine and become the Homo Sapiens of TCGs. You can do a lot with all the innovations Magic has come up with in its two decades of life, but in a digital format you can do much more. For example there are countless transforming cards in Hex, permanent effects to cards for the remainder of the game, cards that create copies of cards that do not even exist in the actual sets, but only if you are able to fulfill some requirement, not to mention having cards that can randomly generate cards in the game to keep the experience fresh and risky.

At the end of the day, I love both games and Magic holds a dear place in my heart, and I will always play a pickup game with whoever wants to, but just because it came first, does not mean we should shut out this new, highly innovative game. If you would like to check it out, you can download it for free at www.hextcg.com.

I hope to see you all on the battlefield.

About the Author Sam Bruch is a long time enthusiast of comics and the superhero culture as a whole, from having encyclopedic knowledge of comic heroes, universes, events, and issues rarity and value he always envisioned what it would be like to really try to be a superhero. He has written and produced the comic Magilicutty, focusing on the life a Henchman. From dressing up as DBZ characters to playing the newest tabletop game his group bought to staying up multiple days in a row in a basement apartment trying to level up his human bard, Rather Dashing to even donning his potato sack and wielding his foam sword on the Dagorhir battlefield over a weekend for some quality orc slaying with the unit he started, he’s delved into most any facet of nerddom you could imagine. Follow his work and progress here, www.facebook.com/Magilicuttycomic

Conventional Wisdom: Pat Broderick vs Cosplayers / 17

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

by Ian Yarington

Pat Broderick Versus Cosplayers And The State Of Comic Cons Recently a veteran illustrator named Pat Broderick (Micronauts, Captain Marvel, Firestorm, Green Lantern and many, many others) came out with some controversial statements about the state of comic conventions and cosplayers.

He basically slammed cosplayers and comic conventionss that featured large cosplay events.

What he said: “Today’s heads up. If you’re a Cosplay personality, please don’t send me a friend request. If you’re a convention promoter and you’re building your show around cosplay events and mega multiple media guests don’t invite me…

You bring nothing of value to the shows, and if you’re a promoter pushing cosplay as your main attraction you’re not help-

ing the industry or comics market (…)”

Before I start, it’s important to share a bit about my background. I grew up in a lower middle class family: although I always had a nice roof over my head and a full belly, I had to save my meager allowances for things like comic books. I would hang around the local comic store and read comics that were well into complex story arcs and have no idea what was really going on. I would watch X-Men and Batman cartoons on Saturday mornings and whenever I could wrestle the remote away from a grown up.

I didn’t have the luxury of money and time to truly know everything there was to know about comics, but as time went on I continued to love them and be a part of the culture on my own terms, as many others have.

I love to write but have absolutely no artistic abilities and though I can’t draw anything other than stick figures I hope to be sitting at a booth one day peddling my wares.

Mr. Broderick has said what he said and there is no going back. He has put himself in the limelight and invited much conversation about not just comic cons and cosplayers but about himself as well. I don’t know the

Conventional Wisdom: Pat Broderick vs Cosplayers / 18

man and to be honest I know his work but hadn’t really known his name until this infamous post. Since the statement went viral people have come out with stories of him being a jerk to them. Again, I don’t know the guy, but that doesn’t mean these people’s experiences should be discounted. I feel like the “You bring nothing of value to the shows” is really Mr. Broderick saying “You don’t buy stuff from me and other vendors”.

In the cons I have been at I tend to buy stuff from vendors that are kind to me. After all, a crucial part of assisting is talking and dealing with people. If your personality type is that of a dog that only backs down when given a treat, then you should probably bring a customer service person to help you with it. Because, if the accounts are true, Mr. Broderick, you lack customer service skills. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think the phrase “Did you buy something?

No? Then fuck off,” should be coming out of any salesman’s mouth. People are going to spend money where they want and the old saying, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, still holds up.

Being an attendee of cons I happen to like cosplay, I think it’s fun to see characters brought to life by fans, and some of these people spend a crazy amount of time and effort putting together their costumes. Some of them are young, some old, some women, some men, and from every ethnic background.

These cosplayers have friends and family that come with them and I think it’s pretty stupid to say that none of them spend money or that they spend less than the rest of the attendees. The last con I went to I saw a man in a rather nice Iron Man armor carrying behind him a cart full of merchandise. He was not only cosplaying, he was also spending a lot of money. Not to say some people in costume go broke, I’m sure it happens, but I don’t feel like lumping them all in one category is fair.

ABOVE: SOME COSTUMES ARE REALLY ELABORATE, TURNING COSPLAYERS INTO AN IMPORTANT ATTRACTION FOCUS FOR COMIC BOOK CONVENTIONS BELOW: NO MATTER THEIR SIZE, CONVENTIONS ARE ABOUT SHARING WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE AND HAVING FUN, NOT JUST BUYING WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF YOU

Conventional Wisdom: Pat Broderick vs Cosplayers / 19

WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE I like cosplayers, I don’t mind the cosplay contests and people taking pride in their efforts. I find it endearing and embrace it as part of the culture, but where I have to draw the line is when people rent booths and/or charge upwards of twenty dollars for a picture with or of them.

A contest is one thing; even a contest with a cash prize, but renting a booth and/ or charging for pictures is just as bad as being a jerk and trying to force people to buy your books. Cosplay was always meant to be something fun, not a profit generator.

Taking other people’s labor and having fun with it is the essence of the comic book culture, but stealing it and attempting to make profit from it is a bit on the shady end in my opinion and even though it’s a free country no one will ever see me paying for a picture with a cosplayer. To me there’s a huge difference between cosplayers in attendance of the con and cosplayers that are trying to make money at the con. I understand Mr.

Broderick’s frustration, twenty dollars for a picture would be much better served buying two to four indie comics and supporting a creator of comic books rather than a guy or gal in a costume that is using someone else’s intellectual property to make a profit.

Overall I think Mr. Broderick hasn’t really done anything to change the culture of cosplayers and what goes on at cons, so when he attends others in the future he is probably going to be disappointed. I feel like cosplayers help the overall cause and have recently helped to move comic books to the mainstream. Con attendance is way up and as a consequence book sales have actually been growing. This is a good thing.

The industry needs to pull together and the wedge between creators and cosplayers doesn’t need to be there. When and if I ever make it to the big stage I will embrace cosplayers and I may even cry the first time I see one of my characters in cosplay.

About the Author My name is Ian Yarington, I’m a 33 year old writer and comic book fan from the greater Seattle-Tacoma area. I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and proud of my area’s diversity. As of right now I only have one article published in the LA Free Press and have just finished the first draft of a book. I hope to become a published author and continue to blog reviews and talk about comic books. I have been a comic book fan since I was a kid, reading books and watching the X-Men cartoon Saturday mornings, only to grow up and not change much. I still watch cartoons and I still read comics, in between grown up activities like working and paying bills. I love the big two comic companies but have been drawn to lesser known comics and publishers. I enjoy reading and supporting men and woman that are lesser known and need the exposure, not only because they need it but also because some of the books are incredible reads.

Leaping into Cosplay Culture / 20

LEAPING INTO COSPLAY CULTURE

by Caitlin Smith

Leaping into Cosplay Culture / 21

Looking from the outside in, cosplay can often be viewed as a strange hobby consisting of adults dressing and acting as fictional characters.

However, from my recent experience, I have discovered it is much more than simply playing dress up.

Cosplay is a term short for “costume play”, and although it has been around for since the 1980s, it is fast becoming a large part of pop culture.

This subculture originated in Japan and has now spread across the globe. It consists of people dressing up as characters from a variety of sources including anime, videogames, comic books, films and television series.

The increasing popularity of geek culture, largely thanks to Hollywood’s obsession with superheroes, has seen more and more people getting involved in cosplay in western society. Cosplay has now become a staple and sometimes the star attraction at conventions.

BENEFITS OF COSPLAY From what I have heard through personal interactions and from the online community, cosplay allows people to overcome issues they face in everyday life and express themselves in different ways.

“

Cosplay allows people to overcome issues they face

”

in everyday life and express

themselves in different ways.

THERE ARE FEW COMMUNITIES AS OPEN AND ACCEPTING AS THAT OF COSPLAYERS. WHILE THERE ARE STILL ROTTEN APPLES, THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN

Those who suffer from social anxiety can put on a mask to cover up their nervousness when meeting new people. Cosplay is one of the few cultures where you can run up and hug a random stranger simply because you recognise their character.

Crossplaying allows those who feel restricted by their sex to become whatever gender they prefer. If a man cosplays as Sailor Moon or a woman dresses as Loki, very few people will criticise them.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still horrible people within the cosplay community who will make fun of other people’s choices.

But by and large, cosplayers are among the most accepting people you will ever meet.

FIRST FORAYS INTO COSPLAY My first experience with cosplay was the middle of last year when I began researching New Zealand cosplay culture for an article I was writing for work.

After speaking to some amazing people involved in the cosplay scene I finally decided to have a go and attend-

Leaping into Cosplay Culture / 22

ed the R18 Cosplay Ball in Auckland.

I had always been curious about cosplay but was quite nervous to take the plunge and I managed to persuade a Whovian friend to come along with me.

Dressed as Dr Frank-N-Furter from my favourite film The Rocky Horror Picture Show and armed with a camera, I boldly ventured into the world of cosplay.

I was apprehensive at first that most people wouldn’t recognise my retro choice, but as soon as I stepped into the venue someone yelled “Frank-NFurter” and immediately ran over to say hello. I was amazed at how friendly, open and accepting everyone was.

I personally think the reason cosplay has such an accepting culture is because those who take part in it have often been rejected or marginalised by mainstream culture. Many, like me, may have been bullied at school for being different. Even now as a working adult, people still laugh or stare blankly at me when I talk about cosplay.

I attended my first convention, Auckland Armageddon, this year as Ursula from The Little Mermaid and found out how much fun it is to be someone else for a day.

After months of sewing, sticking, stuffing and gluing my costume together I felt so

AS WITH MANY OF THIS MAGAZINE’S CONTRIBUTORS, THE AUTHOR SHOWS A HEALTHY APPRECIATION FOR DR. WHO.

proud as people asked if they could take my photo - it was like being a minor celebrity.

After that weekend I knew I was hooked and now have big plans for the future. I just need to improve my sewing skills.

But the main reason I cosplay is because it allows me be someone else for a day. Ursula was sassy, snarky and sexy.

She would strut her stuff without fear of what other thought of her. And for that one weekend at Armageddon, I was able to step outside of boring old Caitlin and become whoever I wanted to be.

I am excited to see what 2015 will hold for the cosplay community. In the words of the tenth Doctor, allons-y!

About the Author Caitlin Smith is a beginner cosplayer who has an unhealthy obsession with films, television series and fictional characters. She was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and works full time as an online reporter. Most of her spare time is spent attempting to sew new cosplay outfits and watching copious amounts of Doctor Who. She also likes to collect books she will never read, DVDs she will never watch and tweet about trivial nonsense. She hopes to one day get her act together enough to become a published author or professional cupcake eater.

Twitter: @HalfEmptyWords

Wherein I Endeavour to Finally Read the Hobbit / 23

WHEREIN I ENDEAVOUR TO FINALLY READ THE HOBBIT

by Todd Zverloff

I was told once that I was born at the wrong time for fantasy.

I am a child of the early 80s, meaning my fantasy reading began in the mid 90s, an era known for its bloated and hollow everything (I’m looking at you, Image Comics).

My first exposure to the genre was through Dungeons and Dragons novels -specifically Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s Dragonlance series- and R.A. Salvatore’s Forgotten Realms adventures. At the time, it was all I could have wanted in fiction. I progressed to Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan, but found them too derivative. They felt like slightly different iterations of the Dungeons and Dragons novels with the same themes and same character archetypes.

I will cover how ironic this is in a moment.

When I was 17, an older co-worker of mine told me that they were making movies based off of The Lord of the Rings. I asked him what that was. He gave me a dumbfounded look, called me a philistine and then promptly told me about Tolkien’s magnum opus. I had heard of The Hobbit, but was unclear on any details beyond that.

His description sparked my interest just

Wherein I Endeavour to Finally Read the Hobbit / 24

TOLKIEN’S MIDDLE EARTH IS A TRULY MASTERFUL CREATION. UNFORTUNATELY, ITS DESCRIPTIONS USUALLY CAME AT THE PRICE OF BOGGING THE PLOT DOWN.

enough that I looked forward to the movies, but not enough to bother with reading the books, because honestly, it sounded like another rip off of my beloved Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels.

So I waited and watched The Fellowship of the Ring when it came out in theaters.

Just like the Dragonlance novels several years before, I found everything I was looking for in fantasy. I immediately went out and bought a boxed set of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books. I ran home and excitedly began reading The Fellowship of the Ring. Twenty seven pages in, I was bored to tears. I tried again a few years later and made it only a few pages more. I did nearly one hundred pages on my third attempt, but I still couldn’t do it. I just found Tolkien’s words too stiff and his dialogue too wooden. So I put my little boxed set on my shelf, where it has sat for nearly ten years.

Now, with the final installment of The Hobbit film trilogy due out in theaters this month*, I decided it was time to suck it up and do this. I’m in a better position mentally than I was when I tried in my twenties. I’m a full blown adult now, with a job, a house, and kids. Surely I could force my-

self to read a three hundred page novel and appreciate it for what it is. Right?

In fact, I could and did. I was able to power through The Hobbit over the course of one week and, truthfully, it was harder than I thought it would be. Time did not make Tolkien’s words any more pleasant to my ears. Many a page tried to break my will and force me to abandon my task, but I stayed strong and fought through the urge to quit yet again. There is such sophistication to the vocabulary and the tone that you know it was written by a highly intelligent person and a lot of thought was put into every word. In spite of that, I can’t help but think the purpose of those words was to make me hate reading.

I could go on endlessly about Tolkien’s incessant need to explain in great detail every meal eaten and every bit of terrain covered, while glossing over descriptions of important character interactions and plot-altering skirmishes. Sorry, you don’t get to see in detail how the Great Goblin dies or find out firsthand how the Battle of the Five Armies ends, but don’t worry! Gandalf will briefly summarize them for you. I could rant about there being almost no charac-

Wherein I Endeavour to Finally Read the Hobbit / 25

ter development for anyone besides Bilbo.

I could point out that most of the novel is a summary of what happened, and not actual in-the-moment action. I could say that, from a writing perspective, The Hobbit is a train wreck. All of that would be true, but even though those things cut me like little razor blades every second I read this novel, it’s not what I cared about once I was done.

All I could think when I finished was that it might be one of the most important books I have ever read. With its publication, an entire genre was created. In three hundred pages, Tolkien set out the blueprint for nearly every high fantasy novel of the fifty years that followed. I had just read a piece of history, plain and simple.

Middle Earth is a beautifully drawn land with a complex history. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about its inhabitants and the sordid pasts of their ancestors, even if those explanations were often at the cost of moving the plot along. It didn’t matter, because reading The Hobbit was about the experience and the journey, and seeing the genesis of so many things that I have come to enjoy in the genre. Dwarves, elves, goblins, and dragons have become staples of fantasy since then. Tolkien’s take on fantasy is what we have settled into as the default. It’s

amazing that the qualities that he assigned to his races have become the standard in many cases. Elves are regal, dwarves are grumpy, and men are greedy. That’s like the mantra of everything that TSR put out in the 80s and 90s. That kind of influence has to be lauded and appreciated.

When I thought, so many years ago, that Jordan and Goodkind were ripping off Dungeons and Dragons tropes, I didn’t even realize it was the Dungeons and Dragons books that had ripped those things off of Tolkien. I fully understand now that I owe every bit of enjoyment that I have experienced in the reading of fantasy novels to Tolkien and his creations. It is by his hand that all these years of stories and adventures existed.

I may not have enjoyed reading The Hobbit, but I definitely enjoyed perpetuating its legacy. I might even venture back to Middle Earth at some point and finally knock out The Lord of the Rings at some point. For now, I am going to relax and go enjoy the final installment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy and revel in all of the wonders that J.R.R. Tolkien has provided this world. *EDITOR’S NOTE: the article was written during December 2014.

About the Author Todd Zverloff is a high school English teacher from Ohio.

He recently published his first book, Super Steph: Beginnings and Bullies with his daughter. He is currently working on several exciting projects for the coming year. You can keep up with his exploits and ramblings at www.toddzverloff.com.

Flavour of the Month: Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures / 26

FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH

by Adam Atkinson

SCORE: 3.75/5

Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures - A New Hope for Miniatures.

Flavour of the Month: Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures / 27

This month I want to introduce you to one of the fastest-growing tabletop games out there, Star Wars : X-Wing Miniatures.

Brought to us by Fantasy Flight Games, this game has everything a player could want in a board game. It takes tactics to stay alive and make sure you can outmanoeuvre your opponent. It takes cunning to put together the right team of ships from the myriad available. Finally, it takes courage to know that sometimes you’ll have to sacrifice one to save the whole. All in all the game has a really well-rounded style which is exciting, frustrating, and at times can make you second guess your allegiances.

While writing this article I wondered how to explain this game enough to get you interested, while not giving you all of the pieces to the puzzle. I then realized that no description can adequately define what the game truly means to people, as each person takes a different approach to style and tactics. I have seen the game played quite a bit, and played myself in a game I can only say

ended in my complete destruction. While I was getting completely destroyed, watching Chewie and Han get blown out of the sky, I couldn’t help but realize that I was still having one of the best game experiences of my life: losing was almost as gratifying as winning.

“ ” Losing was almost as gratifying as winning.

The rules are fairly easy to pick up but can be very dynamic as well. The first step is to decide whether you will play imperial or rebel forces. If this decision can’t be agreed upon, then you must choose randomly. After this comes ship picking, which is one of the game’s most critical decisions, as each ship has its own advantages and disadvantages.

GAMEPLAY MECHANICS Now, on to the game itself. Each turn has four phases. Phase one is planning, in which all players choose which manoeuvres each ship in their army will take using the dial supplied. Then comes the activa-

Flavour of the Month: Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures / 28

tion phase, in which each ship gets to do their action in order based on its pilot’s skill. The ship moves, then takes its action, each with its own strategic purposes.

After this combat takes place, in descending order of pilot skill, which means that the last ship to move and act will be the first to attack. Finally, we have the end phase, in which gets players to remove all of the unused action tokens, and resolve any abilities stated for end phase use.

This of course is a very simple explanation of the game dynamics. I hope you have seen enough to want to learn a bit more on your own, which I highly recommend.

The game is made up of several styles, depending on the mode you try. With the mixture of characters, tactics, and gameplay options, no two games will be the same. Each time you play, you will face new challenges, and the choices you make

will decide your fate. Will you be able to lock on to the enemy at the right time, or will you get caught unaware by someone flanking your team? Will your enemy be within your firing distance and arc, or will your weapon misfire causing you to be a sitting duck in a sea of explosions?

A little luck, and a lot of skill can bring a massive difference in your experience. Make sure to bring the good dice, as you may need them to survive.

Now onto possibly the most important decision you need to make: do you join the Galactic Empire and help the Emperor take over the known galaxy? Do you join Luke and the Rebel Alliance in their struggle to survive, and eliminate the evil of the universe? The choice lies in the hand of the player, and each option leads to a thousand ways to play the same game.

Who will survive? Only time will tell.

About the Author Adam Atkinson is new to the world of reviews, but not to the world of writing. His comic Psychosis is newly released and doing quite well, with issue two in the works, and his new project Lost Along The Way in pre-production as well.

Feel free to contact him with any requests or questions about his reviews or other works. psychosisthecomic@gmail.com If interested, you can find the first issue of Psychosis at: http://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product/141906/Psychosis

HBO vs. Showtime: Entourage vs. Episodes / 29

HBO VS. SHOWTIME

by J.A. Romano

Entourage vs. Episodes I’ve wanted to do this series for a very long time.

I got the idea when I watched Homeland, and realized that the biggest competitor HBO has is Showtime. Granted, HBO holds a level of esteem that few networks can hope to match, but I wanted to compare all the “best” TV shows of each network with each other and then decide which one is better. I was surprised by some of the choices I ended up making, and I really grew to appreciate both networks. Without further ado here’s Round One of HBO vs. Showtime.

ENTOURAGE VS. EPISODES They’re both about show business, they both have actors that play a fictionalized version of themselves, and they’re both incredibly funny. So, naturally, I matched them against each other.

Entourage is about a rising superstar of an actor, Vincent Chase, as he brings his best friends along for the ride.

Episodes is about two British writers and their disastrous attempt to remake their beloved TV series in Hollywood.

Entourage has received dozens of award nominations over the course of eight seasons, garnering a Golden Globe for Jeremy Piven. Episodes has also got many award nominations, including a well-deserved Golden Globe for Matt LeBlanc. I’m going to start by reviewing Entourage since it concluded in late 2011, while Episodes is still ongoing.

ENTOURAGE I’ve been hearing about Entourage since I was a kid. It was the show I wasn’t allowed to see, mentioned time and again on the Simpsons or Family Guy, that seemed to be as popular among men as Sex and the City was for women. So, when I watched the first episode, I was a bit disappointed.

It was a solid pilot, but considering all the hype I’d heard, it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. It dealt with Vince releasing his newest movie, and his best friend Eric ( “The Pizza Boy”, as he is mocked constantly by the awesome Jeremy Piven who plays Vince’s agent) trying to decide if he should stay and ride his best friend’s coattails.

I thought that the show faced the biggest problem head on. Reading a summary of Entourage, it sounds pretty sad for Eric, Turtle, and Vince’s older brother, Johnny “Drama” Chase. They’re just a bunch of guys riding on Vince’s fame. There seemed to be not much room for development beyond that and, honestly, a less mature show wouldn’t attempt to do any of that.

The show is every bit as immature as its characters, and it knows that. It’s why the storyline of the pilot is so significant: because the show itself was straining against the preconceived notions of people.

I think we’ve grown to overlook this kind of shows with the rise of the antiheroes. The show is not very philosophi-

HBO vs. Showtime: Entourage vs. Episodes / 30

cal, and I don’t think it tries to be. It simply wants to leave its characters having grown as people, and maybe leave you smiling too. I sure smiled at the finale.

The show also has at least one guest star each episode, and more often than not, the guest star plays him/herself. My favorite has to be the episode where Bono and Matt Damon pressure Vince into donating more to charity. It was one of the high points of Entourage, showing great self-awareness and also that these celebrities have sense of humor as well.

Now, it did have its problems. For Entourage fans, the seventh season was a huge blemish. When I first watched it, I loved that it didn’t immediately show all actors as these coke addicted divas. Only some of them were. And Vince became one of those coke addicted divas in the seventh season when he struck up a relationship with real life pornographic star, Sasha Grey.

The season was admirable in showing

the “dark side” of fame, but it just wasn’t done well. I respect the idea, but I do not love the execution (I did enjoy Eminem decking Vince, though). It also highlighted the overall problem with the show.

People watched Entourage to see the glamorous lifestyle these beautiful, talented people lead. But, the seventh season simply pissed people off. Vince wasted all the things that people coveted. I certainly wanted to have a big mansion like him, and he threw it all away. There is a certain point when you realize that these people are shallow, but they have redeeming qualities. However, there is also a certain point where the shallowness can make you grimace in disdain.

The show did get back on track with the eighth season, and at the end of the day, I love this show. I can still recall some famous actor pointedly mocking themselves, or an incredible director making a surprising appearance.

HBO vs. Showtime: Entourage vs. Episodes / 31

EPISODES I already gave a brief summary of the show, but I want to describe the opening scene of the pilot first. It features Beverly Lincoln (Tamsin Greig from Black Books) leaving her co-writer and husband Sean Lincoln (the great Stephen Mangan) because she’s convinced he slept with some woman we haven’t seen yet. She pulls out of the driveway while Sean is urgently trying to tell her that she’s driving on the wrong side of the road, and she misinterprets it as his way of telling her she’s wrong.

It cuts to Matt LeBlanc (playing himself. He’s from a little show called Friends.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it?) driving while talking to someone about his new restaurant, and the scene ends with the impact of Matt and Beverly Lincoln. Then it rewinds to when Sean and Beverly were happy and critically acclaimed in England.

The beginning proudly states the sheer ambition of the show, and the hilarity to come. It featured great acting, great comedy (Stephen Magnan’s frantic movements are a highlight), and great writing.

The show is primarily written by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik. David Crane is one of the creators of the incredibly funny and successful sitcom, Friends (starring Matt LeBlanc as a clueless actor). It would’ve been enough if this show was just hilarious (which it is), but it also knows how to do proper drama, and that’s not something you’d expect from a comedy. I’m not saying they can’t be dramatic, but the difference between Episodes and the other black comedies is that it still puts a smile on my face. I watched an episode of Girls, and while I can appreciate the satire and the drama, it’s neither funny enough nor dramatic enough for me to watch avidly.

Episodes doesn’t tout famous guest stars like Entourage, but what it lacks in star power, it makes up for in witty writ-

ing, great dramatic moments, and amazing acting. The fictionalized Matt LeBlanc is selfish, destructive, misogynistic, and yet charming, generous, and kind.

Like Tony Soprano, it makes the viewer question why they like Matt LeBlanc, and it’s because he’s a lot more human than he at first seems to be.

While Entourage certainly had moments like that, I never felt engrossed in it as much as I am when watching Episodes.

Both shows have flaws and high moments. Entourage has proven that it can end a show satisfactorily, but with only three seasons, Episodes has as many comedic moments and as much (if not more) dramatic weight than Entourage.

The first round goes to Showtime.

From Fan Fiction to Professional Fiction / 32

FROM FAN FICTION TO PROFESSIONAL FICTION

by Stephen Kelley

If you ask anyone close to me, the first thing they’ll tell is that I am a big nerd/geek.

There are many other things that are substantial about me and why I am doing this article, but I will get to those later.

Now let’s shift the focus to fan fiction.

There are many who believe that fan fiction writers try to one-up the pros or even pass their stories off as being better. However, the people who say that usually belong to the species known on the inter-webs as “trolls”.

Fan fiction in its purest form consists of fans writing about a fictional universe how they see fit, but also following guidelines so that they’re not all over the place. Case in point is the fan fiction site I am slowly starting to bow out of, but also where I got my big start writing: Marvel 2K14.

During the year I wrote for the site, I did at least a hundred to hundred and fifty individual issues, including minis, one-shots, and on-goings, a pretty amazing feat in its own right.

Sadly, to the pros that doesn’t mean much. Quite the opposite, in fact: mentioning fan fiction will get you laughed

and sneered at because it’s looked at by some as “amateur comic writing”.

Now you’re probably asking “Why is this relevant?” well, writing fan fiction, while fun, is not going to help pay your bills or make you a better writer by trade. Now, before you start crying and yelling at me, allow me to explain what I mean.

See, writing for a living and writing fan fiction are two different processes, but the art of writing itself can be gained from doing things like fan fiction. Don’t think of it as a negative art form, but instead as “training wheels” to help you get more comfortable with the idea of sitting in front of your laptop and writing for two, three or more hours.

“

Don’t think of it as a negative art form, but instead as “training wheels” to help you get more comfortable with

the idea of sitting in front of your laptop and writing for two, three or more hours

From Fan Fiction to Professional Fiction / 33

I sometimes describe myself as an “indie freelancer” because I’m working on the independent side of comic books and I’m what they would classify as a freelancer because I’m getting paid per job or on backend deals.

I took this wondrous but harsh leap of faith a few weeks ago. I recently had to transfer from doing the first full issue of a comic series to a minor story in an anthology series and I tell you guys that was a crushing blow.

The full issue was the first Pro comic writing project I’ve ever done in my life.

However, I soon realized I was not ready to tackle the “big fish” after putting too much pressure on myself to “get the story right”.

But it wasn’t all that bad considering I’m a rookie writer with zero script writing experience, nor am I taking any classes. That’s right dear readers: I’m writing on a pro level using only my passion and love of comics.

So for those who want to start writing for the pros but think doing fan fiction will hurt your chances, don’t! As long as you remind yourself that doing fan fiction is your training wheels for getting used to writing, everything should be fine.

But when the time comes and you’re ready to take that leap like I did you must take the wheels off and start riding the bike by yourself. Because that comic idea, that really good one that you’ve written and sketched out character profiles for is waiting to happen. The questions is, are you ready to turn it into reality?

About the Author Stephen Kelley is a freelance indie comic book writer, nerd of all trades, petty dabbler in public speaking, and a variety of other things that will not be mentioned in this bio ( as was sworn by the oath of the Golden acorn squirrel knights).

But what can be included is that Mr. Kelly has Aspergers and dreams of one day working at either of the big two or other subsidiary comic book companies such as Dynamite or Dark Horse.

Attack on Titan / 34

ATTACK ON TITAN

by Samuel Armitage

Anime has always been a hard sell to mainstream audiences, both in and outside Japan. It falls victim to a very insular culture, wanting to take safe bets, and just being used as promotional material for games. As an outsider, it’s difficult to find something that appeals to you within anime.

It can be overwrought with unnecessarily sexualized characters, uninteresting protagonists, and dull stereotypes. All of these factors have contributed to its limited penetration of western markets. However, if you investigate further you will find stories and creative premises that exist well outside of what we are used to in the west.

One of the most popular shows at the moment is Attack on Titan. It is difficult to say what single factor makes it succeed, as it is a work greater than the sum of its parts.

It begins on an interesting premise, a world where one hundred years ago the Titans appeared; enormous humanoids whose sole purpose in this world seems to be devouring humans. All of humanity retreats behind three concentric walls, fifty meters tall. No attack has been made against these walls for the last hundred years. Of course, since this a TV show, those hundred years are interrupted just in time for us to pick up the action. This is a dark, gritty series, which

Attack on Titan / 35

has become a desirable trait for a show to have in the last five or six years, seemingly hitting its peak with the enormous popularity of Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. Attack on Titan hits this vein well, striking a very fine balance of action and drama in a steam punk world with a huge amount of mystery that makes it extremely addictive.

No character has enough plot armor to avoid death, which gives the battles a very unique feel. The plot advances in arcs that tend to last 5-7 episodes. The way it approaches these arcs is what I found particularly appealing: an entire day-long battle runs in real time with the show. The first major arc, which is the Battle of Trost, advances at a steady but grueling pace skirmish by skirmish, splitting up the action and flow in a thrilling narrative. To its credit it avoids the Dragonball Z-esque approach of drawing out individual skirmishes by making them very quick. On the contrary, it goes straight to the point, brutal but satisfying.

The soundtrack is fantastic, complementing the dark tone of the show, building tension as it needs to. The animation is top notch, enjoyable and smooth.

It has a very unique style that makes it truly stand out and reinforces the central themes of hopelessness and fighting a losing battle but brings a degree of empowerment when needed.

Despite being a very good show, it is not perfect. It suffers from a few too many flash backs, causing it to feel like the plot jumps around a lot, which leads to it feeling sporadic; especially leaving episodes on cliff hangers followed by a flash back, causing the suspense to be padded out more than it needs to be. Another point to consider is that currently, it is unfinished. Very few anime that are released are self-contained original content. The vast majority are adaptions of manga (Japanese comic books) which are released one month at a time, including Attack on

ONE OF THE STRONGEST POINT OF THE SERIES IS THE WAY BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES ARE PORTRAYED.

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THIS SIMPLE GRAPHIC SHOWS US HOW MUCH TROUBLE HUMANITY IS IN.

Titan. When Attack on Titan finished its first 25 episode run, it stopped at the end of an arc that does not give a conclusion to the series. A second season has been confirmed for 2016, which should hopefully give the author time to bring the series to a conclusion that can be adapted.

As you may have noticed, I have avoided talking about the central plot and characters. This is quite deliberate: Attack on Titan has a rapidly evolving plot, and I believe that knowing as little as possible about the initial direction of the show

helps build the well-constructed suspense.

In summary, Attack on Titan is a fantastic starting point for someone looking to get into watching anime, through its solid plot, production values and great soundtrack. I highly recommend giving the initial 4 to 5 episodes a watch and deciding from there if it’s right for you. All 25 episodes are available on www.animelab.com, free and legally streaming for Australia and New Zealand, and available in most other parts of the world on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

About the Author Samuel Armitage enjoys playing a variety of games, watching anime and reading way too much history.

INHUMANS 101

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by Zach Thompson

In late November, Marvel released a list of their movies coming over the next few years as part of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Three.

Among those names, between major players in the Marvel Universe, were the Inhumans. This group of isolationists is probably the least known of the major Marvel characters, so I will give a little insight as to who they are, and what they are all about.

Overshadowed by their more famous counterparts the X-Men, The Inhumans are a kingdom of super-powered super-humans each more varied than the last, essentially space mutants. The founding Inhumans began their life as basic humans millions of years before, abducted for genetic experiments by the Kree (a blue skinned alien race locked in an eternal war against the shape-shifting Skrulls). Through experimentation, the Kree succeeded in creating a race of super-soldiers with genetic mutations due to Terrigen Mist (more on that below). However, they scrapped the operation, fearful that the soldiers would one day turn on their creators. The first Inhumans were left to fend for themseves and created the society of Attilan.

Most people of Attilan gain their powers at a coming of age ceremony, if not earlier, when they enter the Terrigen Mist one by one and exit with their new mutations, which can vary from move-

BLACK BOLT IS THE LEADER OF THE INHUMANS. HIS MEREST WHISPER CAN SHATTER MOUNTAINS.

ment through mirrors to being the physical representation of an element.

BLACK BOLT Black Bolt is the king of the Inhumans and a member of the Illuminati, a secret organisation consisting of him, Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Professor X, and the Sub-Mariner. His mutation caused him to take a vow of silence at an early age, when it was discovered that even a mere whisper could turn a city the size of New

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York into rubble. His mind and voice interact with the particle/electron interaction field (yay pseudo-science!), allowing him to even telepathically vibrate peoples bodies into ooze. As the stoic leader, Black Bolt fills the niche of Scott Summers/Cyclops. His black and white skin-tight suit doesn’t help avoid association with the leader of the X-Men either. Intelligent and silent, Black Bolt is a level-headed ruler, refusing to start wars with the humans and avoiding them as much as possible. However, when things go sour, Black Bolt will swoop in to protect his people from any danger, willing to sacrifice himself if it means future protection for Attilan.

MEDUSA Medusa is the wife of Black Bolt and the Queen of the Inhumans. She has had quick stints as both a villain of the Fantastic Four, as well as part of the home team when they go on inter-dimensional missions. She has full control over her fiery red hair, which is near indestructible and can be controlled even after being cut off. It is later revealed that her powers stem from psychic abilities, strengthening her hair and allowing it to carry about 1500kg of weight.

A bit more headstrong than her husband, Medusa is the voice of Black Bolt, informing those who need to know of Black Bolt’s bidding. She is a strong warrior, able to hold her own against the Fantastic Four, and would stand in the front lines ready to protect her people.

LOCKJAW Lockjaw is one of the most important super-pets in the Marvel Universe. A large alien bulldog, Lockjaw is as friendly as he is large.

A main player in the 2009 mini event Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers, alongside other Marvel animals, Lockjaw has super strength,

can teleport across long distances, and even open portals between dimensions.

His sense of smell is so great, he can track people across dimensional space. Used mainly as a form of transport from Attilan to Earth, Lockjaw tries to avoid confrontation when he can, but still has that fierce loyalty you can expect from a beloved dog.

INHUMAN SAGAS When the Inhumans are the focus of a story, it usually involves whatever cosmic event is happening at the time. However, they have had to deal with multiple attemped uprisings of the lower caste, the Alpha Primitives, a group of humans genetically bred to be strong but not very smart. These were usually orchestrated from the shadows by Maximus the Mad, brother to the king. That’s his title given to him by the Inhumans, and boy does he own it. Maximus is the Loki of the Inhumans: jealous brother, magical trickster, and slimy wordsmith. He has the power of mind control, varying in abilities as the plot demands, which can range from being able to cause short-term amnesia in a victim, to full consciousness exchange. Maximus is also super-smart and a fantastic inventor. He has made multiple attempts at seizing the throne and the hand of Medusa, succeeding at a few, only to be later removed from his stolen seat by Black Bolt

NOT MANY MARVEL PETS CAN GO TOE TO TOE AGAINST ONE OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR

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and whoever else was around at the time.

As you can see, the Inhumans are just one big, happy, Shakesperian family! Intrigue, people with deadly abilities, and jealous brothers gunning for the throne.

The tone of some of the newer Inhumans storylines are that of an Arthurian legend, tacked onto a writing major’s ‘My First Hamlet’ screenplay. Although brooding and dark, the Inhumans are lightened by the almost machiavellian schemes of Maximus, and the brilliant strategic countermeasures, that are second only to Batman, put in place by the royal family. The Inhumans are different enough from the X-Men that you can read both without getting bored (I mean, they have space adventures!), but it’s not so detached that you can’t see the similarities. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Inhumans are essentially Marvel’s way around Fox’s contract that stops them from using mutants in their films. While we probably won’t be seeing Hugh Jackman alongside Robert Downey Jr. anytime soon, at least we will be getting these guys.

GOING FROM VILLAIN TO HEROINE, MEDUSA IS THE WORTHY QUEEN OF THE INHUMANS

About the Author Although born in Canada, Zach Thompson sees himself as a Wellingtonian.

However, his love for maple syrup, apologising, and daytime soaps reveal his inner lumberjack. His hobbies include reading comics, watching films, procrastinating

THE DEATH OF LOCAL MULTIPLAYER

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by Hunter Mulder

It was Mark Twain who said “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with”.

We can be fairly certain that Mr. Twain wasn’t alluding to video games with this quotation. However, the message still rings true within that context. I’m sure many of you have fond memories of late nights with your best friends, all huddled around the bright glow of a television set streaming your communal game of choice, or perhaps you would all be crammed in someone’s garage, attempting to get all the computers correctly connected to the LAN (local area network).

Whatever your past local-multiplayer setup may have been, I’d wager that it is now just that - in the past. The era of local area gaming seems to be coming to a close, with the big corporations pushing for more and more online focused functionalities. The question then arises: are people making this choice, or is the choice being made for them?

We must first ask if this shift is caused by a decrease in supply or a decrease in demand. It is undeniable that many companies are shifting their focus away from local multiplayer. One of the major perpetrators of local multiplayer shunning was the Playstation 3. The console that would only allow

a single person to be signed in at a time; the console that would not allow local multiplayer on games that had local multiplayer on other systems. This raises the question of why. Why would Sony discourage players from playing together locally? The obvious answer is financial: Sony wants everyone to have their own system, own game, own controller, and the practice of several people sitting on a couch playing together on a single console works against that.

But perhaps this is being a little too cynical - this decline in local multiplayer also comes hand-in-hand with the meteoric rise of online play. The answer could well be that local multiplayer has just run its course; like the VCR or the LaserDisc, it has been surpassed by superior technology.

“

The answer could well be that local multiplayer has just run

its course; like the VCR or the

LaserDisc, it has been surpassed by superior technology.

Inhumans 101 / 41

Perhaps today’s discerning video game player sees split-screen gaming or the need to leave the house as out-dated and unnecessary practices. Oftentimes, the expedition to a chum’s house for a sporting round of local multiplayer can prove to be rather a laboured task, requiring forward planning and the packing of ones paraphernalia, which for many -myself included- can be an hourlong exercise. In the grand scheme of things I can’t really blame the consumers for their wavering interest in the act of local multiplayer, but is online really that much better?

We can’t really say one method of multiplayer is better than the other. After all, each has pros and cons. I am a big fan of the local multiplayer, some of the most fun I’ve ever had has been playing games in the same room as my pals, like the impromptu Super Smash Bros Brawl tournament that came about during a lull in a LAN party. Then, of course, there were those mar-

athon sessions with your friends, like when three friends and I all system linked our Xbox 360s together and played Borderlands for two days straight. These experiences cannot be recreated quite the same with online multiplayer: you can’t turn to the guy you just beat into the ground and give him a childish sneer, or high-five the guy that just saved your hide from a bad-ass fire skag. Without that immediate human contact, many games feel as though you are missing a crucial part of the experience.

That’s not to say that online is without its merits, though: the sheer convenience of messaging a friend and then be off having magical adventures in no time flat is unparalleled in the gaming world. And with the advent of voice over IP, allowing for voice communication through the information super-highway, online is getting closer and closer to the experience provided by local multiplayer. The feeling of your game-win-

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ning play being greeted by the cacophony of your friends shouting their praises into their mikes can prove to be almost as rewarding as any physical human contact.

So, is either one better than the other?

No. From where I stand it’s a dead heat. So why is it that many players seem to prefer the quick and dirty of online play?

To put on my game design hat for a moment, each method has huge implications for what can be achieved through the design of the game. For solely online multiplayer games, the threat of screen peeking is completely eliminated, allowing for information to be displayed in more obvious and intuitive ways. This also allows for whole new genres of games, using unique viewpoints for each player to create an interesting asymmetrical co-op or versus experience.

The lack of direct voice chat is also an interesting tool to be used, only allowing players to hear each other when in close proximity in game, or cut their lines of communication completely to create genuine tension. Local also poses some unique selling points, one of the major ones being the

potential for physical contact: you could tell a player to literally steal the others controller, or have the players attempt to stop each other from reaching their controllers. This element of physical contact can be used to stretch the boundaries of what can be done with video games.

There are countless directions the video game industry could go in, but the loss of something as integral to the video game experience as local multiplayer would be a serious tragedy. You may think this is hyperbole, but as the old adage goes, if you let the camel’s nose under the tent before you know it you’ve got the whole camel in there. And some of the bigger companies think this tent looks mighty inviting.

Thus, we must ask ourselves, is it really what’s best for the medium of video games, what’s best for you as a person, to just sit at home and play over the internet? Or should you make the effort to go and enjoy the good old fashioned fun of arguing over who gets to be player one?

About the Author Hunter Mulder was born in [UNDISCLOSED], where he was well known as a [UNDISCLOSED] and [UNDISCLOSED]. He’s a person of many hobbies and activities, particularly those related to [UNDISCLOSED], [UNDISCLOSED] and [UNDISCLOSED]. It was on this last one where he has found the most success, being a proud [UNDISCLOSED] of the [UNDISCLOSED].

He is an open and friendly person. Should you want to contact him, you can write to [UNDISCLOSED].