the pulp (Issue 8, September 2014) by The Pulp

Issue 8, September 2014

Issue 8, Sep 2014

The People of the Hour! magazine

Cheryl Cottrell-Smith, Editor-in-Chief Writer/editor. Founder of The Pulp and lover of comics, gaming, anime, old literature, and gin. Especially gin. @CottrellSmithC

Editor Talk Conventions—what’s not to love? Sure, the line-ups can be a hindrance. You can never quite squeeze in everything you want to do. Sometimes it smells. But…comics! Creators! Celebrities! We’re pretty excited that the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo is this week and we’re gearing up for a weekend of pure awesome.

Matt Bowes, Lit + Film Columnist Self-proclaimed cultural commentator of good taste. Enjoys movies/books, and writes about them at thisnerdinglife.com. @matt_bowes

In this issue, find some tips and tricks for how to make the most of a convention experience, along with a feature on some local cosplayers.

Teresa Simmons, Fashion Columnist Fashion writer/blogger at Simmons On Style. Can’t live w/out little black dresses, seafood, Indie music, and lip gloss. @simmonsonstyle

For you film buffs, we have a Reconsideration of Gunday by Matt Bowes and a One Too Many on More American Graffiti by Allan Mott: two films you should probably watch (if you haven’t already). Russ Dobler is back with a great piece on Marvel Dice Masters and its relation to Red Queen Theory. (Wait…what?) Trust me. You need to read it to get it. Hate being judged on your clothes? Teresa’s latest fashion column will teach you to ignore the people who make assumptions about you and just…be. And don’t forget the food. Dr. Who cakes. Edible Marios. Mad Meninspired bourbon cocktails. Sherry Lawler has them all in this issue. We also have Kelsey’s musings on Back to School season and a cosplay feature to get you ramped up for the Expo. Enjoy!

Cheryl Editor-in-Chief thepulppress.com 2

Russ Dobler, Nerd Science Columnist Known as "Dog" to friends and weirdos; wannabe scientist; beer lover. Blogs at thoughtfulconduit.com/whatdoesthismean. Kelsey Beier, Musings Columnist Lover of music, writing, traveling and working with kids. Teacher by day; unpublished author by night (and sometimes on the weekends). Allan Mott, Film Columnist Film enthusiast and blogger at vanityfear.com. Can be found giving opinions on films and other cultural paraphernalia @HouseofGlib. Sherry Lawler, Bites Columnist Local editor and writer. Linguist, grammarian, language enthusiast, and owner of AlphaProofing. @AlphaProofing

Issue 8, Sep 2014

CONTENTS bites

lit + film

We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious cakes. – Sherry Lawler

One Too Many: More American Graffiti (1979) – Allan Mott

Bring on the bourbon – Sherry Lawler

For Your Reconsideration: Gunday (2014) – Matt Bowes

quirky events

musings 4

Making the most of your Expo experience – Cheryl Cottrell-Smith Edmontonians band together to build Wolverine statue – Cheryl Cottrell-Smith

gamertown 12

fashion + cosplay

A true geek…underneath it all? – Teresa Simmons

Expo highlight: Nerdpunk Cosplay – Cheryl CottrellSmith

Live to game, game to live – Russ Dobler

What does “Back to School” mean to you? – Kelsey Beier

Words and images by Cheryl Cottrell-Smith

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Making the most of your Expo experience

With less than a week left, we’re ramping up for the third annual Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo. Whether it’s your first convention or your hundredth, there will be plenty of new booths and some exciting guests to keep you occupied the entire weekend. Personally, I’m looking forward to an epic photo op with Jim Beaver (Supernatural for the win). We’re all agreed: conventions are great. But stick a few thousand nerds into a confined space for prolonged periods of time and there can be issues. Line-ups abound. Creators are occupied with seemingly never-ending fan conversations. Dedicated cosplayers can bring foot traffic to a dead stop. Accessing an ATM is nigh impossible. There’s a lot to take in, so we’ve opened up the discussion to our local Edmonton nerd community, who have some tips and tricks for the best ways to enjoy a convention. “Have patience. This is a big one because as conventions grow, lines are longer and the con floor is more crowded; remember, everyone is there to enjoy themselves, so be respectful,” says Sylvia Douglas, cofounder of LGNYEG. “And bring comfy shoes, water, snacks, a bag for swag purchased, a folder or tube for artwork, and bags/boards for comics." Andrea Brown, Sylvia’s LGNYEG co-founder, agrees with being prepared for everything. “I'd suggest bringing a backpack and your own food, since generally onsite food is stupid expensive,” says Andrea. Having a plan is tantamount to a great con experience, which is why you can view the show schedule on the

Having a plan is tantamount to a great con experience, which is why you can view the show schedule on the Edmonton Expo website. “Look at the schedule and make a plan for what you want to see and know the times for autographs and photo ops if you are planning to get them,” says Nicole Reid of 501st Legion. “Pace yourself, eat, and wear comfortable shoes. And have fun!” Don’t forget that you’ll be in crowds all day and, well…things can get sweaty. “Stay hydrated and hygienic,” says Sailor Moon blogger, Pauline French. “And wear a good pair of walking shoes.” The Pulp contributor, Matt Bowes, even has a blog post dedicated to convention tips on This Nerding Life. His post, entitled “How to Convene – Comic Book Convention Etiquette and Tips,” gives some much-needed advice on how to stay healthy, hydrated, and happy at a comic book convention. For example, conventions can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so pack Purell. And, if you’re nervous about meeting some of your heroes, a cocktail or five is a great way to boost confidence. Along with all of these life-saving tips, we’d like to add one very important suggestion: Always. Bring. Cash. So what, exactly, is everyone looking forward to at this year’s Expo? “I look forward to meeting artists and visiting artist’s alley,” says Andrea. “Lots of great local talent in Edmonton! I only get to go on Sunday this year because I'm holding down the fort at Happy Harbor, so I'm going to make the most of my day. I hope I can do it!” Collectibles, comics, and cosplay are some of the

Issue 8, Sep 2014

most of my day. I hope I can do it!” Collectibles, comics, and cosplay are some of the convention’s main draws. Pauline French, like many others, is looking forward to adding to her collection. “There are amazing artists to discover, celebrity heroes to meet, and grail collectibles to track down and haggle over,” says Pauline. “This year I'm most looking forward to the guests, but I'm also excited to see what Sailor Moon items might show up with the anniversary celebrations still going strong in Japan.” Dan Shessel of The Northern Nerd Network attends conventions purely to indulge in his passions. “Where else are you going to find someone to have a full-on conversation about their favourite Faction Type and Class Starship from Star Trek while waiting in line to get an autograph from Wil Wheaton?” His wife and Nothern Nerd co-founder, Trina, is looking forward to the cosplayers. “When I went to my first convention, it was mostly to get autographs and attend panels,” she says. “Now I’d rather just check out the vendors and see all the great costumes other con-goers come up with.” Trina isn’t the only one looking forward to the Expo’s cosplay scene. “What am I most excited about? As always, seeing all of the costumes people put so much hard work into and getting some great photos of/with them,” says Shauna Rene. “Also, I plan to attend the BioWare panel on Dragon Age: Inquisition. I simply cannot wait for it's release and I look forward to listening to my friends at BioWare further torture me with details of the game I have been waiting for, for years.” For others, each convention becomes less a place to buy and more a place to gather. A place where friendships are developed and mutual interests are shared. A place to promote charities and foster human connections. “I’m most looking forward to seeing my friends,” says Sylvia. “I've been attending the Calgary and Edmonton Expos since their inception and, since then, I have been so lucky to meet really amazing people. I love that at both Expos, every turn I take I run into someone I have met through our love of all things geek.” “I’m most looking forward to working the [501st

Issue 8, Sep 2014 Expos, every turn I take I run into someone I have met through our love of all things geek.” “I’m most looking forward to working the [501st Legion] charity booth and raising money for Kids With Cancer,” says Nicole. “Swing by the booth and donate some money to get a picture with us! Support a great charity and get Star Wars pics—what’s not to love?” “I look forward to the exposure,” says Janna Cummings. “I get to see things, and maybe do things, that I would normally not have the chance of normally seeing or doing. Cons/Expos are the opportunity to geek out on new items and new visualizations. To boldly try out things you've never tried out before.” Our contributor, Allan Mott, certainly has his Expo plan in place:

Whether you choose to heed our advice or not, we hope you have a great convention this year. Keep an eye out for me as Silk Spectre and don’t forget to tweet us @thepulppress to tell us your favourite part of the convention! The Northern Nerd Network’s latest podcast also features convention tips for the eager Expo beaver. You can listen to it at northernnerd.com/podcast.

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Written by Allan Mott | Images courtesy of Universal Pictures and Lucasfilm

One Too Many: More American Graffiti (1979)

For folks of my generation, George Lucas’ 1973 hit movie American Graffiti is regarded mostly as the film that allowed him to move on to Star Wars, where shit got real and all of our favourite toys and bed sheets were finally allowed to happen. But for those who came before us it was a genuinely important film—their first real chance to indulge in the nostalgia that is the birthright of every generation (did anyone else watch that Lifetime Saved by the Bell movie?). This was even more significant than it is now because, in 1973, technology did not allow people instant access to the memories of their youth. For the most part, they existed as exactly that—memories that had to be inspired by certain specific sights and sounds to be recreated, rather than brought back immediately to life via a quick trip to YouTube or Google. Which explains why American Graffiti was so huge when it came out and led to the creation of TVs Happy Days, which arguably had an even more significant impact on popular culture than the film that inspired it (and from which it purloined a post-Andy Griffith, pre-journeyman-auteur Ron Howard). But we can probably thank Star Wars for the existence of More American Graffiti, the 1979 sequel that many people have no idea even exists and which isn’t very well thought of by those who are aware of it (it currently has a rating of 5.2/10 on IMDB). To ride

isn’t very well thought of by those who are aware of it (it currently has a rating of 5.2/10 on IMDB). To ride the wave of Lucas’ third film’s mega-success, Universal decided to re-release American Graffiti into theatres in 1978 (a common pre-home video tactic) and the resulting box office clearly justified another trip to the nostalgia well. Except Lucas was too busy working on the sequel to his second zeitgeist-changing hit to devote himself personally to the sequel to his first zeitgeistchanging hit, so a filmmaker with only one forgotten film and a cult TV movie to his credit was tasked with the challenge. And it was definitely a challenge that B. W. L. Norton (or Bill L. Norton, as he would later be credited in his following work) faced. Not only was there the daunting prospect of attempting to recreate another filmmaker’s success, but there was also the fact that the first film had already famously ended by telling the audience what happened to its four main male characters and none of their fates lent themselves well to light-hearted entertainment. Going in he (and everyone else) knew that Paul Le Mat’s John was killed by a drunk driver in 1964, Charles Martin Smith’s Terry would go missing while serving in Vietnam, Richard Dreyfus’ Curt would dodge the draft and become a writer in Canada, and Ron Howard’s Steve would—most chillingly—become an

the draft and become a writer in Canada, and Ron Howard’s Steve would—most chillingly—become an insurance salesman. How, then, could he craft a screenplay that featured every character while also acknowledging their respective fates? Rather ingeniously, it turns out. I first learned about the film’s existence when I saw a commercial for an upcoming TV airing when I was around 11 or 12. Already a major film buff, I was taken aback by the fact that I hadn’t been aware of it until that exact moment. I wasn’t able to watch it at the time (and I suspect if I had I would have discovered what I believe has to be a major reason for its obscurity), but the fact that I hadn’t heard of it before definitely coloured my perception of it. If they made a sequel to a film as well-known as American Graffiti and I didn’t know it even existed, it had to be reeeeealllllllly bad. Sometimes I am wrong about these things. Having just watched More American Graffiti, I can appreciate intellectually why it failed to satisfy contemporary audiences and faded into obscurity, but as it went on I couldn’t help but conclude that it got a very raw deal—for as much as it gets wrong, it gets so many more things right and turns out to be a very entertaining, well-made, and emotionally satisfying experience in its own right.

Issue 8, Sep 2014

entertaining, well-made, and emotionally satisfying experience in its own right. Perhaps it’s my distance from the original (I haven’t seen it in a decade and have always regarded it specifically as an artifact of my parents’ era— making the experience of watching it much more anthropological than anything else) or just my own inherent contrariness, but I found myself laughing and smiling throughout this strange film, which isn’t strong enough to work as a stand-alone rediscovery, but proves to be a fascinating example of an imaginative attempt to overcome some Herculean narrative hurdles. The way Norton solved the problem he faced at the outset was to abandon the original film’s “one day in the life” multi-character structure and expand it to the same day (New Year’s to be exact) over the course of four different years in the same decade. Each character (with Candy Clark’s Debbie subbing in for Curt, since by the time the film was made Dreyfus had won the Oscar for The Goodbye Girl and starred in Jaws and was way above this sort of thing) gets their own year and mini-narrative within the film. And, since the various scenes are edited nonlinearly, Norton helps us keep track of which year we’re in by changing the ratio of the image, as well as employing other camera tricks. John gets 1964 (which makes sense since he’s dead after that) and his New Year’s Day is spent at the racetrack, where he meets a gorgeous foreigner (former Miss Iceland and future mob-informant, Anna Bjorn) and overcomes a major setback to stick one over on the big-time racing crew who thinks he’s too small potatoes to join their ranks. It’s a notcompletely convincing romantic interlude (it’s hard to accept that two people who literally can’t talk to each other would develop such strong feelings so quickly, and while his lust makes sense in the face of her beauty, her reciprocating that affection is definitely an only-in-the-movies phenomenon), but it still manages to earn an affecting poignancy based largely on our

only-in-the-movies phenomenon), but it still manages to earn an affecting poignancy based largely on our knowledge of what is to come. Terry’s story occurs a year later and focuses on his attempts to get the hell out of active duty. The tenor of his section is best exemplified by the opening scene that features him trying to figure out the best way to shoot himself in the arm, only to inadvertently

cause a massive jungle bombing raid in the process. This dark humour plays well today, but I can definitely see how it might upset audiences in 1979 who were barely ready for the existential horror of Apocalypse Now , much less an outright parody of it as presented here. Shot in a full-screen ratio to replicate the news footage of the period, it’s hard not to think of the TV version of M*A*S*H in these scenes, which I suspect might have also further alienated contemporary viewers. Debbie’s story is set in 1967. With Terry now missing in Vietnam, she has become a full-on flower child who lives in a commune and works as a topless

missing in Vietnam, she has become a full-on flower child who lives in a commune and works as a topless dancer to help support her musician boyfriend, Lance. When he’s arrested for pot possession (by Harrison Ford’s formerly-drag-race-happy Bob Falfa in a very effective uncredited cameo), she scrambles to earn bail money (eventually agreeing to dance with a snake per her club owner’s request), only to have him betray her when she attempts to get him hired by a local band led by a surprisingly dreamy Scott Glenn. This section is presented almost entirely in splitscreen with multiple images in the frame, which meant it would have been largely incomprehensible in the TV version I mentioned above. In this age of widescreen TVs, this isn’t an issue and is really fun to watch (with the exception of some sped-up moments that are just a bit too cartoonish for their own good), but for about 25 years after its release this quarter of the film would have presented a challenge to even the most sympathetic of TV viewers. And, finally, Steve and Laurie (Cindy Williams) are given 1968, which finds their marriage in trouble over his adamant refusal to let her get a job. She leaves him to look after their twins and—via her activist brother—ends up in a Kent State-style demonstration that leads to her and Steve’s political awakening when they find themselves victims of police brutality. This sequence in particular reminded me of similar work the late Michael Ritchie was doing in the 70s, particular Smile and The Bad News Bears. While Norton is a lot more facile than Ritchie, the tone of affectionate satire presented here proves effective when it’s hit in the face by the brutal reality of physical violence. This last sequence also proves to be the most blatant purveyor of the film’s strong sense of antiauthoritarianism, which is chiefly responsible for the film’s unique balance of darkness and light. The stories themselves are broadly comic and simplistic, but they all feature a deeply cynical centre that belies the candy-coated surface. At times, I wasn’t sure if

Issue 8, Sep 2014 but they all feature a deeply cynical centre that belies the candy-coated surface. At times, I wasn’t sure if this was as effective as I wanted it to be, but then—when the film ended with the same epilogues as the first (adding only the previously neglected fates of Debbie and Laurie)—I found myself overwhelmed with emotion and burst into tears. Taken together, the American Graffiti series suggests that you can’t ever know the whole story. You can’t judge a person based on the events of a single day or a short description of where life has taken them. By repeating the epilogues, Norton shows how much they don’t tell us. In Lucas’ film they were a downbeat shock of reality after a colourful festival of happy/bittersweet memories—as memorable as that night was, it ultimately led only to death, isolation and servitude. But here instead the exact same words are hopeful and joyous, because now we know there’s so much more to the story. More American Graffiti is an imperfect film whose strange mixture of late 70s cynicism and early-80s optimism alienated its core audience who likely didn’t even want the film to exist in the first place. But seen today with fresh eyes, there’s a lot here to take in and admire, both technically and thematically. Saddled with perhaps one of the most perfunctory sequel titles of all time, it transcends its obstacles to become something that is completely familiar, but which we’ve never really seen before.

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Written by Russ Dobler | Images courtesy of John Sibbick, Wikipedia, Watch it Played YouTube Channel, and Sam Landstrom

Live to game, Game to live When Steve Cates sat down at the Crazy Squirrel Game Store in Fresno, CA for one of the first organized tournaments of Marvel Dice Masters, he probably wasn’t thinking about half-billion-year-old ocean life. Superficially, there don’t seem to be a lot of similarities between the recently released collectible, competitive game, and spiky, multi-limbed worms. Yet much like an animal in an early Cambrian ecosystem, Cates was able to navigate his deck of simple parts to victory. Yet much like an animal in an early In June, the game was too new for players to make effective use of devastating components like Green Goblin: Gobby and Cambrian ecosystem, Cates was able to Black Widow: Tsarina. Hallucigenia probably had it pretty easy before the terrifying predator Anomalocaris showed up in navigate his deck of simple parts to victory. large numbers. In June, the game was too new for players to

make effective use of devastating components like Green Goblin: Gobby and Black Widow: Tsarina. Hallucigenia probably had it pretty easy before the terrifying predator Anomalocaris showed up in large numbers. Dice Masters will expand in October, and that influx of new content will inevitably change the game’s young status quo. The current dominant decks will have to adapt to new pressures, as what’s commonly called the “metagame” shifts from its former plateau. “Metagame, to me, is the idea that I need to keep in mind more than just the rules of the game,” Cates says. “There are certain strategies that players of the game will focus in on and you must have a way to deal with Which is scarier? those strategies or you just won't be Which is scarier? Depiction of Anomalocaris byofJohn Sibbick by John Sibbick Depiction Anomalocaris competitive.” Dice Masters will expand in October, and that influx of new content will inevitably change the game’s young status quo. Or, to put in a biologic sense, keep up or The current dominant decks will have to adapt to new pressures, as what’s commonly called the shifts from its die. There’s an“metagame” idea in evolutionary theory former plateau. called the Red Queen hypothesis, named “Metagame, to me, is the idea that I need to keep in mind more than just the rules the game,” Cates “There are afterof the “Through thesays. Looking-Glass”

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Or, to put in a biologic sense, keep up or die. There’s an idea in evolutionary theory called the Red Queen hypothesis, named after the “Through the Looking-Glass” antagonist who said to Alice, “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.”

This concept help us understand why, for example, insects like aphids don’t wipe out all our crops or, conversely, go extinct themselves. Evolved defenses like toxins may kill many of the bugs, but some will be luckily adapted to be resistant. Those individuals will breed and multiply and then the process is back to square one. Like life, the Dice Masters game is likely to continue its stasis, despite the addition of new tricks. “If the counters are in place and Gobby and Tsarina aren’t played, then the counters get dropped and then Gobby and Tsarina will come back again as relevant,” Cates says. “It’s sort of a vicious cycle.” Danny Mandel, co-founder of Super Awesome Games and one of the

Tsarina will come back again as relevant,” Cates says. “It’s sort of a vicious cycle.” Danny Mandel, co-founder of Super Awesome Games and one of the original designers of the soon-returning Vs. System trading card game, further breaks down what goes into determining a local metagame in language that could be ripped from an ecology textbook. “Cheaper decks are more likely to get played,” he says, just like animals with a lower metabolic cost. Fashionable decks can make appearances, Mandel says, if they’re offbeat or fun, “even if they’re not really that good.” Sounds like sexual selection to me. And of course, it always comes back to the Red Queen. “Players often try out different decks in response to how they think the metagame is going to evolve from the previous tournament,” Mandel says. Don’t breathe easily thinking this kind of go-nowhere competition only afflicts creepy crawlies and plastic cubes, though, or you might be sucking wind to catch up yourself. In his appropriately-titled book, “Metagame,” Sam Landstrom envisions a

creepy crawlies and plastic cubes, though, or you might be sucking wind to catch up yourself. In his appropriately-titled book, “Metagame,” Sam Landstrom envisions a tomorrow in which humans improve their own personal decks, and those of their children, by deliberately altering their DNA. “I don’t want my child to be the stupid one on the block; they should be a genius, too,” Landstrom imagines a future parent saying. “I could see people easily going over to genetic engineering in order to not roll the dice with their kids, to make sure they have the looks and intelligence to be competitive.” Game on.

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issuu.com/thepulp

Written by Teresa Simmons Images Issue 8, Sep|2014 courtesy of muchomas.com, thingsnerdslike.com, and fora.mtv.ca

A true geekâ&#x20AC;Ś Underneath it all? it all?

Issue 8, Sep 2014

How you dress tells the world a lot about who you are without having to say anything. Your clothes do the speaking for you—this is why style and fashion is so important. Like it or not, people make judgments about you that are purely based on what you decide to wear in the morning. As with every other style, dressing geek chic comes with its own assumptions that other people can’t help but make. But it’s up to you to prove them wrong by telling them who you really are and what interests you. Geeks like to read comic books and graphic novels. If you prefer geek chic style, people might make this assumption about you. But this statement may or may not be true. You might be a fanatical collector of comic books who prowls eBay and garage sales looking for that “special edition,” or you might only read high fashion magazines. You might not even like reading at all. It doesn’t mean you can’t rock the style. Anime conventions are every geek’s idea of a dream vacation. Believe it or not, some people may think this as you’re walking down the street in your bowtie and large glasses. You may enjoy going to anime and comic conventions in your spare time and counting down the days until the next

think if you told them that you failed math in high school, but got the highest marks in your English class? And what if you told them that you don’t like science or anything molecular? The Big Bang Theory is one of your favourite shows on television, but you don’t have the same interests as the characters in the show. Go figure! The point of reassessing your style amidst a world that loves to make assumptions is that there is really no such thing as being a “true geek.” You don’t have to dress like one to be a “geek” and just because you may like certain style elements that fall under the geek chic category, it doesn’t mean that you like all of the things that people assume to be nerd culture. You simply just like the style…and there’s nothing wrong with that. If people want to know the real truth about you, all it takes is a bit of time, some coffee and a little conversation. CC cover photo credit: fora.mtv.ca/2012/05/geek-chic.

one, but your idea of a dream vacation may be lounging on the beach sipping beer on a beach in Jamaica. They really haven’t got you figured out, now, do they? There’s much more to you than meets the eye. They’re wearing suspenders, so they must be really, really good at mathematics and science. What would they think if you told them that you failed math in high school, but got the highest marks in your English class? And what if you told them that you don’t like science or anything molecular? The Big Bang Theory is one of your favourite shows on television, but you don’t have the same interests as the characters in the show. Go figure! The point of reassessing your style amidst a world that loves to make assumptions is that there is really no such thing as being a “true geek.” You don’t have to dress like one to be a “geek” and just because you may like certain style elements that fall under the geek chic category, it doesn’t mean that you like all of the things that people assume to be nerd culture. You simply just like the style…and there’s nothing wrong with that. If people want to know the real truth about you, all it takes is a bit of time, some coffee and a little conversation.

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Written by Sherry Lawler | Images courtesy of Sherry Lawler, popsugar.com, artisancakecompany.com, burnettsboards.com, walyou.com, fanpop.com, cakecentral.com, walyou.com, and karaspartyideas.com

We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious cakes.

Summer is coming to an end and, as September closes out, so will the summer wedding season. To mark this memorable season, I’ve scoured the web for some creative, pop-cultured inspired wedding cakes—so awesome, you’ll want to get married just to sink your teeth into these bad boys. An elegant Star Wars cake This elegant galaxy includes the Millennium Falcon, an X-wing Starfighter, the Death Star, and a tie-fighter amongst its stars. The ultimate Dr. Who rendition This artsy wedding cake was topped with a Tardis, a sonic screwdriver, and a small fez. The weeping angel is hovering on the middle tier, alongside a sugar peony and a red bow-tie. Sitting cute and pudgy on the ledge of the middle tier is a little adipose. A Dalek and a soufflé, with a burnt top, finished off the bottom of this three-tier wedding cake. Royalty-worthy Game of Thrones ensemble Thoughtful, elegant, creative. Be sure to check out this editorial for the epic Game of Thrones-inspired wedding. From the opulent floral arrangements, House of Stark sigils, and a nod to the collar of chains worn by maesters, this themed wedding was filled with all sorts of remnants of Westeros. A fondant Back to the Future This Back to the Future homage is complete with a Delorean, Emmett Brown, and of course a rendition of the happy couple: Marty McFly and Jennifer Parker. Save the Princess, Mario. Then, ye may be wed. Each layer of this gamer’s wedding cake portrays different Super Mario worlds. Of course, it’s topped with Mario kissing the Princess in front of the castle. Oh, all those cute, little mushrooms. Literary Bliss Oscar Wilde. Life of Pi. Vonnegut. Enough said.

An elegant Star Wars cake

Find your Precious in Middle Earth This piece of wedding cake art carves out several Middle Earth landscapes, fit to be featured in a Hobbit-themed affair.

Literary Bliss

This elegant galaxy includes the Millennium Falcon, an Alice in Wonderland ChicDeath Star, and a tie-fighter X-wing Starfighter, the Right down to the pages of a vintage Alice in Wonderland hardcover, this cake is beautiful, chic, andVonnegut. classic. “Pocket amongst its stars. Oscar Wilde. Life of Pi. EnoughWatch: said. your 17 wishes will be granted very soon." The ultimate Dr. Who rendition

Find your Precious in Middle Earth

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Royalty-worthy Game of Thrones ensemble A fondant Back to the Future 18

This Back to the Future homage is complete with a Delorean, Emmett Brown, and of course a rendition of the happy couple: Marty McFly and Jennifer Parker.

Thoughtful, elegant, creative. Be sure to check out this editorial for the epic Game of Thrones-inspired wedding. From the opulent floral arrangements, House of Stark sigils, and a nod to the collar of chains worn by maesters, this themed wedding was filled with all sorts of remnants of Westeros.

Save the Princess, Mario. Then, ye may be wed.

A fondant Back to the Future

Issue 8, Sep 2014

The ultimate Dr. Who rendition This artsy wedding cake was topped with a Tardis, a sonic screwdriver, and a small fez. The weeping angel is hovering on the middle tier, alongside a sugar peony and a red bow-tie. Sitting cute and pudgy on the ledge of the middle tier is a little adipose. A Dalek and a soufflé, with a burnt top, finished off the bottom of this three-tier wedding cake.

Save the Princess, Mario. Then, ye may be wed. Each layer of this gamer’s wedding cake portrays different Super Mario worlds. Of course, it’s topped with Mario kissing the Princess in front of the castle. Oh, all those cute, little mushrooms.

19 Literary Bliss Oscar Wilde. Life of Pi. Vonnegut.

Royalty-worthy Game of Thrones ensemble Thoughtful, elegant, creative. Be sure to check out this editorial for the epic Game of Thrones-inspired wedding. From the opulent floral arrangements, House of Stark sigils, and a nod to the collar of chains worn by maesters, this themed wedding was filled with all sorts of remnants of Westeros. A fondant Back to the Future This Back to the Future homage is complete with a Delorean, Emmett Brown, and

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Find your Precious in Middle Earth

Alice in Wonderland Chic

This piece of wedding cake art carves out several Middle Earth landscapes, fit to be featured in a Hobbit-themed affair.

Right down to the pages of a vintage Alice in Wonderland hardcover, this cake is beautiful, chic, and classic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pocket Watch: your wishes will be granted very soon."

20 Alice in Wonderland Chic

Issue 8, Sep 2014

For Your Reconsideration: Gunday (2014) Written by Matt Bowes | Images courtesy of bollywoodmdb.com, ibnlive.in.com, and Yash Raj Films 21

The Internet Movie Database is a useful website, but it does have some drawbacks. It’s a great device when you’re trying to remember that guy who was in that thing but as a measure of general film quality, it leaves a lot to be desired. Unlike Rotten Tomatoes, which analyzes critical opinion to get a consensus on a movie’s quality, IMDB tends more towards extremism as fans want to make their enjoyment of things they’ve just seen get recognized on the Top 250 list (The Dark Knight at #4 best of all time, Forrest Gump at #14, really? REALLY?). The Top 250 list is also very Hollywood-centric and, for the most part, the films date from the last thirty years or so. Currently reigning at the very bottom of the IMDB chart, however, we find this year’s Gunday, a movie that has been affected by the public’s taste more than most. Due to a coordinated campaign against the film, where most of the people involved probably didn’t even seen it, Gunday has been singled out for this dubious honour due to what its critics feel is a misreading of historical events (more information on this can be found here). The movie itself is not the issue here, as personal and

Issue 8, Sep 2014

critics feel is a misreading of historical events (more information on this can be found here). The movie itself is not the issue here, as personal and political beliefs are what marked this film off as being unworthy, which is too bad because Gunday is about as good of an introduction to Bollywood cinema as you could ever want. It’s got it all, over-the-top gangster action, a romantic triangle that hits the peak of melodrama, lush cinematography (and moustaches), and interludes of music and dancing. The story starts off in the 1970s, as the nation of Bangladesh emerges from a bloody war of independence. Two young refugees from Bangladesh, Bikram and Bala, find themselves working for a gunrunner near the newly-formed border, but soon they make their way to Calcutta after Bala has to kill a corrupt army officer to save his friend’s life. Flash forward fifteen years, where Bikram (Ranveer Singh) and Bala (Arjun Kapoor) have set themselves up as the city’s most beloved gangsters, two self-proclaimed “gunday” (Hindi slang for outlaws or goons) by cornering the market on coal coming into town by rail. They achieve this control over Calcutta’s resources by beating seven shades of hell out of the man who used to control the trade, Dibakar. To illustrate the heightened level of insanity at which the fight scenes in the film operate, at one point during the raid on Dibakar’s train, Bikram picks up one thug and uses him to smack two other thugs before throwing him at a sign. Right away, Gunday deviates from the classic gangster film formula, as the means by which the duo become wealthy and powerful is not a difficult pill for the audience to swallow. As opposed to a drug dealer like Tony Montana in Brian de Palma’s remake of Scarface, or a bootlegger like Little Caesar and most of the 1930s Warner Bros. gangsters, our heroes here are virtuous criminals by default as they control the use of a household necessity rather than a societal ill. To further reinforce the fact that these are two great dudes, they’ve gone on to use this wealth for philanthropy in addition to their lush lifestyle, building hospitals and schools for the less fortunate. This follows a rich tradition of social justice in Bollywood cinema, which is often concerned with the plight of poor

philanthropy in addition to their lush lifestyle, building hospitals and schools for the less fortunate. This follows a rich tradition of social justice in Bollywood cinema, which is often concerned with the plight of poor people and the disabled. The songs in Gunday are some of my favourites of the Bollywood films I’ve seen. The adult versions of Bikram and Bala are introduced with "Jashn-E-Ishqa," a joyous song that talks about how good of friends the two are, and how they are awesome bros. They do cool things like ride around on motorcycles, set playing cards on fire and mud wrestle one another. As you can expect from this description, the homoerotic tension in the film is heightened just as much as the action scenes. This is definitely a film designed for the female/homoerotic gaze, as our two heroes are excellent specimens, who seem to sweat baby oil and lose their shirts often. That’s not to say that women are not represented in the story, though, as one comes between the two men. Nandita (Priyanka Chopra) is a cabaret dancer at the Calcutta Club. She’s introduced to us in a comedic scene in which the two heroes are momentarily stymied by how to use a urinal in their traditional outfits, at which point things get further awkward as Nandita leaves a stall. Her initial song, “Asalaam-E-Ishqum," is performed alongside the burlesque troupe at the Calcutta Club, and features what is perhaps the most baller image ever put onscreen when Bikram shoots a silenced Uzi machine gun at the sky and money rains down on Nandita leaning on a classic car. This is only the beginning of the lush 70s-80s environments that Gunday delivers to audiences. In addition to some excellent location photography, sets like the Calcutta Club and Bikram and Bala’s coal mine are very well-realized and tactile. Nandita is far from just being another bit of eye candy, though, as she’s a fully developed character in her own right. Both men profess their love to her, and then concoct schemes to win her affection. It is Nandita, though, who has all the power in this three-way relationship, and the two men are the ones who are left pining for her. In another great scene later on, Nandita invites Bikram and Bala to meet her at a run-down movie theatre screening Mr. India, and she sings and dances along with a musical sequence onscreen. In a manner reminiscent of John Boorman’s Point Blank, violence later ensues as the figures on the big screen play on unaware of what’s going on in the real world, but this initial scene is very charming. Gunday has an interesting approach towards Bollywood’s film history. Many movies made in India at the moment are remakes of classic 1970s films, while Gunday makes comparisons to this era metatextually, both in the Mr. India example and in the use of film soundtracks from earlier eras throughout. Fans of M.I.A. may recognize the clip she used in her song “Jimmy” in a scene in which Bala tries to impress Nandita by buying her any fish she wants at the market. The antagonist of the piece comes in the form of international film star

Issue 8, Sep 2014 market. The antagonist of the piece comes in the form of international film star Irrfan Khan, who Western audiences probably know best from Life of Pi, or his recent arthouse success, The Lunchbox. In a departure from those sorts of role, he plays Satya, a cool-asnails supercop who’s brought in to take down Bikram and Bala’s criminal empire. Satya is a chessmaster type who plays other people off one another to bring justice to Calcutta’s streets. Both the criminals and the cop who’s chasing them are very likeable and cool characters, making every scene between them very entertaining. I tried to go see Gunday during its opening weekend this Valentine’s Day at one of the few multiplexes in town that plays Bollywood movies, but I was shocked to see that the screening was sold out. We ended up going to see it a week later, and the theatre was still pretty packed. While I do think it is very important to support arthouse theatres like the Metro Cinema, it’s also fascinating to think that inherently populist and fun films like Gunday are reaching an audience that a lot of filmgoers don’t even think about. Luckily, it’s now available on Netflix, as are a lot of entertaining Bollywood action films like the Dhoom series and Don 1 and 2. I’d definitely recommend stepping out of your comfort zone once in a while and seeing what other cultures have to offer in the form of popcorn fare, in addition to their art movies that score high on IMDB.

Written by Sherry Lawler | Images courtesy of scoutmagazine.ca, justcocktails.org, and Sherry Lawler

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Bring on the bourbon

Meathook    

1 1/2 oz Knob Creek Bourbon 1/2 oz Punt Mes (Sweet Vermouth) 1/4 oz Ardbeg Scotch Whisky 1/8 oz Maraschino Liquor

Instructions: In a mixing glass, gently stir bourbon, Punt Mes, Ardbeg, and Maraschino Liquor with ice. Strain mix into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

September is National Bourbon History Month in the US. Before we get to our Bourbon-inspired cocktail list, here’s a brief history to commemorate this fine spirit. Bourbon is required to be distilled in the US, must be made of at least fiftyone per cent corn, and aged in a brand new, charred oak barrel. Unlike Scotch and Irish whisky, which are able to incorporate colour and flavour to create consistency across thousands of whisky batches, this practice is flat-out illegal in the distilling of bourbon. Some of your favourite Scotches may, however, contain some bourbon. Why? Since barrels are only able to be used once in the making of bourbon, these barrels are then shipped over to the Scotch distilleries, usually with approximately three to five gallons of bourbon still seeping from the wood, to be used in the aging of scotch whisky. This mixing of spirits often gives the scotch much of its flavour. Now for the pièce de résistance: our Bourbon Mad Men-inspired cocktails.

Manhattan    

2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon 1 oz Carpano Antica (Sweet Vermouth) 3 dashes Angostura Bitters 1 Brandied Cherry

Instructions: In a mixing glass, gently stir bourbon, Carpano Antica, and bitters with ice. Strain mix into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Mint Julep    

10-12 leaves of fresh Mint 2 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon 1/2 oz mint syrup (or simple syrup) 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions: Spank mint, dropping into a Julep cup. Add bourbon, mint syrup, and bitters. Muddle. Fill cup with shaved ice. Garnish with sprigs of mint. For a twist: Try Fee Brothers Plum Bitters and 1 barspoon Agave Nectar instead (shown in photo).

There you have it. Three Mad Men-inspired Bourbon cocktails, and another with an extra kick of Whisky. After a night of drinking like Mad Men, don’t forget to comment below with your favoured Bourbon cocktail.

Old Fashioned     

1 tsp sugar 2 dashes Angostura Bitters 2 oz Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon 1 orange peel 1 orange slice

Instructions: Take orange peel and coat rim of rocks glass. Muddle orange peel, sugar, and bitters. Over large ice ball, or two large cubes of ice, add bourbon. Stir gently with bar spoon. Garnish with orange slice, if you’d like; otherwise, the orange peel in the drink is a great garnish in itself.

Tip: Change up the bitters for a different flavour to your Old Fashioned. Can easily substitute Peach bitters, Black Walnut bitters (always a hit), or, for a bit of spice, some Cajun Bitters.

Issue 8, Sep 2014

What does “Back to School” mean to you?

Written by Kelsey Beier | Image courtesy of 5wpr.com

It’s that time of year again. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Back to School. You celebrate Back to School, right? Of course you do. Whether you’re a teacher, student, any-colour-collared worker, or a retiree, I’m positive you acknowledge this progressively commercial holiday season in some sort of way. So what does “Back to School” mean in our modern, new-age world? Has it always been celebrated in the same way? And to the same degree? For me, Back to School means exactly that: heading back to school. I have very fond memories of shopping with my mom for back to school clothes and supplies as a child. I remember her coming with me to the mall in my early years, allowing me to pick out two or three new pairs of pants and four to five tops, depending on the price. I could always easily sway her judgment by convincing her that I couldn’t possibly make it through the school year without the latest styles, along with that completely useless mini leather backpack. As I grew older, mom wised up and caught on to my ploy. She started giving me a set amount of money and sending me to the mall with my friends to do my shopping, knowing that this way I wouldn’t be able to make any last-minute pleas her way before getting up to the counter. I

would always insist that she come shopping with me so we could spend quality time together…but she was too smart for my manipulative teenage wiles. Alas, I soon learned to think very carefully and critically about my Back to School purchases. And, because of this, I cared very deeply for them, laying each outfit perfectly on my bed, imagining my friends admiring my new duds as I walked down the school halls. I asked my husband, a Senior Buyer for a manufacturing company, if the idea of Back to School means anything to him. His reply: “Not really. It means I need to start making your lunches again.” What a guy, hey? This started me thinking about my attachment to this time of year. I’m a school teacher, so it clearly makes sense that I still consider the month of September as the beginning of a new year, a fresh start, an opportunity to go spend my Canadian dollar on some new threads. More significantly, the new school season provokes me to re-evaluate my day-to-day routines, my teaching, and admittedly, my overall purpose in life. This is the time of year where my real New Year’s Resolutions are made. Obviously, I’m not the only one who views the Back to School holiday as an important time of year. It’s now time to talk about that ugly

would always insist that she come shopping

elephant in the room. The one that makes the

elephant in the room. The one that makes the world go round. The one that is very difficult to escape from even if you try so hard to do just that. That’s right—the elephant that is Capitalism. As you can see from my earlier nostalgic memories, I’ve been one of the many young minds brainwashed to think that the new school year means automatically needing to have new things. Lots of news things! And if the thing is from last year but it’s still in very good condition, it’s too late; it’s still too old to be new! Come late August, the seasonal aisles of every store you go into will hold shelves supplied to the nines with school supplies. Just weeks before, these were the exact shelves that once housed summer water toys and patio furniture. And once the Back to School capitalist markets make their buck, these same shelves will be home to a large array and mixture of turkey figurines, spooky decorations that talk at you when you walk by, and loads of delicious minisized “I-can-eat-five-of-these-because-they-aresmall” packages of Halloween candy. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we, as a society, might as well just get it over with and make it official. In North America, Back to School Season is an actual thing. We like to celebrate and acknowledge it. It may not have been accepted into the club of our favorites yet, like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and St Patty’s, but just like the others, it happens every year and we act upon it. Thusly, as it ‘tis the season, I’ll leave you and your thoughts with a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald, who must also have been musing on the Back to School season: “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” How are you going to start the new school year?

Written by Cheryl Cottrell-Smith | Images courtesy of steamtradingcards.wikia.com, Marvel Comics, and jadedeye.aminus3.com.

Edmontonians band together to build Wolverine statue

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Canadian comic book lovers are taking a stand. They’re working to reprint Golden Age Canadian classics. They’re pushing local content and artists at conventions. And they’re signing petitions to build a majestic life-sized Wolverine statue smack dab in the middle of Edmonton. Even the local news outlets have picked up on the Wolverine hype. Brian LaBelle is the initiator of the original Wolverine statue petition, which he wrote as a satirical commentary on the funding arrangements for the new downtown arena. A certified child and youth care counsellor and program manager of a group care program, LaBelle’s original petition for a 1000 foot Wolverine statue—which gained almost 1800 supporters—garnered so much interest that he soon realized this idea could become a reality. “The petition was shared by Edmonton media and managed to end up in the news across the United States and even in Brazil and Japan,” says LaBelle. “There was clearly some actual interest in the concept but to build a 1000' statue would be impossible and completely ridiculous. From there, the idea grew that a 10-15' statue could be possible.” LaBelle isn’t the only one to see the value of the project. Not knowing the original petition existed, Jesse Seitz, helped by friend Christopher Olivier, recently began a new petition to build a Wolverine statue in Edmonton. This petition has reached over 1200 supporters as of Sunday, September 21. Edmonton wouldn’t be the first city to celebrate the best in pop culture with a concrete monument. Philadelphia has a Rocky Balboa statue and Detroit recently erected a Robocop statue, paid for with a crowdfunding campaign. Edmonton is jumping on board with its own wish to celebrate a pop culture icon of its own: the Albertan-born member of the X-men, Wolverine. “I just think it's fun,” says LaBelle. “The character is from Northern Alberta, there are literally thousands of options for public art that are going to be displayed in the city, and I just think this is something that could and should be considered and others obviously do too.” Worldwide, Wolverine is already a symbol of Canadian perseverance and strength. Erecting a statue to celebrate this character is tantamount to claiming him as Edmonton’s own. Not just as an Albertan, but as a really awesome Albertan. “I’ve been working on [this] for the past year and I just recently got some great advice and direction on what would actually need to be done to get a statue like this built and displayed,” says LaBelle. Likewise, people throughout Alberta are throwing their support behind the idea. “With my original petition and with this latest one, there has been a lot of public support,” says LaBelle. “A lot of people think if we're going to spend money on baseball bats and piles of balls, why not something like this?” Of course, some people have been voicing their concerns with the fact that Wolverine is a Northern Albertan, claiming that the character isn’t really suitable as an Edmonton monument. But, as author Leslie Chivers shows in a recent blog post, Wolverine’s connection to Edmonton is multifaceted, stemming from his connections with the Canadian government and John Byrne’s Alpha Flight, a group of Canadian superheroes who first appeared in X-men #120 when they tried to reclaim Wolverine from the X-men. Several of Alpha Flight’s exploits take place in Edmonton, throughout notable spots such as West Edmonton Mall and Jasper Avenue. In Edmonton, the likelihood of a Wolverine statue initiative actually reaching fruition has been helped along by advice from Edmonton’s new mayor, Don Iveson, who gave LaBelle the information he needed to further his cause. “Mayor Iveson actually reached out to me through Twitter, got my information and passed it along to people on the Edmonton Arts Council so we could arrange to meet and go over the steps necessary for having a piece of art considered for public display,” says Labelle. “They gave me some perspective on potential issues I hadn't considered but [which] they have, because that's what they do for a living. It was

Issue 8, Sep 2014

statue in Edmonton. This petition has reached over 1200 supporters as of Sunday, September 21. Edmonton wouldn’t be the first city to celebrate the best in pop culture with a concrete monument. Philadelphia has a Rocky Balboa statue and Detroit recently erected a Robocop statue, paid for with a crowdfunding campaign. Edmonton is jumping on board with its own wish to celebrate a pop culture icon of its own: the Albertan-born member of the X-men, Wolverine. “I just think it's fun,” says LaBelle. “The character is from Northern Alberta, there are literally thousands of options for public art that are going to be displayed in the city, and I just think this is something that could and should be considered and others obviously do too.” Worldwide, Wolverine is already a symbol of Canadian perseverance and strength. Erecting a statue to celebrate this character is tantamount to claiming him as Edmonton’s own. Not just as an Albertan, but as a really awesome Albertan. “I’ve been working on [this] for the past year and I just recently got some great advice and direction on what would actually need to be done to get a statue like this built and displayed,” says LaBelle. Likewise, people throughout Alberta are throwing their support behind the idea. “With my original petition and with this latest one, there has been a lot of public support,” says LaBelle. “A lot of people think if we're going to spend money on baseball bats and piles of balls, why not something like this?” Of course, some people have been voicing their concerns with the fact that Wolverine is a Northern Albertan, claiming that the character isn’t really suitable as an Edmonton monument. But, as author Leslie Chivers shows in a recent blog post, Wolverine’s connection to Edmonton is multifaceted, stemming from his connections with the Canadian government and John Byrne’s Alpha Flight, a group of Canadian superheroes who first appeared in X-men #120 when they tried to reclaim Wolverine from the X-men. Several of Alpha Flight’s exploits take place in Edmonton, throughout notable spots such as West Edmonton Mall and Jasper Avenue. In Edmonton, the likelihood of a Wolverine statue initiative actually reaching fruition has been helped along by advice from Edmonton’s new mayor, Don Iveson, who gave LaBelle the information he needed to further his cause. “Mayor Iveson actually reached out to me through Twitter, got my information and passed it along to people on the Edmonton Arts Council so we could arrange to meet and go over the steps necessary for having a piece of art considered for public display,” says Labelle. “They gave me some perspective on potential issues I hadn't considered but [which] they have, because that's what they do for a living. It was productive and provided some clear direction.” Supporters of the Wolverine statue initiative can stay tuned to the @WolverineStatue Twitter account, which will be posting information for volunteer meetings within the next month. All other updates about the project will be shared through this channel by LaBelle.

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Written by Cheryl Cottrell-Smith | Images courtesy of Nerdpunk Cosplay and SeyeCo Images

Expo highlight:

Nerdpunk Cosplay

Edmonton Expo Cosplay Exclusive Nerdpunk will be appearing as Harley Quinn on Friday and will be debuting her Demon Hunter (Diablo 3) cosplay on Saturday and Sunday.

Find more information on Nerdpunk Cosplay’s Facebook page.

Name/Handle: Nerdpunk Cosplay A newcomer to the local cosplay scene, Nerdpunk Cosplay began her adventures in costume at the Calgary Expo earlier this year. Rather than taking the easy route and buying a costume, she decided to make her own cosplay to have the full experience. Since then, she’s been hooked. “My favourite things about cosplay are the community and how accepting people are,” she says. “All of my experiences at conventions have been great. It feels like a big family! You can’t really leave a con without at least one new friend.”

Issue 8, Sep 2014

Thepulppress.com