Cosmic Treadmill: FOG! Chats With the SECRET IDENTITIES Creative Team of Joines, Faerber and Kyriazis - FORCES OF GEEK

Imagine a land where a ragtag group of heroes with miss-matched powers are thrown together to avenge and seek justice.

That’s right, that world exists and it’s called Canada!

Let’s back up a few steps here.

Image Comics delivers Secret Identities #1 in February, and we’ve assembled our own globe trotting squad — the talented creative team for one of those awkward roundtable conferences with our masks still on!



Writers Brian Joines (Imagine Agents) and Jay Faerber (Copperhead, Graveyard Shift, Gemini) are joined by artist Ilias Kyriazis to give us the skinny on your favorite new superhero team that is almost ready to implode!

FOG!: Thank you guys for joining us to talk Secret Identities #1! I’m a sucker for a good team book — what sets this one apart?

Jay Faerber: A couple things. For one thing, this is a creator-owned book where literally ANYTHING can happen. We don’t have to put the characters back the way we found them. We don’t have to make sure so-and-so is back in costume in time for his big movie.

If you like super-hero books but are tired of the repetition at Marvel and DC, this is the book for you.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

]

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. JANUARY 14, 2015

COMICS

Today we tip a hat to one of our own! Matt Dursin’s Robin Hood: Outlaw of the 21st Century was kickstarted into creation in September 2013! This Sherlock’d version of Robin and his merry band scour the town of Sherwood for medical supplies to steal, and give them to those in need. Now FINALLY available on ComiXology! … Star Wars #1 from Marvel is from Jason Aaron and John Cassaday! ‘Nuff Said! … One of Matt’s heroes is Terry Moore - Rachel Rising Vol. 5 hits shelves today, getting us to the bottom of who is Rachel’s killer! Picks this week from LeaguePodcast, natch!

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. JANUARY 7, 2015

COMICS

Marvel released the Paul Rudd Ant-Man trailer during it’s Agent Carter series last night. Here’s the new series Ant-Man #1 from one of our favorite writers Nick Spencer! … Lady Killer #1 from Dark Horse puts a 60’s housewife into the fray as a killer for hire! … Mortal Kombat X returns to game systems as well as the comic book rack with a new #1 published by DC Comics, collecting the Digital series. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

BEST OF 2014 LIST - CLAY N. FERNO for FORCES OF GEEK!

CLAY N. FERNO
@claynferno | leaguepodcast.com

Best Movies: Guardians of The Galaxy, Chef, Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier, Edge of Tomorrow (Live Die Repeat), X-Men Days of Future Past, The LEGO Movie
Best TV Shows: True Detective, Arrow, Flash, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Newsroom, Orange is the New Black
Best Books (fiction):  Prince Lestat by Anne Rice  
Best Books (non-fiction): So Anyway by John Cleese 
Best Video Game: The Last of Us Remastered
Best Songs: ‘All About That Bass’ by Meghan Trainor, ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ by Lorde 
Best Albums: ‘Sheezus’ by Lily Allen, ‘The Voyager’ by Jenny Lewis 
Best Music Video: ‘Crime’ by Real Estate (directed by Tom Scharpling) 
Best Comic Books / Graphic Novels: Death of Archie, Saga, Sex Criminals, The Flash, Leaving Megalopolis
Best Blu-ray/DVD Release: Guardians of the Galaxy iTunes HD, X-Men: Days of Future Past iTunes HD
Most overrated thing about 2014? Comic book convention coverage
Most underrated thing about 2014? Fargo (TV)
Thing that you were most excited about in 2014? The Flash (TV)
Thing that disappointed you most in 2014? Racism
Thing that you’re most looking forward to in 2015? Fresh vibes, the end of Mad Men, Avengers: Age of Ultron and please another Flash/Arrow crossover episode.

Clay N Ferno writes the columns Cosmic Treadmill and Triple Shot for Forces of Geek.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK.COM]

DIGBOSTON & LEAGUEPODCAST COMICS PICKS OF THE WEEK FOR DECEMBER 31, 2014

COMICS

Get your hands off me, you damn dirty Klingon! It was hard to not spend all morning coming up with a tag line for Star Trek/Planet of the Apes #1 coming out this week! … Mark Waid brings Agent Coulson and a helper monke to headlines with a brand new S.H.I.E.L.D #1! …All Ages pick from award winning Roger Landridge this week is Abigail and the Snowman #1. Abigail is the new kid but befriends a Yeti named Claude in this all ages adventure! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

THE GAMBLER (movie review) at FORCES OF GEEK

Review by Clay N Ferno

Produced by Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, 

Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, David Winkler

Screenplay by William Monahan

Based on The Gambler by James Toback

Directed by Rupert Wyatt

Starring Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, 

Brie Larson, Michael K. Williams, Jessica Lange, 

Emory Cohen, George Kennedy, Richard Schiff

Mark Wahlberg stars in a remake of 1974’s The Gambler directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Escapist). No, not Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, that came out in 1980!  Wahlberg takes on the role of Jim Bennett, a college professor with a knack for getting in deep with the wrong kinds of people while feeding his gambling habit. 

The rest of the cast features heavy hitters Jessica Lange as Jim’s long-suffering rich mother, John Goodman as Frank the whale and one of our favorite actors from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and The Wire, Michael Kenneth Williams.

Brie Larsen (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) is Amy Phillips, a literature student working off her student loans nights at an upscale underground Hollywood casino. Amy knows her professor’s secret but is not the only student to be affected by the Bennett’s actions—mirroring points in the original film.

There is more than debt resolution and distracted teaching in this film, however. Wahlberg delivers a serious performance of a man bordering on being out of control with his habits but not an addict.

There may be more to what we see behind Jim Bennett’s blackjack face.

Some other reviewers and I were all invited to what could best be described as a meet and greet with director Rupert Wyatt when he was in town. There, we cozied up and in the least formal way imaginable—over tea sandwiches and soup in the lobby of a Boston hotel—to take advantage of a rare opportunity to talk to the director in an intimate setting. Being on the opposite coast of such regular occurrences, I took full advantage of this and broke bread with Mr. Wyatt and we all picked his brain about working with hometown Hollywood anti-hero Wahlberg his experiences making this movie. Martin Scorsese was once attached to The Gambler, but Rupert was the final directorial choice.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

BIG EYES (movie review) - at FORCES OF GEEK

Review by Clay N Ferno

Produced by Tim Burton, Scott Alexander, 

Larry Karaszewski, Lynette Howell

Written by Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski

Directed by Tim Burton

Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz,

 Danny Huston, Jon Polito, Krysten Ritter, 

Jason Schwartzman, Terence Stamp

Set in the sixties, Tim Burton’s Big Eyes, is based on the life of artist Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) and her shyster husband, Walter (Christoph Waltz). This is a sidestep from Burton’s previous work while still maintaining some of his signature weirdness. Supporting cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Krysten Ritter, Terence Stamp, Danny Huston and a host of others. 

The title comes from Margaret’s ‘waif’ paintings, you’ve seen these and knockoffs for years, perhaps in your grandma’s sitting room.

The unfortunates look sad and look through you, and Big Eyes means to set the record straight about who is behind the brush.

I’m surprised at the PG-13 rating for this one, as the subject matter is tame and a bit of a departure from what you might expect from a Tim Burton movie. Other reviewers have been comparing this to 1994’s biopic Ed Wood. Needless to say, where Burton shines are in locations where you may expect to see him — in Halloween Town or Wonderland. The only real fantasy we get is in the supermarket where everyone is taken over by Big Eye syndrome among 60’s pop art exaggerated product branding straight from the cover of The Who Sell Out.

The styling, costumes and the set pieces are very much of the time — we’re trained to expect a certain throwback to the same era after seven seasons of Mad Men — and the overall palette of the picture is as bright as you may expect. 

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

SHE MAKES COMICS (movie review) - at FORCES OF GEEK

Review by Clay N Ferno

Produced by Karen Green, Patrick Meaney, 

Jordan Rennert, and Marisa Stotter

Executive Produced by, Julian Darius and Mike Phillips

Directed by Marisa Stotter

Starring Ramona Fradon, Trina Robbins, Karen Berger,

Joyce Farmer, Karen Berger, Kelly Sue DeConnick, 

Becky Cloonan, Wendy and Richard Pini, 
Jenette Kahn, Marie Severin, Paul Levitz

She Makes Comics is the latest film by the Sequart Organization funded by Kickstarter and available for sale and digital download for comics fans of any gender.

Marisa Stotter directs this documentary produced in association with Respect! Films that delves into the history, present and future of female fandom, lady creators and what it means to be a fan of comics today. A true celebration of the medium, She Makes Comics puts the spotlight on key contributors, editors and cosplayers to encourage young girls and women to embrace what they love.

It seems like you can’t swing a longbox these days without running into some internet discourse or open letter about gamergate, cosplayers at conventions or fan backlash about new costume designs for female heroes (looking good, Batgirl and Spider-Woman)!

As a straight white male (boring, I know!) checking my privilege seems to be something I do without such reminders but I’m grateful to have the opportunity to review great films like this.

We need more movies like She Makes Comics! 

Not only are we given a history lesson about comic books, a subject that I’ve quite literally worn the leather of my armchair reading up on, but we get to learn and listen to important lessons in this documentary. I watched this with my girlfriend, also a comic book fan and we were high-fiving throughout! Mostly when Kelly Sue DeConnick was speaking, because she’s just so cool.

Scanning the indicia (you know, the tiny print on the inside of comic books, usually page 1) and the credits was something I always did while reading comics as a kid (didn’t everyone? No?).

Some of my favorite books were by ladies and I thought nothing of it, I mean anyone can write and draw a book, right? There were Mary Shelley and Anne Rice for example. Until I grew into an adult, I had NO IDEA what kind of struggle an Ann Nocenti, Louise Simonson or Lynn Varley might be dealing with just because they were female. I saw them just as creators — and most of the time I thought they did a better job than their male counterparts.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

FOG! Chats With ERIK LARSEN About SAVAGE DRAGON #200! at FORCES OF GEEK

A heavy book hit the shelves this week! Savage Dragon #200 is weighing in as a ‘100-Page Super Spectacular’ and also carries with it the legacy of Erik Larsen’s career, where he has stayed with Dragon and now Malcolm as the titular character.

From the Image Revolution to the age of digital comics, you can rarely find a more ingrained creator or publisher in the industry.

He is able to playfully tip his hat to the Silver Age and Jack Kirby while moving his own book and stories into the future. 

The Image Comics CFO took the time to talk his milestone issue with us—and for that we are grateful and wish him and Dragon many more milestones in the future! 



FOG!: Erik - thank you so much for taking the time! When we saw #200 was hitting shelves, our fins went straight up! Thank you for so many awesome issues! What does this milestone mean to you? 

Erik Larsen: Every issue is a milestone, really. Each one is another number reached and another issue under my belt. The big ones, 50, 100, 150 and 200 are just that much sweeter because I pull out all the stops and involve a number of others to join in the celebration but I don’t think of any issue as ordinary, really. 

In my mind they’re all a big deal. 

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. December 24, 2014

COMICS

The penultimate issue of She-Hulk is here at #11. Order in the court at Jennifer takes on former Master of Evil Titania! … Come on, grab your friends for Adventure Time #35 — the last from the creative team of Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb. The fun will never end (or will it)! … Robin turned Nightwing is now super spy Grayson in Spyral. Somehow he gets Grayson Annual #1 with only five issues under his utility belt? How does it work? Who knows, but the issue reveals the Secret Origin of The New 52’s Helena Bertinelli — so that’s something! Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

DIG BOSTON AND LEAGUE PODCAST COMICS PICKS OF THE WEEK FOR WED. DECEMBER 17, 2014

COMICS

The Simpsons’s Last Action Movie Hero Rainier Wolfcastle fulfills his promise to be back — in McBain (One-Shot) #1 from Bongo Comics this week! … Stumptown is code name for the west coast Portland and the title of one of our favorite Rockford Files inspired murder mystery books! Greg Rucka and artist Justin Greenwood put our leading lady Dex in harm’s way to get to the bottom of a soccer murder in Stumptown V.3 #4! … Time is steadily running out in Sandman: Overture #4 of 6 from Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams III. Savor these last morsels of the Dreaming. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

Dig Boston and League Podcast Comics Picks of the Week for Wed. December 10, 2014

 

COMICS

Dragon is broken out of prison putting Malcolm in the Middle of some hot action! Celebrate all that is right with comics these days for Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon #200! The only Image founder to stay as the main creator for his book since 1992! Fins UP! Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel) gives us Bitch Planet #1 for a sci-fi prison planet type affair for the feminist in everyone. Finally! … Harley Quinn Holiday Special #1 pits our mallet bearing clown against department store Santas, Natch! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com!

Cosmic Treadmill - Reviewing BATMAN/SUPERMAN VOL. 2: GAME OVER AT FORCES OF GEEK

Last week we took on Nightwing, and in these last weeks of the year that celebrate 75 years of Batman, we take a look at Greg Pak’s Batman/Superman Vol. 2: Game Over. 

Pak’s take on the World’s Finest team begins its second volume with an art change and video game story then the rest of the book tackles Mongul and son, Jochi, and a battle on Warworld. 

Pak is joined by Paul Levitz on some writing duties and the art team is split up between the talents of Brett Booth, Jae Lee, R.B. Silva, Kenneth Rocafort, Philip Tan, Scott McDaniel, Norm Rapmund and Joe Weems.

I did note in my Nightwing review that the art inconsistencies were less than ideal for such an expensive volume. Much the same could be said for this book but Booth’s tight and traditional comic pages contrast nicely with the ethereal Jae Lee art of this book. The supporting artists keep it all together as well. 

This hardcover volume is a great gift idea for the DC Comics fan in your life this holiday season featuringBatman/Superman Issues #5—9, Annual #1 and the crossover tale for Worlds’ Finest #20-21.

Batman Superman HC Vol. 2 Game Over
Writer: Greg Pak, Paul Jenkins
Artist: Brett Booth, Jae Lee, Various
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: 11/22/14
Price: $24.99
UPC: 978140124935952499
Buy It HERE 
Digital: readdcentertainment.com


No stranger to the world of video games and programmers — Greg Pak’s Code Monkey Save World is a compendium on Jonathan Coulton songs brought to the page — the opening salvo of this volume is a gamer’s delight, all illustrated in landscape pages from superstar Brett Booth (The Flash).

A great experiment for this format was the McFarlane/Liefeld Spider-Man and X-Force: Sabotage from November 1991. Even more recently, Erik Larsen did this in Savage Dragon #199.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Get Your Tickets to Big Hero 6 Now on Fandango.

DIGBOSTON AND LEAGUE PODCAST COMIC BOOK PICKS OF THE WEEK WED. NOVEMBER 26, 2014

COMICS

Lego my Allen! These Lego variant covers are sweet, and so is the new Flash TV show and current arc in the comics by Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, Green Lantern) and artist Brett Booth. Flash #36 hits shelves this week. … Pesky Joes invade Cybertron in this nutso Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #4 issue from Tom Scioli and John Barber. Yo, Cosmic Joe! … Our old tentacle loving pal Ben Templesmith has a new DC book, Gotham by Midnight #1 with Ray Fawkes (Constantine). Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

Get Your Tickets to Big Hero 6 Now on Fandango.

Cosmic Treadmill - Reviewing NIGHTWING V. 5: SETTING SON with a Side Order of GRAYSON at FORCES OF GEEK

I’m a Bat-family loyalist, reading weekly Bat-titles, even when they fall off the rails a bit (Detective Comics) or even reach into my pockets weekly for some drawn out something or other (Batman Eternal).

I’m also a Batgirl fan and am giving the new ‘’Burnside’ creative team a shot.

One book I personally passed on the New 52 shelves was Nightwing.

Perhaps I didn’t like his new costume — but was it really that offensive to my sensibilities?

At any rate, I visited Kyle Higgin’s Nightwing Vol. 1 eventually, snaking a deal on the trade.  Not bad…but then another break.

With a ‘Villain’s month’, Forever Evil and Zero Year, the New 52 has an inherent problem with it’s regularly programmed books this year.

How does one randomly pick up Nightwing Vol. 5: Setting Son without wanting to pack up and move far away from The New 52 like Grayson himself?

I attempted to do this, and like an acrobat there were highs and lows from this book. 

Thankfully, more tricks were landed than fell into the net.

NIGHTWING VOL. 5: SETTING SON
Writers: Kyle Higgins, Tim Seeley, Tom King
Art: Various
Publisher: DC Comics
Price $16.99
UPC:      978140125011951699
Release Date: 12/10/14
Pre-Order HERE 
Digital: readdcentertainment.com


Nightwing Vol. 5: Setting Son collects the final issues of Nightwing #25-30 plus Nightwing Annual #1.

My main criticism as a volume overall are the aforementioned inconsistencies and obvious problems with injecting crossover events into a planned out story arc.

In my opinion, most of the Zero Year stories could have been contained to the main Batman book but this Nightwing story fits in to continuity well.

I’m reminded of Batman: Year Three in which the Robin story is told revealing secrets of the circus and The Flying Graysons. 

In this flashback, the superstar teenager defies his parents and ditching his parents to catch a movie in Gotham solo. Our proto-Robin saves the day and there is even a costume origin — tidbits I devour when flashback stories are told. Will Conrad nails the art, Higgins tells a great story.

It should be stated that while this might appear to be collected edition — and it is, this is more a collection of single issues, much like nearly every volume of The New 52 Superman (see the wildly erratic Vol. 4 Psi-War for example). Other top selling titles maintain a great level of integrity —even if artists change for an issue or two — like Batman, The Flash and Batman/Superman. 

Next up — Batgirl in Nightwing Annual #1. The on-again/off-again relationship tension is addressed as the two team up to take on a Scooby mystery of Hollywood proportions. The cute Robin/Batgirl selfie flashback is the backbone to the Dick/Babs vignette.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Get Your Tickets to Big Hero 6 Now on Fandango.

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 (review) at FORCES OF GEEK

Review by Clay N Ferno

Produced by Brett Ratner, Jay Stern, John Morris

Screenplay by Sean Anders, John Morris

Story by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, 

Sean Anders, John Morris

Directed by Sean Anders

Starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, 

Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine,

Christoph Waltz, Jonathan Banks, Kevin Spacey

Hollywood returns to the well once again for another sequel that questions it’s own existence!

Thankfully, the familiar television and movie stars making up the ensemble cast do have their moments, and Horrible Bosses 2 isn’t a complete waste of time.

Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day reprise their roles as Nick, Kurt and Dale and become their own bosses unleashing a new product “The Shower Buddy” onto the world.

Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Spacey return as well, along with mastermind “Motherfucker” Jones — Jamie Foxx.

Added this time around are the father/son team of leading man Chris Pine and Basterd Chrisopher Waltz. 

For schlock value, if you like to tune out here’s a movie for you, with some funny moments but the spark isn’t as bright as the original concept or the director Sean Ander’s last effort behind the camera, Adam Sandler’s That’s My Boy.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Get Your Tickets to Big Hero 6 Now on Fandango.

LEGENDS OF THE KNIGHT (review) AT FORCES OF GEEK

Produced by Brett Culp,Tricia Culp, 

Matt Andrews, Josh Costella, Ian del Carmen, 

Vasilis K. Pozios, 5th Element Events, Sultan Saeed 

Al Darmaki, Sultan Al Saud, Southeast Psych

Written and Directed by Brett Culp

Starring Michael Uslan, Denny O’Neil, 

Lenny B Robinson, Jill Pantozzi, Kye Sapp, 

Petaluma Batman, Rabbi Cary Friedman, 

Dr. Travis Langley, Gotham Chopra, 

Brian Elliott, Patrick O’Connor, Daniel Scott

As a side dish to your binge-watch of Batman ’66 DVDs we present to you Legends of the Knight from Virgil Films. The documentary takes a look at people passionate to a fault about the Caped Crusader on his 75th Anniversary.

From Batman film franchise executive producer Michael Uslan’s story, to the one-legged breakdancing Daniel Scott to Lenny Robinson — “Maryland Batman”, each vignette tells the story of people making the world better as if Batman were real.

Brett Culp’s touching documentary shows the side of fandom not exploited by cosplay press, but the human side of using Batman as an inspiration to make the world a better place.

As an avatar of justice for the past seventy-five years, Batman has meant a lot to a lot of different people.

This documentary explores how a fictional character like Batman is a real life role model to kids and adults across the world. Sure, Adam West, Christian Bale, Michael Keaton and the rest are all very different models on the screen, but the essence of Batman as a hero is always the same.

Like a perpetual “It Gets Better” campaign, Batman is lurking in the shadows to show kids that the impossible is possible and to do what is right.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

DIGBOSTON AND LEAGUE PODCAST COMICS PICKS OF THE WEEK FOR WED. NOVEMBER 19, 2014

COMICS

Twirl, Twirl, Twirl! Wonder Woman has a new creative team in Meredith & David Finch! Wonder Woman #36 guest stars Swamp Thing, check out the Lego Variant cover! …Over at Marvel, Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman gets a new number one spinning out of the Spider-Verse with new hero Silk. Get tangled up in Drew! … Due to overwhelming response, this week’s Lumberjanes #8 is not the last issue! These 5 teenage girls hunting monsters in the woods is exactly what you need in your life! Ride the Jane train and get caught up on this exciting new series from Boom! Studios. … All-ladies hero comic book week brought to you by LeaguePodcast.com.

Birdman: Following The Superhero Actor’s Trajectory - at JIMSULLIVANINK.com

I had expected Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman to be a little on the nose as far as following the career of Michael Keaton. I was pleasantly surprised to find out this was not the case. Keaton has continued to act and be successful since his Batman of 1986, and remains a respected and relevant actor even if not as active as he once was. Keaton plays Riggan Thompson, once famous for his roles inBirdman I, II & III (presumably things went down hill for Riggan when he refused to cash in on the opportunity to do Birdman IV — analogue to the Batman franchise and the Schumacher bombasts to follow the gritty Tim Burton Dark Knight interpretation. Riggan finds himself struggling to stay in the spotlight on Broadway, producing, directing and starring in his own play “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver.

Another superhero movie actor, (arguably three, all told) stars in the film, Edward Norton. Norton’s own relationship with his Marvel superhero, The Incredible Hulk (2008) is complex as he was replaced unceremoniously by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers (2012). Norton’s arrogance off screen is perhaps a reason he was replaced, and here in Birdman he plays a well known stage actor Mike Shiner, struggling to inject realism on the stage playing opposite his girlfriend Lesley (Naomi Watts). Shiner drinks real gin on stage, throws tantrums and is just a real dick to everyone. Perhaps it is because he can’t get it up!

Zach Galifianakis plays Riga’s agent and astraight man this time around. As comic artist Ray Hueston in HBO’s Bored to Death, he played the alter ego of Super Ray — a hero that can fight with his enlarged penis!

[READ MORE AT JIMSULLIVANINK.COM]

Learn how we can increase your sales, develop your brand, and generate interest in your site.

Kickstarter Korner - MEGA RAN Documentary & CYBERINES #1 - AT FORCES OF GEEK

Two talented artists have some campaigning ending really soon so I grabbed them to tell us about their projects.  

 One is more familiar to this column — a comic book project from Joe Martino (Shadowflame, The Mighty Titan).

The other is only a household name to those hyped on the nerdcore rap scene.

Random aka Mega Ran aka Raheem is a former teacher who tours the world rapping about life, but also he is the only rapper to be officially endorsed by Capcom.

Following the footsteps of his friend Damien Hess also known as MC Frontalot’s Nerdcore Rising, Random is Kickstarting a documentary Mega Lo Mania - Director’s Cut for full distribution.

Joe even has some Kickstarter tips as well, so keep your eyes peeled, creative types. 

If you have a few dollars or a dollar to spare, consider backing these hard working gentlemen! If you can’t spare anything but you like what you see, spread the word. They will be grateful!


Mega Lo Mania - A Nerd Rap Documentary

FOG!: Ran, we’re excited about your Kickstarter. What can fans expect from Mega Lo Mania - A Nerd Rap Documentary?

Mega Ran: The doc got such great reviews that all we needed was more, quite frankly.. I went and found old footage, interviewed some of my heroes in the scene and I think it ties up the Mega Ran story, that’s so hard to explain to people most times, perfectly!

Maybe we should back up. What is it you do for those unfamiliar out there? You rap about video games, right?

I rap about life, mostly, but from a few unique perspectives, most notably, the eyes of video game characters. 

A lot of what I do is video game related for sure, It’s probably where I feel most comfortable.

… 

*****

To support the Kickstarter, Click HERE!

For more details visit MegaRan.com and on Twitter @MegaRan

*****

Cyberines #1

FOG!: Tell us about Cyberines #1!

Joe Martino: Well, I created Cyberine before Shadowflame. I always liked patriotic characters like Captain America so I wanted to create one like that. But I didn’t want him to look like a flag. 

I figured what’s better than Marines Red and Gold? Originally he was in Vietnam and he got blown up on his way home. But, as time went on Desert Storm made more sense and then Afghanistan. In Shadowflame I actually call it the Second Gulf War meaning the 2004 Afghanistan war.  

In issue 4 I added a few characters to the team. Crimson, Caress and Barrel. Along with Cyberine and Agent Napalm, they make the core of the group. There are others that we will see later and some that really aren’t very nice. 

To me it is a bit like The Avengers if they were formed by the government and run by Professor Xavier. The Marine part of the group is very boot camp/Danger Room and we will see the group go through some serious issues. 

To support the Kickstarter, Click HERE!

For more details visit Red Anvil Comics and on Twitter @jgmcomics and@RedAnvilComics

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Learn how we can increase your sales, develop your brand, and generate interest in your site.