Here’s the thing, today I didn’t have fun! Now it’s unlike me to not have fun at any convention (long history of conventions), let alone a geeky, comic-book convention! But, I didn’t. I found it alienating and solidified something I’ve be thinking for a while: I’m not as much a geek as I used to be. I didn’t feel like I fit in with this subculture anymore. It’s been a slow build up, but the things I have been so passionate for over the past years have slowly been leaving my life. Comics, Videogames, Movies, Cartoons; I just don’t find the same enjoyment like a used to. Some may laugh and some may say “I’m growing up.” However I’m feeling it’s a little more, I’m feeling like I’m going through a loss of identity.

Movies were the first to go. Everyone in my life knows how much I wanted to produce movies. Maybe I still do! I’ve taken myself to some pretty fantastic places under this preconceived notion, however over the last year (maybe two years, realistically) this desire has started to dwindle. Thus I find myself back at school pursuing different avenues. I may come back to the industry, but at this point I don’t know. I even find some difficulty in just watching movies these days; well, at least most of the newer theatrically released films that is.

Video games also have lost their enjoyment for me. I have played video games all of my life, however over the past several months I’ve tried to rent some new games as a distraction from school. Waste of time across the board! With the exception of Bayonetta, I found very little enjoyment in any of them; especially Final Fantasy XIII, a true exercise in frustration.

I could also talk about how I recently culled my old action figure collection, but the biggest blow for my geeky identity has been falling out of love with collecting comics. I have been a comic nut since 1990, my childhood collection was ridiculous. Comics, along with cartoons, shaped who I am today in every aspect of my life. They provided many rich sources of inspiration for creativity in my life. As an adult, my collection seemed to grow exponentially. For the majority of the last decade I had been rebuilding a fantastic comic collection. Some months I’d buy up to twelve (+) titles per month; never 6 than six titles, usually never more than 12. You do the math! On December 3rd, 2008 I bought my last comic. It was terrible. I waited months for it and it let me downl I fell out of love with collecting comics instantly. Knowing some friends would enjoy them more than I would, I handed my collection over to them for this past Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I loved those comics, but they didn’t do for me what they used to.

I still read “The Boys” and “Scott Pilgrim” – both are fantastic and break alot of moulds – these titles are too hard to put down.

So back to today….. I went to a comic convention and found it very alienating. I wasn’t looking for anything, I wasn’t interested in anything. I just couldn’t get into my groove. I felt like an impostor or that I didn’t belong at the con. The distributors selling comic books or toys were all similar with much of the same inventory, and I felt incredibly uncomfortable with all of the pandering to celebrities. I’ve never understood autograph chasing and the entire middle of the con was “autograph alley,” a collection of sci-fi names, reality tv personalities and aging wrestlers. It was weird being so close to an aging Honkey Tonk Man, Iron Sheik, and Luke from the Bushwackers.

I left the con empty handed and came home with an identity crisis.

So where does this leave me? I don’t know. Maybe it’s a good thing that all of these former passions are on the back burner, it certainly opens me up to some other passions and hobbies. But I definitely need something to fill the new void.

Who am I kidding though, I’ll probably still go to Fan Expo.
What can I say? I’m stubborn!

Almost two years ago (to the day) it was announced Warner Bros and Leonardo DiCaprio were teaming up to bring a live adaptation of Akira to the big screen. After two years of virtually no news (two or three updates max if I recall), it seems that the Hughes Brothers (Book of Eli) are in talks to direct the project!

This makes my little nerd heart swell with joy. Akira was one of the movies that warped my fragile little mind when I was much younger. Probably what, 18 years ago or so? If you haven’t ever watched Akira, I suggest you do so immediately. It is totally badass.

If you have seen Akira, there is an incredible live action short taking place 10 years after the events of Akira; check it out over at Nerdwithswag.

….And somehow, I had a feeling, things were going to turn out all right.

1) Unbelievably rad video above is “The Golden Age of Video” by Ricardo Autobahn. It’s uber catchy and quite well done. Some great samples of some epic lines through film and television; double points for using “Lisa needs braces” and “I want to go to there.” You can check out more of Ricardo Autobahn’s work here. Thanks to my friend JP, for the heads up via Twitter.

2) I’ve been in a very Star-Warsy mood lately. I can’t really figure out why, but I think it probably has to do with seeing drunken Ewoks completely ruin a Halloween episode of the Today’s Show two weeks ago. If you haven’t seen the clip yet, you can watch the glorious, fuzzy shenanigans here. Once you get past Al Roker dressed up as Han Solo everything gets better…. particularly when one of the Ewok goes to town and starts humping his leg.

3) In crazy movie news this week, some Mathematicians claimed to have found a formula that is the secret to a hit movie sequel. Mad science! Just think, if this had been discovered earlier, we may have been spared the travesties that were Spiderman 3 and X-Men 3…… Two travesties that continued to go on and make over 1.3 billion dollars combined, worldwide. Something tells me that their formula involves tights.

4) Speaking of X-Men 3, the screenwriter of X2 had some ideas for X3 that never came to fruition. Super frustrating. I’ll never forget being so terribly disappointed at X3! I had some unforgettable times on that set, but that movie has still left a terrible taste in my mouth. Maybe that’s Brett Ratner’s mutant power! The ability to corrupt an incredible franchise and leave a bad taste in every geek’s mouth.

5) In related comic book movie news, IGN is reporting that Rachel McAdams is in talks to play the Black Cat in Spiderman 4! I’m excited that Black Cat is about to make an appearance in Spiderman. I love the Black Cat, a long standing childhood crush; however I also don’t believe that any human is designed to handle that much woman. She’s feisty, a thrillseeker and looks faker than anything you would see on any stripclub stage. B

BONUS ROUND: Fun embarassing story time, featuring me!

Several Halloweens ago, I hit the town and went clubhopping with a friend. Dressing up as AC Slater, no matter how unflattering the costume, will always open doors that otherwise may not be available to you. By the time Zeus and I hit up our third club, I spotted her. We had already past by the Chun-Li’s, the Cammy’s and the April O’Neils, but on the dance floor was a black leather, fur-trimmed, white haired beauty. Yes, Felicia Hardy (AKA the Black Cat) was in full on party mode in the middle of the bar. Next thing I knew, an intoxicated AC Slater was dancing with the Black Cat; a strange fanfic story (and fantasy come true) if there ever was one. The bar came to a close and Black Cat and I ended up on an impromptu date to a late night diner. I’m not sure where it was headed, but I think I failed to seal any deals that night somewhere between when she told me she was a nymphomaniac and the Moons Over My Hammy. No dreams were fulfilled that night and I’ve hated myself just a little bit ever since.

However hope is not lost! The good news is this: once Spiderman 4 comes out and Blackcat is on the screen, Halloween will be full of Blackcat costumes everywhere!!!!!!! Dreams never die people. Dreams. Never. Die.

1) My heart has been too broken to post since I watched last weeks Transformers 2 midnight show. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I can’t even think straight; all I keep thinking about are old robots who fart parachutes and little robots who hump Megan Fox’s leg. The glorious clip above sums up everything I feel about Transformers 2.

2) Speaking of Transformers 2, not all of the reviews are scathing! One extremely insightful and brilliant review over at i09 states that Transformers 2 is not a bad movie, but that Michael Bay has invested millions of dollars on a “brilliant art movie about the illusory nature of plot.” The review is probably the best review of any movie of all time and you should read it in it’s entirety here. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most importantly it will make you come to terms with what you spent $12 last weekend.

3) Topless Robot on the other hand, saw through the illusion of Transformers 2 and posted the most accurate, spite-filled Transformers 2 FAQ any movie-goer could ever ask for. Rob at Topless Robot’s nerd rage continues to impress, entertain and bring me back day after day.

4) Enough about Transformers, how about He-Man? He-Man’s not enough you say? How about He-Man goes Bollywood!!!! Jai ho He-Man, Jai ho.
Edit: I can’t get the pleather/vinyl Orko costume out of my head.

5) Who here doesn’t love HBO programming? HBO is usually edgy, bright and their shows can connect on a deeply emotional level. Last year there was a great series of ads about “HBO stories,” you can watch the brilliant “surprise” ad here.

BONUS ROUND) Michael Bay Eat a Bowl of Cereal. BOOOOM!
Edit: I may not like his films per se, but I don’t have a problem with Michael Bay as a director. I think it’s fair to say everyone’s got their own style and his apparently involves alot of explosions and appeals to alot of people.

Thanks all, just so you know I’ve been tinkering with a new look and theme for the site. Hopefully I’ll get around to updating it within the next few days. This update should also fix my broken tags and a couple other issues.