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Who will mourn The Watcher? A marvelous Marvel mini-series!

By weird_review on May 14, 2014 in ,
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The Eyes of The Watcher at White Cap Comics

The Eyes of The Watcher at White Cap Comics – Courtesy White Cap Comics and Games

If you are unfamiliar with The Watcher, you are in good company.  The Watcher is a Marvel Comics character who has been around for millenia but has always seemed more a bit of scenery or a narative element of the Marvel universe.  He has never really been a character on which to focus and there has never been a Watcher cosplay pass in front of this photographer’s lens.

The Eyes of The Watcher party at White Cap Comics - Courtesy White Cap Comics and Games

The Eyes of The Watcher party at White Cap Comics – Courtesy White Cap Comics and Games

Upon receiving the weekly missive from White Cap Comics last week and reading, “Original Sin #1: The Watcher is dead.”  It was easy to simply dismiss it with a “So What?”  There are so many books, movies, games, comics, and other media that are clamoring for attention but when the folks at White Cap Comics make a recomendation it is worth noting.
It went on with, “I now miss and appreciate the Watcher.”  “Miss and Appreciate” The Watcher?  It was intriguing and, further, the store was having a party in honor of the new series, “Original Sin”, that involves the death of The Watcher.  They even had a give away of glow in the dark superballs that were “The eyes of The Watcher.”
Picking up the “#0 of 8” issue of “Original Sin: Who is the Watcher?” was a no brainer.  In recent years Marvel has put amazing writers to the task of revitalizing the Marvel Universe on the big screen and in their comic books.  In this case they have tasked award winning writer Mark Waid to breathing new life into The Watcher as the prelude to his demise.
In “Original Sin” #0, the young superhero, Nova, visits The Watcher bearing a gift and a question.  As The Watcher silently allows Nova to enter his inner sanctum the reader is treated to insights never before seen.  While revealing to Nova how unique a character he is accross the multiverse, The Watcher also reveals a commonality with Nova that is unexpected.  In the end The Watcher breaks his silent observation with a compassionate answer.
In “Original Sin” #0 there is an ad for the rest of the series and it has a partial quote from Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.”  It is interesting to note that this series started with the #0 issue coming in around the Easter holiday and that the second half of the verse they quotes is about the Resurection, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Is The Watcher’s response to Nova because he knows he will soon pass away as Christ did before going to the cross?  Is it his compassion that will lead to his demise?  Will this truely be the end of The Watcher or will this series lead to a new resurection of The Watcher now that he has taken on new dimensions never before seen?  Who will mourn the watcher?  If someone notices a little mist in your eyes at the end of the book, just tell them its Spring allergies and then make sure to pick up the rest of the series as it is looking to be a good one.
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Coming soon to White Cap Comics – Patty Pierzchala and The Noon Thirties and Andrew Moore

By weird_review on April 4, 2014 in ,
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Patty Pierzchala and Andrew Moore
Patty Pierzchala and Andrew Moore at White Cap Comics

Saturday April 12, 2014 from 5 to 7 p.m., Patty Pierzchala and Andrew Moore, Grand Rapids, Michigan local musicians, will be performing a free concert at White Cap Comics, 430 Cummings Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49534 (616) 785-8518.

Andrew is the opening act followed by Patty Pierzchala and The Noon Thirties with music from their new, debut album, “Celestial Bodies.”

The album will be available at a special, debut concert price of $8.

In addition to the concert there will be a costume contest with prizes and gaming.

The concert and costume contest are sponsored by White Cap Comics, The Weird Review, and Music Nuz.

So wear your favorite cosplay and come on out for the the concert and costume contest!

In the meantime, check out the interview with Andrew and Patty and their special performance of Patty’s “Shadow Puppets” at White Cap Comics.

Patty Pierzchala’s original song, “Shadow Puppets” recorded and posted with the permission of Patty and Andrew.

For more of Andrew’s music, check out his album “Time to Waste” on Amazon.

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Interview with Kenzer and Company Part 3 – Gaming in Jolly Blackburn’s lair

By weird_review on December 21, 2013 in , , , , ,
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Interview with Kenzer and Company Part 3 – Gaming in Jolly Blackburn’s lair.

This installment of the interview begins with excerpts from the evening’s Hackmaster gaming and then continues with the Masters of Hack discussing interesting points in their gaming history.

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John Collins Interview with Kenzer and Company Part 2

By weird_review on December 11, 2013 in , , ,
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Interview with Kenzer and Company Part

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An Interview with Kenzer and Company in Jolly Blackburn’s lair – Part 1

By weird_review on December 10, 2013 in , , ,
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An Interview with Kenzer and Company in Jolly Blackburn’s lair – Part 1

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Discussions with a demigod part 1 – The Hall of Heros

By weird_review on August 28, 2013 in , , ,
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Vic Mignogna and Scott Bakula at Wizard World Chicago
Vic Mignogna and Scott Bakula at Wizard World Chicago 2012

Prior to Wizard World 2012 I had arranged to do an interview with Vic Mignogna on his web series “Star Trek Continues.”  He and Todd Haberkorn are playing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.  Mr Mignogna was leaving right after the panel he had coming up so he said he needed to make a quick stop before we went and did the interview.  I was a bit geeked that his quick stop included a brief chat with Scott Bakula who I had admired since he played on “Quantum Leap.”  I couldn’t help myself and had to ask for a pic of the two of them.

Kevin Sorbo, aka Hercules, after he whizzed past me at Wizard World Chicago 2012
Kevin Sorbo, aka Hercules, after he whizzed past me at Wizard World Chicago 2012

After we went on and did the interview I decided I would go work on the video immediately and see if I could get the article and interview online before he left the con.  Having just interviewed one of my favorite voice actors, and meeting one of my favorite star-ship captains I was a bit distracted as I walked around the corner.  I was nearly spun around when a blur in blue jeans whizzed around me like a rocket flying into orbit.  Turning back to see what had almost happened to me I saw Kevin Sorbo, another of my favorite star-ship captains as well as the awesome Hercules, who apologized for the near collision and then sped off.

The Wizard World Comic Conventions always have great guest speakers and I later enjoyed attending panels with Mr. Sorbo, Sean Patrick Flannery, and a Michigan favorite, Bruce Campbell.  Months later I had the pleasure of another chat with Mr. Sorbo before he presented the awards at Origins 2013 and he agreed to an interview with me.  His schedule was too tight while at Origins so he gave me his contact information and we are going to do an interview online and then one on video when our paths next cross.  In the meantime I am reading his book to prep myself for the interview and I if any of my readers have any questions they would like to add, Tweet them or Facebook them to me and I will read them over and add a couple of my favorites.

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Local lass takes trophy for creative cosplay at Wizard World costume contest

By weird_review on August 11, 2013 in , ,
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The winners of the Best Team Up and the Judges with MC Jarret Crippen photobombing in the back
The winners of the Best Team Up and the Judges with MC Jarret Crippen photo bombing in the back

Saturday night Grand Rapids resident and Sparta native, Kala Smith took the “Best Team Up” trophy at the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con (one of the biggest and best costume contests in the Midwest!) costume contest.  Kala teamed up with Ryan Green and James T. Wulfgar of the Cosplay Chicago (cosplay is short for costume play.)

While cosplaying at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo the three had joked about cosplaying the gargoyles from the cartoon, “Gargoyles.”  Though the suggestion started as a joke they all decided it was too good of an idea to pass up and it wowed the audience and took them to the top honors in the team category.

Kala is not new to cosplay and has played some of her favorite comic characters at other conventions such as the Detroit Fanfare and Motor City Comic Con.  Kala also modeled with a dragon sculpture in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan for an article by John N. Collins during the Grand Rapids Art Prize.  Mr. Collins occasionally meets up with cosplayers for photo shoots at the White Cap Comics in Grand Rapids.

After winning they had the judges sign their trophies.  The judges included L.A.s top cosplayer, Ivy Doomkitty, and Jason David Frank, the Green Power Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

For those wishing to congratulate Kala and her teammates on their win, they will be at the Chicago Cosplay booth for the rest of the weekend.

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Bruce Boxleitner & Trevor Crafts: a new ‘Lantern City’ cast member is announced

By weird_review on May 4, 2013 in , ,
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The Lantern City crew at Her Royal Majesties Steampunk Symposium
The Lantern City crew at Her Royal Majesties Steampunk Symposium

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Trevor Crafts are the Executive Producers of the upcoming television series, “Lantern City.”

“Lantern City” is a ground breaking, steampunk show with top stars in the industry in a snazzy, steampunk setting.

“Lantern City” is in a world parallel to our earth and it is despotic, totalitarian city-state ruled by the Grey family.  The first of the Grey family to rule Lantern City was Isaac Foster Grey who led the city in building walls around the city and setting up military forces to withstand an onslaught that was coming from the north.  After saving the city and the refugees who had sought its safety Mr. Grey accepted continued rule over the city and passed it on to his son.

They will be bringing Mira Furlan, Mr. Boxleitner’s former Babylon 5 co-star, to play the descendant of the original emperor, Martha Grey.

John Rhys-Davies will be playing Desmond Wilhorn and Raphael Sbarge will be playing Kendal Kornick.

A bit of news not yet on IMDB is that  from Farscape, will be playing a role, likely that of Rachel Kierson (Correction: She will be playing the role of Naomi Jones, a rival to Rachel Kierson at Virginie Durand’s finishing school.)

For this and more, scroll down and check out the video interview!

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Free Comic Day! May the Fourth be with you!

By weird_review on May 4, 2013 in , , ,
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Free Comic Day! May the Fourth be with you!
Free Comic Day! May the Fourth be with you!

If you are in the Grand Rapids area drop by:

White Cap Comics
430 Cummings Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
(616) 785-8518

and

The Outer Limits
1120 Burton SW
Wyoming, MI 49509
(616) 452-1348

Special Free Comics Day editions of your favorite comics from Superman to Star Wars to Sesame Street, Sponge Bob, and the Smurfs! Many more titles (that was just some of the “S” category! X-)

Also check out the Dragons Maze Launch Party at White Cap Comics!

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An interview with Zombie Apocalypse author and Zombification Orientation and Defense leader Shane Moore

By weird_review on April 6, 2013 in , , ,
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Image courtesy Shane Moore
Image courtesy Shane Moore

Shane Moore is a former police officer and the author of a number of books including the fantasy “Abyss Walker” series and the Zombie Apocalypse novel, “The Apocalypse of Enoch.”  Shane and I recently crossed paths at Wizard World Comic Con in St. Louis, Mo and later connected via email for an interview.

John Collins (JC): Thanks for agreeing to do a written interview with me Shane!

Shane Moore (SM): No worries. I enjoy your website.

(JC): Could you tell my readers a bit about your background and how you got into Writing?

(SM) I am a former police officer and on Sept 11th 2004, I was stabbed in the line of duty while taking a suspect into custody. I developed Night Terrors as a result of PTSD. This began to cause anxiety and insomnia. I discovered that a beer before I went to bed relaxed me. It didn’t take long before one beer became two–two became four… It didn’t take a genius to see this was going to be a problem. I didn’t want to get hooked on sleeping pills either. One friend suggested I write poetry.  She said that when she was feeling upset poetry helped her get her feelings out.

As a 230 pound meathead police officer, I was NOT going to write poetry. So, I decided to write about a passion–medieval fantasy! By 2006 I had my first contract and by 2008 I had enough success I retired from law enforcement and started writing full time.

Image courtesy Shane Moore
Image courtesy Shane Moore

(JC): Tell us about your current projects.

(SM) I have many open contracts. Everything from a contract from Kissell Studios (A-Team/Army of 2 from IDW) to turn my end of days rapture based zombie thriller that they are turning into a graphic novel series to Gary Gygax’s company partner Troll Lord Games who are turning my best selling fantasy world into a 9 book RPG table top expansion to their Castles and Crusades system.

Image courtesy Shane Moore
Image courtesy Shane Moore

(JC): Where do you plan to go from here?

(SM) A major Film would be the creme de la creme. I have recently broken into comics and table top games. I expect to do toys and other ventures soon, but film would be the pinnacle.

Image courtesy Shane Moore
Image courtesy Shane Moore

(JC): I also write for my website The Weird Review and like to close my interviews by inviting my interviewees to tell something weird and wonderful about themselves.

(SM) Wonderful? Hmmmm Well, I’m pretty happy with me. Many people are surprised to learn that I grew up pretty rough. My name was changed when I was six and I ran away and was homeless as a teenager. I lived in my car over a year while in college. I think people get too caught up in poor me instead of developing a willingness to do what it takes to succeed. If success were easy, everyone would be having it.

Image courtesy Shane Moore
Image courtesy Shane Moore

(JC): Do you have anything additional you would like to add?

(SM) The thing that is really taking off for me is my end of days rapture based zombie thriller “The Apocalypse of Enoch.” It came out last June and has been my publisher’s number one best seller and spawned a 1000+ zombie fighting fan group known as ZOD – the Zombification Orientation and Defense.  The group is free to join and loads of cosplay fun. Several of my celeb friends are members including Matt Hill (Cartoon Network voice actor), Terry Naughton (17 year Disney animator), and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from Star Wars).

(JC): WOW!  That’s awesome!  I will look forward to seeing ZOD members sprouting up at cons everywhere!  Thanks again for the interview!  I am looking forward to seeing where all this takes you.  Keep in touch!

(SM) Thanks for having me. The Weird Review is awesome and I’m a huge fan!

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