geekade

[geekade]

WaveBack Episode 48: Winter Special III

Show Notes

The holiday season is a time for sharing, so Matt and Kris are sharing a fresh track list of great “ice level” songs for you all to enjoy.

Useful Links

Super Mario Odyssey

Shiho Fujii

The Lost Vikings

Matt Furniss

Donkey Kong Land

David Wise

Metroid Prime

Kenji Yamamoto

Kouichi Kyum

Blaster Master

Naoki Kodaka

Batman Returns

Jun Funahashi

Harumi Ueko

Kazuhiko Uehara

NiGHTS into Dreams

Naofumi Hataya

ActRaiser

Yuzo Koshiro

Super Adventure Island II

Sachiko Oita

Akihiro Akamatsu

Never Alone

Brendan J. Hogan

Daniel L.K. Caldwell

The OneUps

Social Stuff

WaveBack Facebook

Geekade Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

Support WaveBack Music Podcast by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/waveback

[geekade]

Turn It Up: The Holiday Special

I thought it was a little nuts that two of my all-time favorite groups were putting out holiday albums this year. I mean, maybe it’s just my odd luck, but when they both ventured out on Christmas tours at the same time, 13-year-old me was absolutely in heaven. Then I noticed that Spotify was suggesting other albums – not the classics either. They were showing me all kinds of new holiday music being released this year. While I don’t know what caused the trend (though I venture it was out of a need for some kind of happiness in the world), it’s been a fun ride through many musical areas this holiday season. Let’s check out some of the best in each world of music.

The Ones We Probably Expected

Herb Alpert - The Christmas Wish

It’s around this time of year that we start to appreciate both choral and instrumental music much more than any other time. Herb Albert is one of the best in the business, especially if you can appreciate the sounds of brass. This combination of smooth jazz with upbeat Tijuana sounds is something from the classics but with an incredibly cool sound for now. If you need to feel warm in the cold months, this might just be right up your alley.

Josh Groban - Noel (Deluxe)

We’re starting this list off with some of the ‘obvious’ suspects because they’re the voices I’m sure the holidays wouldn’t be the same without. Josh Groban has been crooning for us for a few years now, and his vocals have become almost a necessity to Christmas. Noel was released in 2007, and following his successful run on Broadway this year, Josh brought it back around for the 10th anniversary, adding five new tracks. They range from the classics of “White Christmas,” to his own rendition of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” – literally something for everyone.

Pentatonix - A Pentatonix Christmas (Deluxe)

Again we get a re-release, this time from a group that has solidified their position as a classic Christmastime act. This one is just a year later on the heels of last year’s charting release, and again adds five more arranged songs. The group took to their social media to help promote this year’s release as well, speaking more to the experience of putting these songs together, taking us deeper into the process. With the exit of one member and the entrance of a new bass, the group has certainly had an eventful year, and this tops it off nicely.

The Comebacks We’re Glad to See

Hanson - Finally It's Christmas

The band themselves have labeled this “20 Years In the Making” and they did not disappoint. “Snowed In” is actually an acclaimed Christmas album that most people I know keep in heavy rotation over the holidays, so I’d imagine the pressure was on to live up to it this time around as well (Hanson fans, you’re welcome for the little joke there). From the opening harmonies on the title track through Ike’s quiet and beautiful ending with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the band has provided yet another classic album. And hey, now they’ve built up enough material to warrant a Christmas tour – aka the only way they can get away with doing a concert without singing “MMMBop” (though, thanks for sneaking it in during the NYC show, Mark Hudson).

98 Degrees - Let It Snow

Again, it’s been quite a while for these guys since their original Christmas album, This Christmas, and they still have every bit of the soulful vocals they always did. The biggest difference this go-around is their devotion to their social following and fans. They have been all over the place this season promoting the album, all starting with Nick’s impressive run on Dancing With The Stars (which brother Drew won years back… I may be biased on my Lachey brother choices though). The guys have grown and are letting us get to know them so much more now, showing their humor and talent as men who have grown to be comfortable in their own skins and with their own voices. This is a welcome addition to their classic sound (and yes, they were concert #2, same week as Hanson – bless you New York concert schedules).

Cheap Trick - Christmas Christmas

This is the one that took me by surprise. Maybe calling this section ‘comebacks’ doesn’t make a ton of sense, as every band has had recent releases in addition to their holiday albums, but they are certainly a group of albums I would not have expected last year. Anywhos, Cheap Trick is a pleasant surprise to this list, melding their old classic sound with upbeat holiday cheer, including three original tracks. The band said it was very natural to put this one together, and I have to say, it’s the perfect addition to all of us little weird punks’ collections amongst the sugary carols otherwise surrounding the season.

New Kids On The Block – Thankful: Unwrapped

I didn’t believe it when I first saw it, but apparently NKOTB jumped on the Christmas album train this year too. Don’t get too excited – they’re not singing the classics, and really it’s just three tracks added onto their earlier EP release from this year, Thankful. But hey, everyone needs an excuse to perform this time of year, and you need the right themes to the music to make that happen. Welcome to the train, once again, boys.

The Compilations We’ll Enjoy

Various Artists - Holidays Rule, Vol. 2

You may or may not remember round one of this compilation set, where there were some cool takes on some old classics. Well, five years after the first one, Paul McCartney has brought folks together to create that magic once again. This time we get such greats as The Roots, The Decemberists, and Andrew McMahon adding in their style. This is every hipster’s dream if they actually enjoy the holidays, and if not, it’ll help put them in the mood.

Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Merry Christmas

On the flip side of styles, here we instead get all of the major radio pop artists of the past year putting their flair on holiday songs. NOW has always done a pretty great job of gathering the greatest hits together, and their specialty albums like this are no exception. They meld the old and new, kicking things off with deceptively new tracks from Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, but transitioning into the true bests with Elvis and the Beach Boys taking over the soundtrack. It’s all a bit confusing, but probably a good set for the whole family to enjoy.

The Unexpected New Sounds

Gwen Stefani - You Make It Feel Like Christmas

I will willingly admit that post No Doubt (and really, Post Tragic Kingdom), I have not been a big fan of Gwen Stefani. That said, I think this album has actually allowed her to embrace the unique voice that I’ve otherwise never loved a whole lot these past few years. It’s a pop album through and through, and all the cuteness you might want while decorating for the holidays. Maybe if I had heard this one sooner, I would have actually decorated my apartment this year.

Blake Shelton - Cheers, It's Christmas

It only seemed appropriate to follow one with the other, so we get into Blake Shelton’s Deluxe release this year. I have mixed feelings here, but for those of you that are looking for that sweet country Christmas sound, you’ll find it here. The bittersweet moment is hearing a newly written “Home” done as a duet with Michael Buble. It’s been Christmas-fied with many of the lyrics changing and a lack of Miranda’s backing vocals. It holds up, along with the gentle album from this otherwise seemingly raucous guy.

Sia - Everyday Is Christmas

Anyone else remember when Sia Furler was one of those songwriters who you didn’t know about, but you dang well knew the songs of? Yeah, that’s a distant memory for me too. Sia has really come out as a strong artist all on her own. This album is completely unique and a treat for anyone who is a fan of her in any way shape or form. Heck, there’s even a song called “Puppies Are Forever” – give me that over a diamond any day!

Kaskade - Kaskade Christmas

If nothing has been up your alley yet in this list, Kaskade is one of the final remaining pieces to cover just about every genre of music available. Yes, the dance/trance artist threw us this one out of left field and it’s got all the right grooves you’d want or need from him and his appearing friends throughout. I want to say this is a weird experience, but I think it’s borderline brilliant – this is an untapped market for sure, and it’s almost sort of nice to have that gap filled in.

Lindsey Stirling - Warmer In The Winter

I couldn’t explain why now, but I really did not like Lindsey Stirling for a while. I think it had something to do with the difficulty to track down her publishing when I first started my job, or maybe a bad experience on the business side. Whatever the case may be, all of that changed this season on Dancing with the Stars, where she was paired with Mark Ballas. This girl’s creativity and grace and just general amazing quirky attitude was a downright inspiration. She is a performer in every sense of the word, bringing such imagination to every single move she makes. Just take a listen to this album. It doesn’t fit a niche and I’m so glad for that. It’s so incredibly different and delightful and all I want to do is see every performance and video she could possibly create around this music. There’s a reason I saved it for last – this one’s the highlight of the season by far.

[geekade]

Bits and Brews 027: Xmas Break Family Gaming Edition

Welcome welcome once again to your, mostly, monthly pairing of video games and craft beer. We missed a couple of months here at the end of the year for various reasons, but we're back to regularly scheduled content now! Anyway, this month I wanted to focus on games I played over Xmas break way back in the way back. Some of my very favorite gaming memories were during that glorious period when school was out, the weather was cold, and I had nothing but time to hang out with my cousin and play whatever new, or old for that matter, games we had. I especially loved this time since I didn't have a Sega Genesis and he did. As with every post this year, the focus is on locally brewed Jersey beer. The pairings might not be as in-depth as other posts, but it's okay because it's Xmas right? So, without further ado I humbly present five classic games paired with five New Jersey beers.

T&C Surf Designs and Kane Head High: Oh the hours spent just trying to figure out what the hell we were supposed to do in this game. Eventually, we got some of it and even managed to pull off some moves in the surfing section. It was frustrating but fun, much the same way I feel about grapefruit. I don't love grapefruit and am often frustrated by its presence in beer. Head High from Kane does display notes of grapefruit but the rest of what's going on is so good that I don't really mind. Plus, it's relatively low alcohol so if you are making a night out of gaming, you can drink a bunch and still be able to play.

Streets of Rage 2 and Spellbound Palo Santo Porter:  I've talked about my love of Beat 'Em Ups before and SOR2 is one of my all-time favorites. Countless hours were dumped into this game over weekends and breaks from school. It's the type of game that is at once action packed and rewarding of patience. You hit a zen-like level while playing. I feel the same way about Spellbound's Palo Santo aged Porter. It's a big, flavorful beer that rewards patient sipping with new depth and layers of flavor. Putting these two together would make for one hell of a night.

Dick Tracy and Magnify Low Visibility: Dick Tracy is one of my all-time favorite properties and the Genesis game let us play one of my very favorite ways, lives or levels. This method of gaming means that you play until you beat the level or lose a life. Dick Tracy was an arcade-style side scroller where you earned points for avoiding certain things, and battled all of Big Boy's henchmen level by level until a final showdown with the big, well, boy himself. Low Vis is perfect for this since it's only 4.8% ABV which means you can play your level, drink one down, and be ready to go for your next turn.

Tekken 3 and Cape May Brothel Madam: Cape May Brewing Company may be one of the more underrated breweries in New Jersey. They consistently put out tasty beers with many bordering on phenomenal. Tekken 3, while universally loved, may be a bit underrated in the pantheon of fighting games itself. Pairing a fighting game with a beer is a bit tricky as there isn't usually a ton of downtime. A sour ale is perfect though as you can keep coming back to it between rounds to appreciate how it changes as it airs out.

Trojan and Nale House Leaf Peepin': Alright, this is about as Jersey-focused as I can get. Nale House Brewing in Medford NJ is tiny. So tiny, in fact, that they haven't started canning or bottling yet. However, their size does not indicate their quality. NHBC is putting out killer beers that are not to be overlooked. Leaf Peepin' is their Brown Ale, a style that's a bit under the radar but fantastic when done right. So too is Trojan, a game Kris and I talked about on the Stone Age Gamer Summer Series. Overlooked and often forgotten in Capcom's long history, Trojan is a game you should play. And Brown Ale is a style you should drink, especially this one. (Expect more from Nale House in the coming year)

So there it is. A roundup of five New Jersey beers and five classic games to end our year. I truly love each of the examples presented here and hope you get a chance to check them out. The coming year will see a continued focus on Jersey beer seeing as how this state is cranking out some truly fantastic stuff. If you've made it this far please take a moment to like and share this post. And don't forget to follow me on twitter and instagram, @geekadedan, for more beer and gaming nonsense. Here's to another year of great beer, great games, and great times. Prost!

[geekade]

WILW: Match(es) of the Year - The Omega/Okada Trilogy

Professional Wrestling is, at its core, storytelling. We've talked a lot in this column about different stories that have been told in the ring and different wrestlers ability to portray those stories well or in some cases, not so well. As a long time fan, I can admit that pro wrestling isn't always great. BUT, when it's great, it's fucking great. And the Omega/Okada trilogy this year was fucking great. It all started at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in January. At that time, Kenny Omega was coming off of a career year in NJPW which saw him not only have great matches with everybody he stepped into the ring with, but also take the coveted G1 Climax victory setting up the match with Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight title. Before that night in the Tokyo Dome, Omega and Okada had never been in the ring together. That fact alone is astonishing considering how incredibly well the two worked together. The story told in the ring was one of the foreigner who had earned the respect of the native country coming for the top prize and aiming for its beloved son. Make no mistake, Okada is the ace of New Japan, as well he should be. No one has put together the resume this guy has at such a young age. This match had absolutely everything; great chemistry, fun spots, athleticism, crowd work, false finishes, and an ending that, although it personally bummed me out, made total and complete sense for the story that was being told. Omega fell just short of his goal in January which set up the rematch perfectly. The fans wanted it, the wrestlers wanted it. The only problem was, there was almost no way to top what they had just done.

Knowing that there was no way to top the Wrestle Kingdom match, Omega/Okada II had to be something different. Now, for fans that primarily watch American professional wrestling, the idea of anything other than a finish, clean or dirty, is a bit strange. Sure, there a times where it is announced that a match has a set time limit but it is often simply ignored because it never really matters. NJPW also has time limits and while a draw is somewhat more common, it is still something that is largely ignored. Watching this second meeting there was no doubt in my mind that Omega was going over and realizing his dream of becoming IWGP champion. Gone was the over top pomp and circumstance of the first match. This was a focused, a determined Kenny Omega. The match had its fair share of drama throughout along with some incredible spots. What really set it up though was the commentary. They referenced the time the two had been wrestling as a testament to their athleticism. It made us watching realize that, damn, these guys have been going hard for a while. And then they mentioned the time again, and again. And then Bullet Club came out in full with Cody "wanting" to throw in the towel and end the match. And then Omega hit the One-Winged Angel and Okada just got his foot on the rope to break up the pin. The classic tropes were there setting up Omega to win. Except, the match went on. And the moment of dawning realization, that time was running down, hit the live audience and the viewing audience at the same time. The thought crept in but even with the announcers calling five minutes left, four, three, there was never a chance it would end on a time limit draw. There was never a chance and yet, amidst a flurry of close finishes, time ran out. And we were left, somehow, wanting even more.

So one win for Okada and one time limit draw set up the 3rd meeting, so far, between The Cleaner and The Rainmaker. Omega had won the IWGP US title by this point and Okada was again IWGP Champion however this match would not be for either belt. This match would decide who would move on to the finals of the 2017 G1 Climax, the tournament Omega had won the year previous. And what was so beautifully booked by NJPW was the point system going in to the match. In order to advance to the final Omega had to win. Okada could move on with a time limit draw or a victory. All Kenny had to do was accomplish something he had never done. The time limit this time though was only 30 minutes, not the 60 they had previously. The match started fast and kept the pace up for the most part. In wrestling you never really want to tell the same story again and in order to compete with their previous two matches, Omega and Okada had to do things differently. There were still big spots and big displays of athleticism sure, but the pace and psychology was different. Here were two guys that wanted to put the definitive nail in the coffin of their rivalry. The entire match was stiff as hell and delivered all the drama of the previous two and more. The finish saw a bunch of quick counters and a frustrated Omega pull out all the stops to hit the One-Winged Angel and pick up the win.

So here we sit. 2017 is drawing to a close. Wrestle Kingdom 12 is coming and Omega/Okada 4 is... not the main event. Okada will be defending the title against Tetsuyo Naito in a match that should be every bit as good, for different reasons, as their previous bouts. Kenny Omega on the other hand is wrestling Chris Jericho in a match we previewed just last week. I'm sure it will be excellent, though I have no idea where NJPW is going with it. Getting the US title off of Omega so that he can resume his Heavyweight chase makes sense. Keeping it on him and setting up a Champion vs Champion showdown also makes sense. Either way, we will get Omega/Okada 4. And it damn sure has a lot to live up to.

If you've made it this far please take a moment to like and share this article and to follow me on twitter and instagram, @geekadedan. I want to hear your thoughts on Match of the Year and where you think Omega is headed in 2018. Until then...

[geekade]

SAG Episode 181: Let’s make it banana balls crazy

Show Notes

Dan and Kris hit up the 10 20 30 for December 2017, featuring games like Wizards & Warriors, Mega Man Legends, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, and more!

Useful Links

1987

1997

2007

www.stoneagegamer.com

SAG’s theme Song “Chubby Chubby Chip Chip” by Mark ‘TDK’ Knight

Social Stuff

Facebook

Stone Age Gamer Facebook page

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

Support The Stone Age Gamer Podcast by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-stone-age-gamer-podcast

[geekade]

This Week's Episode Ep 108: Yule Love It

This week the gang gets happy by watching the new SYFY show Happy! They also discuss new hairdo's, the horrors that are Crocks and who the hell watches The Bee movie 357 times in a single year? Full disclosure the news segment is weak but they make the best of it.

Next Week

Doctor Who 2017 Christmas Special – Twice Upon a Time

Show Notes

HOW TO WRAP A KITTEN!!!

No Evidence Of Wrongdoing By Robert Knepper

Jewel Staite is a Disney Princess

Carl Cuts His Hair

Mario Batali’s Apology

Ian McKellen Won’t Give Up Gandalf

Little Women Trailer

XFL Coming Back

The Office Revival

Dirk Gently Canceled

NFL On Mobile Phones

Roseanne’ Revival Premier Date

Mom Watches The Bee Movie 357 Times

Social Stuff

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

[geekade]

The Most Affordable Backlog

Three things are true. I don’t have a ton of extra money throw around. I am frequently a sucker for a deal. I collect video games.

In this age of digital distribution, there is an argument rumbling just beneath the surface of society that video games are getting devalued and between people’s judgement and inflation and such, they should cost a lot more money. Despite these sentiments, video games cost a lot less than they used to, primarily for the PC platform.

Having a long-time interest in deals, I subscribe to several newsfeeds that just aggregate home goods, electronics, and video game related deals. Daily, I skim past 99% of everything I see, either because I don’t need it, or don’t want it, or can’t afford it. But something is an ever more frequent phenomenon: free PC games.

Many of us have heard of Steam and their legendary sales. You may be aware of other distributers such as EA’s Origin, Ubisoft’s UPlay, as well as less sinister overlords like Gamersgate (not to be confused with the anti-social-justice movement) and GreenManGaming and GOG (formerly Good Old Games). Also of note is the Humble Bundle and the Humble Store, as well as Twitch.tv, which skirt along the primary point of this article:

These companies occasionally just GIVE games AWAY.

Like a late-night infomercial host, I want to share the wealth. Serious gamers and casuals alike should know about these things. Every so often, all the above-mentioned services will make games of all sizes available for free. All you pay is the price of registering a free account with your email address. The only other catch is that the deals are almost always fleeting, usually topping at about 48 hours for the window of redemption, sometimes as little as maybe six hours.

Ubisoft just gave away Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Watch Dogs, and World in Conflict for free. They’re still free if this goes live before December 23rd, 2017 elapses. Right now Oxenfree is no charge on gog.com and will be until the 26th. Twitch Prime subscribers get free in-game loot all of the time in many major games such as Overwatch, and sometimes Twitch just drops in a free complete game like Superhot, the first person not so secretly actually a puzzle game. No cost except the price of Amazon Prime until the 24th.

So at this very moment of writing, I’ve grabbed six critically acclaimed games for no money unless you count my Amazon Prime membership. If that’s too much, Superhot gets knocked off the list or can be purchased on Steam for about 9 dollars (not fact checked).

Recently, the Grim Fandango remaster was on gog.com for free. Layers of Fear was just free on the Humble Store as were Company of Heroes 2 and Homefront.

The prime place to be in is a place of awareness. Let a little spam into your inboxes from these guys and they’ll tell you when they’re giving something away. It seems worth it, at least to me, a guy who lets nearly all major game releases pass him by due to finances. And even if everything languishes in your backlog forever, it’s okay! It isn’t any wasted money.

I was not compensated in ANY form for the writing of this article. I wasn’t even directly given anything free. I just went out and found it. And you can too.

[geekade]

WILW: Alpha vs Omega

 It all started with a tweet. The biggest match, arguably, of the year started with a tweet from Kenny Omega about Chris Jericho.

So sure, not a big deal at the start. The internet blew up a bit about Jericho being a dick, some thought it was the start of an angle, while most thought they knew more about Jericho's contract status and that there was no way he would ever wrestle Jericho. (because that's what we do, pretend we know stuff and spout our opinions as fact, man i love the internet) A bunch of others messages followed between the two and some of their fans and then it died down and people seemed to move on with the thought of man, wouldn't it be cool if. And then this...

Jericho made the challenge and Kenny, playing the face by speaking in Japanese, accepted. The fact that this is happening is incredible. Jericho is still one of the biggest stars in the world. He is arguably the best in the world, at what he does, and possibly the best of all time. (definitely the best of all time) And the build to this match is even better. NJPW is knocking this out of the park. Building a match between one of their top stars, Omega, and a guy who hasn't wrestled for them in a very long time, Jericho, is not the easiest thing in the world especially while Jericho is not active in the company. However, these videos show that they know exactly what they are doing.

The hype is real. The match has a lot to live up to but with Jericho having the years and years of experience and Omega having all the talent in the world, there is a very good chance it actually hits the mark. I simply cannot wait for Wrestle Kingdom 12 and Alpha vs Omega. Follow me on twitter, @geekadedan, and let me know what you think about this match and just how hyped you are. And join me next week for another reason to love wrestling.

[geekade]

SAG Episode 180: It's Chilly in Philly, Boy

Show Notes

It’s news time! With a ton of crazy stuff happening in the world of video game news lately, Dan and Kris talk about the stories that caught their eyes like Mega Man 11, that weird Death Stranding trailer thing, and of course, Detective Pikachu.

Useful Links

Death Stranding Trailer

Ryan Reynolds is Detective Pikachu

Bayonetta 1&2 coming to Nintendo Switch

Bayonetta 3 announced for Nintendo Switch

Mega Man 11 announced

Soul Calibur VI announced

Portal Bridge Constructor announced

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection announced

New Ready Player One trailer released

AtariBox available for Preorder

MediEvil Remaster coming to PlayStation 4

The Patreon thing

www.stoneagegamer.com

SAG’s theme Song “Chubby Chubby Chip Chip” by Mark ‘TDK’ Knight

Social Stuff

Facebook

Stone Age Gamer Facebook page

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

Support The Stone Age Gamer Podcast by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-stone-age-gamer-podcast

[geekade]

This Week's Episode Ep 107: You're A Functioning Amiibo

On this week’s episode of This Week’s Episode, Karen, Kris, and Evan continue their Christmas episode extravaganza with a classic episode of The Office. Plus, TV welcomes Nightvale, Punisher punishes some more, Blossom threatens to return, and more!

Next Week

Happy - Saint Nick (S01E01)

Show Notes

The Office – Christmas Party (S02E10)

Netflix Exec Tells Woman The Company Doesn’t Believe Actor’s Rape Accusers. Then She Said She Was One.

Excedrin to sponsor Cleveland Browns ‘Perfect Season 2.0’ Parade

Jessica Jones season 2 release date announced as first trailer debuts

Golden Globe nominations 2018: The list

THE WALKING DEAD’s “How’s It Gotta Be” Says Goodbye to Childhood

She-Ra Cartoon Gets Netflix Reboot

Whoa! There's 'Serious Talk' of a 'Blossom' Reboot, Joey Lawrence Says

The 2018 Emmys Will Return to Monday

FX to Develop Welcome to Night Vale Podcast into TV Series

“Stranger Things 3” Not Expected Until 2019

The Punisher Renewed for Second Season

Social Stuff

TWEP Facebook page

Geekade Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

[geekade]

Non-Stop Comic Shop #11: Corporal Punishment

For your eleventh visit to the Non-Stop Comic Shop, the boys reach into Jordan's “Why the Hell do I Own This?” collection and pull out Avengers Confidential: Black Widow X Punisher, a Marvel licensed anime that sadly does not feature Dracula eating a hamburger like the last one they did. After preventing him from killing Vash the Stampede's dad, Black Widow recruits the Punisher on her mission to stop her bizarrely motivated ex-boyfriend from joining those guys from Agent Carter's show and flooding the world with embarrassingly awful super-soldiers. Guest starring: a horny 12 year-old and Kirby the Pokemon! Then after the break, Jordan takes his shots at Netflix's new Punisher series. He lambasts the poor continuity from Daredevil Season 2, shares his dream casting choice for Ma Gnucci, misuses the non-existent word “Anvilicious”, and dramatically learns the subtle difference between airsoft and paintball. #HeroOrMurder

Take a gander at our previous show here!

[geekade]

WILW: He's baaaaaaack... (and so are we)

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, Geekade has been #Woken! And so has Matt Hardy. After many, MANY months of waiting, and rumors, and waiting, and legal battles, and waiting, and more rumors, and just a touch more waiting, Matt Hardy has finally won (settled?) his case against TNA and Anthem over the rights of the #Broken Universe. For those not in the know, about two years ago (as of this writing, anyway), Matt Hardy committed himself to a gimmick unlike any he had done before. Matt Hardy had always been a good wrestler; just one overshadowed by his brother Jeff. Whether in a tag team or as singles competitors, Matt had always been the other Hardy. (ignoring the fact that Matt always has been the better wrestler) That narrative began to change though as Matt began to take more risks. With his creation of the #Broken Universe, Matt Hardy established himself as one of the most entertaining workers in all of professional wrestling. The gimmick, basically a crazy person who happens to be super intelligent, is just about the most delightfully weird thing going. The way he moves, talks, and carries himself are so off, so strange, that one cannot help but be compelled to watch. And the move to use on-location setups/matches allowed for the brilliance of the gimmick to really take hold. But all of it was done previously on the TNA budget, which if those in the know are to be believed, consists of Hannukah candy and whispering winds.

Now though, what once was #broken is now #woken. (gotta get that sweet, sweet trademark in) After losing a match to Bray Wyatt, this coming off a bit of a losing streak and an injury to brother Jeff, Matt finally snapped.

Notice the not so subtle commentary from Michael Cole. That loss was followed by this video posted to Matt's YouTube page...

It was at that moment that we all knew, shit was about to be deleted. Cut to this past Monday on RAW and you have the official debut of #Woken Matt Hardy.

It's been said before but professional wrestling is painfully stupid sometimes but when it's great, it's fucking great. And this right here, this is great. I cannot wait to see where this goes. Follow me on twitter and instagram, @geekadedan, and let me know what you think of #Woken Matt and the new site in general. And join me next week as we take another look at why I love wrestling.

[geekade]

SAG Episode 179: Octodad - Voldo Edition

Show Notes

Having survived the Mario Retrospective, Dan and Kris tackle the November 10 20 30, albeit a tad late, featuring games like Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Contra 4, Goonies II, and more!

Useful Links

www.stoneagegamer.com

SAG’s theme Song “Chubby Chubby Chip Chip” by Mark ‘TDK’ Knight

Social Stuff

Facebook

Stone Age Gamer Facebook page

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

Support The Stone Age Gamer Podcast by donating to the tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-stone-age-gamer-podcast

[geekade]

This Week's Episode Ep 106: That's Batman Level Villainy

On this week’s episode of This Week’s Episode, the TWEPcasters kick off a month-long holiday celebration with a very special episode of Chuck. Plus, Moffat gets Moffaty with misogyny, the Oscars take our personal schedule into account, Matt Lauer goes bye bye, and more!

Next Week

The Office Season 2 Episode 10 Christmas Party

Show Notes

Chuck – Chuck Versus Santa Claus

NBC fires Matt Lauer after "inappropriate sexual behavior" complaint

‘Flash’ and ‘Supergirl’ showrunner fired after sexual harassment investigation

‘American Gods’: Michael Green & Bryan Fuller Exit As Showrunners Of Starz Series

Jim Nabors, TV’s Gomer Pyle and Singer, Dies at 87

Lens change to make Doctor Who more filmic

Rick and Morty Creator, Dan Harmon, Delivers Amazing Advice to Young Fan About Dealing With Depression

Freeform Can No Longer Air the Harry Potter Movies So Christmas Is Canceled

Kevin Spacey accuser Anthony Rapp says he's being blamed for killing 'House of Cards'

Oscars: 2018 Telecast To Air In Earlier Time Slot; First-Look Promo

‘Wayward Sisters’: First look at the ‘Supernatural’ spin-off

'House of Cards' to Resume Production in 2018 Without Star Kevin Spacey

Steven Moffat defends his casting of male Doctor Who as he says: 'This isn’t a show exclusively for progressive liberals'

PBS and WNET Announce New Late-night Public Affairs Programming | PBS About

Danny Masterson Fired From ‘The Ranch’ By Netflix in Wake of Rape Allegations

Four More Women Accuse Actor Robert Knepper of Sexual Misconduct

Disney and Fox are closing in on deal, could be announced next week: Sources

Social Stuff

TWEP Facebook page

Geekade Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

Audio URL

[geekade]

Mutant Musings Episode 17: Jean Grey is Jean Bae

This month, Jonathan and Patti discuss the finale of Mojo Worldwide, the finale of the Dark Phoenix Saga, and check out the first and final time that they will ever sing commercials for you. Jonathan professes his love for Emma Frost as Patti tries to reassure everyone that there's been no collusion between Jean and the Phoenix Force. What do you think of a new New Mutants miniseries? What do hamsters and opossums have to do with mutants? Find out on this month's episode of Mutant Musings!

Show Notes

X-Men: Gold #15

X-Men: Blue #15

All-New Wolverine #27

Cable #151

Jean Grey #9

Mutant Memories: Dark Phoenix Saga (second half)

X-Men: Red

New New Mutants

The Gifted discussion

James Franco the Multiple Man

Social Stuff

Facebook

Twitter

Geekade Instagram

Mutant Musings Instagram

YouTube

Tumblr

Twitch

Website

Contact Us

1 million to save Wolverine and the X-Men

[geekade]

Welcome to the D-List: Kite Man

There’s definitely no shortage of D-List characters in the DC Universe, so it is admittedly difficult to settle on one from so many choices. While I occasionally try to focus on characters that are still relatively relevant, that isn’t the primary purpose of this column. Coincidentally, as I tried to decide who to spotlight for December’s article, a writer at DC helped solidify my decision.

Kite Man has never been a particularly threatening villain, but he is uniquely amusing. For decades, he had no official origin, any depth, and was greatly underutilized. Recently, however, all of that changed…sort of. This month, we’ve got sufficient wind to welcome Kite Man to the D-List.

Kite Man first appeared in Batman vol. 1 #133 in August 1960. Created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, the villain used a box kite to drop tear gas on a group of rich people atop an expensive penthouse. He then used a kite filled with compressed air to glide over the attendees and grab an expensive ruby. Although Batman and Robin arrived, they failed to apprehend Kite Man (his villainy went over their heads) [ed note: I love you, Jonathan.].

While that situation might sound ridiculous, Kite Man’s kite use was quite ingenious; he used kites to firebomb a gold refinery, steal an expensive painting, and break a criminal out of jail. A multitude of miscreants actually revered Kite Man, so the villain formed his own gang. Those thugs helped Kite Man capture Batman, but rather than kill him, the villains decided to trap the hero in their hideout. Of course, Robin found their location, and the dynamic duo defeated Kite Man and his crew.  

Surely Batman wasn’t going to be killed by a D-Lister such as Kite Man, but it was funny to see that the villain actually had the chance. As potentially interesting, but certainly campy, as Kite Man was, he would not appear in a new story again for nearly two decades (sounds like he had no strings attached). Upon his return, Kite Man rigged kites to spray nerve gas at police and stole a large amount of money. Although he secured the cash, he didn’t count on a hang-gliding Batman to stop him. (where does he get those wonderful toys?)

While Kite Man wasn’t exactly a large-scale threat, his creativity with kites was entertaining. Perhaps writers at DC didn’t think so, because his appearances were minor at best (DC was stringing him along for years). Kite Man was defeated by Zatanna, entered the Olympics but was never shown competing, and he was eventually killed by a mobster. I shouldn’t be surprised that Kite Man was never taken seriously, because his name was eventually revealed to be Charles Brown (what a blockhead).

Shortly after DC launched “Rebirth,” Kite Man began to be featured more prominently, although exclusively, in the latest volume of Batman. Still not an adept fighter, Kite Man was beaten on multiple occasions by the titular hero. Would this Kite-themed crook be a joke for the rest of his existence? (The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.) In a spectacular origin story, current Batman writer, Tom King, said…sort of.

Charles Brown had a son also named Charles, and the elder Brown wanted to instill the same love of kites in the young boy. Unfortunately, Brown became involved in a war between Joker and Riddler, and Nigma targeted Brown’s child. The boy flew one of his father’s kites in a local park, but unbeknownst to Charles or his son, Riddler had poisoned the kite string. A slow-acting poison, Charles later arrived at a hospital just in time to watch his son die. In response, Brown constructed a suit, donned the name Kite Man, and vowed to exact revenge on Riddler by working for Joker.

The origin that King granted Kite Man was very tragic, and it gave Brown the perfect motivation to become a supervillain. While Kite Man’s codename and gimmick surely haven’t instilled a sense of dread within the citizens of Gotham, at least there was an understandable and emotional attachment to his seemingly silly name. Although the majority of Joker’s henchmen were defeated by Riddler’s gang, Kite Man refused to give up, and became the last remaining villain who fought alongside the clown prince of crime.

Brown was beaten by Batman and taken into custody, where both the hero and Riddler interrogated him until he revealed the location of Joker’s hideout. Unfortunately, it was on the 73rd floor of a skyscraper, and all practical entrances were booby-trapped. Proving his usefulness, Brown supplied Batman and Nigma’s gang with hang-gliders. In one of the most fantastic images to ever grace a comic book, this kite-army broke through the windows of the skyscraper, and Riddler knocked the Joker unconscious. Finished with this ruse, Batman had Kite Man spring their trap; Brown had attached jet-propelled inverse parachutes to each hang-glider. With the push of a button, Kite Man sent Riddler’s gang out of the window into high altitude, and Alfred apprehended all of the villains with the Bat Blimp. (Brown really told them to go fly a kite.)

Kite Man has never been a particularly successful criminal, but I now view Charles Brown much differently than I did mere months ago. For decades, this guy seemed like just another lame villain, but King gave Kite Man depth, relatability, and tragic circumstances; Charles Brown was quickly transformed into a sympathetic villain. This is the kind of writing that truly enhances my love for D-List characters, and further proves that even the seemingly lamest characters have potential for greatness (and let’s be real, no one says, “Benjamin Franklin, hell yeah”).

Outside of DC comics, Kite Man has appeared in the cartoon, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, where he was given a less tragic and sillier origin, and he appeared briefly in The Lego Batman Movie. Will Kite Man ever be featured as a primary antagonist in a film, or receive a solo comic book series? Probably not, but his painful past has certainly made him a more compelling character, so I hope that Kite Man continues to ride the winds through the DC Universe for years to come.

[geekade]

Are You Ready, Kids? SpongeBob Squarepants the Musical Takes Broadway

My youth was spent loving cartoons. I grew up in the generation who religiously watched Looney Tunes. Bugs Bunny. Daffy Duck. The Roadrunner. If anyone had said anything bad about those cartoons, well, we would have had a problem. I mention this because my first reaction to hearing the news that there would be a SpongeBob Squarepants musical was one of puzzlement. “How can they make a musical out of a cartoon like SpongeBob?” I asked myself in resigned condescension. “It can’t be any good, right?”

Well, I am happy to tell you that SpongeBob Squarepants the Musical now playing at the Palace Theater on Broadway is an assault on the senses. And I mean that in a good way. Conceived and directed by visionary director Tina Landau and designed by the team who did Fun Home, Spring Awakening and Hedwig & The Angry Inch, SpongeBob Squarepants the Musical takes the beloved characters from Bikini Bottom and crafts a new story filled with songs by legendary musical artists like David Bowie, Brian Eno, Plain White T’s, Panic At the Disco, Cyndi Lauper, Yolanda Adams, The Flaming Lips, Sara Bareilles, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Lady Antebellum, John Legend and They Might Be Giants.

When a nearby volcano begins to rumble and send boulders flying towards Bikini Bottom (ingeniously staged by two giant Rube Goldberg-type devices on the sides of the stage), the citizens of Bikini Bottom face impending doom in varying yet predictable ways. Mr. Krabs, played by Brian Ray Norris, sees the apocalypse as the chance to sell a boatload of Crabby Patties. The nefarious Sheldon Plankton and the loyal yet wonderfully sarcastic Karen, played by Wesley Taylor and Stephanie Hsu, hatch a plot to convince everyone leave town in a vessel so they can hypnotize the town to eat chum from The Chum Bucket (don’t ask.) And Patrick Star, hilariously played by Danny Skinner, becomes a cult leader/savior to a school of sardines, complete with a brightly colored, one would say Technicolor, coat and a Jesus Christ Superstar-style song. When the town starts to panic and the media and the mayor turn on one another, the citizens in town (in a very Trumpian, 2017 way) blame science and the outsider to Bikini Bottom, comprised in one form as Sandy Cheeks, a scientist-squirrel from Texas played by Lilli Cooper. And when the vessel to move everyone out of harm’s way costs too much money, it is left to Squidward J. Tentacles to organize a benefit concert with The Electric Skates and finally achieve his dream of playing his clarinet for an adoring audience. Squidward is played by Broadway veteran Gavin Lee and has a show stopping, Broadway-style tap dance number complete with dancing sea anemones.

The whole thing is held together by our hero Spongebob, who tries to save Bikini Bottom from the volcano. As Spongebob, Ethan Slater is truly fantastic. Keeping the manic energy and relatively-vacant intellect of the cartoon version intact, Slater makes Spongebob the leading man and hero he wants to be. The design of the show is simply mind blowing. From the moment you enter the theatre, you are inundated with underwater lighting effects and a color palate hovering somewhere between neon and a box of glow in the dark highlight markers. The stage even includes a sound effects station on one side and the most hip, laid back island music band on the other. The set design uses a combination of projected video screens and ingenious staging devices to create the world of Bikini Bottom. In particular, the staging of the climb up the volcano using three cargo carts and stacks of boxes is so creative in its staging and so simply effective.

In earlier photos of the show when it played in Chicago, I noticed that the costumes started as representations of the cartoon’s images. As the show has evolved, the designers have shed the trappings of having a leading man dance as a giant sponge to evoking the characters in clever, subtle ways. Once we get to know everyone, we don’t need to actually see Mr. Krabs as a crab or Patrick as an actual starfish. The magic of the theatre allows us all in the audience to get the premise, make the connection and then enjoy the actors doing their thing. The design of the show and the constant inundation of the audience’s senses makes this a memorable show and not one to miss. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a pirate dance number? That alone should make it worth your while.

But the real reason not to miss this show is the audience. I felt like I was at a rock concert. When I looked around and saw the audience fist pumping to moments in the show and screaming when their favorite characters first appeared, it dawned on me that for many teenagers and young adults, Spongebob Squarepants is this generation’s Looney Tunes, a combination of abject, almost absurdist, silliness and slightly biting social commentary. I can confidently say the decision to turn Spongebob Squarepants into this high energy musical was a brilliant decision.