Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Devlin's Domain - Cannibal Holocaust
Eli Roth's take on the cannibal movie, The Green Inferno, has finally made it's way to theaters. I haven't had the chance to see it yet, but I have seen my fair share of the cannibal flicks that inspired Roth to make his film. It wasn't very difficult to pick which one to review in Devlin's Domain. I hope you have a strong stomach, cause this is going to get violent. Get your barf bags ready and step into my domain.
Comic Book Wednesday – Previews October 2015: Cashing In On the Holidays
If
you don’t know, Previews
is the catalog that Diamond Comic Distributors use to offer the
products they distribute to comic book stores around the country.
This is where you can view and order (through your favorite Local
Comic Book Shop) comic books, trade paperback collections, t-shirts,
books, media, and toys and other collectibles from hundreds of
different vendors that deal in geek-oriented merchandise. The genius
part is that you actually have to pay for your copy of Previews
for the privilege of ordering other things to pay for. It’s like
the Ren Fest except without the horse poo smell.
So
every month a new edition of Previews
is sent out to comic book stores. Contained in the pages within are
products that might be currently available or could be released
anytime in the next year; but typically about two months away. Or
sometimes never. I’ve ordered lots
of things that have just never come in. Without getting into the
specific politics of Diamond, let me just say that they aren’t
quite
a monopoly and also aren’t quite
the worst distributor anybody has ever dealt with in the history of
the universe.
But
I’m not here to discuss that. I’m here to discuss a few of the
weird and/or wonderful items offered in this month’s edition.
Labels:
collectibles,
comic books,
DC Collectibles,
dc comics,
Marvel Comics,
Previews,
toys

Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Dragon Con 2015: Beth's Recap Part 3
Monday, September 28, 2015
Dragon Con 2015 – Phantom’s Recap Part 3 - The Rest of Con
Saturday
Saturday
was wide open. I didn’t have a single thing that I had to do until
the game show crew met in my room at 7 PM. Given how busy Friday had
been and how important the game show was, I wanted to relax. Granted,
that didn’t mean just sitting around the room. I wanted to visit
Artists’ Alley again and maybe hit the Walk of Fame. I also decided
pretty early on that I wasn’t going to worry about any panels other
than my own. It’s Dragon Con, and even the smallest, lowest-key
panels require around ninety minutes of your time when you factor in
travel and waiting to get in.
It’s
worth noting that I didn’t suffer any further hangover issues.
Friday was my only bad morning, though I was definitely tired the
following days. If I hadn’t been at Dragon Con, I would’ve had a
hard time getting motivated to leave the bed.
Labels:
conventions,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
tales from the troublemaker,
The Dirty Dirty Con Con Game Game Show Show

Friday, September 25, 2015
Needless Things Podcast 74 – Marc Alan Fishman of Unshaven Comics
Phantom
Troublemaker met the fine fellows of Unshaven Comics
at Dragon Con this year and liked 'em so much he had to have them on
the Needless Things Podcast!
Labels:
comic books,
ESO Network,
ESO Podcast,
independent comics,
Marc Alan Fishman,
Needless Things,
Needless Things Podcast,
Phantom Troublemaker,
Podcast,
The Samurnauts,
Unshaven Comics

Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Devlin's Domain - Banshee Chapter
I'm back this week with another edition of Devlin's Domain. I'm recommending this one to any H.P. Lovecraft fans out there. I'm going to give a brief lesson on a few topics that are relevant to this week's film. So strap on your foil hats and get ready to get brainwashed and hallucinate extradimensional beings who are coming to tear out your soul.
Labels:
Banshee Chapter,
Devlin Valek,
Devlin's Domain,
DMT,
horror,
MK-Ultra,
Movie Review
Toy Review – Disney Store Exclusive Star Wars Die-Cast Elite Series Finn
I’m
behind on my Masters of the Universe Classics reviews right now, but
I’m pretty excited by the Exclusives that the Disney Store has for
The
Force Awakens
and wanted to go ahead and cover this guy. Partly because of the
excitement of actually caring about new Star Wars toys, but also
because I think there’s some confusion as to what, exactly, these
die-cast figures are supposed to be.
Labels:
action figures,
collectibles,
die-cast toys,
Disney,
Disney Store Exclusive,
Exclusives,
star wars,
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Dragon Con 2015: Beth's Recap Part 2
I got a bit of a late start on Saturday because I planned on spending the night, and wanted to conserve my energy. I know myself well enough to know that I'd be up until some ungodly hour, and likely drinking some of that time. I was still feeling pretty good at this point, and I kind of wanted to keep it that way. Airborne may have saved my health this weekend. I also don't go to the parade anymore because I simply can't take those crowds. Since it's the only thing that you can do without a badge it's way more crowded than it used to be. I've also been to the parade a bunch of times over my Dragon Con years so I didn't feel super compelled to get up at the crack of dawn to wade through the masses when I would be there all day anyway. If you haven't been to the parade before though I highly recommend it. Especially if you aren't going to make it to the rest of the con weekend.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Dragon Con 2015 – Phantom’s Recap Part 2 - Friday
There
are so many reasons that I’m glad I got my shit together and made
it to Schwarza-Panel Friday morning. It started the day off right, it
was a fun panel, and I had the opportunity to hang the Needless
Things banner pretty early on. But mostly it’s because this is my
third year in a row of doing panels with the awesome William Stout.
Labels:
DCW,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
Dragon*Con Wrestling,
puppeteering,
puppetry,
tales from the troublemaker

Friday, September 18, 2015
Needless Things Podcast 73 – Dragon Con 2015: Schwarza-Panel – The Sci-Fi Films of Arnold Schwarzenegger
2015
Dragon Con coverage continues on the Needless Things Podcast as we
look back at the events! In this week’s episode, Phantom takes part
in the SCHWARZA-PANEL!
Labels:
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
Gary Mitchel,
Jessa Phillips,
live recording,
Mike Faber,
Needless Things Podcast,
RevCast,
RevolutionSF,
Van Allen Plexico,
White Rocket Podcast,
William Stout

Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Devlin's Domain - The Last House on the Left (Wes Craven Tribute)
After a brief hiatus, I am back with Devlin's Domain. This week I'm paying tribute to a fallen master of the horror genre. The man who made all your nightmares come true, Wes Craven.
Comic Book Wednesday – Previews September 2015: Attrition During Secret Wartime
If
you don’t know, Previews
is the catalogue that Diamond Comic Distributors use to offer the
products they distribute to comic book stores around the country.
This is where you can view and order (through your favorite Local
Comic Book Shop) comic books, trade paperback collections, t-shirts,
books, media, and toys and other collectibles from hundreds of
different vendors that deal in geek-oriented merchandise. The genius
part is that you actually have to pay for your copy of Previews
for the privilege of ordering other things to pay for. It’s like
the Ren Fest except without the horse poo smell.
So
every month a new edition of Previews
is sent out to comic book stores. Contained in the pages within are
products that might be currently available or could be released
anytime in the next year; but typically about two months away. Or
sometimes never. I’ve ordered lots
of things that have just never come in. Without getting into the
specific politics of Diamond, let me just say that they aren’t
quite
a monopoly and also aren’t quite
the worst distributor anybody has ever dealt with in the history of
the universe.
But
I’m not here to discuss that. I’m here to discuss a few of the
weird and/or wonderful items offered in this month’s edition.
As
soon as I started leafing through this month’s catalog my arms
started itching. What’s that all about?
Also,
sorry this is a week late, but Dragon Con happened.
Labels:
collectibles,
comic books,
Dark Horse Comics,
dc comics,
Diamond Comics,
Diamond Select Toys,
idw,
image comics,
Marvel Comics,
Previews,
toys

Dragon Con 2015 - Diagnosis: Post DragonCon Malaise. Recommended Treatment: Picture and Video Review
The
wind-down period begins. Monday comes and you start to see suitcases
rolling through the hotels and the food court, lines forming at the
check-out desks. You begin
to feel deflated despite your continued Con-enjoyment. You are still attending
panels, but as you see suitcases sitting at the feet of others in the
panel with you, your heart aches. You’re soon to join them.
DragonCon is coming to a close in a few short hours.
As
I type this I am at my first official day back at work and back to
reality. The good thing is that it takes at least a week before I ever
accept this mentally, as
I stay in the realm of memories and grins, burps that still taste of
food court goodies no matter how many times I brush my teeth, and
swag that litters the house for days until one figures out how to
organize all that crap. While I’m back to the grind,
I’m not terribly bummed about it yet; I’m still on my “Con-High.” With
that in mind, I am rewinding the wind-down to take you on a journey
through my Con experience for 2015.
Labels:
Christina Sizemore,
conventions,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Album Review - Music is NOT Magic: Truly Outrageous - A Tribute to Starlight Records
Before I go any further, let me make it clear that I can't remember the last time that I gave anything an outright negative review. This is a first for me and as I write this I am truly disappointed in myself for having to stoop this low. We are living in a rebooting society; all of our childhood is being resurrected in live action, comic, and cartoon, and given a modern twist. This is a good thing or bad thing, depending on the person that you ask. When I first heard of the Jem and the Holograms live action movie I was one of the positive people. Maybe positive isn't the word. Maybe the words to use were "screaming," "dancing," "squealing," "giggling..." you get the idea.
Labels:
80s cartoons,
cartoons,
Christina Sizemore,
hasbro,
Jem,
music
Dragon Con 2015: Beth's Recap Part 1
It's no secret that I don't like lines or crowds. Despite that, I love Dragon Con. I'm complex like that. To avoid what I could of both I went down Thursday evening to get my badge. Well, at least I missed the lines. Crowds not so much. Everyone got the memo about Thursday being the new Friday this year, and there were plenty of crowds to go around. I guess I should I have taken off Thursday and gone down earlier. I would take off Wednesday, but media badges can't be picked up til Thursday after 2pm. So taking off Wednesday (which is the new Thursday) wouldn't have helped me much. If we keep going at this rate in ten years time we'll need a whole new calendar, and Dragon Con will last for two months.
Monday, September 14, 2015
WIN SOME UNDEROOS!
This is the final day to win a set of Underoos - the underwear that's still fun to wear - from Needless Things!
First, visit the Underoos website and check out all of the stuff they have to offer.
E-mail phantomtroublemaker@gmail.com with "Underoos" in the subject line.
Tell us which currently available style is your favorite.
Tell us a character or franchise you'd like to see that Underoos is not currently offering - YOU can help determine the underwear fate of the ENTIRE WORLD!
The winner will be chosen tonight at midnight and contacted tomorrow to choose the size and style of Underoos they want!
First, visit the Underoos website and check out all of the stuff they have to offer.
E-mail phantomtroublemaker@gmail.com with "Underoos" in the subject line.
Tell us which currently available style is your favorite.
Tell us a character or franchise you'd like to see that Underoos is not currently offering - YOU can help determine the underwear fate of the ENTIRE WORLD!
The winner will be chosen tonight at midnight and contacted tomorrow to choose the size and style of Underoos they want!

Dragon Con 2015 – Phantom’s Recap Part 1 - Thursday
Dragon
Con 2015 was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best one yet. It was a
weekend full of highs, and at my lowest points I was still in a state
of pure contentment. That’s
as bummed as I got all weekend – completely satisfied.
Over
the course of however long it takes me to recap events I am going to
tell you about minor victories, moments of joy, hard work paying off,
and delightful surprises the likes of which I could never have
imagined. I’m going to try to be a bit more concise this year,
which should be easy given the lack of disappointing factors. As my
brother from another mother Mike Gordon is so fond of pointing out, I
am at my best – and lengthiest, it seems – when I am complaining.
This
year’s Dragon Con has left me with very little about which to
complain.
Way
to sell the post, Phantom.

Friday, September 11, 2015
Needless Things Podcast 72 – Dragon Con 2015: Toy Stories
2015
Dragon Con coverage continues on the Needless Things Podcast as we
look back at the events! In this week’s episode, Phantom hosts a
live panel called Toy
Stories!
Labels:
Atlanta,
Atlanta events,
Belligerent Monkey,
conventions,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
ESO Network,
ESO Podcast,
Gary Mitchel,
Michael Bailey,
Needless Things Podcast,
Podcast,
Shauncastic,
toys,
Underoos

Friday, September 4, 2015
Things I Will Miss At Dragon Con
As you can tell by all the amazing
coverage and podcasts that have been posted here on Needless Things,
this week is the con of all cons, Dragon Con. Dragon Con is without a
doubt a nerds home away from home. For a lot of people, it is home
which has been stated by many people including myself. I have only
been two times to the convention and the second time which was last
year was such an incredible experience. Words simply can't do it
justice.
Dragon Con 2015: Starbase Geek on Convention Etiquette - Part Two
Going to
conventions is a way of life for us geeks. From sci-fi to horror to
comics, there's a convention that caters to our geeky delights. Like
most people, I want my convention experience to be as smooth as
possible, but it seems that many people show a lack of convention
etiquette, which makes things more frustrating, In the first part of our guide, we discussed panels and arriving and leaving the con. Now
let's discuss some other aspects of attending a convention where we
should all exercise convention etiquette.
Labels:
conventions,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
Jeff Francis,
Starbasegeek.com

Thursday, September 3, 2015
Why I Quit Collecting Toys - A Star Wars: Force Friday Tie-In
This
isn’t one of those April Fools posts where I try to convince you
I’m quitting the dorkery game. But I do think that’s a funny
title, coming from me.
Labels:
Force Friday,
hasbro,
star wars,
toys

Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Dragon Con Pre-Con Report by Phantomaniac Ace Reporter Elizabeth
With
less than a week to go until Dragon Con my biggest problem is this:
Tea Dueling or Elf Choir? The Warehouse 13 cast or Karen Gillan?
Doctor Who New Series Review or Star Trek Fan Films? That’s right -
the Dragon Con app has updated, most of the fan tracks have posted
tentative schedules and I’m already anxious, excited, heartbroken
and tearing my hair out.
Here’s
what I’m most excited about for Dragon Con 2015:
Labels:
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
Elizabeth Laney,
Guest Posts

Dragon Con 2015: My Extremely Tentative Schedule
Dragon*Con starts
tomorrow!
This is the post where
I’ll take a look at the Pocket
Program
and run down what I’m doing at Con, as well as what panels I’m
interested in seeing and which events I’d like to witness. This
year I’m going to start by focusing on what Needless Things is
actually involved in, then cover all of the stuff I’d just like to
see.
Labels:
Atlanta events,
Convention,
conventions,
Dragon Con,
Dragon Con 2015,
tips from uncle troublemaker,
Troublemaker Live

Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Birdsnatch Interview With C.J. Cummings And Mark Ryan

Many
moons ago, long before social media existed, there were message
boards. I know some of you youngsters might not be quite sure what
I'm talking about but those around circa 2000 will remember rather
well. Sure message boards exist here and there but social media of
all kinds have taken over from the communities that used to be. I was
fortunate enough to become part of a great board that was for horror
fans of all kinds. Dark Obsessions focused on horror movies, toys,
dolls (Living Dead Dolls/Krypt Kiddies), and a group of amazing
people.
Dragon Con 2015: American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media Track Director Interview
For my last pre-con post I spoke with Kelley, director of the American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media track.They've got a huge amount of programming this year, and there's sure to be something you're in to. Make sure to check out their schedule on the official app. You'll be busy even if you only hit their panels.
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