Needless Things Podcast 228 – Dragon Con 2018: Master of Puppetry!

Dragon Con 2018 coverage continues on Needless Things!

Dragon Con 2018: The Dragon Awards

by Beth

This is the third year of The Dragon Awards. Last year only 8,000 out of 80,000 people voted on them. Let's see if we can't do better this year. With 85,000 attendees expected his year surely we can get a few more folks to vote. These are “fan's choice” awards, and you don't even have to be going to Dragon Con to have your opinions counted.

Needless Things at Dragon Con 2018!

By Dave

Good morning, Phantomaniacs – welcome to my final post before Dragon Con (except for Wednesday’s early edition of the Needless Things Podcast featuring the Director of the Puppetry Track, Mr. Beau Brown)!

Today I’m going to run down my schedule for Dragon Con and a couple of panels where you can find our beloved Needless Things Irregulars.

Needless Things Podcast 227 – Dragon Con 2018: Horror & Urban Fantasy!

Dragon Con 2018 coverage continues on Needless Things!

Dragon Con 2018: The Costume Post

By Dave

It takes many different elements to create the magic of Dragon Con – fan Tracks, celebrity guests, apple pie – but in my opinion few are as important as the costuming community.

To me, Dragon Con’s biggest virtue is that it gives me the ability to immerse myself in an environment that is accepting, nurturing, and fantastical. Where, for five(ish) days we can all be whoever we were mean to be – our best selves. Whether you’re a wizard, a wrestler, a soldier from the future, or a mad scientist, you get to be you. And more importantly, you’re surrounded by fellow wizards, warriors, and Wonder Women.

Being able to look around the massive Dragon Con staging area of the Hilton, the Marriot, the Hyatt, the Westin, the Sheraton, and AmericasMart and see fantastical characters of every shape and size is an unequaled experience. Without those cosplayers Dragon Con would still be fun, but it would lose a massive portion of its magic.

Here’s the post where I display my incredibly shallow knowledge of what’s actually going on in pop culture by attempting to pick the biggest costuming trends this year. I’ll also throw in some personal favorites that I’m hopeful for, just to try and distract you guys from the fact that I think people are still playing Bomberman 64.

If you’ve got your own thoughts on the matter, you can comment below or, even better, join the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group and get in on the conversation! Let us know what you think!

Needless Things Podcast 226 – Dragon Con 2018: My Stepmother Is A Classics Track!

Dragon Con 2018 coverage continues on Needless Things!

Comic Book Wednesday – Previews August 2018: “What If… Halloween is Coming?”

By Dave

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 are typically about two months away. Most of this month’s offerings are scheduled to ship in October.

Movie Review - The Meg

by Beth

Before I get into Dragon Con mode I wanted to take a minute to review the summer blockbuster I had been dying to see. The Meg isn't being well received or reviewed, but if you're like me you don't let critics or naysayers stop you from seeing something. Let this be one of those instances if you're on the fence. If you liked Deep Blue Sea, you'll probably like The Meg. I love Deep Blue Sea, and thought The Meg was a great example of what can happen when a silly idea gets a good budget.

Needless Things Podcast 225 – Kirk Thatcher Interview

On today’s episode of the Needless Things Podcast Dave talks to writer, producer, director, and production designer Kirk Thatcher!

Troublemaker – Coming Soon!

By Dave

At some point in the past I announced on the now-defunct Needless Things PatronCast that my good friend Jason Wilson – an award-winning documentarian – would be following me around with a camera for a year or so.

He did. From October of 2016 up through last year’s Dragon Con, Wilson was there to capture many aspects of my life as Phantom Trouble maker and as Dave West, including my shocking unmasking at the live 1987 panel for the Classics Track.

We (mostly Wilson) are now in the process of putting everything together. Or maybe in the process of finishing up putting everything together. There are dozens of hours of footage and interviews and I’m sure it’s quite a beast to parse it down to the best stuff. Or to a singular narrative. Or whatever it is he’s doing with it. Aside from a couple of instances of, “You know, maybe I don’t want this to be that real”, I’m leaving it in Wilson’s capable hands because he has won an Emmy and I have, as of yet, not.

I’m honored that Wilson would consider me a subject worthy of examining and I’m extremely proud of what we got done and of what I’ve seen so far. This thing is very much who I am, in some cases warts and all. It sends one singular message that I am aware of and perhaps many that I’m not – like I said, that’s up to Wilson. And to the eventual audience.

I can’t say yet what our plans are for release, nor when that will happen. Both of us want this to be the best feature it can possibly be and nobody will see it before it is.

In the meantime, here’s the official trailer for Troublemaker. Please like, share, comment, post, and above all, enjoy.

I love you guys.

While you’re waiting for Troublemaker, check out my interview with Wilson on the Needless Things Podcast and his last film, Stopper: Rise and Fall of the Bastard Squad.

You can follow Dave as Phantom Troublemaker on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the best pop culture news!

Needless Things Podcast 224 – San Diego Comic Con 2018: The Toys

Needless Things wasn’t in San Diego for Comic Con, but the Irregulars followed from afar and have plenty to discuss!

(James) Gunn Control

by Beth

As soon as I heard about Disney firing James Gunn I messaged Dave to see if he thought the topic was too controversial for me to write about. He said to go for it, and thus the lengthy process of research and notes began. Because I'm angry, I'm confused, and I think we need to talk about this. Of course, he then proceeded to talk about James Gunn in the introduction to his most recent podcast, but whatever, I had already put too much work into this thing to toss it all out. I try to treat this site like I treat my day job. I stay away from sex, politics, and religion. Unfortunately, a lot of what led up the the scandal is politically based so I can't not bring it up. Don't worry though, I'm not not here to push an agenda on you. I don't have any answers here, and I'm not trying to start a fight, but I do think it's a discussion that needs to be had. Preferably a rational discussion. And if you're easily offended consider this fair warning. I found some of the tweets on Mike Cernovich's website, and am posting screen-caps of them here. I think people deserve to see what we're really talking about.

The Dragon Con 2018 Progress Report

By Dave

“Dragon Con is always either a year or a day away.”

-Clay Gilbert

Dragon Con has sort of crept up on me this year.

Needless Things Podcast 223 – San Diego Comic Con 2018: The Movies

Needless Things wasn’t in San Diego for Comic Con, but the Irregulars followed from afar and have plenty to discuss!

San Diego Comic Con 2018 – The Toys

By Dave

I wasn’t at San Diego Comic Con this past weekend, but as a toy-obsessed lunatic I had to follow all of the news from here. This Friday will see the release of the Needless Things Podcast’s annual SDCC wrap-up with Ryan, Jay, and Josh, but it’s always helpful to me to go ahead and put a post together about my favorite stuff from the show.

This won’t include products that have already been shown or announced prior to SDCC 2018 unless significant changes have been made to said products or there’s something new of which to make note.

I’ve included pictures where I can, but mostly just official releases when the companies have put them out (which they have gotten much better about since I started doing these). Toy Ark has massive galleries of the toys, so check them out!

Needless Things Podcast 222 – Toys Я Us

I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid

they got a million toys at Toys R us that I can play with

I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid

they got the best for so much less, it'll really flip your lid

From bikes to trains to video games

it's the biggest toy store there is (gee whiz!)

I don't wanna grow up, cause maybe if I did

I couldn't be a Toys R Us kid

more games, more toys, oh boy!

I wanna be a Toys R Us kid

Help - I Married a Freak!

by Beth

Well not a literal freak like in the movies Freaks or Freaked (it's really tough to find good images from that movie), but he's certainly an oddity. How else do you explain a man who hates Predator, Jaws, and Alien? I guess I should have asked a few more questions before we got married, but while we were dating we watched (often shitty) horror movies and MST3K. It was only years later that I found out how many things I love that he can't stand. I probably would have married him anyway, but I might have looked around harder before settling in. Taken individually his dislikes might not seem so bad, but once I sat down with him and compiled a full list it certainly made me wonder what the hell I was thinking.

Needless Things Podcast 221 – Weekend at Bernie’s Needless Commentary

Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films!

Comic Book Wednesday – Thinning the Herd

By Dave

It’s been too long since I sat down and looked at the pull list I have with my Local Comic Shop. I have a huge stack of unread comics at home, and part of that stack consists of books that I have lost interest in and am now buying out of habit.

Comic books are damned expensive these days, even counting for inflation, so I think we all owe it to ourselves to sit down every few months and take a look at exactly how much we enjoy the books that we’re buying. For me, the simplest way to do this is to go to the Previews website and check out the current online edition of their catalog. When you’re buying books week by week it’s easy to look at one book among ten and think, “Well, I’ll go ahead and get it”. At the time you’re looking at a small portion of what you collect and one title doesn’t seem like a big deal. But if you’re getting one book you no longer care about every week, that can add up to big money.

When you have a list of every available book and time on your hands, however, you can make some real decisions about what you want to spend money on. It’s much more practical to look at the big picture all at once and realize, “Holy shit, I’m spending thirty bucks a month on books I don’t even like anymore”.

So what follows is my revised pull list, perhaps with some notes about books I am dropping or have dropped. I’m not in any way suggesting that you should drop any of those books if you enjoy them. I’m just noting that for one reason or another I no longer find them entertaining.

It’s not them, it’s me.

Essentially, if I don’t have to think at least a bit about putting a title on the top of the stack (to be read first), I need to drop it. This list is only the ongoing series that I am reading, not minis or limiteds.

Hellboy and the BPRD – Every issue is entertaining and I look forward to it every month. One of the virtues of this book is that it’s different from most of what I read. In general Dark Horse produces quality comic books and Mike Mignola, specifically, has never let me down.

Black Hammer – I’m actually surprised a bit by the fact that I’m still engrossed in this story. It’s very good and I love the art, but the pacing is a bit slower than I generally like. The characters are solid and the way that Jeff Lemire is unpacking his version of a superhero universe (that is so familiar in many ways) is fascinating. Unless things grind to a halt, I am sticking around.

Batman – I love what Tom King is doing with Batman and am very happy with this book.

Deathstroke – This is one of the best comic books that I’m reading right now. It’s action-packed, entertaining, and smart. Almost every issue has presented me with a quote or scenario that I have felt compelled to relay to others or to use in some way. No other comic is stimulating my brain quite as much as this one. Priest’s storytelling style sometimes asks a little more of the reader, but I find that I am rewarded for my investment.

Hack/Slash Resurrection – Tini Howard’s continuation of Cassie Hack’s adventures has been great so far. I don’t love the art style, but it does work for the book.

Saga – The best ongoing comic book I have ever read.

Walking Dead – Still compelling after all this time. I can’t imagine where it goes now, which is a good thing. This new Princess character seems terribly off-putting, but I trust whatever plan Kirkman has.

Side Note: I still don’t watch the TV show.

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man – Zdarsky’s take on Spider-Man and Peter Parker has been awesome. Every issue is full of action-packed fun. This reminds me of the Spidey comics I read when I was a kid, but more clever.

Harley Quinn – Okay, this is something of an extravagance. I’m buying these purely for Frank Cho’s variant covers. I got a little fatigued by Conner and Palmiotti’s run and was going to drop it, but I just couldn’t give up Cho’s gorgeous artwork. I’ve heard Sam Humphries has been doing some cool stuff, so at some point I’ll dive back in. I definitely want to see what’s up with this Apokolips story.

Justice League – I’ve only read the first issue and I’m already engrossed in this storyline that’s basically a direct continuation of No Justice. Snyder is writing a very action-packed, fast-paced story that as of now has me fully engaged. I hope it stays on course.

The Terrifics – It seems that I’m a big Jeff Lemire fan. I believe his run on Animal Man during the New 52 was the first work of his I had read. Since then he has continued to pop up with interesting ideas on titles I might not otherwise have picked up. I feel like he has a tremendous grasp on what makes superheroes so interesting and is a master storyteller. That combination is a strong one. The same thing that makes Black Hammer so great works for Fantastic Four analog The Terrifics.

Amazing Spider-Man – I’m picking this up starting with Nick Spencer’s run based purely on how much I loved Superior Foes of Spider-Man.

Dark Ark – Cullen Bunn and Juan Doe’s tale of the evil version of Noah’s Ark has been awesome so far, and very cinematic. The book isn’t necessarily at the forefront of my consciousness (because the scheduling is somewhat erratic), but I’m thrilled to see it every time it’s in my stack at the shop.

Share your own pull list in the comments, or join the discussion in the Needless Things Podcast Facebook Group!

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all of the latest in pop culture!

Needless Things Podcast 220 – Jon Carr

Jon Carr is a writer, performer, and most importantly a storyteller who plies his trade at the renowned Dad’s Garage Theatre Company in Atlanta. His play, Black Nerd debuts on July 13^th and will run through August 4^th.

Star Wars Doesn't Owe You Anything

by Beth

Okay trolls, I've had enough. When you claimed that your boycott tanked Solo I rolled my eyes and let it pass. Then you chased Kelly Marie Tran off social media with rape and death threats. I was disgusted, but stayed out of it because baiting trolls is the fastest way to insanity. Then over the weekend I found out a few more ridiculous facts, and I just can't keep silent anymore. Rey's parentage needs to be retconned to make her the child of someone important? And some group of morons is actually trying to raise money to remake The Last Jedi? I'm done with the haters, the incel babies (if you don't know what incel is then google it. I didn't know giant douches had an official term until Friday night), and most of all the stupid trolls. So instead of the amusing piece I was going to write about how I should have asked Mr. Tibbs a few more questions about his movie preferences before we got married (how did I marry someone who hates Indiana Jones?) I'm going to yell at assholes.

Comic Book... Monday? – Previews July 2018: “Who You Gonna Repaint?”

By Dave

This month’s edition is coming on a Monday thanks to the Independence Day holiday this Wednesday.

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 are typically about two months away. Most of this month’s offerings are scheduled to ship in September.

Needless Things Podcast 219 – 1988

The dynamite team of Dave, Beth V, Rad Ranger, and Chris DePetrillo reunite to look thirty years into the past!

Needless Things Podcast 218 – Eric & Julia Lewald: X-Men The Animated Series

On this week’s episode Dave talks to two of the minds behind the seminal 90s X-Men animated series!

­

Devlin's Domain - Wild Beasts

Nature goes on a rampage in this edition of Devlin's Domain. There are plenty of films out there where animals attack. You can watch Leslie Nielsen fight a bear in the silly, yet entertaining, Day of the Animals. You can roll your eyes or laugh your ass off to the atrocious catastrophe that is Birdemic. There are films with killer rats, killer slugs, killer gators, killer spiders, killer sheep, and killer fish, but this notorious Italian filmmaker tops them all. Feast your eyes.

Why I Don't Need Any More Jurassic Park Movies

by Beth

Before you start blowing me up please hear me out first. I love the first Jurassic Park. I've seen it in the theater at least 5 times (a few of them within the last 5 years). I'll watch it anytime it's on TV, and as silly as parts of it are I hold it makes it close to the top of my best summer blockbuster movie list. But let's take a look at the rest of the movies shall we? It's a different story for the sequels. The Lost World, Jurassic Park III, and Jurassic World are deeply flawed and we shouldn't look past that just because a new popcorn flick is on the way.

Needless Things Podcast 217 – Blue Hawaii Needless Commentary

Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films!

The Joy of Joe

By Dave

As most of you probably know I adore GI Joe: A Real American Hero and often cite it as my favorite toy line of all time. At the very least it is the toy line that dominated my childhood and much of my adult collecting years.

Needless Things Podcast 216 – MomoCon 2018 with Mike Gordon

Our old pal Mike Gordon returns to the show to join Dave for a recap of MomoCon!

Comic Book Wednesday – Previews June 2018: “Enter Sandman”

By Dave

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 are typically about two months away. Most of this month’s offerings are scheduled to ship in August.

Now it’s time to discuss a few of the weird and/or wonderful items offered in this month’s edition!

The MCU Ranked

by Beth

There was some jibber-jabber last month on the Needless Things Podcast Facebook page about people ranking the MCU. At the time that it was happening I was just too lazy to do my own ranking becuase I felt like I needed to explain my choices. That's just too damn much for a Facebook feed. With the announcement of the Disney/Fox deal I was thinking about the MCU much harder today than before. How will the X-Men work their way into a universe that they've been excluded from for so long? Will we finally get a good Fantastic Four movie? How many Marvel movies are going to be flung at us every year to ensure that Disney recoups it's 52 billion dollar investment? I'm guessing it'll be a lot.

MomoCon 2018 – The Love Movement

By Dave

For the first time ever I really do believe that these kids are going to make this world a better place.

Yes, seriously – that’s my takeaway from my weekend at MomoCon.

Needless Things Podcast 215 – Solo: A Star Wars Story

Screenwriter Chad J. Shonk and Needless Things’ Head of Research Ryan Schweck join Dave to discuss the newest Star Wars film!

Put an End to Finishers

By Dave

Most finishing moves that WWE Superstars are using today are far too dangerous. In the interest of protecting these hard-working entertainers, I think WWE should ban Superkicks, Curb Stomps, the Khallas, the Kinsasha, and all other impactful moves considered “match-enders”.

Needless Things Podcast 214 – Flash Gordon Needless Commentary

Part of an ongoing series – the Needless Things Irregulars gather in the Phantom Zone to provide their own unique commentary on classic genre films!

Movie Review - Winchester

by Beth

The Winchester House is listed as one of the most haunted places in America. I've read that actually visiting it is kind of a let down, but I'd still go. It's the least disturbing of spooky destinations that Mr. Tibbs has ever suggested going to since no one actually died in the house itself. I'm more inclined to do something like that than the Cecil Hotel where women kept dying, and 2 serial killers were in residence. I'd watch a movie about a place like that, but I wouldn't go there. Unfortunately, it would probably be just as bad as a movie about the Winchester House turned out to be.

MomoCon 2018 – Phantom’s Picks

By Dave

This year, for the first time ever, your ol’ pal Phantom will be attending MomoCon!

I have no idea what to expect from this very different convention. Obviously parallels can be drawn between MomoCon and Dragon Con, but this one certainly seems to be aimed at a younger crowd. With a focus on anime, video games, and cosplay I’d imagine it draws the currently relevant “youth culture” much more than it does crusty old grumps like me. From looking at pictures it seems like the average attendee age might just barely be out of high school.

What that means is that this will be a fresh, new experience for me and that to a certain extent I will be much more of an observer; reporting on MomoCon in a much more traditional way than I usually do. I still plan to have fun, but I’m expecting much less interaction than a regular con.