pop culture
Modern popular culture topics in the geek sphere.
Rise of Harley Quinn
Every hero needs a villain. Villains resonate with people in ways that many superheroes can't. The villain represents the untapped potential for evil and mayhem in all of us. Pop culture has been obsessed with the anti-heroes’ in comic book series like "Batman" since it first went into syndication. The rise of Batman and his demons drew in fans; Fans that needed Batman to have enemies of substance.
By George Gott9 years ago in Geeks
Most Underrated Wes Craven Films
Wes Craven, the legendary horror director, died on August 30th 2015 after a long battle with brain cancer. Unfortunately, there’s no plot twist in this story. Wes Craven left behind nearly 50 years of genre-defining films and an immortal artistic legacy. While some of you may be familiar with his cult classics like Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Hills Have Eyes, the most underrated Wes Craven films are equally as engaging, surprising, and hard-hitting to older and younger audiences alike. To truly appreciate the man who defined the slasher film, take a look at the most underrated Wes Craven films that you need to see.
By Natasha Sydor9 years ago in Geeks
History of Fan Theories
There’s something remarkable about fan theories. I doubt that when an author puts his pen to paper, he is conscious of what a potential fanbase may add to the story. Indeed, many argue that fan theories are pointless, simply because they do not derive from the original writer. However, fan theories became widely accepted after the release of an infamous essay known as "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex." This essay details the sexual life of popular DC Comics character Superman.
By Stephen Hamilton9 years ago in Geeks
Rise of Adult Comics
Those Batman fans lucky enough to have arrived early on the third day of New York City’s 2015 Comic Con were treated to a preview of the thirtieth anniversary celebration of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Despite the long lines and confusion, fans eagerly awaited the arrival of Miller onstage to discuss his work. As he stepped under the lights, the air became charged with the excitement of those who witnessed the monumental 80s comic hit stands during their childhood. The crowd was full of men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, meaning that the comic had stuck with them over the years. Miller’s story is certainly special in its staying power, but it also speaks to the nature of adult comics as an industry.
By Geeks Staff9 years ago in Geeks
Why Pokémon Go is the Best Thing that Ever Happened
It’s 7:42 AM and I am running towards the canal near my house, draped in polka dot pajamas and gym trainers. There is a Dragonair somewhere in the area, greyed out in my list of nearby Pokémon, and I’m going to find the damn thing. Lifting my eyes from the phone screen on this warm Sunday morning, I notice four or five people ranging from early teens to should-definitely-know-better adults... Each with his or her phone out, walking in circles around one small patch of grass. As I approach, they look up at me expectantly. Did you catch it? No one had located the elegant, eel-like dragon Pokémon that was a favorite of mine so many years ago. I join the huddle and we continue the hunt.
By Samantha Bentley9 years ago in Geeks
Evolution of Ant-Man
By now you must have seen Ant-Man, the 2015 summer blockbuster starring Paul Rudd. For those who haven’t seen it, you’re probably wondering how a film surrounding a superhero called Ant-Man can have redeemable qualities and/or special powers. Meanwhile, Ant-Man has a long and storied history in the comic book universe and has, at many points, been the most important character of the Marvel Universe. This is the evolution of Ant-Man. It’s probably wise to first go over which characters have worn the Ant-Man suit.
By Stephen Hamilton9 years ago in Geeks
Why Women Game Developers Matter
If you take a look at the top five games of 2015 according to MetaCritic, you’ll be pressed to find a female name among the credits. You may find names that sound like they should belong to women (here’s looking at you Leslie Benzies), but unfortunately the presence of women is nonexistent with the exception of Undertale’s Temmie Chang and Journey’s Robine Hunicke.
By Patricia Sarkar9 years ago in Geeks
Cosplayer Holly Wolf
Holly Wolf is a Canadian model who juggles her career as a playmate with her passion for geek pop culture and cosplay. The Toronto native is a self-proclaimed Zelda who provides breakdowns of her costumes on her website alongside details of her armor-making skills. She was the first-ever cover model of Geek Fantasy, a men’s magazine, where she cosplayed Captain America. Wolf is an internationally-recognized model who has graced the pages of FHM while appearing on the cover of Playboy Slovakia. Her honors include 2014 Playmate of the Year for the Czech edition of the venerated publication. Cosplayer Holly Wolf symbolizes a new wave of pop culture—it is possible to be a smart, beautiful geek girl.
By Geeks Staff9 years ago in Geeks
Political Walk of Shame
Let's be honest, nobody wants to see our politicians forced to walk through the streets naked. That would be more of a punishment for everyone else than it would be for the over-inflated egos that stalk the halls of Congress and lurk in state government. But sometimes I can't help but wish we could drag most of the people currently making a mockery of themselves in the presidential election through the streets and announce their crimes to the world. Just some guy with a cowbell shouting to an angry crowd—without the typical political media circus. I feel like it might promote some honesty in our election if our candidates had to risk a more visceral form of public shaming rather than just shrug off a few limp-wrested punches from the 24-hour election cycle.
By Patricia Sarkar9 years ago in Geeks
Tricia Helfer Geek Icon
Tricia Helfer has made quite a name for herself in the industry, modeling since 1992 and acting since 2000. But it's her wealth of experience that has gained her recognition within geek entertainment, bringing her to icon status in the world of science fiction. Helfer had a normal upbringing away from the spotlight—until, that is, she turned seventeen and was discovered by a modeling agency at her local movie theatre.
By Stephen Hamilton10 years ago in Geeks
Best Monopoly Special Editions
Within a year of the Monopoly game’s release in the US, 35,000 copies of the game were being made evert week. Their momentum hasn't slowed, as the game continues to sell at a rapid fire pace and make millions each year. The popular board game is so well known that it has been transformed into unique editions, and with games based on A Christmas Story, Star Wars, and World of Warcraft, there is one for fans of every genre. The current iteration of the traditional version of the game was first published by Parker Brothers in 1935. Subtitled "The Fast-Dealing Property Trading Game," the game is named after the economic concept of monopoly—the domination of a market by a single entity.
By Geeks Staff10 years ago in Geeks
The Walking Dead’s Best Comic Book Characters
Adaptation from print to live action often results in changes. Sometimes those changes happen because elements in the source don’t translate well to the new, faster-paced medium. Other times, it’s a creative choice from the new creatives such as the screenwriters, directors, or the producers.
By Tara Edwards10 years ago in Geeks
