Geekorama

Today we are going to be pitting our favorite superhero teams and solo heroes against one another, and discussing the victors. But first, a little Pop Culture History.

POP CULTURE HISTORY - Summer Blockbuster Edition-the 00’s

2000 X-Men is released and becomes one of the summers’ top blockbuster films. Trivia: Rebecca Romijn was isolated in a windowless room between takes to keep her look a secret, she endured nine hours of prosthetic makeup application to 60% of her body every day of filming, the contacts were so irritating to her eyes and limiting to her vision that she could only wear them an hour at a time before needing a break. She describes her experience filming this movie as “hell”. Bryan Singer rather infamously was angry that she couldn’t be “more naked” during filming (because he's a toxic douche bro).  Also: Hugh Jackman’s testicles got caught in his harness after jumping off the sets Statue of Liberty during filming. OUCH!

 

2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine is released and is one of the summer's blockbusters, (though no one knows why). Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds were disappointed with this film (you weren’t the only ones!) Reynolds got a second shot at playing Deadpool when the X-Universe was reset (thank god!) Hugh Jackman was offered the role of Tony Stark/Ironman and turned it down to do this film, so Robert Downey Jr. was cast instead. Magneto and Professor X were going to get origin story films but those were scrapped for X-Men First Class.

 

GEEK OUTS

Trish - I’m late to the party again and have just discovered Avatar the Last Airbender on Netflix. This show is so good! Complexe storytelling, funny, sweet with beautiful world-building.

Jeremy - I’ve been watching some award-winning indie films. The one I’d recommend is Starfish, an apocalyptic end of the world movie starring Virginia Gardner (who you might know as Karolina Dean from Marvel’s Runaways.) 

DEEP DIVE - Team-Up vs. Team-Up & Lone Wolf vs. Lone Wolf? 

Teams:

Guardians of the Galaxy vs. X-MenYoung Justice vs. Justice LeagueAvengers vs. Fantastic Four Surprise Win to Franklin RichardsA-Force vs Birds of Prey

Lone Wolves:

She-Hulk vs. SupergirlWonder Woman vs. Ms. MarvelBlack Widow vs. BatwomanEmma Frost vs. Harley Quinn 

QotW: What superhero do you want us to pair up with a food that represents their personality? (Superman would totally be carrot sticks)

 

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This month in Pop-Culture History- Summer Blockbuster Edition 1990’s

 

1993 Jurassic Park is the third highest-grossing film of the decade. The T. Rex occasionally malfunctioned, due to the rain. Producer Kathleen Kennedy recalls, "The T. Rex went into the heebie-jeebies sometimes. Scared the crap out of us. “

1994 Forrest Gump is the fourth highest grossing film of the decade. Tom Hanks was not paid for the film and instead took percentage points which netted him 40 million dollars

1997 Men In Black is the ninth highest grossing film of the decade. Vincent D’Onofrio researched bugs for his role, he wore knee braces and taped his ankles to get the iconic gait that he had. Also, Will Smith did not believe that Steven Spielberg was on the phone offering him the part.

 

Geek Outs!

Trish- Schitt’s Creek: frigging HILARIOUS!!! This show featuring a real life father and son team is both outlandish and humorous. It’s a feel good watch that keeps it light. This is a family you love to loathe.

Jeremy- To celebrate Pride Month, Jeremy is binging Queer Eye. It’s the perfect feel-good show that has plenty of moments that cause happy tears. It’s a great offset to rewatching every X-Men animated series ever made (he’s obsessive, he knows that he needs help.)

Deep Dive- What Makes a Great Villain?

Note: We want to include a trigger warning as one of the villains discussed has a horrific rape plot point.

It’s not enough to have an outstanding hero, there needs to be an antagonist that can truly stand out in the plot. We remember these duos long after we forget about plots. This is just as important in superhero novels, sometimes even more so since the villain must shine beyond their powers.

When a villain is executed poorly, we gravitate toward the other characters. We delve into the female villains who gain agency and command their sexuality. Then there is a lengthy discussion about villains designed to be hated versus villains with an almost redeemable quality. 

QotW: What hero would you want to be, and what hero would you most likely be?

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

Trish- Still working on Fire and Ice, but seeing progress!

Jeremy - Finished the Eleanor Trilogy and has begun editing. But why focus on that, he’s already a quarter of the way into a futuristic sci-fi novel!

This month in Pop-Culture History- Summer Blockbuster Edition!

1975 Jaws, one of the highest-grossing films of all time, was released. It is considered one of Hollywood's first true blockbuster films and is thought to be the birth of the Summer Blockbuster

1981 Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark premiered. It is the fifth highest-grossing film of the decade and the highest-grossing film of 1981. 

1982 E.T. is released. To this day it holds the record for most weekends spent at number one in the box office: 16. It is also the top-grossing film of the decade at $435 mil

1989 Batman starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson premiered. It’s the fourth highest-grossing film of the decade. Actors considered for the role of Batman included: Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Tom Selleck, Bill Murray, Harrison Ford, and Dennis Quaid. For the Joker: Tim Curry, David Bowie, John Lithgow, Ray Liota, and James Woods. Robin Williams is reported to have lobbied very hard for the part.

Geek Outs!

Trish- Hannah Gadsby, of Nannette fame, has a new comedy special called Douglas on Netflix. It is damn near perfect. 

Jeremy- On Saturday Jeremy watched the SpaceX launch, sending Bob and Doug into space. It was amazing to see the advances in technology both from the launch room to the spaceship itself. Jeremy will admit, the space suits were pretty epic sci-fi technology.

Deep Dive- What Makes a Good Superhero?

There are a lot of things that go into making a unique character, but there are some things that get emphasized when the hero has uncanny abilities. For this we decided to pick a couple of the traits we find interesting as readers. We found we loved a flawed hero who finds their moral compass sometimes sending them off course. We also love a hero who doesn’t always see things as black and white and walk a comfortable space in between right and wrong. Lastly, we delve into the duality of heroes and specifically heroes in juxtaposition with their abilities. Some Mentions: Wonder Woman, Squirrel Girl, Magneto, Colossus, Captain America, and Jessica Jones.

 

QotW: What hero would you want to be, and what hero would you most likely be?

Trish- Revising Fire and Ice and starting to write some short stories for subscribers. She may be starting to like writing some steamy scenes into her superhero stories!

Jeremy - Put “The End” on the Eleanor Valentine trilogy and now digging in to edit three books back-to-back.

This month in Pop-Culture History

1980 Friday the 13th is released and becomes a major Box Office success. It was the first Indie film of this kind to secure this kind of distribution by a major studio.

Batman made his first appearance in comics. Co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger and published by DC Comics. The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939).

1993 Cheers ended after 11 seasons with a three-part feature-length send-off. It was watched by 80.4 million people; roughly the population of California, Texas, and NY combined. Fun Facts: Cheers was a complete flop it’s first season, the songwriters that created the Cheers theme also wrote the Punky Brewster theme, and the spin-off Frasier is one of the most successful television spin-offs of all time, lasting 11 seasons.

Geek Outs!

Trish- She-Ra and the Princess of Power One of the most inclusive w/o being cheesy, impressive reboots of a classic 80’s cartoon. The show is so different from the source material that it really can’t be compared. I bawled at the end of the final season.

Jeremy- Been reading the relaunch of the X-Men series after House of X and Powers of X. It’s well-drawn, but honestly, it’s already suffering from the same problem earlier X-Men books had, too much cross over and not enough distinct storylines. It’s worth checking out if you like the characters, but seeing Apocalypse as a good guy is a hard pill to swallow. Hopefully, we get a better clue where it’s going in the next six months.

Deep Dive Book Club

Trish’s Selection: Soon I Will Be InvincibleBy Austin Grossman

DNF, not because I didn’t like it, but because I got obsessed with a Superhero Romance series and read four books in two and a half weeks! From what I read, I do very much recommend it if you want a different take on supers and villains. As a bonus, check out the Romance series that has captivated my attention here. 

5 stars out of 5

Jeremy’s Selection: Wonder Woman - OdysseyBy Michael Straczynski (Writer) & Don Kramer (Artist)

For the first foray into Princess Diana, it is an interesting premise. Meeting with an oracle found under a New York bridge, she learns that "what is is not what was." Something about history has changed and rewritten the plot to Wonder Woman. Her home was destroyed as a child and she was raised by Amazons on the run from modern day men. It takes an old story and makes it current and there is a ferocity in the justice Wonder Woman dispenses. It maintains her ethos, but she has no problem getting brutal. There is more blood than one would associate with the Princess. The first half of the plot is interesting and tells a nifty tale, but after that it spirals into a weird magical backstory that just feels as if it went off the rails. It might have gotten an extra half star except for the self congratulating blabbering about the redesigning of Wonder Woman's costume that sounds more like a bunch of dudes patting themselves on the back than actual redesign. With that being said, it's worth checking out for a new spin on an old classic.

4 stars out of 5

QotW:  What superhero and villain combo is your favorite?

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

The authors at Superhero-Fiction.com decided it was time to get together and hold a convention of our own. For five nights twenty authors go together to talk about the world of superheroes. We'll return to regularly scheduled episodes of Geekorama next week. Until then, enjoy these amazing panels.

The Origins of a Superhero

What makes a good superhero origin story? Adopted aliens, orphaned children, and teams assembled by a bald mentor, we’ve seen just about every origin story possible. What makes them compelling and leave us wanting to see them as they grow?

Featuring Authors:

Jeremy Flagg - Moderator

Karen Diem - Panelist

Charlie Eskew - Panelist

Christopher J. Valin - Panelist

J.D. Cunegan - Panelist

Lucas Flint - Panelist

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

The authors at Superhero-Fiction.com decided it was time to get together and hold a convention of our own. For five nights twenty authors go together to talk about the world of superheroes. We'll return to regularly scheduled episodes of Geekorama next week. Until then, enjoy these amazing panels.

Superheroes On Screen

The world has exploded with superheroes. Whether it be on the big screen or the silver screen, heroes with super powers are everywhere. What has taken these comic book properties and made them so accessible to new audiences? What might the future hold for these stories?

Featuring Authors:

Trish Heinrich - Moderator

Franklin Kendrick - Panelist

Christa Tomlinson - Panelist

J.D. Cunegan - Panelist

Nancy O’Toole Meservier - Panelist

Matt King - Panelist

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

The authors at Superhero-Fiction.com decided it was time to get together and hold a convention of our own. For five nights twenty authors go together to talk about the world of superheroes. We'll return to regularly scheduled episodes of Geekorama next week. Until then, enjoy these amazing panels.

The Not So Nice Anti-Hero

Deadpool, Harley Quinn and Bloodshot have showed us that not every super powered tale involves a good guy. There are plenty of bad guys running rampant that we absolutely love. What does it take for the “not-so-pure” to rise to the level of protagonist of the story? 

Featuring Authors:

Jeremy Flagg - Moderator

Amanda Cherry - Panelist

Samantha Bryant - Panelist

Scott A. Story - Panelist

Taylor Elwood - Panelist

Justin Sloan - Panelist

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

The authors at Superhero-Fiction.com decided it was time to get together and hold a convention of our own. For five nights twenty authors go together to talk about the world of superheroes. We'll return to regularly scheduled episodes of Geekorama next week. Until then, enjoy these amazing panels.

Creating The Power Behind Supers

Powers might not make the heroes, but it doesn’t mean they can be boring. With comic books consuming everything from monsters created by gamma rays to people both with uncanny abilities, how do you come up with unique powers for your heroes? 

Featuring Authors:

Jeffery H. Haskell - Moderator

C.B. Wright - Panelist

Samantha Bryant - Panelist

Michael C. Bailey - Panelist

Karen Diem - Panelist

Lucas Flint - Panelist

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

The authors at Superhero-Fiction.com decided it was time to get together and hold a convention of our own. For five nights twenty authors go together to talk about the world of superheroes. We'll return to regularly scheduled episodes of Geekorama next week. Until then, enjoy these amazing panels.

Superhero Romances

Even Superheroes need a little loving. One of the most prominent sub-genres with superheroes is romance. What does it take to write a superhero love story and what happens when things get steamy? How does having powers change the rules of love?

Featuring Authors:

Trish Heinrich - Moderator

Lana Pecherczyk - Panelist

Nancy O’Toole Meservier - Panelist

Franklin Kendrick - Panelist

Amanda Cherry - Panelist

Christa Tomlinson - Panelist

Visit Superhero-Fiction for the Full Shownotes

https://www.superhero-fiction.com

Trish - Almost done with this draft of Fire and Ice and ready to revise!

Jeremy - Also, almost done with the third book in his next series, hurray!

This month in Pop-Culture History

 

1959 Supergirl, Kara Zor-El flew onto the scene, created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.

 

1980 Empire Strikes Back is released. Fun Fact: The movie was NOT a hit with fans, they hated Han and Leia together, they hated the ending, and many hated Darth Vader being Luke’s Dad.

2010 - Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live, thanks to a push by fans on Facebook. She won an Emmy for her appearance and further cemented herself as one of the Queens of comedy. (There’s a GREAT Documentary on Netflix about Betty White if you want more awesome in your day.)

Geek Outs!

Trish-The Lady from the Black Lagoon  Chronicling the life and lost legacy of Millicent Patrick, this book is part biography of an amazing woman from Hollywood’s golden age, and part memoir of the author’s struggles with misogyny in Hollywood today. I was deeply moved by this book and can’t recommend it enough! If you’re a fan of movie monsters you need this book.  Get the book!

Jeremy- The Walking Dead - I don’t have a lot of time lately to spend on media, but the newest season is keeping me interested. The Whispers are a creepy ass villain and there’s even a bizarre zombie sex reference. But overall, there have been some episodes that made even my skin crawl and that’s a huge feat. The dead weight has been skimmed from the plot and we’re left with a tightly written story about survival and what happens when good people are pushed too far.

Deep Dive - So you think it’s a Superhero novel, huh?

Is it or isn’t it a Superhero Novel is one of the most talked-about and hotly debated topics when any superhero author brings up how their category has been overrun by non-superhero books. Today, Trish and Jeremy will introduce you to an easy way to answer this question. If only someone from Amazon were listening and would do something about this…

To help make it easier to figure out if a novel is indeed a superhero novel, we created the Heinrich-Flagg Test. To be considered a superhero novel, at least two members of the Avengers (from any given roster) must be able to exist in the novel without changing their origin or their powers.

So let’s try it with some popular characters:

Harry - Harry Potter - Fail

Katniss - Hunger Games - Fail

Eve Tanaka - Heroine Complex - Gray Area (leans toward Pass)

Buffy from Buffy - We tried, but Fail

QotW:  Who do you want us to put to the test? Send us that hero that is in the gray area between great hero and superhero.