Maddie, Jeff, and Tyler have read the comic series that was successfully funded on KickStarter: The Pros! What did they think about this very intense series? Find out!

Synopsis:

Insurance is the industry of information. If the insurance company knows you smoke cigarettes, they’ll charge you more for life insurance. But all sorts of crazy things get insured these days. Governments carry insurance policies for risk management on terrorist attacks. Hedge funds trade derivatives off derivatives off everything.

The Pros approach volatile, unpredictable situations with a mandate to “fix” them, any way they want. But with that freedom comes responsibility. Why not use this morally dubious job to try and do some good?

Their first mission: defuse a potentially lethal standoff between federal agents and a gun worshiping cult. Can they do it without anybody dying? Can they even survive the job themselves?

Via KickStarter Page

Purchase The Pros on the official website www.theproscomic.com!

Follow on Facebook and Twitter!

Meet the Creators

Steve Stormoen

Steve is a writer and a community organizer, because the world is made by people and people are made of stories. Previously he’s worked with the Chelsea Manning Support Network, the Lompoc Theater Project, and the Alliance for Community Trainers, and his writing has appeared in the New York Times, Huffington Post, and Burnt Bridge Review. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Find more about Steve on his website, Twitter, and Instagram!

 

 

Jelena Djordjevic

The special quality of The Pros is the balance of serious and fun, which made me learn new, gratifying stuff, like how to match dark lines and bright colors.

A self-employed comic artist from Nis, Serbia. She has published a book of illustrations Ulysses Reload in Serbia and many short comics and illustrations in various anthologies with friends all over the world (Arcadia, Memory, Broken Pieces, TV Gods, Outre).

Check her art out on her website and DeviantArt.

 

 

 

 

We are on iTunes, so review us!!

Don’t forget to share us, like us, follow us, and subscribe!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandGeekGathering.

Twitter:

@TheGrandGeekG

Intro music by Bensound. Find out more here:

www.bensound.com

Please support your local comic book stores!

Question: Which Superhero would you have coffee with?

WonderCon was started in 1987 in Oakland, California, as “The Wonderful World of Comics Convention.” The show was the brainchild of Bay Area comics retailer John Barrett, who called on a number of friends and associates to help realize his vision, including Bob Borden, Bryan Uhlenbrock, Rory Root, and Mike Friedrich. With the third year, “WonderCon” became the official name of the convention. The original show included all the classic comics convention features: an Exhibit Hall with dealers selling old and new comics and other items, programming, anime screenings, and games. In 2001, after the 15th event, then co-owners Mike Friedrich and Joe Field (another prominent Bay Area comic retailer) decided they could no longer devote the time needed to maintain the quality of the show they helped create. They contacted Comic-Con International in hopes that the organization could fold WonderCon into the Comic-Con family of conventions.

Comic-Con International took over the show in 2002 and moved it from Oakland to downtown San Francisco in 2003. After 15 years as a Bay Area event, WonderCon was forced to move to Anaheim in 2012, due to construction at its San Francisco home, the Moscone Center. Since 2012, the event—now called Comic-Con International Presents WonderCon Anaheim—has been held in southern California, at the Anaheim Convention Center. In 2016, WonderCon moved to Los Angeles for one year while the Anaheim Convention Center was undergoing construction on a new building. The show returned to Anaheim in 2017.

WonderCon is literally the sister show to Comic-Con International, embracing all the main aspects of that show, including comics, movies, TV, animation, the Masquerade, and more. The event has grown in all aspects over the years: more attendees, more exhibitors, more programming, and more fun. In its current Anaheim-based incarnation, WonderCon continues to be a must-attend event on the comic book convention schedule.

Via WonderCon’s About page

For more information on Wondercon, check out their website here!

The Interviewees

The Gathering sits around, plays Red Flags, and talks memories past about Indiana Jones how they would have fixed the franchise. Find out more in this episode!

 

How to play:

SETUP: 

Separate the white cards (Perks) from the red cards (Red Flags) and place them in stacks on the table where all players can reach them.

Pick a player to be the Single. The player who’s been on the most dates makes a great first Single.

Everyone else takes 4 Perks and 3 Red Flags.

THE PERKS:

Using what you know about the Single, pick two Perks to create the best date you can for them.

Starting with the player to the left of the Single, each player plays their two Perks and reads the cards out loud to the table.

THE RED FLAGS:

After all Perks are read, and beginning once again with the player to the Single’s left, each player plays a Red Flag onto the player to their left.

DEBATE:

Now the players argue why the Single should pick their character to date and reject the other candidates. The Single must imagine that they will date this person long-term, and will be expected to do all of the things they would do while dating anyone else.

SELECTION:

Based on the arguments, the Single chooses a date. The chosen player keeps their Red Flag from that date. Use these cards to keep track of points. The player to the left of the Single is now the new Single.

DO IT ALL NIGHT LONG:

After each round, all players discard their hands and draw back up to four Perks and three Red Flags and start a new round. When either the Perk or Red Flag decks run out, shuffle the discard pile and use that as your new deck.

HOW TO WIN:

For a short game, play twice around the table. For a longer game, say that the first player to seven points wins. Or just play until none of you want to go on a date ever again.

All via their website here.

The game is a lot of fun and we have played it multiple times on the show!

You should check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and of course their website!

You can order the game via their website or this link here, Amazon, or on the Skybound website!

We do play the expansions Dark Red Flags and Sexy Red Flags!

 

 

 

 

 

Maddie, Jeff, and Tyler talk to our friend Steve via Skype for March’s comic series that was successfully funded on KickStarter: The Pros!

Synopsis:

Insurance is the industry of information. If the insurance company knows you smoke cigarettes, they’ll charge you more for life insurance. But all sorts of crazy things get insured these days. Governments carry insurance policies for risk management on terrorist attacks. Hedge funds trade derivatives off derivatives off everything.

The Pros approach volatile, unpredictable situations with a mandate to “fix” them, any way they want. But with that freedom comes responsibility. Why not use this morally dubious job to try and do some good?

Their first mission: defuse a potentially lethal standoff between federal agents and a gun worshiping cult. Can they do it without anybody dying? Can they even survive the job themselves?

Via KickStarter Page

Purchase The Pros on the official website www.theproscomic.com!

Follow on Facebook and Twitter!

Meet the Creators

Steve Stormoen

Steve is a writer and a community organizer, because the world is made by people and people are made of stories. Previously he’s worked with the Chelsea Manning Support Network, the Lompoc Theater Project, and the Alliance for Community Trainers, and his writing has appeared in the New York Times, Huffington Post, and Burnt Bridge Review. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Find more about Steve on his website, Twitter, and Instagram!

 

Jelena Djordjevic

The special quality of The Pros is the balance of serious and fun, which made me learn new, gratifying stuff, like how to match dark lines and bright colors.

A self-employed comic artist from Nis, Serbia. She has published a book of illustrations Ulysses Reload in Serbia and many short comics and illustrations in various anthologies with friends all over the world (Arcadia, Memory, Broken Pieces, TV Gods, Outre).

Check her art out on her website and DeviantArt.

 

We are on iTunes, so review us!!

Don’t forget to share us, like us, follow us, and subscribe!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandGeekGathering.

Twitter:

@TheGrandGeekG

Intro music by Bensound. Find out more here:

www.bensound.com

Please support your local comic book stores!

Kevin wrangles up Antonio, Victor, and Jeffrey in an episode where they talk about the 2nd annual Crunchroll Anime Awards! What did you think of 2017?!

 What an incredible year 2017 has been for the anime industry and its fans. Production quality has never been better, depth of content never deeper, and more diverse representation continues to bring anime to new audiences around the world.

This year has seen the industry grow at an impressive rate with unprecedented access to anime across nearly all devices and locations. And now with our fans from around the world, Crunchyroll is celebrating the best anime of 2017!

You’ll get to voice your choices on January 22, 2018, when voting opens across 17 categories. And finally, on February 24, 2018, live from Los Angeles, the esteemed winners will be announced to the world in an all-star event for anime’s biggest fans.

The Anime Awards is a celebration of anime, and it’s for you, the passionate community who makes this all possible. We can’t wait to embark on this journey with you.

Via TheAnimeAwards.com

For the nominations check out this article from Forbes. For more information on the Anime Awards, check out their official website!

 

Happy White Day! Kevin, Antonio, Victor, and Jeffrey come together to talk about the very festive holiday!

What is White Day?! Well, Wikipedia thinks it’s this:

Valentine’s Day is typically observed by girls and women presenting chocolate gifts (either store-bought or handmade), usually to boys or men, as an expression of love, courtesy, or social obligation. On White Day, the reverse happens: men who received a honmei-choco (本命チョコ, ‘chocolate of love’) or giri-choco (義理チョコ, ‘courtesy chocolate’)[4] on Valentine’s Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts.[5] Traditionally, popular White Day gifts are cookies, jewelry, white chocolate, white lingerie, and marshmallows.[6] Sometimes the term sanbai gaeshi (三倍返し, ‘triple the return’) is used to describe the generally recited rule for men that the return gift should be two to three times the worth of the Valentine’s gift.

Via Wikipedia

More information right here!

 

Jeff, Maddie, and Tyler are the knights of the round recording table as they discuss what they think of Dj Kirkbride, Adam P. Knave, and Nick Brokenshire’s series from Dark Horse Comics! Find out what they think below!

 

Synopsis

It’s out with the old myths and in with the new as a nineteen-year-old chess prodigy pulls Excalibur from the stone and becomes queen. Now, magic, romance, Fae, Merlin, and more await her! Lend her your axe as the creators of Amelia Cole start a new age of adventure! The legend of King Arthur is reimagined for today, featuring a team of characters with East Asian, African, and British heritage and diverse sexual orientations.

(Via Comixology)

The Once and Future Queen is currently available on trade paperback book at your local comic book store, Comixology, Amazon, and the Dark Horse Website.

 

Who dem?!

DJ Kirkbride

Co-writer and co-creator of the acclaimed fantasy adventure series AMELIA COLE,published digitally by Monkeybrain Comics via ComiXology and in print courtesy of IDW Publishing. He wrote the cosmic space opera THE BIGGER BANG and its sequel THE BIGGEST BANG, both from IDW. He also co-wrote the Dark Horse Comics superhero mini-series NEVER ENDING and the DARK HORSE PRESENTS feature “Laser Joan and the Rayguns.” March 2017 saw the debut of his latest creation with AMELIA COLE collaborators Adam P. Knave and Nick Brokenshire: THE ONCE AND FUTURE QUEEN, a reimagining of Arthurian legend from Dark Horse Comics.

(Via DJ’s website)

Find DJ on Twitter, Instagram, his website, and Facebook for more updates and more!

Adam P. Knave

Adam P. Knave is an Eisner and Harvey award winning editor and writer who writes prose fiction (This Starry Deep, Stays Crunchy in Milk, Strange Angel), comics (The Once and Future Queen, Amelia Cole, Artful Daggers, stories in Titmouse Vol 2, Outlaw Territory Vol 3, and many more), as well as humor essay collections (NYCWTF, I Slept With Your Imaginary Friend) and used to write columns for sites such as thefoonote, TwoHeadedCat, Comics101, PopCultureShock, Three If By Space, and MamaPop. He worked as one of the editors of Image’s Popgun anthology, also editing many other works along the way.

(Via Adam’s Website)

Find Adam on Twitter,Instagram, and his site for updates and more!

 

Nick Brokenshire

Nick is a cartoonist and illustrator from Scotland. He now lives in the north of England with his wife. Nick is the artist for Monkeybrain and IDW’s Amelia Cole series. He’s currently working on The Once and Future Queen for Dark Horse Comics.

He can often be found playing music in his bands Los Vencidos and Blues Harvest. Two very different rockin’ combos. Both lots of fun.

(Via Nick’s Website)

Find more on Nick and the awesome stuff he does on his

Ashley, Eric, Tim, and Tyler sing a bunch and try to get employed!

 

The episode of The Stuff and Junk Show from the Who What Where’s Why can be found here!

Game of the Week

Funemployed™ is the crazy party game where each player is handed four random Qualification Cards to “build their resume.” One by one, each player interviews using all four cards and has to talk their way into winning the job! But watch out! The manager has something up their sleeve too!

(Via FunEmployed’s Website)

A little more info is on there site here!

To buy the game check Amazon, and their site.

Follow them on Twitter and Facebook!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandGeekGathering

Twitter:

@TheGrandGeekG

Email us @:

Twitch.tv

http://www.twitch.tv/thegrandgeekgathering/

Extralife:

www.ExtraLife.org 

Music provided by:

The Staylyns

Song: Sex & Coffee

Hear more here!

Like them on Facebook!

Jeff runs around asking the guests of Long Beach Comic Expo: Who watches the Watchmen?

Click here for more information about Long Beach Comic Expo and the Long Beach Comic Con!

Tyler and Jeff have a Skype call with their friend and past guest, Michael Tanner. Enjoy this very enlightening and hilarious episode!

When the President’s mistress is kidnapped by ninjas, there’s only one team you can trust…Strike Team: Code Name: Diamond Force!

Striketeam: Codename: Diamondforce was a Kickstarter that successfully funded on Jan 16,2018. We are so excited for this to come out and all the information can be found here.

‘Junior Braves of the Apocalypse’ description:

The Junior Braves of Tribe 65 return from a camping trip to find swarms of bloodthirsty mutants have overrun their town, bringing death and destruction everywhere they go! With their families missing and their homes destroyed, these plucky kids must use all their scouting talents, combined smarts, and teamwork to survive the end of the world! Also, Johnny knows how to skin a rabbit!

Via: Oni Press

You can find more updates, info, and more on the comic’s Facebook, Twitter, and the website!

Buy the first volume on Oni’s Store, Comixology, ask your local comic book shop, and Amazon!

Know the Creators!

Michael Tanner:

Born in Great Falls, Montana he kept moving west until he hit the ocean and then he went south and stopped in Los Angeles. He writes comic books and short fiction.

He has also been an improvisor and sketch comedian, as well as food blogger back when that was a thing.

Via Michael’s website

Be sure to follow Michael and his adventures on Twitter!