Trailer for Firefly Universe Onlie is Live!

From our sister site Verse Voice
After a too long wait, the trailer for the Firefly Universe Online game is finally live! The graphics do make a bit of a swipe about the cancellation of the show, but then give some great graphics and a clue at what to expect.

The Firefly Universe Sandbox won't up until December 26, 2012 (boo!) but they are looking for people to join the beta up until March 15. Go to the Firefly Universe Online website now to get your alias and help out with the beta testing!

And now, here's the trailer...

Firefly Universe Online Trailer HD from DarkCryo on Vimeo.

George R.R. Washington Presents A Game of Groans at Quimby's Bookstore on March 27

Quimby's Books

A GAME OF GROANS
A Sonnet of Slush and Soot By George R.R. Washington

It’s the story fans of George R.R. Martin’s series A Song of Fire and Ice know and love—well, sort of. In the wayward world of GEORGE R.R. WASHINGTON’s A GAME OF GROANS: A Sonnet of Slush and Soot (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Griffin; 1-250-01126-4; March 27, 2012; Trade Paperback Original; $9.99) seasons can last decades. And trouble is brewing. The warmth is returning, and in the thawing tundra of the North of Summerseve, something wicked is coming. A GAME OF GROANS is the story of the Barkers of Summerseve, headed by Lord Headcase Barker and Lady Gateway Bully Barker, and their children including Allbran, Bobb, Malia, Sasha, and of course, bastard Juan Nieve (all followed by their pet direpandas, natch).

The Barkers are a family unit as hard and unforgiving as the pronunciation of “Daenerys Targaryen” and nothing will be the same after a visit from King Bobbert Baronme and the royal family. Swooping from this land of sweater weather to a balmy kingdom of equestrian delights and outdoor fornication, here is an epic of novella proportions. Amid plots and counterplots, wizards and warriors, poor reception and no wireless, the future of the Barkers, their BFFs, and their enemies dangles in the balance, as each strives to star in that funniest of concepts: a parody of George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones

GEORGE R.R. WASHINGTON is the author of many novels. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Outer Limits, Teen Wolf, and many other films and pilots that are currently stored in the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository. He lives with the lovely Natalie in Chicago, Illinois.

Tues, March 27^th, 7pm

Video - New "Avengers" Trailer... SQUEEE!!!

If you haven't been paying attentiong, the latest trailer for Avengers came out today. And general reaction (going by MSNBC's Helen Popkin and Geeks Are Sexy along with some friends) is... well, a lot of keyboards got damaged by drool, but we think they liked it. Watch.

Video - Joel Watson of Hijinks Ensue Sings "Mr. Roboto"

We just got this from the YouTube channel of one of our favorite webcomics, Hijinks Ensue. The creator Joel Watson was recently on the JoCo Cruise and somehow they got him on stage to sing "Mr. Roboto." We're not sure, but we think that David Willis of Shortpacked is doing The Robot behind him. No word on who the very attractive woman next to maybe-David is. We just hope we haven't screwed over any chance of an interview with Joel for posting this.

Hugo Nomination Deadline Fast Approaching as Chicon Announces Hugo Base Designer

Via press release

The March 11 deadline for casting nominating ballots for the 2012 Hugo Awards and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer is fast approaching.

Members of Chicon 7 and LoneStarCon 3 (the 2013 Worldcon) who joined by January 31, 2012, and members of Renovation (the 2011 Worldcon), are eligible to submit nominating ballots. All ballots must be received by Sunday, March 11, 2012, 11:59pm PDT.

More information about the Hugo Awards, including details about how to submit a nominating ballot, is available from www.chicon.org/hugo-awards.php. Ballots can be submitted online or by postal mail. Members will require their membership number and unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) to nominate online. PINs have been issued by email to eligible voters and can also be found on the mailing label for Chicon 7's Progress Report 3 for those members receiving paper publications. Members needing to confirm their PIN should contact us at hugopin@chicon.org.

Video - The Daly Show with Nathan Fillion

We just got his link from Nathan Fillion's (Captain Tightpants!) Twitter feed. Evidenty Tim Daly and his son do a web series. And Tim got a little too into Superman. We're not sure if it's funny to watch them geek out or a little sad. Take a look and tell us what you think. And keep an eye out for Lex Luthor.

New TV spots for "Wrath of the Titans"

The new TV spots for Wrath of the Titans came out yesterday. We have a couple of them here now. You can see the rest at http://wrathofthetitans.com. It reportedly takes place a decade after Clash of the Titans. We hadn't seen the first one, to be honest, because we frankly liked the original. Hell, it was one of the few times we really liked Harry Hamlin. But the effects look good. Are you planning to see this sequel?

Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker comes to C2E2

Lance Fensterman
C2E2
Sup Chi-Town! At the end of an intense video gaming sesh, have you ever been left wanting more? Well we've got some big news, the Dragon Age video game we all know and love has been adapted into film and will premiere at C2E2! Take advantage of this opportunity to meet some of the voices behind Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker: Colleen Clinkenbeard, Michael Tatum and Mike McFarland who will be in the flesh at the show this April! But that's not all I've got for you today, set your alarm for when tickets to our annual C2E2 Dinner go on sale TOMORROW! Our brand new C2E2 Mobile App - Presented by ShiftyLook - is now alive and kickin' ready for you to plan all of the awesomeness that you will be enjoying at C2E2. We wish we could tell you about all of the other jaw dropping Guests we have coming, but you know what they say...patience is a virtue.

Come meet the voices behind Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker! Colleen Clinkenbeard, Michael Tatum and Mike McFarland will be stepping out from behind their animated characters and into the world of C2E2! There will also be a special screening of this movie on Sunday, April 15. Make sure you check it out and come meet the voice actors behind this incredible film!

Roman Dirge

Roman Dirge has definitely made his mark on the comic world with his writing and artistic talents. The creator of the Lenore comic book series will be roaming the halls of C2E2 and we can't wait to meet him! Just a word to the wise, this is one creator you will want to spend some time with.

Jeremny Haun

Here's another unreal comic artist to add to the list! Jeremy Haun will be joining us this Spring! He recently illustrated the Artifacts event series and is now drawing his heart out for Top Cow's Darkness series. We're stoked that Jeremy is coming to Chi-Town, make sure you check him out at the show!

How we wish the Oscars were

If you nodded off after the end of the Oscars on Sunday night, you may have missed Jimmy Kimmel Live afterwards. Which is a shame because he was in rare form. On top of what was a truly hilarious interview and skit with Oprah Winfrey (itself a skit worth watching), Jimmy premiered the trailer for Movie: The Movie. The Oscars themselves didn't have this many cameos. We still don't know how he got all those stars to do it. Either they have REALLY good senses of humor or he has nuclear-grade blackmail material. Either way, it's worth seeing. Enjoy.

Zak Sally, Dale Flattum and John Porcellino at Quimby’s March 23

Quimby's Books

Sammy the Mouse: Volume 1 by Zak Sally is the first collection of sammy the mouse comics, all in a beautifully bound, handmade package. This collection is the first three issues of Eisner Award Nominee Zak Sally’s comic Sammy the Mouse, which introduces us to Sammy, his friends and frienemies, and a fantastical town that’s as elegantly drawn and viscerally alive as the characters themselves. Zak Sally owns and operates La Mano, an award-winning “micro-publishing” house. He spent 12 years in the band Low.

Dale Flattum creates posters, art forgeries, and other screen printed propaganda under the alias TOOTH. His book TOOTH: The Graphic Art of Dale Flattum showcases 25 years of his graphic art. It includes 250 page volume mixes posters, illustrations & propaganda into a semi autobiographical history, as told through a Xerox machine. *It also includes a CD of music pulled from the author’s shady nine year musical past in the bands Steel Pole Bath Tub, Milk Cult, and more.

John Porcellino has been writing, drawing, and publishing minicomics, comics, and graphic novels for over twenty-five years. His celebrated self-published series King-Cat Comics, begun in 1989, has inspired a generation of cartoonists. According to cartoonist Chris Ware, “John Porcellino’s comics distill, in just a few lines and words, the feeling of simply being alive.”

More info: quimbys.com/blog/store-events

CACHE Organizes Rally, March, and Speak-out against Crushing Student Debt on at Chase Bank on March 1st

Via press release

Chicago university students call for action at Chase Bank, a large holder of student debt, on the National Student Day of Action on March 1st to assert that no person should be forced into a life of crushing debt in order to get an education. The day will begin with actions on individual Chicago university campuses, including a city-wide walk-out, and students from all schools will convene at Grant Park (Michigan and Congress) at 1:00pm for a rally before marching to Chase Headquarters. Activists hope their actions on this day will draw attention to the real state of higher education in this country: limited access in the first place, no guarantee of a job after graduation, and a
life-time of unpayable debt.

There is a myth in this country that “everyone goes to college.” While a university education has always obscured the socio-economic factors which limit access to college, in the current economic climate, this trend can no longer be ignored, as fewer and fewer students are able to afford a degree. Working multiple part-time jobs, taking on outrageously inflated student loans, amassing credit card debt -- such is the life of a ‘student’ today, a life that almost makes the prospect of going without higher education seem the more attractive alternative. As for finding a job upon graduating, much less one that pays a living wage, has decent benefits, and (how dare we!) matches one’s
desires -- well, good luck!

Sarah Becan Signing March 3 at Chicago Comics

Local illustrator, comics artist, author, and designer Sarah Becan, has brought all these talents together in her second graphic novel, the Shuteye Collection. Shuteye is a series of six darkly intimate comics: stories woven together with the thick fibers of dreams, powerfully real, yet entirely imagined. Aside from her new collection, Sarah is a prolific minicomics artist, and recipient of the Xeric Grant for her 2010 graphic novel, The Complete Ouija Interviews. Chicago Comics is hosting Sarah on March 3rd 2012 from 4 – 6pm while she signs her work, does sketches, and talks to fans.

Chicago Comics is at 3244 N. Clark in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, a block and half east and one block north of the Belmont Red Line stop. For more information, go to http://www.chicagocomics.com/blog/events/.

Charlaine Harris is coming to C2E2

Lance Fensterman
C2E2

Have you ever been in a particularly dark, cold situation where blood sucking vamps seem to be lurking around every corner? Luckily for me, my naturally intimidating demeanor, style and permanent garlic necklace have made all forms of trouble turn and run the other way. Our next Guest created the world of Bon Temps full of our favorite mythical creatures of the underworld. We are psyched to give you a Happy Friday gift, Charlaine Harris is coming to C2E2! We are so far from being done with Guest announcements Chicago, prepare yourself to be blown away next week.

Charlaine Harris

Meet the woman who made all of our supernatural dreams come true, Charlaine Harris! From vampires to shape-shifters Charlaine has one hell of an imagination! Not only has she brought us the The Sookie Stackhouse Series but her work has inspired the vamped up hit series, True Blood. Make sure you pay her a visit at C2E2 but watch out for those fangs!

Tim Sale

We've got another Comic Guest to add to our ever growing list of comic creators, Tim Sale! Tim has worked on several of the classics from the Batman, Spiderman and The Hulk series. He was also an artist for the hit NBC show Heroes. We're pumped that Tim is going to be at C2E2 with all of his creativity in tow! Be sure you give him a warm Chicago welcome!

Can't get enough of supernatural creatures taking over the world? Us either! Thank goodness for Veronica Wolff, Rachel Caine, Mari Mancusi, Christina Henry and Chloe Neill and their novels filled with the awesomeness we all love to enjoy! What's even better, they will all be coming to C2E2! Make sure you check them out and find out all the insider information about the underworld from the people who know it best!

Want to fine dine with some of the best in comics? Don't miss your chance! Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard and her restaurant Girl & the Goat will be hosting some of Marvel's greatest talents: CB Cebulski, Joe Quesada, Jason Aaron. 12 lucky fans will have the chance to join in on this incredible experience! Tickets go on sale on February 29 at 12:00 PM CST and are $375, but the opportunity is priceless!

The Queen of Outer Space

Jonathan Boorstein
Windy City Banner

Before Barbarella went “psychedella” in the now cult-classic 1968 Roger Vadim film, she was the titular heroine of a suggestive French comic strip, created by Jean-Claude Forest (1930-1998).

Forest was one the more popular cover artists for a French science fiction and fantasy imprint, Le Rayon Fantastique. The editor, George Gallet, asked Forest to create a comic book heroine for V Magazine, an adult quarterly Gallet edited on the side.  He wanted a female Tarzan; he got a female Flash Gordon.

Barbarella debuted in 1962.  Her picaresque adventures were as much Flash Gordon as Alice in Wonderland. Forest’s bizarre imagination not only found reasons for Barbarella to appear naked, sometimes for sex, sometimes not, but also for her to face pirates flying on kites or living in jelly fish; sadistic children whose mechanical dolls have sharp teen with which to bite unsuspecting adults; a society aping the “best” of 19th Century Europe; mechanical moles able to burrow through an entire planet (the sort of idea that would later be called steampunk); and hovering air sharks who eat people who try to escape the labyrinth they are kept in by climbing the walls.

Advertisers Sought for Chicon 7 Souvenir Book

Via press release

Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention, is pleased to announce that prices and terms for advertising space in the Chicon 7 Souvenir Book are now available. All advertising space must be reserved by June 15, 2012.

The Worldcon Souvenir Book is the convention's main publication, and will be distributed to attendees at the convention and mailed to those members who do not attend. The publication features information on Worldcon history, the Guests of Honor, the host city, and the membership list, as well as a range of feature articles covering different aspects of science fiction.

The Worldcon Souvenir Book is widely read by the members, with many collecting the books from the events they have attended. As such, it offers the perfect platform for professional and fan organizations to connect with convention members. It will reach an audience almost exclusively composed of science fiction, fantasy, and gaming fans.

Chicon 7 is offering full-, half-, and quarter-page advertising space. Professional rates start at $300 for a quarter-page black-and-white ad and range up to $1,400 for a full page in color. Fan rates start at just $75 for a quarter-page in black and white and range up to $500 for a full page in color. Special rates apply for the inside front and back covers (color only). All advertising space must be reserved by June 15, 2012, with artwork due by the same date.

Full details can be found on the convention website at www.chicon.org/pubs.php. For more information, write to the Souvenir Book advertising sales team at adsales@chicon.org.

'Crazy Horse' Opens! Oscar-Nominee 'A Separation' Holds! An Evening with Don Hertzfeldt!

Music Box Theatre

Hope everyone filled out their Oscar ballot! If you have seen it yet, Foreign Language frontrunner (or is it?) A SEPARATION still playing!

Opening this week is Frederick Wiseman’s new documentary CRAZY HORSE, about a very titillating Parisian burlesque show. David Denby of The New Yorker says “The spectacle lodges somewhere between erotic reverie and the perfection of a revolving sculpture.”

Animation fans rejoice! Academy Award Nominee Don Hertzfeldt will be here next Wednesday, February 29. Get your tickets here!

Lastly, have you stopped by our Facebook page recently? We threw down the gauntlet and challenged the great Roger Ebert to a battle of Oscar picks. If he outguesses us, he gets to screen whatever he wants at the Theatre (gulp). Stay tuned this Sunday to see who won!

Click here for showtimes.

Ladies Night, Store Signings & New Release List at Graham Crackers

Graham Cracker Comics

Honky Tonk Man invades GRAHAM CRACKERS COMICS of Plainfield this Saturday!
Swing by and meet a wrestling legend!
LADIES NIGHT begins March 7th at Graham Crackers Comics LOOP with special guest Jo Dery discussing her multiple books and mini-comics!
Our newest PRINT newsletter is out at the stores - including coupons and more upcoming events!

We bought a HUGE TOY collection - and all the stores are getting restocked on NEW OLD TOYS (yeah, I know it sounds weird) as well as STATUES and some pretty amazing collectibles that we haven't seen in the shops for 30 years! 

Check out these PRISTINE THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS ACTION FIGURES that we got as well!
It's a full set of the original SERIES 1 KENNER figures from 1986! While these are expensive, we did get a TON of really affordable ($5-$10) figures for the more budget minded soul, swing by your local Graham Crackers Comics and see what's in!

Web Series - Bite Me (at last!)

This trailer came out a few days ago on the Machinima YouTube channel a few days ago. Sadly, it got lost in the massive amounts of videos. But we found it tonight and were thrilled to find it. We saw the first season and loved it. You can watch the first season here.

And now, the trailer for "Bite Me." Just a couple more weeks till the real thing...

Scott Snyder & Frank Cho Are Coming to C2E2

Lance Fensterman
C2E2

What's poppin' Chicagoans? Last night I dreamt of Batman fighting The Hulk, Jana the Jungle Girl swinging above my head in the trees and came face to face with The Swamp Thing. Why are these characters popping up during my nightly catnap? I just couldn't get the amazing work that our newest Comic Guests, Scott Snyder and Frank Cho, bring to life off my mind. Stayed tuned my friends...we have tons of announcements waiting up our sleeve that we're gitty to share with you, but not until the time is right. Prepare yourself for more C2E2 awesomeness coming soon!

Scott Snyder

There's no doubt that Scott Snyder knows how to get comic Fans excited with his imagination. From his short stories of Voodoo Hearts to the thrilling comic book series American Vampire, Scott has brought his exciting mix of fantasy and horror stories to the front lines. His wide variety of creativity makes him one of the most exciting comic creators around and we are pumped to have him at C2E2!

Launch of the Occupy Chicago Rebel Arts Collective

Occupy Chicago Press Office

Occupy Chicago’s Arts and Recreation Committee and the Occupy Chicago Rebel Arts Collective (OCRAC) host the Collective’s launch event—a curated multimedia arts event built around the work of artists working for change. The event will include live music, spoken word & poetry, a theatrical workshop and performance, a political art gallery, stenciling, interactive art installations, video and photography projections, and more. The line-up includes: The Kuhls, DJ Catnip, Theatre of the Oppressed, When Flying Feels Like Falling, Captain Captain, a performance by 20% Theatre Company, Snake Oil Salesmen, Kris de la Rash, and several poets, spoken word artists, and speakers including one from the Piccolo Elementary School occupation. "The goal of the revolutionary artist is to make the revolution irresistible"—Tony Cade Bambara. The launch will connect politically motivated artists in collaboration to make the most world-changing art you've never imagined!

About OCRAC: The Occupy Chicago Rebel Arts Collective is a network of artists in support of Occupy Chicago. It is a project of Occupy Chi’s Arts & Recreation Committee.

Occupy Chicago is here to fight corporate abuse of American democracy in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. The Occupy Chicago Rebel Arts Collective (OCRAC) exists for the purpose of connecting with artists of all stripes–painting and sculpture, music and poetry, theater and dance–and mobilizing the power of art in the name of a more just and equal world.

Culture is a right, not a privilege. Times like these are when the spirit of solidarity can break the segregation of the entertainment and arts industries and make our culture more vital, more relevant. New images, new sounds and new ways of approaching art are forged, and we show that ordinary people have ability to create culture without the meddling of the upper 1%. From rock to hip-hop, from expressionism to Dada, from slam poetry to modern dance, from the stages to the streets. This is our world, and this is our art!

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/events/228952727191418/

Game Trailer - Mass Effect 3

We just saw this trailer for Mass Effect 3 thanks to Dark Horse Comics. And while our editor isn't that much of a third-person-shooter player, he does know cool stuff when he sees it. And this trailer definitely qualifies. Take a look at tell us what you think. A gameplay demo is after the jump.

Video - "Iron Sky" trailer

God help us, we're actually kinda looking forward to this. Our editor has a weakness for cheese sci fi war movies. Any disaster movie really. Even with the Sarah Palin wannabee as the the president. Take a look and tell us what you think.

Adam Levin & Tim Kinsella read at Quimby's 3/13

Quimby's Books

Adam Levin (The Instructions) Reads from Hot Pink with Tim Kinsella, author of The Karaoke Singers Guide to Self Defense

Adam Levin’s debut novel The Instructions was one of the most buzzed-about books of 2010, a sprawling universe of “death-defying sentences, manic wit, exciting provocations and simple human warmth” (Rolling Stone). Now, in the stories of Hot Pink, Levin delivers ten smaller worlds, shaken snow-globes of overweight romantics, legless prodigies, quixotic dollmakers, Chicagoland thugs, dirty old men, protective fathers, balloon-laden dumptrucks, and walls that ooze gels. Told with lust and affection, karate and tenderness, slapstickery, ferocity, and heart, Hot Pink is already Flavorpill’s most anticipated books of 2012.

Adam Levin’s novel The Instructions won the NYLP’s Young Lion’s Fiction Award. His stories have appeared in Tin House, McSweeney’s, and Esquire. Winner of the 2003 Summer Literary Seminars Fiction Contest and the 2004 Joyce Carol Oates Fiction Prize.

In Tim Kinsella’s novel The Karaoke Singers Guide to Self Defense, a family reunites for a funeral, leery of one another, comparing splintered memories. Will bathes his grandmother. Mel gives her wig a haircut. Norman is not prepared to take over his father’s club. Jesse has never known how old he is. They each cope with limited options and murky desires. Long bus rides through a post-industrial Gothic Midwest, Classic Rock, and compulsive brawls hum a requiem for the late night life of Stone Claw Grove.

Tim Kinsella has fronted such bands as Cap’n Jazz, Owls, Friend/Enemy and Joan of Arc. His writing has appeared in The Chicago Reader, Monsters & Dust, and Stop Smiling.

For more info: quimbys.com/blog/store-events

Video - Coolest/most disturbing college commercial ever

We found out about this video through a friend of ours who found it through Gizmodo. And... holy crap. It starts boring and cheesy, but just stay through it. At 1:08, it starts to go way off the rails, for at least one of the guys. And yes, this really did get broadcast on TV in Australia.

Breaking Local News - Occupy Chicago joins in school protest

Occupy Chicago has joined with a group of parents and students who are occupying the Piccolo school in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the protest started at 5 p.m. with no arrests as of 10 p.m. The parents and students are protesting the closure of the school, one of 16 in the city being closed for poor performance.

At 1:13 a.m. Saturday morning, the Occupy Chicago Press Committee sent out this press release with the demands of the protesters.

"We, the Piccolo Occupation, are putting our childrens' education first. Piccolo has failed because CPS has refused to invest in public education. The school has struggled for years but you have taken out all the programs, classes and opportunities to learn. We have had 3 principals in the last five years.We have not been able to work with anyone on a long-term basis to address the chronic disinvestment in our school. CPS and City Hall have failed us and our children. Your goal is to privatize the education system by giving it to corporations that support the mayor. We have been ignored, you have ignored our children and now you are trying to make money off of them.

The Chicago Public Schools is in violation of its own remediation and probation policy. CPS is in violation of the Illinois School Code and the Illinois Civil Rights Act. CPS is in violation of Illinois Senate Bill 630. Because of this, a moratorium has been introduced in the Illinois Legislative Assembly by the School Facilities Taskforce. We are enacting our moratorium for ourselves with this sit-in do to the fact that CPS not once has laid out the necessary corrective action for Brian Piccolo or Paolo Cassals along with the Local School Councils for getting them off of probation during the last five years. The School Improvement Plans for Academic Achievement (SIPAA) at these two schools have lacked the budgetary resources to bridge the achievement gap of our student populations. Furhter, the SIPAAs along with the budgets at the time of their signings have not had real community input. Therefor, these actions could very well be civil rights violations. At the recent CPS hearings, the former principal of Cassals testified that not once in the last five years had CPS met with her nor with the LSC about any of the necessary corrective action for Paola Cassals to be removed off of probation.

Because CPS has been not willing to meet with or listen to us, this is
what we want:
1) A meeting with Mayor Rahm Emanuel
2) A meeting with at least five of the Chicago School Board members present
3) The removal of Piccolo and Cassals from the turnaround list"

The closure of the schools across the city has generated controversy, especially since WBEZ Public Radio reported that some of the pro-closure attendees of meetings were paid to attend and testify for closure.

Video - Intro to John Carter

This video came out earlier this week, but through Disney's UK subsidiary. Luckily, through the miracle of the internet, we can still watch it here. We don't know the books here, but we have to admit, the movie is looking pretty cool so far. Post in the comments if you're planning to see it.

Marvel Is Coming to C2E2

Lance FenstermanC2E2

TGIF Chicago! C2E2 is getting bigger every day and we just can't hold back all of the awesomeness that we have in store for you! We decided to hit you with a special Friday edition of the newsletter and we've got some more big Guest Announcements to round out your week! How often do you get to meet the artists who bring comic fans everywhere the biggest and baddest superheros of all time? We know this isn't an every day occurrence... but guess what? All of your fanboy and fangirl dreams will come true at C2E2 2012! We are hyped to announce that five of Marvel's top creative artists will be coming to C2E2! Not only can you meet all of this amazing Marvel talent at the show but a select few of you could sit down to dinner with some of Marvel's top guys! We are finally ready to make a couple of lucky fans dreams come true by announcing all of the details on our Annual C2E2 Dinner in the one and only Chi-Town. This C2E2 rocket ship is pointed towards the stars and our engines are firing on all cylinders! We can hardly wait to share more of the C2E2 awesomeness next week!

The Film that Changed My Life with Director Steve James!

Music Box Theatre

This Sunday we’re thrilled to host Oscar-Nominated documentary filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams) as he presents The Film That Changed His Life: HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A. Steve James will participate in an interview and Q&A session following the screening. Purchase tickets here!

He will also stick around to introduce his newest film THE INTERRUPTERS. Purchase your tickets here!

Speaking of Oscar Nominees – Academy-Award Nominated animator Don Hertzfeldt will be here on February 29! Click here for all the details!

See you at the movies!

Harlan County USA

Filmmaker Steve James and author Robert K. Elder in person!

Filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams) will host a screening of the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County U.S.A. (Barbara Kopple, 1976) and his film, The Interrupters, for the third installment of “The Film That Changed My Life” series, based on Robert K. Elder’s book of the same name. James will appear live for a post-film discussion with Elder.

Harlan County U.S.A., a documentary about a coal mine strike that turned deadly, James says: “I just remember being really struck by this gritty quality that it had—the raw honesty of it.” Also…special screening of “The Interrupters” Barbara Koppel’s Academy Award–winning Harlan County U.S.A. unflinchingly documents a grueling coal miners’ strike in a small Kentucky town. With unprecedented access, Barbara Kopple and her crew captured the miners’ sometimes violent struggles with strikebreakers, local police, and company thugs.

Featuring a haunting soundtrack—with legendary country and bluegrass artists Hazel Dickens, Merle Travis, Sarah Gunning, and Florence Reece—the film is a heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.

Pricing

$9.99 in advance

$12.00 day of

$26.00 including Rob Elder’s book

Double Feature tickets available Additional books for sale at the door

Sun, Feb 19

1:30pm

Honky Tonk Man invades Graham Crackers Comics, plus New Release list

Graham Crackers Comics

NEW RELEASE LIST for NEXT WEEK is below THANKS to all the COSPLAYERS that came out! And congratulations to all the winners!

Wednesday we gave away 18 3-DAY PASSES to the upcoming C2E2 convention!
The best dressed COSPLAYERS to show up after 4pm walked away with
a free ($50 value) 3 day pass to the show! Costumes ranged from cute to awesome.

THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT SHOWED UP FOR THE WALKING DEAD
JAY BOANASINGA SIGNING!
The line got backed up at times but Jay was awesomely patient with every person that waited to meet him, get a signed copy or simply discuss the book!

wrestling superstar
the honky tonk man!
@ graham crackers comics OF PLAINFIELD

"He's got long sideburns and his hair slicked back, he’s coming to your town in a pink Cadillac..." Ok well maybe he is leaving the pink Cadillac in the garage but the Honky Tonk Man is coming to your town! Plainfield IL to be exact and right here at our very own GCC Plainfield location! You can meet the Honky Tonk Man (courtesy of Pro Wrestling Blitz) live and in color! So come join us and meet the greatest intercontinental champion of all time, check out all the awesome stuff we have at our Plainfield location and then head out later that night to see Pro Wrestling Blitz’s “Night of Heartache” at St Joseph’s Park, 700 Theodore , Joliet IL 60435.

Need another reason to make the drive out? At the same time and right next door at the Baseball Card King, Chicago Bears stars Bob Parsons, Ronnie Bull & Allan Ellis will be meeting fans and signing autographs as well!

Video - Venetian Princess' New Video

We're long time fans of Venetian Princess. Here's her latest video parody. Our favorite of her's is after the jump. The very talented woman also does straight covers of songs, including Adele's "Someone Like You." But she's also a geek after our own heart. Be sure to check her YouTube channel. It'll keep you busy for hours.

Welcome to Earth - Video beauty

We got this from a friend a few days ago, but we finally had to share after seeing other sites do the same. Just hit play, go to full screen and turn up the volume. You won't regret it.

Nicholas Brendon Is Coming to C2E2

Lance Fensterman
C2E2

Roses are red, violets are blue and we've got some exciting C2E2 Guests to reveal as a Valentine's Day gift to you! I hope that you will want to be my nerdy Valentine after you hear who we have coming in April... What do you get when you put a vampire fighting, hilariously sardonic character mixed with die-hard pop culture fans? Well, probably more than one awesome result but the most important one is C2E2 2012! Yup, we said it, we have one of the original blood sucking defenders joining us in Chi-Town from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Nicholas Brendon! But that's not all we've got for you... we're hitting you up early in the week once again and we can barely contain our excitement anymore... seriously my head is spinning. You won't want to miss what we have on the horizon for you.

Nicholas Brendon

Nicholas Brendon a.k.a Xander Harris from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is heading to Chi-Town this April! Nicholas won over the hearts of future vampire slayers with his hilarious character on the hit series and has since made his mark in other film and television hits. Nicholas Brendon has the type of talent and sense of humor C2E2 loves to have so, make sure you check him out at the show this Spring!

Occupy Chicago Stands in Solidarity with the People of Greece

Occupy Chicago

The people of Greece are calling for international solidarity protests against the poverty and austerity being forced upon them by the Eurpoean Union and the International Monetary Fund. This Thursday, Occupy Chicago will answer that call with a rally and march to the Greek Consulate. We will gather at 7pm at Jackson and LaSalle, and march to Consulate at 650 N St. Claire, where we will rally until 9pm.

Under the new austerity measures, wages in Greece are to be cut by more than 20%, thousands of civil servants will be laid off, and vital social programs will be severely cut as well. Current unemployemnt in Greece is at 20%, and youth unemployemnt is over 40%. These measures come on the heels of heavy wage cuts passed by parliament last year, in a country where a member of parliament makes 20 times the Greek minimum wage. These laws punish the Greek 99% to repay the debts of the ruling class. The government has sold out sovereignty, the poor, and the working class in the interest of foreign creditors and the demands of the 1%. Bankers continue to make millions and corporations pay fewer taxes. The rest of society, having done nothing wrong, is being punished for the failures of the market.

Occupy Wall Street Call for Greek Solidarity:
http://occupywallst.org/article/greeks-call-solidarity-strikes-against-austerity/

Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/371157309563512/

Joyland Magazine and Dzanc Books present The Fiction Feed: AWP Edition

Quimby's Bookstore

Joyland Magazine and Dzanc Books are two innovative publishers pushing fiction with great writing and new means of print and digital distribution. Join us for an evening with four writers, hailing from Chicago, New York and Vancouver. Hosted by Joyland co-founder Brian Joseph Davis and Dzanc co-publisher Dan Wickett.

READERS

Eugene Cross has published work in Narrative Magazine, American Short Fiction, Story Quarterly and Callaloo, among other journals. He is the recipient of scholarships from the Chautauqua Writers’ Festival and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. He currently lives in Chicago. Fires of Our Choosing (Dzanc) is his first book.

Kevin Chong is the author of four books, including his acclaimed debut Baroque-a-Nova (Penguin) and the travelogue Neil Young Nation (Douglas & McIntyre). His new novel from Arsenal Pulp is titled Beauty Plus Pity. He lives in Vancouver and is a section editor for Joyland.

Jeff Parker is the author of the novel Ovenman (Tin House) and the story collection The Taste of Penny (Dzanc). He co-edited the anthologies Amerika: Russian Writers View the United States and Rasskazy: New Fiction from a New Russia. His nonfiction book Igor in Crisis: A Russian Journal is forthcoming from HarperCollins.

Megan Stielstra is a writer, storyteller and the literary director for 2nd Story, Chicago’s urban storytelling series. She has performed for the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago Poetry Center and National Public Radio. She teaches in the Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College. Her debut collection of stories, Everyone Remain Calm, is now available from Joyland/ECW Press.

For more info: joylandmagazine.com and dzancbooks.org

Thursday, March 1, 7PM

Quimby’s Bookstore

Ninety Occupy Chicago Activists Go to Court Wednesday Seeking Dismissal of Charges

Occupy Chicago

Motions to dismiss the charges against at least 90 Occupy Chicago activists will be heard Wednesday at 1:30pm in Daley Center. The cases stem from arrests in October of more than 300 people who were charged with violating a city-imposed curfew at Grant Park. Nearly a third of those arrested have chosen to fight their charges based on First Amendment grounds. National Lawyers Guild will be arguing for dismissal on behalf of the Occupy Chicago defendants before Municipal Court Judge E. Kenneth Wright.

What:Court hearing to dismiss the charges against at least 90 Occupy Chicago defendants
When:Wednesday, February 15th at 1:30pm
Where:Room 1307 of the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago

“It’s an outrage that the city is spending precious tax-payer dollars to prosecute frivolous cases, while being unwilling to give an inch to accommodate the free speech rights of Occupy Chicago activists,” said Sarah Gelsomino with the People’s Law Office, and one of the Guild attorneys who filed motions to dismiss on behalf of the defendants. The Guild has been defending Occupy Chicago activists since their arrest at Grant Park.

"This intolerance of political protest in Chicago casts serious doubts about the city's respect for and ability to uphold the rights of dissidents in advance of the NATO/G8 demonstrations," continued Gelsomino. "The needless arrest and prosecution of hundreds of Occupy Chicago activists sets a distressing precedent as thousands of people are expected to protest here in May." Just last week, the city settled an NLG-led class action lawsuit for $6.2 million, in which more than 700 anti-war protesters were wrongfully arrested in 2003.

Approximately 175 people were arrested on quasi-criminal charges in the early morning hours of October 15th as activists remained protesting in the park after 11pm. A week later, on October 22nd, another 130 people were similarly arrested. Not only did the city refuse to grant Occupy Chicago an ongoing presence in any of the city's public parks, it also has so far refused to dismiss any of the cases unless defendants agree to perform 10 hours of community service.

Of the 90 Occupy Chicago defendants who are seeking a dismissal of their charges, nearly half say they will go to trial if their motions to dismiss are denied. A ruling by Judge Wright is expected on Wednesday or shortly thereafter.

The Guild has also supported the Occupy Wall Street movement in dozens of other cities around the country through its Legal Observer™ program and by defending hundreds of people who have been arrested.

The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and is the oldest and largest public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.

Further information:
Sample NLG motion to dismiss: http://nlgchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/NLG-Motion-to-Dismiss.pdf

Chicon 7 Announces NASA's Sy Liebergot as Special Guest

Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"), is delighted to announce former NASA Flight Controller Sy Liebergot as a Special Guest. Sy Liebergot's presence alongside Guest of Honor Story Musgrave adds further depth to Chicon 7's tribute to the achievements of manned spaceflight.

Sy Liebergot was the Lead EECOM Flight Controller in Mission Control for all of the Apollo manned missions and Skylab program missions. On the international scene, Sy was the Lead EECOM for the American-Russian Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. Sy was at the focal point of the Apollo 13 crisis in Mission Control when the spacecraft's oxygen tank exploded. As part of the Apollo 13 Operations Team, Sy was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also received the NASA Commendation Award for his leadership role in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project international space mission.

Chicon 7 is the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"). The first Worldcon occurred in New York City in 1939 and Worldcons have been held annually since then except for 1942-45 when there was no event due to World War II. Chicon 7's Guests of Honor are five-time Hugo winning author Mike Resnick, artist Rowena Morrill, art agent and collector Jane Frank, science fiction fan and former Worldcon chair Peggy Rae Sapienza, and astronaut Story Musgrave. Chicon 7's Toastmaster is John Scalzi.

Poetry Reading Night at Quimby's, March 1

Quimby's Books

Escaping the comfortable confines of the Associated Writing Programs’ annual meeting, five American poets go rogue to read their work in the more sharply stimulating environs of Quimby’s.  Collectively, these writers represent a truly American mosaic of sensibility and sentiment perfectly suited to the tough streets of Chicago.

Mitchell L. H. Douglas is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. His poems have appeared in Callaloo, Crab Orchard Review, Ninth Letter and the anthologies The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South and Zoland Poetry No. 2 among others. A Cave Canem fellow and cofounder of the Affrilachian Poets, his debut collection, Cooling Board: A Long-Playing Poem (Red Hen Press, 2009) was nominated for a 2010 NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Literary Work-Poetry category and a 2010 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. His second poetry collection \blak\ \al-f? bet\, winner of the 2011 Lexi Rudnitsky/Editor’s Choice Award, is forthcoming from Persea Books. 
More poets after the jump!

Oscar Nominees! Valentine's Day! Second Saturday Silent Cinema at Music Box!

Music Box Theatre

We have a huge week of events planned for you! First is our 2012 Oscar-Nominee Week, which includes screenings of some of our faves including TREE OF LIFE, BRIDESMAIDS and DRIVE. Scroll down for the full schedule as well as a chance to attend a FREE screening next Thursday!

Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day yet? We’ve got you covered! Come on out to the Theatre to experience Michelle L’Amour’s ‘Big SEXY Show' on Saturday, or BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S on Sunday, or our interactive screening of THE PRINCESS BRIDE on Tuesday!

Last but certainly not least is our continuing series Second Saturday Silent Cinema. Next up is the 1921 Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle classic LEAP YEAR. Oh, and if the only thing you know about Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle is the name, you’d be well served to check out his Wikipedia page here. He literally invented the Hollywood scandal.

See you at the movies!

Our new flying techno overlords

This video, which came out only a week ago, has already gotten more 4 million views on YouTube. And it's easy to see why. They're nano quadrotors at the GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. Using current technology and little copters like what you can by for about 10 bucks, they can make these little guys flying in pretty complex patters. Very cool.

Of course, the flip side of that is seeing a swarm of mechanical flying things coming at you in formation is just a little... unsettling. Just to play it safe, let's not piss them off.

Top Chef's Stephanie Izard is Coming to C2E2

Lance Fensterman
C2E2

We're giving double the Newsletters this week for a pretty delicious reason in fact! We have yet, another awesomely note worthy Guest Announcement, the one and only woman to ever conquer the fiery kitchens on Top Chef, Stephanie Izard! She's one of your own Chi-Town and we are salivating just thinking about this culinary talent hitting the halls of C2E2. We also have a little insight on the exclusive Marvel dinner for this year... but we can't give it all away just yet! Thinking of goats...do you ever wonder if goat legs slice as nicely as wampas do with a lightsaber? Well, if a lightsaber is your defense weapon of choice, now is your chance to bring that passion to the streets in a relay road race throughout the California coast line. The best part is, this five day event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation! We are amping up the level of C2E2 every week and we've still got a lot more mind blowing announcements coming your way!


Stephanie Izard

We're beyond stoked to announce that Stephanie Izard, 2011 Food & Wine Best New Chef, Top Chef Season Four winner and Chef/Owner of the West Loop's "Girl & the Goat" will be coming to C2E2! I've got my fingers crossed that she'll bring some of her famous and delicious goat leg along for the ride! Izard's "Girl & the Goat" will also be home to the Marvel Exclusive Dinner at C2E2. Ticket info and details about who you could be dining with coming your way soon!
More after the jump!

Occupy Chicago Rallies for Civil Liberties, Attempts Dismissal of Court Cases

Occupy Chicago

On February 15th, Occupy Chicago activists who were arrested trying to establish an encampment in October will go to court in an attempt to have their cases dismissed. In response to this Occupy Chicago will be hosting a day of action, culminating with a 6pm rally at the Daley Center. We ask that you and your organization join us not only in demanding the cases against the Occupiers be dropped, but also in demanding economic justice.

Civil Rights are under attack in Chicago because the 99% are fighting back and demanding economic justice. Over the past four months we have seen the increasingly selective enforcement of minor ordinances to harass and arrest protesters and activists. Mayor 1% took it to the next level when using the NATO/G8 summits as an excuse to further suppress the growing dissent with his "Sit Down and Shut Up" ordinances. While the applied political pressure of Occupy Chicago, Labor Unions, Community Organizations, and the People of Chicago did help to scale back the most blatant violations of free speech proposed in those ordinances, they still passed.

The new ordinances cannot go unchallenged; they must not become the new normal, building up the base for the ongoing disenfranchisement of whole generations. We must not allow the rights of free speech and assembly to be taken away from the 99% and to be made luxuries exclusively for the 1%. Unless we anticipate the immediate withdrawal of corporate influence on politics and our education system, unless we anticipate easy concessions by management in favor of labor during contract negotiations, unless our money is immediately diverted away from the coffers of the 1% and toward the needs of the 99%, unless local corporations refuse to use the money they saved in tax breaks to help fund the police crackdown on protesters during the NATO/G8 summits, these ordinances will only benefit those who have profited from our sweat and broken dreams.

We must continue the fight. We must go on the offensive, continuing to stand up and speak out against economic injustice.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/271423562930015/

IN STORE SALE at Graham Crackers, Store Signing, FREE C2E2 tickets & more

Graham Crackers Comics

WOW! LOTS GOING ON THIS WEEK

Okay, first up:
TODAY: IN STORE NEWER COMICS SALE. Didn't try DC's NEW 52, now you can do it on the cheap! Newer comics are $2 bucks a pop at all Graham Crackers Comics locations starting today through Saturday. Then come Sunday whatever is left is only $1 buck! It's going to be crazy at the shops these next 4 days!

WED. FEB 15th - also known as NEW COMICS DAY, we'll be hosting a signing with WALKING DEAD author Jay Bonansinga at our LOOP store from Noon to 2pm. Meet him and get a copy of his book personalized to you!

TIME TO COSPLAY - want to go to C2E2 for FREE? We're giving away 18 WEEKEND PASSES (a $900 value) on Wed. the 15th as well. Be the first 2 customers to show up in costume starting at 4pm next Wednesday and grab yourself a FREE WEEKEND PASS to CHICAGOs C2E2 COMIC CONVENTION April 13-15th!

OK Go takes music on the road, literally

We just came across this video from OK Go. We're big fans of the band here (You can see our story on their video with the Muppets here.) But We're not sure if working with Chevy to turn a car into an instrument is a sell out or the coolest, Rube Goldberg geek project we've seen in a while. We're gonna go with the second.

Special Deals, Discounts, and FREE TICKETS at Music Box

Music Box Theater

It’s a Big Weekend at the Music Box Theatre! And we have Special Deals, Discounts, and FREE TICKETS to give away! (Please note, this is not our normal weekly Newsletter, you will receive our normal newsletter tomorrow).

FACEBOOK: First off, this week we will be offering several contests for free tickets and more on our Facebook page! We just hit 13,000 fans and we will be giving away all sorts of great stuff to celebrate! Please make sure to be our Fan on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/musicboxchicago . While we are at it, follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/musicboxtheatre

This week we will be giving away free tickets to A Valentine's presentation of “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”

AND
A Valentine's presentation of “The Princess Bride” with audience interaction and FREE PROPS to interact with the film!

DISCOUNTS AT DELEECE! Would you like to add Dinner to your Valentine’s events at the Music Box? You can head to the new location of DeLeece at *3747 N. Southport*for one of the special meals for lovers that will be offered at a special 10%off discount for Music Box patrons that day!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR! “Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today. Wove, twue wove... So tweasure your woves forever ….” A Little birdie told us that there will be some Proposals after “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “The Princess Bride” this week, so we have made sure that the stars will twinkle, the clouds will puff, and our House Organist will play after both films so that the anyone in the audience may take the opportunity to get down on one knee!

FREE TICKET GIVE-AWAY! We are giving away some tickets to this the SECOND SATURDAY SILENT CINEMA presentation of “Leap Year” this Saturday at Noon! http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/leap-year-1921-2012-02-11-1200-pm You must register for these free tickets by clicking here http://leapyear.eventbrite.com and the first 50 people to show up will get in for FREE! 

FREE POPCORN GIVE-AWAY! Tune in to our Facebook Page and Twitter Feed on Friday, February 10^th to get a code for Free Popcorn if you attend the SECOND SATURDAY SILENT CINEMA presentation of “Leap Year” this Saturday at Noon! If you and a friend both attend and pay full price for tickets, we will give you a free LARGE POPCORN! What? RIGHT! A Special code will be given via Twitter and Facebook on Friday!

AWESOME EVENTS: Michelle L’amour’s “Big SEXY Show” A cast of over 25 performers will grace the stage at Chicago’s Historic Music Box Theatre. Burlesque, Comedy, Vaudeville, Circus…all will be represented at Michelle L’amour’s Big SEXY Show – Sat 11 Feb, 8:30pm and 11:00pm http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/michelle-lamours-big-sexy-show-2012-02-11-830-pm

OSCARS EVENTS: The 84th Annual Academy Awards will occur on February 26th 2012, and here is your chance to see some of the nominees on the big screen! This series will feature some of our favorites form 2011, some films that have not been seen at all in Chicago, and a SUPER SECRET SCREENING of a film that has not yet screened in Chicago! http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/collections/oscar-nominated-films/ FILMS INCLUDE: A Separation (2011), The Tree of Life (2011), 2012 Academy Award Documentary Short Subject Program (2011), Drive (2011), Bridesmaids (2011), A Better Life (2011), and Bullhead (2011)

A FREE SCREENING OF AN OSCAR NOMINATED FILM: A Film that has not been screened theatrically in the US will be the closing night presentation of our OSCAR WEEK! You must attend one of the OSCAR SCREENINGS to get information on how to get in free to this special screening! So come on out to the Music Box! http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/collections/oscar-nominated-films/

Chicon 7 Announces Second Deadline for Dealers' Room Applications

Chicon

Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon"), has announced the second deadline for vendors to apply for space in its Dealers' Room. This deadline is March 15, 2012. Vendors who did not apply during the first round submission period, which closed on January 15, 2012, are encouraged to sign up promptly to be sure of securing space.

The Dealers' Room is the Worldcon's shopping mall and the Chicon 7 Dealers' Room will include some 200 tables and booths selling a huge variety of genre-related items. In addition to numerous book sellers (both new and second-hand/antiquarian), a Worldcon Dealers' Room typically includes vendors selling DVDs, comics, art prints, clothing, model kits, and jewelry as well as more unusual and esoteric items.

With approximately 5,000 science fiction fans expected to attend, the Chicon 7 Dealers' Room is likely to be busy throughout the five days of the convention. 8' x 30" tables are available for just $250 for the run of the convention, while 10' x 10' exhibit booths can be rented for just $750. Dealers may reserve up to five tables or booths. All dealers and their staff will also need Chicon 7 attending memberships (not included within the space rental fee).

For more information or to download an application form, visit the Chicon 7 website at www.chicon.org/dealersroom.php, or contact the Chicon 7 Dealers' Room team at dealers@chicon.org.

Nerdist Industries Partners With ReedPOP For 2012 Events

C2E2

ReedPOP, creators and organizers of the New York Comic Con (NYCC), the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), as well as other major events in the popular culture world, and Nerdist Industries, a multi-platform creator of genre and pop culture content, have today announced a continuation and formalization of a relationship that successfully began at NYCC in 2011 with the launch of the exclusive WHITE SPACE B2B conference. This new alliance provides for a wide range of strategic and cross-promotional activities that include Nerdist interviews with ReedPOP guests and a prominent role for Chris Hardwick, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Nerdist Industries, at ReedPOP shows. Hardwick, host of AMC’s Talking Dead as well as Nerdist specials for BBC America, founded Nerdist in 2008 and has nurtured its growth into a multimedia name now spanning blogs, a podcast, television, web-video, live-events and print. Chris will be a leading personality at NYCC, C2E2 and other ReedPOP events.  

THE BUSINESS - Live in Chicago - On Sale Now!

Just in from the Congress Theatre!

Riot Fest Presents: THE BUSINESS!

The Oi! legends seize the Cobra Lounge next month, making up for last year's cancelled show and we couldn't be more stoked!

Tickets only $10 - on sale now - get 'em while you can!


THE BUSINESS
Saturday, March 24th
Cobra Lounge
(235 N. Milwaukee, Chicago)
Doors: 9:00pm, 21+
Tickets: Buy Here!

Hunger Games Trailer

The latest trailer for the upcoming movie "The Hunger Games." We haven't read book series yet, tho we likely will before too long. But the trailer looks interesting. Share your opinion.

LM.C to perform at AnimeCentral

acen.org

Anime Central is proud to announce that LM.C will be Guests of Honor and performing at Anime Central’s 15th Anniversary Celebration!

The Japanese visual kei “electrock” band will kick off their 2012 world tour with a guest appearance at Anime Central in Rosemont, IL April 27-29, 2012. Aside from LM.C’s concert performance, members maya and Aiji will be available for Q&A and autograph sessions over the course of the celebration weekend.

LM.C debuted on October, 2006 as a rock unit made up of maya (Vocals) and Aiji (Guitar). Mixture, digi-rock, HIPHOP-like… their variety of pop and catchy sounds cannot be categorized easily and they do not confine themselves to the conventions of “visual-kei.”

The year of 2012, LM.C has already announced their new releases and the long-awaited world tour “LM.C LIVE TOUR 2012 –STRONG POP- world tour” starting in this coming spring. Surely, the band’s first original album release and first world tour in 2 years make their worldwide royal fans go crazy for LM.C again!!

Click here for more information about LM.C

Komen For The Cure Senior VP Resigns Over Planned Parenthood Flap

By Wendy Gittleson
AddictingInfo.org

Karen Handel, Senior VP is the Susan G. Komen foundation, and the person widely held responsible for last week’s public relations debacle of pulling funding from Planned Parenthood, has resigned.
According to her resignation letter, as printed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (emphasis mine):

Dear Ambassador Brinker:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been the recognized leader for more 30 years in the fight against breast cancer here in the US – and increasingly around the world.

As you know, I have always kept Komen’s mission and the women we serve as my highest priority – as they have been for the entire organization, the Komen Affiliates, our many supporters and donors, and the entire community of breast cancer survivors. I have carried out my responsibilities faithfully and in line with the Board’s objectives and the direction provided by you and Liz.

We can all agree that this is a challenging and deeply unsettling situation for all involved in the fight against breast cancer. However, Komen’s decision to change its granting strategy and exit the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and its grants was fully vetted by every appropriate level within the organization. At the November Board meeting, the Board received a detailed review of the new model and related criteria. As you will recall, the Board specifically discussed various issues, including the need to protect our mission by ensuring we were not distracted or negatively affected by any other organization’s real or perceived challenges. No objections were made to moving forward.
 (More of the letter after the jump!)

Breaking News: Appeals Court says Prop 8 Unconstitutional

From Chicago Den, WCB's sister site

News broke early Tuesday afternoon that the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld an earlier court's ruling that California's Propostion 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state after it had been legalized, is unconstitutional.
The news first came out on gay news sites such as Towleroad before hitting every major media website.

Equality Illinois, the state's largest gay rights organization, had a response within minutes.

"The inexorable march to full marriage equality achieved a significant milestone with the historic ruling that Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution," EI's statement read. "The court’s gratifying decision makes a clear statement that marriage equality is a fundamental freedom." The organization also called on lawmakers to take Illinois' civil union laws to the next step to full marriage.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force celebrated the ruling and called on Congress to repeal DOMA.

“Today’s decision affirms what we all know to be true – our Constitution protects the basic civil rights of all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese on the groups website. "Proposition 8 does nothing to strengthen or protect any marriage. Instead, it singles out thousands of loving California families for different treatment, simply because they are gay and lesbian couples. We applaud the Ninth Circuit for recognizing that our Constitution cannot tolerate such egregious discrimination."

The Huffington Post reported that the ruling stated: "Although the Constitution permits communities to enact most laws they believe to be desirable, it requires that there be at least a legitimate reason for the passage of a law that treats different classes of people differently. There was no such reason that Proposition 8 could have been enacted."

The internet newspaper also reported that Love Honor Cherish, a gay rights group based in Los Angeles, is planning to start gathering signatures for a November ballot initiative asking voters to repeal Proposition 8.

Capricon 32 Next Weekend

Capricon 32 will start this coming weekend, February 9 through 12, at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, Illinois. It's too late to preregister, but you can still attend.

This year's guests include author Cory Doctorow, artist Les McClaine, fan Steven H Silver and special guest Javier Grillo-Marxuach.

The hotel will be offering Capricon members the following discounts. Just show your badge!

Saranello’s 10% off breakfast and lunch 10% bar all night – alcohol drinks only

Tramonto’s Steak and Seafood 10% off on dinner (food only, no alcohol)

RT Lounge 10% off on dinner (food only , no alcohol)
For up to the minute details, go to Capricon's official blog Goat Droppings at http://capricon.org/blog/.

Jeri Ryan, Scott Bakula, Among Headliners At 2012 Wizard World Toronto Comic Con

TORONTO – A state-of-the-art downtown venue, new dates and fresh celebrity guests mark the third Wizard World Toronto Comic Con, which today announced its standout lineup scheduled to attend the event, April 14-15 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).  Popular screen stars Paul Wesley, Jeri Ryan, Scott Bakula and Amy Acker will be joined by WWE® Superstar Edge® and dozens of standout celebs and talented comic book artists and writers at the convention, which promises to be even bigger and better in 2012.

Bakula (“Star Trek: Enterprise,” “Quantum Leap”) and Acker (“Angel,” THE CABIN IN THE WOODS) will appear both days, while Wesley (“The Vampire Diaries,” “24”), Ryan (“Star Trek: Voyager,” “Boston Public”) and Edge® are scheduled to attend on Saturday only.

“Toronto and the entire region have embraced Wizard World Toronto Comic Con over the past two years, and we're excited to bring a first-class event to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World Board of Directors.  “From well-known, relevant stars like Paul Wesley and Jeri Ryan and classic and cult actors and actresses to an outstanding collection of big-time artists and a unique array of exhibitors and vendors, there's something for everyone.”
More after the jump!

ESC-Visual Nerd Propaganda Night-Heathers/Female Trouble

Evil Squirrel Comics is hosting a movie night at their location in Rogers Park.

A chance to drink with your comrades as we watch visual nerd propaganda on an 100" screen.

This week's first visual nerd propaganda is 80's uber bitch classic "Heather's" part of our February's a B!TC# month.

"Heather's" will start about 8 pm.
...
Followed up by one of John Water's sickest classics "Female Trouble" Seriously folks, this movie is so gross and disgusting it probably shouldn't have been made.....so we love it!!

"Female Trouble" will start about 10 pm

As always we suggest BYOB...these movies get better the more you drink.

Have a request for movie night?
Send Shawn an email Shawn@Evilsquirrelcomics.com

 

Details here: http://www.facebook.com/events/316726395035206/