March 2015 | Otaku No Culture

Tying the Strings Back in Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Three Trailers

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

avengers-age-of-ultron

Just what can fans of Marvel Entertainment’s Avengers: Age of Ultron learn about this movie, due in theatres May 1st, now that all three trailers are out? One fact is certain: someone is pulling the strings that will see a new dawn (of enslavement) for all of humanity. Mutants will be revealed and a global watch dog system built by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) shows that Ultron will keep an eye at all the problems plaguing society.

However, there’s a secret figure who will emerge and it’s face looks like a red faced vision of hope — perhaps. This android was created by Ultron (voiced by James Spader) in the original 60’s comics to use against his creator, Dr. Hank Pym (Ant-Man). When considering that there is an Ant-Man movie being developed, just how much crossover potential will happen depends on how much retconning writer/director Joss Whedon has done to the Marvel Universe.

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Pompidou TV Review: Silent Comedy Lacks the Stroke of Genius

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Pompidou

Mention the words silent comedy and only the best creators in the field, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and Rowan Atkinson will come to mind. After viewing of the first episode of BBC2’s Pompidou, Matt Lucas’ name may also be considered to be among them — considered but not yet chosen. There is much to enjoy about the newest series from the man who gave such wonderful performances such as Toad in the 2006 TV film The Wind In the Willows, but like many pilot television series, the first episode is usually the one with the most bumps in the road.

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Tracking GottaCon’s Foodie & Game A-Fair? It’s a Deadbeetz.

Gottacon 2015 Banner GottaCon has shifted in direction for the 2015 year, and that’s to make use of all the available spaces as possible for their gaming fair. For such a dramatic shift, I’m surprised they did not have a huge banner across the Victoria Conference Centre to say we are here. I really like the design of their new logo in their program guide, and I was sad to not see this plumage advertising this event to this city at large at this building or across the street at the Crystal Gardens.

Although my interests for this show have faded, to wonder if they chose wisely for which food trucks to bring can make for some interesting allusions. Do gamers need more grease for those late night munchies? When I didn’t spot or smell these operations running on a Friday evening before Geekenders‘ Star Wars Burlesque Show, I suspect not. They might have been running, but there was no spotlight on them to let curiousity seekers know. The same can be said for GottaCon’s presence. Without a huge banner, many passers-by will pass them by. Sandwich boards just will not do. Not many people really take a bite at that kind of street advertising.

During a beautiful sunny day (Saturday) when the air is crisp and I was nearby, my nostrils certainly wanted to sniff out the operations. Thankfully, the trucks were advertising their hours. But I did notice a particular trend: of the three trucks, two of them were serving mostly burgers. Thankfully, James and I provided a more robust listing of various eateries around the area so attendees can grab sandwiches or sushi if they wanted to.

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How Can A GottaCon Grow? An Editorial

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Gottacon2015

The good news is that GottaCon now takes up two buildings to give the people from the City of Victoria and elsewhere the exposition of what the world of gaming offers. Is it a geek haven? Sure, if folks could find something related to pop culture to enjoy (which is mostly found in their evening entertainment), but when this event is primarily about celebrating gaming in all its forms — from board games, miniature battles, cards to video — the big question is will they succumb to requiring celebrities to draw more people in?

Most likely not — but in my case, I have to say that I am losing interest. They do get locally well-known folks to fuel the panels. My pursuits into this realm now lay in finding exhibitions and discussions about new trends. I’m fascinated with the world of mobile/tablet gaming and there’s nothing in the event’s webpage and panel listings to draw me in. Kano/Apps was there to represent that world but they were mostly showing off their own products, saying they are recruiting programmers and nothing was listed as panels to explore this young industry.

Until GottaCon catches up with the mobile world or offers industry type technical panels, I see no reason to attend for all three days. One is enough for me, if they are lucky enough to collect my hard-earned money.

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Getting on Board with Geekenders Star Wars Burlesque Show, a Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Disclaimer: Thanks to the Gottacon organizers for providing a pass to the opening night celebration. This article is part one of two pieces, also published on Absoluteunderground.tv, with an interview with Geekenders to be featured in the next issue of Absolute Underground Magazine. Reprinted with permission.

There’s a new kind of adult entertainment in town, and that’s to combine burlesque with geek culture to form nerdlesque. This new form of dancing is taking the world by storm with local groups from Australia to New York reinventing all that was beloved from a long time ago. Instead of a galaxy, far, far away, everything is happening locally. Geekenders is a Vancouver, BC based group that formed in 2012 to give to the masses unique takes on popular franchise titles like Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, BBC’s Doctor Who and Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. On Friday night at GottaCon, a Victoria based gaming convention, this group put on a rousing fun act in Star Wars: A Nude Hope.