First Davidson Comic Book Marathon

Unlike prior Friday’s, today I will not be reviewing a new release. The options this week are not as ideal as prior or upcoming weeks, so I will resume my “$5 Movie Review” series next week. This doesn’t mean that there is nothing to write about.

A New Era of Geekdom

And I say BRING IT ON!!!

Geeks such as myself have longed for the day to stand proudly, letting their dork flag fly. With a resurgence in dork culture over the last 4-5 years with programs like Robot Chicken, Firefly, and Chuck and video games like Halo: Combat Evolved – being a geek is the new cool.

But the best part, the hot girl geek. There is no greater joy. I give you: Team Unicorn!

I am very lucky to be marrying one.

Something I Need To Get Off My Chest: Lay Off The ‘Heed!

You’ve been warned – this is soap box time.

I’m a male. I’ve lived for 29+ years, mostly in either Virginia or North Carolina. I am an audiophile. I am a technophile. I love reading, going to the movies, and playing video games. I studied film at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, earning a B.A. in Communications. I worked for 5-6years for CBS Radio in which I worked in promotions and sales. Concurrently to the later portion of my tenure at CBS Radio, I went to school at Johns Hopkins University studying digital technology and the means by which people communicate, for which I will earn a M.A. in Communications this May.

All of the above equates to one thing – my favorite band doesn’t owe me a DAMN THING.

So where is this coming from?

End of the Summer

Morning All,

It’s been a long time since I last posted, possibly April, and a lot has happened.

First, sorry for dropping off the face of the world. I figured I’d take a month off between Spring and Summer sessions and then be back in the saddle ready to go. Well, I did rest, but as soon as Summer session hit – I was off to the races! The problem was, I was in last place the whole time. Now enough with the horse metaphors and on to the real deal.

Summer session is over and with my one week off before the Fall session starts, I want to do a little sharing and see if I can’t get my butt in gear and keep this up. I’ve tried a few times to get in touch with Tomblin since our last podcast with little luck and I shall try again – see if I can get him to join in on future discussions. For now though – what’s been going on?

Over the summer I took a course on Digital Promotions that examined digital communication technology from a philosophical, physical, and analytical perspective. The result is a paper reviewing the power of imagery through the digital promotion for The Dark Knight.
For anyone who’d like to read the paper, here it is: Foucault and The Dark Knight

I discussed and examined the viral campaign executed by 42 Entertainment and Warner Bros. Studios in my Digital Literacy course, but this time I really got to delve into the imagery and discuss it. Love to hear what any of you might think.

Anyway, there is more to come. I have come up with my Thesis topic and it’s based on a different paper I wrote for my MP3 Culture course on the mechanical reproduction of music and digital distribution. I’ll share that next time.

Anyway, take care all and sorry for the absence. I’ll try not to make it so long next time.

Hold tight, True Believers!

Elements of Madness will have an update coming in the next few days. In the spirit of openness that blogging is supposed to proscribe too, we have been unable to complete the last podcast in a timely fashion due to a death in the family(for 1) and illness(for the other).

Just so you have something to tide you over until we can record and post, I would like to recommend another podcast to listen to – WNYC’s Radio Lab. They do near-weekly podcasts on all manner of subjects(I recommend the one on War of the Worlds – fascinating).

Also, there has been an update to the Dark Knight viral campaign – the theory is a new trailer is going to be released sometime on Monday afternoon, but if you want to know for sure, go to whysoserious.com/itsallpartoftheplan and click on the portraits. If you live in one of the cities, and can participate, please report back here with what happened. We’d love a first-hand account of the revelry.

So with that, hold tight – we’ll back be soon.

And also, the new poster for The Dark Knight…..is it me, or is the Joker standing on the top of the roof?

Podcast the Second

Well, we promised to be more timely and considering we made this one only 3 days ago, we’re doing pretty good so far. I hope you all have had a chance to check out the first one and are ready for another round because here we go!

Podcast the Second – 4.2.08

On today’s show we explore the viral campaign for the upcoming release of Dark Knight on July 18th, 2008, we check back in on the Anon vs Scientology battle, discuss Best Buy’s generous $10 Million gift card giveaway, the format war, and of course, Wal-Mart.

The Dark Knight
Official Film Website
I Believe In Harvey Dent
I Believe In Harvey Dent Too – Don’t forget to highlight the whole page to get the message
Why So Serious?
Rory’s Death Kiss
Gotham Police Department
Acme Security Systems
Concerned Citizens For A Better Gotham
Citizens For Batman
Clown Travel Agency
The Gotham Times
TheHaHaHaTimes
Jane McGonigal’s writings on Alternate Reality Games

As of, 4/7/08, the newest additions to the viral include the announcement of Lt. Gordon as the head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Gotham PD and a video news conference featuring Rachel Dawes endorsing Harvey Dent.

Best Buy
Best Buy Offers $50 Gift Card to Anyone Who Purchased a HD-DVD Player
Motley Fool Thinks It’s a Good Idea
Popular Webiste Joystiq throws in their 2-cents
From the New York Time’s Blog – HD Owners, Some Stores Want To Make Amends

Format War
The Showdown: Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD – from March 27, 2005
Blu-Ray vs HD DVD: The Format Wars – from January 23, 2006
Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD – from February 19, 2008
Blu-ray winner by KO in high-definition wars – from February 20, 2008
No Blu-Ray for Microsoft, Digital Distribution the Way to Go – from March 14, 2008
Digital Revolution for Microsoft – from April 3, 2008

Digital Media Distribution Opportunities for the Film Industry – straight from the horse’s mouth.

Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Demands Price Cuts On CDs
Apple Out-Muscles Wal-Mart

Apple Passes Wal-Mart, Now #1 Music Retailer

We hope you enjoyed the show this week, and please tune in next week for more media discussion. Send us your comments, your well wishes, or even money. Or back rubs. Can’t have too many of those.

See you next week!

Attribution: The music in this episode was Remember The Name provided by Fort Minor through a Creative Commons license.

Also, this show has no official affliation with any brand or sponsor as mentioned in the podcast. Such as Dodge or Samuel Adams beer……though if there are interested parties, we’re willing to talk.

This show NOT brought to you by:

Wolverine vs Deadpool

VS

The last three issues of Wolverine: Origins have been brutal, surreal, and hysterical. Though I have been reading comics for years, most of my focus has been on the DC Universe, with a bit of dabbling in the Marvel one. I have to tell you, though, you need to go pick up Wolervine: Origins 21-23(out now) and get issues 24 & 25 when they come out. There is nothing out on the market now that seems to perfectly balance both it’s serious and funny nature (aside from Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 and Angel Season 6, but those require more inside knowledge of the series to get the jokes).

Why should you run out to get the books? Well, here’s why:

Wolverine, since the Fall of the House of M, has all of his memories back. I mean ALL of them. Every nasty deed, every dirty secret, every mission that was ever erased are back and he wants vengeance. This series depicts Wolverine’s search for the people that ever did him wrong. No one wants to be on that list. Some so much so that they blew out their brains upon hearing he got his memory back(See Wolverine: Origins #1).

Staring in issue #21, though, Deadpool – the infamous Merc with the Mouth – arrived to take him out. Now I can’t say I know much about Deadpool, but I did know he was crazy. What I didn’t know was that he’s actually insane. There is a difference. One is being off your rocker, the other is being off your rocker and enjoying it. Deadpool is the latter. He is brilliant, he’s funny, and he knows just how to piss off Wolverine….something I wouldn’t ever recommend doing. But the way he does it, pure comic gold.

After reading the first 3 of the 5 part series, I can see why so many people want Ryan Reynolds(star of Waiting…, Van Wilder, Blade: Trinity, and more) to play Deadpool in the upcoming Wolverine: Origins film. Thus far, I’ve only heard it’s a rumor, so if anyone knows more, please share. I’d always wanted to see Ryan play the Wally West version of The Flash, but if it has to be Deadpool, he’s got my vote.

So please, trust a poor comic book dork and go pick up the following issues.

You can thank me later.