Review: The Walking Dead Episode 1
Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead just came out this week on various platforms. I played the PC version of the game using Steam. I have been a fan of Telltale Games for some time and would not miss their interpretation of a game for a favorite comic series. You can buy the game episodically (5 episodes to the game) or just plunk down the money for the entire game and wait. Either way, you’re going to spend $25 for the experience. I finished the first episode, titled “A New Day,” in a little over two hours. For five dollars, not a bad use of my time.
The game follows Lee Everett, a man on his way to prison before the zombie apocalypse we all know is coming. He eventually finds a small girl named Clementine who he decides to protect in this new world. I am not spoiling anything here, most of this has already been revealed by Telltale. Also you might as well know that these events happen before Rick Grimes wakes up in the comic book series, or TV show if you are so inclined. Knowing that, you get to run into a few people that will play important roles in the comic book series. The characters showcased excellently. Glenn is still the hero we know he tries to be, Hershel is as straight forward as we respect him to be.
The game follows a lot of the adventure game tropes that Telltale is known for, but they decide to throw in some action with the zombies. Simply; you find items and used them to aid you in the world (try figuring out how to use a pillow in the zombie apocalypse). Then Telltale throws some interesting loopholes: decision-making. Most dialogues will have options to pick from, the kicker though is that these options are timed and can decide how others perceive you. Then there are a half-dozen big decisions to make, obvious one would be who to save during a zombie attack. To throw more tension into fighting, the game has some quick time events not to mention forcing you to align head shots during point-and-click sections. These moments can cause you to die! I know, I have died (yes, I am a terrible player to die in an adventure game).
Either way, this is a good buy. The game is fun and exciting with an interesting story. You do not have to be a fan of adventure games to enjoy this one.
Rating : 4/5
Cheap Date: April 25th
Being a nerd gets to be expensive. Comics are $3-4 usually, going to the movies are moving past the ten-dollar mark and of course video games are costing you a whooping sixty dollars plus tax. In this weekly article, I will show you what to buy on this nerdy Cheap Date.
Wednesdays are great days to make these purchasing decisions. Comic books are released today. Most physical media (video games, DVDs or CDs) have come out the day before. And in a couple of days the new movies are opening in theaters.
Now let us see what we can get this week, which I am aiming for under $30.
Comics – $9
I know it is always hard to cut down on your stack, but this is the biggest money-eater. God forbid if they actually had good weekly comics, all the time. Anyway, there are only three books you need to buy this week.
Daredevil #11 from Marvel is the conclusion to the “Omega Effect” crossover. The interaction between Daredevil, Punisher, Spider-Man and “Punishette” is beyond priceless. Spider-Man’s mouth moves all on its own.
American Vampire #26 and the New Deadwardians #2 from Vertigo. Snyder is an excellent writer and I have decided to pick up all his books up on principle, this includes American Vampire. I have yet to go wrong with Snyder (why do I feel like I just jinxed something?). Yes New Deadwardians is a another vampire book, but also another zombie book. The dichotomy of the comic set in a Victorian period had been an interesting read. It is an eight-issue run, so should be worth the time.
Movies – $10
To be honest, there are two movies you could catch this weekend. I will start with the one I pick, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. I have always been a fan of Aardman Animations and Wallace and Gromit. This movie should be a fun show for kids, big and small. Plus I am a sucker for traditional animation.
Then there is Five-Year Engagement with Jason Segel and Emily Blunt. It is hyped as part of the Bridesmaids styling. I must admit that I caught Bridesmaids much later, out of theater and really did not like it. But I like the cast and they have not let me down yet. Can not hurt that they have my latest “Hollywood girlfriend,” Alison Brie, in the movie.
Games – at least $2
The Indie Gala just went on sale and the latest Humble Bundle is still active. To those new, these indie bundles are pay-what-you-want for a couple of indie games available on the PC and sometimes Mac. You can decided where the money goes to developers, organizers or it can all go to charity! But here is the kicker, if you pay above the average then you get some extra games. Either way, you get a few games for a lot less than they retail. I really recommend playing Machinarium. It is a fun, puzzle/adventure game with a great art style.
For under thirty bucks you get three great comics, to watch a new movie in theaters and a whole bunch of games for the PC. Check it out and let me know if this was worth the money for you.
Ka-Pow 101: Intro to Comic Books (for Adults) Pt. 2
Last time, we went through some of the basics of comic books and their vocabulary. This time around I’m going to give you a few rules (…more like guidelines) to introducing a full-grown non-comic reader to the world of the funny book. I will also look at some personal suggestions for an introductory reading list.
So what kind of rules should you follow for introducing someone to comic books? And what kind of hints should you heed if you are going into this solo?
Respect the Reader
Just because you have convinced someone to read comic books, it does not mean they want to read about superheroes. Just like all forms of art there different forms, styles, and genres. One person may enjoy serialized horror books (Walking Dead) while another may enjoy fantastical anthology books (Flight). Even if they do want to get into superhero stuff, keep in mind the next rule.
Start Small
Now this may sound counter-intuitive to the wording, but start small means start with the bigger format: trades. Generally, trades are easier to read and digest. You can get a full story in a single trade as opposed to getting a portion in a monthly issue and having to wait. I always find watching a show on Netflix or saved up on my DVR is a lot easier than waiting week to week. (I know! I know! Another comparison to TV, but it’s so easy!) Also, trades are generally older stories which have a known quality.
Another thing to keep in mind about starting small. Use trades which are self-contained and not part of a series. (Sorry Sandman and Lucifer.) Anthology trades work too. Don’t necessarily expect the last read, but don’t anticipate continued reading. It might not happen.
Try Other Media
In introducing someone else to comics, don’t instantly jump in and say, “Here’s a comic book! READ IT!” There have been amazing strides in adapting graphic novels and comic books to both television and film. Walking Dead has been a cultural phenomenon that has lit up so many televisions on Sunday nights. Young Justice, while not identical to the source material, has been a thrill to watch. There also some really fantastic feature films to check out. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World does an amazing job of capturing the spirit and themes of the comic book. Marvel Studios has had amazing success with their properties (Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor) all leading up to the highly anticipated Avengers. DC Comics’ direct-to-DVD animation endeavors, like Justice League: The New Frontier, have adapted some of the most cherished storylines in DC’s long history without dragging in all of the continuity.
After taking the time to watch an adaptation, take a look at the source material. It’s an interesting comparison as you can see character moments that hit the cutting room floor, or find new scenes that never made it from page to screen.
Now let’s make the transition to ongoing series.
Start in the Present
If you want to get started on an ongoing series, the best way is to start with the current story arc. Make sure not to jump in mid-arc because you will get lost. If you enjoy what is happening and want to understand more of the back story, you can track down the relevant material. There is an exception to the rule: on-goings written by the creator (generally creator-owned books). Books like Fables, Walking Dead (Last time I use this as an example, I swear!), and Locke & Key are working toward an eventual end. It’s not always clear if such is the case, but a good sign of the series direction is the consistency of the creative team.
Utilize Reference
Wikipedia and sites like Comic Vine are your friend. The comic book articles on Wikipedia are surprisingly (or not, considering nerds run the interwebs) well-organized. Comic Vine runs its own dedicated wiki on characters, books, teams, and arcs. If you have the money to spend, DC and Marvel both have encyclopedias which catalog many of their characters with details such aliases, origins, history, and team affiliations.
Now that you have the guidelines/rules on getting someone or yourself started in reading comic books, what book do I suggest? Well let’s see.
Novice Level – You’re brand new and have never touched a comic book
300 by Frank Miller – This one is a great example of utilizing all the rules I just explained. It’s self-contained and collected in a trade. It is also available in another format: the 2007 adaptation by Zack Snyder. It is also a breath-taking story of honor and heroism.
Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughn and Nico Henrichon – This is a beautiful but tragic tale based on a true story of lions roaming the streets of Baghdad. This graphic novel stands on its own, and good for someone who isn’t necessarily interested in superheroes or war.
Joe the Barbarian by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy – Released as an 8 issue miniseries in 2010, this story of friendship and imagination is a thrill ride. It actually gets better with multiple read-throughs, and I hope someday it gets made into a movie (…by me! … If only). It has since been collected into a single trade with some excellent extra content.
Wanted by Mark Millar and JG Jones – Edging into the world of superheroes, this mini-series from 2005 tells a story of wish-fulfillment and responsibility with which Mark Millar excels ( see also Kick-Ass). This would be an interesting experiment for the alternate format rule due to the vast difference from source to adaptation.
Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale – This one pushes the limits of all the rules. It is a self-contained story, but it features characters from a long and storied history. Loeb does a fine job of making sure the reader does not get lost. This is also an exception to the rule of starting in the present. With characters as engraved in the collective unconscious as Batman, many of Loeb and Sales books can also be included in this list.
Advanced – Longer-form books to get into once you’re committed
Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore/Charlie Adlard – I know I said I wouldn’t use this again, but it’s so obvious. Get someone hooked on the amazing show from AMC, and then let them read the comic book. The great thing about the two is the separate path the show has taken from the comic. I would suggest starting in the beginning, especially if using the show as a jumping on point, but starting with current issues would be fine. Just remember the potential for spoilers.
Sandman by Neil Gaiman and various artists – A rich and intense epic, this long-form series will keep you on your toes. Curve balls will catch you off guard. The over-arcing story is also broken up by some very interesting vignettes.
Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez – A dark, yet fun series with a mystery/horror feel. It is a fairly new series, which will be easy to get caught up on.
That’s gonna be the end of Ka-Pow 101, for now. These suggestions are all based on books I am reading or have read. There are many more possibilities and amazing suggestions I could have added, but I’d love to hear from you!. Let me know other techniques you might have used to introduce new readers to comic books. Ask me anything you think I missed or forgot to mention. Let others know about comics you think they should start with. Leave a comment below.
Ka-Pow 101: Intro to Comic Books (for Adults) Pt. 1
I was recently talking to my girlfriend about comic books and realized that I’ve never seen a rule book to introducing comic books to an adult. I have a history with comic books. I got a box full at a young age and have been hooked ever since. Many of the stories that I’ve heard from other comic book fans start the same way: a relative bestows upon them the first treasured comics at a young age. I am not claiming this is the only way it happens, but in my own experience, it is the most common. But what about those who never experienced that magic moment in youth? How do they stumble into the dense and wonderful world of Kryptonians and super-soldiers? Here are a few helpful hints.
Let’s start with the vocabulary of comic books.
Comic books are generally published as single issues on a schedule (generally monthly) and generally known as “floppies” or pamphlets. Think of these as episodes of a TV series. You get one and wait for the next to continue the story. These are the most common formats for comic books. You’ll find them in your local comic shop, news stands, and some bookstores. In major bookstores, such as Barnes & Noble, these will be stocked in the magazine section.
After some time, a group of issues are collected into a single book called a trade paperback (sometimes shortened to simply “trade”). Maintaining the TV comparison, this would be a season collected into a box set. When you stumble into the wasteland of a book store, these are categorized in a section labeled “Graphic Novels” (More on that later).
Now this is where it can get a little confusing. There are also other ways issues can be collected. Certain series can gain credibility and fame over time. If a publisher recognizes this, they may release special editions in various formats including paperback and hardcover. Some terms included in these special editions: Omnibus, Showcase, Absolute, and Premiere.
Let me go back for a second. There was a term I used not too long ago: Graphic Novel. This is a very vague term in the world of comic books. Graphic novels are defined by the dictionary as: a fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book. It can be agreed that books like The Watchmen and Maus are graphic novels. However, there’s a certain qualifier lacking in the definition. As it is, all collected comics are considered graphic novels. But, this is where my own opinion comes in. I think graphic novels are a form of comic books, but not all comic books can be graphic novels. I think there should be a certain story structure to graphic novels that does not allow for the loose-threads of serialized comics. A book like The Watchmen is self-contained and does not require outside reading to understand the basic story. On the other hand, a book like The Death of Superman requires an understanding of many aspects outside the individual story including the Matrix Supergirl’s relationship to the fully-follicled Lex Luthor. But here’s the twist, a graphic novel can be serialized. I define The Sandman series as a graphic novel series because it is a fairly finite and self-contained. Again, I reiterate: this is my opinion. If in doubt, call it a graphic novel. I won’t hate you… much.
All right, that’s out of the way. Let’s continue with a look at story structure in comics. In the early days of comics, single issues would tell a full story. As two-part stories grew into sagas, a practice called decompression allowed for the prevalence of story arcs. Story arcs followed the story structure (beginning, middle, end) over multiple issues. The common practice is to run a story arc over six issues to ease the transition to trade.
Crossovers are common stories in comics. These refer to stories in which a character from one title appears in a book of another title (i.e. Superman appearing in a Batman book). This is not to be confused with a Team book, which groups multiple heroes together (i.e. Avengers). Crossovers can occur in single issues, or they can occur in multiple issues. They can also take place between two titles.
As crossovers became more popular and the stakes raised with multiple heroes, events became a staple in comics. Event comics mainly are either mini-series or crossover. These stories raise the stakes to global and even universal levels. They commonly feature multiple characters from various titles uniting against a common foe. In the case of Civil War and Avenger vs X-Men, they can also feature multiple heroes battling it out due to differing opinions of a certain catalyst.
With the evolution of events, tie-ins became necessary to explore characters and moments that can only be glimpsed in an event series. These tie-ins can be a mini-series created specifically for the event, or they can take place in titles featuring a specific character involved in the event.
And finally, let’s talk a little about titles, characters, and publishers. This is gonna be a little more free form, because it’s just clarifying a few confusing areas. First up, titles are very simply the title of the comic book. In super-hero comics, the common practice is to name the title after the protagonist. However, certain titles began as anthologies, which told various stories throughout the series. One major example of this would be Journey Into Mystery which began as a horror/mystery anthology series, but would later introduce and feature Thor and more recently, Loki.
I’m going to revisit the TV comparisons now as I talk about publishers. Each publisher is like a channel with different programming. There are two major publishers (commonly referred to as the Big Two) which dominate the market: DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Each contains its own stable of characters created throughout the years. DC’s stable of characters contains iconic heroes such as Superman and Batman, while Marvel consists of some of the more “modern” characters like Spider-man and Iron Man. They have titles (think shows) which they produce on a monthly schedule. There are other channels to watch besides NBC and CBS, so we also have other publishers. A few examples in no particular order:
- Image Comics – Walking Dead, Spawn
- Dynamite Entertainment – Robocop, Green Hornet
- IDW Publishing – GI Joe, 30 Days of Night
- Dark Horse – Hellboy, The Umbrella Academy
- Oni Press – Scott Pilgrim, Queen & Country
Now, I know what a lot of you are thinking: how does a vocabulary lesson get somebody started reading comics? It doesn’t. It’s a foot in the door. And this is only part one. In part two, I’m going to talk about how to introduce someone into the world of comic books and suggestions for books to start reading.
Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
My name is actually Natalia, I will be covering the books and music portion of this blog (in part at least). The Princess Bride by William Goldman is one of the many books in my library as you can see from the post title.
The three of us: Ricky, Danny, and yours truly have many mutual interests. We have even read a few of the same books, like our 6 month tear through A song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. We had started watching the series together and the second a certain beheading happened the books came out. After that Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and other pop-culture oriented reads became our focus.
There is a book I read a few years ago called Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield. This book has a line that I felt summed me up perfectly. Rob’s wife was talking to some new friends about her husband and one of the friends asked, “Does he wear glasses?” She didn’t miss a beat before answering, “No, he wears a walkman.” I immediately identified with that line because I have always had some sort of portable music device. I remember being in grade school and using my recess hiding in the corner of the playground with my walkman to listen to mix tapes my mother would make me. Even now I have an iPod on me at all times and it is filled with almost every genre of music ever conceived. I live through my ears and have even resorted to reading through my ears. I am obsessed with Audible.com and burn through at least 50 books a year.
Despite my annual reading list I never considered myself a nerd. Actually until I met my boyfriend I thought nerds were guys who wore pants that were hemmed way too high and rocked pocket protectors. My boyfriend is a comic book / video game nerd ( this is a self awarded title by the way) he redefined the word Nerd for me and I assumed you had to be a part of that small cult-ish world in order to be considered a nerd. I believed this for years and then I read the Nerdist Way. According to Chris Hardwick a nerd is someone who is compulsively obsessive and it was after I heard that, that I realized oh shit… I’m a nerd.
Now the introductions are complete and I will leave you with my album of the week.
A Wasteland Companion – M. Ward
M. Ward is best known as half of the Indie-Pop duo She and Him. A Wasteland Companion is an album that you can listen to in the background and when you catch the lyrics you are pleasantly surprised that they are so entertaining and catchy even though they are so simple.
Hi, I’m Danny
Now is the time to introduce myself, I guess. Let me start by saying…
Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!
A simple way to say hello. Of course, the quote comes from the Jim Carrey classic, The Truman Show. Isn’t it funny how short lines from films or books can express a lot of meaning. I am nowhere near as good of a writer to throw down some unforgettable personal quote to show the world all the crass that I have to offer. But leading off with a quote shows you, the reader, more about myself. I enjoy using written or spoken quotes to help define the thought I have.
The quotes come from a cornucopia of sources. I grew up reading comics and have yet to give it up. Hell, I have yet to grow up, and I still enjoy the cartoons of today. Most of my learning experiences came from the movie screen. And the hand-eye coordination I have come from excelling at video games. (Note from Ricky: Cocky much?)
I am a nerd, a dork, a dweeb. Whatever you want to call me. I am obsessive over pop culture (thank god there are wikis). I enjoy being a kid inside an adult body. I wear goofy t-shirts and enjoy my slippers that look like Mickey Mouse feet. I still marathon game with friends. I am even anticipating my next chance to play some Risk Legacy.
Beyond enjoying the fantasy of it all, I am in love with the mythology. When I was little, I enjoyed the mythologies. Anytime that would be brought up in school, I got excited. The fantastic thing about mythology is that it is ever-present today. We may not have gods playing with the seasons, but we still have the ideas that inspire and frighten us. Instead of flying with Helios as he rides across the sky in his fiery chariot, today we fly with Superman as he saves the day. Instead of wondering how Osiris will judge us in the afterlife, we fear Freddy Krueger with his nightmares.
Long story short: I like a lot of stuff and those interests often influence me. I would like to share my interests and their influences. Enjoy!
And It Begins…
Welcome to Call Yourself A Nerd.
I’m Ricky, and I guess I’ll take the time to introduce the new site and myself. In doing so, I have to let you all know up front: I call myself a nerd. I have been since I was a wee lad. I was introduced to my gateway drug – comic books – when my uncle gave a box full of comics to my brother, Danny, and me. These comics ranged from Thor to Batman to Spawn. I was hooked immediately. My family would sell at local flea markets on the weekend, and sure enough, my brother and I were scavenging the various lots in search of comic books. We tracked down our local comic shops. We were hooked.
The pair of us also spent a large amount of time in front of the television. At first, it was primarily cartoons. We were children in the tail-end of the 80s, and the after-school and Saturday morning cartoons were at their peak. We watched Transformers, GI Joe, Centurions, TMNT, and Ren and Stimpy. We especially loved the Simpsons. As the 90s came along, we continued plopping down in front of the boob tube watching everything Nickelodeon and MTV had to offer. TGIF was going strong on ABC and shows like Family Matters and Boy Meets World were weekly staples. As time went on, there wouldn’t be a time when there wasn’t a set list of shows we had to watch.
Movies were a huge part of our childhood as well. We’d watch our favorite classics like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robocop, Batman and Star Wars. Spending time with some of our older siblings, we were introduced to other things we’d never thought to enjoy like The Last Dragon, Over the Top, and Howard the Duck. Double features at the mall and nights at the drive-in were some of my personal favorite family excursions.
And with trips to drive-ins and flea markets, there also came arcades and video games. Games like Altered Beast, Raiden, and Donkey Kong ate up our allowances. Back home, we would play Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt on the NES. We would later get other gaming consoles like the Sega Genesis, N64, Playstation (One and 2), and Xbox. We battled in Mortal Kombat. We raced through loops in Sonic the Hedgehog. We got killed by Cuccos in Legend of Zelda. If there has been one thing that has gobbled up more of our time, it would be video games.
This is just a taste of the things my brother and I love and nerd out about. We’ll talk about all of these topics – both nostalgic and up-to-date – and more. We also have my brother’s girlfriend, Natalia, writing about her interests including books and music. Before I say farewell, I want to let you know that we look forward to hearing your responses so don’t forget to leave comments below. Check back soon for more from us, and remember: “Call yourself a nerd.“
Call Yourself A Nerd 