Fanboys Anonymous

Aaron Allston, the author of thirteen Star Wars novels and several short stories, passed away on February 27, TheForce.net confirmed.

Photo via 501st Legion

Allston suffered from an apparent heart failure and collapsed at VisionCon in Springfield, MO, on Thursday and died later that day at the age of 53.

The news first came from game designer Sean Patrick Fannon, who said on his Facebook, "It is my devastatingly sad duty to announce I've just gotten confirmation. Aaron Allston passed away tonight, after collapsing at VisionCon. Apparent cause of death is massive heart failure."

In early 2009, Allston had a heart attack and underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery, according to StarWarsblog.

The Texan sci-fi and fantasy novelist was better known for his contributions to the Star Wars expanded universe in his novels, contributing four books in the X-Wing series, two books in The New Jedi Order series, and three books in both the Legacy of the Force series and Fate of the Jedi series. His last Star Wars novel, X-Wing: Mercy Kill was released in 2012.

He began his career in the early '80s when he was hired by game designer and publisher Steve Jackson as a circulation manager and then editor for Space Gamer magazine before going on to design game supplements for Steve Jackson Games, Hero Games, and Dungeons and Dragons.

The 501st Legion posted on their Facebook page:

It is truly a sad day for #StarWars fandom as author Aaron Allston has passed away. Aaron's work influenced many realms, but it was his Wraith Squadron novels which led to his induction as one of the original three #501st Honorary Members in 2002. His humor in the midst of his medical difficulties was an inspiration to everyone around him, including fellow authors Mike Stackpole and Timothy Zahn. 

Ever a friend to the fan community, Aaron's commitment to writing extended beyond his own work, and his loud shirts and sharp wit will be missed in the writing groups he passionately supported. 

There's a gray-striped X-wing waiting in the hangar for you, Aaron. Clear skies.

Allston's contributions to the Star Wars franchise has inspired many and will be greatly missed.

Were you a fan of Aaron Allston's extensive works in the Star Wars universe? Let us know how you feel in the comments section below.

Looks as though we have another video game-to-film adaptation coming our way in the near future. The megahit open-world sandbox game Minecraft has been greenlit to become a motion picture distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film company had recently acquired the rights to distribute a movie version of the wildly popular video game.

Minecraft video game logo

Hot on the heels of the major success of The LEGO Movie, the Minecraft live-action movie is set to be produced by Roy Lee, who produced The LEGO Movie, and Dan Lin.


While this is all really exciting news for fans of Minecraft, it does bring up a question I'm sure you, the reader, are pondering. We have seen popular video game franchises turned into movies before; does Minecraft have what it takes to become a successful film? We have come a long way since Super Mario Bros. and Double Dragon, which were both stinkers at the box office. Since The LEGO Movie was an instant success, time could only tell if Warner Bros. might have a huge hit on their hands.

Now, I want to hear from you all. What do you think of Minecraft being turned into a motion picture feature presentation? Would you pay to see this film? Let us know in the comments section down below.

Like the title says, this isn't confirmed yet, and if anything changes I'll alter this post accordingly, but right now, it looks as though Adam Driver, probably known best for his role in Lena Dunham's Girls, is our first new face in Star Wars: Episode VII.

"Fans… I am your something."

Although Lucasfilm and Disney have remained mum thus far, the unofficial confirmation comes from both an initial report by Variety and tweets by Lena Dunham, star and executive producer of Girls, that indicate a casting announcement is imminent. It's said that the role will be villainous, analogous to Darth Vader, carrying over multiple films. Some news outlets are asking the smart question: "master or apprentice?" pointing out that there are always two Sith, no more, no less. Michael Fassbender, Joel Kinnaman, and Hugo Weaving are all rumored to have either read or been considered for the part as well, which means Driver beat out some serious competition if this is true. I think it's more likely that this would be the "apprentice" role, if it is indeed similar to Vader as reported.

Driver has quietly built a career out of notable smaller roles in mostly smaller films, although recently he's  added bigger things to his resume, including the Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha, and the Coens' Inside Llewyn Davis. Seeing as production on Episode VII is slated to begin in May, and it's also reported that J.J. Abrams finished his pass on the script a few weeks back, it's likely we'll know the truth of this news soon. Either way, brace yourselves, because with the cameras set to roll in just a few months, more Star Wars news is sure to be just around the corner.

What do you think, folks: rumor or real? Is the Force strong with this one? Or are you afraid this is Hayden Christensen 2.0? The com-links are open below.

Readers, as an adoptive parent, I tend to have a unique perspective on things. Anything can get worse, I know, because sometimes people are forced to endure them. Abuse has a real and lasting effect on children, and the effects are prevalent in their behavior long after, but to see someone triumph over such a situation is a gift. That's why I'd like to discuss a recent read of mine, The Sara Chronicles, a short book by author Laura Hughes.

The book description opens:

Imagine yourself in a place where not only your wildest, most imaginative dreams but also your worst nightmares are living, breathing reality. One second, you're a helpless, victimized child, and the next you can control ocean currents, produce rainstorms, and freeze lakes. Would you use your powers for good? Or would you give in to the part of yourself that wants revenge and control over those who caused you pain?

It's a question of stability: stability of mind, stability in life, and maybe even a question of stability with "enemies."

Sara, our heroine, is a young woman living with an abusive foster family. She tumbles down the steps of her home basement during an altercation, but when she lands, she's not quite within the reality she understands anymore. She lands upon the soft grass of a world not her own.

After walking on almost endlessly, she comes across a man and woman who are clear polar opposites to the adults she is used to. They set her on the path to find her way. Landing on the doorstep of a makeshift family, she begins to learn the ways of her new place and position. In this realm of limitless magic and potential, she makes friends with two orphaned boys who also have abilities in prestidigitation, and a powerful wizard who helps them to grow in their potential.

With her new family, Sara rises above her abusive situation and learns to take on bigger, badder enemies—enemies like The Garren. The Garren are soulless, dark fiends from a distant realm, intent on destroying all light and happiness. For those of you with an affinity for Kingdom Hearts, The Garren seriously seem to have been bred from the same thought tree.

I personally thought The Sara Chronicles was fun. It was a bit rushed and lacking in some parts, but I enjoyed the story and especially enjoyed the well-conceived enemies. Book one of The Sara Chronicles was a definite 3.5/5 Stars. Let me know what you think downstairs!

Indie Author/Comic Creator/Film Maker?

Hey, Hey, Hey Dacetacular Nation! Check out Episode 36 of The Dace Man Show with regulars Dace, Gibby, Frank Ward Travis Goss, Nikki Mills, and Michael Burhan!! All-star-packed show for you this week!!

Join The Dace Man and crew this week as they break down the following:

::SPORTS NEWS:

• Current NHL standings
• MLB Spring Training Games have kicked off and how do the Phils look?
• Sochi Update!

::WEIRD NEWS WITH GIBBY:: 

• What could the Face of Radio possibly have in store for us this week?

::FRANK'S CORNER::

• Who you gonna call?

::CELEB NEWS::

• 2014 Internet Goddess Tournament Last week to vote for round 1.
• Seth Myers assumes the hosting duties of Late Night
• Seth Rogen takes to fight to Capitol Hill
• Harold Ramis passed away this week. R.I.P. to a comedic genius
• Sam Worthington socks a paparazzi.
• Robin Thicke splitting from his wife.
• Beloved young-adult book franchise Goosebumps set to hit the big screen with Jack Black attached.
• Ben & Jerry's has unveiled a new line of ice cream flavors

Plus the High Five: Top 5 Harold Ramis Movies, Roast of Gibby Part Deux, and The Douche Bag of The Week. All that and more, only on The Dace Man Show!

This one's for my "adult-aged" sci-fi readers. Recently I was given the opportunity to review the work of Nicola Cuti, author of the Moonie series. Actually, I admit, it was a bit by mistake, really. It would seem that dropping an all-encompassing blog call for any and all material in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, with no real stipulation as to style and content, is a boo-boo for reviewers. When you expect sci-fi and end up with skin-fi, however, hindsight is 20/20—because the Moonie series is just that: skin-fi.

Moonie vs the Spider Queen

The first book, Moonie vs. the Spider Queen, essentially follows a couple of spacecraft owners, one of whom is clever and witty and the other has just a mite more character and heart, and is the best in the series I've read yet. It begins with our captain nonchalantly spilling his guts about what he likes sexually, how he got his ship, and what he thinks of others. The man is all play, only cares about what he wants, and will do anything to earn a buck or gain a possession, even a living one.

Quite plainly, the man's narration through the beginning of the story is hilarious. It has a very "men in the warehouse break room" feel to it, which is probably what sells the book from the get-go. If you've ever read Catcher in the Rye then you know what I'm talking about when I say this book is the equivalent of Dirty Adult Sci-Fi Catcher in the Rye with a doubly-strong sexual overload.

Eventually, the space travelers stumble across something they couldn't possibly expect to find in the deep—a woman—and she isn't wearing a spacesuit of any kind. Such a preposterous insertion is exactly what a story needs to give it a very 1950s sci-fi feel, and that's exactly what Nicola Cuti did. The young Moonie, a disproportionally large-breasted woman, was biologically crafted from protoplasm and therefore lives on radiation/energy of any kind alone. That's why she needs to have as much skin showing as possible at all times, and it's also the reason she doesn't need air to breathe or food to eat.

The three find themselves on another planet where arachnids roam. There's also one giant woman, the leader of an immense people who are enemies of the spiders. It's hard to say which will be the more ferocious, but escaping with their lives, at best, will be near impossible.

Before getting into this read too much, I'd like to make mention of the slight rule change I've added to my book review page:

I will be accepting submissions that have sexual innuendos, sexual content, or language; however, because of a recent submission, I'm making known now that if the content of your book is namely for sexplay purposes, sex fantasy, or sexual sci-fi, or if the entire dialogue tends to have strong sexual weight and then leads into multiple sexual scenarios or scenes, I won't review it. If an author chooses to send me his (<--'Cuz let's face it, these ridiculous genres are owned namely by the bulkier sex), it will not get reviewed. Recap: Sex? Maybe. Porn? No thanks.

Having said that, I'm going to continue by saying I really did enjoy book 1 in the series. Personally, I thought the story would have been better if it didn't jump from perspective to perspective. I didn't feel like the personalities were identifiable enough between them, especially for shifting from point of view to point of view. However, a first impression is hard to forget, especially when it's as strong as the one I got from this read in the first 30–40 pages. If only it had lacked the strong sexual content, it would probably make a pretty decent book.

Moonie in the Slave Market of Opuul

The second book in the series, Moonie in the Slave Market of Opuul, begins with the scantily clad young lady meeting a young shape-shifting woman who is able to shift from seal in water to human on land. Needless to say, it's a very "seductive" meeting. The two become friends.

Down the road, Moonie and the shape-shifter run into a redheaded pirate, and then they run into another young woman with octopus tentacle-like arms. There are four girls, all with weird talents that the author apparently thought might make for a "sexy story." The four are captured and forced into slavery, but they break out and join a galactic policing force to end the exploitation and evil that occurred to them as slaves.

By the time I read this far into the book, I was a bit fed up. I really didn't enjoy this book. I didn't enjoy the beginning, I didn't enjoy the middle, and I hated the end. It seemed to be made of air, really. I always try to give my authors the benefit of the doubt, but this one was a major upset, save for an interesting biological research lab and some of the concoctions the scientists inside were responsible for. My feeling is that it was purely written to satisfy the porn readers. Enough said.

Too Many Moons

Before starting Too Many Moons, I had some trepidation. Book 2 was a nightmare in my opinion, but three opens, once again, with a character I could really appreciate. He's an older ship's captain who doesn't care much for anything or anyone, and he's not afraid to say so or do something about it. In fact, he opens up the story by explaining the pickle he's in: Another man is trying to skip town without paying him for his fuel. The captain is forced to take him out, which may or may not mean his arrest and maybe even his execution.

At some point, the captain also makes the acquaintance of a very personable robot—one by the name of Moonie, a sexual cyborg fashioned after Moonie. She's not like other robots; she's almost human, or star babe...whichever.

There is also a young, oddly colored, spotted princess (the employer of the dead man) who uses the situation as an opportunity to get something out of the captain. He needs witnesses saying he's not guilty of murder, and she needs a captain to pilot her ship now that her hotheaded pilot is dead. Half against his will, our hero travels with the princess across the universe to try and recover her planet's stolen national heirlooms.

When this was the story I was reading, I didn't super love it, but I didn't hate it. About 70 or so pages in, however, the book entirely flips the script. The captain goes in search of the real Moonie. Somehow, another mission, apparently more important and worth much more money pops up, and the captain, plus his crew, embark on yet another journey.

I decided to put the series away for awhile after this book. I knew it namely existed to appeal to the penis, while incorporating a fun sci-fi/fantasy story, but it's seemingly just not my cup. Also, I was pretty sure I knew just about every word there was for the vagina, but it would appear that Nicola Cuti knows more. Even so, he tends to use the same words over and over to describe it. I think that's probably a complication derived from overuse of the sexual situation. So far, save for the first book, the sex has been hard to overlook because the stories were so terrible.

I took the liberty of editing all three books and replacing most of the nouns with much less dirty words. I even took the liberty of editing the nude comic pictures inside, which I will post in "Nicola Cuti's Moonie Part 2." Let me know what you think downstairs!

Special Edition: NYC Convention Logo

ReedPOP, the producers of New York Comic Con and C2E2, officially announced their plans on bringing another comic convention to New York City this summer.

The two-day "Special Edition: NYC" convention is scheduled for the Javits Center on June 14 and 15, and will be a pure celebration of comic books, taking the inaugural convention back to the roots of comic cons.

In a response to criticism over major comic book conventions straying away from comic books, ReedPOP's global vice president Lance Fensterman said on the event's website that the pure comic-focused show will meet consumer demand for more comic book experiences.

"New York Comic Con has grown to include so much more than comic books — it is the ultimate pop culture event," the ReedPOP VP said. "Special Edition: NYC will give comic book fans an intimate destination to meet with publishers and special guests. It's creation is meeting consumer demand for more comic book experiences and build upon our mission to provide fans of all kinds the very best in experiential events."

"This new comic book festival will provide fans the opportunity to connect with artists, socialize with fellow collectors in a unique setting and search for those always hard to find back issues," the press release said. "The event is a pure celebration of comic book culture created specifically for die-hard comic book fans, creators and publishers."

A list of special guests scheduled to appear at the convention has already been announced, including Tony S. Daniel (Action Comics), Brian Wood (DMZ), Alex Maleev (Daredevil), Dustin Nguyen (Batman: Li'l Gotham), Kyle Higgins (Nightwing), Frank Cho (Savage Wolverine), Greg Pak (Action Comics), James Tynion IV(Batman Eternal), Jenny Frison (Revival), Joe Eisma (Morning Glories), Joe Harris (The X-Files: Season 10), Marguerite Bennett (Batman Annual No. 2), Michael Moreci (Hoax Hunters), Mike Norton (Revival), Nick Bradshaw (Wolverine and the X-Men), Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Ramon K. Perez (Wolverine and the X-Men), Ryan Stegman (Wolverine), Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts), and Tim Seeley (Revival).

Last year's New York Comic Con reportedly attracted more than 130,000 attendees over the weekend-long convention, bringing in an estimated $70 million impact on New York City according to the press release, and making it roughly the same size as Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA.

Tickets are on sale now and are selling out fast for $30 single-day on Saturday and Sunday, and only $5 for kids. The $100 VIP package, which sold out within hours of going on sale, will get you in early all weekend, an official special edition poster signed by the artist, and a special edition variant comic book.

Are you excited and looking forward to another convention? Let us know in the comments section below.

Comic books: most of us can recognize that they're not always for kids! Being a grownup and visiting a comic book store, taking your pick, and putting your feet up to read a good title is a sort of creature comfort to many of us. You can be a connoisseur of comic books, a true geek, and you can be open about your love of them, despite the fact that there's still one poopie head around that thinks it's a childish affair. Being a comic book reader can be just the same as being a reader of literature, or a viewer of good television drama. All art imitates life and it sometimes cuts close to the bone. Sometimes it's going to make you hurt!

"Oh, dem feelz…"

That is the basis for Fanboys Anonymous's "Right in the Feels"—a journey through some of the industry's most gutting, saddening, touching, and shocking moments that brought tears to the eyes of many. What kind of moments in the history of our favorite titles tend to really affect us?

Establishing a story that readers sense will leave us hurting, suddenly snapping a character up into the jaws of death, sacrificing one life to save another, sometimes just exposing us to a painful secret in the life of a character we thought was all fun and laughter, action and adventure; there's no end to what can affect us, because emotional pain comes in so many forms and from so many different events in our lives.

"Right in the Feels" begins with five moments courtesy of Marvel!

(Click the links to the pictures, as they've been deemed too upsetting for advertising purposes)

1. THE DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN

Of all of the saddest moments in Spider-Man's colorful existence, you could take a name out of a hat as to which one was the most saddening. I chose the Death of Spider-Man story arc from Brian Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man not for the moment itself, but for the whole setup. Without spoiling everything for would-be readers, the Ultimate Universe has been something of a misnomer over the years. That is, unless you consider many actions of this universe's heroes as an ultimate collection of screw-ups!

Spider-Man's demise came around not at the hands of one man, but as a culmination of sacrifices to save Captain America, Aunt May, Mary Jane, and Gwen Stacey with a little help from Johnny Storm and Iceman, who were unfortunately a little out of their league against Norman Osborn and the Sinister Six. It then turned out to be Aunt May and MJ who saved Peter, only for him to be dealt a mortal wound in the explosion that also killed Osborn. An unintended bullet through the gut from a sniper rifle and being beaten to near-death by the Sinister Six; Peter would not stop trying to save those he loved, and in his final words he wouldn't have had it any other way—


2. LOKI AND BOB REYNOLDS IN MARVEL'S SIEGE

An untypical choice for a single instance of emotional reading, again, Norman Osborn is pretty much to blame for everything; but this is the Norman Osborn of the 616 (mainstream) universe: the crooked ex-Green Goblin who rose to power after dealing the final blow to the Skrull in Secret Invasion.

That era in Marvel's history, from 2008 and onward, was actually quite an emotional rollercoaster for many readers who saw a grisly end to some of their favorite characters. To see Osborn not only rise to power, but then divide and conquer the Avengers through politics, subversion, sabotage, and assassination—he was one of the most evil villains ever to come so far and to have the world believe he was a hero. After Civil War, so many heroes were permanently driven underground, including Cap, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Nick Fury.

Siege saw Osborn use the seemingly unlimited Sentry (Bob Reynolds) and the conniving Loki to instigate a war with Asgard while Thor was considered dead, and in that time, even everybody operating under Osborn began to question their alliance. Then Sentry did this to Ares…

During the siege of Asgard, it was revealed that Reynolds was in fact possessed by the Void. Osborn knew this all along, but when he lost control of Sentry, only then did it seem that the heroes might not win the war until Loki revealed a change of heart and sacrificed himself in the name of his adoptive father, Odin…(panel 1 - panel 2)

After everything the readers had already been through, seeing Thor's surprise return immediately turned the battle in their favor. A literal army of heroes arrived to do battle with Osborn, including Iron Man, Captain America, Winter Soldier, Nick Fury, Spider-Man, and Maria Hill. We'd suddenly lost all hope again when Sentry had transformed into the Void. For Loki to suddenly have such a change of heart and then sacrifice himself is a redemptive tearjerker in itself. Then as the Avengers team up to destroy the Void, we see a broken Bob Reynolds look around at the destruction and ask if he'd done all this…

Bob Reynolds, the Sentry, the most powerful superhero in the last decade of Marvel comics! After all he had done for the greater good, with powers that could have lit a fire under Superman's arse, you're led to believe he wants to die so desperately before his final ounce of humanity is stolen. Thor gives him his last wish. There was also an epilogue to Siege—Sentry: Fallen Sun—that saw the surviving heroes attend Bob Reynolds' funeral. As a testament to the impact of his death, how many Marvel characters have had funeral story arcs? Aaargh, right in dem feels!

3. TONY STARK'S CONFESSION

Speaking of epilogues for dead heroes, The Confession occured after the assassination of Captain America following Marvel's Civil War. At Cap's side in the morgue, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers' best friend and then worst enemy, breaks down in a heart wrenching heap of guilt and regret.

Civil War began with a somewhat notorious event; the nuking of a school in Stamford, Connecticut, after a bunch of superpowered kids tried to get 15 minutes of fame hunting down supervillains. This led to the division of the Avengers, following Tony Stark's introduction of the Superhuman Registration Act, which in turn started the Civil War and gave Norman Osborn his chance to make some changes during his sociopathic rise to power.

From friends and allies to enemies, Stark and Rogers drew a line in the sand with citizens, heroes, and villains caught in the crossfire. It also led to the cloning of the currently deceased Thor, who killed Giant Man and made this war deadly serious. So when it ended with Cap surrendering—a broken man, although having defeated Stark—after having seen the destruction their war had caused, it was just one more gutting tragedy when he was assassinated at his own trial. Surprisingly, none were as deeply upset and affected as Iron Man.

Over the years, the deteriorating alcoholic that hid behind the genius and the swagger had leaned on Rogers, who had always been there for him no matter what. It was only in the event of their conflict that Tony had truly cleaned up and tried to be a better man. At the cost of his best friend's life, he realizes that it's all been for nothing. Hate him all you want, but you don't want to rub his face in it! And then they cheapened it all by bringing him back to life...

4. DEADPOOL'S DAD WAS A REAL KIDDER!

From the X-Men Origins: Deadpool one-shot, here is an amazing example of humor being used to touch readers when it comes to personal tragedy. In fact, I'm just going to shut up!


5. FRANK CASTLE RESCUES A GIRL FROM THE SLAVE TRADE

First of all, I must warn you that this final entry is graphically and emotionally distressing, so if you're of the disposition to be disturbed by scenes of violence, abuse, and death, please exit the page for your own safety!

Garth Ennis isn't called the greatest definitive Punisher writer for no reason. Over the duration of his legendary run, through the Marvel Knights and MAX imprints, he made us laugh, he made us angry, and he made us call the Punisher the most bad-ass Marvel character of all time. He also made us afraid of the Punisher, because in the pages of The Slavers, we discover why Frank Castle suppressed his feelings so much. The antagonists of this particular story arc made him unable to do that anymore.

When getting ready to take a hit on a New York mob boss, Frank witnesses a hooker making a break for it—literally fighting for her life. Upon rescuing young Viorica, he hears her story of how the men that led the genocides in Moldova enslaved her, got her hooked on drugs, moved her into the prostitution business and killed her baby. We're actually faced with a visualization of how that news got around…

A lot of people are going to die, and we're already sitting here not knowing whether to throw the book down, crying, or to carry on. We do not physically or mentally know whether to boycott Ennis from now on, or to accept that he's introducing us to factual reality. Enter the Bulats, responsible for everything that we've already witnessed, and I don't care if you're motherfucking Gandhi: you want them dead.

The Slavers wasn't so much filled with great quantities of violence as it was filled with instances of violence that showed a true monster in the Punisher. Whereas he could have just shot a lot of people, nearly everyone that died at his hands was tortured in the most brutal way imaginable, and he still cannot make it count for the crimes he knows they're all responsible for. In the scene, he terrorizes information out of the now-deceased Christu Bulat's wife before he kills her. It doesn't sate his rage; it just makes him angrier, and we feel the same.

The entire arc is not meant to make you sick with distress, and there is some very subtle humor courtesy of a couple of underdog police officers that find themselves at his mercy. Come the end, though, after all Frank has done to get Viorica and the other girls into a better life, we're left heartbroken and unsure of whether she'll ever retain the will to carry on…

Ugh! And there we have it: five instances of gutting moments in Marvel comics. We hope you truly enjoyed yourself and that those of you who appreciate good drama in your comics will be compelled to try out some of these story arcs. To show that I'm not completely callous and that I do care about your feelings, here's a video filled with lots of warm, fluffy, cute entertainment to raise your spirits…


Sound off, fanboys! What are the most emotional scenes within the pages of a comic book you've ever read? We'd like to hear from you. Comment below and thank you ever so much for reading.

Hey there, Dacetacular Nation. It is I, Chris "The Dace Man" Dace, coming to you on a more somber note this time around. As many of you have most likely heard by know, legendary writer and actor Harold Ramis passed away on Monday, February 24, 2014. Ramis was at his North Shore Chicago home when he died at 12:53 a.m. of complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels. Ramis passed away at the age of 69 surrounded by his family.

An accomplished writer, director and actor, Ramis was in the entertainment business over the course of more than four decades. Getting his start in Chicago with the Second City Comedy Troupe, Ramis would go on to write, direct, and, on occasion, appear in many comedy blockbuster hits. He both wrote and acted in several films, including GhostBusters, Groundhog Day, and Stripes. Take those instant classes and pair them up with movies such as Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Animal House in which he was a writer, and you have very well-defined comedy itself. Each of these films plus the entire list of credits Ramis is attached to are classics and instantly quotable by several generations.

When I first heard the news of Ramis' passing, my initial reaction was, "That's a shame. Looks like we won't get a Ghostbusters III." After the initial reaction settled in, I decided to thumb through Ramis' filmography and realized that comedy has lost one of the funniest and most creative minds of our lifetime. The impact was much larger than a selfish desire to see a Ghostbusters III; the world essentially lost its smile. Ramis has inspired the likes of Judd Apatow (Knocked Up), Jay Roach (Austin Powers), Peter Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber), and Jake Kasdan (Orange County), and even Adam Sandler has been quoted as pulling from Ramis for inspiration—not to mention Ramis was definitely a huge part of Bill Murray and John Belushi's rise to fame. Ramis' final on-screen appearance would be as a part of 2009's Year One, produced by Apatow, a man he inspired years prior.

I, for one, will be spending the spare time I have this weekend watching all of the classic Ramis hits, because without these the world wouldn't be as fun to be in. Harold Ramis, on behalf of myself, every one here in Fanboys Anonymous, and anyone who has ever aspired to be comedic writer, I thank you for all of your contributions to the world of film and comedy. You were taken from us entirely too soon.

As always, check back regularly to see what Chris "The Dace Man" Dace is looking at (and no, not just porn), as well as all of the other bloggers here at Fanboys Anonymous. Remember, keyboard warriors: leave your feedback! Until then, for the few, the proud, and of course the Dacetacular, grab a beer—and, in this case, a Harold Ramis classic!—and check out what's going on here in the Dace-Sphere. See ya next time!

Fanboys Anonymous regrets to inform its readers that New York actor Roger Hill died last Thursday, February 20, 2014, at age 65.

Hill, who co-starred in director Walter Hill's late-'70s street gang thriller The Warriors, portrayed the revolutionary leader of the Gramercy Riffs: the man whose assassination leads to a city-wide manhunt to catch the wrongly accused Cony Island gang.

The actor, who had few credits in film, still worked as an actor for some twenty years, mostly in theater. He had been a participant of the Frank Silvera Writers' Workshop and had worked Off-Broadway and in touring productions of famous plays such as Hamlet. If you watch his scene in The Warriors below, you'll see where his captivating performance and bellowing voice come from.


The Warriors was a very unique little late-night action movie that has acquired massive cult classic status over the decades. Much of its strength—although full of action and being as gritty as it was campy—came from the caliber of its young actors. Amongst the actors from the film recognized for their achievements and contributions to film and theater today are David Patrick Kelly (Luther), James Remar (Ajax), and Deborah Van Valkenburg (Mercy). Marcelino Sanchez, a.k.a. Rembrandt, had also been very popular in television throughout the '80s (The Bloodhound Gang) but sadly died in 1986 of AIDS-related illness. Other Warriors appearances included Sonny Landham (Billy from Predator) as one of the subway cops and the late martial artist/actor Steve James (Delta Force, American Ninja) as a Baseball Fury. I think we could all agree, though, that much of the movie's magnetism came from Hill as Cyrus because he really set the tone.

A real heavy set!

Later in life, Hill stepped aside from his acting career and took up a position as a librarian while he wrote poetry. He leaves behind an only son, filmmaker and TV show editor Chris W. Hill.

Thanks for reading and if you have anything to add on the life and career of the immortalized Cyrus and the man that portrayed him, please feel free to comment below!

It's been tough enough to lose some cult actors recently, but now the music world, sadly, catches up. The Andalusian fret-god Paco de Lucia has passed away at the age of 66. The cause of death, most likely a heart attack, is yet to be confirmed.

In case you are unfamiliar with de Lucia's virtuosity and innovative approaches, think Jimi Hendrix mixed with Andres Segovia. Still no? Guitar level = Jedi master. There, that should do it.

De Lucia rocked the flamenco style into mainstream as he crossed over into jazz and blues with the likes of Chick Corea and Eric Clapton. This helped bring the exotic Iberian music into the mainstream and become more of a worldwide phenomenon rather than an obscure intellectual hipster's delight. His great collaboration in the '70s was with singer Camaron de la Isla.

He left us a legacy of amazing recordings and videos as well. His most famous collaboration is arguably the Friday Night In San Francisco (1981) live album with Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin, which is considered one of the greatest live guitar albums in history.

A virtuoso from childhood (he grew up with gypsy flamenco and was musically aware at age five), it is unlikely we will see a musician of this much innovation anytime soon. The mayor of Algeciras, de Lucia's home city, has announced two days of mourning. The music world will probably take it a little further.

Rest in peace, master!

Want to know what happened the past few days in nerd culture? WEEK IN GEEK is your quick fix to catch up with the rest of the Fanboys out there.

MOVIES

Sony announces "Spider-Man movies every year" post The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

My take: Wow. I think they are sugar coating the reception The Amazing Spider-Man got. The film was thrown together with a completely unlikable Peter Parker and a Saturday morning cartoon-worthy plot. This idea will backfire big time, and Sony will have to beg Marvel to buy back the rights or agree to a partnership of some kind.

The Fantastic Four has been recast; Michael B. Jordan is The Human Torch??

My take: Sure, sounds great! The movies are a version of these stories and characters. Many fans consider them adaptations or introductions that will get people to read or not read the books. Not the case. Enjoy them for what they are, people. Yes, it's certainly going to feel different at first to have a black Johnny Storm, but that's also how it was with Nick Fury, Perry White, and many other characters. Let's just see how it plays out, all they have to do is outperform the original two films. How hard could that be?

VIDEO GAMES

Xbox One cuts price to compete with PS4 sales.

My take: This speaks volumes; on a global scale, the PS4 is (and will continue) outselling the Xbox One. Fans feel they know exactly what to expect out of the PS4, whereas the Xbox One was shrouded in mystery and confusion leading up to its release.

PS4 will announce its first VR headset in March.

My take: If you don't think this will lead to a huge explosion in the pornography video game market, you're insane.

TELEVISION

Heroes Reborn, announced.

My take: In a very surprising move, the Heroes series will return with a 13-episode series next year. Considering how the series faltered so quickly, I'm willing to let it redeem itself after enjoying season 1 so much. Will this relaunch a new ongoing series?…Nope.

The Spectacular Spider-Man Blu-Ray set to release before The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

My take: As far as I'm concerned, this series had a much better tone to it than its replacement, Ultimate Spider-Man (and Friends?). The only fault I give this show was its awful handing of The Green Goblin story. However, the personality of Peter, the villains, the action, and the comedy all worked really well. The writers had a long-term plan and were as disappointed as I was when this series was cancelled!

Star Wars REBELS character reveals.

My take: I like that the people behind this project are controlling how information is coming out. They understand fans need little tidbits, and they are giving them. It's consistent, and it's enough to keep fans sedated while the team continues its work. I hate everything to do with The Clone Wars era, but I'll be checking this series out to see if they distance themselves from enough of that to start a new, heated interest in Star Wars on TV.

COMIC BOOKS

Daredevil leaves Hell's Kitchen.

My take: A small change on the surface—the world is a big place—but this is really huge. The character identifies with his surroundings, and Waid taking him to San Francisco has me excited for the happy-go-lucky DD that he introduced in the original issue #1. Although I hate new #1s all the time, I'm excited to see where this goes.

Superior Foes of Spider-Man!

My take: Sorry I'm a little behind in my comic books recently. However, I just discovered this series and found it to be a breath of fresh air. What I enjoyed about DC's Secret Six was the character interaction while they continued doing what they had to do (sometimes dark stuff, too). This book looks to be a fun series that doesn't take away from the threat these villains pose as much as it shows us some of the behind the scenes antics.

CELEBRITIES

Harold Ramis passed away.

My take: Mostly known to the general public as Egon from Ghostbusters, we in the know realize we lost a comedy icon. The fact that this has sparked Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd to move forward with Ghostbusters 3 is a silver lining.


TECHNOLOGY

I discovered Spritz on reddit.

My take: This is a developing technology that helps you read up to 500 words per minute. I thought it was pretty impressive. Very hard to imagine getting used to, but the sample on their site made perfect sense to me and I still remember what I read 12 hours later.

Addicted to Anime is a monthly radio show celebrating anime, manga, and all forms of Japanese culture. Join the power couple of Stephen and Johnna Wago as they pick a new series every month to review and riff.


Edward Elric and his younger brother Alphonse were living quite happily with their mother…until she died. So Edward and Alphonse decided to try to raise her from the dead. The resurrection failed, leaving Edward without an arm and a leg and Alphonse's soul attached to a suit of armor. Now they roam around the country trying to find a way to restore their bodies.

We also discuss all of the series movies and it's spinoff, Brotherhood, all while inviting you to call in and join the conversation! Call in, join the chat, or tweet the show to participate!

Dying Light is a breath of fresh air for zombie games, releasing for the latest consoles, PC, and the Xbox 360 and PS3 for those who haven't caught the new console craze yet. Ever since the zombie trend started, games, movies, and books on the subject have been sold everywhere, and it really seemed to get old. Dying Light is a new first-person zombie game produced by Warner Bros Games and Techland that gives a renewed look to the "zombie survival" genre with a lot of new interactive features and incredibly smooth game play.

The game's open world looks dauntingly exciting!

One of the first outstanding features you see in the pre-alpha footage below is that this is an open world game. Along with the free roaming that every gamer loves comes the parkour that inspires us to find the shortest possible route to our destination. Another great feature is the ability to craft weapons from the supplies you scavenge.

One of the most intriguing game play aspects is night survival. Scavenging during the day is must to survive, but stay out too long, and the night will fall. Then you're the hunted. Now transformed into something stronger, faster, and more alert, the zombies hunt with extreme vigor. You will be hard pressed to survive.

With a huge variety of short- and long-range weapons, along with the ability to craft and change them, fierce and interactive combat is guaranteed.


So far, this game definitely seems to be for serious gamers looking for a thrill ride of an experience. During quests or active objectives, the player seems to be left on his or her own en route. While able to change the environment to fit your transportation needs, you aren't babied. No shiny objects or hints reduce the quality of game play, and this encourages you to find your own unique way to the destination. Without a doubt, I think that this is might set the bar higher and start a whole new generation of zombie games. It may also set a precedence for future open-world survival games.

What do you think? Can Dying Light be the new standard for this popular a genre?

Welcome to my second review of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series, written by  Brian Michael Bendis as a part of the Marvel NOW! initiative. In my last article, I reviewed the first collected volume, titled "Cosmic Avengers," to prepare you guys and gals for the Guardians of the Galaxy film coming this summer. I gave volume 1 a whopping 4.5 and 5 stars out of 5 for the writing and art, respectively, and touted its success in drawing a new reader (namely, me) into relatively unknown territory. This time around, I'll be reviewing the next volume in the series, titled "Angela," which collects issues #4–10.

Before I get to reviewing this volume, though, some background information is required for this outstanding volume. In volume 1, we saw the Guardians welcome Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, to their ranks—which include Peter Quill (a.k.a. Star-Lord and the half-human team leader), Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot, who also compose the team roster in the film sans Iron Man. Star-Lord laid out the team's mission statement pretty clearly in issue #0.1—that they would defend Earth from any extraterrestrial trouble his father, King J'son of Spartax, may cause. Star-Lord then learned from his father that he and a council of galactic empires had decreed Earth off-limits to any extraterrestrial interaction. A fortunate turn of events, no?

No, actually; for at the same time, a scandalous Badoon invasion force attacked Earth, leaving the Guardians as the gung-ho first-respondents in the absence of the Earth-based Avengers and superhero collectives. They managed to fend off the attackers but were immediately arrested by the Spartax empire for violating the intergalactic decree. The whole ordeal obviously stunk of a set-up, and the Guardians escaped custody and broadcast a message to the people of Spartax exposing King J'son's injustice against Earth's protectors.

Now, derailing from Guardians of the Galaxy for a moment to the wider scope of the Marvel comic book universe, last year saw the big Marvel cross-title event, "Age of Ultron," from which the 2015 Avengers film sequel borrows only its name. The event in itself was a huge, confused mess with poor execution (in my own opinion), but it managed to leave lasting effects on the Marvel Universe in its wake due to the characters' abuse of time traveling. Among these effects was the introduction of a very significant property into Marvel's vast library of characters: Angela, an angel and hunter from Heaven.

When your debut into a new universe involves riding the decapitated head of a Kirby-era monster, you know you're destined for greatness.

Angela originally belonged in one of the founding Image Comics titles, Spawn, and was jointly created by the series' creator, Todd McFarlane, and guest co-writer Neil Gaiman (Sandman, American Gods, Coraline). Early in 2012, a lawsuit between McFarlane and Gaiman over ownership rights for Angela and Medieval Spawn was settled mostly in Gaiman's favor. He gained the rights to both characters, and many wondered what his plans would be for them. Then in 2013, it was announced that Gaiman was returning to Marvel to cowrite the final issue of the main Age of Ultron title with Bendis and to introduce Angela to the Marvel Universe. This ultimately culminated at the end of Age of Ultron #10 with Angela being shunted into the mainstream (616) universe due to Wolverine and the Invisible Woman breaking the time/space continuum.

"She's up all night for good fun, he's up all night to get lucky!"

Obviously she doesn't remember hunting Spawn on Earth.

All right, to the actual review. We find the Guardians celebrating their freedom in some intergalactic cantina (once again conjuring up parallels to Star Wars and the Mos Eisley Cantina), which leads to Tony getting lucky and living his Captain Kirk dream with Gamora and a big bar fight between the rest of the Guardians and Spartax royal guards. Once they go orbital, Tony, Gamora, Groot, and Rocket Raccoon notice that Star-Lord and Drax have mysteriously abandoned them before their attention is diverted to an alert that some space entity is headed toward Earth. They take off to intercept the intruder and meet Angela head-on in battle.

Angela's presence in the Marvel Universe means trouble according to Uatu the Watcher, but after a brief and decisive battle and a short term of imprisonment, Angela is released from the Guardians when it's obvious she means Earth no harm. She flies off to Earth's surface to see it for herself, explaining to the Guardians that just as Heaven is a myth to Earth, the same is true vice versa. The Guardians leave her to her own devices for a short while before she shows up again to assist them in defending Earth against Thanos' armies during the "Infinity" cross-title event. She ultimately joins the team toward the end of the volume.

All Fearless Defenders really needed was these two, and it could've survived!

Once again, Bendis' writing really shines in this second volume, and with Gaiman credited as a consultant for issues #4–7, Marvel drew a lot of star power to deliver another immensely enjoyable reading experience. Tony is, again, completely humbled by the oddities and advances in technology he experiences firsthand in his adventures as a Guardian. Where volume 1 did Drax an injustice in development, Bendis delivers more Drax in volume 2 and we get a glimpse of the kind of character he really is. The banter between Groot and Rocket Raccoon still echoes with those same lethal R2-D2 and C3P0 quips that resonated in the first volume, and plenty of Star Wars references abound. What really shone for me this time around was Gamora and Angela's interactions in issue #10, in which we see them become something akin to best friends after having clashed in battle the first time they met.


The art in this volume continues to deliver stunning visuals to accompany the excellent writing. Sarah Pichelli and Kevin Maguire's styles compliment Steve McNiven's from the first volume in their strong sci-fi elements and distinct characterizations, while Francesco Francavilla kills with his much more classical, ink-heavy line work reminiscent of Mike Oening's work in the previous volume.

The real success, though, is in Bendis and Gaiman's handling of Angela in the Marvel Universe. They faced a particular challenge in reinventing and reintroducing a character who had been unused for over a decade and whose appearance and development in the Spawn comics was all too brief to warrant much celebrity outside of a cult following. I did read her first appearance in the pages of Spawn #9 and admit that she fostered some attraction in me (not just because she was a hot and badass red head with a 'do only the '90s could produce), but what Bendis and Gaiman did with her made me a new fan.

Alas, poor Groot. She slew him well.

Guardians of the Galaxy, volume 2: "Angela" gets 5 out of 5 stars for both the outstanding writing and titillating artwork. Once again, this is another must read if you're interested in the Guardians outside of their upcoming film, especially since you most likely definitely won't be seeing Iron Man or Angela on the big screen.

Still raving to see the Guardians of the Galaxy film this summer? If you read the book, how do you think Marvel did with adopting Angela? Let me know in the comments section below, and stay tuned for future Guardians of the Galaxy reviews by yours truly here, on Fanboys Anonymous!

Calling all budding comic book artists! Are you for hire? It isn't often an opportunity like this is put out there to the fans, but Diamondsteel Comics are looking to take on new talent, and they're asking their readers first!

Specifically, Diamondsteel, the creators of Saltire (Scotland's first superhero), are looking for artists to work on short stories, futuristic stories, and stories for children; and artists that have their own unique style and a great passion for their work. Experience is an advantage but is not essential. A sample panel of your art based on a Saltire script, which would be supplied upon request, will determine whether you get the job. You can contact them by emailing info@diamondsteelcomics.com.

For those of you unfamiliar with indie comic superhero Saltire, you just may be in for a treat. He is a character unlike any others currently gracing the pages of the Big Two (Marvel and DC) and Dark Horse. Saltire, as a strong Scottish character—a superhero of ancient times—is something of a cross between Braveheart, Hercules, and Lobo aesthetically and personality-wise. Because superheroes are a hard sell with smaller indie companies, though, they have to have an x-factor about them that the likes of Marvel cannot provide. Saltire really is something else.

It's so chilly in the Highlands, even his long johns are blue!

Diamondsteel has also just released the graphic novel Saltire: Invasion, which is set during the invasion of Britain by the Roman Empire. When the Romans are at Scotland's door, all of their greatest guardians must stand against them, which is when this immortal warrior awakens from his slumber. Beasty!

Sound off, fanboys! If any of you have read any Saltire story arcs in the past, we'd love to hear from you. If you get in touch with Diamondsteel and one of our own readers ends up as Diamondsteel's latest artist, we'd also love to hear it. Comment below and thanks for reading.

Indie comic readers. I dig far and wide to find the campaigns that really stick out…okay, maybe not. Maybe I just check daily so I can tweet the most recent comics I'm interested in, weed through them and select the real gems, then save them to Blogger until I've compiled a fair number to write about. 

Perhaps it isn't so hard, but let's face it: week three in February was a dry week in indie comics. However, of the campaigns available on the top crowd funding sites, Dirty Bones not only stands out, but shames the competition.

Our main character, Rover, is quite literally a bipedal dog and an ex gangster thug in big New Bark City. This urban fantasy is shaded by the taint of class warfare and the stigmatization of segregation between the "people" of this story. It's an issue that Rover is trying to deal with when he finds everything has changed. Dirty, the notorious "BIG DAWG," has forcibly taken over as the crime lord of New Bark City.

Between Dirty and Madam Kitty, a low-rent cat house madam, the bullets are constantly flying. Dirty Bones promises to be a definite emerald with romance, gangsters, tommy guns, fast cars and a unique fantasy concept. The first thing you'll notice if you go to the campaign site is that the art is on point. Honestly, there are only five or six posters, but they are quality works. If not for any other reason, the art by itself makes this project worth funding. Be sure to check out Dirty Bones and see what I'm talking about. Let me know what you think downstairs!