Your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Shop

Do you have a comic shop in your life?

When I was a kid, we didn’t get out for spur-of-the-moment shopping trips much since my Dad did shift work and my Mom, who also worked, was a homebody who would plan driving routes and trips carefully in advance with some anxiety. She would stress the need to be home within a couple of hours lest the dogs spontaneously combust in her absence. My parents are totally wonderful and I had a happy childhood filled with books and comics, but it didn’t really include comic shops.

In my teen years, I would sometimes visit the Chow’s Variety shop that was a 20 minute walk from my house, but it was more of a specialty magazine shop that just so happened to have some comics (alongside plastic-wrapped nudie mags, fish bait, and baseball cards), so the pickings were slim.

Today I’ve finally become familiar with my local comic shop, Nerdvana- it’s a little gem in Fort McMurray with comics, manga, graphic novels, figurines, and kind, attentive staff.

Nerdvana staff teamed up with some local filmmakers and friends in the last couple years to create a really cool web series that recently won an award for Best Ensemble Cast at the Miami Web Fest! The first season has been completed and hopefully a second season is forthcoming…

I even helped out as an extra a couple times (you can see my 0.5 second of fame at 7:35 during the flashback scene on the pilot episode and at 1:13 on the series finale...)

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I’ve got a couple of ongoing comic subscriptions at Nerdvana right now (Snotgirl, The Crow, Isola, Lady Mechanika) and it’s fun to pick them up and chat with the staff about nerdy things. I also enjoy the serendipity of browsing a physical store, and I’m happy to support a small local shop run by friendly people who do cool stuff in our community!

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Long live our comic shops!

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Nerds at a Table Episode 1 Is Here!

Recently I blogged about a new project my friends and I have been working on with Shaw TV- a show called Nerds at a Table. Well, the first episode is now out online! In this episode we try out the card game Superfight and are joined by our first special guest, Zachary. Watch as we struggle to fight and maintain glory with Spartan Belieber, Misty Lincoln, Robo-clones and other such shenanigans.

 

Fun fact: Zach is a performer, role-play master, and co-founder of Twisted Gears Studios. He is also a kind friend and funny dude, and stars in another local nerdy labour of love, Nerdvana the Webseries!

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If you’d like to keep up with all of our dorkiness at Nerds At A Table, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram! I hope you enjoy our series as much as we’ve enjoyed filming it!

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Nerds At A Table

My friend Jake volunteers at Shaw TV and they were looking for a fun new local program to pick up. He pitched an idea and they liked it! And so, he enlisted myself and a few other geeks to come together for a show called Nerds At A Table (where we, some nerds, play tabletop games- get this- at a table!)

Local business Tactical Magic Games is letting us film on location in their store. We’ve filmed 3 episodes with Shaw so far, and I can’t wait until they air (they’ll also be available online!)- for now, here is our intro teaser!

Somehow I was bestowed the title “Punny Mastermind” (ok yeah, I love puns and use them liberally, but I wouldn’t say i’m a mastermind of any sort XD)

Each episode we will have a guest player from the local nerd community joining us.

No matter what ultimately happens with our show (local legend? public access cringe compilation?) I’ve really enjoyed filming it so far!

 

Super Specific Sunshine Award (& Tags)

Thanks a bazillion to Megan of A Geeky Gal for nominating me for this really fun award, featuring SUPER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS! I really appreciate it, community is what makes blogging fun, and I’ve met so many cool people through blogging!

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And also thanks to Matt of Normal Happenings for creating this award! It’s an interactive and engaging idea.

So! Here are the rules for this award:

The “Rules”

You control your own destiny. If you desire Normal Happenings Super Specific Sunshine Award, the nomination process is as follows.

  • Respond to at least one super specific question in the comments.
  • If I like your answer even a little bit, I shall dub you “Nominated,” and exchange some witty repartee.
  • Respond to all questions on a blog post of your own, then come up with ten more super specific questions.
  • Link back to this post (or not, doesn’t bother me).
  • Encourage others to do the same, henceforth propagating an internet macro for centuries.
  • Bask in the glory of your newly earned Normal Happenings Super Specific Sunshine Award!

 

Super Specific Questions from A Geeky Gal

  • It’s Karaoke Night! What song are you singing?

I LOVE KARAOKE! I usually go for soulful songs or powerful rock ballads from artists such as Journey, The Cranberries, KISS, The Cars, Ozzy, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, and Led Zeppelin.

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  • If someone really wanted to understand you, what would they read, watch, play, and listen to?

Read: Transgressive fiction

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Watch: Vampire movies and epic fantasies

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Play: Otome games

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Listen to: Diabolik Lovers drama CDS XD

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  • What movie made you so sad that you could never watch it again?

Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog (1995)

When I was a little kid in the 90’s my parents rented this vhs from blockbuster and sat me down to watch it. They still fondly recall sometimes the story of how, when the movie was over, they asked me “So what did you think of the movie, Shauna?” and I turned to them, tears streaming down my lil’ face, and bawled “IT WAS HORRIBLE!”

It’s about a boy and his dog lost in the woods together. There is a scene *spoiler alert* where the kid and his dog are finally found and a rescue helicopter comes to save them but they can only take the kid. They have to leave the dog behind, and the kid is screaming, held back by the rescue crew as the helicopter raises higher and higher, noooo my dogggg, I can’t leave my dogggg! and I was pretty much scarred for life.

  • If you dropped everything right now and went on a road trip, where would you go?

Japan isn’t really accessible by road so….. Banff! I want to soak in some hot springs and see the beautiful scenery. I would also love to visit my friends in Calgary and Nanaimo.

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  • You can play match maker with any two characters of any genre, what characters would you pick and what would their first date be like?

I want to see InuYasha take Kagome on a proper date with no alternate context. YOU CAN’T RUN AWAY FOR EVER, INUYASHA!

InuYasha has to take the initiative. Window shopping, fancy dinner in a restaurant, an evening at the theatre. Who knows where the night will lead?

It always drove me CRAZY that InuYasha was obviously so in love with Kagome but always hid it, CRAZY I TELL YOU.

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  • If I were a billionaire and I wanted to hire you to be make my life better/easier, what would I hire you to do?

Hmmmmm good one….  I’m pretty good at cleaning, and I could maybe entertain you with some very basic ukelele songs?

  • How many pillows do you sleep on and why?

I have one pillow, and I am VERY particular about my pillow! It must be squishy enough to wrap behind my neck and around my ears- not too firm, not too flat. Sometimes I even take it with me when I am traveling if I know that a hotel has crappy pillows.

The worst kind of pillow for me is one that’s too firm >.<

  • You die. Credits start rolling past you. What are some of the strangest roles other people have played in your life?

WOAH this is such a great question!

-First Kiss Boy: Kevin Bacon (no relation)

-Mutually Johnny-Depp Obsessed Girl

-The Coolest Woman You’ll Ever Meet

-Racist Jerk on Public Transit

-Loud At 2AM Roommate

-Very Sexually Active Roommate

-Drug Paraphernalia Roommate

-Shawol insta-friend

-Witch at the Bus Stop

 

  • What’s worth the wait?

Happiness is worth the wait, though I wish I’d known I needn’t have waited.

🙂

  • What kind of people do you hate the most?

Hate is a really strong word that I don’t use often, but I think it’s safe to say that I hate animal abusers.

 

Super Specific Questions from HideNGoShauna

  • You’re at a geek convention. You’ve got $1000 to blow. If you could only choose one of the following, which would you rather spend your money on: plushies, posters, or figurines?
  • What fictional character do you look up to as a role model or inspiration, and why?
  • Explain an outlandish belief or misconception that you had as a child.
  • What is a profession that you’ll probably never do but think you would be good at and/or enjoy?
  • Do you have any special or unique traditions with your family or friends?
  • What would your catchphrase be if you were a 90’s hero? (Example: In the Name of the Moon, I will Punish You! – Sailor Moon)
  • If your life was made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
  • What was your favorite childhood toy?
  • Do you prefer city life or country life?
  • What’s on your bucket list, and have you completed anything yet from it?

I nominate:

BizarreBrunette

The Geek at Heart

Crazy Disco Stu

The Animessenger

and if anyone else wants to do this, I will nominate you too 😉 leave me a comment.

Nerd Out With Your Bookmark Out: Geeky Non-Fiction For Everyone!

I was compiling a list of nerdy titles for a library display today and thought I should share some of them here!

They are listed alphabetically by last name of author. Enjoy!

 

Geek Mom: Projects, Tips, and Adventures for Moms and Their 21st Century Families by Natania Barron et al. (2012)

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Geek Knits: Over 30 Projects for Fantasy Fanatics, Science Fiction Friends, and Knitting Nerds by Toni Carr (2015)

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Fandom: Fic writers, Vidders, Gamers, Artists, and Cosplayers By Francesca Davis DiPiazza (2018)

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Superfandom: How Our Obsessions are Changing What We Buy by Zoe Fraade-Blanar and Aaron Glazer (2017)

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Epic Cosplay Costumes: a Step-By-Step Guide to Making and Sewing Your Own Costume Designs by Kristie Good (2016)

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1000 Incredible Costume & Cosplay Ideas: a Showcase of Creative Characters from Anime, Manga, Video Games, Movies, Comics, and More! By Yaya Han et al. (2013)

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The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley (2016)

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I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Star Wars and the Triumph of Geek Culture by A.D. Jameson (2018)

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Fic: Why Fanfiction is Taking Over the World by Anne Jamison et al. (2013)

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And the Geek Shall Inherit the Earth by Carljoe Javier (2011)

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100 First Words for Little Geeks by Kyle Kershner (2018)

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The Geek’s Cookbook by Lecomte (2018)

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The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy: a Handbook for Geek Girls by Sam Maggs (2015)

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Geek Tattoo: Pop Culture in the Flesh by Issa Maoihibou (2017)

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The Secret Loves of Geek Girls edited by Hope Nicholson (Anthology, 2015)

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Nerdy Nummies Cookbook: Sweet Treats for the Geek in All of Us by Rosanna Pansino (2015)

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The Geeky Chef Cookbook: Real-Life Recipes for Your Favorite Fantasy Foods by Cassandra Reeder (2015)

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Comic-con and the Business of Pop Culture: What the World’s Wildest Trade Show Can Tell Us About the Future of Entertainment… by Rob Salkowitz (2012)

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Geek Parenting: What Joffrey, Jor-El, Maleficent, and the McFlys Teach Us About Raising a Family by Stephen H. Segal and Valya Dudyca Lypescu (2016)…- 649.1 SEG

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Geek Wisdom: The Sacred Teachings of Nerd Culture by Stephen H. Segal et al. (2011)

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Tokyo Geek’s Guide: Manga, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, Toys, Idols More- The Ultimate Guide to Japan’s Otaku Culture by Gianni Simone (2017)

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Cosplay Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to the Art of Costume Play by Yuki Takasou (2015)

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A Geek in ___ series by Tuttle Publishing (Various Authors)

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Getting a Life: The Social Worlds of Geek Culture by Benjamin Woo (2018)

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