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WONDER WOMAN Medieval Battle Armor Is Worthy of an Amazon

Wonder Woman is finally getting her due in 2017. Some of us have loved the character forever, but thanks to Patty Jenkins’ amazing movie, the whole world has realized that Wonder Woman is indeed truly wonderful. And this Halloween season, not surprisingly, Wonder Woman is a popular costume choice for girls and women.

However, I doubt many of them will have a Diana Prince costume as amazing as this custom Wonder Woman armor, created by Samuel Lee from Prince Armory, via Geeks Are Sexy.  The armor is super badass, and although it’s inspired by the big screen version of Diana, there are several touches from the comic book incarnation as well (if you look carefully, you’ll notice little stars on the leather battle skirt). You can check out the full set armor below:

The folks at Prince Armory have made pop culture based medieval armor before, but their Wonder Woman armor is, in my opinion, their finest work and stands as something that could absolutely be used by the character in one of her next big screen outings.

In the comics, Diana has a full body golden eagle style armor and helmet, which first appeared in the pages of Kingdom Come. As cool as that armor is, I think this one is way cooler. With a more militant “alternate timeline” version of Wonder Woman said to appear in the upcoming movie Flashpoint, I think Warner Brothers should give the folks at Prince Armory a call and see if they can use this work of art for the film. Who wouldn’t want to see Gal Gadot rock this outfit?

You can see close-up shots of the armor at Prince Armory’s website.

What do you make of this ultra badass Wonder Woman armor? Would you like to see it up on the big screen? Let us know below in the comments.

Images: Warner Brothers

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NYC Hotel STRANGER THINGS Experience Will Help You Binge in Style

Fans of the Netflix phenomenon that is Stranger Things can enjoy their binge watch in style at The Gregory Hotel in New York. This high-end hotel is trying to take Netflix-and-chill to the next logical step by offering an “Ex-STREAM-ly Cozy Package” for a reasonable $249 per night that includes access to the streaming service and, yes, some Eggos to curb the mid-season munchies.

The deal, which came to our attention via The Nerdy Bird, includes a room is decked out with series-related items like a colorful Christmas light wall tapestry that sends messages from Will in the Upside Down. You sleep in a bed with a Stranger Things fleece blanket and rest your head on a pillowcase that’s been branded with the show’s awesome retro logo. In addition to a Chromecast to binge watch the series on and enough Eggo waffles to satisfy your inner-Eleven, the hotel also provides guests with canned House Wine and Healthy Skoop’s Sleep Protein snacks to soothe your frayed nerves at the end of the season and help you get to sleep. To top it all off, for a price that seems comparable to most NYC hotel rooms, you also get a “Friends don’t lie” mug to take home with you.

This looks like it could be an excellent treat for any super-fan of the series looking to binge in comfort, although I don’t know if I would go out of my way to book a trip to NYC just to stay here for the night. That said, the two cans of wine, mug, and Eggos do add a nice incentive. The package will be available through August 2018, so don’t feel like you need to rush.

Are you intrigued by this package deal? Let us know in the comments if you’re considering booking this experience!

Images: The Gregory Hotel, Giphy

Read more about Stranger Things 2!

Episode 1 – Stranger Things 2 gets off to a surprisingly somber start.
Episode 2 – Stranger Things characters try to get back to normal.
Episode 3 – What do you do when your bully is a transdimensional being?

Clear Pumpkin Pie Is a Transparent Take on the Fall Favorite Dessert

If you’ve watched Chef’s Table on Netflix, you’re familiar with Grant Achatz’s restaurant Alinea. The restaurant with three Michelin stars has a reputation for inventive presentation. They’ve done things like use pillows on plates to release certain scents to enhance the dish. So, it comes as no surprise that chef Simon Davies has come up with a unique and transparent take on the classic fall favorite dessert: clear pumpkin pie. Behold this tiny, bizarre beauty:

Pumpkin pie for the fall menu. #surrealism

A post shared by Simon Davies (@simon.a.davies) on Sep 24, 2017 at 1:25pm PDT

This slice of wobbly magic came to our attention through Twitter, and I’m drooling. I thought water cake was a creative idea, but this pumpkin pie tops it because, pumpkin. Not that I’ve tried either of them.

A post shared by Grant Achatz (@grant_achatz) on Oct 21, 2017 at 5:21pm PDT

Davies explained to a curious Instagrammer that the slightly gelled pie is a “distillation of pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and clove.” It’s supposed to be a melt in your mouth snack, with most of the texture coming from the crust. I’m not going to call it pumpkin pie Jell-O, but I am going to call it fancy pumpkin pie Jell-O. It doesn’t look like something I’d have the patience to attempt to replicate at home.

If you happen to snag a reservation for Alinea this fall, which is no small feat, you can try this bite-sized pumpkin pie and report back.

Do you like the gimmick of the clear pumpkin pie? Would you eat it? Bake your thoughts in the comments.

Featured Image: The Culinary Geek

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

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A DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS Game That’s Been Going for 35 Years

Dungeons and Dragons celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2014, and it remains one of the most popular tabletop titles in the world. But in Ontario, Canada, there’s a game of Dungeons and Dragons that has been going on for almost as long as D&D has existed. The campaign has lasted 35 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The man behind this neverending game of Dungeons and Dragons is named Robert Wardhaugh, and his tale was explored in Great Big Story‘s latest video.

Via BoingBoing, the video offers a stunning look at the amazing D&D collection that Wardhaugh has amassed over the years. According to Wardhaugh, he was 14 years old when his campaign began, and he realized the game could be used to keep his circle of friends together. “The game has always been determined through friendship,” said Wardhaugh. “I knew early on that if I was able to create a game that was good enough that they would keep coming, no matter where I was. That takes imagination, and it takes having a system that is constantly dynamic, that is changing, growing, and constantly getting better.”

Wardhaugh’s campaign goes far beyond a traditional setup, with miniature figures and settings that immediately immerse the players in his ever-expanding world. Wardhaugh’s game includes players from around the country who fly in just to join in on the fun. And for the players who can’t be there in person, video calls still allow them to participate.

What do you think about the never-ending game of D&D? What’s the longest campaign you’ve played in? Roll for initiative and share your thoughts below!

Images: Great Big Story

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STRANGER THINGS 2 Puts Its Own Twist on ALIENS

Stranger Things‘ second season hits its stride with episode six, “The Spy.” As we race towards the season finale, we get new connections between characters–I’m already loving the unlikely friendship of Dustin and Steve–and every moment dealing with Eleven and Hopper, no matter how small, is wonderful and heartbreaking. The new girl in town, Max, is finally integrated into the group in a proper way. I feel like this episode is where season two begins to define itself outside the context of season one.

In this chapter, Will is rushed to the Hawkins lab after going into seizures, where Joyce gives an impassioned “what is wrong with my boy?” speech worthy of Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist. Dustin and Steve look for Dustin’s missing pet from the Upside Down, only to find it’s not so much a pet any more, and Nancy and Jonathan decide to take the truth of what’s going on in Hawkins to the media (justice for Barb!). Most importantly, we find out that the world of the Upside Down spreading through Hawkins is doing a whole lot more than rotting pumpkin patches. If that doesn’t sound like a lot, you’re wrong–this episode has more going on than the last two combined.

But, we simply must talk about the James Cameron of it all in “The Spy.” Stranger Things has been paying homage to just about every horror movie from the ’80s they can think of since the season one premiere, but in “The Spy,” the Duffer brothers paid tribute to one of the best horror/action flicks of all time, Aliens. If season one’s Demogorgon was an other dimensional variation of the Xenomorph from Alien, then Dustin, Lucas, Max and Steve, holed up in the school bus fighting off a ton of little Demogorgons was easily this show’s tribute to Cameron’s sci-fi action sequel.

The action packed final act of the episode, with the group fending of the baby Demogorgons at the junkyard, was one of the best sequences of season two so far, finally bringing newcomer Max into the plot in a meaningful way, as she joins the other kids in peril. But it wasn’t the only Aliens homage in the episode. The scene at the laboratory, where Will sends Dr Owens’s men into an ambush, is also heavily reminiscent of when the colonial marines are ambushed by the Xenomporphs in Aliens, down to the flamethrowers. The fact that Dr. Owens is played by Aliens’ Paul Reiser only adds to the Cameronness of it all. If you shouted, “Game over, man!” at your TV, you were probably not alone.

Of course, the reason Stranger Things isn’t just “rip-off city” is that the Duffers always find a way to add a unique twist to the proceedings. After all, Will is the one who has Dr. Owens send his men down into the caverns, at the behest of the shadow creature, who can access Will’s mind and can control what he does. All with just enough of Will left in charge to feel horrible about what he’s done. This adds a whole new layer to the the drama, as one of the kids we’ve come to love is responsible for the carnage. And unexpectedly, it turns out Dr. Owens isn’t a douche like his Aliens counterpart Burke; he actually cares if Will lives. I definitely didn’t see that coming, so kudos again to the Duffers for throwing us a curve ball. Unlike, say, American Horror Story, the Duffer brothers find a way to homage something and then take things in a new and unexpected direction,

The disappearance of Will was central to season one, but he was really barely there, more of a MacGuffin than a character. That’s changed this season, as this year he’s had the chance to shine. This is especially true in episode six, where he goes back and forth between being controlled by the shadow creature and just being a scared little boy. Actor Noah Schnapp is the unsung hero so far of season two, as his performance of a person who is literally haunted by his previous experience is a lot for any actor to take on, much less someone so young.

The other big development of the episode is Nancy and Jonathan hooking up; they’ve been the “will they/won’t they” couple of the show. It’s a longtime TV tradition of course, where you have a young attractive couple who have tons of chemistry, but for some reason, circumstances keep them apart. This is usually a storytelling ploy by the producers to milk dramatic tension out of the situation, because traditionally, once the couple gets together, the audience gets what they want and can move on to something else–see: Cheers, Moonlighting, and Lois & Clark.

At the end of season one, despite Nancy and Jonathan’s harrowing adventure together and oodles of chemistry, Nancy chose the popular kid at school, Steve Harrington, instead of Jonathan. Steve started out as a typical John Hughes movie “rich kid douchebag” type but slowly revealed himself to be a genuine human being. Again, another twist the Duffers bring to all the ’80s movie cliches they love to reference–there’s always a twist.

When Nancy and Jonathan finally hook up, the audience gets what we’ve wanted for episodes. But unlike other shows where a character like Steve would only be seen as an obstacle in the way of true bliss for two other characters, he’s become one of our heroes, stopping Demogorgons from killing Nancy’s friends. We the audience can’t easily hate him, leaving the viewers in murky moral territory. I’m now super curious to see how this resolves without turning Steve back into a villain of sorts. I mean, I can’t hate Steve now…we learned in this episode he uses the Farrah Fawcett method to get his hair so stylish. Who doesn’t love that?

“The Spy” was maybe my favorite chapter of season two so far, and it will be definitely interesting to see where everything ends up now that so many of the pieces have been thrown up the air and so many new wrinkles to the story have emerged. At the end of the day though, despite all the clever twists on classic horror flicks, this episode reminds us that it’s the chemistry between these kids, not to mention the dynamics between adults like Joyce and Hopper, that has made this show the cultural event its become.

What do you think of Stranger Things 2 so far? Be sure to let us know your thoughts below in the comments.

Images: Netflix

Get caught up on Stranger Things 2 so far!

Episode 1 – Stranger Things 2 gets off to a surprisingly somber start.
Episode 2 – Stranger Things characters try to get back to normal.
Episode 3 – What do you do when your bully is a transdimensional being?
Episode 4 – The real and figurative monsters plaguing Hawkins.
Episode 5 – Stranger Things explores the tropes of trust and truth.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Yondu Mask May Make You Scream in Space

Against all expectations, Michael Rooker not only stole the show in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, his performance also made Yondu into one of the most popular characters of the summer. A catchy and very meme-worthy joke certainly played a part in that as well. But now, there’s a new Yondu mask that’s more likely to say “I’m Scary Poppins, y’all!”

Via ComicBook.com, this Yondu mask is something else. It’s available for sale on Xcoser, and it is so freakin’ ugly that I can barely find the words to talk about it. The fin itself is actually not that bad. But there is something alarmingly inhuman about those facial features and fake teeth. I’m not even sure how to describe the so-called facial hair on this mask.

The hilarious thing is that four years ago, many fans would have been hard pressed to identify Yondu. He was a part of the original Guardians of the Galaxy team from the future that was pushed aside for the modern team in 2008. Director James Gunn chose to introduce this version of Yondu as an entirely different character than the soulful warrior he had previously been portrayed as. And yet this is the Yondu that fans love, otherwise he wouldn’t be getting any kind of mask.

If you purchase this mask, “you’ll never hear the horns of freedom when you die, and the colors of Ogord will never flash over your grave.”

What do you think about this Yondu mask? Leave a comment for us, y’all!

Images: Xcoser

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Conan O’Brien and Aaron Rodgers Play ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS in CLUELESS GAMER

It may be a long time before Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is able to get back on the football field after breaking his collarbone earlier this season. But, it means he’ll have plenty of time for video games. This week on Conan, Rodgers made his first public appearance since his injury as the featured guest on the popular Clueless Gamer segment.

Via The Wrap, Conan O’Brien spent an inordinate amount of time teasing Rodgers about his broken bone before finally getting around to the featured game: Assassin’s Creed Origins. Along the way, Rodgers may have just created the new “Sad Affleck” meme. Just watch as Rodgers’ eyes glazed over while Conan‘s Aaron Bleyaert breathlessly explained the premise behind the latest installment of the Assassin’s Creed series.

When they settled into the game, O’Brien and Rodgers seemed to enjoy treating it like a Grand Theft Auto experience, as they went out of their way to run over pedestrians with their chariot. O’Brien also managed to accidentally activate the God Mode, which led to some truly hilarious visuals as the game’s main character, Bayek, flapped his arms like a chicken. When Rodgers’ teammate, David Bakhtiari, joined in on the fun, his turn in God Mode seemed to break the game.

Both Rodgers and O’Brien mocked Bakhtiari for showing mercy to his opponent within the game. O’Brien even jokingly suggested that Bakhtiari’s good and gentle nature was ultimately responsible for Rodgers getting 13 screws in his collarbone.

Assassin’s Creed Origins is out this week for Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC. Trust me when I say that it’s a lot easier to play than Conan made it look.

What did you think about the latest installment of Clueless Gamer? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: TBS

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STARGATE: ORIGINS Teaser Goes Behind the Scenes for First Look

The world of Stargate is returning to the screen soon in the form of Stargate: Origins. The 10-episode digital series will air on Stargate Command, and hot on the heels of recent casting information, the first look at the show is here. I get chills thinking about diving back into this mythology and going back in time to hang out with Catherine Langford, as played by Ellie Gall, and exploring her history with the Stargate portal. First seen as a young girl in the opening of the 1994 film, Catherine’s obsession with the alien hieroglyphs led to the purpose of the Stargate being discovered.

I’m beyond delighted to get a sort of Indiana Jones vibe from this first tease. Watch:

In addition to Gall, the footage from the first week of production shows Connor Trinneer as Professor Langford, Philip Alexander in an unspecified role (he’s smooching Catherine, so maybe he’s portraying Catherine’s lost fiancée Ernest Littlefield), and other supporting cast members that seem to be generally excited to be running around a tent city under the guidance of series director Mercedes Bryce Morgan. Origins will follow Catherine as she looks into the mystery of the Stargate to save Earth from doom and gloom, so I like that they’re going to pair the scholarship of it all with physical fights, too.

You can already spot at least one tie to the film in the teaser. Catherine is wearing the Eye of Ra necklace she found as a kid in the movie when the Stargate was first discovered.

What about the teaser has you most excited? Any initial reactions to seeing Gall as Catherine? Let me know in the comments!

Images: MGM

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

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Do You Relish the Thought of Pickle Cupcakes?

We’re really not sure how to feel about this recipe. Cupcakes are a wonderful thing, and on the other side of the flavor spectrum, pickles are a delicious treat. There’s no reason people shouldn’t enjoy them but should they be enjoyed within the same bite? A recent YouTube video released by Delish would like to argue that they can be.

If you’re anything like us, you’ve watched that video a couple times and are still on the fence about what these things would taste like. A recent post on Bustle takes the side that briny and sweet treats should never come together but we’re still of two minds about it.

For:

If you’ve never experienced the flavor euphoria of combining salty and sweet then you’re missing out on joy in your life. Pickle cupcakes are a somewhat off-putting idea, but is it really so different than the amazing combo of chocolate and potato chips? Try pairing some M&M’s with a plain Lay’s potato chip sometime or dipping a Wendy’s french fry into a Frosty and enjoy your life as the newest resident of Flavortown, population: you and Guy Fieri (probably). Also, the addition of whiskey to the cupcake’s frosting has us thinking these can’t be that bad. Head into a trendy bar these days and you’re likely to see a Pickleback on the menu; it’s not like these flavors are exactly strangers.

Against:

The combination seems risky to us for possibly ruining two great things. We fear the positives of each side would cancel out, resulting in a sum that’s somehow less than. We’d feel safer snacking on pickles while making cupcakes and then enjoying a well-deserved switch to the sweet side of things when they cupcakes are out of the oven. Plus, who enjoys warm, cooked pickles?

But what do you think? Have you tried this sort of recipe before? Let us know what they’re like in the comments below!

Image: Delish

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Make Yourself a Halloween Treat with This Creepy Pizza Mask

Pizza is pure good, a heavenly combination of cheese, dough, sauce, and whatever toppings your heart desires. That’s why normally the only association it has with the spookiest night of the year is filling the bellies of your Halloween party guests. But it turns out even something that only brings happiness can be creepy when worn on your face, like this unsettling pizza mask.

This handmade mask from the Etsy shop Rhythm Box Masks, which we came across at Technabob, is made with plastic, acrylic paints, and varnish–to give it that realistic greasy pizza glow. It’s adorned with mozzarella cheese, sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, sauce, and corn.

Wait? Corn? On a pizza? Aaaah! Some things are too scary even on Halloween!

This mask will allow you to turn yourself into a much slimmer, less likely to eat yourself to death Pizza the Hut. And with Nerdoween already so close, the only downside about this made-to-order mask (which explains its $70 price tag) isn’t even all that bad, because it takes about three to four weeks to get it shipped from Russia. That just means you’ll have an 11 month head start on your costume for next year.

So yes, under almost any other scenario, pizza is a beacon of joy and hope, a symbol of all that is good and right in the world. But it turns out that when you wear it on your face it can really freak us out.

Although truth be told, this mask is more likely to turn us into cannibals than to make us run away. What can we say? We really like pizza.

What other foodstuff would make for a creepy Halloween mask? Take a bite out of our comments below with your best suggestion.

Images: MGM,  Rhythm Box Masks

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