Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2036

Somebody Made a Giant Fidget Spinner Costume That Actually Works

As fidget spinners continue to take over high schools and therefore the world, everybody is trying to find fun new ways to get involved in the global meme. So a guy named Rob Cockerham decided that he would make his mark by doing something nobody has done before: make a functioning and wearable fidget spinner costume that actually spins (via BoingBoing).

Aside from the demo video above, Cockerham also detailed his construction process enough so you could follow his guidance and make one of your own if you so wanted. To oversimplify it, the costume was made with a lazy susan bearing, styrofoam, plywood, and a padded shoulder harness. There’s a bit more to it than that, because you’ll need some know-how to actually get this project off the ground.

Cockerham made this on just eight days notice after hearing that a comic con was going to be in Sacramento, and after wearing it there, he described the scene and the reactions that his show-stealing creation inspired:

“Downtown was crowded with people, and comic book nerds were packed everywhere, lining up to get into the Con. I turned the corner into full view and was greeted with open iphones, gaping mouths and spontaneous applause! It was awesome! The gigantic fidget spinner was an absolute hit that the crowds loved!

‘OH DAMN! MIKE! LOOK! FIDGET SPINNERRRRR!’ x 1000.

I love being stopped for photos, and with the fidget spinner costume I had a special trick: Invariably the photographer would click through and snap a picture, thank me and then slowly realize the whole truth.

‘Does it…. spin?’

I would slowly nod. “Yes. It does!” Then I’d back up and give it a big whirl and they would shriek or just shake their heads in amazement. It was incredible!”

Watch the video above, and let us know in the comments what other cool fidget spinner-related projects you’ve seen out there.

Images: Rob Cockerham/YouTube

The Tragic TOY STORY Theory Is More Than Just Speculation (UPDATE: Or Is It?)

UPDATE: Pixar’s Andrew Stanton disputes Mike Mozart’s account:

Complete and utter fake news. Everyone go back to your homes. Nothing to see here, folks. #Iwasthere https://t.co/06j37YKKt2

— andrew stanton (@andrewstanton) June 24, 2017

PREVIOUSLY:

Twenty two years ago, Toy Story revolutionized computer generated animation for the big screen and kicked off the age of Pixar. Perhaps unintentionally, it also began decades of fan theories and speculation about certain unanswered questions within the film, including the whereabouts of Andy’s father. Toy Story 2 also raised some questions about Woody’s background as a rare toy. But what if those unsolved mysteries were already answered by Pixar?

Via LRMonline, the YouTube channel SuperCarlinBrothers has posted an interview with noted toy collector Mike Mozart, which sheds a lot of light on the backstory of Toy Story. According to Mozart, he received the details from Joe Ranft, one of the early Pixar writers who passed away over a decade ago. So technically, this is a second hand story that can’t be fully verified by Ranft, but the backstory of Andy’s father and Woody’s origin is extremely well-thought out and it even ties into the personal message that Ranft wrote on Mozart’s Toy Story action figures.

Here’s the condensed version. Woody’s first owner was Andy’s father, who was also named Andy. But because Andy and his father look so much alike, Woody doesn’t realize that they’re two different people. Woody was Andy Sr.’s prized possession when he was child in the ’50s, before he was stricken by polio. Only three of Andy Sr.’s possessions were saved from that time in his life: Woody, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog. Although the designs differ, that tracks with the real history of Mr. Potato Head and Slinky Dog. All three toys then spent decades in a trunk, unaware of the passage of time.

The video also explains how Andy Sr. got a hold of a rare one-of-a-kind Woody action figure and his unexpected connection to Al from Toy Story 2. But the heartbreaking part comes when it deals with the fate of Andy’s dad. After Molly (Andy’s sister) was conceived, Andy Sr. suffered a recurrence of polio that proved to be fatal. But before he passed on, Andy Sr. gave his son the key to his trunk where his three childhood toys were locked up.

As further proof, the video explains that the house Andy Jr. and his family are living in was Andy Sr.’s childhood home. That means that the kid with glasses seen in the pictures of the stairway was Andy Sr., since the younger Andy doesn’t wear glasses in any of the films.

Even if this was just a theory, it’s so well-constructed that it seems legitimate. But it’s hard to argue against the visual evidence in the first film, which may also be why Andy’s mother eventually moved her family out of that home. Too many painful memories. And if this is part of the Toy Story canon, then it adds even more poignancy when Andy Sr.’s writing on the bottom of Woody’s foot is painted over, and when Andy himself gives all of his toys to Bonnie in Toy Story 3.

It’s doubtful that Pixar would ever directly acknowledge this story, but it’s going to be in our head canon from now on!

What do you think about the latest Toy Story theory about Andy’s dad and Woody’s origin? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Pixar/Disney

Early SPIDER-MAN HOMECOMING Reactions Are Extremely Positive

After the fairly disastrous Amazing Spider-Man 2, fans thought that was possibly the end of the cinematic adventures of everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, at least for a while. But then Sony did the smart thing, and made the deal with Marvel Studios to allow Peter Parker to join his fellow heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with new Spidey Tom Holland in the role. And as they said in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “and there was much rejoicing.”

But even though Kevin Feige has a pretty stellar track record over at Marvel Studios for making solid product time and again, was it possible that he and director Jon Watts could make Spider-Man feel fresh again? After all, this is technically Spider-Man 6. As a franchise, it’s getting a little long in the tooth.

Well, this week there was an early screening for critics for Spider-Man: Homecoming, and so far the word is….pretty damn good! Mind you, these reviews are coming from a screening for members of the junket press preparing to interview cast and crew, and many of them might be biased. Or at least an argument can be made for that. But the early word for Wonder Woman is very similar, and we all saw how that turned out–awesome.

First out of the gate with his thoughts is longtime Amazing Spider-Man comics writer Dan Slott. What did he think of Peter Parker’s return to the big screen?

#SpiderManHomecoming is like watching a @BRIANMBENDIS & Mark Bagley ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN arc brought to life on the big screen!

Death, Rebirth, Teamwork: The Biggest Marvel Legacy Reveals (So Far)

Yesterday, Marvel Comics rolled out a series of gifs that featured classic covers and newly created homages for the upcoming Marvel Legacy initiative. And while most of the titles appear to be continuations of the previous ongoing titles, there are a few new books coming to the Marvel Universe starring some fan favorite characters.

First up is the new Marvel Two-In-One, a relaunch of the Thing’s team up title that ran in the ’70s and ’80s. For the new version it appears that the Thing and Human Torch will carry on the legacy of the Fantastic Four, since Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman have been off the stage since Secret Wars. However, Edgar Delgado’s cover features Captain America, Thor, Jean Grey, Rocket Raccoon and other heroes, which suggests that the team-up aspect of this title may remain in play.

After Secret Empire is over, it looks like Sam Wilson is giving up his Captain America role once and for all. The good news is that Wilson will once again be the Falcon, and he’s getting his own ongoing series as well as a new costume. The cover image was by Elizabeth Torque.

The classic Johnny Blaze incarnation of Ghost Rider is also making a comeback in Spirits of Vengeance, a new series teaming up Blade, Satana, Daimon Hellstrom, and the Ghost Rider himself. Ken Lashley drew the cover as a homage to Dave Cockrum’s Giant-Size X-Men #1.

Finally, there are potential spoilers ahead for the fate of a popular Marvel character. Stop reading here if you don’t want to know.

A few years ago, Jane Foster reappeared as the new incarnation of Thor. However, transforming into Thor was slowly killing Jane because it undid the treatments that she used to fight her cancer. Stephanie Hans created a Thor cover homage to Jim Starlin’s The Death of Captain Marvel, another prominent character who contracted and died from cancer three decades ago. That’s not a good omen for Jane.

Marvel Legacy will begin in September, and more details will likely be revealed soon.

Which Marvel Legacy titles have captured your attention? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Marvel Comics

Rob Paulsen Teaches Us (and You) How to Talk Like PINKY AND THE BRAIN’S Pinky

“One of them’s a genius, the other is insane…”

When it comes to Pinky and the Brain, those adorably deranged mice who began life on Animaniacs before getting their own world domination-themed cartoon, everyone knows how to sound like the brilliant Brain. Maurice LaMarche has made no secret of the fact that he was basically doing Orson Welles’ voice the entire time, with some episodes being particularly specific parodies of the actor/auteur’s not-so-great moments:

But how do you do Pinky? He’s a little less obvious in inspiration; a blend of lispy, panicky, and Cockney. For an upcoming episode of Mothership on Alpha, however, Jessica Chobot and Hector Navarro were able to pin down voice-actor Rob Paulsen on just how he manages to pull off all of that in one voice. And if you pay close attention, you might be able to follow his instructions to Pinky perfection:

Mothership airs Thursdays at 5:30pm PDT on Geek & Sundry Twitch and Alpha. But if you’re a fan of Paulsen, you’ll also want to check out Talkin’ Toons, our new show all about animation voice-over actors, hosted by Paulsen himself and airing Fridays, with guests like LaMarche and Kevin Conroy. Make sure you’re signed up for Alpha — either online or our iOS app — to get full access. If you sign up today, use the promo code SHIPMATES to extend your 30-day free trial to 60 days, so you have plenty of time to check out everything Alpha has to offer. (Promo offer ends Friday, June 30 at 11:59p PDT.)

If we’ve improved your ability to channel a deranged English mouse today, well, you already know that this will make your life better. Now get out there and take over the world! And remember to let us know how well your impersonation was received, in our comments section.

Image: Warner Bros.

PREACHER Faces His Toughest Challenge Yet in…JAMES CORDEN?

Whether it’s in the comics or the AMC TV show, Jesse Custer, a.k.a. Preacher, uses his fantastic abilities to (most of the time) take down evil in all shapes and forms. From demons to cults to his own screwed-up family, he has gone against the toughest of opponents. Who could have guessed that one of his greatest trials would be a wrestling match against fun-loving talk show host James Corden?

The Late Late Show’s YouTube channel posted this video of James teaming up with Preacher executive producer Seth Rogen to deliver pizzas to random homes around Los Angeles. The unsuspecting (but pleasantly surprised) customers were given a choice: take the pizza they ordered, or choose the “mystery pizza box” James and Seth brought with them. Of course, everyone chose the mystery box, and prizes included a box of tomato sauce, an “Instagram Party,” and a chance to watch James Corden wrestle the star of Preacher, Dominic Cooper.

It looked like a hard fought battle (either that or clever editing), but eventually, Dominic was able to force James to tap out. I couldn’t really tell if it was from pain or utter exhaustion. Regardless of the winner, when the night starts off with a wrestling match and ends like this…

…there really are no losers, right?

You can check out more hilarity from James Corden on his YouTube channel here.

Who else from late night would you like to see Dominic take down? Let me know on Twitter or sound off in the comments below.

Images: The Late Late Show with James Corden/YouTube

Fan Art Turns SpongeBob and Patrick Into Horrifying Live-Action Humans

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob Squarepants! For almost twenty years, the misadventures of SpongeBob and his aquatic friends have entertained fans on television and on the big screen. So far, Spongebob has remained blissfully animated even when he encountered David Hasselhoff during The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. Perhaps that was for the best, now that we’ve seen what a live-action SpongeBob could look like.

Via The Huffington Post, digital artist Miguel Vasquez created 3D sculptures of SpongeBob and his good friend, Patrick, if they were live-action characters. And let’s just say that the end result was closer to Clive Barker’s Cenobites than the beloved children’s cartoon. A Twitter user going by the name “Max Goof” posted the images online earlier this week and they quickly went viral.

Live action Spongebob pic.twitter.com/EI0D9YF2DB

— Max Goof (@thatmothatucker) June 14, 2017

Crackin open a hoy wit de minoys pic.twitter.com/VuEHFAXHHj

— Max Goof (@thatmothatucker) June 16, 2017

It’s definitely impressive work from Vasquez, but it’s also an undeniably creepy take on the two fan favorites. Vasquez told The Huffington Post that he created the images of SpongeBob and Patrick back in April because he wasn’t satisfied with the previous “SpongeBob human form” images that he found online. He also told the outlet that his “first initial take was to give SpongeBob pimples instead of holes on his face, since he is portrayed human here. But I went with the holes instead.” Meanwhile, his work-in-progress Squidward looks related to Prometheus‘ Engineers:

Some test renders of handsome squidward. Can’t wait to put him next to Spongebob and Patrick! pic.twitter.com/dzGpYRQsma

— Miguel Vasquez (@Itsmiketheboxer) June 22, 2017

You can check out the rest of Vasquez’s work on his ArtStation page. It’s quite striking, and we’re interested in seeing what he comes up with next.

What did you think about Vasquez’s live-action take on SpongeBob and Patrick? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Nickelodeon Animation Studios/Miguel Vasquez

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT is Not Doing So Hot

Today on Nerdist News Talks Back, host Jessica Chobot, Editor-in-Chief Rachel Heine, and Senior Editor Dan Casey, discuss the day’s top stories in pop-culture. Han Solo’s new director Ron Howard spoke up about his involvement in the film, Transformers: The Last Knight isn’t super good, Jared Leto may or may not be in any more DC movies, and one Youtuber found a way to play Super Mario in real life.

While there has been significant controversy the last few days over the state of Han’s solo outing, director Ron Howard’s humble words should hopefully ease some of the internet’s outrage. Still, when the movie inevitably comes out, fans will wonder how it would have been under previous directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, a position we don’t envy.

The latest Transformers movie comes out this weekend, and it’s not the most well-liked movie this summer. Sitting at a cool 16% on RottenTomatoes, the movie has been receiving very pointed hate by quite a few reviewers. Rolling Stone went so far as to say “every time Michael Bay directs another Transformers abomination, movies die a little.” But what do they know, right? Not everyone hated the movie, however; our own Luke Thompson gave it 5/5 burritos. If you already like the Transformers films, maybe it’ll give you 5/5 burritos.

When asked whether or not he would appear in future DC movies as the Joker, Jared Leto gave a solid maybe, saying both “I have no idea” and “maybe I know.” Will Leto appear in Gotham City Sirens? We have no idea, but we don’t think he needs to. The Joker is part of Harley Quinn’s origin story, but not every one of her adventures revolves around him. This could be a good chance to set her up as her own character, rather than an extension of the Clown Prince of Crime. What is she, some kinda’ empowered female character?

Moving away from movies, Youtuber Abhishek Singh took the most iconic video game level, 1-1 from Super Mario Bros., and brought it to 8-bit life! Using the Microsoft Hololens, Singh took on question blocks and goombas in Central Park. We’d advise against this, since people and obstacles are obscured by the game, but the feed watching him play from an outside perspective is pretty hilarious. But still not New Donk City hilarious.

You can watch and interact live with Nerdist News Talks Back every weekday at 1:00pm PST on YouTube and Alpha, and catch up with the archives just after the show!

Image: Lucasfilm, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Nintendo

You Don’t Want This Warhammer 40K Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor to Knock on Your Door

Ildiko Jobbagy, a.k.a. Okkido Cosplay, made her first costume over 10 years ago. She saw a cosplay competition at a convention, and that was it. It was the early days before the cosplay boom, so she and her friends used whatever materials they could for unconventional purposes. “All in all, I think, the excitement of creating something out of nothing got me into cosplay,” she told Nerdist.

One of her recent builds stopped me in my tracks. She made a Warhammer 40k Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor costume that is incredibly and beautifully detailed. Okkido told us she’s obsessed with the details. It’s apparent in this photo:

Photo by Csaba Szecsei

The finished Worbla looks like metal, but as you can see below, it didn’t start that way. Okkido spent a couple of days on the painting process. After she constructed the armor pieces from Worbla, she had to transform it. She explained, “I had to prime it with seven layers of wood glue. After a layer dried I sanded it then added another layer, sanded it too, and so on, until I got the smooth surface I desired. I always use a darker base coat of acrylic paint, then add the lighter tones with sponges. I achieve the metallic finish with special waxes.”

Though the armor looks impossibly complicated, it wasn’t the most challenging aspect of the Inquisitor costume. Okkido said that award goes to the Inquisitor’s books. “One of them is hand-written (more than 300 pages) and the other one is printed. It took months to finish these hand-bound books,” she said, “The weapons were also an interesting challenge to make, as they really ‘work.’ The plasma gun gives shooting sound and light as I pull the trigger, the power mace has breathing lights. I love building electric circuits and these were the most complicated systems I have built so far.”

Make the trip to the gallery below to see more photos of the completed costume, as well as some work in progress shots. Okkido has a whole album of photos showing off the build here. You can keep up with all her future projects by following her on Facebook.

Do you cosplay or take photographs of cosplayers? Then I want to see your work so we can talk about highlighting your creations in a future Cosplay Friday gallery. If you’re a photographer, maybe we could focus on your images from a single convention. If you’re interested, please get in touch with me at alratcliffe@yahoo.com and send photos you’d like me to feature–the more high-res the photos, the better. Be sure to provide credits for the cosplayers or photographers for each image because giving credit is good manners–bonus points if you include links to relevant Facebook pages or websites. Though I wish I knew all the nerdy franchises, I don’t, so please let me know who or what is being cosplayed.

Featured Image: Greencat, courtesy of Okkido Cosplay

Listen to Gerard Way’s DOOM PATROL Inspired Spotify Playlist

Debuting back in 1963, they’re a group of outcast superheroes led by a wheelchair-bound genius, that protects a world that fears and hates them. You probably think by that description I’m talking about the X-Men, but I’m not. I’m talking about DC Comics‘ super team the Doom Patrol. And although they had a startlingly similar premise to Marvel’s Merry Mutants, they never caught on in quite the same way. That is until 1989, when a young writer named Grant Morrison took the classic premise of the sixties series and made it really weird and trippy, changing the way superhero stories were told.

Now writer Gerard Way, best known for his Eisner Award winning series The Umbrella Academy (not to mention being the frontman for the band My Chemical Romance) decided to bring back some of the Morrison style weirdness and imagination for a 21st century version of the The Doom Patrol, making it the flagship series for his pop-up imprint at DC called Young Animal. To celebrate the release of his first Doom Patrol collection, “Brick By Brick,” Way has created a new Spotify playlist featuring the songs that inspired him when creating the latest iteration of the world’s strangest heroes.

Gerard Way’s playlist matches Doom Patrol’s many moods–the punk explosion of the Damned, the raw power of Iggy and Judas Priest, the mournfulness of Spiritualized—it’s all here, as well as tracks from the likes of the Pixies, the Stone Roses, Frank Black, and Pavement. You can listen to the full Gerard Way Doom Patrol Spotify playlist down below.

Here’s the official description for the Doom Patrol Vol 1: Brick by Brick,         .

“A blenderized reimagining of the ultimate series of the strange, Doom Patrol combines elements from classic runs, new directions and things that could not be. Our entry point is Casey Brinke, a young E.M.T. on the graveyard shift to abstract enlightenment, with a past so odd that she’s not entirely sure what is real and what is not. Along with her partner, Sam Reynolds, the pair blaze a path through the city and its denizens, finding the only quiet that exists at 3 a.m. is the chaos of the brain. When the pair answer a hit-and-run call, they find themselves face to face with a familiar figure: Cliff Steele, a.k.a. Robotman. This first Doom Patrol trade paperback collects issues #1-6.”

Doom Patrol Vol.1. “Brick by Brick” is available in comic shops now.

Which of Way’s musical choices do you think epitomizes the Doom Patrol the best? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics