Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2231

YOUNG JUSTICE Creator Asks For Fans’ Help To Bring Back the Comic Series

Welcome to your mid-week/new comic book day edition of Comics Relief! Today we start our collection of news with the creator of Young Justice enlisting the help of the fans to bring back the beloved comic book series. Read on for all the details!

Young Justice creator asks for fan help to bring back the comic

Writer Greg Weisman, co-creator of the Young Justice animated series, is asking the dedicated fanbase of the show to let the folks at DC Comics know they want a new volume of the Young Justice tie-in comic book title to accompany the recently announced third season of the show. On Weisman’s blog, he told fans the following:

“Brandon Vietti and I are hard at work on Season Three of the Young Justice television series. But (a) we just got started and (2) making animated episodes takes a long time. (Ten months minimum. Minimum.) So, if you want more new YJ stories sooner, the answer is pretty simple. Artist Christopher Jones and I are chomping at the bit to make more Young Justice stories in comic book form. Producing a comic book takes considerably less time than producing television episodes, so if we got a green light on a comic book series now, you could theoretically have new stories in a matter of months.”

Weisman also explained how fans could help make this happen, adding the answer is again simple “Buy the comics that already exist! The best way to show DC that you want more comics is to purchase these stories electronically on the DC App, on Comixology, or on iTunes.” If fans could make a new season of Young Justice happen against all odds, then almost certainly the comic could return as well. [Newsarama]

Wonder Woman removed from United Nations Ambassador status

Speaking of DC’s greatest heroes, a few months ago we reported on how Wonder Woman had been named an honorary ambassador for women’s empowerment worldwide at a gala event at the United Nations in New York. A huge ceremony was held for the feminist icon that included both live-action Wonder Women Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot in attendance.

And now it appears that Wonder Woman’s ambassadorship is over, thanks to a wrong-headed petition to remove her, which garnered just a little bit shy of 45,000 signatures, and stated the following in part:

“Although the original creators may have intended Wonder Woman to represent a strong and independent “warrior” woman with a feminist message, the reality is that the character’s current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots –the epitome of a “pin-up” girl. This is the character that the United Nations has decided to represent a globally important issue – that of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. It appears that this character will be promoted as the face of sustainable development goal 5 for the United Nations at large.”

In this Wonder Woman fan’s opinion, this is the epitome of so-called “slut shaming,” although as a character Wonder Woman almost has no sexual history in the comics (I can count her love interests over 75 years on one hand). The fact that she merely shows some skin — in reality, no more than an Olypmic female track athlete — has deemed her “too sexual,” and therefore her message of peace and equality should fall on deaf ears.

Calling her a “large breasted woman of impossible proportions” is also totally misleading. She’s not some ’90s Image Comics character, and is rarely ever drawn in an overly sexualized way. Her proportions are merely of a tall athletic woman, and have been filled in reality nicely by two real world women. And even her costume barely resembles the American flag anymore. It’s clear those against her don’t know anything about the character. If this make you angry, there is already a Change.org petition to bring Wonder Woman back as UN Ambassador, which you can sign here: [Comics Beat]

Wolverine gets herself a new costume in March

Although the character is not getting an all-new #1 issue relaunch as part of Marvel’s mutant ResurrXion, the Laura Kinney version of Wolverine will continue on, but with a bit of an update. Wolverine will receive a new bulletproof costume, which looks a whole lot like Logan’s old grey-and-black X-Force suit. Laura’s previous costume was the blue-and-yellow one based on Logan’s most well known outfit.

In an interview, writer Tom Taylor said “A lot of what we’ve been doing in this series comes down to moving Laura to the next logical step. She’s growing on the page. This suit is part of that growth. It all comes down to the amount of times Laura is hurt, or taken out of action. Just because she has a healing factor, doesn’t mean she enjoys pain, or bullets ripping through her internal organs. This suit is designed to be bulletproof and generally more protective.” The new direction begins in March with All-New Wolverine #19. Artist Leonard Kirk, who designed the new costume, also joins the series with #19. [Game Spot]

Dragon Ball gets alternate reality “What if?” style series

Attention Dragon Ball fans — Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump Plus digital manga magazine has launched a “What If…?”-style story centered around the character of Yamcha as the main heroic figure of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. The new series is being written and illustrated by Dragon Garow Lee, and is called Dragon Ball Side Story: The Case of Being Reincarnated as Yamcha.

This alternate reality story starts when a high school student and Dragon Ball fan finds himself in the body of Yamcha, who then uses his fan knowledge to make Yamcha a formidable hero in his own right. The first issue is now available for fans to read, but it is only available in the original Japanese as of right now. We will update fans as to when an English translation is on its way. [CBR]

Hanna-Barbera characters meet the DC heroes

For years, DC has published titles based on classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, as both companies are owned by Warner Brothers. But the Hanna-Barbera characters have never crossed over with the DC heroes…until now. DC has announced there will be four crossover annuals released in March 2017, including a Suicide Squad meets the Banana Splits story by Tony Bedard and artist Ben Caldwell. Another crossover will feature Green Lantern and Space Ghost, Jonny Quest and Adam Strange, and Booster Gold and the Flintstones (yes, really). For more info on these special one-shots, click on our full story here: [Nerdist]

Archie Comics announces four new one-shots

Archie Comics has announced the release of four new one-shots coming out in March 2017, all set in the rebooted universe that was introduced last year in Mark Waid and Fiona Staples’ new version of Archie. The four new titles include: Jughead: The Hunger, by Frank Tieri and Michael Walsh, The Archies, by Alex Segura and Matthew Rosenberg, with art by Joe Eisma,  Little Archie (which was teased last week) by Art Baltazar and Franco, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, by Katie Cook and Franco, with art by Andy Price.

According to Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater, “These new launches give readers a wider lens with which to see the Archie characters and concepts. I think of it as a very ambitious and top-line pilot season that showcases the successful and acclaimed New Riverdale sensibility. If these books resonate, fans might just see them greenlit as regular series.” You can see cover art for the four new one-shots in our gallery below. [Entertainment Weekly]

Images: DC Comics / Marvel Comics / Shonen Jump / Archie Comics

GAME OF THRONES Re-Throned: “And Now His Watch Is Ended” (S3, EP4)

Winter is coming, but not soon enough. So to help pass the time until season seven of Game of Thrones, we’re doing a weekly re-watch of the series, episode-by-episode, with the knowledge of what’s to come and—therefore—more information about the unrevealed rich history of events that took place long before the story began. Be warned, though: that means this series is full of spoilers for every season, even beyond the episode itself. So if you haven’t watched all of the show yet immediately get on that and then come back and join us for Game of Thrones Re-Throned.

Because the next best thing to watching new episodes is re-watching old ones.

——

Season 3, Episode 4: “And Now His Watch is Ended”

Original Air Date: April 21st, 2013

Director: Alex Graves

Written by: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss

This episode, “And Now His Watch is Ended,” the one that concludes with the totally kick-ass scene of Daenerys burning Astapor to the ground and leaving with her new army of free Unsullied, is one of the best hours in the show’s history. Just about every scene and character here is worthy of deeper exploration, but since we are coming ever closer to the show’s end and as such are keeping the possible endgame in mind, we want to look at the scene where Varys tells Tyrion how he was “cut.”

(Before that though, here’s a quick rundown of some of the many episode highlights:

Jaime, who now has his missing hand hanging around his neck, is mistreated, and for the first time we feel actual sympathy for one of the show’s most vile characters thus far.
Brienne not only tells Jaime that she knows he saved her from being raped—for reasons she can’t understand—but she also instills in him a will to live. This is the real beginning of their friendship, one of the show’s most sincere and touching.
Ramsay tricks Theon in to returning back to his torture chamber, and it is a perfect example of just how quickly events and characters can turn on this show. Before this Ramsay seemed like a good person (ha!). Remember, don’t trust anyone you don’t actually know in the Seven Kingdoms. Or people you do know for that matter.
Tywin tells Cersei he doesn’t trust her, not because she is a woman, but because she isn’t as smart as she thinks she is. This is the episode where Cersei first starts (foolishly) plotting against the Tyrells, which we know will lead to total disaster for everyone, Cersei included. Tywin Lannister was a bad father, but a smart guy.

Lord Commander Mormont is killed in the Night’s Watch uprising at Craster’s Keep, and a world with few truly good men loses another one when it needs them more than ever.
Varys and Lady Olenna first meet and their partnership begins, one that now might help reinstall a Targaryen on the Iron Throne.
Ever-naive Sansa can’t see how she is still nothing more than a pawn to the people in power, and she instantly falls for Margaery’s friendship and offer to marry Loras without at least considering why this is happening.
The Hound (who is especially awesome here, which is saying something for him), is brought to the secret hideout of the Brotherhood Without Banners and meets their leader Beric Dondarrion. We learn that this rogue band of outlaws are all followers of R’hllor and that we’re going to get a Trial by Combat soon enough.
Seriously, Daenerys Targaryen and her sacking of Astapor is one of the best moments in Game of Thrones history.

Okay, that was a “kinda” quick rundown. Now back to Tyrion and Varys.

Tyrion visits Varys to see if there is evidence that Cersei was the one who tried to have him killed during the Battle of Blackwater, but Varys says he has “no proof, only whispers.” But just because there won’t be a trial over the matter, Varys wants Tyrion to understand that he can still have his revenge. In fact, Tyrion has come at the perfect time for such an explanation.

During this scene Varys is opening a very large crate which just so happens to have air holes in it. He then tells Tyrion the story of how he was castrated (which he promised to do one day right before Stannis attacked King’s Landing). Varys tells the horrible tale of how he was sold to a sorcerer as a child, who then gave him a potion that made him paralyzed, but not from pain.

“With a hooked blade he sliced me, root and stem, chanting all the while,” Varys says. Then the sorcerer took what he had removed and threw it into the fires of a brazier (exactly like Melisandre and Stannis will eventually do with the leeches that had sucked Gendry’s blood). Varys explains exactly why this moment made him so intent on stopping Stannis and his Red Priestess.

“The flames turned blue and I heard a voice answer his call. I still dream of that night. Not of the sorcerer, not of his blade. I dream of the voice from the flames. Was it a god? A demon? A conjuror’s trick? I don’t know. But the sorcerer called and a voice answered. And ever since that day, I have hated magic and all those who practice it.”

What makes this especially terrifying is not only how it matches something we might expect from a follow of R’hllor, the sacrifice of an innocent to the fire (poor Shireen), but the blue flame it produced, a color which instantly brings to mind the White Walkers. Who or what was the sorcerer doing this for and why? Worse, who or what called back? Might the answer not be the Lord of Light R’hllor nor his supposed enemy, The Great Other, the Lord of Darkness, but something—or some other god—instead? Or, far worse, are the Lord of Light and the Lord of Darkness one in the same?




Considering Varys has used his power to have the sorcerer that cut him shipped to him in the crate he has been opening he might ask him, but his mouth has been sewn up. Questions about the flames sometimes have to take a back seat to revenge, which Varys assures Tyrion will get one day if he can wait. “Influence is largely a matter of patience,” says Varys, “I have no doubt the revenge you want will be yours in time—if you have the stomach for it.”

It just so happens that Tyrion’s influence has grown so large since then that he is now the Hand of the Queen who possesses the only dragons in the world, and he is headed back to King’s Landing where his sister sits upon the Iron Throne. His revenge seems to be at hand, but only if he has the “stomach for it.” For Cersei to get her revenge on the High Sparrow she killed hundreds of people and as a result united enemies in a common cause against her. What might Tyrion have to be willing to do to get his revenge? Kill thousands? Burn King’s Landing down? Kill his brother Jaime whom he loves?



And will his desire to seek retribution distract Tyrion from what is really important, saving Westeros from the army of the dead?

Tyrion learned a very powerful lesson about influence and exacting revenge, a story that might foretell who will finally bring down Cersei, but it would be better for everyone in the Seven Kingdoms if he remembered that voice Varys heard call out from the flames.

What did you think of this episode? We want your voice to call out in our comments section below.

Images: HBO

Research Shows POKÉMON GO Didn’t Really Affect Physical Activity, But There Is Hope

Earlier this year, Pokémon GO, the mobile AR game that you’ve definitely already heard of — it’s been downloaded at least 500 million times — made a huge splash in the gaming world. A splash that came in large part from the effects the game supposedly had on the social aspects of people’s lives. Now it turns out that, according to recently published research, at least the physical activity that the game inspired may have been (Dun Dun Duhhhhhh) overhyped.

In a paper published in the BMJ, researchers report they found that “Pokémon GO was associated with an increase in the daily number of steps after installation of the game… [but that] The association was… moderate and no longer observed after six weeks.”

In the clip above, a researcher describes the average effect that Pokémon GO had on players (who “tended to be younger, have a lower education and household income, and be obese, and were more likely to be single”) based on number of steps taken. And it turns out that while the game had a significant impact on number of steps taken in the first week (an additional 955 steps/day), by week 6, the effect had diminished to “pre-installation” levels.

However, despite the fact that the extra steps taken may be a short-lived effect, Eric Rimm, senior author of the paper, notes at the end of the video that he still thinks “there’s a great social aspect to Augmented Reality games… sometimes you do them with friends, they’re intergenerational… [and Pokémon Go shows that] over a 6-week period, you can do a lot to increase physical activity.” He added that, “We just have to be more creative about finding ways to get people to keep exercising.”

What do you think about these Pokémon GO findings? Do you think AR games in general are a good response to sitting on the couch in front of a screen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Images: The BMJ

Watch Coheed and Cambria Hang with Their Kids in “Colors” Video

Kids can be loud and all, but dang, they sure are cute. Coheed and Cambria just shared a music video for their emotional song “Colors” and show off how adorable their children are in it. We don’t mind. Besides, there’s other great music to blast after, like A Tribe Called Quest because the group said they “don’t plan on stopping” after this year, Bruno Mars’ dance-filled Carpool Karaoke session, Spoon’s brand new single, and the surprise return of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

Though Coheed and Cambria flaunt rough and jagged edges, the band is pretty emotionally in touch. To give their eighth album, The Color Before the Sun: Deconstructed, one last hurrah, the prog-rock group shared a music video for album cut “Colors.” In the video, the band plays to various crowds and fans cheer loudly, a nice nod to the people who keep them going… but they’re not the only ones. At various points throughout, we get to see frontman Claudio Sanchez and the rest of the band hang out with their kids, playing with toys, and tossing them over their shoulders. It’s a fitting touch of heart given the song is heavy but gentle simultaneously, slamming down on hard notes while keeping vocals in the forefront. Check it out above and try not to aw out loud.

In November, A Tribe Called Quest made a triumphant return that blew everyone away. The rap icons released We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, their first album in 18 years. The album is phenomenal, topping lists left and right, and had people questioning if the group would do a sendoff tour behind it since Phife Dawg, one of the group’s founding members, passed away. Surprise! Q-Tip told Annie Mac on her BBC Radio 1 show that A Tribe Called Quest will actually keep going. “Stay tuned for any other incarnation because we don’t intend on stopping,” he said on air. We’ll gladly hold him to it. [Consequence of Sound]

What do you do if you want to dance but you’re strapped into a car seat? Well, just turn to Bruno Mars for inspiration. The pop star stepped inside James Corden’s car for Carpool Karaoke and knocked out over a dozen of his own songs. Mars doesn’t find that reason to stay still, though. He still wiggles and grooves, throwing his arms up and doing several cool nods that give him all the flair he rocks on a stage. So that’s how you dance while driving.

Spoon are back… we think? The indie rock band posted an image on their social media outlets which sure looks like an album cover, Matador Records shared the image which suggests the band is back on their roster after nearly two decades, and, as Stereogum points out, they debuted a new track on Shameless over the weekend. It’s called “I Ain’t The One” and it’s a bit of a bummer. That said, the song is quick, closing in under two minutes, but it sticks with you. After all, Spoon has always been good at that. Britt Daniel’s voice and the R&B pop of Alex Fischel’s keyboard combine into some kind of simple melody that you want to hum all day (or until they announce they are, in fact, back). [Stereogum]

Back in 2005, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah gave us one of the best self-titled indie rock albums ever, and now it seems they’re ready to give us another one. The band just announced they will release LP The Tourist on February 24 and gave us “Fireproof” for a taste of what’s to come. There’s major Revolver-era Beatles vibes in the warped intro, but the song then goes on to track a seriously devious bass (something Clap Your Hands has always been fond of) and sparse instrumentals. If we didn’t know better, we’d say this record will be a shoe-in for your 2017 must-listen list. [Consequence of Sound]

That’s it for today, but we’ll see you back here on Friday for another Music Dispatch!

Image: 300 Entertainment

STAR TREK DISCOVERY Casts THE WALKING DEAD Star Sonequa Martin-Green in Lead Role

The news Star Trek fans have been waiting for is finally here: The long-awaited new series Star Trek: Discovery has cast its principal lead character, and it is a face very well known to genre fans. According to Entertainment Weekly, we’ve learned that Sonequa Martin-Green, who is well known for her role as Sasha Williams on AMC’s The Walking Dead, has been cast as the lead of Star Trek: Discovery.

All we know about the role so far is that the lead character of this show is not the captain of the titular ship, which is a departure from every Star Trek series to date, where the captain has always been the leading role. Earlier reports have the character called only “Number One,” suggesting she is actually the second in command of the Discovery. Captain Pike referred to his first officer in the original Star Trek pilot as “Number One,” and Captain Picard also called Commander Riker “Number One” as well on Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Martin-Green will continue to serve as a series regular on The Walking Dead, but for exactly long remains to be seen. Considering that show’s knack for killing off its main characters at any given moment, I’m not sure how long we can expect to see Martin-Green pull double duty. She joins the previously announced Michelle Yeoh, Anthony Rapp, Doug Jones, Shazad Latif, Chris Obi and Mary Chieffo as cast members on the series.

Star Trek: Discovery is set to premiere sometime in the summer of 2017 on the new CBS All Access streaming platform

Are you as excited as we are for this casting choice? Let us know down below in the comments.

Image: AMC 

Why Star Trek’s transporters are sci-fi’s most impressive technology:

Everyone Wants to Be a Hero in THE 100 Season 4 Trailer

When The 100 told us at the end of season three that a second nuclear meltdown was inevitably going to make 96% of the world uninhabitable, we knew tensions would be high in season four. But to what degree the show with no chill would take it, we were unaware—until now. In the new trailer for the forthcoming season four of the post-apocalyptic series, we’ve got a good, long look at all the hero complexes developing amongst the heroes and villains of the CW show. And guess what: it all looks really, really, really bad.

Like “holy crap the world is literally like 12 minutes away from social and ecological collapse” bad.

With the Grounders, Skikru, Ice Nation, and more on the brink of seemingly unavoidable death, there’s nary a sign of a “Kumbaya” moment to be found. Everyone is out for their own survival. But without figuring out where that magical 4% of land unaffected by the radiation is, can any of them truly survive a nuclear winter at all? And just like the cornered rats in a cage that they are, they’re reactionary, unruly, and deeply unpredictable in their actions to try and survive. I mean, just look at Octavia! Homegirl looks like she’s become a straight-up Skikru killer, leading a group and making Indra proud with her murder-y ways. (I mean, we get it: but still.) And Roan looks deeply keen on taking the reigns and leading not just Ice Nation, but ALL of the people who’ve so far survived on Earth.

Of course, going up against one another is going to be nothing—nothing!—compared to the inevitable nuclear meltdown. Did you see that shot of the Grounder at the Egyptian pyramids being burnt to dust? To say nothing of that image of Clarke covered in radiation boils! DAMN, The 100. DAMN. Knowing this show, it may all be a deeply complicated ruse, but it could also easily not be.

The 100 returns to The CW on Wednesday, February 1. Do you have any crazy theories on where the controversial show will head next? Let us know in the comments below!

Images: The CW

Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor of Nerdist and co-host of Fangirling! Find her on Twitter — but only if you want.

Wish Upon a Well-Dressed Star with This Disney-Inspired Fashion

Who doesn’t want to spend as much time as possible dressed like a Disney character? Okay, maybe if you don’t want to don a full costume complete with a mouse head, don’t you want to wear Disney-inspired fashion on the regular? I’m gonna assume I’m not the only one who likes to show off her passion for Disney’s animated films and theme parks via my apparel and accessories. In fact, I know I’m not alone because Disney-themed fashion can be found all around the interwebs.

I’ve bitten the bullet for you and spent time flipping through Etsy and trying samples (e.g. enjoying some retail therapy) to find some of the best, most creative, different, etc. Disney fashion out there to help you out if you’re finding yourself in a street rat rut.

Whosits & Whatsits

If your Disney aesthetic is all about being classy and subtle, then Whosits & Whatsits is made for you. They’re perhaps most well-known for their Neverland beanie (pictured above), but their collection of shirts feature inventive and beautiful graphics that run the gamut, incorporating locations such as the Pride Lands from The Lion King or putting a musical theater spin on concepts like the Daughters of Triton from The Little Mermaid.

The Village Haus

Need a dress covered in Disney? The Village Haus is the seller you’re looking for. They create skater and bodycon style dresses (and also leggings!) inspired by characters or foods. I mean, look at the Mickey waffle dress pictured above. I like any occasion when my Disneyland favorite foods end up on my clothing without me spilling said food onto said clothing. Village Haus uses a polyester spandex blend for their dresses and leggings, and their prints include everything from Dole whip to Joy’s dress pattern from Inside Out.

Details, details, details. Whether you’re looking for a boldly printed dress or handmade pins to add just the right touch of flair to your outfit, The Brave Little Tailor has your back. The above Starbucks pins are just a sampling of the affordable brooches in their shop—they also have resin pins that look like Mickey Mouse lollipops. Yep. Based on my experience, their pins are both lightweight and sturdy.

Jordandené

If you’re all about the quotes, look no further than Jordandené. Their tops feature lines such as Mary Poppins’ memorable “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” and Belle’s “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere” emblazoned in elegant fonts (no Comic Sans here, friends) on tanks and t-shirts. The fabric is comfortable and holds up well with multiple washings (I’ve tested it). I like to wear Jordandené’s tops with jeans and a variety of cardigans and wraps.

You can browse additional styles from all four vendors in the gallery below. I’m sorry/not sorry if flipping through the gallery makes you feel like spending dollars.

Do you already have a closet full of Disney-inspired fashion? Head to the comments and tell me where you find your fashion treasures. Or, tell me which of these items you’ve added to your wish list.

Featured Image: Brave Little Tailor and Whosits & Whatsits

The Hidden Meaning In WALL-E Is More Sophisticated Than You’d Expect

There are few things we love more than over-analyzing movies and TV. Words cannot describe the joy taken by turning a hyper-critical lens at something meant to be lighthearted… until its framework shows through and it can then be related to other ideas and theories. We find ourselves in a wonderful time where there are many a YouTube series doing just that, and Earthling Cinema, on Wisecrack, is certainly one of the best. In their latest video, they dive deep into what lies just under the surface of Pixar’s Wall-E and gives us all a whole lot to think about.

In Earthling Cinema, set sometime in Earth’s distant future, an alien character named Garyx Wormuloid analyzes Earthling “artifacts” that all pretty much turn out to be DVDs. Infusing irreverent humor along with often inaccurate “data” gathered from his knowledge of the planet, Wormuloid deconstructs films and then critiques the messages in them and how they might relate to philosophy, psychology, and whatever may have had a handle on the zeitgeist at the time they were made. The analysis of Wall-E touches on quite a few things we may have glossed over in the past, choosing instead to just enjoy one of the only Pixar films that can be tolerated multiple times in the same day when watching with the children in your lives. Notably, the video points out the film’s satirizing of how mass consumerism caused Earth’s initial downfall in the film, the human’s over-dependence on technology, and their eventual freedom from those technological shackles.

Thanks to Wisecrack’s commentary, what makes Wall-E even more interesting now is knowing how subtly things are shown to the audience. Wall-E’s introduction – and the introduction of Earth itself – is presented in a manner akin to silent films as a stark contrast to the loud and excessive lifestyles that ultimately ruined it. AUTO’s entrance is accompanied by Johann Strauss’ “The Blue Danube” as a nod to HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The humans on The Axiom (a word meaning “a universally accepted principle or rule”) having never wanted for anything, blindly follow whatever the machines tell them and have basically become overgrown babies due to their time in space and unquestioning nature. Even Wall-E and EVE’s roles are analogs to the biblical Adam & Eve as they’re vital to the re-birth of humanity on Earth with Wall-E impregnating the egg-shaped EVE with a plant that ultimately allows the humans to return home.

Is Garyx Wormuloid’s analysis of our Pixar artifact correct? Or is Wall-E just Post-apocalyptic Short Circuit? Or was that CHAPPIE? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Image: Disney

Normal Items Sliced in Half Become Extraordinary In Macro

When we were children, we all appreciated the excitement that comes from ripping something in half to see what it looks like on the inside. But little did we know just how amazing that endeavor could really be, even with regular household items. That’s because when you look at them with a macro lens even the mundane can become magnificent.

This latest video from the YouTube channel Macro Room,—dedicated to giving pristine and up-close looks at normal, every day items via a macro lens, which can provide details we can’t see with even a normal camera zoom—took a knife to a myriad of items to show that sometimes true beauty really is defined by what’s on the inside. From organic items like a red bell pepper and a star fruit, to man-made items like a camera and a shoe, under a macro lens normal objects that we hardly ever give a second thought to become fascinating terrains that look like something that belongs in an art gallery or in a sci-fi film.

Did you ever think a pomegranate or a head of cabbage could look like the eye of an alien, or its purple brain for that matter?

Even some gel deodorant sliced in two starts to look like the setting for a James Cameron movie.

The desire to see what something is made of is instinctual, and that’s why we all did it as kids. it just turns out it’s even cooler when you do it with cool adult toys.

What did some of these images look like to you? Zoom into our comments below to tell us what you think.

Images: Macro Room

Thrilling Adventure Hour #235: Beyond Belief, “Snakes in a Mane”

Starring Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster as those married mediums Frank and Sadie Doyle. Also starring Hal Lublin as the Spooky Narrator; Annie Savage as a gorgon; Mark Gagliardi as Pterodactyl Jones; and Autumn Reeser as Bloody Mary.

Music by Jordan Katz & the Elements of Style, featuring Jonathan Dinerstein.

Written, produced, and directed by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker.

Music by Jordan Katz and the Elements of Style.

“Love Ain’t No Billy Goat” written by Jonathan Coulton.

Recorded November 16, 2016 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

Tickets are on sale NOW for the FINAL THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR show for many years. It’s at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on December 17, 2016. Tickets here: https://www.acehotel.com/calendar/losangeles/thrilling-adventure-hour-holiday-funaround

Follow The Thrilling Adventure Hour and its creators, Ben Blacker and Ben Acker, on Twitter!

Photo Credit: Mindy Tucker