Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2375

Student Embedded Subway Chip in Her Acrylic Nails, Swipes in Without Card

The subway (or “tube”) is a great way to get around a busy city, but having to carry around, eventually lose, and replace your pass card sucks. These are facts. Sure, you can put the card in a special wallet or purse pouch for ease of retrieval, but nothing even comes close to the creation of this clever student.

A photo posted by Lucie Davis (@luciedavis) on Jun 26, 2016 at 6:50am PDT

Lucie Davis is a jewelry design student at Central Saint Martins in the UK. In the photo above, you can see that the tube gates are letting her through with just a swipe of her hand. That’s because she took out the RFID chip in her “Oyster Card,” inserted it into the to-be-set acrylic of some fake nails, and painted the nails the classic Oyster card color. Now she has her tube card at her fingertips whenever she needs it, literally. The video below shows the bionic nails in action:

A video posted by Lucie Davis (@luciedavis) on Jun 26, 2016 at 6:51am PDT

As reported by Laughing Squid, Davis can still add money to the chip, so no problems there. But we have to wonder what’s worse: losing your card and finding it in your purse or under your couch, or snapping a nail unexpectedly and having the bit of acrylic vanish into the detritus of mass transit. Still, we’d feel pretty damn cool having cyborg nails for a week.

What do you think? Would you try this body hack, what other cyborging would you be down for? Let us know in the comments below.

Images: luciedavis

Boba Fett Being Eaten By the Sarlacc Makes for an Interesting Coffee Table

Some people fear heights. Some people fear flying. Some people fear clowns.

I fear the sarlacc.

And my fear of falling into that pit is an irrational one. One I’ve had since the first time I ever saw Return of the Jedi

Which means that this coffee table depicting Boba Fett being swallowed up by Tatooine’s infamous cavern monster, no matter how expertly made and designed it may be, is my actual home goods nightmare. Because when I’m trying to enjoy a cup of blue bantha milk, I don’t want to be thinking that if I accidentally shatter the glass tabletop and fall in that I’ll be digested for a thousand years.

We came across this unique piece of Star Wars inspired furniture at Foodiggity, and it is the work of Tom Spina Designs. This isn’t their first nerdy coffee table, either. Heck, it’s not even their first Star Wars one—they also made a Millennium Falcon table, a Wampa cave one, as well as a much subtler Boba Fett themed one. But it might be the coolest. At the very least it’s the gnarliest.

It was custom made for use in a home theater, so don’t expect to see these start popping up in your local furniture stores (just in my nightmares).

Sure, the canon may have been retconned to a history in which Boba Fett escaped. But as far as I’m concerned, this is the last, desperate, and failed attempt by the famed Mandalorian armor-clad bounty hunter before being devoured for good.

And if that doesn’t scream home comfort I don’t know what does. (Except for me, that is. This would just make me scream in the comfort of my own home.)

Would you want to have this very cool piece in your own home? Tell us why in the comments below.

Images: Tom Spina Designs

BETTY & VERONICA #1 Continues Archie’s Winning Streak (Review)

Archie Comics have been absolutely killing it with this relaunch. From flagship title series Archie to the superb Jughead, it seemed like the publisher was grabbing the right talent and letting them update their books to perfection. Now, we have Betty & Veronica #1, written and drawn by the legendary Adam Hughes, and it’s another stellar debut from a publisher who is doing everything right. While this may not be the best of the new Archie books, it is without a doubt the best looking. You couldn’t ask for a better looking comic book, seriously. I don’t want to call you a fool, but you are a damn fool if you are not reading these comic books.

Betty and Veronica #1 from Archie Comics

Betty & Veronica #1 is a dense comic book. Hughes sets this issue up as an introduction to the world of Archie, so if you are not reading the other series you are still good to go here (but you’re a fool, as we covered earlier). This works for and against Hughes, as it means he has a lot of ground to cover with these characters. He uses an off-panel narrator to introduce you to everyone and give you some background, although his choice of narrator is a little odd, to say the least. That said, once we have the cast and the story setup, this issue really sings. Betty seems to be the clear hero, thus far at least, and she dominates every scene she’s in. The best bits of the comic belong to her, no doubt about it. Hopefully Veronica gets that same consideration upcoming issues, because right now it’s hard to imagine anybody being on Team Veronica.

Visually, this comic has no peer on the shelf. Hughes is in top form here, delivering gorgeous page after gorgeous page. He has a soft line throughout the book, there are no hard edges to be found in his Riverdale. His characters are expressive and in control of every panel. there are times when the art is so good and says so much you wish he’d have stepped back a bit on the dialogue and just let the page breathe a bit more. Still, you can’t deny that his work is simply beautiful. There’s not a line out of place here, not a single wasted inch.

Adding to the book’s beauty is the color work of Jose Villarrubia. He also uses a soft palette, matching Hughes line work wonderfully. If you are looking for an example of colors and art that are perfectly in sync, look no further than Betty and Veronica #1. Villarrubia colors finish lines at times, defining Betty’s hair or the emotion on Pop’s face. The wrong colors could have easily killed the look and feel of this book, but Villarrubia is on-point. He brings so much Betty and Veronica #1, it’s hard to imagine what it would’ve looked like without him.

Like Archie and Jughead, Betty and Veronica is a winner. It’s fun, funny, and engaging. There’s no crime, or superheroes, or sinister villains (unless you count Veronica). It’s just damn good and you really, really should be reading these comics. They make for a nice change of pace and some the industry’s top talent are delivering big time month after month. Adam Hughes is a guy that demands your attention, and his take on Betty and Veronica is something you should be adding to your pull list.

Images: Archie Comics

POWERPUFF GIRLS Gets Renewed for a Second Season

After far too long away from our TV screens, The Powerpuff Girls came back with a bang on Cartoon Network earlier this year. A new generation of young viewers have now embraced Bubbles, Buttercup, and Blossom, and no doubt several fans of the classic series returned to watch as well.

Now we’ve learned the good news—thanks to Entertainment Weekly—that Cartoon Network has officially announced that those stalwart protectors of Townsville are returning for a second season. This news comes right on the heels of the show’s recently won Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.

In a statement, Cartoon Network CCO Rob Sorcher said, “The Powerpuff Girls is on a momentous run with its first Emmy nod, a debut appearance at one of the biggest fan events of the year, and now a second season greenlight. Congratulations to the Cartoon Network creative teams who have super-powered this property with the perfect amount of Chemical X to bring a hit show for a new generation of fans.”

The original series ran on Cartoon Network from 1998 to 2005, and helped re-brand the channel from being the home of old Hanna-Barnera cartoon re-runs, into the premiere place for new, original animated content, along with shows like Dexter’s Laboratory and Johnny Bravo. 

And for you Powerpuff Girls fans out there that happen to be in San Diego for Comic-Con this week, you’re in luck: the new Powerpuff Girls series will have their first-ever panel at the convention, and also an immersive Townsville-inspired area, plus an an avatar-maker photo booth!

Are you excited for another fun season of the adventures of Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Image: Cartoon Network

Stan Lee Announces New Series NITRON for Comics, TV, and Film

Stan Lee co-created almost all of the main Marvel heroes and villains over fifty years ago, including iconic characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, The X-Men, the Hulk, and the Avengers… just to name a few. Although he has long since stopped writing or editing comics at Marvel (despite all those Marvel Studios movie cameos he makes) that doesn’t mean he’s stopped creating, even at 93 years young.

Now Stan “the Man” has created a new, original comic book titled Nitron, along with Keya Morgan and Michael Benaroya. Through Benaroya Pictures, they are developing and producing a franchise around the new comic book that will see it brought to life through various forms of media, including movies, TV and online/digital platforms.

So what is Nitron about? Well, not too many details were revealed in the big announcement, but the new comic is said to revolve around “a highly intelligent and advanced species of Nitronians who covertly live amongst us here on modern day Earth.” According to the official press release, Nitron will be a six-volume series of 6 x 9–inch full-color trade paperbacks priced at $5.00 each.

The first issue will hit comic shops and digital comics devices in January 2017, and then subsequent issues will come out on a monthly basis. In a statement, Stan Lee said “It’s a pleasure to partner with Michael Benaroya and Keya Morgan on Nitron. I am excited for everyone to explore the amazing world of Nitron with us.”

Added Michael Benaroya, “without giving too much away, I can say that Stan has created an intricate story and mythology with characters that are unconventional yet relatable. Overall, I think Stan’s Nitron concept is fun and is new and this makes it a very exciting venture for Benaroya Pictures.”

Are you excited about the idea of another new Stan Lee creation coming to life? Let us know what you think down below in the comments.

Check out the time we talked to Stan Lee at the premiere of Civil War:

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Playing POKÉMON GO in Area 51 is as Creepy as You’d Expect

Pokémon Go has led players to some…interesting things, from dead bodies to their first exercise in years, but what can you find in one of the most mysterious and secretive areas in the world: Area 51?

The guys from SuperMega took some cameras with them and documented their experience trying to catch Pokémon at Area 51’s gates, and it was unsettling to say the least. First, they encountered no service. Then they went back at night, but the guards turned off most of the lights, leaving them in a dark desert lit only by a few blinking red lights in the distance.

They had better luck when they went back the next day, though, and they found a Gastly, Eevee, Dratini, but sadly, no Mewtwo, who itself was created by mysterious experiments.

FragHero also made an excursion to Area 51, and their experience may have been even more eerie. They encountered multiple gyms and PokéStops along the way, and creepily, none of the gyms had yet to be claimed… almost like they were purposely vacated… by the government… for reasons we’re not authorized to know.

One thing FragHero was sure to point out is that should players choose to look for Pokémon in Area 51, they ought to do their research first. The heavily protected area is subject to laws and regulations that the average person might not be aware of, so it’s best to know what you’re getting into before you get in trouble.

Can you think of a creepier place to play Pokémon Go? We’re just waiting to see what sorts of mutated creatures people find in Chernobyl.

Featured image: Luca Castellazzi

New ASH VS. EVIL DEAD Season 2 Red Band Trailer Gets Very Bloody

What does it take to get banned by Comic-Con? You’re about to find out in the new red band trailer for Ash vs. Evil Dead season 2!

According to Starz, Comic-Con International has decided that the new trailer is just too bloody for the faint of hear in San Diego. So fans are getting their first glimpse at the new season a few days early! The trailer picks up with Ash (Bruce Campbell), Pablo (Ray Santiago), and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) enjoying life in sunny Jacksonville, Florida; where Ash’s chainsaw hand have made him very popular at kegger parties. But there are dark clouds on the horizon, and it’s once again time for the Ghostbeaters to do what they do best: Kick-Ash!

As previously hinted by Starz, the trailer reveals that Ruby (Lucy Lawless) has reluctantly teamed up with Ash and his friends to retrieve the Necronomicon from an even more powerful threat. But that doesn’t mean that they’re gonna be friends! We also see the hilarious introduction of TV legend Lee Majors as Ash’s dad, Brock Williams, as well as brief glimpses of Ted Raimi as Ash’s childhood best bed, Chet Kaminski, as well as Michelle Hurd as Ash’s ex-high school girlfriend, Linda.

Fans at Comic-Con will get the chance to see the world premiere of the first episode from Ash vs. Evil Dead on Saturday, July 23 at 10pm in Room 6DE. Everyone else has to wait until October!

What did you think about the new red band trailer? Say “Hail to the King!” and break out your boom sticks in the comment section below!

Image: Starz

The 3D-Printed Pokédex iPhone Case You Don’t Need But Must Have

It’s over. You thought that maybe Pokémon GO wouldn’t take over the world but it’s over. Now everything and everyone you know has Poké Fever, like some Pokédemic that Pokécan’t be Poké Stopped. I saw an Ash Ketchum skipping down the streets of Santa Monica this weekend with some dude in a pikachu mascot costume.

Now that the Pokézation of the world is inevitable, so is the tsunami of Pokémon-related products. Getting your hands on an original copy of Pokémon Red/Blue probably just got substantially harder, so what’s your next best shot at nostalgia? Making your own Poké products.

The image above shows the work of nuPROTO, who posted his creation to Reddit. The submission topped the Pokémon GO subreddit for a whole day and you can see why. Though the resolution on the plastic doesn’t exactly have the finesse that you would expect for an iPhone case, you just feel like you need this thing, don’t you? You’re hunting pokémon in the park and you pull out an actual Pokédex? C’mon that’s just cool.

nuPROTO’s creation is just a prototype, but he hopes to sell higher quality cases soon, using finer 3D printers and stronger materials. Cases are currently available for the iPhone 6/6S and the 5/5S. Order here and watch one of the cases being printed below:

What do you think? Would you like to walk around with your very own Pokédex? At least the resin used in the cases isn’t from the ground up slurry that Professor Willow uses to get you those extra candies after transferring pokémon, right? Let us know in the comments below.

Images: nuPROTO

Embrace Your Inner Psycho with These SUICIDE SQUAD Jackets

We all want to let our freak flag fly every once in a while. Sometimes, you just need to get dressed up and let the world know you aren’t messing around and maybe, just maybe, you’re a little bit unhinged. Well, thanks to our friends at Angel Jackets and their new Suicide Squad collection, you can easily do that. You might as well gear up for the winter and be prepared to bum your family out when you visit this holiday. Think ahead, people!

Much like the collection they did for Captain America: Civil War, Angel Jackets is capturing the look of the characters without making clothing look like a complete costume. Sure, that Deadshot jacket is pretty insane, but you could totally rock that Joker tux to a classy event and people would just think you have a flashy sense of style. Same goes for the Katana and El Diablo jackets, perfectly respectable and still stylish and fun. You have to buy your own sword though, which is sorta a bummer.

The crown jewel of the collection is, not surprisingly, the Harley Quinn stuff. They basically have everything you need costume up as the character, including booty shorts, gloves, and a freaking revolver. It all looks pretty awesome and really captures the feel of the cinematic Harley Quinn. They also have the option of just a casual Quinn hoodie if you feel like going more low profile, although we still suggest picking up the revolver as an accessory. It really completes whatever look you are going for.

We still don’t know if the Suicide Squad movie is going to be any good — it certainly looks good from the trailers — but you can’t argue with the fact that the characters and their costumes look freaking rad. So, before the weather cools, gear up with some fresh new Suicide Squad threads. Angel Jackets has you covered and they’ve got plenty of other cool stuff on their site, too, including some sick Star Wars gear. You could go as Harley Quinn and your date can go as Finn! That would be adorable and probably just the right kind of strange.

Visit Angel Jackets site here and check out some of their available threads in the gallery below. Which one would you rock to this year’s family Thanksgiving?

Amazingly Detailed Blueprints Prove Architect Tomoyuki Tanaka Has X-Ray Vision

Japanese architect Tomoyuki Tanaka may have x-ray vision, if these meticulous, hand-drawn and highly detailed blueprints of Japan’s famous train stations are any indication. Drawn with a simple blue ballpoint pen, these incredible schematics were put on display in this Wired article, just as Tanaka’s civil engineering work is on display at Doboku: Civil Engineering, a new exhibition at the Tokyo gallery 21_21 Design Sight. The blueprints in question are accurate down to the location of shops, restrooms, and even advertisements on the structure’s many, many walls. Despite the intricacy, the drawings don’t take Tanaka all that long to complete:

It takes about a week to research and organize the information, and another week to draw. I don’t usually model on a computer before drawing, because there is no need. I want to show the relations between the internal and external spaces of the station.

Tanaka does a draft of each blueprint in pencil before finishing in pen, with special attention given to the real-world structure’s space, composition, and scale. And while the full-scale image is impressive in its own right, once you zoom in on the details present throughout each piece, you get a sense of just how much focus and concentration it must take Tanaka to finish these drawings. I particularly like the inclusion of tiny, minimalist representations of people walking around his monochromatic mazes. If Tanaka ever decides to use his talents for a “Where’s Waldo?” book, we may never find him.

Be sure to check out the gallery below for images of each of the stations as they’re seen in the real world, followed by Tomoyuki Tanaka’s impeccable blueprints. You’ll definitely want to open Tanaka’s images to zoom in on every detail.

Are there any other famous mega-structures you’d like to see Tomoyuki Tanaka tackle with his x-ray vision and architectural skills? Let us know in the comments below!

Images: Used with permission from Tomoyuki Tanaka, 江戸村のとくぞう, Ianb, Tennen-Gas