Happy Valentines Geeks!

Originally posted on chaoslife.findchaos.com

Clark busted by Facebook!

Saw it on George Takei's facebook, laughed my ass off, thought I would share for probably the very few of you who haven't already seen it. Clark Kent busted by Facebook! 

I am a little sad Clark is using a Mac though, but I guess it is in keeping with the loser image he must maintain.

KapEl did Batman for me this time.

Another wonderful drawing by @Kapellusch this time I requested Batman for my hubbie.

@becpuss Batman, for your husband! on Twitpic

My ultimate Christmas geek themed wish list...

So it’s the time of year where people are asking me what I want for Christmas. This is a really hard question, there are many things I want none of which I ever feel comfortable asking for. May be it’s because I am too polite, maybe it’s because without some kind of price guides I feel cheeky no matter what the cost may be. This year, too make things a little easier, I decided to create an Amazon wish list and found myself filling it with graphic novels. Not that this is a bad thing, they are reasonably priced and I would never tire of receiving them, but my lovely husband said I should be a bit more adventurous.  So I started browsing and OMG there is so much stuff I want, unfortunately it mostly falls into the ‘need to be some kind of millionaire to justify paying that’ category.  

So instead of moping around angry at the world because despite us both working full time I can’t afford the things I want, I thought I'd disperse my frustration by sharing my hearts desire with you guys. That way should a kind hearted generous millionaire wish to surprise me with my ideal gift they know exactly what I want.

Just to clarify these pick are related to the theme of geek, that’s what would make me happiest , though a new house with say, 4 bedrooms, indoor pool, home theatre and custom built gaming room wouldn’t go amiss.

So lets kick off with a simple and most know fact about me - I love Wonder Woman since being a small child spinning around to the full grown adult comic collector I am today.  So here are just a couple of my picks for a Wonder Woman fan.

The DC Online Wonder Woman Statue

This particular statue I favour because I believe it to be one of the most beautiful renderings I have seen. At a cool £99.85 from Amazon it is certainly out of my reach whilst my children are young. Unfortunately clothing and feeding children is a statutory requirement so most of my funds are focused there. This piece would, indeed, have pride of place on my mantelpiece and I’m pretty sure seeing it everyday would instill me with a sense of confidence only an amazon can invoke.

  

Ed Benes Original Comics Art - Wonder Woman

This piece of original comic art by Ed Benes is a dream purchase for a fan like me available for £599.99 from Reedcomics.com. Though its origin isn't clear, the website suggests it may be from a Justice League collectible card, I would still snap it up in an instant and hang it proudly in my (as yet non-existent) comic art gallery. Here is a link should any of you wish to steal it away from. Not that I can ever picture having that kind of money, but I'll keep buying the lottery tickets cos you never know.

Marvel Minimates - First Appearance X-Men 4 Pack

Okay so this one may not be completely out of my reach (£16.99) and I am sure one generous relative may one day buy this, but I've just come across them and realised I can't actually get them in the UK without paying an extortionate delivery charge. Which is something that annoys me why can't we get the same merchandise as is available in the USA. I pay my money for my comics, I go to the pictures to watch my heroes on the silver screen, so why can't have have the same merchandise to waste my hard earned pennies on!

Anyway, breath, classic X-Men what's not to love? good ol' Jean, Beast before he turned blue, Cyclops before he turned into a huge douche (once again, still a little bitter 'bout the whole Emma Frost affair) and Iceman before...well Iceman. 

 Next up Tenth Doctor Coat. 

There are not many people I know who are not aware of my deep and ever lasting love for the 10th Doctor, David Tennant did it for me so perfectly. Whilst I am still a massive fan I find it hard to believe that I will ever enjoy a regeneration of the Doctor as much I did 10. This would also look awesome along side the life size cutout my lovely hubby got for me. 

£203ish is a lot for a coat that I am pretty sure would look ridiculous on me due to my short stature. Still there would be nothing to stop me running around the house sonicing everything as I go. All I would want next is a Rose Tyler jacket and me the the other half can roleplay to our hearts content. Just to point out I would be wearing the Rose Tyler jacket and him the Doctors, we don't gender reverse roleplay or anything.

And now for a piece of classic geek memorbilia.

Spock's badass tunes  or, more accurately, Star Trek Original Series Vulcan Lute Prop Replica. At a whooping $2,009.99 its some serious collectors item and most definately a talking point. Just imagine some hipster dude you are ashamed to  know, stops by and whips out his acoustic guitar and starts jamming, you confidently produce your alien lute and blow his hipster mind. Of course you would have to learn to play it first, but it would be so worth it. Plus how hard can it be? 

  A few options from Firebox, who, I have recently discovered, have a large range of expensive geek related items in their WTF?! department. 

1. Replica Dalek - £3,496 Again a classic piece of sci fi history first appearing in 1963 and something my son is terrified of so this would come in very handy during the months of the year that the threat of Father Christmas watching doesn't work.

  

2. Fuck yeah a Batmobile! - £120,000 is probably a steal considering the amount Batman must have paid to build his. Granted this probably doesn't come with any of the awesome offensive and defensive tech Batmans has, but there is nothing to stop you having ago at fitting a drawing pin trap on the back or may be a makeshift ejector seat. Please note: I do not accept any liability should some unqualified dumbass try and do this and get themselves maimed or killed. 

 3. Freaking awesome Bat Mirror to match your batmobile. I think this is a classy piece. Not obvious or in your face, wouldn't look out of place above your mantle piece yet sends a message to your visitors about you. Mainly you're a mega geek who would spend £399.99 on mirror with the Batman logo. 

Evil cat not included

There are many many more items on Firebox which I believe are the ultimate geek must haves, including Class M-3 Model B9 General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Control Robot  of Lost in Space fame. Not sure where one would keep it but I guess if you can afford to buy it at £25,500 you can afford to buy the mansion required to store all this stuff. Also what lair would be complete without one of these babies, a good old fashioned Bond style Villains Chair for £4,500. You'd have to get your own white pussycat and sharks with fricking laserbeams and don't ask Seaworld, they don't approve.

At the last minute I found this and couldn't let it go without a mention 'cos you know he wouldn't.  A must have for any comic lover to have as pride of place on their desk. The Deadpool 6 Inch Pencil Cup Desk Accessory currently priced at £97.99 from Forbidden Planet. I believe the anti-hero himself would approve of this handy yet cool pencil holder.

So there it is my first few picks of stuff I can't afford but desperately want. I guess not all the options will be completely out of my reach forever, one day the kids will grow (fingers crossed) leave to start their own geekdom (fingers crossed), may be then just may be I might get my hands on a Batmobile. Up until that point lottery tickets it is, it's good to have a dream and many of these items fufill those dreams, you may call me materialistic but if I'm happy with love, family and friends what else do I dream of? Things! lots and lots of things!

Tee's for comic fangirls

I often browse the net looking for comic themed clothes. Nothing like coming home after a long day working and slipping into by batman PJ bottoms and Marvel Heroes hoodie. But I find most of these are located in the men's department of the particular store I am perusing. Why is this? The other day a work colleague showed me some Marvel slippers in the Avon catalogue (she knows me so well) great I thought I'll have some, but no, they only do men's sizes 8 and up (UK) WHY? Anyway because of the lack of consideration on the part of retailers for the needs of the geek and nerd fangirls I have trawled the Internet and found some of my favourite tee's for the girl comic fan.

How cute is this? I love it, ickkle Storm. Available to buy here from Think Geek. Though Storm isn't my first choice of female superhero I think she looks fab here and I will add this to my christmas list.

This is a design by TheRandomFactor who has a lot of geek themed designs, but I choose this one because good ol' Jean Grey is one of my favourite heroines. I think that's mainly because I'm a romantic softy, and no I don't think I will ever forgive Cyclops. This is available to buy here.

I love this one featuring Wonder Woman, shame its only in pink, I'm not a huge fan of pink (apart for work clothes) but I think the design of this would persuade me on this occasion, to wear pink in my own time. Available here.

I like this because of the colour and it features some of the superheroes I like to read. Except of course for Green Lantern, I'm just not a huge fan, tried to read some comics but they didn't really really grip me, still simply for being in the Justice League he retains some cool factor. Available here.

One for the Scott Pilgrim fans. I put my hands up, I haven't yet read the comics just seen the film, but I enjoyed that enough to want to read the comics so I'll be adding it to my christmas list. Available here

Ahh Wolverine and Jean, what more can I say, Love the look and colour of this one and of course classic x-men storyline. Available here

Feeling a little evil? Don't always want to be the hero? Pop on this tee dedicated to the DC female super villains. Available here

Finally a simple design featuring Tony Starks very own Stark Industries logo. Love the colour plus the bonus of free delivery. Available here

 On occasion you may be lucky enough to find a tee in the mainstream shops. For instance I bought two awesome Wonder Woman tee's from Primark this summer. I sometimes buy from the men's department but find the fit a bit iffy and always feel strangled by the collars. Anyway, keep an eye out you don't know where they may pop up next, plus with the influx of superheroes movies bringing these long loved heroes into the mainstream, fingers crossed, we may get more designs for the girls. So there it is, some tee's for the girls. Stand up and show the world you are comic fan and proud!

Life at the Harpers

 

Disclaimer: My husband has never actually shot me, this is merely a representation of his reaction to my off hand comment. I learnt my lesson and have come to appreciate both Batman and Ironman as the Superheroes they truly are.

Why no Wonder Woman film?

I am very disappointed and I'll explain why?

Let me take you back to the mid 80's when the summers were always hot and it never rained, and children would play out all day not worrying about the possibility of being kidnapped by some depraved paedophile and the fabulous Lynda Carter was starring in The New Adventures of Wonder Woman on British TV.

I was about 5, 6 maybe and I loved Wonder Woman, (and still do). I spent my summer holidays spinning and spinning and pretending to be the Amazon. My mum even made me an outfit. Looking back now, what a great role model, a female superhero kicking ass in a male dominated world.

20 odd years on and I am very disappointed by the continuing sexism in the superhero movie industry. Both Batman and Superman have been well represented in the film industry, both have been re-booted at least once so where oh where is my live action Wonder Woman film??

I have read many rumours of a film over the past few years, but none have seemed to have come to fruition. I have recently read an article stating that one the problem was her costume, it being outdated,  which is just ridiculous (giant bat and man who wear underpants on the outside) or its sexual exploitation (for god's sake have they watched music videos these days?  the likes of Lady Gaga are, for all intents and purpose, naked and writhing around simulating sex on the male dancers, which apparently is ok for airing during the day when children are watching (but that is a whole other rant).

I am, however, very pleased with the Wonder Woman animated film and would welcome more, however I fail to understand the lack of live action. Even now they are making superhero films with lesser known (to the general, non geek, public) superheroes like Green Lantern and Thor. Don't get me wrong, I welcome these along with Captain America and The Avengers but goddam it where is the lead female superhero.

Kick Ass featured the awesome Hit Girl but not without a bucket load of controversy, and I don't feel the X-Men films did any of the female heroes justice. I can only hope the X-Men: First Class will do a better job representing its ladies. Electra was quite disappointing and as for Catwoman well I don't really need to go into why that bombed. I fail to think of any others at this point, which obviously means they were not good enough to remain in my head.

Furthermore, I sat down and watched Batman Superman: Apocalypse, not so long ago and I came away with two thoughts,

1. It should be spelt Apokolips, and I'm not sure how they got that so wrong.

2.Why wasn't it called Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman: Apokolips (Yes I have corrected the spelling, I'm kind a stickler for that). Wonder Woman practically appeared in it as much as the two blokes, yet gets missed from the title. Do they think people would not buy it, if it featured her name? I just don't get it.

All you have to do is look around the Internet and shops, Wonder Woman merchandise is everywhere, her comic continues, so it must sell well and therefore have a secure fan base. Surely fear of it being hated by the fans isn't enough to stop them. The industry has produced both Batman and Superman films that suck (Batman and Robin just being one example) and not forgetting emo Spiderman. Geeks watch it anyway and it hasn't stopped 'them' making more with the same hero.

Just to clarify my hairy legs are due to it being a tired working mum who has been married a long time, who wears trousers all the time and its winter. I am by no means a feminist out protesting for equal rights at every opportunity, who is down on society because it is male dominated, things have and will continue to get better.  But I truly hope that the lack of lead role female superheroes in the world of film it is not down to sexism.  I thought we were past that, but the more I think about it the more it plays on my mind. I welcome the industry to prove me wrong and I can only hope that the reason is as simple as not being able to find an actress who can live up to the icon that is Wonder Woman.