About Caliban

I'm a long time fan of science fiction, fantasy, comic books, gaming and the like. Also a former Employee of Wizards of the Coast, and one of the founding members of the Camarilla Fan organization. Follow me on Twitter @caliban1227.

The Return of Fanboy News Network in 2019

Hello Everyone.

I’ve been quiet for a while, so I wanted to pop in and give a quick status update for Fanboy News Network.

Back in mid-June, I put the podcast and the site on hiatus while my wife and I sold our house. We completed the move and started getting things set up again, but life threw some complications at us. So now, several months later, I am taking stock of what I want to do with the site.

When I stopped writing articles for FNN in 2015, I thought it would be temporary. But the new job I started did not leave me with the time or the brain bandwidth for writing. That has changed. So, my immediate goal is to begin writing articles again. Site statistics show a lot of traffic on those older articles and they are the main way that new people discover the site. If all goes to plan, expect to see the articles start again by mid-March. As before, the articles will be a mix of current events in geek culture, media reviews, and examining the foundations of geek culture.

Daniel and I still intend to bring the podcast back. Our challenge is that we now live an hour apart, instead of 15 minutes. We are looking at the logistics and once we have figured it out, we will bring the podcast back. The podcast will continue to center on recent events in geek culture.

I will also introduce a new feature to the site soon: videos. With help from my friends at The Video Nasty Project, I will start to make videos in a studio we are setting up in my house. These videos will focus on the early movies that formed the foundation of modern geek culture with the occasional side series and commentary. Expect this series to start by early summer.

I look at Fanboy News Network as a labor of love. I do it and will keep working on it because it brings me joy to do so. But as a wise man once said, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” To that end, I am finally working on setting up a Patreon account. Expect to see that go live around the same time as the videos.

If you want to keep up with what I have been doing during the hiatus, check out The Video Nasty Project where I am a regular reviewer. I also pop in from time to time as a guest commentator on the podcast Don’t Read the Latin.

It feels good to be back.

Fanboy News Network Episode 69

“Hubward bound”

The boys dance around the obvious jokes related to it being the 69th episode.

There will be a hiatus due to the studio moving.

We celebrate Momocon on doing inclusion right.

Daniel Sees Avengers: Infinity War and Rampage allowing him and Jeff to finally talk about them.

Nostalgia from the boys on the movie clue

Daniel talks about Ocean’s 8 and finally seeing Coco.

Jeff talks about Hotel Artemis.

Jeff abandon’s the last four episodes of Arrow.

News out of E3 on the upcoming titles Fallout 76, Cyberpunk 2077, and Elder Scrolls 6.

Jeff talks about old role-playing games he owns that he will get access to again soon.

Daniel prepares to read all the Discworld novels and is debating on what order to take read them in.


Fanboy News Network Episode 68

“I have no sense of blasphemy”

News about a potential hiatus for the podcast

In cons behaving badly, Fan X in Salt Lake City revisits the issue of inviting a guest with a history of Predatory behavior to their convention.

The boys review Deadpool 2 and Solo.

Jeff can’t decide if he is going to Hotel Artemis or Ocean’s 8 opening weekend.

Jeff talks about a little known comedy from the 90s called Oscar.

Celebrating the Expanse being saved by Amazon.

Jeff degress into stories that show that neither of them have a real sense of what would be considered blasphemy leading to awkward social situations. This leads Daniel to talk about phrases from books that have no meaning anymore due to how society and technology have advanced.

Also why Daniel always always say “its a love story” in awkward situations. It invovles Dracula.

Daniel talks about his birthday present which brings the whole episode full circle.


 

Fanboy News Network Episode 67

“You deserved Cable’s back story”

Jeff talks briefly about Comicgate and Origins having a Sad Puppy as a featured guest and Daniel talks about the disappointment of Adam Baldwin still getting work.

Jeff sees Infinity war again and talks about memes and improve. Also an unfortunate event at a showing.

In honor of Deadpool coming out Jeff explains all of Cable’s backstory to Daniel.

Anticipation of Donald Glover in Solo.

Daniel talks about seeing Isle of Dogs and his feelings about Wes Anderson.

Discussion of the future of Movie Pass

The cancelation bloodbath: who lived, who died, and which decisions do we disagree with.

Rumors of yet another DC reboot abound.

Jeff has an idea for a new podcast venture.


 

Fanboy News Network Episode 66

“LeVar Burton is disappointed in you.”

A look at the debacle that was Universal Fan Con.

A discussion about the criminal case involving Smallville star Allison Mack.

Jeff talks about the new TV series Strange Angel about the life of Jack Parsons.

Jeff and Daniel attempt a spoiler free review of Avengers: Infinity War.

Daniel finally sees Shape of Water.


 

Fanboy News Network Episode 65

“Geeks of a certain age”

Jeff talks about attending Norwescon 41.

What we know about the new Star Wars Attractions at the Disney Parks.

Jeff reviews Pacific Rim: Uprising.

The countdown to Avengers: Infinity War and Marvel Phase 4.

Daniel review a Wrinkle in Time.

Jeff talks about the Netflix movie Mute.

Jeff sings the praises of the TV Series The Magicians.

Daniel talks about Series of Unfortunate Events and Into the Badlands.

Legends of Tomorrow and a journey into meta.

Jeff talks about spending most of Norwescon playing Artemis: Starship Bridge simulator.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 64

“Wakanda Forever”

Jeff talks about how the Washington state Liquor control board is changing how a local convention handles room parties.

The boys talk about the ongoing success of Black Panther and how it is growing into a cultural event.

A look at how geek culture and multiculturalism took over the Oscars this year.

Jeff reviews the Ritual.

Daniel talks about seeing the Fathom screen of Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet.

Jeff talks about the second season of Jessica Jones, the Frankenstein Chronicles, and Black Lightning.

Jeff digresses to talk about “Woken” Matt Hardy on WWE.

Daniel has a foodie moment for Ugly Delicious.

Jeff expresses his disappointment at Marvel comics giving up on its legacy heroes, and especially the New Wolverine.

Jeff has gone ahead and finally bought Fallout 4.

The boys talk about other games that are exciting them: Game of Thrones Catan, Star Wars: Destiny, and Beat Saber.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 63

 

“The Barry White effect”

Daniel regales us with tales of his recent trip to Las Vegas.

Jeff talks about watching and reviewing Last House on the Left for the Video Nasty Project.

The boys review Black Panther.

A look at Netflix offering Altered Carbon and a Futile and Stupid Gesture.

Dead by Daylight has found a new way to disappoint Jeff.

Marvel comics undergoes another “Not a Reboot.”

The Nerdists podcast and its evolution into ID10T.

Daniel tells of his odyssey of trying to read The Templar Cross by Paul Christopher

Fanboy News Network Episode 62

“Take Two”

The one where Jeff and Daniel had to start over due to a system error.

The unfortunate announcement by YouTube that shows they don’t know how to make money.

Jeff reviews Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Daniel finally sees Murder on the Orient Express.

The lasted movie seen at “Don’t read the Latin” movie night was The Raven.

Jeff just signed up for Movie Pass.

Daniel joins the rest of us by finally watching WestWorld.

Jeff admits to being a late comer to viewing The Good Place.

A look at how TV story arcs have evolved over the years.

The anticipation of Altered Carbon.

What Jeff and Daniel plan to do instead of watching the Super bowl.

Why Jeff regrets buying Dead by Daylight.

Anticipation of Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk, and Witcher 4.

Jeff followed suit with Daniel and has read All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault by James Alan Gardener.

The question of what will replace Wolf 359 as the new go to podcast.

Talking about why you can’t skimp on audio quality in Podcasting.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 61

“Year of the Justifiably Defensive Lobster”

Jeff and Daniel are looking forward to the Good Omens TV show.

Discussion of the recent fatal Swatting incident and the Logan Paul suicide forest video.

Jeff and Daniel talk about Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Jeff reviews the last movie he saw of 2017: Dave Made a Maze. He also reviews the first movie he saw in 2018: The Shape of Water.

Jeff’s favorite movie of 2017 Get Out and its cultural impact.

Daniel’s favorite movie of 2017 is the documentary Kedi.

A look back at the geek culture movies of 2017.

Jeff talk’s about how Wolf 359 had a wonderful final episode vs the botched job of the final Black Tapes Podcast.

What Jeff and Daniel are looking forward to in 2018.

The final Doctor Who of the Moffet era and the handoff from the 12th to 13th Doctor.

Daniel reviews the series the Expanse.

The unexpected joy of the Orville and keeping the spirit of Star Trek alive.