Fanboy News Network Episode 76

“Gravitas”

The boys celebrate the completion of the new recording studio.

Looking at the recent issues surrounding the protests around Blizzard and lessons in what a protest is.

Daniel finally sees John Wick 3

Jeff reviews the new Addams Family and Terminator: Dark Fate.

The boys talk about their anticipation for the Mandalorian.

Daniel covers the new Watchmen series on HBO.

Jeff talks about the debut of the new season of the DC comics shows on the CW and the ramp up to Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Discussion of the animated pilot Hazbin Hotel.

Our first reports of Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge.

Daniel talks about reading this year’s Nebula and Hugo winning Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

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 53

“Happy Haunts Materialize”

Jeff is joined by guest co-host and full-time sibling Jillian Venters of Gothic Charm School.

The subject of this episode is their recent trip to Bats Day in the Fun Park 19 at Disneyland.

A review of their experiences staying at the Disney on site hotel Paradise Pier and joy of adding concierge suite to their package.

How Jeff and Jill have melded their Disneyland traditions.

How Jill’s pre-planning makes life easier for Bats Day.

The various adventures in the Haunted Mansion.

The Disney Magic Moments and the cast members dedication to making guests happy.

What happened on Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.

How the construction of Star Wars Land disrupted normal park going procedures.

What it was like being in Disneyland on May the 4th (Star Wars Day)

Encounters with Disney Bounding.

Why going for a multiday trip is a good idea.

Bats day traditions.

The Goth Spectrum and where Jeff sites on it.

The advantages of being Disneyland veterans.

The meal at Blue Bayou and afternoon tea at the Disneyland hotel.


Fanboy News Network Episode 52

“Caught between a con and a bats day.”

This episode was plagued by tech issues, weird sounds, and special spouse appearances.

The boys sadly must talk about Cons behaving badly, specifically Odyssey Con

Marvel Comic’s problematic relationship to diversity and not understanding why people are upset they made Captain America a Nazi.

Jeff’s adventures at the Norwescon 40

Mystery Theater 3000 returns and Jeff explains why he is happy and his special relationship with the show.

Daniel talks about discovering Into the Badlands.

Jeff explains Riverdale to Daniel. Daniel is not convinced Jeff isn’t lying.

The boy’s talk about recent trailers that have dropped, Specifically the New Thor, Star Wars, and Guardians of the Galaxy trailers.

Congratulations to Wolf 359 on their Webby nomination.

Jeff previews his upcoming trip to Disneyland to participate in Bat’s day at the fun park with Jillian Venters, which Jeff and Jillian will podcast about afterwards.

This leads to a discussion of what constitutes goth the brings in Jeff’s wife from the other room.

A shout out to Scarecrow video, a significant film library and video store.

Jeff is getting ready to read The wonder wizard of futher-mucking Oz by Matt Youngmark. Daniel is getting ready to read The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 51

“Life’s too short to hate watch anything”

Jeff talks about his upcoming trip to Disneyland to attend Bat’s Day.

Daniel talks about seeing Arrival and the Magnificent Seven Remake, while Jeff talks about Get Out and Logan.

Jeff talks about the movies shown recently as part of Don’t Read the Latin host Jennifer Lovely’s weekly horror movie night.

The boys talk about their excitement about the upcoming American Gods TV series.

Jeff saw Iron Fist. He talks about it.

In light of the coming of the New MST3K to Netflix, Jeff talks about original MST3K episodes on Netflix and along with it Lucha Underground.

Jeff reports his feelings about where the DC comics shows are right now.

In comics, DC is finally explaining how they ended up with two Supermen.

Also the current state of Wolverine in the comics.

Jeff and Daniel talk about what they are reading.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 35

Fanboy News Network Episode 35

“Twas the Night Before Deadpool”
Discussing January as the Dump Month for movies.

This leads to talking about Ready Player One.

The plan for seeing (or not) Batman V Superman

Jeff’s anticipation of Deadpool (because the episode was recorded before it was released)

What the future holds for the X-Men movies

What Civil War can mean to the MCU

What other films Jeff and Daniel are looking forward to

Why you should be watching Galavant

An admission to hate watching Gotham

Why Jeff can’t bring him self to watch Lucifer, but American Gods and the new Star Trek Series makes both Jeff and Daniel happy.

Why the message of Star Trek is important

Daniel talks about Ex Machina

DC Rebirth and the question of is it another reboot.

As a Disney Nerd Jeff takes the time to explain where Disneyland is putting the new Star Wars land

Jeff and Daniel talk scripted podcasts, including why they haven’t named the new podcast they are working on, the coming of the new season of Wolf 359, and the new season of The Black Tapes Podcast


Fanboy News Network Episode 30

“Halloween Wrap Up with Jillian Venters”
Jillian steps in as guest co-host to cover various Halloween events.
Jeff and Jill take another look at Convention staffs behaving badly.
Jill tells of her Halloween event trip to California Including:
  • Halloween Horror Nights
  • Mickey’s not so Scary Halloween
  • Wicked Lit
Jeff and Jill give their thoughts on Crimson Peak
Jillian explains her obession with 1970s Gothic Satanic Romance novels.
Jillian’s tips for Halloween.
Jillian explains Lolita culture for Daniel

Fanboy News Network Episode 26

“D3 Expo”

Jeff starts out with an announcement about upcoming updates to the site.

Discussion on the fall out of Fantastic Four flopping.

R.I.P. Yvonne Craig

R.I.P. Rowdy Roddy Piper

Jeff talks about his love of wrestling, the history of wrestler Stardust and the upcoming match with Arrow star Stephen Amell.

The announcements out of D23 expo, including Marvel, Star Wars, Jungle Cruise, Pirate of the Caribbean and more.

Recent events in comics.

The difference between comics that have clear endings, ongoings with status quo and ongoings that evolve.

 


Fanboy News Network Episode 15

                                  Fanboy News Network Episode 15

A Fanboy News Network/Gothic Charm School Guide to Disneyland

Jeff gets together with his sister, Jillian Venters of Gothic Charm Schoo, to talk about Disneyland at a Fandom.

They Discuss:

How Disneyland fandom differs from just visiting.

Their personal Disneyland traditions.

Easter Eggs in the park.

ways to enhance the Disneyland experiences.

Batsday

Tales of pranks Jeff has pulled on Jillian at the park.

 


Why am I a Disneyland Fan?

The day this article is being published on the site, my wife and I will be on our long awaited honeymoon at Disneyland.

Yes, we are taking our honeymoon at Disneyland. It was actually a very short conversation, taking all of 30 seconds. Trust me this is one of the things that told me I married the right person.

I will readily admit that Disneyland is definitely one of the things I am a geek for.

So in honor of the fact that I am taking what we are calling the Epic Disneyland Honeymoon, I wanted to take this week’s article and talk about my relationship to the park.

I only visited Disneyland once as a child. I was 6 and we were visiting relatives that lived in California. It was a one day trip and while it was only the one day it left an impression. Strangely my major memories from that are about an encounter with Chip and Dale, and the Pirates of the Caribbean.

It would be twenty years later that when I finally returned to the Happiest Place on Earth. I was working for WotC and had been sent to a convention that was being held at the Anaheim Convention Center. Disneyland was right down the street and I was determined to go. Fortunately the convention center was selling passes to the park and had a shuttle service.  And with that I started a new geek that would be with me from then on.

I’ve been several times since. I have seen every configuration of Pirates of the Caribbean, and as of this trip I will have seen every configuration of the Haunted Mansion. I have read up on the park and know the location of most of the park’s Easter eggs and special features.

I once told my Brother-in-Law that we had to go on It’s a Small World because we would be pardoned of all our sins due to having suffered enough. He mocked me. He then cursed me out after the ride for not giving him sufficient warning about it. My sister wants to move into the Haunted Mansion. I am convinced that Toon Town is my true homeland.

I know a lot of people have the reaction of “why go to Disneyland if you don’t have kids.” I do not understand these people. Disneyland is enjoyable by everyone. It is an environment that allows you to leave cares behind and have fun. The sign over the entrance says it best. “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”

Disneyland is best enjoyed when you can abandon your cynicism and remember how to enjoy yourself like a child again.

And a lot of people embrace this concept. There are groups that hold unofficial gatherings at Disneyland for this reason. The Toy Soldiers, fans of Doctor Steel, who is a musician who stylizes himself as a mad scientist, gather every March 4 for Toy Soldier day.  There is also Bats Day, where members of the Goth community and related subcultures gather in the park.

Disneyland is a cultural touchstone for us, and has provided a lot for us in any subculture.

Next week, when I am back from the honeymoon, unless something else big has come up; I will be doing a follow up about the park experience.