Hey, That's My Cape! 2011 - The Year in GEEK

Another year come and gone. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve fan-raged. Now it’s time to look back and see what made 2011 so memorable (or not so memorable, as the case may be).

A lot happened this year and to be fair, I have a terrible memory so I’m surprised I remembered this much of it. But it has been a fairly busy year in geekdom so it’s only appropriate that I take a look back and what took place just like everyone else on the Internet. And well, enjoy it while it lasts because if the Mayan Calendar is right, this may be my last chance to write an end of the year list.

Read my 2011 Year In Geek for this week's Hey, That's My Cape! at Newsarama.

Top 11 Geek Girls of 2011

Hey there, folks! Long time no see! I apologize that things have been lax around here as of late but don't worry, I have already promised myself that I will get back on the ball after the new year. BUT! In the meantime, I have some fun news to share with you. Remember when Wired.com named me one of the Sexiest Geeks in 2010? Well this year I'm delighted to have been bestowed another title, that of one of the Top 11 Geek Girls of 2011 by RedEye Chicago!

I share the spotlight with Jen Usellis, Stephanie Cooke, Janna O’Shea, Janelle Asselin, Kristin Rielly, Teresa Jusino, Karen Hallion, Katie Cook, Katrina Hill and Bonnie Burton, most of whom I consider great friends. :)

Thanks so much to Elliot Serrano for including me, especially amongst such lovely company! Check out the list at RedEye: Chicago!

Hey, That's My Cape! DARK KNIGHT RISES Trailer Love

You know by now that I love Batman. To a ridiculous degree. But did you also know I have a thing for Christian Bale? That may sound silly and/or obvious considering he’s a handsome Hollywood actor who lots of women probably have a “thing” for but my affection for him goes way back. To Newsies.

The funny thing about my strange obsession with Bale is that over the course of the last few years I’ve discovered many women my age who feel the same exact way about him and have that same love for Newsies. So needless to say, when The Dark Knight Rises trailer premiered I had trouble containing myself. I love Batman, I love Bale and this is their last ride together. Although I’m crazy about Bale, he’s not my favorite Batman (that honor goes to Michael Keaton). But no one can say he hasn’t created a memorable role. If for some reason you haven’t yet watched the trailer, do that now and then read on for the thoughts that ran through my head when I watched.

My thoughts on the trailer (and a few more on Bale) in this week's Hey, That's My Cape! at Newsarama.

Watch me Pretending to be on TV with Glen Tickle!

A little while ago I appeared on a very special program called, "Pretending to be on TV with Glen Tickle." You know, the one where I realized I knew the Halo/engagement ring guy. Well anyway, it may not have been on TV but it was recorded and now you can view my segment on YouTube!


We talked about all sorts of things, DC's New 52, cosplay, Doctor Who, it was a fantastic time. Although I totally forgot to mention I'm working at TheMarySue.com now or that I have my first comic book being published in IDW's Womanthology next year. Silly me. Check out the video and spread it around! Thanks, Glen!

Check out other videos from "Pretending to be on TV with Glen Tickle" on their website.

New Dark Knight Rises & Amazing Spider-Man posters!

Yup, I'd hang this The Dark Knight Rises poster on my wall.

A new Amazing Spider-Man poster was recently revealed as well. I like everything about it except that it says "the untold story." Can you remember any time the story of Spider-Man has been told in film? Hmmm...

Which do you like better?

Fright Night Blu-ray & T-shirt Contest!

Did you love seeing David Tennant in the Fright Night remake? Well then, you're going to love this! I've got one blu-ray/dvd combo to give away plus five Peter Vincent tour t-shirts to give away.

(1) Grand Prize Winner will get: 1 "Peter Vincent" T-Shirt + 1 Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack
(4) Runners Up will get: 1 "Peter Vincent" T-Shirt each!

How do you win? Get on Twitter and follow me if you aren't already. Then send a Tweet that says exactly this: "I want to wear David Tennant @TheNerdyBird! Give me a Fright Night blu-ray & #PeterVincent t-shirt!" (You don't need to include the quotation marks.)

You MUST be following me to win and tweet that message out by Sunday December 11, 2011 at 11 P.M. EST. Only one entry is allowed per person and the contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

Fright Night, starring Anton Yelchin and Colin Farrell, is on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD 12/13!

Hey, That's My Cape! – Chad Michael Murray's EVERLAST

It feels like every other year is supposed to be the end of the world. Or at least that’s what some “prophets” would have us believe. Most of the time though, they’re of the mind that not everyone will burn in hell come the end of days but that they’ll be a chosen few who are selected for some greater purpose. And yes, people buy into that thinking more than you’d think but where would your mind go if a stranger told you you were one of the chosen? Like most of the people in Everlast, you’d probably think they were crazy.

Published by Archaia, Everlast was written by television/film actor Chad Michael Murray and hosts a rotating lineup of artists. The story revolves around a man named Derek Everlast, a soldier of sorts, tasked with saving only a select few members of humanity.

Read my review of the book in this week's Hey, That's My Cape! at Newsarama.

Buy stuff from my Womanthology artist, Hanie Mohd!

Most of you probably know by now that Hanie Mohd is the artist for my Womanthology story. Since we met virtually though, she's taken off quite a bit thanks to her fantastic series of DC Ladies in Sweaters. Well, I'm happy to be the first to announce that Hanie has finally opened up a shop for herself where you can purchase them!

Seriously, these have become so popular folks have already cosplayed the outfits at conventions. I couldn't be happier with her success.

I hadn't noticed (but did thanks to the shop) that Hanie also has a Marvel lady donning a sweater as well. Appropriately enough, it's Rogue.

I felt bad I didn't hear about this in time to include her in The Mary Sue's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide but get on over to Hanie's Etsy shop and buy them all up as soon as you can! I know they'll go fast.

EDIT: She's currently doing a contest to give away a few prints on her tumblr!

Remember the guy who bought Halo armor with the money from his un-used engagement ring?

I know him.

Now, now. Don't freak out. I'm not "the girl." The story hit the web a few weeks ago. Writer Eric Smith detailed a heartbreaking yet uplifting story about a serious breakup. On the Bygone Bureau he wrote "Master Grief," the tale of how he sold the engagement ring meant for his girlfriend and bought a full body suit of Master Chief armor from the video game Halo.

Read the entire piece if you somehow missed the story the first time around, although I'd like to pull this one excerpt for you to see:

I feel like there is this misconception about people that are passionate about costumes, whether they are dressed as someone from a videogame, comic book, or anime, and I never quite understood it until I walked my first convention floor. Outsiders think costumers immerse themselves in another character to get away from who they really are — that they are geeks that could never quite cut it, and need to ditch reality for a few hours.

They’re wrong though. Within that shell, whether it’s made of cardboard, plastic, fabric, fiberglass, or steel, hidden away there is a figure worthy of attention. It’s the person who put all their heart and soul into a project, and now they’re wearing their work all over them.

Like I said, I know Eric so why didn't I mention this before? Well, I actually had no idea the guy in the story was Eric until last night. That's when we both appeared on "Pretending to be on Television with Glen Tickle." (You can read an interview The Express Times did with me about it here.) It was fun times but Eric was on stage first and walked up with a Master Chief helmet. "That's odd," I thought to myself, but not so odd for the company we were in really. Then the host (also a friend of mine) got to talking with Eric and the story came out.

I went to college with both Eric and Glen. Eric actually used to date a friend of mine. (Who he later told me people assumed was the ex-girl in question. She wasn't.) But it wasn't until earlier this year that we managed to connect again through Quirk Books. They're the ones who brought us Pride and Prejudice and Zombies among fun titles. Eric does marketing and social media for them and threw some books my way he thought I might be interested in reviewing (like the DC Poster Book). I even chatted with him at the Quirk booth at New York Comic Con a few months ago completely clueless to the fact that he had this major costume.

I have to say, I was very impressed. I knew Eric was a cool guy but he went up about 50 points after hearing he was the one attached to this story. He does more than just walk around in uncomfortable armor though. Eric founded Geekadelphia and actually just published his first book, Textually Speaking. Give them both a look in addition to his personal site and his twitter.

And well, Eric secured a good place in my book by letting me try on the Master Chief helmet last night too. Now all I need is a weapon...

Hey, That's My Cape! - WALKING DEAD and Adaptation Anxiety

Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead is one of a select group of non-superhero comics I read. I started when someone lent me the first two hardcovers in the series and while it was torture waiting for the next one of those to come out, I knew because of the subject matter, I couldn’t read the series issue by issue. I’m currently up to book five, and for the most part I’m enjoying the adaptation on AMC.

Having read the source material of something that is set to be or currently being adapted is a tough spot to be in as a fan. Part of you wants to see and hear exactly what you read on the page but another part of you may realize that might be a bit too literal. After all, everyone has their own interpretation of source material and when bringing together so many creative minds, new ideas are likely to spring to mind.

Read this week's Hey, That's My Cape! at Newsarama for my thoughts and frustrations on adapting beloved fiction.