Being Geek Chic is a blog for stylish geeks, sophisticated nerds and people who enjoy the musings of a complete dork. Join us as we dream of driving the TARDIS, cuddle with our eBooks and test out an iPad sleeve. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi and a team of brilliant lady nerds. Meet the team.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fun fact, I’m going to my very first San Diego Comic Con this years. Like a Chihuahua who just accidentally drank a bottle of Gatorade, I’ve been squealing, squawking and shaking with excitement. I asked my friend Megan of the blog, The Nerdy Girlie, to give me her five best tips on how NOT to be a NEWB at my first SDCC and I thought they’d come in handy for anyone else who might be heading to the Cali coast too.
Everyone has a first time at San Diego Comic Con. Here’s five easy ways to be one step closer to official pro status.
1. They show up for a line an hour before a panel expecting to get in. Every year San Diego Comic Con grows in popularity. EVERYTHING has a line. Ticket sales, hotel sales, even parking permit sales. ALWAYS anticipate lining up EARLY for EVERYTHING! Last year for the 10th anniversary Firefly reunion we lined up at 2 a.m. and got pretty good seats. This year for the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who we plan on at LEAST midnight. If it something you really want to do plan to wait a long time to do it.
2. They NEVER leave the convention center. I was guilty of this the first two years I attended Comic Con, now it is my most favorite thing to do. There are SO many awesome things going on outside Comic Con. Nerd HQ is a blast. Last year in front of the Hilton Bayfront, WB set up a stage, and had special guest appearances during the con. One year while walking through the Gaslamp, I stumbled upon a Robert Kirkman signing with only ten people in line with about an hour or two to wait. Inside the convention center, stuff like that has tickets and you are lucky if you get one. Venture out into the Gaslamp. You never know who you are going to bump into.
About a month ago, I told you why you should start reading comics. Perhaps that was just what you needed to get started and to jump into the fold. But maybe you’re still feeling a bit hesitant, and you could use some additional direction. Or better yet, a list of recommendations.
If that’s you, here are a handful of comics that you should start reading today, conveniently organized based on some things that you might be digging these days:
This series is made up of a couple of critically acclaimed, self-published short stories, The Mire and Wolves. They won’t take you long to read, but they’re definitely worth checking out. The backdrop is fantasy-inspired, but the real draw of these stories is the human journey at their core.
Many recent animated films have tested or expanded the conventions of the typical prince and princess relationship – Tangled, Brave, and more. Princeless feels just like one of those great animated films in comic form, but goes even further to break the old convention of the princess as a helpless damsel to be saved and won. The early issues do a great job building the world and setting a tone that matches those timeless adventures we’ve all seen on the screen so many times.
Superman Adventures, Issues #1, #21 and #41
There are many classic Superman stories you’d be well served to check out prior to Clark Kent’s next film outing, including many that I’m still working through myself. Might I recommend starting with a trio of issues from the Superman Adventures series, which is grounded in the universe and stylings of the Superman Animated Series of the late ‘90s? The issues above offer colorful and fun introductions to Superman, Supergirl, their home planets Krypton and Argo, and many iconic baddies too.
Atomic Robo stars a butt-kicking robot (built by Nikola Tesla) whose adventures take place in numerous different time periods and feature Nazis, monsters, dinosaurs and more. Can you see the parallels to your favorite Time Lord already? In any case, each Atomic Robo story arc tells a standalone story within a handful of issues, so it’s a great place to dive in for some swashbuckling sci-fi action.
Invincible Iron Man Annual #1.1, #1.2 and #1.3
So why not check out a couple original comics stories that laid the groundwork for Tony Stark’s latest silver screen antics? Iron Man: Extremis is the Iron Man story with the most direct relationship to the latest film. Along with that, we’ve got a three-issue Iron Man arc that doesn’t actually feature Iron Man at all, instead putting the spotlight on the Mandarin. While diehard comics fans have been split on the portrayal of Mandarin in Iron Man 3, this story strikes a nice balance between the two versions of the character, presenting a man who not only masters great power, but manipulation, subterfuge and theatrics too.
Got additional recommendations of your own? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!
Guest post by Adam Giorgi, who also happens to be my brother. He’s a writer, gamer, reader and Potter head. He also makes cool comics from time to time. Check out his blog: Geek-Attack. Follow him on twitter: @adamgiorgi
I am making a commitment. A commitment to wear color. I know. This is big. Like, really, really big. I think you’ll see that I’m not breaking out that far, but this is a start, no doubt.
Things I’m obsessed with this summer: the moon, stripes, shorts with patterns that look like vintage couch upholstery, tassel things (I’m behind on this trend, but it’s so fun) and green with orange.
Now if only the weather in Minneapolis would quit being shitty. It’s rained for literally two weeks straight. Despite this, the internet keeps me aware of the seasons by helping me purchase these items, because dammit, I want summer now:
($44.93)What are your summer essentials?
Chic geeks, meet Katherine Lamb (@_misslamb) - a talented photographer, crafty blogger, witty writer for the official blog of the International Geek Girls Pen Pal Club, full-time dreamer, and devoted fashionista.
Take a look at her photography website to find unflinchingly personal and honest portraits of Lamb and others, as well as beautiful photographs of the world through Lamb’s eyes. Hop over to her blog, Miss Lamb, to peek inside her home, whip up some Thai food, or craft a Golden Snitch necklace.
Before you go, though, check out Lamb’s interview with Being Geek Chic! You’ll discover how her photography has changed over the years, which fictional character she’d share a drink with, and her sassy advice to 13-year-old Lamb.
Q: What has led you to your passion?
A: I think my inclination towards the arts has always been a defining characteristic about me. As a child I was more interested in glitter glue than dolls and it’s been a pretty linear path since then. As an introvert who struggled with social anxiety throughout my childhood and teenage years, it’s always been easier for me to express myself in a visual way.
Q: How has your process as an artist evolved over time?
I have really come to love and adore the 11th. The 11th Doctor, that is.
While I know the Tennant fan girls outnumber me online and elsewhere, I feel like I’ve seen Matt Smith evolve from a great actor to an extraordinary one during his tenure as the most famous intergalactic time traveler in all the universe. So I decided to suspend regularly scheduled posts for the day to write a quick thank you note to the Doctor who made me fall back in love with bow ties.
Dear Matt Smith,
I think it’s when you said this…
“I am being extremely clever up here and there’s no one to stand around looking impressed! What’s the point in having you all?”
I laughed. And then I smiled. And then later on I smiled again to myself when no one was watching. I maybe even chuckled a little. Because you, in your very own goofy way, are charming.
The way you spun on your heels was charming. The way you pulled on the ends of your bow tie. The way you swished your hair - always to the left. The way you looked at River. The way you patted Rory on the back. The way you hugged Amy. The way you studied Clara. You have a knack for connecting people - making them feel special. And that goes beyond the characters. That goes down deep through digital film to nanotubes and into our television screens all the way to the eyeballs of your eager audience.
Please know that then you leave the show, you also leave me and many others with incredible memories and friendships. These are side effects of a cultural phenomenon that is bigger than any one actor or Steven Moffat or the BBC or even the big blue box - but you, specifically, made a mark on this world. You took a tradition and you made it your own. That’s no easy task. And now every time I put on a bow tie and slip my arms through a tweed blazer I will think of you. And I will be cool.
With love and admiration,
Liz
Tell me friends: what will you miss most about the 11th?
So the last episode of the first season of Orphan Black airs in a little less than an hour here and I can honestly say it’s been the biggest entertainment surprise of 2013 so far. Indeed, BBC America knew what they were doing when they came up with Supernatural Saturday. I can’t even believe I am writing this right now, but by the fourth week of their regularly scheduled sci-fi spree, I started looking forward to seeing Sarah, Felix and the clone crew a bit more than the Doctor. I know. I know. But it’s true.
Here’s five very good reasons why:
1. Tatiana Moslany: I know I am not the only person making this prediction, but Moslany is on the verge of being absolutely huge. She manages to bring out the most subtle emotions in each of the clones she plays and the way she uses her eyes as a central identifier between characters is so delicate and genius that I want to scream “Emmy! Emmy! Emmy!” every time I see that right eyebrow arch for Sarah or those lids blink rapidly for Alison. She truly makes the show what it is.
