The Game has just started! Game on Expo Review.

        Well fans it's time to give a review of another AZ local convention and I happy to say that it is a much more positive then the previous years review. Your Fanboy got to go spend some time at Game on expo and I am pleased to say that they clearly listened to the fans from last year. They expanded the gaming areas, brought in more high profile guests and more than doubled the amount of vendors.
The expo shows only good signs of growth and possibilities.






    The vendors this year were not only much more plentiful but more diverse. From costume designers, Video game vendors, custom device designers and even coding schools. There was a plethora of choices and unlike some of the other small cons the vendors seemed to enjoy being there and liked the overall atmosphere. I feel that it's only a matter of time before this local gaming expo has the big boys from Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo knocking on their door.






   As with any convention or expo there were no shortage of cosplayers and cosplay groups. The layout of the cosplay groups is really the only complaint I have from this event. The groups had tables at different points up and down the hall way intermingled with tables for other upcoming conventions like Yaiyou cox. Tucson Comicon and Phoenix Fanfest. Though it is always a pleasure to see groups like the 501st, Team Rocket and the Autobots. Not to mention the amazing individual cosplayer's like Krash cosplay, Courtney Leigh and Sara Sundae.




    As I mentioned previously the expo has expanded it's gaming areas by 3 . Plenty of available consoles and arcade systems to go around, as well as a full karaoke stage  Monster energy drink station and concessions. Personally I look forward to next years expo and to see how they further expand the layout and to when they get to move up to the big show at the phoenix convention center. My only change I would offer the team at Game on Expo would be to consider moving it to the winter. AZ needs quality cons in the early part of the year and I think this is one that could easily make that transition.

    Remember guys if you wanna see Fanboy Rant at your local con make sure to reach out to us at fanboyrant@gmail.com. Until next time around don't forget to be a fan!



   

Phenomenal 2016 for Phoenix Comicon

                                    



      Hello to all the Fans, Dorks, Geeks, Nerds and first time con goers out there. 2016 was a banner year for Phoenix Comicon. Now I'm sure that some of you out there have issues with what happened with the registration lines on Friday. All that says to me is that the con is becoming that much better. More and more people both in state and out of state are making a point to attend our hometown convention that we all look forward to all year round. Outside of the Friday snag with the line the con appears to have been a great success. We purposely held back this blog for attendance numbers and though we only have the estimated number  we are happy to inform you that where last year attendance was around 75k the early numbers for 2016 have said to be around 100k. The difference in attendance between the 2 years is honestly amazing.

    Some have asked why these numbers excite me as not only a fan but an avid PHXCC attendee. "Won't this make it harder to get into things you want to do?" To these types of worries I ask you all to be more excited than wary. The rise in attendance will lead to more great things in the coming years. I personally don't focus on guests unless it's someone I'm truly a fan of. But the additional buzz and revenue generated from this year will allow those who run PHXCC to get even higher profile gusts along with a greater variety of guests. This will only allow the con to be an even better event than it already is.

           As always the cosplays that were seen around the convention were all top notch. whether you were in a store bought Halloween costume, something you made yourself or a costume that you commissioned from one of the amazing local seamstresses from the valley you were in good company. The third floor cosplay groups such as the AZA (Arizona Avengers), JLA (Justice League of Arizona) or the 501st were all on point as always. If spectacular costumes are something that you look forward to every year at the cons, then the third floor at PHXCC is always a great place to spend some time. Because honestly besides the groups you will always get the amazing individual cosplayers coming up to see whats going on. 

                               

        Along with many of  you that are from the valley of sun, this is the con that I look forward to and base my years activities around. For anyone reading this who has never attended a Comicon and is truly wanting to fear not. Phoenix Comicon has another event coming up.  Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest is right around the corner in October. Now this is a small event but for a first time con goer honestly it's something that I would honestly recommend. cut your teeth at Fan Fest this fall. It's an event that will also be held at the Phoenix convention center starting this year and it's one that this fan is truly looking forward to.

      I'm sure I will get some emails and comments about individual bad experiences that some of you had. And just like last year the randoms that will say that Phoenix Comicon isn't as good or as big as SDCC or Salt Lake because of attendance numbers or because of the guests that they draw in or what ever reason you can find. But out of any negative comment I have heard or read from this year or in past years one thing stands true. Unlike a lot of shows PHXCC learns from it's mistakes and takes responsibility for them. They truly care about the attendees from the director on down to every volunteer. They go out of their way to create a truly great event for all of us to enjoy and I for one can't wait to see what else they come up with.

     Well everyone in the end it has been a great years con and can't wait to see you all at Fan Fest. Have a great time till then and "Don't forget to be a fan!"

2015 Phoenix FanFest

                                         


          Well fans the con season has come to an end and it's time for all of us to lick our monetary wounds. But with that said it was it was the pleasure of this Fanboy to get to attend Phoenix Comicon's Fanfest. This is PCC's 2nd annual Fanfest and I have to say it maybe my favorite of the smaller local cons. Going through the weekend though as you do with any con there were some not so great stories that floated around and people who found fault with nearly everything in the passing around of interactions and talking to different artists, vendors and cosplayers the overall experience was more than enjoyable and very laid back.

       

            As you find at most con's you had the various booths for costuming groups. The AZA, 501st, DOZD, JLA, and so on. For the most part the groups are always a fun and not only welcome but anticipated part of any con! The effort that these groups put in to be there for the fans and especially the kids in attendance is inspiring. From my own experience if you're wanting to get involved with a cosplaying group the ones listed previously are some of the best and most of them have national if not international options for membership.



       

         For those of use to the standard layout of most cons with vendors in one area artists in another the you were either greatly surprised or horribly confused. Personally I like the mixing and intertwining of artists and vendors. it's breaks things up and gives you a chances to find some sought after products and sought after authors without having to cross the room multiple times. I say good on you PCC!

                                       

            As always got us a good mixture of guests. One or Two fell off as they do for any con and it's to be expected with either shooting schedules or show deadlines. But of course Karen Gillan was the big draw this year and all the chatter was how amazing she was. Being kind and interactive with the fans is always a great way to become a favorite guest. Once again though PCC has given us a good selection especially for this being a smaller con and it only being the second year.

       In conclusion PCC has given another great addition to their line up of conventions and I personally look forward to see what they have in store for PCC 2016 and what they have up their sleeves for us. I have been to many small cons and though I plan my year around PCC this is quickly becoming a second anchor point for my con plans. Those you who haven't had a chance to experience one of their events I would  highly recommend it! They are cons great by the fans and for the fans. Unlike some others that are clearly run by corporations looking to put out as many events as possible these are put together. Do your selves a favor and make a point to either attend Phoenix Comicon or FanFest.

Getting Divergent

     

         I have spent the last couple of months going through the Divergent series. Any of you who have multiple commitments know how hard it can be to find time to read, but with the promise of review and a desire to find out what every one's draw is to this series was, I found a way to put in the time and this is the experience I had with the series.As a series it is one of the better young adult trilogies that I have read in recent past. I say this with the understanding that I previously went through the Hunger trilogy and couldn't bring myself to even finish the 3rd book. The Divergent trilogy it is a fair read and decently entertaining. The first 2 books the story comes solely from the point of view of our Heroine Tris (or Beatrice by her original name.)  In the third book however, you have to get used to the book switching point of views between Tris and her boyfriend Four (Tobias). It is something that at least for me took a bit of time to get used to, seeing as how the first 2 follow a different writing pattern. The overall plot is one that you would expect after finishing the first book and comes to a climax with a fairly predictable ending.

        A post-apocalyptic society that is in the process of rebuilding but seems to have a very Utopian feel. Broken up into 5 factions (Abnegation, Erudite, Dauntless, Amity, and Candor) and every 16 year old takes a test to determine what faction they should be in but then are put in front of nearly the entire community the next day to choose, deciding if they will follow what their heart tells them, their parents, or the test. Our main character ends up leaving her families faction to join one with a bit more style and danger called Dauntless. you meet an array of characters through out the induction portion of the story including who will obviously be her eventual love interest Four. Eventually the inevitable attempt of dictatorship by a character named Jeanine Matthews an Erudite woman (the inventors and scientists of their society.), who feels she has the right to take charge and rule the city as an individual rather than the congress like situation that they currently have. She uses a drug(Serum) to control the minds of the Dauntless and use them like a programmable army to eradicate the current ruling faction called Abnegation. A group so self less they only allow them selves to be selfish if it will benefit others first. the Book comes to and end with Tris and Four shutting down the program controlling everyone, taking the hard drive to contains the program its self and running off with what is instantly a mismatched bunch of characters.

       The second book follows suit continuing right after the first one ends, with no more than possibly minutes that would have disappeared between them, it's like any good sequel and is simply there to get you to the next segment. we re join our rag tag team fleeing to another faction call Amity(essentially the hippies of their society.) the having to again flee for their lives and ending up with what are known as the "Faction-less". A group of people who washed out of initiation from their chosen factions. Finding in this time that Fours long lost and thought to be dead mother is the leader of the "Faction-less". they eventually make it over to Candor(the lawyers of the society. The term brutally honest doesn't begin to explain them!) where they are attacked by dauntless that are now loyal to the erudite, causing them to move on to the former abnigation housing creating an army comprised of the faction-less and whats left of the dauntless. This of course ends in a battle loosing the lives of new and old characters, new knowledge that their city was created similar to a bio-dome like project by one of Tris's ancestors and the inevitable death of Jeanine Matthews.
       
       The third and final book in the series does what you expect it to. Wraps everything up with a fairly tidy yet somewhat bloody bow. My only true criticism I can give is as I said before the third book somewhat changes pace. Our heroes end up leaving their beloved city to find out who is really pulling the strings, loosing one of their group in the process. when they get outside the walls however they find out that people originally thought to be dead were in all actuality smuggled out of the by Tris's mother, and the place they all end up in is in some ways reminiscent of the movie "The Truman show" .  This is where we get into the age old story of Have's and Have not's, and the is an all too expected failed uprising that comes to head with the eventual death of another long term character. in their time in this situation Tris finds out that he mother was a plant to help slowly move all of the Divergent people out of the cent to the research facility before they can be killed by the ruling factors involved and it is in this that you find that the city was simply created to breed and cultivate Divergents.

       The series ends with the way you either hope or expect it to with possibly a small twist here and there. I won't give away the ending and you maybe thinking that I have already spoiled the series, but trust me when I say there is so much I left out and it will keep you reading till the end. The author has since released a book which is a series of shorts of the divergent stories from Four's point of view. Personally I would be more interested in reading these if she hadn't put his perspective throughout the entire third book. Too much is given away almost too quickly by doing this and you almost come to expect what happens. I personally give the series a 3.7 out of 5. I would recommend it to anyone from teen on up who enjoys a good action love story and looking for a good young adult style series to get into. But take this for what it is. My opinion, my point of view and read the series your self and let me know what you think. so to end this please have a read, have some fun and in the end "Don't forget to be a fan!!"

The Death of a Generation!

     On April 8th 1994 I was 11 years old and woke up to a bright Friday morning assuming it would be another school day. I looked at my alarm clock to shock of it saying it was 10 am. school had started 2 hours ago and couldn't understand how I was so late. I threw my cloths on and ran into the living room to find my mom waiting for me. the TV was on with scenes of police at a crime. The views of a dead body on carpeted floor kept going across the screen. I stopped for a moment not quite understanding what I was seeing.

       I looked at my mom and then back at the TV just in time to hear Kurt Loader say one of the worst things that I had heard at that point in my life. "Kurt Cobain, front man for the Grunge band Nirvana was found dead this morning in his Bellevue WA. home." It may sound stupid to some but everything just stopped in that moment. Even at 11 I had a huge fandom for Kurt, for Nirvana and it was like they were announcing that music had been outlawed. I found myself collapsing on to the couch next to my mother looking at her begging her to make not true. It had to be a sick joke or a prank or stunt. It had only been a few months prior that we had got to see at the state fair that year. Not having the money to actually attend the show we wait just to get to see him go on stage.

     Kurt died 20 years ago this month. I know I'm a bit late in getting this online for the anniversary of his death but to be honest it took a bit to put the courage together to do it. I was never fortunate enough to meet the man and as I have just said I had only ever gotten to just get a live glimpse of him. But every year I try to take the 5th of April to remember this man who brought a generation of people together. His music gave purpose to thousands of people who found them selves not fitting, who felt lost and no sense of control in their life. 

     As I sit here putting this together I find myself watching Nirvana Unplugged in New York which as most know is arguably the last public appearance Kurt would make. I find a very deep connection with his music as many other people from my generation do . I will end my whining on the subject soon but I would like to say that I will never point fingers simply because we will never know the truth one way or another about Kurt's death. But I will put out there that I still do not believe he killed himself. For those of you who want to argue the point I will use this one fact. His case is still open. There are far too many holes and discrepancies for the suicide answer to be true. 

    To end this I would just like to ask that the next time you hear a Nirvana song you take a moment to take it in and enjoy it. There are still many great bands and musicians out there But there were only a hand full before Kurt and there hasn't been a band with the same impact since. I can honestly say that his music saved my life at one point and though I will not go into the details I will just say that All Apologies will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish would could have seen what he would have brought to this world by now but sadly that won't happen. So in closing I will just say God bye and you will Never be forgotten Kurt!

Inking it right

             Hello to all the fans, dorks, geeks and nerds out there and welcome to the first post for the Fanboy Rant Off. In this rundown we are going to discus something that is near and dear to me which is tattoos. It's not commonly known that I am a tattoo artist, but it's one of the passions in my life. Every time I put needle to skin you can feel the angst and fear leave a persons body when they begin to feel that little point of pressure. A tattoo can save a person's life. I have seen this fact more time than I can count. The parents that lost a baby, the child that lost their parents or the fan morning the loss of an icon. Having that constant reminder on their skin give them a way to not only come to terms with the issues in the lives allows them to get past it and get on with their lives.


              With that said I beg and plead of you to please think before you ink! Now I am not gonna give you the "What's it gonna look like when you're 80?" speech because we all know that a bull shit argument. Most of the elderly who are covered look amazing and at least some if not most of their pieces have held up over the years. But just please think about what you're gonna get before you get it. If you have no ink or a couple or a lot and looking to get more there are some basic guide lines that you wanna pay attention too before you get some permanent art work! 1: Tattoos last longer than romance.(There is no end to the amount of people who have at least one exes name or god forbid a portrait on them. If you must get something for a spouse get something that you can change to story of later so if you still at least like the design you don't have to go through the pain of having it removed or covered. yes it hurts more the second time around!) 2: If you don't have tough enough skin to be made fun of after its done then get your ass out of the chair. (No matter what you get someone some where is going to give you shit for your ink! if you can't deal with that you're too much of a pussy to have a tattoo!) 3: Unless you plan a career that doesn't deal in mainstream anything make sure you can hide your art work! (Let face it folks, there is still a big stigma about people with ink and if you have any desire to be in the corporate world, HR, customer service where you're dealing with people face to face, if your employer requires you to hide it make sure you can.)


               Now I will never be the one to tell you not to get a symbol that you like, or a phrase that means something to you. By all means if it has a significance to go for it. Before I end our first blog I want to say one thing about the artists. They are a breed all unto themselves. when picking a artist just keep in mind there are some really shady artists are in shops and there are some truly amazing artists that work out of their house, or are willing to come to you. Be cautious with this too because it works the other way. Make sure that who ever you pick is clean and is more concerned with the art and the client than the money they're getting paid. Just don't automatically push aside an artist because they're not in a shop. Do your research find an artist to match what you're looking for. So go out there, find the beauty in someone else skin art and as always "Don't forget to be a fan!"