How I Fell in Love with CHIKARA

Posted on October 19, 2018 by | Comments Off on How I Fell in Love with CHIKARA

 

Welcome wrestling fans, and join me as I introduce you to the fantastical universe of CHIKARA Pro Wrestling.

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Doom: A Brief History on Super-Villain Team-Ups

Posted on September 1, 2018 by | Comments Off on Doom: A Brief History on Super-Villain Team-Ups

Doom: A Brief History on Super-Villain Team-Ups by Jerry Whitworth

In the pages of Scott Snyder’s Justice League series, the proper Legion of Doom is finally making its way to the primary continuity of DC Comics. Finding its start in 1978’s Challenge of the Super Friends, the Legion of Doom is likely the most iconic and best-known super-villain team that interestingly enough never translated into the comics quite like its animated counterpart until now. Of course, the Legion of Doom was not the first super-villain team to combat the Justice League. The precursor to the Justice League of America in the Justice Society of America faced a team of foes known as the Injustice Society in 1947. Later, some of those villains teamed with Justice League enemies to form the Crime Champions in 1963. Earth-Two’s Wizard, Icicle, and Fiddler aligned with Earth-One’s Felix Faust, Dr. Alchemy, and Chronos to exchange identities and foes to get the better of the other world’s superhero team. This prompted the first team-up between the League and Society to defeat their assembled enemies. In time, the League would face an organized threat from their own cast of rogues but in a rather bizarre manner.

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King of Trios Returns to Easton

Posted on August 28, 2018 by | Comments Off on King of Trios Returns to Easton

King of Trios Returns to Easton by Jerry Whitworth

Tournaments are no stranger to professional wrestling and the independent scene has some notable ones: PWG Battle of Los Angeles (BOLA), ECWA Super 8, APW/PWR King of Indies. But arguably the most notable among these is King of Trios, the biggest event for one of the most dominant independent wrestling companies in the United States in Chikara. Attracting some of the finest wrestlers from across the planet including countries like Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, it’s a showcase of veterans (from companies like WWE, TNA Impact, and Ring of Honor) and future stars like A.J. Styles, Daniel Bryan, and the Young Bucks (the Jacksons having competed in four KOT tournaments). Just last year alone, WWE United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne, inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate (and current NXT Tag Team Champion), and Mae Young Classic competitor Meiko Satomura were among the tournament entrants with Dunne, Bate, and fellow British Strong Style member and current NXT Tag Team Champion Trent Seven taking home the title (competitors are not separated by gender). In 2017, the three-night event took place in Wolverhampton, England but this coming August 31st, September 1st and 2nd, it comes home to the Palmer Center/Funplex in Easton, PA. Lets take a look at some of the sixteen teams competing.

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A Brief Guide to Today’s New Japan

Posted on August 16, 2018 by | Comments Off on A Brief Guide to Today’s New Japan

A Brief Guide to Today’s New Japan by Jerry Whitworth

While WWE remains the undisputed king of pro wrestling, the world’s second biggest promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling has been gaining a lot of attention of late due in no small part to the Bullet Club. However, New Japan can at times be a bit daunting to get into because, like WWE, it has decades of ongoing storylines composed of dozens of characters today alone. I myself have only followed the promotion for a couple years largely because of watching the weekly show on AXS TV which brought me to Ring of Honor’s weekly television show (which some don’t realize is often available on local stations). Friends of mine have started to follow wrestling recently and kept hearing about the Bullet Club and New Japan as I’ve tried to explain some of the company’s larger storylines without trying to lose them with an information dump. It’s with this in mind I thought to try and make an article that provides the basics so that new fans know what’s going on while tying it a bit to wrestling knowledge they already have.

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Kenny Spoils Comics

Posted on August 12, 2018 by | Comments Off on Kenny Spoils Comics

 

Greetings! Some of you may know me as Kenny from the podcast and I am the newest member of the Nerdfect Strangers family. And here is the thing, I love reading comics and working at a comic book store I constantly get the question, “what am I reading and why?”  So I thought I would share my love of comics with ya’ll.  Some spoilers but not too many.  Thanks and tell me what your reading. ✌🏾

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The Outsiders are Coming to Black Lightning

Posted on August 10, 2018 by | Comments Off on The Outsiders are Coming to Black Lightning

The Outsiders are Coming to Black Lightning by Jerry Whitworth

In a recent interview with Newsarama, Black Lightning executive producer Salim Akil said that in the show’s second season, it will move towards assembling the Outsiders. Further, Akil mentioned the inclusion of Grace Choi (Chantal Thuy) in the first season was a conscious effort toward this development. In the comics, when the Justice League refused to take action in a foreign country on Batman’s behalf, he left the group to work on his own with aid from Black Lightning. Therein, several more heroes emerged leading to the formation of the super team. Several members of the Outsiders have appeared thus far in the Arrowverse including Katana, Green Arrow, Arsenal, Indigo, Huntress, Dr. Light, and of course Black Lightning and his daughter Thunder. At this time, it’s unknown which Earth the Black Lightning series takes place upon as such won’t likely be known until the upcoming December five-part crossover that will introduce Batwoman. Further, with the upcoming Titans series dropping in the fall when DC Universe comes out of beta testing, it’s likely Nightwing, Starfire, Terra, Red Robin, and perhaps even Geo-Force (given Terra’s connection to the Titans) will be unavailable. Not to mention the likely upcoming Batwoman series which might embargo Batgirl/Orphan, Creeper, Owlman, and the Signal. Lets then see what heroes could show up to round out the team.

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The Wrestling Time Machine: July of 1995

Posted on August 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The action is heating up…

In the latest edition of The Wrestling Time Machine!

(Content Warning: Blood, Violence, Weapons)

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Posted in Extreme Championship Wrestling, Professional Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment, Wrestling, Wrestling Time Machine

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On Leather Wings: Batwoman Comes to TV

Posted on August 8, 2018 by | Comments Off on On Leather Wings: Batwoman Comes to TV

On Leather Wings: Batwoman Comes to TV by Jerry Whitworth

Two years ago, it was rumored Batwoman was coming to Supergirl. Such did not come to pass but next year, it’s expected the heroine will get her very own television series. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International, it was announced Batwoman will be joining the Arrowverse as part of a five episode crossover event that will also place Black Lightning in that same multiverse. At this time, it’s unknown what Earth the character will be placed upon (Bruce Wayne was only just referenced by name on Arrow last season as Batman has been alluded to but not named on Supergirl) or if such a question will even be necessary (details of the event are, again, yet known which then does not rule out an adaptation of Crisis on Infinite Earths). However, just after Comic-Con came the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour where we learned Batman exists in the Arrowverse but is not scheduled to appear, Batwoman lives in Gotham City, and that a pilot is being filmed for the mid-season to determine if there will be a series (however, it was also stated none of the Arrowverse shows are in any danger of being canceled which likely means executives are high on the brand and thus its extension). Recently, it was announced Ruby Rose (xXx: Return of Xander Cage, John Wick: Chapter 2) will be playing the eponymous character. Working with virtually no details, lets take a look at the character and speculate upon what a Batwoman television series could entail.

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Al Rio Tribute Art Book Volume Three: Interview with Terry Maltos

Posted on August 8, 2018 by | Comments Off on Al Rio Tribute Art Book Volume Three: Interview with Terry Maltos

Al Rio Tribute Art Book Volume Three: Interview with Terry Maltos by Jerry Whitworth

The third volume of the Al Rio Tribute Art Book series has come to Kickstarter and it will be collecting work from the late artist’s 2008 portfolio. As with the past two crowdfunding campaigns, past volumes are available which are products of limited runs (meaning the only available copies of the first book are in fine condition with minor marks limited to only 60 remaining at the start of the campaign). Nerdfect Strangers had the opportunity to communicate with Al Rio’s friend and business partner Terry Maltos who is running the campaign for the eighty-page art book on behalf of the artist’s family.

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Surfing with the Alien: The Toei Silver Surfer

Posted on August 3, 2018 by | Comments Off on Surfing with the Alien: The Toei Silver Surfer

Surfing with the Alien: The Toei Silver Surfer by Jerry Whitworth

Finally wrapping up news coming in from San Diego Comic-Con, I had planned to take a break from the continuous stream of articles I’ve been pumping out until I came across this:

A Toei live action tokusatsu Moon Knight series? This lead me down a rabbit hole of an alternate universe where Toei beat Netflix to the Defenders punch and cranked out a multitude of live action superhero television series putting the likes of Spider-Man, 3-D Man, Moon Knight, and the Silver Surfer on to Japanese airwaves. But before we get there, a little background. From an article I wrote just last week:

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Super-Pets: A Brief History of DC Comics’ Animal Heroes

Posted on August 2, 2018 by | Comments Off on Super-Pets: A Brief History of DC Comics’ Animal Heroes

Super-Pets: A Brief History of DC Comics’ Animal Heroes by Jerry Whitworth

Recently, Collider broke the news that Jared Stern (LEGO Batman Movie, LEGO Ninjago Movie) will write and direct an animated film based on DC Comics’ Super Pets. At this time, few details are available about the project but DC Comics has a rich history with animal heroes. Comic books got their start collecting comic strips which frequently featured animal protagonists and when superheroes began to run out of fashion, animal characters made a return (in fact, Green Lantern found himself becoming replaced by his canine sidekick Streak in his own book). Animal analogies even emerged of these heroes as the Flash had a turtle version called the Terrific Whatzit and Superman received a similar treatment with Super-Turtle. By 1982, an entire animal version of the Justice League appeared in the Just’a Lotta Animals as part of the series Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! Regarding animal companions, heroes like Dr. Mid-Nite and Hawkman were some of the earliest adopters of the phenomenon with Hooty and Big Red, respectively. However, everything seemed to change around the start of the Silver Age when Superman acquired a Super-Dog in Krypto.

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From Page to Screen: Krypton – Season Two

Posted on August 1, 2018 by | Comments Off on From Page to Screen: Krypton – Season Two

From Page to Screen: Krypton – Season Two by Jerry Whitworth

Returning for a second season in 2019, Syfy’s Krypton depicted in its first season the arrival of Brainiac (Blake Ritson) to the eponymous planet and how General Zod (Colin Salmon) traveled back in time to stop the bottling of the city of Kandor (which, in the confines of the show, ultimately led to the destruction of the world) and conquered his homeworld for himself. Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), Superman’s grandfather in Krypton (based loosely on Seyg-El), fought alongside his secret lover Lyta-Zod (Georgina Campbell), his betrothed Nyssa-Vex (Wallis Day), and his best friend Kem (Rasmus Hardiker) with General Zod (Seg and Lyta’s illegitimate son) to stop Brainiac as a time-traveling Adam Strange (Shaun Sipos) tried to stop Zod to ensure Superman’s future. With Strange’s failure, history was changed with Superman being recognized as part of the House of Zod, Seg and Brainiac trapped in the Phantom Zone, Zod conquering Krypton with plans to expand its empire as his mother stands by his side, Earth was conquered by Zod, Doomsday is freed from his imprisonment, and the only resistance remaining to stop Zod is Nyssa, Black Zero terrorist leader Jax-Ur (Hannah Waddingham), Seg’s grandfather and former Phantom Zone prisoner Val-El (Ian McElhinney), and maybe Lyta’s mortally wounded mother Jayna-Zod (Ann Ogbomo). At San Diego Comic-Con International, some details of the show’s second season were announced including a time jump of several months, visits to the Phantom Zone and Brainiac’s homeworld Colu, learning more about Adam (which likely means Sardath and his daughter Alanna), and new characters coming to the show. Lets take a look at who has been announced thus far.

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Top 10: Characters for DuckTales Season Two

Posted on July 31, 2018 by | Comments Off on Top 10: Characters for DuckTales Season Two

Top 10: Characters for DuckTales Season Two by Jerry Whitworth

When DuckTales was announced to be returning, fans expected yet another reboot but were instead treated to a nostalgia smorgasbord. Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, Gummi Bears, and Goof Troop found either mentions or outright inclusion in the series for a Disney Afternoon reunion while familiar faces like Ludwig Von Drake, Goldie O’Gilt, and Gladstone Gander made their way into a handful of episodes. San Diego Comic-Con International provided us a look at the final five episodes of DuckTales‘ first season as well as a sneak peek at character designs for season two. Among those making their way to Duckburg are Scrooge McDuck’s rival John D. Rockerduck, Donald Duck’s cousin Fethry Duck, Bubba the Caveduck, and José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles of Donald’s troupe the Three Caballeros. However, DuckTales co-producer Frank Angones has already said in regards to whatever past thing from Disney you want to see emerge on the show, “We love it too. Absolutely it will.” In that case, lets take a look at what top ten characters will likely emerge on the show in only a matter of time.

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From Game to Screen: Castlevania – Season Two

Posted on July 29, 2018 by | Comments Off on From Game to Screen: Castlevania – Season Two

From Game to Screen: Castlevania – Season Two by Jerry Whitworth

Roughly one week removed from San Diego Comic-Con International and news continues to dribble out. The latest tidbit to rock fandom is the trailer for the second season of Castlevania. Roughly adapting Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (1989), the story follows Count Dracula trying to sink the world in darkness and four heroes rising up to stop him: vampire killer Trevor Belmont, young witch Sypha Belnades, dhampir Alucard, and thief Grant Danasty. The first prequel produced for the Castlevania series, Dracula’s Curse is situated early in the property’s timeline which provides a wealth of material for the series moving forward. Its second season dropping all at once on October 26th on Netflix, the second season will be twice as long as the first at eight episodes. Lets take a look at some characters revealed in the new trailer.

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DC Universe at San Diego Comic-Con

Posted on July 28, 2018 by | Comments Off on DC Universe at San Diego Comic-Con

DC Universe at San Diego Comic-Con by Jerry Whitworth

As we creep closer to the beta release of the DC Universe streaming service and application in August, a litany of content continues to be announced as we learned a library of comics, movies, and shows will be available on the platform for $7.99 a month (or $74.99 a year with three free months). San Diego Comic-Con offered more details about what’s to come including trailers for Titans and Young Justice: Outsiders as well as the announcement of a live action Stargirl series by her creator Geoff Johns. Lets break down what original content we already know will be available on the service.

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