Geek Crafts

Image from girlslovesuperheroes.tumblr.com

Can I get a “Heck, yeah!”? I found this awesome inspiring Tumblr site that I just had to share: Superheroes are for girls, too.

Its sole purpose is to highlight “pictures of girls dressed as superheroes, playing with superheroes toys, or reading superhero comics”.

I love the idea of encouraging young girls with positive role models of strong female superheroes, and the idea of providing an online forum for giving these girls an “Atta Girl!” for strutting their stuff. I also love how happy the girls are in the pictures, as well as how “tough” they are.

Let’s hear it for girl power! Who are your favorite strong female role models in superhero-land?

Links of Interest:

• Superheroes are for girls, too
• DC Women Kicking A$$ (their sister site)

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As you may have read in my previous post, I recently attended the Wizard World Comic Con in Chicago.  While many in attendance were in full-scale cosplay mode (costume-play), some stood out to me because of the crafty-DIY nature of their projects.

I loved this crocheted ode to Dr. Who‘s Tardis. My model very sportingly gave me two views.

And with another homage to the good doctor – a walking Tardis! I’m not sure how much of the con this young lady got to see, as she was stopped frequently for photo opps!

This Scott Pilgrim-inspired couple didn’t seem to think their costume very photo-worthy, but I thought they were great. I loved their little labels on their shirts and the giant mallet. Made me want to watch the movie again. It also reminded me of this fantastic embroidery project, posted on GeekCrafts earlier this year. (And I have seen a girl with hair like that – that’s mine pretty much every morning when I wake up! Except the purple part…)

I had to marvel at this repurposed use of a set of Star Wars sheets, used to create a smart suit for the Mayor of Star Wars Town.

Unfortunately I didn’t notice many crafty things for sale at booths, but then, I was cruising through the aisles at warp speed. I was able to nab a few pictures.

Links of Interest:

• Chicago Comic Con 2011 homepage
• Comic Con cosplay Google album
• “Do you know a girl with hair like this?” embroidery project post
• More convention posts on GeekCrafts

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For their birthdays, many women might ask for a day at the spa, or a shopping spree, or at least a fancy dinner. While I can have my girly-girl moments, I really wanted some time when I could bond with my family, and make some lasting memories, before my first-born heads off to college next fall. So I asked for what any good mother to a family of geeks would ask for – a trip to Comic Con.

Last weekend we took a road trip to Wizard World’s Comic Con in Chicago, held at Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, home primarily to all things comic book, but also sci-fi, fantasy, and generally geeky in nature.  The Con was a very decent size, and took us about 5 hours to get through. We could have spent longer, but that was all our trip itinerary would allow.

The view from the entrance was quite impressive and a little overwhelming.

We decided to just go through each of the aisles, making note of interesting things, before attacking with our wallets.  And always considering our GeekCrafts readers, I put everyone on photo duty for all the interesting cosplay (costume-play) adventures. You’re welcome.

My husband has over 100 pics posted in a Google Album, but here is a sampling to whet your appetite [after the jump]. [...]

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X-Men: First Class (2011)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon, and January Jones
132 minutes
rated PG-13

Marvel again brings us the latest adventure in the battle between good and evil with the recent release of X-Men: First Class, which takes place before the previous movies in the X-Men series. This flick chronicles the relationship between young Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, and how they both come to terms with being mutants. Long before they became Professor X and Magneto, respectively, Charles and Erik were friends, meeting in their 20s when they worked together with CIA agent Moira McTaggart.

Because explaining the basic storyline in words doesn’t work as well as viewing it, I will direct you to the IMDB synopsis of the storyline, should you care to read it. Beware of spoilers, though!

I enjoyed the background this movie lent to the X-Men movie series. As a prequel, I thought it worked well. It was interesting seeing the younger, less seasoned versions of the characters, who were still working through the challenges of living as mutants in a “normal” world. The movie did a good job of depicting each character’s unique perspective of what it means to be a mutant, and whether that’s a positive or negative thing. The actors who played Charles, Erik, and Raven/Mystique each seemed to have a good handle on their character’s motivation and perspective, which made it interesting. January Jones, however, didn’t lend much to her portrayal of Emma Frost. She was almost a non-character in the storyline. She mostly just stood there, trying to look brooding and evil.

The special effects were great, of course, though not quite as visually stunning as the scenes in Asgard in Thor. Mystique’s morphing into different personnas was flawless, and I liked the way her scales flicked on and off her skin as she shifted. (I read another review, however, that likened her scales to  “blue bathtub anti-skid stickers“, so your verdict may vary.)

My only disappointment was relatively minor, and not any real issue – my whole family agreed that the way they depicted Beast was just off. When Hank McCoy finally mutated into the blue hairy Beast, he was almost more of a blue werewolf version of a 98-pound weakling, rather than this huge hulking…well, Beast. He needed to be taller and broader, which could have been easily achieved. We couldn’t figure out why they decided to go with a leaner Beast. But, eh, no real biggie. Not a major distraction from the overall entertainment. The cameo by Hugh Jackman with a fabulous Wolverine moment more than made up for it.

And you? If you’ve been to see X-Men: First Class, feel free to chime in with your comments below.

Links of Interest:

• Official movie website
• X-Men: First Class movie synopsis at IMDB
• More movie posts on Geek Crafts
• More comic book posts on Geek Crafts

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“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Super-Mega Woman and Mighty Cool Man in matrimony, which is commended to be honorable and most righteous among all men…”

After finding numerous examples of super-hero weddings online, I’m wishing I had thought to incorporate some of these fun DIY ideas into my own wedding, but I’ll have to settle for the geeky elements of having a marching band playing for our recessional and a Starfleet insignia on our groom’s cake. In case you are in the market for superhero wedding ideas, however, here are some (ahem) super ideas for you to refer to.

The photo to the right is from Neil and Sharon Vaughn’s super wedding, where they dressed as Batman and Wonder Woman, and apparently a number of their guests joined in with the cosplay, too!  (For extra geek points, try to name all the heroes & villains in the picture!)

Take a look at the vintage superhero wedding hosted by newlyweds Megan and Tom, complete with red bridal boots and caped bridesmaids. [The photos are copyrighted, so I couldn't share them here, but definitely click through to check them out!] It looks like a very classy affair, with just the right touch of “super”. It apparently helps to have a marketing background to pump out a super slick invitation like theirs. Megan wrote about their wedding on the Etsy blog, including links to some of the crafty designers.

For Tony & Sarah’s superhero wedding, Tony turned to a local comic book store to help research weddings in specific comic book issues – kudos to him to conferring with experts!  I can imagine the store staff really getting into the task. I like the superhero centerpieces they created – it would be fun to troll thrift shops to find the vintage pieces. They also made an impressive Fortress of Solitude altar.

What would a superhero wedding be without a super wedding cake? Though it mixes comic book universes, this cake posted at the Wedinator…well, takes the cake!

LINKS OF INTEREST:

• Greatest real-life superhero wedding EVER
• Couple marry dressed as superheroes
• Megan & Tom’s vintage superhero wedding
• Handmade Weddings: Vintage Superheroes Conquer the World
• Capes and Cake: Tony & Sarah’s Big Superhero Wedding
• Super hero wedding dance video
• GeekWeddingGuide.com
• Powerful Wedding Cake
• Superhero posts at GeekCrafts

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Me & Thor

Thor (2011)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston
115 minutes
rated PG-13

I’ll go ahead and admit at the outset here that I’ve never read a Thor comic book, or even a full comic book  of any hero variety. A blasphemy of sorts, perhaps, but I’m ok with that. But I still appreciate a good comic book hero movie, and the latest installment in the Marvel movie franchise did not disappoint.

The movie Thor features a godly character of Viking descent – based on a mixture of Norse mythology and Marvel comic book lore. In the movie, the Mighty Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, is the son of the “all-father” Odin, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins, and older brother to Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Just as Thor is about to be crowned King of the mythical realm of Asgard, the Frost Giants break in to Asgard and attempt to steal a powerful relic. Ever the warrior, Thor counsels his father to make swift and violent retribution against the Frost Giants, which would no doubt lead to all-out war. Recognizing his son’s arrogance and pride, Odin calls him a “vain, greedy, cruel boy”, and banishes Thor to Earth without his god-like powers, most significantly without the ability to wield his iconic war hammer Mjollnir. Once on Earth, Thor must learn the humility and wisdom required to be a great ruler, in order to earn back his godly powers and access to Asgard. Along the way he apparently also “learns” the ability to fall in love – with astro-scientist Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman.

This movie was complete eye-candy – I almost wished the Asgard scenes had run in slo-mo so I could take in all the details. The special effects were flawless – from the epic battle scenes in Jötunheim (the frost giant world), to traveling via the Bifrost Bridge portal, to Loki’s cloning powers, to the Earthly battle scene with the Destroyer – all just awesome. This is a film that is definitely worth seeing in the theater to get the full effect of the big screen – even worth splurging the extra few bucks to see it in IMAX 3D (which we did – Happy Mother’s Day to me!)

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