Enjoying New York Comic-Con 2013

Ever since movie stars and big production companies have started making their presences known at Comic-Con in San Diego, the crowds have gotten bigger and bigger. This year, I'm going to the New York Comic-Con this October 10th-13th, and I have some advice for you if you plan to go and it's your first time. Pay attention, fan-boys and girls. This is going to get detailed.

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare

One thing that might dishearten you if you're dying to see something like the cast of The Walking Dead or the guys from Comic Book Men is that you actually have to arrive about an hour early to panels just to see them. You might even have to sit through a panel you don't even care about just to get a seat for the event you're interested in. I'm not even joking. These panels fill up so quickly, it's ridiculous. My advice to you is that if you're going to Comic-Con specifically to see certain actors or events, make sure that they're your primary objective for being there. You might want to walk around a bit, but it's not worth it. Get into a panel about a half an hour to an hour early and just sit there and wait. It's really the only way to guarantee that you'll get into the really popular attractions.

2. Learn the Lay-out

The Jacob Javits Center isn't too hard to figure out, but you'll want to know the lay of the land before you do anything else. As I mentioned earlier, prepare for what you want to see. If you're just there to walk around and take it all in, then fine. Do that. But if you want to see specific attractions at Comic-Con, learn the lay-out and plan out your day fully. It will save you a lot of grief in the end.

3. Don't wear an elaborate costume if you choose to wear a costume at all

I know this might sound like a big sacrifice to you, but if you have plans to see certain things, then don't wear a costume. You will literally be stopped at least once every three minutes for somebody to take a picture of you. Again, if you're just there to have fun, then go ahead, wear a costume. I'd actually love it if you did because seeing all those people dress up and mingle is the best part for me. But I'm also one of those people who WILL stop you so I can take a picture. So take note. I am not alone.

4. Thursday, Friday, and Sunday are much better days to go than Saturday

Unless you've already purchased your Saturday ticket, you're not going Saturday anyway. But if you did happen to purchase it, just know this--Comic Con is not for the claustrophobic. There are so many people in the Jacob Javits Center on Saturday, that it's hard to move two steps at a time, let alone breathe. Thursday, Friday, and Sunday are much better days to go if you want a more relaxed experience. Sure, you're not going to see the more interesting panels that day, but it will save you a lot of trouble if you can manage going another day. Saturday is ridiculous.

5. Have a Good Time

If worse comes to worst and you don't get to see any panels that you want to see, everybody's taking pictures of you, and you're trapped between a Jedi and a Trekkie, just let it go and have a good time. Remember, Comic Con IS all about having fun. If things don't go your way, just try to enjoy it the best you can. Because hey, just remember, it will be back again next year.

Why The Walking Dead TV Series Will Never Be As Good As It Was In Season One

(Image taken from tvafterdarkonline.com)

The Walking Dead has really, and I mean really, gone down the terlet. The first episode of the series is arguably one of the greatest series premiers of any show I've ever seen. The moody tone and atmosphere were set up so well that I was pretty much ready to proclaim The Walking Dead as my new favorite show over Breaking Bad. But alas, something terrible happened. The show lost its creative juices, and here's why:

Simply put, the show cannot carry an interesting storyline for 13 whole episodes. Think back to the first season. It was around six or seven episodes long, and so much happened. There was the storyline of Rick trying to find his family. The story of Merle trying to take over the group. And the story of Shane sleeping with Lori. And oh, yeah, there were zombies, too. 

(Image taken from: www.marysue.com)

Honestly, the show had it all, and I couldn't WAIT for season two. But then, well, we all know what happened to season 2. A majority of the 13 episodes was spent searching for that short-haired lady's  (See, I don't even know her name, she's so inconsequential) daughter, even though anybody with half a brain could tell you she was probably in the barn with the rest of the zombies Hershel was rounding up. 

Honestly, the only interesting thing about season 2 was the bad blood between Rick and Shane that had been simmering since season one. But even that turned out to be a let down in the end, even though I'm told it does vaguely mimic what happens in the comic. Vaguely, I said.

That said, season 3 is a debacle. What started off decently has again devolved into being the long and boring show that The Walking Dead has become.It practically drags its feet just as slowly as the walkers themselves. Michonne, other than the one episode where she bonded with Carl, hasn't been very interesting. And you can tell that the Governor's character has overstayed its welcome when his whole storyline pretty much revolves around Andrea, who is undoubtedly one of the most grating characters on the entire show.

But what's truly keeping The Walking Dead back from greatness (Other than the loss of Frank Darabont) is the fact that it makes so much damn money!

(Image taken from: www.fastcocreate.com)

The Talking Dead is a prime example. Here we have an hour long show dedicated to talking about episodes where literally only one thing happens to advance the plot. And because The Walking Dead is so popular (Popular enough to gets its own show talking about it) the writers have become lazy and have found no problem in dragging out storylines as long as people since go ga-ga over it. 

But what do you think? I know there are still ravenous TWD fans out there who believe that the show is better than ever. Leave your comments in the box below. I'm interested to hear what you think.

10 Point-And-Click Adventures to Play After The Walking Dead

(Image taken from Complex-mag.com)

Hey, guys, check out my new article. It's about point-and-click adventures. You can find it here.

There Can Only Be One...Black Guy on The Walking Dead

Now, I love me some horror movies, and I've watched quite a few of them in my time. And for anybody who knows anything about the medium, it's been a running gag that if there's ever a black guy in a horror movie, he might as well be wearing a sign on his back that says "Kill me," because he's usually the first to go.

Thus is the genre.

 (Image taken from: Memegenerator.net)

But The Walking Dead on AMC is an interesting case in that nobody is safe and even popular characters die on the show all the time. Just look at this season (Season 3) as an example. Two major members of the crew died in one episode earlier in the season, with one of them being very popular, and the other being, uh, Lori.

But let's get back to that popular character, because his death has brought an interesting trend along with it. Like Highlander, there can only be one, but by one, I mean black guy on the show. In The Walking Dead, it's usually obvious when that character is going to go because he usually gives some big speech or does something noble before he gets the ax (Or the bite, as is prevalent on this show). Don't believe me. Check this out.

Is season one, we had Morgan and his son. Don't remember him? How about now?

 

  (Image taken from: moddb.com)

Still no? How about now?

(Image taken from: comicvine.com)








Yeah, this scene where Morgan struggled with trying to build the courage to kill his zombified wife was a crucial reason why the first season was so great. So Rick stayed with the man and his son, and then he left. And then...well, we never heard from him again.

Enter T-Dog.

(Image taken from: amctv.com)










Not long after Rick left Morgan, we got the "Aww, hell nawl!" spewing T-Dog to take his place. T-Dog, by the way, is played by a guy named IronE, and no, that E isn't capital by accident. His name is meant to sound like the word "Irony." I like to emphasize the E though, so it sounds like Iron E!!! Anywho, T-Dog was mostly a bungling black guy who dropped a key down a hole, and didn't do much of anything. That is, of course, until one crucial episode in season three, where he gave a major speech about why the new criminals they encountered should be trusted rather than kept as outcasts. This was obviously his death speech, because the sight of two black men on the screen at once was too much for the zombie apocalypse to handle. Oh, well, peace out T-Dog.

(Image taken from: tumblr.com)









Enter the next token black guy.

(Image taken from: forum.bodybuilding.com)









Now, I don't even know what this guy's name is, but the fact of the matter is, he pretty much became an official member the day T-Dog died. And, spoiler alert, just last night, the guy who played Dennis "Cutty" Wise on The Wire entered the show clocking zombies on the head with a hammer, and, yep, you guessed it, forgettable black prisoner gets shot and killed protecting his new crew.

(Image taken from: badhaven.com)









Yep, there can only be one. Let's see how long this guy lasts.