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The Northlake Public Library seeks to "smash" preconceptions with The Incredible Hulk

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Wed, 22 May 2013

The Incredible Hulk has rampaged through comic books, television and the cinema, but if some folks have their way he will also be coming to the library? That's what the comic-book fans behind the "Bring the Hulk to the Northlake Public Library" fundraising campaign have in mind.

With the struggling economy putting the pinch on budgets, public institutions like the Northlake Public Library are turning to crowd sourced funding to try support projects they couldn't normally afford. The "Bring the Hulk to the Northlake Public Library" campaign launched on Indigogo, a crowdfunding site, a few weeks ago.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a 9 foot tall statue of the Green Goliath that would be placed adjacent to the Graphic Novels section in the library. In addition, funds would be used to create a "digital creative space" for patrons that would include an iMac with a drawing pad, editing software, Cintiq interactive pen display, Artograph Light Tracer Elite and a 3D printer.

But why all the geeky tech for a library? According to Northlake Adult/Teen Librarian Tyler Works, the ongoing trend is for libraries to give people access to creative digital technologies that they couldn't afford on their own. And while there have been other libraries in the U.S. to hold crowd sourcing campaigns for similar purposes, Works believes that Northlake is the first library in Illinois to do so.

(I'm pretty sure they're the first to try and get a giant Hulk statue!)

When asked about public response to the campaign, Works says "There's been a bit of 'what? Libraries don't normally do that kind of thing! But it's been positive."

So, the obvious question is "Why the Hulk?" Why not Spider-Man or Iron Man? Northlake resident Tom Mukite points to the Hulk's duality, "Bruce Banner represents the nerds (science and knowledge) while the Hulk represents the creative process breaking out, something larger than life."

The campaign has gained a lot of attention, getting coverage in The Onion's AV Club, the UK Guardian, Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. Comments on the campaign's Indiegogo page are supportive, with several librarians cheering them on. But despite all that, the campaign has yet to reach it's target goal of $30,000 with less than 18 days left.

And what if the campaign doesn't reach it's goal? Would it still be considered successful? Works says that it depends on how you measure success. "Any money we get is a success" he says.

At the very least, funds will be used to purchase new books for the library. Also, the campaign has helped change the way libraries are perceived. No longer just stuffy buildings where you go to read musty old books and get shushed by the stoic, silver-haired librarian. Libraries are centers of creativity and community interaction.

"The press and attention has been a success," Works insists, "not just for us but libraries as a whole."

And with the Incredible Hulk looming over your shoulder while you read the latest issue of "Iron Man", I don't see how anyone could look at libraries the same again.

The Northlake Public Library serves the towns of Northlake, Stone Park and unincorporated Leyden Township.

For more info on the "Bring the Hulk to the Northlake Public Library" campaign check out their page on Indiegogo.

Elliott Serrano is a Redeye Special Contributor and Resident Geek.

Follow Elliott on Twitter! (And don't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry. )

Complex Storytelling of CLOUD ATLAS benefits from Blu-Ray/DVD release

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Mon, 20 May 2013

When the Wachowski's (architects of The Matrix Trilogy) set out to adapt David Mitchell's brain-bending sci-fi novel CLOUD ATLAS for the big screen, I'm sure there were many who thought it couldn't be done. In fact, during one of the behind-the-scenes featurettes on the recent Blu-Ray/DVD release of the film, they admit to having their doubts at times. But after viewing the film in the comfort of my own home, with the leisure pace allowed by the home theater experience, I would attest that they succeeded in creating a film as complex and compelling as the book that inspired it.

CLOUD ATLAS tells 6 different stories that take place across space and time, and yet are all linked together. Starring names like Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent and Hugo Weaving, the film takes viewers from a Pacific Ocean voyage in the 1840's; to the travails of a young composer in 1930's Scotland; to a murder mystery set in 1970's San Francisco; to a present-day farce featuring a bumbling English book editor; to an action epic set in a futuristic "Neo Seoul"; to a post-apocalyptic tale where the salvation of humankind hangs in the balance.

Quite a mouthful, no?

Considering the mash-up of genres, the film is a bit disjointed at first, but the narrative quickly achieves an almost musical rhythm that propels the story along at a spellbinding pace. Clever cuts and transitions work to weave the seemingly disparate stories into a single tapestry that rewards the viewer for hanging on for the run-time of 172 minutes. And with the benefit of the "pause" button to allow for bathroom and snack breaks, the experience isn't as demanding as it would be in a movie theater.

After viewing the film, you will also benefit from watching the "Focus Points" special features that detail how the Wachowski's - along with co-director Tom Tykwer - managed to juggle filming 6 different films simultaneously and merging them into one single movie. Like CLOUD ATLAS itself, it's an impressive undertaking.

CLOUD ATLAS GETS A GEEK FACTOR RATING OF 4 SHOOTING STARS (out of 4)

"Cloud Atlas" available NOW on Blu-ray Combo pack, DVD and Digital Download

First Look! Prelude to Infinity - Avengers #14 [SUPER-SIZED GALLERY]

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:50:00 -0500

HBO celebrates True Blood The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-Ray/DVD

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:54:00 -0500

Geek confession time! When the show True Blood first premiered on HBO, I wasn't a fan. Quite frankly, I felt as if the show was treading too closely to territory that belonged to my all-time favorite vampire series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." But as the show proressed and the characters developed, I came to really enjoy the world that Alan Ball crafted out of the "southern fried vampire" books by Charlaine Harris. Over 5 seasons, True Blood has been able to do things that couldn't be done on Buffy, exploring themes and situations that are just too mature for network television. So yeah, I'm a convert.

I know that there are fans who kind of soured on the show with the fifth season, but I really enjoyed it myself. The overall storyarc involving Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) crossing swords with the Vampire Authority gave a nice "buddy cop/bromance" element to their relationship which made for an interesting - and often comedic - dynamic. And the portrayal of religious fanaticism within the vampire community gave the show a real resonance in our "post 9/11" debate over religion and violence in the "name of God." That is why I'm excited for the release of True Blood The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-Ray/DVD.

The good folks of HBO Home Entertainment sent me a copy (see my Instagram Gallery above) and are giving fans a chance to win signed copies and other cool True Blood goodies! This will all be happening on Twitter and social media to celebrate the release of the set on May 21st. Here are the details from HBO Hom Entertainment:

"To celebrate the launch of True Blood: The Complete Fifth Season on DVD/Blu-ray with HBO Select, HBO Home Entertainment is inviting fans to "Fill In The Blood" for a chance to be part of a DVD virtual signing with stars Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) and Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam De Beaufort)!

"Beginning yesterday and ending 5/17, the True Blood Twitter feed (@TrueBloodHBO) is hosting the "Psalms of Lilith" contest. Each day fans will be asked to fill in the missing words from a Psalm of Lilith (#fillintheblood) and the top ten submissions for each Psalm will win an autographed copy of the release. All of the winners will be announced the day after their tweet. The official micro-site for the contest is: www.fillintheblood.com.

"At 12pm PST/3 pm EST on Tuesday May 21st, the title's street date, Moyer and Bauer van Straten will participate in a virtual signing live from Bill Compton's mansion on the True Blood set, during which they may read the winning tweets, sign DVD copies and answer submitted questions from fans (which can be submitted by any follower on @TrueBloodHBO). The signing will stream live on a True Blood branded Ustream channel (link to view will be provided on www.fillintheblood.com ). Winners will also receive a copy of their winning tweet on an old-world styled parchment as a keepsake, along with other prizes."

If you're a fan of True Blood, be sure to check out this event!

ELLIOTT SERRANO IS A REDEYE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR AND RESIDENT GEEK

FOLLOW ELLIOTT ON TWITTER

Telltale Games previews FABLES: "The Wolf Among Us"

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Wed, 8 May 2013 11:33:00 -0500

While attending FABLESCON a couple months ago, I was deeply immersed in the world that Bill Willingham created in his award-winning Vertigo comic FABLES. I'm sad to say that I ended up missing the Telltale Games panel where they talked about the new game based on the series. Now I'm happy to share this release from the makers of "The Walking Dead" game!:

"Greetings Mundies, Today we would like to share the first set of screenshots from our upcoming episodic game series The Wolf Among Us, which is based on Bill Willingham's award-winning comic book series 'FABLES.' The Wolf Among Us is set to premiere later this summer on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®Network, and on PC and Mac from the Telltale Online Store and other digital distribution outlets. Additional platforms to be announced.

A consistent New York Times bestseller, 'FABLES' is one of DC Entertainment's longest-running series published under its Vertigo imprint since 2002. With over a dozen Eisner Awards, including Best Writer, Best New Series, and numerous wins for Best Serialized Story, the FABLES universe has become one of the richest mythologies in the world of comics, imagining that characters like Snow White, The Big Bad Wolf and Pinocchio from the world's most beloved storybooks are real - Real, and living among us, with all of their powers intact.

Set prior to the events seen in the first issue of the FABLES comic book series, The Wolf Among Us puts players in the role of Bigby Wolf, a man once more infamously known as The Big Bad Wolf. Now the sheriff of a hidden community in New York City, exiled from the land of fairy tales, Bigby is tasked by the bureaucrat Snow White to keep order within a society of mythical creatures and characters trying to remain undetected in the world of the mundane. From a chain-smoking member of 'The Three Little Pigs,' to a car-stealing Mr. Toad itching for his next wild ride, The Wolf Among Us examines the lives of beings straight from the pages of myth and lore, now trying to survive on the meanest and most run-down streets of New York City."

After Telltale Games creating hits in their "Jurassic Park", "The Walking Dead" and "Back to the Future" titles, and knowing of Bill Willingham's involvement in the game, I have high hopes for "The Wolf Among Us"!

Top Geek Gal Bonnie Burton Presents: TENTACLES, A Squiggly Art Show!

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Fri, 3 May 2013 20:38:00 -0500

Game of Thrones Panel @ C2E2 [GALLERY]

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Fri, 3 May 2013 15:23:00 -0500

Marvel NOW! X-Men #1 FIRST LOOK [SUPER-SIZED GALLERY]

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Thu, 2 May 2013 15:23:00 -0500

Iron Man 3 Review: Tony Stark and the Curse of Being a Comic Book Geek

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Wed, 1 May 2013 22:46:00 -0500

Man, it's times like these that I wish I didn't read so many comic books. Especially when it comes to Iron Man, because had I not gone into Iron Man 3 with certain pre-conceived notions about the characters, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I'm going to try and explain why I felt the way I did without spoiling anything

Deep breath

Okay, in Iron Man 3, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) deals with the aftermath of events from The Avengers movie and faces his greatest enemy ever, The Mandarin.

Now, readers of the Iron Man comics know the Mandarin as a would-be Asian dictator with ten rings of alien origin that gave him ten different powers. When he first appeared in the comics, he was a politically incorrect - and somewhat offensive - stereotype. If you read those early appearances, you wince, not as his evil machinations but his faux-Asian dialect. It would take decades before someone could truly get a handle on the character. John Byrne (X-Men, Alpha Flight) did a nice job setting him up as Iron Man's foil in the 90's. And Matt Fraction (Iron Fist, Hawkeye) hit a home-run when re-invented the Mandarin as a Kim-Jong Il type who imagined himself a direct descendent of Genghis Khan. (You can buy the issue on Comixology. I highly recommend it.) Ask most ardent comic book readers who grew up on Iron Man and they'll tell you that the Mandarin is his greatest nemesis, the fire-breathing dragon to Tony Stark's shining knight.

Which is why I have such a problem with what they did with him in Iron Man 3. Now, I can see why the character would require some modification for today's audiences and I don't take issue with them turning the Mandarin into a pseudo-Osama Bin Laden. In fact, I found the angle to be rather clever and contemporary. It's just when they take the character to another level, with a development that takes him so far away from the comics, that I found it distracting to the point where I couldn't really enjoy the rest of the film.

Aw crap, I've turned into one of those comic geeks!

Don't get me wrong, Iron Man 3 is a fun movie. It's full of action, humor and some sneaky plot twists that are going to take movie goers by surprise. Director Shane Black's influence can be felt throughout the film. From the opening narration that reminded me of his previous effort "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", to the "Lethal Weapon" style banter between Tony Stark and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), to the big, climactic battle that evoked memories of "Long Kiss Goodnight." Black has a certain style and wit that fits well in the Iron Man series and suits Robert Downey Jr. to a tee. I'd love to see them team up again for another installment.

But I'd also like for the screenwriter to sufficiently explain why Tony Stark didn't call the Avengers in to help him out. Or why, after his home is attacked, no agents of SHIELD appeared? Or even why, when the freakin' President of the United States is threatened, Captain America doesn't just show up to take over? A few lines of dialogue explaining that the Avengers were "off-planet and/or unavailable" would have done the trick.

(And since I'm in nitpick mode, why have the Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) character around to explain things when Tony never bothers talking to her, deciding to go sleuthing on his own instead? And boy, he sure seems to have spectacular luck finding a farmhouse with all the equipment he needs to repair his armor. The coincidences start piling up at that point.)

Anyhoo, I'm sure the things that rankled me - as a nitpicky nerd - aren't going to bother the general audience that the film is aiming for. Like I said, this is a time when I wish I wasn't such a comic book geek.

Oh, and for all it's worth, Robert Downey Jr. IS Iron Man.

IRON MAN 3 GETS A NERD NITPICKY GEEK FACTOR RATING OF 2 ½ REPULSOR BLASTS (OUT OF 4)

P.S. As with the previous Marvel Films, you are advised to stay until the end of the credits for an additional scene. Trust me. It's worth it.

IRON MAN 3 (in Digital 3D and RealD)
MARVEL STUDIOS presents in association with PARAMOUNT PICTURES and DMG ENTERTAINMENT

Genre:                          Action-adventure
Rating:                          PG-13
U.S. Release date:         May 3, 2013
Running time:                129 min.

Cast:                            Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley

Director:                        Shane Black
Producer:                      Kevin Feige
Executive Producers:     Jon Favreau, Louis D'Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Dan Mintz

Screenplay by:              Drew Pearce & Shane Black

Geek To Me's C2E2 2013 Costume Gallery [SUPER-SIZED]

Elliott Serrano, for Redeye — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:34:00 -0500