Clickbait and Misinformation

Why We Should Let The Studios Do Their Job

I'm more than excited, like everyone else, for the new Marvel and DC movies.  I have seen nearly every comic movie in theaters, particularly the newest ones.  I love everything Marvel and DC, and I look forward to the movie slates that have been announced.  I’m not an inside man, I don’t get emails and updates from Marvel/Disney Studios or the WB Studios; I read news and get my updates just like everyone else.  I have a want and a need to know the latest just like everyone else, but I have a small request from my fellow fan boys and more importantly the news websites and perpetrators of hype news.  Please settle down and let the studios do their jobs.

Sometimes I feel like it’s a misinformation roller coaster.  Keanu Reeves, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joaquin Phoenix, it’s confirmed its Phoenix, it’s confirmed its Cumberbatch, when nothing is confirmed from the studio.  The leaking of the Avengers trailer, the batmobile and Batfleck pics, and the list goes on.  I have a deep desire for the newest news like everyone else and I want to know these things, but I want to know from the studios, not from news websites that can’t confirm but have a strange need to be the first to report.  I understand the need to be prompt with news, especially in this day and age,  but I don’t get the need to hype the unconfirmed.  My inner sweaty nerd gets excited every time I hear a piece of news that pertains to the MCU or DCCU but I’m somewhat sick of the misleading and jumping to conclusions.



I see three particular things that worry me about the way comic and news websites have been jumping to conclusions.  I wanted to get it off my chest.  I hope that everyone agrees and I welcome differing opinions.  Here are a few things that concern me.

The first thing is the spreading of misinformation.  Every time a site reports a piece of news that is unconfirmed they lose credibility.  This is a natural reaction to basically being lied to.  Sorry random news/comic news sites, but it’s true.  Every time they confirm something unconfirmed and get me excited, my excitement is less and less every other time I read their site.  It’s always in everyone’s best interest to tell the truth, it has been since the beginning of time.  The spread of disinformation is starting to make me cynical and critical when reading news.  I don't like the way news sites have become rumor mills.  I still think news sites should be held to a higher standard than a chat room.

The second problem I see is the way that Marvel and DC guard their ideas and properties.  During the big Marvel announcements they played around with us several times about some things like the names of projects.  They announced the name of Captain America 3 as Serpent Society before taking it back and revealing it to be Civil War.  I don’t hold it against Marvel at all, in fact I agree with it, they have to do something to stifle the misinformation and plug the leaks within their own studio.  It has gotten to the point where they can’t conduct business without having their necks breathed down and I feel like the only people that suffer are the consumers.  I’m glad that Marvel has so many ideas and a huge slate and I can wait to know for sure who is playing a character in a movie that is two to four years away.

The third problem I see is the fact that comic cons have made a living in all their versions of hall H and the big announcement from Marvel and DC.  Everyone loves the comic cons and they help smaller lesser known comics get foot traffic and some extra exposure.  The little guys deserve to be set up next to Marvel and DC and they deserve the foot traffic that may not have seen them otherwise.  It’s all part of the family and all part of the comic lifestyle that we all love, we need to let the studios do what they do so damn well and entertain us.  By letting Marvel and DC draw their fans, indie comics get the exposure benefits.  If Marvel announcements are drawing thousands of people and a slight percentage spends $5 or $10 on indie comics then it turns out to be a pretty nice win for those indie comic producers.



I love Benedict Cumberbatch and if he becomes Doctor Strange when it’s all said and done I will be ecstatic, but I can also wait to hear from Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios to tell me for sure.  I can wait for Comic Cons and official statements.  I can do without the misinformation and the jumping to conclusions because in the end I have loved everything they have done and I have faith I will love what they have planned.  Even though the big two are huge studios they’re still made up of people that are trying to create something worth while and they deserve the right to create without their ideas being passed as fact and the spread of disinformation.

This has been mostly a request for news sites and organizations to be more credible but also for fan boys and girls to be responsible about where they get their information and who they believe.  I know you love everything like I do, so do everything you can to support the process and the Comic Cons by stepping back and letting the studios do their best work without the perpetuation of disinformation.  I have a feeling that it will end up being primarily our responsibility until the news sites lose viewers.  Nothing motivates news sites like numbers, or in this case the loss of numbers.  In the end they will bounce back and the fans will start receiving real information again.  It will be a win win.

The Players of Comic Con

The Best Cosplay of New York Comic Con 2014

Photos by Franklin Michael Venegas

 Marvel Comics cosplayers.

Comic Con offers us many fun things that will satisfy all of our geek needs. From comic book news to vendors that sell collectibles that we haven’t seen since childhood to autograph signings that allow us to meet our favorite celebrities.

It also gives us fans a safe place where we can dress up as our favorite comic book heroes or villains. Sure, it feels like Halloween has arrived early but it’s always great to see how creative people get with their costumes.

Below I’ve selected some of the top looks that I was lucky enough to encounter inside the Javits Center. So be ready to see both kids and adults dressed up in some awesome characters which include The Riddler, Zombies, Peter Pan and some other cool characters.

Also, I've put a (?) below some photos because I wasn't sure of the character. So, I challenge you viewers to help us out by posting who they are in the comments below. Thanks!

Darth Vader and his Apprentice

Louise Belcher, squared

(?)

The Joker and Poison Ivy

The crew of Serenity: Kaylee Frye, Inara Serra, and Malcolm Reynolds

Wonder Girl aka Wonder Woman

A crew of Boy Wonders also known as Robin

The Dark Knight inspired Joker

A Marvel Zombies Spider-Girl

The Black Widow

Creatures from Silent Hill

Different Lantern Corps

The Black Panther

A Zombie from The Walking Dead

A kid-sized Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

A female Joker and Batman

Ellie from The Last of Us

Metal Gear Solid's Solid Snake

 Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Link

(?)

 Agent Peggy Carter and her boys from Captain America: The First Avenger

 An Arkham Asylum inspired The Joker

(?)

Night Elf from World of Warcraft (?)

The Tenth Doctor

The Kid Riddler

A female Two-Face

Ghostbusters

Harley Quinn

Captain Marvel

(?)

The Joker

The Riddler

The Gold Zeo Ranger

Peter Parker aka Spider-Man

Classic Batman and Batgirl with a Zombie Marilyn Monroe

Zombie Tinkerbell and Peter Pan

The Red and Pink Ranger from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers

Twisted Metal Clown

Skeletor from He-Man

A female Link

Freddy Krueger

Game of Thrones

The Hobbit (?)

The X-Men

A Stormtrooper

How to Survive New York Comic Con

New York Comic Con is Nearly Upon Us! Here's What You Need to Know to Survive This Weekend.

It's that wonderful time of the year again when the streets of New York City will be swarmed with comic book loving citizens. Some will be dressed in spandex while others will remain incognito in their secret identity. But all will be sharing one thing: everyone will be wearing a special badge around their neck that has a photo of a Walking Dead character and the letters NYCC 2014 on it. That's right, it's time for the New York Comic Con.

If you've never been to a comic con, you're in for a treat. It's an annual event that takes place in both San Diego and New York City. During the con there are many panels where you will hear the latest news in the comic, movie, television and pop culture world. You can also shop for the latest comic book swag, meet artists both professional and independent, and if you're lucky enough meet your favorite writer, actor or illustrator. An added bonus is that you will see fans from around the world dressed up as your favorite comic-book hero walking the halls of the Jacob Javits Center; if you're lucky enough you can be in the center of both Princess Leia and Poison Ivy or Wonder Woman and Black Canary.

Here's a few tips on what to do before, during and after the con.

1. Activate your badge. Security is strict at the con and they will not let you in if your badge has not been activated. It's simple, just log onto the website that's listed on the back of it, enter the badge number and presto, you're done.

2. Don't lose your badge. This your only way in and out of the con, security will have you scan your pass as you enter and exit the building. This means that you shouldn't enter the con, borrow a friends badge who already got the green light to try to sneak in a friend. It won't work. Security will scan the badges out. Sorry to burst any bubbles.

3. Wear comfortable shoes. You'll be walking a lot. Trust me, your feet will thank you.

4. Bring a backpack. Stuff that backpack with the following: a phone charger or a rechargeable battery, a water bottle, peanuts or a quick snack, a camera, and a sharpie for autographs.

5. Bring cash. A lot of vendors will take credit cards but others only take cash. The ATM fees on the show floor are expensive. If you have Chase, you can avoid those fees by going to a Chase ATM by the food court in the lower level - just be ready for a long line.

6. Don't lose your badge.

7. If you have a smart phone, download the NYCC app. It will detail all the panels that are happening, what celebrities are coming and where they and all other events will take place. It will also show you a calendar that has the events listed for the whole weekend.

8. Have a game plan. Planning before hand will make your experience at the con a lot easier and you'll have more fun.

9. Play the scavenger hunt, it's actually a lot of fun and will show you different parts of the con. The game should be on the app.

10. Go to booths and either tweet, hashtag, or Instagram their name. For helping with their publicity you might get some free swag.

11. Meet the Green Ranger and Xena. Jason David Frank, Lucy Lawless and other celebrities will be there.

12. Check out booths like Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, DC Comics and others for some more free swag.

13. Go to Artists Alley. Here's a nice little gem that's part of the con. In years passed they've had Artist Alley on the North end of The Javits Center. Here is where you can meet your favorite published artist and discover new talent. My advice is walking around once before buying anything. There is so much talent in this room that you will want to be everything you see. Yes, it will feel weird looking through portfolios and not buying anything so just mingle with the artists and take their business cards. If you like something come back and buy it. By the entrance of the alley, you'll see a large booth that has plastic folders in various sizes to protect the art you buy. Go there, they are awesome.

14. Take breaks. There's a lot happening at the con and you will get tired. Take a second to recharge.

15. Go with friends. It's always fun to be with a buddy that can enjoy and understand why you love this world. Please don't take someone who hates comics, give that pass to someone who will love this event.

16. Don't forget your badge. (See a pattern, here?)

17. Thursday is a chill day. Friday is a little busier. Saturday is plain nuts so be expected for crowds. Sunday is kid's day - it's really cute seeing little girls dressed as Wonder Woman and little boys dressed up like Logan with the side burns, leather jacket and claws.

18. Take photos!

19. Have fun and stay safe.

New York Comic Con is held at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan. The Javits Center is located at 655 West 34th Street.  For more information and hours, check out the FAQ section of the NYCC official website at: http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/About/NYCC-Fan-FAQs/.

Enjoy the con and remember to take care of yourself.

Stay geeky, my friends.