Friday, October 24, 2014


Tonight, the annual Mayfair Theatre tradition is back with the Halloween-time tradition of the shadow cast hosted cult cinema epic that is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We're proud to continue to host the third most successful Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings in the world, and the biggest in all of Canada. Between tonight and Halloween, you'll have five chances to catch the movie, and participate in all the sing-a-long, toast and playing card throwing fun.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens tonight and tomorrow at 10:30pm, and on Halloween at 6:30pm, 9:15pm, and midnight.

Thursday, October 23, 2014



Here's another dose of Sheezer from the archives. They were great last night, as per usual. It wasn't a packed house, maybe some folks still feeling a need to avoid downtown Ottawa for the time being. None-the-less, a fun time was had by all, and I got myself another Sheezer shirt. Do yourself a favour and go check 'em out if you are lucky enough to have them swing by your town.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014



Something horrible happened in my beloved hometown of Ottawa today. The downtown core was put on lock-down in the aftermath of a shooting. I was moments away from heading straight in that direction for a lil' freelance gig, crewing on a corporate show set-up. A few hours later, I headed downtown. Besides for a whole lot of news trucks, there was no evidence of terrorism. And, when I walked home at 10:00pm, everything seemed nominal.

I had to check in with friends worldwide as they contacted to make sure everything was ok. Which always make one feel secure that the world is in fact a great place most of the time, and that people are good, and that we all care about each other. Tomorrow, my friends and I will go into the downtown core and partake in an evening of great Canadian cover-band rock n roll thanks to Sheezer. We are all sad and upset, but life continues to trek along, and I am happy to do so in this great city.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014


I love Batman, and I would be quite content if the current creative team on the book stayed forever. Writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo have consistently delivered top calibre Bat tales since taking over the reigns of DC Comics flagship title with their New 52 universe relaunch. The new story-arc, and a swell jump on point for new readers, begins in issue #35, End Game.

Monday, October 20, 2014


Watched the 1996 Doctor Who teevee movie starring Paul McGann, which served as an ill-fated pilot episode to a series for American television that was never meant to be. The real flaw with the story (and something that I'm sure must have infuriated Who fans of the time) is a truly lazy and sub-par effort at getting rid of the previous incarnation of the Doctor. Instead of some form of universe saving heroics, he falls victim to a random drive-by shooting and inept medical proceedings. Once that's out of the way, I think Paul McGann made a fine Doctor, and even Eric Roberts was an enjoyably over-the-top, almost Batman '66 calibre villain. It's amazing that a 90 minute teevee movie was the only real live-action Doctor offering in such a long time (between 1989 and 2005), considering what a powerhouse it has become since its return over the past ten years.

Paul McGann made a surprise brief return to Doctor Who-ness as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. I'd be glad to see him return for more adventures. He looked to still very much fit the part in the mini-episode. It seems like there would be room for tales of a previous Doctor amidst his endless time travel adventures, and he would be most likely to fit the bill (and not aged too far from the role) to undertake such a project.

Sunday, October 19, 2014


My favourite all lady, all Canadian, Weezer cover-band is undertaking a mini-tour through Ontario. Sheezer will be hitting Ottawa on the 23rd, Kingston on the 25th, Hamilton on the 26th, and Toronto on the 30th. If you are in or near any of these places, I can't recommend this delightful Rivers Cuomo approved band enough.

Saturday, October 18, 2014


A wonderful Godzilla sized monster as designed by Joe Querio for BPRD: Hell On Earth #123. I will never tire of watching a movie or reading a comic in which giant monsters bash each other.

Friday, October 17, 2014


Watched the premiere episode of The Flash, the latest teevee series inspired by the wonderful world of comic books. I enjoyed it very much, especially the loyal retelling of the origin of the character, and the geek-tastic plot tease sting at the end of the episode (that I won't go into here in case you haven't seen it and wish to avoid spoilers).

I think there may be more comic book shows on then the number of Westerns on air during the cowboy heyday of Bonanza and Gunsmoke. At the moment we have Walking Dead, (Green) Arrow, Gotham, Constantine, and Agents of SHIELD. There's also Walking Dead and SHIELD spin-off's on the horizon, Daredevil and a batch of Marvel inspired shows headed to Netflix, iZombie, Preacher, and Powers are coming soon, and possible future series the like of Supergirl and Hourman.

To think that once upon a time in my youth, the most we could hope for in comic book related television were rather sub-par Incredible Hulk teevee movies or the super-hero themed (though not based on a comic book) The Greatest American Hero. I actually once looked forward to something called The Trial OF The Incredible Hulk, the same way I now look forward to another Guardians Of The Galaxy movie. We are spoiled in geeky riches, and the bubble seems nowhere near bursting.

Thursday, October 16, 2014



A bunch of podcasts that I listen to all have a great love of Canada and all things Canadian. Coincidentally enough, Anne Murray has come up a number of times during listening to podcast conversations of late. If you are a Canadian citizen and you do not like Anne Murray's song Snowbird, you might as well go hand in your passport and get out of the country. I don't think you're allowed to be here anymore.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014


My friend Kelly Tindall drew the scary "A Lotto Death", featured in the upcoming anthology Boo!: Halloween Stories 2014. The comic is 64 pages of awesome for a mere $1.99! It's available for pre-order now on Comixology, and set for release on Wednesday October 29th. Plus, there's a chance you could win a page of original art too. Go buy it!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014


If you make a movie with a dinosaur or multiple dinosaurs in it, you get my money. It is that easy!

Monday, October 13, 2014


David Bowie Is screens at the Mayfair Theatre starting tonight. The doc showcases the life and career of the music legend, specifically focusing on the exhibition crated by the Victoria and Albert Museum. I admit that the most fun thing about this booking to our schedule is that we get to say "David Bowie Is at the Mayfair Theatre in October for three nights", and it's kinda not really false advertising lie.

David Bowie Is is on tonight (Monday October 13th) at 9:00pm, and Thursday the 15th and Thursday the 16th at 9:30pm.

Sunday, October 12, 2014


I predict that when the Daredevil series hits Netflix in 2015, that I will sit on my couch and watch all 13 episodes back to back without break or distraction. Cower in fear and heed my geeky teevee prophecy!

Saturday, October 11, 2014


We're been marathoning through season two of (Green) Arrow since it went up on the Netflix a couple days ago. More then anything, what I appreciate on the show is how in each and every episode they toss in an obscure DC Comics character, inside joke, or a few comic book geek easter eggs. I always react in an appropriately loser geek manner of recognition excitement. I'm easy to please. I mean, who would have ever thought that a reference to 1980's DC character, and 4th tier Justice League member, Blue Devil would make a live action teevee appearance in form of a fake movie poster on the side of a bus? If they have Blue Devil actually appear, and at this point nothing would surprise me, my brain would really 'splode.

Friday, October 10, 2014


I am loving the Batman'66 resurgence. Not so surprisingly, the colourful campy adventures translate perfectly back onto the printed page that they were initially inspired from. The above is a great page from the recently released Batman'66 Meets The Green Hornet #5. At one point in my youth, I brushed aside the '60's version of the character, in favour of my worship of the dark and gritty incarnation of the mythos. Now,I can't get enough of that era of the Bat, and am looking incredibly forward to the release of the original series on Blu-ray. I also think it would make for a great animated series, I'm sure that Adam West and Burt Ward would be up for a return to voice some Batman and Robin adventures.

Thursday, October 09, 2014


Come ride along on a dangerous adventure with crime fighting super cars, a mysterious elixir and gun blazing rockabilly babes!

My friend Kris Waddell is undertaking a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production and publication of his comic book Challenger. There are all kinds of great rewards that you can get a hold of, with more treasure to soon be added. Click on over to the Challenger page on Kickstarter to get all the details.

Wednesday, October 08, 2014


Rocket loves comic books too!

Tuesday, October 07, 2014


The other bit of cheap treasure that I got at the flea market comic con a couple days ago: Special Marvel Edition #13. The coover screams at you in its best Stan Lee worthy exclamation: Mighty Marvel presents with pride...possibly one of the greatest war dramas of all time! When said war drama is drawn by Jack Kirby, such high praise is never a lie. All this amazing comic cook classic action for a mere two bucks even!

Monday, October 06, 2014


We have a new kitty cat resident in our household as of yesterday. Her name is Rocket, and she is equal parts adorable and punk. Moments after this above photo was taken of Rocket sneaking up on a sleeping Gypsy, the situation went south. I could have put a stop to it, but I couldn't help but be curious as to the loud and predictable cat vs dog outcome.

Sunday, October 05, 2014


I found this lil' bit of treasure at an old school hockey card /comic book flea market kindah' gathering that happens every so often here in Ottawa. It's free to get in to, and you can be in and out in well under an hour. I've been a few times,and always manage to find something neat.

This time I picked up a cheap copy of 'A Marvel Super Special Magazine' # 10, featuring Star-Lord. The beautiful sci-fi pulp fiction cover from Earl Norem is worth the price of admission alone. And, it's in full, brilliant Marvel Colour! Comics were awesome in the 1970's.

Saturday, October 04, 2014


Tonight, thanks to my friends in the Ridau Valley Roller Girls, tonight I am an award winner. NSO = Non Skating Official (assisting the skating referee group doing scoreboard or penatly tracking type things), and NSO's wear a horrible pink shirt.

Friday, October 03, 2014


Another piece of art from my friend Kelly Tindall's run through the Inktober challenge. This idea came from my brain! I humbly offered up my suggestion to Kelly, none other than one of my favourite comic book characters of all time, Captain Carrot!

Thursday, October 02, 2014


There's an annual online tradition that a bunch of comic artists have taken part in the last few called Inktober. My friend Kelly Tindall is participating, and kicked the event off in awesome Halloween-time style yesterday with this spectacular Cyborg Dracula! You can make suggestions for what Kelly should draw next via Facebook or his Twitter - @Kellytindall.

Wednesday, October 01, 2014


For the awesome posters alone, I love the latest collaboration from Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. Tonight, I saw the movie for which the posters were made for. I am happy to report that I found the movie equally enthralling. I can't imagine how anyone could not enjoy the larger than life film noir comic book mash-up. It's filled with femme fatales, handsome rogues, guns a blazing action, and beautiful cinematography and fx at very moment.

You have one more chance to catch Sin City: A Dame To Kill For at the Mayfair Theatre, presented by our friends at The Comic Book Shoppe, Thursday October 2nd at 9:00pm.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014


The latest (and 125th!!) episode of The Adventurers! Link on over to read all kinds of Kelly Tindall comic-y goodness.

Monday, September 29, 2014


I've told people before of Saturday morning cartoon memories of a show where Fonz, Richie and Ralph Malph from Happy Days had time travel adventures with a girl from the future and a Hanna Barbera-esque semi-talking dog. Such crazy talk was countered that this was a false memory from an early morning sugary cereal induced hallucination,that no such show can possibly exist. Yesterday,I finally watched an episode of Th Fonz And The Happy Days Gang. In the hey-day of the insane Saturday morning animation offerings of the 1980's, such madness was plentiful. Can you imagine the cast of How I Met Your Mother or Parks And Recreation undertaking such a project today? Not that I wouldn't be intrigued.

Sunday, September 28, 2014


A preview page from Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier #1. Looking very forward to seeing Marco's art on this ongoing book. I'm buying anything he draws (not just 'cause he's a friend).

Saturday, September 27, 2014


The A.V. Club wrote some glowing praise for my pal Marco Rudy's latest comic book work, the first issue of the ongoing Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier.

Friday, September 26, 2014


My pal Kris Waddell is making his inaugural appearance in Previews Magazine, a very exciting time for any comic book writer. This means that you can easily walk into any comic book store in North America and order up a copy of Big Box Apocalypse for yourself. Another proud day from my talented stable of geeky friends indeed. The order code to get the book through Diamond is: OCT14 1548. Go buy one!

Thursday, September 25, 2014


Finished watching the Netflix animated series Bojack Horseman. I initially tuned into the show because it featured an A-list comic voice cast,including Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt, & Kristen Schaal. Before watching,I thought I might soon give up on the show,since it seemed like it might be along the Seth MacFarlane genre of cartooning, which I'm not a fan of at all. I was pleasantly surprised that show show had much more depth, and an unexpected amount of drama. It's still a show about a talking hose-guy, but it reminded me of the best of cautionary Hollywood fame and fortune fall from grace tales. And, it seems to be another example that traditional teevee is in its final days, and that the Netflix world is where our home entertainment intake will continue to successfully come from. Network teevee and cable networks must be in a deserved panic at the ever looming extinction of teevee as we have known it.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014


Last night I refrained from being social with friends after a day of work, 'cause I really rally wanted to get to watching the series premiere of Gotham as quickly as humanly possible. I do not regret my anti-social decision. I think that it's the first time in 25 years that I've loved a live-action Batman related project. I was both guilty of grinning like a love-struck fool, and getting choked up, during the program. I am yet again thankful for this overwhelmingly geeky pop-culture age of entertainment that we are in the midst of. I even forgive them for a mustache-less Jim Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014


Ah...the simple pop-culture-geek pleasure of being safely entrenched within a world where one can buy, and have delivered to one's door, the complete series of The Planet Of The Apes teevee series for less than $10 bucks.

Monday, September 22, 2014


Watched the latest episode of Doctor Who - episode 8.5, Time Heist. A few people have said to me that they are hesitant to jump into a 50 year old series...or even just an 8 year old series (which the current incarnation is in). I continue to implore that the series isn't really all that hard to jump in to. Our hero travels through time and space saving the universe with help from companion humans. I only know the show from these modern 8 seasons, and have only seen a handful of the classic more low-budget, black box theatre style offerings from the 1960's and later. I follow the continuity of the mythology just fine. Doctor Who ranks high alongside many of the other excellent shows on during this golden age of television. If you haven't sen it, you should.

Sunday, September 21, 2014


I'm at work at the Mayfair. My friend who currently lives in Ottawa, currently living in Moncton, is visiting for his birthday. He,my girlfriend, and other friends are currently across the street at the awesome House of Targ. It was top of his wish list of things to do while in town, having only heard of the legend of the location in his absence from Ottawa (he moved away a couple years ago). I dropped over for a quick visit and to order some take-out perogies in between shows. His over-load of vintage arcade games, pinball, and beer made him as happy as a kid visiting Disney World while riding a dinosaur and brandishing a lightsaber. I look forward to visiting again soon,when I have some spare time to pinball it up.

Saturday, September 20, 2014


Playing a backstabbing game of 'Zombies!!!' (or more specifically, 'Humans!!!) with four of my bestest friends on a Saturday night. Listening to Weird Al, and Prince, and Kriss Kross, eating junk food, and not a girl in sight. It's just like high school life all over again.

Friday, September 19, 2014


Ysterday I got to be in the presence of actual Boxtrolls! Looking very forward to seeing this movie from the creators of Coraline and Paranorman

Thursday, September 18, 2014


I always get defensive when someone claims that Ottawa is a boring town and that there's nothing to do here. I think there are people like that in very city. People who like to sit at home and complain instead of making a bit of effort to find something fun to do. I always have the train of thought that if you don't like it here,why don't you move to somewhere else? When I hard the hosts of one of my favourite podcasts being similarly angered by people complaining about L.A., I felt akin to his defensive rants defending the city he loves.

Today, for example, I got to attend a screening of short films at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. I followed that up by a separate event in honour of the upcoming movie The Boxtrolls. Where, amongst a fun presentation, behind the scenes stuff and a q&a, the host from the animation studio passed around some stuff show-and-tell style. I got to hold in my hands actual pieces of stop motion animation history in the forms of puppet faces from Coraline and Paranorman. It made fellow animation nerd friends very jealous. I never get to go to as many events as I'd like, but I always make sure to hit the fest at least a couple of times. It is one of the awesome things in this town that you musn't miss out on participating in every year.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014


A few days ago, while stuck in another country and rather stressed out, I learned that Blue Beetle and Booster Gold were going to be in Justice League 3000. As I let me friend know via social media, this good news after a bad event, made me so happy that I almost shed a geeky tear. Really. For, not only are these two of my favourite characters making a return to DC Comics New 52 universe, it's the ones from the old universe. These aren't rebooted characters,but the originals making their way into th future of the current DC universe thanks to the power of comic book science fiction. Plus, they are being written by the masterminds who wrote the Justice League that I grew up on in the 1980's, J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen. 'Tis a good time to be a geek indeed.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014


Went to see Frank tonight, we have it at the Mayfair Theatre for the next couple of nights. Anyone who complains about there being no originality in movies just isn't trying hard enough to watch original movies. They are everywhere! This movie has Michael Fassbender starring as an eccentric lead singer of a band that worships him in a cult like manner, who never removes a giant paper mache mask. That old re-hash of a story. There are plenty of great original movies being made, you just have to go and watch them instead of watching the latest live-action Transformers train-wreck.

Monday, September 15, 2014


The best thing about being back in Ottawa is getting to return to the Mayfair Theatre to watch movies. Tonight my girlfriend and I watched the new Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon road-trip comedy drama, The Trip To Italy. I could watch their dueling Michael Caine impersonations for hours. It screens with us for the next couple weeks. It's very good to be home.

Sunday, September 14, 2014


Recovering from the stresses and hectic nature of the Vegas work-trip that became a stolen passport misadventure. Watched the last few episodes of the latest season and incarnation of Doctor Who. I wish David Tennant had never left, I wish Matt Smith had never left, and now I hope Peter Capaldi never leaves.

Saturday, September 13, 2014


I have successfully made it back into Canada. With little in the way of help from the Toronto airport, which I was warned and reminded from numerous people, is the worst airport in all the land. I now concur with that though. Running around in an airport in a mad panic and being stuck in the longest lines ever notwithstanding, I managed to make my flight with seconds to spare. See you in hell Vegas...and Toronto airport, you can see me in hell too.

Friday, September 12, 2014


A couple of days ago we got to stand in the footprints of R2 greatness in L.A., while we were in the city to get paperwork figured out so I could get back into the Canada. I would rather my passport had not been stolen, but it did at least garner some adventure and a good stories. Happy to report that the temp one-time passport has been received, and I can go home tomorrow. I think it's safe to say that I will not have a desire to rush back to Veas anytime soon.

Thursday, September 11, 2014


I made a new lil' manta ray friend at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium today. This marks the third city that I have played with manta ray's in, after Boston and Atlanta. Yet again, they would not let me bring one home.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014


If ever forced to visit the fine city of L.A. to hand in paperwork at the Canadian Consulate due to having your passport stolen in Vegas, I highly recommend that you visit Pizzanista. I partook in a slice of Vegan Veggie pizza and then went back for seconds.

The adventure from Vegas to L.A. went well. The bus trip allowed for some lovely vista sights, I spotted what I think was a wild donkey. There were tent and trailer set-up's in the middle of nowhere, along with Area 51 calibre seeming locales, cactus scenery, and scary cliffs.

Thanks to my girlfriends dad, we were blessed with a car service to transport us around the city for a couple of hours. Our driver was a lovely motherly lady who was a great help in our quest, and refused to take even one extra step. She made us feel like quite the Hollywood big shots. Got to the Consulate with time to spare, but alas had to go get new passport photo's, the ones I got at the post office weren't approved. Then, of course, had to hit numerous photo places to actually get the things. The clock was ticking, and we got back to the Consulate with only moments to spare. I think that my girlfriend was freaking out a bit, but for better got worse I hit a zen like calm at this crazy misadventure that w found ourselves thrown into. References were contacted and approval stamped and my girlfriend said she would've hugged the kind lady assisting us if there was not a glass window between us.

We had time left with our driver, and the first place that popped into my head to do while having a few tourist moments to spare in L.A., was the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It was nowhere near where we were, but our driver said it was no problem. It made for a great quick tour of the city, got to pass by all kind of landmarks like the Capitol Records building, the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign, and a bunch of uber-rich homes in the hills. At the theatre were got to stand in the footprints of the greats, ranging from John Goodman, to Marilyn Monroe, to R2D2.

We saw no less than four film shoots. No celebrity sightings, but one director sitting in a director's chair behind some monitors, who was such a stereotype that he might as well of been from a Saturday Night Live sketch. He had one a scarf, berret, giant sunglasses, a diamond encrusted wrist watch, and hipster facial hair.

We ate at the aforementioned Pizzanista, played some bus station Galaga and Ms Pac Man, and then were back to Vegas. I don't recommend falling victim to theft, but if you do, at least partake in a fun adventure in its aftermath.

Tuesday, September 09, 2014


Las Vegas isn't a real city, which means that they don't have rules or morals or laws or consulates. Hence, I gotta' go all the way to L.A. to hand in all the paperwork n' stuff needed to get a document so I can get back into Canada. I've hit a zen like attitude to this theft related inconvenience, and am looking forward to a one day Californian adventure tomorrow.

Monday, September 08, 2014


Sure, I don't currently have a passport and might be stranded in Vegas for the rest of my life. Good news though, the 7-11 has vegan fruit pies and chocolate pies! So, I'll at least be able to eat heartily as long as I'm stuck here in this heat soaked neon wasteland. Also, I got these snazzy Batman and Robin socks! Glass half full!

Sunday, September 07, 2014


If you ever have your backpack stolen while outside of your home country, I highly recommend that you don't take your passport out of it first. My backpack, and the wallet and passport within it, were stolen from the convention centre I was working in tonight. Which, of course, is a bit of a financial loss and a major inconvenience. I think I've already gone through all the stages of loss: denial,anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I got a secondary wave of emotions when I realized that they took my beloved Boba Fett usb key and my Green Lantern notebook. The bastards could've at least left those behind. Lesson learned, as history and media has hinted at, Vegas is a horrible place filled with horrible people.

Saturday, September 06, 2014


Dear Chipotle,

Please open up one of your fine establishments in Ottawa.

Your pal,
Josh

Friday, September 05, 2014


If you hear the word monorail without thinking of the classic Simpsons episode, there is something wrong with your brain. The monorail in Vegas has no driver, takes sharp turns, and is shaky enough to feel like an old timey carnie roller coaster. I'm not sure if that is a negative or a positive.

Thursday, September 04, 2014


Playing some old school pinball at the Riviera Hotel's pinball museum (which is really more of a pinball corner). Yes, I eventually got slightly higher than 12 points.

Wednesday, September 03, 2014


My girlfriend and I got up horribly early to go to the airport to trek to Vegas for a week and a half of work. Nothing too exciting, helping at setting up a giant glass themed trade show. The money is decent though, we get a nice per diem, and get a decent bit of time off in between the working to do Vegas-y things.

The heat was staggering. I've never felt heat like that before. I could barely make it over to the mall,only a few blocks away. We went to a great vegan friendly place called the Red Velvet Cafe for dinner. Visited the Lego Store, where I got a Star Lord key-chain. It's still a bit unbelievable that Star Lord is available in Lego form. Also stopped into the Disney Store. It's bizarre to see The Punisher and Deadpool on a t-shirt for sale there.

For a more Vegas touristing themed event, we went to the kid themed hotel casino Circus Circus for classic arcade video gaming and trapeze artist watching. My girlfriend is addicted to Skee Ball, and won roughly on bazillion game tickets. Which bought her a teddy bear and candy.

Tuesday, September 02, 2014


Any comic geek who thinks that there are no good titles being published under DC's The New 52 line clearly isn't reading Tomasi and Gleason's run on Batman And Robin.