Idaho Drunken Horror Story: Food, Brews, and You

By

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November 9, 2016

Pizza and Beer are by far the best combo that I have found. Food of any kind and beer is always a win. My question is, why are there so many breweries that don’t serve food?

There are several answers to this question: food permits are hard to get, beer makers only want to make beer, a kitchen expensive, and no space. If you’re reading this, at one time or another you’ve had too much beer and not enough food. That is never a good time.

Some of my favorite breweries offer a wide variety of food; Tin Man Brewing Company and Bennidito’s Brewpub. You can have a whole meal with your beer, and the more you drink, the more you will eat.

My problem is I don’t go anywhere to have one beer, it’s unnatural. My other problem, being a lightweight is also a thing.

Back in 2014, my fiancé and I did the Ale Trail, which I mentioned in a previous article. We found ourselves in Idaho, in December, in the dark. I wasn’t familiar with the area, my fiancé from Indiana had no idea as well. We stumbled on to a brewery, and after a few drinks, we realized they had no food. And it turns out, most Idaho breweries don’t serve food. They did have a pizza menu from a takeout joint in town, which is responsible, but that would require waiting longer than we wanted to stay. We made do with our pretzels until the sobriety set in. At that moment, the realization hit that food in breweries should be a necessity. It would help people stay sober as they do battle with craft beers.

Food trucks are becoming more and more common these days, spotted outside of bars and breweries alike. I’ve also found there is always a delivery service that will cater to your munchie needs. Pizza Hut, Jimmy Johns, and even random Chinese places will suffice. Even ordering ahead car side to go at Red Robin, or Applebees would be a wonderful thing. Most breweries welcome outside food, but you always want to ask first.

What are your thoughts, are you a brewery purist or would you prefer some tasty treats while you enjoy your ice-cold brewski?

Until next time beer snobs!

Cheers!

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Five “Simpsons” Episodes to Cure Post-Election Depression

By

Gary Moloney

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November 9, 2016

It has been an emotional day for the American voter. Whether you supported him or not, it is clear that the election of Donald Trump as America’s 45th President is a game-changer in the political world. Those who have been following the campaign that never seemed to end may be wondering what do with yourselves. You may be glad it’s over, but a part of you still yearns for the kind of political intrigue that has occupied are screens for the bones of a year. So, in recognition of this craving, we have prepared a list of the best political satire that The Simpsons has to offer.

Sideshow Bob Roberts

Your choice is between an adulterous sloth of a mayor and a convicted felon. If this undesirable choice gives you a sense of deja vu, then the political battle between Diamond Joe Quimby and Robert Underdunk Terwilliger aka Sideshow Bob is the perfect catharsis for this election season. Years before South Park brought us the Giant Douche and the Turd Sandwich, the denizens of Springfield were learning about decision between the lesser of two evils. This gut-wretching parody of All the President’s Men, may be Sideshow Bob’s finest hour, though it may leave you wondering how two children always seem to thwart an evil genius’ plans. Featuring the wonderful one-off character of Birch Barlow; a Right-Wing pundit of the Rush Limbaugh vintage , this episode should be the first port of call for any politicos.

Favourite Qoute: “Oh my god, the Dead have risen and they are voting Republican”.

Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish

In another case of life imitating art, the unlikely oligarch; Mr. Burns, runs for Governor following a scandal at the nuclear power plant. Homer and Marge come to odds as their chosen candidates clash. Much like the President-Elect, Mr. Burns soars in the polls in spite of the public’s initial repulsion. He even comes equipped with an all-too familiar desire to “to create a new and better world”. Yet, it is Blinky; the titular three-eyed which proves to be Burn’s undoing as the mutated fish proves to be a bitter pill to swallow.

Favourite Qoute: “This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That’s Democracy for you.”

Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington

An essay contest on American Exceptionalism sees the Simpsons win a trip to the nation’s capital. Among the Washington elite, Lisa discovers the corrupt side of the US political system as a desperate struggle for the soul of America quickly ensures. The main reason to watch this one is for all of the cameos, President Bush makes his first in-universe appearance before his later role in Two Bad Neighbours. The almost fairy-tale like way in which the establishment react to restore a little girl’s faith in democracy. If only the system worked as well in real life.

Favourite Qoute: “Oh Marge, cartoons don’t have any deep meaning. They’re just stupid drawings that give you a cheap laugh!”

Treehouse of Horror VII: Citizen Kang

The absurdity of America’s two-party system is lambasted in spectacular fashion as Kang and Kodos disguise themselves as Presidential candidates; Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. In retrospect, its amazing to think how much American political history I learned from The Simpsons as an Irish kid growing up in the nineties. How else would I know about the particulars of the 1996 election or the hilarity that was Senator Bob Dole? If anything this episode taught us all a powerful lesson, people would rather vote for grotesque aliens than a third-party candidate.

Favourite Qoute: “It matters not which one of us you vote for, either way your planet is doomed…DOOMED!”

Bart to the Future

It’s the episode that predicated the Donald’s rise to power as Bart stars in this flash-forward that sees Lisa Simpson ascend to the role of President. With the nation predictably bankrupt, the Simpsons siblings must negotiate with their creditors in order to avoid all-out financial chaos. Luckily, talking their way out of tough situations has always been their strong points. Of the many potential futures featured in the series, this one provides, if not the most realistic, then at least the most humorous ends for the Simpson family.

Favourite Qoute: “What happened to you China? You used to be cool.”

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Episode 99: Ass Kicking ‘Arrival’ Review

By

Matthew Sardo

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November 9, 2016

Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Arrival’ starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker hits theaters this week. The film is sitting at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, but what did the crew at Monkeys Fighting Robots of the sci-fi drama

Matt and EJ try to wrap their collective minds around the film and why Villeneuve’s vision works so well.

Strap yourself in buckaroos! Episode 99 of the Monkeys Fighting Robots podcast is here.

Listen on Soundcloud or Youtube:

Articles mention in the podcast:
List of films based on English-language comics
Should You See The New Sci-Fi Film ‘Arrival’? Here’s 4 Reasons Why!

Do you want to be our SUPER-FAN of the week? All you have to do is comment on this podcast to be eligible.

Do you have a question that you would like answered during the show?
Email your questions to matt@popaxiom.com.

If you are looking to sponsor the podcast email matt@popaxiom.com as well.

About the Monkeys Fighting Robots Podcast:

A Gen Xer and a Millennial debate the latest topics in pop culture. One guy is a filmmaker and the other is a journalist, but both are nerds. We make your slowest days at work better. Hosts, Matthew Sardo and EJ Moreno.

Never heard of Matt Sardo?
For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.

Who is EJ Moreno?
Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. But what we know for sure is he’s a writer, filmmaker, and pop culture enthusiast. Since film school, EJ has written & directed several short films. He’s used his passion of filmmaking to become a movie critic for MonkeysFightingRobots.com.

Places you can find the show:
iTunes
Google Play
Stitcher

Reviews are greatly appreciated – How to Rate and Review a Podcast in iTunes

Thank you for listening!

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Five Terrible Fictional U.S. Presidents

By

Manuel Gomez

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November 9, 2016

Okay, it’s over folks. The most ridiculous presidential election in American history has finished, and the outcome has been very polarizing. But like everyone else I am pretty much done talking about it. In an effort to distract myself, and hopefully you readers out there, I came up with a list of the five worst fictional presidents in pop-culture. At least with THESE clowns, we can shut off the movie, close the book, or throw away the comic and be done with them! Here we go.

Lex Luthor

“Yes, it took two heat rays striking you simultaneously to fell you-But you have been comatose ever since. And a lot has happened during the interim.”

To clarify, I’m talking about the comic book version of Lex Luthor, not the motor-mouthed millennial played Jesse Eisenberg from Batman v. Superman. In the comics, specifically in the Our Worlds at War storyline, Luthor is Commander in Chief. As President, Luthor makes a backend deal with Brainiac, allows an alien probe to explode over Kansas killing thousands, and frames Bruce Wayne for murder. The guy was behind almost every major evil act in the DC Universe during the early 2000s. And after getting exposed by Superman and Batman, it’s safe to say Lex’s reelection campaign was put on hold.

Greg Stillson

“The missiles are flying. Hallelujah, Hallelujah!”

Martin Sheen has played the President twice. Most remember him as President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet from The West Wing. That character was awesome and does not deserve to be on this list. But it was his performance in David Cronenberg’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone that gets him on this. Sheen plays Greg Stillson, a U.S. senator, and presidential candidate. When Cristopher Walken’s character, Johnny Smith, uses his psychic ability to see Stillson’s future, he has a vision of the man leading the world into nuclear war. But even before that Stillson is a sleazy and sketchy guy. Definitely not a name to check on any ballot.

Gaius Baltar

“I cannot stay here too long before my machine friends will become nervous and do something rash.”

Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica remake was filled with questionable characters. But if the series has a “main villain” (at least for a while) it was Gaius Baltar, played by James Callis. Baltar not only is partially responsible for the eradication of the human race in the pilot episode, he does it to get a piece of Cylon ass. He also starts a cult and paints himself as a savior figure while building a harem of women he uses. He’s a total scumbag, and even though he (sort of) redeems himself by the series finale, he definitely caused much grief for the run of the show.

President Will Cooper

“It’s just a barrel. How bad can it hurt?”

Kevin James as a president is horrifying enough, but as Will Cooper in the movie Pixels, it’s just extra bad. It’s played for laughs, but he is obviously inept at his job. And yeah he helps save the day with Adam Sandler, but do we really want an everyday slob as the Prez? A guy whose claim to fame is being good at video games. I know a bunch of guys with that qualification, and as much as I like them, they would not get my vote on Election Day. And Pixels is just a flat out terrible movie, so pretty much EVERY character stinks.

President Camacho

“Shit. I know shit’s bad right now, with all that starving bullshit, and the dust storms, and we are running out of french fries and burrito coverings. But I got a solution.”

Idiocracy now seems like a vision from the true future and not a sadly overlooked movie. As played by Terry Crews, the character President Camacho is hysterical, but only because someone like that could never truly be president. Right? Anyway, Camacho is a ridiculous character in an equally ridiculous movie that makes us laugh at how much America and its leaders degrade. Good thing it’s all a farce and in no way a reflection of what could ever really happen.

So there you have it citizens, five guys that would have been horrible choices on any ballot. Who else do you think was a horrible fictitious president. Comment and discuss below. I’d love to read some of your ideas.

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‘Occupy Avengers’ #1: Clint Barton’s Great Adventure

By

Wesley Messer

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November 9, 2016

I had no idea what I was in for as I started into Occupy Avengers. Civil War II isn’t even over yet, but luckily for us, it doesn’t matter. Occupy Avengers begins as Clint Barton a.k.a Hawkeye is on a road trip across the country. In the aftermath of what happened with The Hulk, Clint is being hailed as a hero. He’s just not sure if he is one. Which leads us to Santa Rosa, New Mexico as our story begins as Clint might just be starting to figure out the next step. Turns out being an Avenger isn’t all cosmic battles and shiny costumes, there are many battles to fight on the ground. The ground level of the Marvel Universe is just as crazy as anything else. So sit back and relax as we dive further into Occupy Avengers #1.

Clint Barton’s Great Adventure Begins Now in Occupy Avengers!

Now if you are worried because you don’t know anything about Civil War II, you will be fine. David F. Walker gives you everything you need to know going into this. Within one page of Occupy Avengers, you will know everything you need for the story. It’s one of the smoothest recaps of a storyline I have seen in a while too. Walker is making a point to give you the background and then you are good to go.

The core concept of Occupy Avengers is to show a Hawkeye on the ground level of heroism. Ground level being with the people, and in turn meeting Sheriff Ortiz and Red Wolf in a diner. That’s when you learn of the Sweet Medicine Indian Reservation and what’s happening there. You learn of the contaminated water and why Clint is there. Of course with this chat, you learn that Mr. Barton’s road trip has been eventful before getting here.

That’s what I like about how Walker is building these characters. Ortiz is only in a small bit of the book, but I hope we see more of her as I liked her. Red Wolf is going to be great and it seems like he’ll be hanging around as the series goes on. I do enjoy Walker’s take on Clint; I love it in fact. Throughout the issue, Walker shows a Clint Barton looking for redemption for what happened with the Hulk. He’s not lost but definitely wondering if he’s a hero, a great examination of the character.

Just what makes a hero?

One part of the character examination I enjoyed is how Clint explains why he uses the Bow and Arrow. Walker makes a point to get you inside his head and it’s a joy to read. You get the humor of Clint and how earnest he is in wanting to help, and also how awesome he can be in a fight. It’s a genuine multi-faceted look that I cannot help but enjoy.

As Clint and Red Wolf learn more of what is happening with the Indian Reservation, this is where some low points kick in. Low point being the villains, they’re a little too generic for me. I know what they’re there for, they serve for more examination into Clint but, they could have been better. It’s so minor though as it pushes another old school Marvel villain to life, which will make the second issue interesting, to say the least. I did not see that villain coming into play with this story at all.

The ending had me curious about the next issue in a big way.

While the initial villains didn’t work for me, my goodness did it make for some gorgeous Carlos Pacheco pencils. Besides the slightly weak villain initially, that double page motorcycle chase rocked. My other favorite part was Red Wolf and his army of wolves, that was such a cool image, I loved it to pieces. The only weak part for me art wise was possibly the look of the villains, but that’s a mild complaint at best. Walker’s conversations were also a joy to behold and Pacheco enhanced it with some great expressions. I liked Walker giving Pacheco these great six panel pages to give the chat an almost cinematic look to it.

I also like the strong inks from Rafael Fonteriz, which really does help in strengthening Pacheco’s pencils. Sonia Oback’s coloring on this is beyond gorgeous. In the massive motorcycle chase, there’s a great use of shadows in the battle. It’s almost as if you’re in the thick of it with the bright lights illuminating and surrounding Barton. One particular favorite is when Clint is drawing his bow and it’s so subtle but great to see such wonderful usage of light and shadow. I like that.

Occupy Avengers is not just a well-written book but one with a great art team too.

Occupy Avengers has the potential from this issue to be a strong new series. It’s a new take on the idea of Avengers and Clint Barton is the perfect fit for this idea. Time will tell how this series develops but if this issue is any indication, this series is going to rock.

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Advance Review: ‘Ether’ Issues 1 & 2

By

Anthony Composto - EIC

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November 9, 2016

Cross-genre properties are always popular. Some, like space westerns or horror comedies, are everywhere; a new one pops up every few months. But others are more rare, and those are the ones that leave a greater impact when done right. It’s too early to tell what kind of impact Matt Kindt and David Rubin’s fantasy mystery Ether will have, but the first two issues show a ton of potential for greatness.

Ether is the story of Boone Dias, a scientist that travels between Earth and the magical realm of the Ether for research. Boone doesn’t believe in magic; he views it as unexplained science and seeks to make “order from the chaos.” But to residents of the Ether, Boone is much more. He’s their go-to detective, solving cases that seem unsolveable. So when the Ether’s head of security is found murdered, Boone is dragged in to help.

Be warned: Ether #1 is deceptively shallow. Most of the issue feels like a fun and somewhat campy romp without any real weight. And there’d be no problem with that; light and simple can make for a good read. But then the last few pages hit, and Kindt throws the curveball he’s been saving the whole game. It’s clear that he has a much deeper story to tell, and he carries that momentum straight into issue two.

Issue two spends much more time fleshing out its cast of characters. It still has all the fun and humor of the first issue, but it takes the time to dig into various backstories and show what makes certain players tick. Out of the first two issues, this is the one with more heart. It gives the readers a reason to care instead of just offering a fun ride. Kindt also opens up a world (or realm) of possibilities, as certain revelations bring into question everything that’s occurred so far.

David Rubin’s artwork is a consistent and mind bending tour de force through the first two issues. His spreads of the Ether are pinup worthy, and his colors breath life into this imaginary world. Maybe even more impressive though is how well he can transition to the bleak and grim reality of our world without missing a beat. Art is typically something that has to speak for itself. Rubin’s work doesn’t just speak volumes; it shouts them.

There are only a couple of gripes about this series so far, but they’re honestly negligible compared to all the good this series is offering. First, the dialogue can come off as inauthentic at times. But it seems like Kindt is going for a certain amount of camp, so this is easily excusable, and it actually adds to the humor. Also, the pacing feels a tad off; things can seem quick moving between panels, like there’s a transition missing. But neither of these “complaints” are severe enough to ruin an otherwise strong narrative.

The Bottom Line

Think Sherlock meets Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch could totally play Boone in an adaptation).

Ether has a little bit of something for everyone. It’s funny, it’s emotional, and – most important – it’s entertaining. Be sure to pick up issue one when it hits shelves next week (issue two is currently scheduled for December 21).

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Review: ‘Namesake’ #1 (Of 4)

By

Manuel Gomez

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November 9, 2016

“Once every seven years, Earth overlaps with Ektae, a world where alchemy is not pseudo-science but the driving force of industry. For seven days, Ektae breaches our world, bringing dirty magic and ideas. Jordan Molossus was born of Earth and Ektae and abandoned by both, but when he receives two cast iron urns containing his estranged fathers’ ashes, he’ll leave everything behind to put his parents to rest before Ektae disappears for another seven years.”

Namesake #1 (of 4)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Jakub Rebelka

WRITING

Namesake, like a lot of fantasy comics, begins in medias res. This technique can be tricky. When done well, action, dialog, and narration fill you in on the story and world. When done bad, the explanations rely heavily on exposition. Namesake lands somewhere to the right of the middle, slightly more on the good side.

Steve Orlando is a talented writer (his recent Midnighter title for DC was excellent), so it’s a bit of a surprise that the story seems a bit muddled and underexplained at times. When you’re trying to do some world building in comics, getting to the point is key. There is some clutter here. And Namesake is solicited as a four issue mini-series, so pacing is crucial.

The book starts with a lot of action (something Orlando excels at), as main character Jordan Molossus is shown dealing with hectic moments on his job as a kind of magical first responder. Then at the halfway mark, it slows down a bit as we get a pretty long scene of a quite moment between Jordan and his roommate/lover. Although heavy on showing you things, this part is also bogged down by a bit of expository narration. Some of it works though, as Jordan and Sid’s (the roommate) sexuality is made explicit without being addressed too directly. And we learn about Jordan’s parents abandoning him as well. But it ends on a solid cliffhanger as Jordan sets out on a quest to find his still living father, and we get our first glimpse of the world of Ektae as well.

ART

The art by Jakub Rebelka is without a doubt the book’s high point, and it is quite excellent. There is some great use of panel breaking early on to invoke energy and mood, as various images seem to fall over the page, much like party favors. The color pallet is fantastic as well, with a pastel scheme that really creates a sense of distinct lighting and atmosphere. The design work is incredible, with great character looks and details to marvel at. It’s also not overly flashy and has enough subtleties to warrant a slow and even study of the drawings. It’s simply a gorgeous looking book, and comics are a visual medium.

CONCLUSION

Namesake is a solid first issue overall, and a nice addition to BOOM! Studios original, non-licensed work. As much as I have enjoyed those properties, it’s great to see the publisher step out with more new and original work to put on the shelves. And at just four issues, it’s an investment well worth your time. I’ll stick around and see where this takes me and I think you should do.

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Michael Keaton Confirmed as The Vulture In ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

By

Aric Sweeny

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November 9, 2016

We’ve known that Michael Keaton was cast in Spider-Man: Homecoming for awhile now, but it’s only recently been confirmed, via an interview with Marvel President Kevin Feige in the Toronto Sun, that the actor is indeed playing Vulture.

“We’ve had a wish list and most of them in the near-term are coming together. Cate Blanchett is playing Hela in Thor: Ragnarok. Michael Keaton’s Vulture in Spider-Man is something. And of course, finally, we’re showcasing Josh Brolin’s Thanos (in Avengers: Infinity War). We’re looking forward to that very much.”

Spider-Man: Homecoming is directed by Jon Watts and stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker, Zendaya as Mary Jane Watson, Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Tony Revolori as Flash Thompson, and Donald Glover in an unknown role.

The film hits theaters on July 7, 2017.

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Joe Manganiello Calls Ben Affleck’s Batman “Gritty” & “Action-Packed”

By

Kieran McLean

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November 8, 2016

The DC Extended Universe might not have started on the best foot with Batman v Superman, but if anything is certain it’s that fans want more of Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight.

After appearing in next year’s Justice League, Affleck will direct and star in a solo Batman movie with Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke. Manganiello recently discussed the solo Batman movie with Mark Madden and even went as far as to describe the film.

“His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think a lot of people are going to be really happy about.”

It’s exciting to hear that Ben Affleck is taking a different approach to his version of the character. We know that the actor is a big fan of the Caped Crusader so there’s a good chance we’ll be getting our most comic book accurate version of Batsy yet.

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

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Apparently, the Entire Plot of ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7 Has Leaked

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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November 8, 2016

Nothing is sacred anymore in these days of immediate online satiation, because now it seems the entire plot of Game of Thrones season 7 has leaked online.

From the Huffington Post report, a Reddit user, “awayforthelads,” has dropped a pretty extensive list of details and spoilers. It’s enough to fill an entire season for sure. And if anyone were suspicious of these details, the Watchers on The Wall, the definitive GoT fan site, has confirmed the majority of this Reddit person’s points.

The Daily Mail has all of the details, and you can look at them there.

You can check it out if you want, but I’d rather not. There’s not really a point to reading about the entire plot of an awesome show 8 months before it comes out, is there? When you read this stuff, what will that do for you?

Nothing. It will do nothing.

Game of Thrones season 7 will hit HBO next summer.

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