You Should Go to the DeLand Comics and Collectibles Show

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January 18, 2018

Every year, the second Sunday of January, the DeLand Comics and Collectibles Show is held at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. If you live in Orlando, Fla., or the surrounding areas, you should check it out. It is a one-day event, which operates from 10 am – 5 pm, and is a great opportunity to not only find some nostalgic goodies from nearly 50 vendors from all over the state, spread out over 140 tables, but also a chance to meet a handful of celebrities as well.

This year’s slate of celebrity guests included actors, Butch Patrick (The Munsters), Johnny Martino (The Godfather), Jason Vail (Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies) and Joel D. Wynkoop (Creep), as well as creator Bill Black (AC Comics and Nightveil Media) and former professional wrestler “The Genius” Lanny Poffo.

Jim Cara started this collectibles show nine years ago, in a gymnasium, on the campus of Stetson University. After what he referred to as a subpar second year, the show has now flourished for seven-consecutive years at its current location at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. The event focuses on the Greater Orlando and Volusia County areas, drawing a lot of local celebrities in a comforting and engaging atmosphere.

“Both myself and Tom Raupp, whom I have sold the show to, book the talent,” Cara stated. “There are quite a few celebrities that live in the Central Florida area, so most of them will come. People just love getting some background information on them, but maybe some Hollywood secrets as well.”

After running the show for nine years, Cara, is relocating to North Georgia and has sold the show to a fellow local vendor in Tom Raupp, who also runs a similar event in Daytona, Fla., which is more comics-centric. The partnership is perfect because it gives Raupp two shows to run, which he desired, but it leaves Cara with content that the show is in good hands.

“I really enjoy doing this, but I’m moving,” said Cara. “I want the show here to go on. Tom puts on a similar show in Daytona, but mine is more along the collectibles side of things. We have similar minds and the same connections, so he’s a great choice to step in and keep this show running for a 10th year in 2019.”

Over the course of his career, he has seen a lot of memorabilia come and go that most in the nerd community would consider treasures, but his true passion is investing in West Volusia County historical items. He started with postcards, specifically, 3,000 of them, dating all the way back to the 1890s, but has since grown the collection to include things like, photographs, soda and milk bottles, labels, bifocals, maps and many other antiques.

“Oddly enough, I do not collect anything I sell in my booth at conventions,” Proclaimed Cara. “It fascinates me and I love being able to say that I once owned an item I’ve sold, but that’s enough for me. All the money I make goes into my personal collection. I have over 2,000 items in my collection, the largest in existence and, that is temporarily coming up to Georgia with me, as I am currently cataloguing it, but eventually, I will bequeath it all to the City of Deland or to Stetson University.”

Cara owns six antique-mall shops locally, but will be starting three in Georgia. When asked what is next for the collectibles pioneer, he said with a smile, “Who knows, maybe I’ll start a collectibles show in Georgia.”

So, moral of the story, this is a small, but extremely engaging con that deserves both your $5 admission fee and your attention.

Keep an eye out for our exclusive interviews from the event with Bill Black, Joel D. Wynkoop and Johnny Martino.

Looking for other local comics and collectibles events in your area? Doesn’t matter where you live, just visit Convention Scene.

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Here’s a Detailed Description of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Character in Quentin Tarantino’s Latest

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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January 18, 2018

Quentin Tarantino is working on his ninth feature, which has landed at Sony and has now brought Leonardo DiCaprio aboard to star. And now, Deadline has a little more information regarding Leo’s character, and the setting of the film.

Here is what Deadline had to say:

“What he [DiCaprio] plays, more specifically, is an actor who had his own Western show, Bounty Law, that ran on the air from 1958 to 1963. His attempt to transition to movies didn’t work out and in 1969 — the film is set at the height of hippy Hollywood movement– he’s guesting on other people’s shows while contemplating going to Italy which has become a hotbed for low-budget Westerns. The movie, a Pulp Fiction-esque tapestry of Los Angeles during the summer of the Manson murders, will now get busy with casting.”

Yeah, sounds great. Terrific. Let’s get this thing going. It will be nice to see Tarantino back from genre filmmaking. After a horror short, a war film, and a pair of Westerns, heading back to LA feels right. That being said, this could easily slip into genres given the setting.

Stay tuned for more updates, like news on the rest of the cast or the all important title of the movie, as they arrive.

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This NSFW Trailer for The New HEATHERS Leans Into 2018

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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January 18, 2018

In this time of social change and upheaval of what has come before, a TV remake of Heathers, the pitch black Michael Lehmann comedy from 1989, makes some sense. High school has always been a melting pot of extremes, and this new Heathers makes sure all walks of life are mentioned in this salty trailer.

Check it out, and remember this is NSFW:

Heathers is an hour-long pitch-black comedy anthology set in the present day, based on the 1988 cult classic film of the same name. The much-anticipated reboot perfectly blends drama, love, rivalry, and comedy into a modern-day masterpiece.

At least it looks like they’ve tweaked the original plot line from when this project announced, which involved three different Heathers all being different social representations and being the brunt of the bullying, or something… it was weird, and it was headed to TV Land. Now, it’s moved to Paramount’s TV station and the offensive material has been… curbed? The Heathers are still diverse, but this reboot has more on its mind at least. Maybe. Who knows.

This new version of the cult classic will be on the new Paramount Network, which used to be Spike TV I believe. It will debut March 7.

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Review: In DEN OF THIEVES, Gerard Butler Goes Full Mel Gibson On Us

By

Matthew Sardo

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Den of Thieves is written and directed by Christian Gudegast, a filmmaker who somehow manages to borrow from every heist, police, shootout movie in the history of the genre, and makes a very hollow collage of an action movie.

It’s hard to believe that Gudegast would have come this far in Hollywood without doing a little research; he has six writing credits to his name with Den of Thieves being his directorial debut. But the writer side of Gudegast missed on so many storytelling levels, trying to build character in patchwork scenes. And Gudegast somehow got Gerard Butler to do his best Mel Gibson impression for the film; this made the police brutality scenes… interesting… to watch.

Butler’s character, Nick Flanagan, leads a team of rugged, cruel sheriffs in charge of solving a robbery/homicide involving an armored car. Kinda like Heat… Anyway, Flanagan enters the film grimacing and scowling and looking to fight the world. It sounds like good, fun genre pulp; but Flanagan, a philanderer who also abuses prisoners, steals the fun from the story. He’s the only one on the team given any backstory or motivation, but it’s not particularly interesting or commendable.

Pablo Schreiber of The Wire fame has potential as the central villain, Merrimen, but his story is paper thin with only a glimpse of what could have been, especially in an epic scene at the gun range. Merrimen’s motivation also somehow changes three times throughout the film, which doesn’t help. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s character, Levi Enson, may have been given at least a few things to do, but even those moments felt extraneous and fleeting.

Not that you need to be an expert on police procedure if you want to write a script, but if you’re turning the script into a feature-length film, shouldn’t you at the very least hire a consultant to look things over? I ask this question before discussing the final shootout, a moment the film has been building towards, is just plain awful. The Sheriffs initiate the gun battle in a gridlocked construction zone in Los Angles, endangering hundreds of lives. Then, the thieves (who may or may not have a den) motives quickly change from fleeing with the money to killing cops. It’s as if Gudegast had a great concept for the gunfight but only planned out the first part; everything after that one cool setup was thrown together hastily.

If Gudegast was making a statement on police brutality, I would understand a few scenes in Den of Thieves. Since that is not the case, the film comes off as callous, uninformed, and ill-timed. The plot threads directly pulled from Heat, Lethal Weapon, and The Usual Suspects also make it seem like Gudegast forgot to do his class project until the night before. Den of Thieves is the case where the homage is more like plagiarism.

What is your excitement level for Den of Thieves? Let Matthew Sardo know, comment below.

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Watch the Trailer For SUCCESSION, the New HBO/Adam McKay Miniseries

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

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January 18, 2018

Adam McKay continues to steer his career towards serious examinations into corrupt American institutions. With Succession, his new HBO miniseries, McKay tackles the inner workings of a corporation, run by a contemptuous Brian Cox.

The cast is an eclectic, curious mixture of talent, from San Ruck to a welcome reappearance of Kieran Culkin. Check out the trailer here:

Set in New York, ‘Succession’ explores themes of power, politics, and family. Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the tough, powerful, aging patriarch, is head of Waystar Royco, a family controlled international media conglomerate. He is married to his third wife, Marcia (Hiam Abbass), a loving, formidable partner. Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), Logan’s eldest son from his second marriage, is currently a division president at the firm and the heir apparent. Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin), Kendall’s younger brother, is Logan’s outspoken, fun-loving son and no longer works at Waystar. Siobhan “Shiv” Roy (Sarah Snook), Logan’s only daughter and youngest child, has been pursuing a career in politics. Connor Roy (Alan Ruck), Logan’s eldest son, and only child from his first marriage, has pursued an independent life in New Mexico.

It should be interesting to see this unconventional cast bounce off one another, and it will see how Adam McKay shifts his serious new direction from real estate to big business. McKay has directed the debut episode in this 10-part series, and writer Jesse Armstrong will serve as the show runner. Chalk this up as one of the many intriguing and interesting projects HBO has coming in 2018.

Succession will debut on HBO in June.

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Review: PHANTOM THREAD Weaves A Compelling Tale

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread is an exquisite example of storytelling. This shouldn’t be shocking to anyone as the director has made a career of exploring fascinating aspects of the human condition. In 2012 he examined the effects of trauma in The Master and in his latest film, he tackles Narcissism. Is it possible to love anyone when you are in a relationship with yourself? Combine Anderson’s storytelling with a crackling performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, and the result is Phantom Thread being a fascinating film.

Reynolds Woodcock (Lewis) is a middle-aged British fashion designer who is at the top of his profession. His mornings are spent in his cream-colored five-story townhouse where he sips tea, eats the same pastries, and sketches his latest ideas for dresses. His creations are the toast of the town, and his artistry draws the attention of women everywhere. Woodcock certainly has the pick of any woman he wants. While for most men in his position, the allure of multiple trysts would be appealing, but for Lewis’s character, it’s the idea of these women worshiping his artistry while inspiring him. To him women are easily replaceable, that is until he meets a waitress named Alma who appears to see him in an entirely different light.

Lewis has made a mark during his career hiding behind different looks as he went on to give countless fantastic performances. Phantom Thread marks the first time in quite awhile that he doesn’t hide behind his appearance but does so behind an object. His dresses are an extension of Woodcock. They represent his adoration for all things beautiful and the thirst for admiration that fuels him. Lewis’s character even comments to Alma during their courtship how many things can be hidden inside the lining of a dress. He also loses grip with reality slightly when the amount of people wanting his work starts to slip. To him his job is everything.

There’s also an element of the narrative that dives into dangers that come with too much adoration. Alma (Vickey Krieps) is so in love with the hunger and drive of Lewis’s character that she’s willing for the first two acts of the film to forgive almost any outlandish behavior he engages in. If he’s rude to her, it’s okay. If he’s controlling of her every move that’s understandable for someone with his talent. As he begins to slip away, she soothes his fragile ego by pointing out at a party that one of his clients was so drunk that she didn’t deserve to wear his dress. This only served to enhance an ego that was already out of control. This type of adoration has consequences, and she realized that shortly after that incident. It was her response to his character which was surprising. How far would you go to keep the person of your dreams interested?

Jonny Greenwood’s score enhances the mood of the second and third act giving the film a slightly ominous tone. Anderson’s cinematography which at time shifts from the aesthetics of their surroundings to close-ups of Woodcock and Alma enhances the experience for the audience and gives glimpses inside just how perverse their relationship becomes in the final act of the film.

My only regret is that a film like Phantom Thread will suffer from lack of promotion while other titles like Darkest Hour will flourish. The perception as we head into the homestretch of the awards season is that Gary Oldman has the Oscar all but locked up but in reality had their been more of a push from Focus Features for Lewis’s final film, he’d be a lock. I hope that this film receives multiple Oscar nominations generating buzz for a spectacular movie.

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Exclusive Preview: THE RUFF & REDDY SHOW #4 – A Social Commentary On Hollywood

By

Matthew Sardo

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January 18, 2018

DC Comics released an exclusive preview of THE RUFF & REDDY SHOW #4 to Monkeys Fighting Robots Thursday morning. The series is written by Howard Chaykin with art by Mac Rey, with a variant cover by Chaykin as well.

The Show was an American animated television series made by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The show followed the adventures of Ruff, a smart and steadfast cat, and Reddy, a good-natured and brave dog. DC Comics has since reenvisioned the series with a modern spin.

Chaykin uses this series to comment on the social issues of Hollywood, ageism, sexism, and the advertising world. To put it mildly, this is not a Saturday morning cartoon anymore. DC Comics has been bold with the Hanna-Barbera properties, which has created a passionate following among fans.

About issue four:
In the rough-and-tumble, dog-eat-dog world of the business of show, betrayal is just another fact of life, but when Ruff and Reddy betray the one person who believed in them, there’ll be hell to pay—and pay again and again and again!

Check out the 5-page preview below:

THE RUFF AND REDDY SHOW #4: a 6-issue miniseries.
Written by Howard Chaykin.
Art and cover by Mac Rey.
Letters by Ken Bruzenak.
Variant Cover by Howard Chaykin.
Available January 24.

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Lara Croft Tries To Survive In New TOMB RAIDER Trailer

By

Aric Sweeny

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January 18, 2018

The latest trailer for Warner Bros.’ Tomb Raider has been released, giving us an assortment of new looks at the film. Check it out below.

Though the movie doesn’t look spectacular as a whole, I remain optimistic about the project. Alicia Vikander is a wonderful actor and will bring many levels to Croft as a character. The set pieces and visuals look decent, and the story appears to be solid thus far. While I won’t get too excited about this one, I’m intrugued as to what it can bring to the terrible track record of video game movies.

“Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London as a bike courier, barely making the rent. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death. Leaving everything she knows behind, Lara goes in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.”

Joining Vikander in Tomb Raider is Dominic West, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, and Kristin Scott Thomas. The film is directed by Roar Uthaug.

Are you looking forward to Tomb Raider? See it in cinemas starting March 16.

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THE BOYS Casts Antagonist Superhero Team, THE SEVEN

By

Michael Stagno

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January 18, 2018

It would seem The Boys will have their hands full in their first season, having to deal with a team consisting of seven highly unstable superheroes.

In case you haven’t heard, this is another Garth Ennis project being brought to life once again by the executive producers of AMC’s Preacher, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

The story follows a specialized CIA police unit comprised of Billy Butcher, Mother’s Milk, Wee Hughie, The Female and The Frenchman, which together, are tasked with keeping superheroes in line, by any means necessary. This all takes place in a greedy, socially-powerful and sexually perverse world where superheroes are using their abilities to get rich and famous.

The Seven, by far The Boys’ biggest antagonists, are made up of: Homelander, Starlight, Queen Maeve, The Deep, Black Noir, A-Train and Jack From Jupiter. Former members include: The Lamplighter and Mister Marathon.

If you have read the graphic novels, then this project, considering what both Rogen and Goldberg have done with Preacher, should be as awesome, hilarious, offensive and gory as you could hope for.

This Ennis/Darick Robertson graphic novel television adaptation is coming in 2019.

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Todd McFarlane Compares SPAWN Movie To JAWS

By

Manuel Gomez

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January 18, 2018

In an exclusive interview with ComicBook.com, Spawn creator Todd Mcfarlane revealed the upcoming movie based on the comic has now begun to cast two pivotal roles. He also offered a very intriguing comparison for the tone of the film.

The very vocal creator said:

We just officially the other day had our first casting meeting…There’s two big roles in the script. There’s obviously sort of Spawn himself, although in a weird way it’s not the biggest role, and then there’s the cop. The cop is this character Twitch who’s been there since issue #1. Twitch is the role in this one, and I sort of refer to him as my sheriff Brody, who is the sheriff in the Jaws movie. Although it was called Jaws, Jaws didn’t really talk a lot in his movie, right? He just kind of showed up at the opportune time to make the movie worthwhile

You can head over to ComicBook.com to check out more information.

What do you guys think? Are You excited? This take does sound interesting, as Twitch was one of the more unique and fan favorite characters that emerged from the title. The character starred in a spin-off series, Sam and Twitch, which had a lengthy run written by Brian Michael Bendis.

Spawn movie is coming from Blumhouse, makers of The Purge, Paranormal Activity, and The Belko Experiment. No official release date has yet been announced.

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