Fan front issue 2 by Darkfaery Subculture Magazine

MEET THE STAFF!

heather bond co-owner, photographer

KRISTI SPARLING COLUMNIST

CHRISTINA HIMES EDITOR, COLUMNIST

RIKI BOND

VIDEOGRAPHER

BRITTANY CAMPBELL COLUMNIST, DESIGN

KIT HOLLEY LEGAL

CALEB GERBER COLUMNIST

Duvall Gilchrist montgomery Editor in chief, co-owner

THANKS FOR PICKING UP ISSUE 02

OF FAN FRONT MAGAZINE!

HORROR IN CINEMA

CON TE N T 03

CON COVERAGE: TOKYO IN TULSA

CON COVERAGE: SALUTE TO SUPERNATURAL

FEATURED ARTIST: JASRIC

MEETING FELICIA DAY

HORROR IN CINEMA ...It’s the sound of a creaking door in a silent house... ...It’s the barely audible whispers written off as nothing... ...It’s the shadows moving about in the darkness of an otherwise still room...

It’s fear and for as long as man has been around, it has been instilled in us as a sort of safety mechanism to avoid harm. Everyone has had those moments of pure terror in their life and yet many go out of their way to find it; more often than not, through the media of film. The horror genre has persisted and grown through the decades, turning fear into reality. From the silent era all the way to present day, scary movies are still frightening and entertaining audiences worldwide. The early days of horror in cinema are comprised mostly of monsters and creatures and focused on a more supernatural aspect. One of the first horror films, Nosferatu, brought the legend of the vampire Dracula, known in the film as Count Orlok, to the silver screen. The pure creepiness and unsettling atmosphere of this silent picture has helped

it to remain a classic ever since its debut in 1922. Others came before it and many came after, but Nosferatu is arguably one of the most influential horrors to come out of the silent era. After silent pictures fell to the wayside with the introduction of sound in movies, horror films benefited with the addition of background noises to better frighten the audience. Sounds, such as a twig snapping, or the labored breathing of a sinister character just out of sight, raised the bar for terrorizing audiences. Universal Pictures stepped into the role as the leader of horror movies in the 1930s and 1940s, producing such classics as Frankenstein and Dracula in 1931, The Mummy in 1932, The Wolf Man in 1941. Actors such as Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Boris Karloff became household names, revered by fans for generations.

After the boom of the 1940s, horror movies lost momentum in the 1950s. This is not to say that there were no great films made in this time, after all Alfred Hitchcock’s heyday was during this era. Strangers on a Train (1951), Rear Window (1954), and Vertigo (1958) are some of Hitchcock’s greatest films, but there was not much else that stuck until the next decade. Hitchcock made cinematic history in 1960 with his film Psycho. Audiences were known to faint in terror and flee theaters across the country. As shocking as the story was, some found the death of Janet Leigh’s character so early in the movie to be even more shocking. Leigh was a very famous actress at the time and was prominently featured as a headliner in the film. As society changed, horror movies adapted to the social climate of the time. During

the 1960s and 1970s, monsters took a backseat to the more common threat of man vs. man. Psycho killers and deranged maniacs became the featured players in horror at the same time that the world was getting their first taste of the horrors of war in their own home. Vietnam was the first widely televised and photographed war in history and the thought of monsters seemed almost childish compared to the violence that humans could inflict upon each other. The human aspect changed horror forever. A small independent film was released in 1978 that rejuvenated the horror genre in another mid-decade lull. Halloween night seemed the perfect setting for a horror movie, but no director had yet cashed in on that idea until John Carpenter. Halloween surprised everyone with its success and quickly became one of the highest grossing independent films of all time. This film is also considered the birth of the slasher genre which would later dominate the 1980s. Neverhad a movie relied so heavily on a musical score and lighting to terrify audiences. Halloween remains one of the greatest horror films of all time and spurred on many sequels. With the success of Halloween, the 1980s began churning out more slasher films than ever before seen in Hollywood. The decade became somewhat of a renaissance for the horror genre and iconic villains were

birthed. Cashing in on specific days, many directors focused their attention on holidays and special days. Notably, Friday the 13th was one of the most successful to come out of this generation. Jason Vorhees and his mother have continued their legacy of terror all the way into modern day. Other honorable mentions are Mother’s Day (1980), Happy Birthday to Me (1981), and Black Christmas (1974). Out of respect for the series, A Nightmare on Elm Street must be mentioned. Wes Craven created one of the most iconic characters in horror in 1984 and made an entire generation fear their once perfectly safe dreams. While some of the sequels that came out in later years lacked the originality and terror of the first, they still brought in audiences to see the next installment of Freddy Krueger. The saga of the kids of Elm Street spanned multiple decades and even a bloody confrontation between Jason Vorhees and Freddy himself in Freddy vs. Jason in 2003. After years of subpar sequels and lackluster films, the 1990s was in need of another shake-up for the horror genre. Wes Craven, having seen success with more than just Freddy, rose to the challenge in 1996. From the utter brutality and shock of the first ten minutes to the intriguing and bloody conclusion, Scream revitalized the squandering genre. This film was as much a parody as it was a true horror film. It played into clichés that seemed overdone in the past but the film was so self-

aware that it worked. Scary, fun, and mysterious, Scream brought about the second wave of slasher films to a whole new generation. The late 1990s saw the release of I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Urban Legend (1998), and The Faculty (1998) and teen slashers were as popular as ever before. The new millennium would not prove to be as solid as previous decades and many horror films were just remakes of classics from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. While some were respectful re-imaginations like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003 and The Last House on the Left in 2009, others were not so well done. House of Wax in 2005 possibly made Vincent Price (star of the original) roll over in his grave and Rob Zombie’s bumbling remake of Halloween in 2007 was not only unnecessary but a complete mockery of the original’s brilliance. The recent years have not been all remakes, of course; with Paranormal Activity (2008), the “found footage” subgenre got an enormous boost. Even the recent remake of Evil Dead surprised everyone. Modern horror is as everchanging as always and constantly surprise audiences with new ways to spook them. If the genre continues to make modern classics like The Conjuring, future audiences will have much to fear when they enter the darkness of the theater.

BY: CALEB GERBER

TOKYO IN TULSA

THE LARGEST POP CULTURE CON IN OKLAHOMA BY: BRITTANY CAMPBELL

If you've never been to an Oklahoma anime or gaming convention, you might be asking yourself where to begin. It doesn't help that more and more seem to be popping up every year, slowly but surely putting our con scene on the map. One name might have caught your attention the last few years, though, and if you've counted Tokyo in Tulsa among one of your possible con options, this article is for you.

good fun, but if you're looking for original crafts by independent artists - this was the place to be! We met some pretty amazing people who were all friendly and eager to chat up the fans. Not to mention, the artwork being showcased there was to die for. Some of the booths even took credit and debit cards - which was nice - but if you want to play it safe it's best to stop by the ATM first so you have some cash on hand.

This year, a fellow columnist and I had the privilege of covering Tokyo in Tulsa (TnT for short) for the magazine you're currently reading. We spent two full days galavanting through the masses of cosplay-clad fans, and we're excited to say we both came out eagerly making plans for the following year. If you haven't had the chance to visit TnT (or even if you have!) this is definitely one convention you don't want to miss.

After buying our weight in custom swag, it was time to hit the panels. Most of them were small, but still great fun, and I was honestly surprised at the variety! There was definitely a panel somewhere on the schedule to suit everyone. Supernatural Fan Panel, BBC Fandom, Cosplay on a Budget, Karaoke, and Ninja Sword class are just a few to speak of.

Getting it's start in 2005, Tokyo in Tulsa initially began as a Halloween Block Party for Darkstone Anime store. Once the store closed in 2006, TnT made bigger plans. They started preparing for a three day fan convention, and officially opened their doors in August of 2008. Since then, TnT has grown to be one of the biggest local anime conventions in the Tulsa area, with an attendance that has more than doubled since their first year! And, with everything from dozens of vendors to hundreds of panels, TnT is sure to have something for you.

In the end, my biggest regret is that we couldn't see every single thing TnT had to offer, and as badly as I wanted to at least stay for the dance party, we just didn't have any more time. My advice to you, if you're even thinking about visiting TnT next year, is to make an entire day (if not a weekend) of it. Check out some panels, try your hand at Cosplay, visit the charity ball, get down at the dance party, and try not to sink yourself in debt getting lost in the Artist Bazaar. Not only is Tokyo in Tulsa a fantastic way to waste some time, but you'll be amazed at how well this T-Town gem holds its own against bigger name cons around the country.

Being the shopaholics that we are, my cohort and I spent most of our free time at the Artist Ba- It's never too early to start making your plans for zaar, where booths of all different sizes lined up TnT 2014! We'll see you there. in rows. The panels and Exhibitors area were all

Exclusive convention

coverage

DALLAS, TX

SALUTE TO SUPERNATURAL BY: HEATHER BOND

I wasn’t able to sleep the night before our five hour trip to Dallas, Texas. I knew in just a few short hours I would be in the same room as the likes of Misha Collins, Mark Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino, Richard Speight Jr, Oscric Chau, and James Patrick Stewart. So, loaded up with enough coffee to kill a normal person, Brittany and I were on the road. The turnpike lead us to some interesting pit stops at various gas stations to refill on caffeine, but we didn't stop in one place for long. I knew right when we arrived, mostly from the plethora of cars with chalk writing on the windows (such phrases like ‘Supernatural or Bust’). The tan trench coats where also a big clue. The hotel staff was very accommodating and friendly, even as we rushed up the stairs to reach the panels. We were late (I blame my GPS and the aggressive Dallas drivers!) so only got on the tail end of Richard and Matt Cohens panel. Everyone was enjoying themselves, judging from the sea of happy Castiel's, Abanddons, and other assorted cosplayers.

Richard did an amazing job as Master of Ceremonies; he was witty and engaging, getting everyone excited even more then they already were. Let's talk vendors; only licensed vendors where allowed at this convention and I was surprised at the options. T-shirts, mugs, posters, and all very reasonably priced. I helped myself to a pretty amazing poster and mug; even the lines to get merch weren’t bad. The excitement was palpable and despite lack of sleep, a poor diet and my veins practically overloaded with caffeine, I was having a blast and so was everyone else. Mark Sheppard and Richard's panel was fantastic. The crowd was very receptive to their answers, and I know there is also stuff you read online about rude questions, etc, but every fan was very respectful and Mark and Richard seemed genuinely happy to be there. We took a short intermission, at which point I found it would be a good idea to almost pass out in line waiting for more coffee. I guess two hours of sleep and two chicken nuggets don't cut it nowadays. Thankfully, Brittany found some protein shakes and I was up and ready to go again.

I really got back in the swing of things when I saw the sexiest thing on this planet sitting outside the hotel, gleaming in the midday sun; that's right, an Impala. I fangirled out for a second but regained composure in time to get my photo snapped next to my dream car. You want to know what else made my day? Still feeling shaky, I turned, noticing a tall man carrying a duffel bag being lead through the lobby. It was none other than Mark Pelligrino himself, much taller than I imagined and much friendlier than his character, Lucifer. He stopped, spoke to, and even hugged a few fans before being lead up towards the convention area. I managed to snap a rough shot of Satan after Brittany reminded me (while I stared at him dumbly) that I had a camera hanging around my neck.

Exclusive convention coverage

When it finally got to our turn, Mark Sheppard put his arm around me and I got to stand next to Castiel and the King of Hell. It made the exhaustion, the hunger and the anxiety totally worth it.

The drive home consisted of more coffee (pretty sure I ingested more than medically advisable), We where both pretty beat, but hurried to see Mi- party jams that I had no idea I knew the lyrics to sha and Mark's panel. Fans where crammed in the until that night, and the windows rolled down delarge banquet hall, lining the walls and peeking spite the cold just to keep us awake. in through the doors. Dressed in attire I certainly didn't see Mark in when he first arrived, everyone All in all, it was an amazing experience! The fans, cheered to their entrance. Donning cowboy hats the actors, and the vendors really pulled together and various western trinkets, they came in to loud to make a memorable experience. fanfare. Brittany and myself decided at the last minute to fork out the cash to get our photos with the Marks and Misha. We just couldn't leave without one! Despite our fatigue and the long drive home, we where pretty excited to not only meet these amazing people but also get a photo with them, and the staff was fantastic and willingly answered my many questions about it. Observing fans leaving the photo op room spoke volumes about Supeenatural's fan base. Some exited the room with smiles plastered on their faces that didn't diminish even as they waded out through the sea of eager fans. I also noticed a few crying in excitement, unable to contain their glee over what had just transpired. We watched a few other photo ops; the smiling, nervous fans and the exuberance of the actors themselves just made the whole experience amazing.

SHIP WARS We asked fans of Supernatural to throw in their votes for OTP (One True Pairing for those of you who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak fangirl), and the numbers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lie! Here are the winners of the first Ship Wars poll from Fan Front Magazine.

Gishwhes? Gishwhes is the brain child of actor Misha Collins in an unwavering stance to bring “Death to Normalcy.” Last year, Gishwhes broke the Guinness World Record for the Large Scavenger Hunt with over 14,000 participants all over the globe. In addition to off the wall instructions such as, “Show what a teddy bear hostage situation would look like” or “make a shrine to your favorite CW character”, there are things like, hug a veteran, or perform a stealth act of kindness. People all over the world not only participated in dressing up like robots for work or dressing up dogs in homemade tee shirts with the Gishwhes logo, but also by giving out hugs, and making people smile. I decided to join Gishwhes after hearing about it earlier this year. I am by nature a very socially awkward person and doing the aforementioned things would normally have me curling up in the fetal position. But, knowing that so many people all over were doing this too, knowing it was for an amazing cause and that your team was there to back you up, was an amazing feeling. I even got my 2 year old son to participate; he was very adamant that I wear the Boba Fett mask for my robot costume, and giggled the whole way driving me to work. The team I was chosen for was amazing, these guys busted out some of the most amazing feats of kindness and ingenuity that I have seen.

It was easy to see over social media websites, like Tumblr and Facebook, that people who would most likely have never interacted with each other were becoming teammates, even friends. They bonded over a common goal and found new and different ways to find themselves in socially awkward situations just for fun. Social media was an amazing tool to assist us in our quests. After GISHWHES came to a close, we swapped stories of our adventures, shared photos with one another and laughed at our hilarious attempts to win the judge’s approval. In an immensely enjoyable way, Misha Collins has found a way to not only bring people together, but to bring joy through random acts of kindnes. It helped to bring some of us out of our anxious stupors and helped give others a place to belong. What an amazing thing to do with your celebrity status! We look to the man who seeks world domination, one random act of kindness at a time.

BY: HEATHER BOND

A Study In LARPing BY: HEATHER BOND

In definition it means an unorganized fight at close distance. But to the Barony of Kroninburg, one of the many prestigious melee groups located in the Oklahoma region and around the world, it is anything but unorganized. Hundreds of weapons enthusiasts, history buffs and likeminded people gather to host some of the most spectacular displays of handmade armor, costuming and play writing that it is hardly unorganized.

months, but years; some as long as 20. This was not just a weekend hobby, but something that had integrated into their lives on a very real scale. You could tell by the well thought out colors and shields each team had designed themselves; the passion that filled their voices when they spoke about their personas and their reasoning behind starting melee in the first place.

I asked the same question of everyone I interThe 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brought forth the massively success- viewed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what got them started in something like ful roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons, and organized melee? helped fuel the fires for LARPING (Live Action Role Playing). Teams of people with characters The answers where always different but resonated with more depth than a Hollywood blockbuster the same consistency at their core; the need for come to together; their characters merging into companionship, the need for something more than their own elements, game regulation weapons in an office with four walls and a nine to five. Somehand and sturdy, sometimes historically accurate thing long past but still relevant. Chivalry, honor, iron armor collide in a brilliant display of not only respect and kinship-These are the foundations of unimaginable fun and creativity but an outlet to which melee starts at its core. those who seek a brotherhood. Now, when I say brotherhood, do not assume this is a sport best Having the pleasure of interviewing some amazing suited for the men folk. Women are not sitting this veteran melee enthusiasts, I now have a better unout; from shield maidens to generals these girls derstanding for what drives these people to wake are showing the boys that even the most feminine up early on their days off, strap on heavy cumbercan wield a blade and slay the demons. some armor and drive out of beat the crap out of their friends in 100 degree weather. I was fortunate enough to catch up with the Bar_________ ony of Kroninburg one extremely hot afternoon. Pulling into the crowded parking at a local park You can watch all of their in-depth interviews, and I was immediately hit with the enormity that I clips of the battles that took place, and personal was about to delve into. People of all creeds, sexes videos of myself dying of heat exhaustion on our and ages milled around in period or mythical gear, YouTube Channel, Fan Front Magazine. putting some television reenactments to shame. Water was thankfully being handed out; I was in I want to thank all who I was able to speak to, all who a tee shirt and pretty miserable, but I felt pretty welcomed me and allowed me to take their phoweak when I saw a man in full metal armor with tos, interview them and generally put their amaza full face shield sparing with some newcomers ing world under a microscope. It almost makes me just a few feet away from me. I realized quickly want to don a cape and grab a long sword to join that many of these larpers had been doing this not in. In winter though. Definitely in winter.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW W/ ARTIST

JASRIC Already establishing herself into the art community, Jasric is a self taught fandom artist. Her style is unlike many that we have seen, the internet is already teeming with love for her art so we asked her to tell us a bit about herself and how fandoms have shaped her artistically.

(2010). That's when I started digital art and from there art became my favorite hobby.

So, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your favorite art medium? I love digital art but traditionally my favorite medium would be acrylic paint. What appeals to me about acrylic is that it dries quickly as opposed to oil and it's not messy Tell us a little about yourself! like pastels. I started acrylic after digital art I am eighteen years old and I absolutely love surprisingly but I get a greater sense of satisdrawing. I also play piano and I enjoy play- faction out of completing an acrylic painting. ing sports. Strawberries are my favorite food and dark red is my favorite color. You have a lot of amazing fandoms that you draw inspiration from. Any When do you start painting and using favorites and why? digital design? I love all of the fandoms so it's difficult to reI have always been drawing but I really start- ally say I love one more than the other. They ed becoming dedicated to improving my all have different things about them that summer of sophomore year of high school strongly appeal to me but if I had to rank

them I would say DC Comics is at the top. I grew up watching the cartoons and the movies and I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters. It was a huge part of my childhood and something about it just stuck with me this whole time. What inspires you as an artist? I'm mostly inspired by emotions and music. I tend to get really invested in fandoms and I'm inspired by the way a certain character is portrayed. Sometimes I'm just simply inspired to draw a specific face. Music also influences what tone my painting will take.

I usually only get one done but it helps structure what I want to do so I don't get overwhelmed by my ideas. For long term goals I hope to transfer to an art school and major in illustration. When did you start getting into fan art? I have always been into fan art because the things I'm invested in inspire me. I would say the same time I really started to get into drawing (2010) was when I really started getting into fan art.

Any shops where fans can buy prints Any goals that you have set for your- and merch? I have a Society6 shop at http://society6. self? Everyday I always plan a number of draw- com/jasric ings I want to finish by the end of the week.

MEETING A PERSONAL HERO ---------- ONE FAN'S EXPERIENCE WITH FELICIA DAY ----------

FOREWORD BY: HEATHER BOND

Being a fan is more than just an overwhelming passion; it can also be an act of being inspired by another person or thing, so much that it changes your perspective. Felicia Day is a talented actress and internet sensation, appearing in such cult hit shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eureka, Dr. Horrible’s Sing ALong Blog, The Guild and most recently a reoccuring role as Charlie Bradbury in CW’s Supernatural. Between hosting her commerical blog, Geek & Sundry with Kim Evey and Sheri Bryant, this successful actress has made a fanbase for herself in being herself. In the following article, one fan describes her experience meeting Felicia Day and explains how this actress has affected her in such a positive way.

BY: KRISTI SPARLING

When someone asks me “why Felicia?”, it is not a difficult question to answer. It is also not a short one. Growing up, I had little in the way of role models. My family was not tight knit, and I was an extremely socially awkward kid. Getting bullied and taunted throughout school was something I believed to be normal, and routine. I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, and bottled up many of my interests feeling doubt and very little self worth that my dreams were of value in this life. In my young adult years, I discovered a talented young actress by the name of Felicia Day. I saw her web series “The Guild”, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long”, and later in my favourite television series “Supernatural”. By 2011 I was actively following her work, whatever it was. There was something about her charm, and her ability to entertain in such a unique way that felt relatable and genuine. She was an instant hero that through her characters, made me feel like I had a place with my quirkiness, and I was inspired. In 2013 I booked an appointment to have her Guild character Codex tattooed to my calf. It was around that time that the comic con being hosted in my city booked her as a featured guest. I cannot describe in words the emotions that came to me the day that announcement was made. It was no time at all that I was standing first in line at her table at Ottawa comic con. She came out to her table,

and I was called up to see her. She could see that I was visibly shaken with nerves, and grabbed my hand and told me that she understood, and that it was alright. She made a few jokes, and that was when I asked to show her my tribute. Within half a second of lifting my pant leg and seeing the tattoo, she sprang to her feet shrieking in excitement. She looked teary eyed as I read to her a note about the pain I have overcome with the help of being inspired by her. She gave me a huge hug and rubbed my arm while telling me how much it meant to her. I couldn’t believe what a genuine and humble person she was. A few months later, she appeared at another convention I was attending. I worked hard on a Charlie Bradbury cosplay to represent her Supernatural character. Again I was first in line, and she she called me over by name expressing that she had been excited since finding out I was attending this convention. She loved the cosplay and complimented it several times. Over that weekend I had a meet and greet with her, a few photo ops, and got some autographs for fans that had won contests in my Facebook group for her called “House Of Bradbury”. Satuday was her panel, at which I was able to conquer one of my biggest fears - public speaking. I am required at my job to do presentations,

which I have always had difficulties with. I got up in front of her 3,000 person panel, and asked her a question. She was gracious and said, “Wow what a great question, I love you!”

I don’t think I can ever properly express what she means to me, but I am aware that I got an experience meeting her that most people dream about. I am lucky, and fortunate. She is a class act, and every bone in her body is gracious and humble. All of that, however, took a back seat to what At the end of the day it’s not about the tattoo, or Sunday meant to me. During our goodbye at her the autographs, or the photo ops. It’s about findautograph table, she came around and auto- ing someone in this world that you connect with, graphed my tattoo. whether it be personally or through their art or their passion. It’s about feeling like you aren’t Having that addition - which has since been alone. It’s about having people challenge you to inked - means a great deal to me. be the best you that you can be, which Felicia inspires me every single day to do.

PARENTING: Parenting can be a touchy subject with most people. Everyone has their own style and sense of right and wrong when it comes to raising children. We weight in on our parenting style and how we attempt to raise awesome kids, with limitless imagination. We give you the insights of geeky parents.

My childhood was different than most. My sister and I were raised on Star Wars and Star Trek, my punishment for disobeying or being unruly wasn’t that my TV time was taken away, but that I was not allowed to read. I got in trouble for reading past my bed time and most of my time was used polishing up my Star Wars RP group’s latest script. Most children wanted to become a doctor, nurse or some other normal occupation, I was convinced that I would become a Jedi; a belief that I held quite steadfast until the age of thirteen (much to my poor parents concern). Looking back on my tender years, I remember thinking what people had to talk about if it didn’t somehow concern the latest Harry Potter addition, or the scientific ramifications Star Trek had on our current technology. Of course, with such a passion can also breeds hatred from other people. Especially other children; being tormented daily was a usual occurrence for me. From being called a freak for liking Star Wars or the fact that my head was usually too busy buried in a book to even have the slightest concern for what was going on around me or the goings on of classmates. Having a rather difficult time talking to people or different social situations hurled me into the worlds that I still hold dear. My day may have been bad, but I knew on lunch break I would be in the Shire with Frodo Baggins about to go on an amazing adventure. Fandom got me through the roughest parts of my adolescents and still plays a large role in my life today; I have and

always will be an escapist, a day dreamer and a lover of the written word. And that brings me to my life’s biggest adventure; parenthood! I was so lucky. I met an amazing guy; want to know when I knew that I wanted to marry him? He had comic collection to rival my own and knew the back story to almost all my favorite characters. Of course he hadn’t read the expanded universe of Star Wars, but I quickly remedied that! Together we made a pretty cool little person. Almost seamlessly, our little person (mind) melded into our lives and ultimately into our geeky sub culture. One of his favorite movies of all time is Star Wars. Keep in mind that my son was introduced to Star Wars at the young age of one and half, by the time he was two he could identify most of the character and hum the Imperial Death March. His favorite character is Darth Vader and he doesn’t like Jar Jar Binks. Being a bookworm, and knowing how much books had shaped and helped me through difficult times, I decided to introduce Finn to my love of reading very young age also. Like fetus young. I read him Harry Potter in utero. Hey, he liked it and I

THE GEEK WAY got bored! My son is now in love with books- his favorite stores usually have books in and has checked out every book in his age group at the library on his own accord, and his favorite part of the night is story time. Having a child is an amazing experience. Knowing that you are shaping another person’s future and introducing them to so many magical, fantastic things is exhilarating. Ninja Turtles for example! I went through a hardcore ninja turtle phase when I was younger; I think I watched the movies at least 3 times a day. Now, my son is in love with them. And has

watch the old movies that I myself had watched “back in the day”. I hope my son will continue on this path, he has such an imagination and drive. Which is really what being a geek is all about; the infinite desire to learn and grown and dream; nothing is unobtainable and impossible is possible. Imagination is the most beautiful thing we as humans where gifted with; I am so thankful that my parents nurtured that in me and that is my hope for my son. BY: HEATHER BOND

___________ I was labeled a slew of not-so-kind things in high school because other teenagers in my town just couldn’t understand why I liked to eat lunch in the art room or with the kind elderly librarian, whom would converse with me as if she had known me my entire adolescence, or why I constantly carried a stack of books around in my backpack. Surely I was suffering from some mental disorder that caused such quirky behavior. But, you know what? Something sort of amazing developed from that grim situation when I was approached one day in the library by a group of boys who wanted an opinion on which super hero females most preferred. There it is. There is the silver lining. That group of boys? They became my best friends and guided me through a world of Dungeons & Dragons and graphic novels and Joss Whedon television marathons. Fast forward to my adult years and you’ll meet a young woman who squeals with excitement over all things Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Harry Potter. Oh, and those fandoms are just the tip of the iceberg, my friend. That same insatiable appetite that appeared in my most tender years is still being nurtured by a vast variety of authors who not only sparked a love-affair with the written word, but inspired me to write as well! Huzzah! There is, of course, a downside to nerd devotion. The downside was that meeting men was not exactly that easy to do. It was honestly a lot… well, exactly like this: First, imagine that he said something that reminds me of Star Wars and then insert a witty Star

Wars reference here. Silence. Followed by, “I’ve never seen Star Wars” or “I don’t like Star Wars.” Awkward silence. Check, please. I mean, come on, really? Ah! But, have no fear. I obviously did eventually meet someone in the form of a Luke Skywalker doppelganger. Someone with similar interests to mine and liked almost all of the exact same things, who was well-read and used proper grammar, AND did I mention that he looked like Luke Skywalker? That someone became my husband. He also became the father of one four-year-old dizzy daydreamer and two tenaciously adorable twins. He is a fantastic father and is one hundred and ten percent devoted to teaching our girls that the princesses really worth looking up to don’t need saving . He teaches our children that they can be whoever they want to be, whether it be a super hero or wizard or Jedi or Time Lord. They have the freedom and the ability to conjure up their own identity and explore an endless array of creative possibilities. We introduce them to different shows and characters that we both enjoy or feel as though there’s a moral lesson to be learned, like with Superman or Captain Kirk, and then let them kind of take it from there. They are tiny children and yes, they are ours; but we don’t have a monopoly on who they are or who they choose to be. And you know what? I’m okay with that. BY: CHRISTINA HIMES