The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.1.8: Rippers

How could Mr. Melo screw up something as simple as a trip to a strip club? Watch and see...

HGC Radio - Episode 50: I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

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Holy crap! THE HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB TURNS 50! Well 50 episodes, not 50 years but it's still a pretty damn big achievement! This week, ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES is joined by comic book artist LEE MODER making his first in-studio appearance. Lee and Kingdom talk comics, superhero movies, this weekend's Toronto Comic Expo and just about everything else under the sun. There's NERD NEWS, THINGS TO DO and a ton more fun on this delightfully NSFW episode.

Listen to the show now in streaming audio or right click the link to download the show as an mp3. It's HGC Radio: Better Than Smoking Hash With Brad Pitt! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!


Lee Moder and Anthony Kingdom James at the San Diego Comic Con circa 1994 or 95.

This week's handsome links...
The HGC Comic Expo Meet-Up is tonight (Friday August 28th at 9pm) at The Bottom Line Restaurant at 22 Front Street West in Toronto.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is "Fly By Night" by Rush.

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.1.7: Diet Coke STAT!

"You got me running around doing nothing fun." Page is disappointed in the evening's festivities. Mr. Melo tries to cheer him up with some Hollywood chat.

HGC Radio - Episode 49: InGENIUS Basterds

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Episode 49 of THE HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB RADIO SHOW is here, kids! As summer winds down, HGC Radio springs into action with another hour of fun, frolic and pop culture conversation just for you! Professional wrestler/actor/reality show star GQ MONEY is on the show to hype the XPW 10th Anniversary show in Los Angeles this weekend and to talk about his multi-faceted entertainment career (including news on a pilot he just completed for ABC). Then "The Most Opinionated Man On The Planet" BIG RON LARMONDIN calls in to talk kidney stones, Plaxico Burress and Quebec strippers. Plus, ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES gets a visit from his father, finishes rewriting his comic book script and puts a hit out on The Wayans Brothers. All this, plus NERD NEWS, THINGS TO DO and much much more!

Listen to the show now in streaming audio or right click the link to download the show as an mp3. It's HGC Radio: Better Than Smoking Hash With Brad Pitt! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!

This week's handsome links...
XPW's tenth anniversary show is this weekend in Los Angeles.
GQ Money aka Ryan Katz has his own official website.
Do you love LEGO as much as AKJ does? Maybe you'll want to check out BrickFair this weekend in Washington DC.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is "Late For School" by Steve Martin and "Zuckuss' Prius" by mc chris.

The Worst Thing You'll Ever See #6: Synchronizing Cycling

If you can watch this video and still tell me that things like synchronized swimming and rythymic gymnastics are actual sports and belong in the Olympics... If you can watch this video and tell me that this isn't the most colossal waste of athletic ability you've ever seen... well then friends, you are either a gay man or an annoying woman, cuz this video is The Worst Thing You'll Ever See!

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.1.6: The Car Ride

Ethan Page and his manager, Mr. Melo, are busy discussing strategy for Page's upcoming title match during a ride around town... but there's always time to rock out to some tunes on the radio!

HGC Radio - Episode 48: A Real American Episode

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THE HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB RADIO SHOW is back for another amazing episode. Today, we welcome the father of the modern G.I. Joe franchise, LARRY HAMA to the show. With "The Rise of Cobra" in theaters, "Resolute" on television screens and IDW's new comic book series on store shelves, HGC Radio thinks it's time to get the facts about G.I. Joe from the man who knows (and knowing is half the battle). Also, ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES updates everyone on some upcoming HGC activities, delivers the week's NERD NEWS, gives us an idea for the upcoming Avengers movie in THE PITCH and announces this week's STUPIDEST BASTARD ON EARTH. Plus, BIG RON LARMONDIN pays the show a visit to lend his opinion on both Michael Vick's return to the NFL and NHL star Patrick Kane's recent assault and robbery arrest and some birthday wishes for one of the Handsome Geniuses.

Listen to the show now in streaming audio or right click the link to download the show as an mp3. It's HGC Radio: Because Podcastting Is The Other Half Of The Battle! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!

Here's a partial list of friends of the Handsome Genius Club who made it into the Pro Wrestling Illustrated list of 2009's Top 500 wrestlers. Click on the links in the list to go to the episode of HGC Radio that they appeared on.

6. Nigel McGuinness
8. CM Punk
23. Austin Aries
40. Jerry Lynn
67. Claudio Castagnoli
68. Rhino
70. Chris Hero
84. Steve Corino
96. Abyss
98. Tyson Dux
130. D.H. Smith
140. Joe E. Legend
144. Masato Tanaka
168. Cody Deaner
177. Matt Cross
179. Human Tornado
218. Brodie Lee
246. Ricky Reyes
248. Pepper Parks
296. Sterling James Keenan
321. Shark Boy
329. Super Hentai
350. Ethan Page
376. Shiima Xion
377. Sabian
379. Asylum
389. Matt Burns
392. Kevin Grace
393. Chris Masters
398. John McChesney
410. Colin Delaney
415. Robin Knightwing
420. Zach Gowen
421. Joey Knight
440. Jon Bolen
442. Jimmy Olsen
447. Angel
477. Luke Hawx
486. Notorious T.I.D.
491. Marc Mandrake

This week's handsome links...
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is "Spit Fresh" by Wordburglar and "006" by mc chris.

HGC Comic Rack Review - Ultimate Spider-Man Vol.2 #1

An opportunity lost. That's my reaction to the first issue of the rebooted Ultimate Spider-Man series. The mistake was made the moment Spider-Man's body was found amongst the carnage of post-Ultimatum Wave New York City.

At the end of Ultimate Spider-Man Vol.1 #133, readers are left with the notion that Spider-Man is dead. At the end of Ultimate Spider-Man: Requiem #2, we see Peter Parker open his eyes through his battle-torn Spider-Man mask. At the beginning of Ultimate Spider-Man Vol.2 #1, we are re-introduced to Peter Parker six months after the events of Ultimatum. He is taking fast food orders as a cashier at a burger joint called Burger Frog. He's still living with Aunt May. He's still Spider-Man. He's still a ball of pitiable teen angst.


So, fellow Handsome Geniuses, your Uncle Kingdom is compelled to ask: What was the frakking purpose of Ultimatum? Why was the original USM series cancelled? Except for the fact that he's making out with Gwen Stacy, not a damn thing seems to have changed for the Ultimate universe's web-slinger. Hell, even the city of New York is shown to be sparkling and new only 180 days after being "destroyed".

"With no warning a massive tidal wave crashed down on the island of Manhattan killing millions of people in the blink of an eye", we are told. Mary Jane tells us that the Eastern Seaboard was "wiped out". But man oh man, the city looks good now. Does anyone remember September 11th, 2001? Does anyone remember how long clean up of the World Trade Center site took. Has construction on anything new even started there? This new series should be taking place in a still-RUINED New York City.

The original USM series went HOW many issues before we really saw Peter become Spider-Man? This go-around, we see Spidey up and around barely half way through the story and all he does is appear on the scene AFTER a new, mysterious costumed vigilante has stopped a hold-up using vicious tactics.

There should have been some mystery to the in-story return of both Parker and his alter ego to post-Ultimatum New York. The story should have started with Aunt May, Mary Jane and cast still dealing with Peter's "death". And why six months later? Make it a year. Give everyone a reason to gather: to remember their fallen friend. Have J. Jonah Jameson speak at a public rally and unveil a memorial statue that he funded himself and significant for being something new amongst the devastated backdrop of New York. With this terrible anniversary passing and life only beginning to return to normal for New Yorkers, let a new Spider-Man appear on the scene. Maybe he's meaner than the old Spider-Man. Maybe his tactics are more brutal. Maybe Jameson's delight at the return of Spider-Man turns to horror when the new wall-crawler takes a life.

In the wake of the city's new hatred for Spider-Man, you would have May and MJ trying to track down the new Spider-Man. Could it possibly be Peter? Is it someone new desecrating the memory of their beloved? Delve into the new life of the clone calling herself Spider-Woman and how Aunt May is handling her existence. Let Johnny Storm and Kitty Pryde and Spider-Woman hunt down the new Spider-Man. Let THAT be the first story arc.

Instead, we got a story that felt like it could have been from anywhere in the middle of the original series' run. I'm disappointed in writer Brian Michael Bendis and even moreso in Marvel Comics for this lackluster effort. This did not feel like an exciting new chapter in the life of Peter Parker. This felt like business as usual.

Mind you... business as usual is why I read the book in the first place. Bendis has done great things reworking the Spider-Man mythology this past decade. As for new series artist David Lafuente... I LIKE his art but I'm not in LOVE with it. This situation is a Kobayashi Maru for Lafuente. He is replacing possibly my single favourite artist of all time, Stuart Immonnen, on this title. Very few penciller are going to escape the stink-eye from me on this one. All I can say is stop drawing Spidey's head like its an over-acheiving seven year old's Easter egg project.

But the facts are that Bendis and Lafuente are good. The series will be good. It's just sad knowing that this first issue could have been GREAT.

"The Ballad of G.I. Joe"

The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

Thanks to the boys at BamKapow for pointing this one out to us. It's a star-studded parody/tribute to all things G.I. Joe. To see the cast list for the video, click this link to read more.

Scarlett - Julianne Moore
Zartan - Billy Crudup
Snowjob - Zach Galifianakis
Baroness - Olivia Wilde
Lady Jaye - Alexis Bledel
Dr. Mindbender - Tony Hale
Duke - Henry Rollins
Gung-Ho - Chuck Liddell
Shipwreck - Alan Tudyk
Destro - Vinnie Jones
Doc - Laz Alonso
Sergeant Slaughter as himself

Iron Man 2 preview footage

Hey kids! A couple of weeks ago, director Jon Favreau brought a armload of Iron Man 2 footage to the San Diego Comic Con. You like'a da Iron Man? Sure you do. Enjoy!

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.1.5: Bad Bladder

Remember as a kid, when you were about to get in the car and you're parents would ask you if you had to "go tinkle" first because it was going to be a long trip? Mr. Melo and "The Motion Picture" Ethan Page sure do!

HGC Radio - Episode 47: One "Straight Up" Dummy!

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It's Friday morning and that means it's time for another episode of everyone's favorite internet time-waster, THE HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB RADIO SHOW! Join ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES along with BIG RON LARMONDIN and NOAH PANICO for this week's reviews and previews and all your NERD NEWS. There may be miscues from these three yahoos but they're sure to amuse as they bruise your taboos, bemuse with their views and then say their adieus! And it's all waiting for you now on Episode 47 of HGC Radio!

Listen to the show now in streaming audio or right click the link to download the show as an mp3. It's HGC Radio: We're Breakin' Necks and Cashin' Cheques! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!




Big Ron won't stop chewing on his mic cord.



Megan Fox's thumbs look like Fred Flinstone's big toe.

This week's handsome links...
~Movie reviewer Noah Panico is one of the co-hosts of the Counting The Lights podcast.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is Kingdom's favorite new song, "CNR" by Weird Al Yankovic, and Kingdom's absolute favorite song of all time, "Jealous Man" by Hoyt Axton.

The 365 Project has moved...

As you can see, we've moved Kingdom's 365 Project from the main column to it's own permanent spot atop the middle column here on the website. Clicking on the photo will take you to Kingdom's Flickr account where you can view all of his 365 Project photos. Enjoy!

The 365 Project - Day 035

Wednesday is comic book day and this week's reading material includes this mailer for the upcoming Toronto Comic Expo.

The 365 Project - Day 034

Taking this picture was funny until The OdetteSquatch said "Chicks are stupid not to date you... you're comfortable!" That's the moment the fun died and the awkward started.

YouTube Gold: "CNR" by Wierd Al Yankovic

This may already be my favorite Wierd Al song ever! Join the master of parody as he teams up with the fine animators at Jib Jab to pay tribute to the greatest comic actor the world has ever known: Charles Nelson Reilly.

The 365 Project - Day 033

Yes... that IS my lightsabre sitting next to my arcade game. Why do you ask?

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.1.4: The Rider

Mr. Melo discusses the conditions of Ethan Page's contract rider with Chris Law, the ridiculously incompetent president of Pro Wrestling Riot.

The 365 Project - Day 032

I may not be classy, but I sure am cool.

The 365 Project - Day 031

I was out for my daily walk Saturday afternoon and wandered through Yorkville (one of Toronto's more affluent neighbourhoods) and spotted these guys. I wish I were a better photographer because this struck me as a Norman Rockwell painting waiting to happen so I knew I wanted to at least capture it as a photo.