HGC Radio - Ep.54: Genius of Steel

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Yes kids, The HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB RADIO SHOW has made the move to Mondays and to celebrate ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES has invited a pair of the Usual Suspects to join him in-studio for a roundtable discussion on the pop culture topics of the week. Join Kingdom, along with GEORGE ZOTTI and DEAN BROTTON for over 100 minutes of hijinx and hilarity as they discuss sex and relationships, a trio of newly released movies (Zombieland, Pandorum and Surrogates), some of this season's returning and brand new television shows and whether or not Dean has a future in locally produced porn flicks! All this and much more on HGC54!

Listen to the show now in streaming audio or right click the link to download the show as an mp3. It's HGC Radio: Offering Free Sandwiches To Miserable People In The Park Since 1932! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!

This week's handsome links...
Dean recomended the Polaris Award-winning music of Toronto punk band Fucked Up.
George manages The Silver Snail Comic Shop.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is "The Fixer" by Pearl Jam and "Rusted By The Rain" by Billy Talent.

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.3.1: A Day In The Life Of Mr. Melo

A possibly TOO candid look at a typical day in the life of the world's greatest talent management specialist, Mr. Melo.

HGC Radio is MOVING TO MONDAYS!!!

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After months of hemming and hawing, yours truly, Anthony Kingdom James has decided that the time is finally right to try moving the Handsome Genius Club Radio Show from it's traditional Friday spot to a brand new Monday release date. Not only will this give me more time to comfortably record and edit the show without forgoing the notion of sleep (being awake for 24 hours SUCKS!) but it also opens the show up to having more co-hosts on a weekly basis.

Case in point: now scheduled to appear on this Monday's brand spanking new Episode 54 are pop culture saavy teen heartthrob DEAN BROTTON (returning to the show for the first time in literally a year) and the first in-studio appearance of comic book store manager and all-around great guy GEORGE ZOTTI. So check in with us Monday morning for an all-new episode of HGC Radio! Until then, here's some NERD NEWS to see you through the weekend.

HGC Comic Rack Review - Superman: Secret Origin #1

With so much worthy of reviewing from this week's new books, it was hard to choose just one... so I chose two. (Check back later today for a review of Wolverine: Old Man Logan.) First up is Superman: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Honest to god, I wasn't going to buy this book. I was going to make a personal stand against the telling and re-telling and re-telling of origin stories. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man... new writers are constantly giving their perspective, their take on how these characters came to be. Superman came to Earth in a rocketship. Batman's parents were murdered in a theatre alley. Spider-Man was bitten by a radioactive spider and then let his Uncle Ben die. You take this one focal point and then subtly re-invent.

But how many of these re-inventions can one reader endure? But Kody Peters at Toronto's Silver Snail only had to hold up a copy and quietly say "This is good." and I was sold. And MAN, is this book good.


When the story opens, Clark Kent (who's character design looks suspiciously like what you'd think a young Christopher Reeve would look like) is a 13- or 14-year old kid, dealing with the trials of puberty in his hometown of Samllville, Kansas. School? Not a problem. Family? The best any kid could hope for. Love interest? Lana Lang seems plenty interested in making her lifelong friendship with our boy into something more. So what's the problem, you ask?

Well Clark keeps... doing stuff. Exhibiting powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Strength. Invulnerability. And now heat and x-ray vision. It's becoming a huge problem. That's when his parents, Johnathan and Martha (or Ma and Pa Kent, if you prefer) decide it's time to tell him the truth.

What will they say? How much do they actually know? How will Clark react? What strange powers will he exhibit next? How will he handle matters the next time Lana tries to kiss him? And who is this Lex Luthor kid with the strange glowing green rock?

Everything I said about not wanting another origin story went right out the window after the first few pages. Clean, simple, expressive art and what is shaping up to be some of the best writing of 2009. Kids, even if you haven't read a Superman book in years... maybe ESPECIALLY if you haven't done so... BUY THIS BOOK!

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.2.2: That Daredevil Guy?

Will "The Motion Picture" Ethan Page lose his role in Michael Bay's new movie to (*gasp*) Ben freakin' Affleck? Can Mr. Melo manage to smooth things over?

HGC Radio - Ep.53: Yo, I'mma Let You Finish, Dawg But....

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HGC Year Two begins with a big show, kids! Today, ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES welcomes stand-up comic/television writer JEAN PAUL to the show. Before he hits the road to open for comedy superstar Russell Peters' cross-Canada tour next week, Jean sits down with Kingdom to talk comedy, Kanye and craziness. Plus, NERD NEWS, visits from CHRIS MAVERICK and TJ HABIBI, Kingdom "future endeavours" the jerks from Bam Kapow 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: We Built This City On Rock And Roll! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!


Here's some of Jean paul's stage work for you...

This week's handsome links...
You can follow comedian Jean Paul on Twitter.
Or check out Russell Peters' website to find tour dates in your area for Jean and Russell.
TJ Habibi's band, Secret Suburbia hits the stage in Toronto on Sept. 23. Click "Calendar" for more info.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is "Run This Town" by Jay-Z w. Rihanna and Kanye West and "D&D" by Stephen Lynch.

Matt Hardy vs AJ Styles (w. commentary by AKJ)

Back in 2005, Matt Hardy was fired by the WWE and spent some time wrestling on the indy circuit. Anthony Kingdom James was working as a play-by-play commentator at the time and was lucky enough to call this match with long-time broadcast partner Joe Dombrowski for Pittsburgh's IWC. Watch now as WWE Superstar Matt Hardy takes on TNA Superstar AJ Styles for the first and last time ever!

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.2.1: Stressing Out

Ethan walks off the set during rehearsals for Michael Bay's next movie. When Ethan tries to pull a power move on the Hollywood moneymaker things don't go exactly as planned for either him or Mr. Melo. Did Page just tell Michael Bay to shut up?

HGC Radio - Episode 52: Happy Birthday To Us!

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It's a momentus occasion here at The Fortress of Solitude as ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES celebrates the First Anniversary of the HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB RADIO SHOW! That's right, kids. One full year of HGC Radio is now complete. Joining AKJ today are a few of the Usual Suspects: DAN-E-O is back to update us on his new mixtape project and to test-run the new Handsome Genius Trivia Challenge. HGC's Chief Whovian correspondent PHIL STAMPER checks in to talk about his new job and of course a little Doctor Who. CHRIS MAVERICK plays a game of "Woudja?" And of course, how could this anniversary happen without a few words from TJ HABIBI!

Listen to the show now in streaming audio or right click the link to download the show as an mp3. It's HGC Radio: So good, it's worth waiting all year to hear! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!

This week's listener question: Who do you think would make a good Howlin' Mad Murdoch in the new A-Team film?

This week's handsome links...
TJ Habibi fronts a kick-ass band named Secret Suburbia.
The theme to the Handsome Genius Club is performed by Canadian hip hop artist Dan-e-o. His new mixtape, "Dilla Pickles", is coming out soon.
Chris Maverick is a photographer and webcomic writer.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

Left click and highlight the space below this to read the Toy Story 3 spoiler.
Supposedly the catalyst to set things in motion is that the toys are thrown away by Andy’s mom after he heads off to college, and eventually they end up at a day care center where they’re abused by toddlers. The toys must band together (with some new toys, thespian hedgehogs presumably included) to figure out a way escape, and hopefully find a new (or old) owner.
Left click and highlight the space above this to read the Toy Story 3 spoiler.

This week's music is "Eastbound and Down" by Me first and the Gimme Gimmes and "The Tarleks" by The Rheostatics.

The Adventures of Page and Melo - Ep.2.0: Your Name Is Idiot!

"The Motion Picture" Ethan Page and Emanuel "Mister" Melo ARE BACK with Season Two of the finest reality show on the interwebs: The Adventures of Page and Melo. There's nothing quite like a tech guy fiddling with the lights to ruin an actor's concentration during the filming of a dramatic movie scene. And if you don't believe Christian Bale, just ask Ethan!

AKJ's Top Ten TREKS of All-Time

10. ST: New Voyages - World Enough and Time
When a failed Romulan weapons test traps the Enterprise in an inter-dimensional rift, Sulu and another crewmate are sent over to the wreckage of the Romulan ships. The anomaly's effect on the transporter causes Sulu to come back 30 years older... and with a daughter.

AKJ Says: For ten years between the end of Deep Space Nine and the debut of the JJ Abrams reboot movie, probably the best source of new Trek wasn't Hollywood at all but rather a series of fanfilms made in Upstate New York by fledling actor James Cawley. Check out this fourth outing (labelled Episode 3 on the ST:NV website) which guest stars George Takei as the elder Sulu.


9. Star Trek: First Contact
The crew of the Enterprise-E pursues the Borg back in time as they threaten to prevent first contact between Humans and Vulcans, thus destroying the Federation before its founding.

AKJ says: The Borg really live up to their scary potential in this best of TNG's feature outings. And Picard is finally shows a little of that gun-toting, punch-throwing, Kirk-style action hero that we've always wanted from him.


8. ST: The Original Series - Balance of Terror
While investigating a series of destroyed outposts, the Enterprise discovers a lone Romulan vessel with a cloaking device. The Romulans, having never been seen by humans, are revealed to visually resemble Vulcans, which causes navigator Lt. Stiles to suspect Spock of treason. The two ships become locked in a cat-and-mouse battle through space, leaving the Enterprise seemingly crippled by Romulan weapons.

AKJ says: God, I love this episode. It's basically an old World War 2 submarine movie with a great sci-fi twist. Very dramatic. Mark Lenard, later to appear as Spock's father Sarek, is fantastic as the Romulan commander.


7. ST: The Original Series - Amok Time
Mr. Spock shows evidence of starting to lose control over his emotions. When he insists that he needs to return home to Vulcan, despite being engaged in an important diplomatic mission, Kirk forces him to admit that Vulcan biology requires him to take a mate. After diverting to Vulcan against Starfleet's direct orders, Kirk finds himself in a life-or-death struggle against Spock, at the instigation of Spock's wife-to-be.

Who DOESN'T have that incredible "star trek fight scene" music in their head right now? Logic be damned, Spock is headed upstream to spawn like a pointy-eared salmon and nothing's going to stop him. Kirk's loyalty to Spock can never be questioned with the sacrifices he makes in this episode. Plus, Angry Spock is even cooler to watch than Laughing Spock.


6. ST: The Next Generation - The Inner Light
A space probe creates a telepathic tether to Captain Picard and causes him to experience, in twenty-five minutes, a lifetime as a married man on a world that was destroyed a millennium ago.

One of the great things about the Star Trek series is how, after the first couple of seasons when you've firmly established the characters with the audience, you have a shortcut to tell a very interesting story like this one. Coming into this episode, everyone knows the kind of man Picard is. His loyalty to his ship and crew, his loyalty to the truth and that slightly obsessive stick up his ass for things to be "just so". The Inner Light shows just how far you have to go to break his routine and what kind of man truly resides within him.


5. ST: The Original Series - Mirror, Mirror
A transporter mishap slips Captain Kirk and his companions into a parallel universe, where the Enterprise serves a barbaric Empire instead of the Federation.

AKJ says: This is the episode that taught us all that the sudden appearance of a goatee means you're dealing with your friend's evil twin. A universe populated by evil versions of all the characters we've come to know and love? Career advancement via murder? Jetting across the galaxy on a mission of war and conquest? Count me in!


3. (tie) ST: The Original Series - City On The Edge of Forever
After accidentally overdosing on a powerful stimulant, Dr. McCoy acts erratically and disappears through the Guardian of Forever, a time portal on a remote planet. Kirk and Spock follow after learning that McCoy somehow changed history. Arriving in the 1930s, the duo meet Edith Keeler, a New York social worker. As the days pass, and McCoy is nowhere to be seen, Kirk finds himself falling in love with Keeler but Spock discovers that she must die to restore the timeline.

3. (tie) ST: The Next Generation - Yesterday’s Enterprise
The Enterprise-C arrives from the past, causing a shift in reality which includes the return of deceased Enterprise-D officer Tasha Yar. To set things straight, Captain Picard must convince the crew of the Enterprise-C to return to their time and sacrifice their lives for a reality they’ll never know.

AKJ says: Sacrifice is the name of the game in these two episodes which most fans and critics cite as each series' best episode. As Spock would later say, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few and the fates of untold billions lead to heartbreak and loss for Jim Kirk and the ultimate sacrifice of one's own life for Tasha Yar.


2. ST: Deep Space 9 - In The Pale Moonlight
Desperate to even the odds in the war against the Dominion, Captain Sisko enlists Garak and sacrifices his own morality in a conspiracy to convince the Romulans to join the fight and aid the Federation.

AKJ says: Possibly my single favorite episode of any Trek tv series (TOS episode "This Side of Paradise" is a close rival), highlights Ben Sisko's moral quandry over how to save the Federation in the midst of its war with the Dominion. Is any depth to low for the upstanding space station commander to sink to if it will assure victory?


1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
While exploring test sites for the Genesis terraforming project, the U.S.S. Reliant is hijacked by Khan Noonien Singh, bent on revenge against James T. Kirk who frustrated his plans to seize control of the Enterprise fifteen years earlier. Khan attacks the Enterprise on a training cruise with inexperienced Starfleet cadets led by now-Admiral Kirk who has not commanded a starship for some time.

This movie has everything: action, adventure, science, horror, suspense, humour. It's well-written and well-acted and it truly is the Best Trek of All-Time. Go watch The Original Series episode "Space Seed" again and then settle in for this tale of obsessive revenge on a truly galactic scale.


Honourable Mention:
TOS: This Side of Paradise
TNG: The Nth Degree
TNG: Tapestry
DS9: Far Beyond The Stars
DS9: Trials and Tribble-ations
VOY: Living Witness
VOY: Timeless
ENT: Similitude
ENT: Broken Bow
Star Trek (2009)

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment here and let everyone know YOUR top ten.

HGC Radio - Episode 51: Geniuses In The Hall

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The Toronto Comic Expo may be done but the HANDSOME GENIUS CLUB RADIO SHOW rolls on (albeit a few hours late this week) with Episode 51! This week, ANTHONY KINGDOM JAMES discusses the Disney/Marvel deal with comic store manager GEORGE ZOTTI, NOAH PANICO recounts his weekend at the TCE and SAM PANICO shares a few humourous tales with us. Plus, we've got your weekly dose of NERD NEWS and a quick look at next week's First Anniversary 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 A Kick In The Head With A Steel-Toed Boot! For photos, links, music info and more, click this link to read more!

This week's handsome links...
Noah and Sam Panico co-host Counting The Lights, a really fun pro wrestling podcast that I hope you'll all check out.
Follow the Handsome Genius Club on Twitter and Facebook today!

This week's music is "Transformers (remix)" by Cheap Trick and "Conjunction Junction" from Schoolhouse Rock.

HGC Radio Episode 51 is delayed.

Hey kids... sorry for the inconvenience but today's episode of the Handsome Genius Club will be online later today. Check back later this afternoon for all your weekly HGC goodness.