There’s no blog this week because I’m working on one that’s heavy, important, and a bit personal. I need time to think about it. All I’ll say for now is it disappoints me that people shout down dissenting voices on the internet, turning it into an echo chamber for whoever’s yells loudest.
Tag Archives: nathan marchand
My Upcoming Appearances for Summer 2018
I may not have a new book out this year (yet), but I am making appearances at several events in the tristate area this summer. This will give you several opportunities to meet me, buy a book, and get it autographed. I’ll be participating in other events at these shows, as well, so you can see me outside the vendor hall and hang out.
So, in chronological order:
G-Fest XXV
When: July 13-15, 2018
Where: The Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois
Website: http://www.g-fan.com/html/gfest_xxv/gfest_xxv.php
This is the annual gathering of the kaiju nerds. I attended last year with my Kaijuvision Radio co-host, Brian Scherschel, to promote our upcoming podcast. (Although, I did get myself on a kaiju writing panel). Now that KVR is up and running, we’re returning. This time we’re on several panels throughout the weekend—including a live KVR episode recording entitled “Godzilla and the Japanese National Spirit.” I’ll also be on two kaiju writing panels and one for the recent film Pacific Rim: Uprising. I won’t be in the vendor hall, but I’ll have copies of Destroyer and The Worlds of Nathan Marchand available for purchase and signing.
Gen-Con 2018
When: August 2-5, 2018
Where: The Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: http://www.gencon.com/
“The best four days in gaming” returns for another huge year. It’s become a staple of my summer and the biggest event I attend all year. I’ll be in Authors Avenue in the vendor hall with all my Gen-Con writer friends. I’ll be selling and signing my own books as well as the newest volume of Missing Pieces, which features a new short story by yours truly. I might slip away to a few events throughout the day, and I’ll be attending events in the evening for sure, so we can hang out, if you want.
True Believers Fest 2018
When: August 11, 2018, 10am-4pm
Where: Marquis Comics in Kentwood, Michigan
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/2144061572493810/
This is a small one-day event I was invited to vend at thanks to my partner in crime and Nerd Chapel founder, Eric Anderson. It’s a free family event. I’ve never been to this comic shop before, but I’m always in the market for finding cool new nerdy hangouts. It’s appropriate that I’m vending at this event since I, like Stan “The Man” Lee, like referring to my fans as “True Believers.”
I’ll see you…out there! Be there or be square!
Loving the Work You Do
(I missed a week. Gotta break that habit).
“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s a lie! If you love what you do, you’ll work hard everyday.”
This was spoken by Chris Spalding, the co-owner of the ballroom dance studio I attend on a regular basis. It was part of the toast he gave during the fifth anniversary party for the studio. I loved it because it was challenging and encouraging. It’s not something one typically hears.
We all want to work a job we love. Spending hours of our day doing something we hate is soul-crushing. It’s a consequence of the Fall in Eden (Gen. 3:17-19), so we want to stave it off as much as possible. Unfortunately, millennials in particular have a reputation for chasing unattainable “dream jobs” or thinking they’re entitled to an easy life (and then crumbling under the slightest pressure when they don’t get it). Whether this reputation is deserved or not, there are many people who refuse to accept the reality of toil.
That’s why I love what Mr. Spalding said. It’s a mindset that lives within the tension: Love what you do but work hard at it. The curse hasn’t been lifted. We still have to make a living by the sweat of our brows. That is an inescapable reality until Christ returns to “make all things new.” But when we are doing what God created us to, we can find joy in the midst of that toil. Joy that will compel us to work even harder. We’ll dream bigger, take more risks, and strive to become better. Work becomes more than a means to make money.
This, I believe, is an example of God’s grace to humanity. He didn’t abandon us in our sin. He instilled desires and talents within us, and those can lead us to the purpose He gave us. I’m reminded of what Eric Liddell said in the film Chariots of Fire (which I still haven’t seen), “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” That’s the feeling every human being, whether they’ll admit it or not, longs to find. It’s God’s foothold in this fallen world, His way of keeping claim on His creation. And, I daresay, a means of reaching out to humanity.
People aren’t good at living within tension, but the wise will tell you that there are many paradoxes in life. They can’t all be solved. The quicker that’s accepted, the easier life becomes.
Do you love what you do? Work hard at it!
Do you hate what you do? Make a change! You’ll do yourself and the world a favor.
How do you live this out? What do you do to live in this tension between toil and joy?
The Religiosity of Fandom
I plan to see Solo: A Star Wars Story, if not this weekend, then next week.
It’s a safe bet to say that about fifty-percent of those reading this have now stopped and branded me a traitor. Because that’s how large contingents of the Star Wars fandom works now.
In case you didn’t know, there’s been a movement to boycott the new Star Wars spin-off film about a young Han Solo. It stems from various remarks on political and social issues from Kathleen Kennedy, the new president of Lucasfilm, and what was perceived as SJW elements in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (which I’ve written about before). Adding fuel to the fire was the revelation that Han’s friend Lando Calrissian is pansexual in this film (though as far I know the only indication of this is he flirts with a droid with female features. That could honestly just be Lando being Lando).
In a tremendous display of groupthink, a huge portion of the Star Wars fandom moved as a unit to avoid Solo, which they think will eventually derail the Disney era of the franchise. One fan even went so far as to say, “Money is the only language Disney understands.”
This blog isn’t about whether their objections are accurate or not. I’m reserving that for after I see the movie. However, I am going to take the Star Wars fandom to task, despite counting myself among them. You’ve been warned.
Ever since the release of the “Special Editions” in 1997, the Star Wars fandom has become more and more fractured and difficult to please. Remember the whole “Han Shot First” meme? (I admit I was annoyed too, but I digress). They were irate that the three films they thought were already perfect were “meddled” with by George Lucas. Things were only aggravated when the Prequel Trilogy was released. The Phantom Menace was especially hated. George Lucas went from being a creative genius who could do no wrong to the most despised man in the geek community. (Personally, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, as seen in this excellent video series). When Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 and announced new movies, it was greeted with enthusiasm because fans had lost trust in Lucas. But over the last three years, especially with The Last Jedi, the sentiment has shifted to lamenting the loss of Lucas.
No other fandom, I would argue, is this fickle, demanding, and indecisive. When non-nerds/non-geeks think of the negative stereotypes associated with the nerd/geek community, I guarantee it’s based largely on the conduct of so-called “hardcore” Star Wars fans. It’s sad because it not only mars the reputation of other fans like myself, and it gives the whole nerd/geek subculture a bad name.
This is one way this fandom borders on being a religion. Think about it. Star Wars fans have sacred texts (i.e. the Original Trilogy), but they only accept certain versions of these texts (the uncut versions of the trilogy) as “canonical.” The Special Editions are rejected despite being made by the author of the sacred texts. The prequels are heresy to many (although younger fans accept them), and now the Disney era films are being labeled blasphemy. When Disney officially declared the Expanded Universe non-canonical, many fans reacted like Christian fundamentalists backlashing against atheists attacking the Bible. Never mind the fact that the canonicity, as far as I know, of these materials was never set in stone by Lucas. No, fans complained that the stories they had invested themselves in for decades had somehow been robbed of meaning. Just like now, there was a movement within the fandom to spoil The Force Awakens on the Internet to prevent people from seeing it so as to make the franchise fail and have the Expanded Universe reinstated. Guess what? It failed. To nobody’s surprise, I’m sure.
Anyone who has disagreed with these movements has been declared a “filthy casual” amongst many other horrible names. They’ve even been shunned from the fandom. In other words, excommunicated.
Is it any wonder, then, that there’s been a measurable number of people across the world who’ve listed “Jedi” as their religion in censuses? There’s even an actual religion called “Jediism,” complete with a creed, 16 teachings, and 21 maxims. Some might say they’ve taken their fandom too far.
I’m not opposed to being passionate about what you enjoy. I’m not against debating the merits of media within the franchises you love (my gosh, I co-host a podcast that does that!) Have I zealously argued against certain creative decisions and chosen to no longer follow certain series because of them? Yes, on at least two occasions. But when it gets to this point, where you’re filling the internet with click bait articles and videos full of often unsubstantiated and shallow hatred, you’ve crossed into the Dark Side of the Force.
Let’s go back to when being a Star Wars fan was fun. Before the dark times. Before the insanity.
Here’s a quick video that perfectly summarizes all of this:
What do you think? Are these fans right? Why or why not? Have fandoms gone too far? Why or why not?
My (Spoiler-Free) Review of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
It’s been a while since I blogged, so I figured a review of the biggest nerd movie of 2018 would be a great way to get back into the swing of things.
To quote Buzz Lightyear, “To Infinity…and beyond!”
This is the best Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Ever. Of all time. (Well, for now, anyway). For the first time, I went into an MCU movie not sure what to expect, and after seeing it, I’m unsure what Marvel will do next because there’s a lot of things they could do. Even with my knowledge of the comics that inspired this film (The Infinity Gauntlet and, to much lesser extent, Infinity War), I’m not sure what will happen next. With Disney trying to finalize a deal to buy out 20th Century Fox, that means Marvel will reacquire the film rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four. The possibilities are endless!
I was concerned that Thanos wouldn’t be a villain worthy of a decade of build-up.
Boy, was I wrong.
He has eclipsed Loki as the best villain in the MCU. He’s altered from the comics, which is understandable given that what comic fans love about Thanos was developed for many comics over many years, and that’d be hard to condense into a film that’s already huge. Heck, he’d need his own movie to get there. He’s gone from a lovesick Eternal trying to win the affections of Mistress Death to a madman with a noble cause. There’s even some tenderness from him. Josh Brolin’s performance with the mo-cap is incredible. I never thought I was watching a special effect.
My sister described the film as “a bit ADD.” I can see why. At 2 ½ hours, it’s a long movie with 64 characters from 18 other films. Yet while it bounces back and forth between several groups of characters, I never felt like it shortchanged anyone or was moving too fast. Everyone gets a moment of awesomeness. The film masterfully juggles several tones, including traditional superhero, mythic, and space opera comedy. They all blend perfectly. I attribute this to the Russo Brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who might be the best creative team in the MCU.
Without giving any spoilers, this is a film that will shock audiences. Even I was taken aback by the ending. I knew it had to happen, since I knew this was part one of a two-part story and I’ve read the comics, but it still surprised me with how boldly un-Hollywood-like it was. It didn’t affect me as much as Logan did, but that was a superhero film about finality. There isn’t nearly as much of that here.
I want to see this in IMAX. I bet it would look great. I don’t normally see movies more than once in a theatre, but this is one I’d gladly see again. That’s how much I love it.
My only problem with the film is it does and doesn’t stand alone. While it explains the many characters just enough to give context, you have to have seen a lot of the previous MCU films to understand it fully. The more you’ve seen, the more you’ll get out of it.
My opinion of this film may change with more viewings. Right now I’m just basking in the excitement.
To summarize: It’s one of the best superhero films ever made.
What’d you think of Avengers: Infinity War? Feel free to leave comments—including spoilers—below. I could talk about this film for hours and would love to include you all in the conversation.
If I Were an Elf
Author’s Note: My apologies for my long absence! Anyway, this short essay was something I wrote as an assignment for a writers’ group I’m in. I was to write about what kind of elf I’d want to be. Sadly, due to car problems, I wasn’t able to attend a monthly meeting and share it. Regardless, here it is for you to read. Enjoy!
The movie Elf begins with a narration explaining that elves do one of three jobs: 1) They stay up late making shoes for cobblers, 2) they bake cookies in a tree (which, as you’d expect, is a major fire hazard), and 3) the most sought job of all, making toys for Santa Claus at the North Pole.
Every time I see this I think, “You left the best Elves out!”
I wouldn’t be an Elf who did any of these jobs. Not even for Santa.
I’d be…a Quendi.
For the uninitiated, that’s the amazing Elves from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings books and Peter Jackson’s films. Who wouldn’t want to be? These Elves were the first beings created by Iluvatar, the supreme being of that universe. They’re ageless and immune to disease. (Actually, that seems true of me, now that I think about it…).
The question is, which race of Elves would I rather be? There are the Silvan Elves (or Wood Elves), who live in forests, and the High Elves, who live in Rivendell. The former are comfortable in nature, and having grown up in the country, I’d fit in well. Plus, I could get archery and fighting lessons from Legolas, the Prince of the Woodland Realm. On the other hand, Rivendell is a gorgeous city, and I’m sure it has an amazing library. How else would Elrond and the rest of them be that wise? I’d also be able to hang out with Aragorn (who’s one of my favorite Lord of the Rings characters) and Arwen. It’d be great to watch their amazing love story unfold.
Speaking of favorite characters, my mother’s favorite is Legolas. I’ve often teased her for why she likes him. When I mention Aragorn, she says, “Eww. He’s dirty! I like Legolas because he’s clean.” To which I reply, “He’s an Elf! He’s immune to dirt! It just rolls right off him like water on a waxed car!”
Yet another perk of being a Quendi.
So, True Believers, what kind of Elf would you like to be?
My Interview on Geek Devotions
Me and my Kaijuvision Radio co-host, Brian Scherschel, were interviewed on Geek Devotions as the grand finale for their King of the Monsters Month. The show’s host, Dallas, is one of our biggest fans and has been name-dropping us all month in his videos and podcast. I’d also contributed to a video game stream he did as part of King of the Monsters Month a few weeks ago. Learn how and why we started Kaijuvision Radio as we geek out about Godzilla!
Polarization: The Insidious Plague of ‘Us Against Them’
Brace yourselves. War is coming.
Not just any war—a flame war. Many are already being waged.
All joking aside, I’ve noticed that since the last presidential campaign season, during which people dug their heels into the ground for whatever candidate they supported, the tendency toward polarization has spilled over into other areas. In particular, seems to have become more prominent in the fandom/nerd/geek community. No longer is it a friendly rivalry where people can agree to disagree. No, now those who disagree must be smeared and the supposed “right opinion” presented with pretense.
While these “factions” have existed for years (Marvel or DC? Star Trek or Star Wars? Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat?), I’ve never seen such vitriol in the past. Divisions have even formed within fandoms, and thanks to the anonymity of the internet, a “civil war,” of sorts, has waged.
The situation that brought this to my mind is Capcom’s newest fighting game, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. Because the game wasn’t living up to everyone’s expectations leading up to its release, interest waned for the game. Then another company, Arc System Works, announced a similar game called DragonBall FighterZ. It was then the camps formed. Hardcore MvC fans held out for the former game while defectors, “casuals,” and DBZ fans formed around the other game. They created copious memes, both photos and videos, denouncing Capcom or MvCI and proclaimed Arc Systems and DragonBall FighterZ the greatest things ever. Personally, what passing interest I may have had in the DragonBall game was killed by their pretentiousness.
I follow several YouTubers, like Maximilian Dood, who make videos on fighting games, and they soon found themselves enveloped in the firestorm. Max in particular has said he’s been accused of being both a shill and a hater. In other words, both sides dislike him. He’s actually taken what I think is an honest and realistic approach to things. When MvCI was released, he criticized some aspects but praised it for others. I’m sure that drove some people on both sides crazy.
What gets to me is how quickly people rally around what’s honestly unimportant things. These are games. They’re entertainment. It’s not life or death. And yet the human desire to fit in and belong to a group compels them to form factions and fight for their cause, no matter how trivial.
This needs to stop.
Not just in fandom circles. Everywhere. For everything.
I heard many stories about families dividing over politics last year. Groups and movements have sprung up over the years that claim they want to bring equality, but all they do is create hate for “the other side.” What they don’t realize is movements based on hate can’t last. All they do is create a self-perpetuating crazy cycle. But all it takes is one person to break it.
Be that person, True Believers.
Have you witnessed polarization over things besides politics? Where? Why? What have you done to break the crazy cycle?
Wish Fulfillment in Stories
While working on my new podcast, Kaijuvision Radio, I re-learned that one of the appeals of fiction—particularly genre fiction—is wish fulfillment. Not just for readers/viewers but for creators as well.
You might be thinking this is a bad thing; a sign of someone living in a fantasy world. While I acknowledge that’s true in some cases, I’d also argue that it speaks to a deeper, nobler desire within people’s hearts.
In the podcast, my co-host, Brian Scherschell, and I were talking about the alien invasion plot in 1966’s Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Godzilla vs. Monster Zero). The heroes, most of them non-military types, band together to repel invaders from Planet X. The audience is able to see themselves in those characters and live vicariously through them for 90 minutes because they understand what it means to protect what is theirs. For those living in countries that have been successfully invaded, it’s satisfying for them to defeat invaders. Americans, on the other hand, have a huge independent streak in them, and they will do what it takes to preserve their freedom.
Wish fulfillment can also come in the form of seeing characters do things one wishes he could do but can’t, which makes it a form of escapism. These could range from things that are impossible (flying like Superman, for example) to things that are possible but unlikely (like captaining a ship). In these cases, the stories could become inspirational. One can’t soar under his own power like Supes, but one could become a pilot. One may not be a ship captain, but he could become one, even if it’s only on his own private yacht.
I realized recently that even romance stories have elements of wish fulfillment. The audience wishes they could have relationships as exciting, sensual, and committed as the ones in those tales because it seems impossible to find true love in real life.
It’s in these cases that wish fulfillment speaks to someone’s inner character and desires. Maybe they can’t “leap tall buildings in a single bound” but they can still be heroic, even if it’s in a small way. They know something isn’t right in the world and want to make it better. They could volunteer at a soup kitchen or go on a missions trip. They can love the way they want to be loved. They can make their wishes a reality, and by doing so, inspire others.
I’ve heard countless stories of people who became engineers, doctors, and writers because of Star Trek. They saw characters like Scotty doing cool things in the Enterprise’s engine room and decided on their career field. Now, while they aren’t exploring the galaxy, they’re creating fantastic new technologies. That’s the inspirational power wish fulfillment can have.
It can also be a mirror into oneself. If one finds himself reveling in Superman’s abundant superpowers because he wants to have power over others, it should give him pause for concern. I’ve known people with power fantasies like that. It always makes them weaker because they don’t aspire to do greater things. I pity them.
What do you think, readers? Is wish fulfillment in fiction good or bad? Why? What are some examples from your favorite stories?
But I Digress…, Episode 40 – My Thoughts on Star Trek: Discovery
“But I Digress…” Hosted by Nathan Marchand It’s been a while, but since Star Trek is one of my all-time favorite franchises/fandoms, I thought I should weigh in on the premiere episode of the newest Trek series, Discovery. Is it worth breaking down the paywall? Watch my review to find out!
Here’s the Star Trek Continues episode I mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMasS…
Here’s the YouTube channel for my podcast, Kaijuvision Radio: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSI2…
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