Episode II

Hulk vs. Superman

Before I forget to give all of you the answer...

In the original Hulk vs. Superman comic, the Incredible Hulk won the first fight in the comic, but Superman came back and beat him the second time around.

In true comic fashion...the two eventually realized that Lex Luthor was playing them against each other and they team up to defeat him.

Now as far as your votes on who you think would win...

Really? You guys think Superman would win? I thought the Hulk had, like, impervious skin and stuff...wouldn't he be unstoppable? Besides, didn't Superman get his butt kicked when he fought Doomsday? We wasn't as strong as the Hulk and he killed Superman!

Wizard World

This Saturday I reached a personal plateau in geek-ness. I attended my first Wizard World convention. The convention run by Wizard Magazine, a mag entirely devoted to previewing, reviewing, and pricing comics, action figures, and comic related collectibles. My personal interest in the convention is tied to the "Magic: The Gathering" TCG, but I won't bore you with the details of the game. I'll just let you explore that one on your own.

I went with Jeremy, a very dear friend of mine who used to be my roommate back in grad-school, Roger, one of my current students and avid Star Wars and comic book fan, and met up with Paul, one of my former students who is now almost done with college.

We spent the day looking at comics, toys and costumes and eating at Reading Terminal Market (a must on any trip to Old City).

I got some Star Wars toys for the kids, a Wonder Woman limited edition collectible figurine (not a doll) for Jess and a couple t-shirts for myself.

One of the best things about the day, though, was the annual costume contest. Always prepared ever vigilant, I of course left my camera at home. But fear not! Thanks to modern day technology I was, with the help of my cell phone, able to take some really bad pictures to share with all of you. So without further ado, my cell phone photo essay.

Security was really tight that day. This poor kid tried to take an extra post card when the Halo guy just ran in and nabbed him.

I don't know about the rubber rain boot Cyclops back there, but that Sean Connery/Dr. Jones guy has it going on!

Okay, this isn't a costume, but it's a major geek related item. A flail with 2d20 on the end instead of spiked heads! Wow, I'll bet those lvl.4 Dark Elves won't know what hit them!

Oh Kong...those eyes...those lips...kiss me you fool!

Found him!

Wow buddy. I don't know what your secret is, but you want to let us in on it?

Who ya gonna call? This guy!

Yes, it's really him, Lou Ferrigno. And for just $30 you can get a Polaroid of him. Or, if you stand a little to the right you can use your cell phone and get one for free. I hope I didn't get him angry.

I'm not even sure this character even had a name but that didn't stop this lady from making it a costume.

If you want to leave you gotta get past this guy first...

...then this guy.

I really wish I had brought my camera. Then I could have shown you even more of these costumes. I could have shown you a bald, 275 lb Robin in a speedo, the Flash in his pajamas, Iron Man reduced to "Cardboard and Tempera Paint Man", the Stay-Puft Storm Trooper, a 5'2" Batman, a half dozen Jokers, two dozen Storm Troopers, and, of course, the obligatory Princess Leia in the slave costume. I'll just have to leave it to your imagination.

But it really was a lot of fun to go and enjoy yourself and not worry about what people around you are thinking, because clearly they're not thinking anything.

The best part is, Jeremy and I plan to go as the Hulk and Captain America next year. Just gotta find myself some red speedos and bright blue spandex first...

P.S. Check out the new polls in honor of this geek-centric weekend.

Vader Victorious!

We join our heroes on the forest moon of Endor...

...keep watching for the exciting conclusion!

Credits

Directed by - Carmellina

Cinematography - Jessie

Digital Effects - Joe

The Saga Begins...

This weekend was a banner one for the Sinagra family. As part of my on-going effort to turn my children into geeks (and thereby prevent all those pesky "dating" issues) we went Saturday to see the Star Wars exhibit at the Franklin Institute. Of course the wait was outrageous so we got tickets for a later time (6:30pm) and went out for lunch after a few quick photos.

Joey was fascinated by Chewbacca, Carmellina was a little overwhelmed by everything.

We made a stop at Brave New Worlds, one of my favorite comic book shops in Old City. Saturday was National Free Comic Book Day and Rosemary and I (Carmellina wasn't interested) went in and got a couple issues for ourselves. Rosemary also learned a little about the Silver Surfer.

We had some lunch at Ikea (really...it's not bad)...

...and then headed back to the museum.

We explored the kids exhibit and finally got in to see the Star Wars exhibit. This was our fourth and final attempt so I'm glad we finally got in. There's plenty of pics in the slide show to the right.

On Sunday we went to church and then had lunch out and Ben & Jerry's ice cream in Rittenhouse Park.

Then we went home and I took a long nap.

What a weekend.

Passing the Human Torch

One of the reasons I went into teaching was to help mold and shape the minds of America's youth. I may pass on some day but the legacy I leave with my students will endure for generations.

With that in mind, we decided that our yearbook's theme for this year should be "comic books."

It's a known fact that the human mind is capable of learning only so many things. In my younger days I selflessly dedicated my mind to the in-depth study of comic books and the never-ending task of collecting any and all comics, annuals, cards, and action figures. I also collected magazines that were about collecting comics, annuals, cards and action figures. This all came (by God's mercy) to a grinding halt when I started dating. There was only so much money to spend and I could only blow it on one fruitless endeavor at a time. Looking back now I can see that I made the wrong choice.

Yet despite my years of absence from the Marvel Universe my mind managed to retain all of the information I studied in elementary and middle school. Vital facts like the real name of Shadowcat (Kitty Pride); Colossus' country of origin (Russia); the name Galactus' herald (Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer), who Nightcrawler's mother was (Mystique), and what became of Captain America's side-kick (Bucky) after he was frozen in ice (the Soviets thawed him out and brain-washed him and made him a super-soldier with a bionic arm and named him Winter Soldier and he fought against Captain America for years until Nick Fury [the director of S.H.E.I.L.D.] managed to set him right just before Steve Rogers [Captain America] was assassinated by a sniper and then finished off by his fiance Sharon Carter who was brainwashed by Dr. Faustus (who was allied with the Red Skull) on the steps of the court house as he was going to fight against the Superhero Registration Act and now Bucky is the new Captain America only he carries a gun and I think they'll probably find some way to resurrect Steve Rogers sooner or later because that's what always happens in comic books).

Since we chose the comic book theme, I've spent the better part of this school year joyfully "researching" comics books, comic encyclopedias, comic cards and (this is a new development for me) comic websites like marvel.com and dccomics.com where I can search character bios, event time lines, "universe connections," and comic book blogs. It's now possible for me to waste hours of time without getting off my recliner.

This year I got 11 students to put their brains to the task of deciding how to fit the obligatory elements of a yearbook into a format that would make it look like a comic book. It was a LOT of fun and the kids really got behind it with some very creative ideas. I wish that I could put it online to show it off, but I don't think that's possible. I can, however, share this much with you.

Every year we devote two pages to ourselves (the publications team). In keeping with our theme I managed to convince 11 inner-city high school students to dress up like superheroes and stand on the roof of our school for a photo shoot. They were a little hesitant at first but we ended up having a blast. It was the most I've laughed and the most fun I've had with my students in a long time. Check out the slide show on the right to see just how far I got them to go.

Joe Sinagra...working hard today to warp the minds of tomorrow's leaders!