THE LAST OF US FIRST SEASON STEELBOOK

If you haven't seen the first season of HBO's acclaimed television show based upon the sci-fi/horror video THE LAST OF US now is a good time to consider a binge watch before the second season is released this April. Catch up on all 9 episodes plus 3 hours of special features with the limited edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook of The Last of Us: The Complete First Season available for preorder now with a March 18, 2025 scheduled delivery date from Amazon.com. 

In 2003, a parasitic fungal infection ravages the planet, turning humans into violent creatures known as the Infected. Twenty years later, hardened survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal) is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of an oppressive quarantine zone in hopes of delivering her to the rebel Fireflies. But what should be a quick job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they traverse a desolate U.S. – while depending on each other’s unique skills for survival. Created, written, and executive produced by Emmy® winner Craig Mazin (HBO’s Chernobyl) and Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann, this riveting series brings a video game world to life, painting a grim vision of the future of humanity – and the lives of those who would risk everything to save it.

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THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM STEELBOOK

A MARTIAL ARTS EXPLOSION! Individually, they’ve starred in the most adrenaline-pumping martial arts adventures ever. Together for the first time, Jet Li and Jackie Chan join forces to create the greatest epic of them all – The Forbidden Kingdom. As ancient Chinese warriors, they must train and mentor a 21st-century kung fu fanatic who’s been summoned to fight a centuries-old battle and free the imprisoned Monkey King. If you’re a fighting fan, the wait is over. The team is ready. The Kingdom has arrived.

You can visit The Forbidden Kingdom beginning February 25 when this movie from Lionsgate will be available from Amazon.com with a steelbook release to add to home video entertainment collections. The Forbidden Kingdom is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) with a run time of 1 hour and 44 minutes.

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DAY OF ADVENTURE AT URBAN AIR

Winter weather is here and with the temperatures outside dipping I know it can be hard to get kids to want to go outside and be active. So, why not encourage them to engage in physical activities they can do indoors? Did you know that Urban Air Adventure Park in Commerce Twp has a variety of indoor activities that provide kids with both exercise and a good time. Activities at Metro Detroit's Urban Air facilities include Battle Beam Jousts, Laser Tag, Rock Wall Climbing, Rope Courses, Trampolines, Warrior Courses and more!

I'm GEEKED to have partnered with Urban Air Adventure Park to provide a lucky family with a PLATINUM pass for a day of fun ($140 value) that they can select a date for in January of February to start off 2025 with an adventurous experience. One lucky entrant from the rafflecopter entries below will be randomly selected. Must be a Michigan resident over 18 years old living within 100 miles of Commerce Township to participate in this promotion. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm on January 3, 2025. Good luck!

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With 23.5” high-foot ceilings in a 55,872 square foot space to have fun and aim higher, the state-of-the-art Urban Air Adventure Park in Commerce Township offers a full line-up of activities the entire family can enjoy. They offer the biggest selection of the most exciting and innovative activities to fuel fun and growth. Unique attractions inside the park aim to help foster the physical and emotional well-being of all who participate, encouraging them “aim higher” and challenge themselves to get out of their comfort zone and build confidence.

Urban Air Adventure Park is located at 3010 Union Lake Rd., Commerce Township, MI 48382. For more information about this facility, visit urbanair.com/michigan-commerce-township/

Commerce Township's Urban Air Adventure Park hours are:

Monday-Friday 4:00pm-8:00pm / Saturday 10:00am-9:00pm / Sunday 11:00pm-7:00pm

GLENLORE TRAILS AURORA WINTER WONDERLAND

Michigan’s largest immersive and illuminated forest experience, Glenlore Trails, known for being an over-the-top Fall/Halloween walk-thru nighttime forest experiences for guest of all ages, is continuing on for a few more weeks with a refreshed Winter/Holiday experience. This year’s Winter/Holiday experience theme is “Aurora” and it and will run through December 29th.

To help spread some holiday cheer, this Geek Daddy has a family four pack for the Glenlore Trails: Aurora experience to giveaway. Just complete the Rafflecopter entries before 11:59 pm on December 12, 2024 for a chance to enjoy this Winter Wonderland for FREE with your family. Must be a Michigan resident over 18 years old to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

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The one-mile forest trail of Aurora will blend technology with nature creating a magical hands-on adventure throughout the forest. Visitors will encounter touch-sensitive light installations, motion-triggered displays, enchanted holiday sounds, interactive games, and a special twist – magic wands that let you unlock hidden surprises along the trail. “Aurora” commonly known as the northern lights or southern lights, is a natural light display in the Earth’s sky, and that is the experience that will captivate guests under a shimmering sky of brilliant lights, as they venture into the forest of Glenlore Trails. 

Aurora is unique one-of-a-kind Holiday Winter Wonderland experience, exclusively at Glenlore Trails in Commerce Township. This incredible experience includes: 

•  One-Mile one-of-a-kind complete forest transformation Winter / Holiday Themed Walk Through the Forest;
•  Festive Lights and LED Displays;
•  Enchanting Holiday Sounds & Songs;
•  Interactive Experiences; 
•  Interactive Games; 
•  Santa’s Mailbox will be placed at ticket check-in for children to bring their letters to Santa for a special delivery to the North Pole. 

For more information about this event, head over to glenloretrails.com. Merry Christmas! 

STAR TREK PRODIGY GIVEAWAY

Cartoons aren't just for little kids! While my teenage twins are at an age where they don't want to hang out with their good ole dad very much these days; they still look forward to huddling together around our living room television as a family to binge watch together episodes of the Nickelodeon produced Star Trek animated series Prodigy on Netflix. It is a fun, energetic show filled with stories aimed to be attractive tween and teen viewers that is filled with easter eggs and action scenes to also make it entertaining to old school Trekkies like me. We've had some great family time taking in the spacefaring sci-fi adventures of Star Trek: Prodigy together.

In Star Trek: Prodigy the year is 2383, five years after the USS Voyager has returned to Earth after being thought for lost in deep space. A motley group of young aliens imprisoned at a mining colony on a remote planet find an abandoned Starfleet ship with ties to the Voyager's crew. Taking control of the ship, they must learn to work together to boldly go in an uncharted direction for them ... freedom. 

If you've missed out streaming Star Trek: Prodigy on Netflix, catch up on the misfit adventures of Dal R'El, Gwyndala, Rok-Tahk, Zero, Jankom Pog and Murf by watching the first two seasons of the show on Blu-ray and DVD. The second season has just joined the first in being available on Blu-ray and DVD to add to your home entertainment video collection. Additionally, you can dive deeper into Nickelodeon's Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 with two all-new featurettes including cast and crew interviews available only on the Blu-ray and DVD release.

To share my excitement about the home video release of Star Trek: Prodigy, I'm geeked to be able to giveaway a Blu-ray of the Season 2 run of the show courtesy of Nickelodeon. Boldly go forward in completing the Rafflecopter entries below at Warp speed to be the lucky entrant to get a Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 Blu-ray. Entries close at 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Must be a U.S. resident over 18 years old to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

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SONGS TO HOWL & SING

Indie folk band LITTLE COYOTES have just released their first album which is available now digitally on all major music platforms. SONGS TO HOWL & SING is full of tunes to inspire children to have a lifetime of love for the outdoors and to embrace having family adventures in wild places. Fronted by vocalist Becca Mohler and produced by her Grammy-nominated husband Billy, LITTLE COYOTES' SONGS TO HOWL & SING is a blend of nostalgic folk melodies reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian, Donovan, and Simon and Garfunkel providing an evocative listening experience. Each song is crafted with a nod to folk artists of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Becca and Billy Mohler own Cal Heights Music in Long Beach, California, a music school known for fostering creativity and musicality in students of all ages. Their popular caregiver-and-me class for children ages 0 - 4, which encourages a love for music and the outdoors from an early age, was an important inspiration for SONGS TO HOWL & SING. Their teaching roots provide a personal and authentic touch to the tunes performed in this album.

“Little Adventure” teaches colors by identifying natural elements like green moss and orange poppies, while “National Parks” takes families on a musical road trip through the wonders of America’s natural landscapes. The geometric “Shapes Are Everywhere” has an upbeat, ‘60s, “Mrs. Robinson” feel, while “Little Campfire” is all about cooperation and teamwork.

“Songs to Howl & Sing holds a special place in my heart, as it reflects my deep love for music, my passion for teaching children, and my desire to evoke the nostalgic essence of childhood,” Becca Mohler remarked to ageekdaddy.com. “My aim is to transport listeners back to that enchanting world, where every moment was infused with a sense of possibility and wonder.”

The album is aimed for an audience of children 1 - 8 years old has ten songs with a running time of twenty minutes. 

Track List

1. Little Adventure 

2. Looking Out My Window 

3. I Love All The Months 

4. Grow Wild And Free 

5. National Parks 

6. Shapes Are Everywhere 

7. AEIOU 

8. Sunny Day 

9. Rainy Day 

10. Little Campfire

MY PENGUIN FRIEND MOVIE GIVEAWAY

Looking for a heartwarming story that the whole family will enjoy for a movie night at home? Check out MY PENGUIN FRIEND that is available now on Digital. It has earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval for being an uplifting tale of friendship. So, I'm GEEKED to also be able to share my enjoyment of the flick by giving away a Digital code courtesy of Lionsgate so someone else can also have a wonderful family movie night by adding MY PENGUIN FRIEND to their home entertainment video collection.

Inspired by the incredible true story of DinDim the Penguin, MY PENGUIN FRIEND tells the story of a little lost penguin who-after being rescued from an oil spill-transforms the life and soul of a heartbroken fisherman. The penguin and the fisherman become unlikely friends, so bonded that even the vast ocean cannot divide them.

The film's cast includes Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional), Academy Award Nominee Adriana Barraza (Babel), Alexia Moyano (“The Kingdom”) and Nicolás Francella (“Victoria Small”). MY PENGUIN FRIEND is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America [MPAA] and has a runtime of 97 minutes.

I will be selecting some lucky recipients from the eligible entrants who complete submissions in the Rafflecopter form below before 11:50 pm on Sunday, October 27, 2024 to receive some free digital movie codes courtesy of Lionsgate. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in this giveaway promotion. Good luck!

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MOTOR CITY COMIC CON SCREENING OF JURASSIC PARK WITH SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE

Motor City Comic Con will be hosting a special screening event of the 1993 movie JURASSIC PARK at Emagine Novi on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 8pm featuring Wayne Knight from the movie. Knight will make a special guest appearance and host a Q&A panel discussion in Emagine’s Super EMX auditorium, where each attendee will also receive a commemorative badge and exclusive artwork, along with a ticket to attend the screening of Jurassic Park following the panel. Admission to Motor City Comic Con is not included in this add-on ticketed event, however it is required to attend as this is a special event opportunity only available to Motor City Comic Con guests. There is an additional fee of $40 beyond the Motor City Comic Con admission price to participate in the Wayne Knight Jurassic Park screening.

In addition to his role playing Nerdy in Jurassic Park, Knight is known for comedic performances as Newman on the TV sitcom Seinfeld and as Officer Don Orville on 3rd Rock From The Sun and has been in several movies some including Space Jam, JFK, and Rat Race. He has also voiced several characters some including Tantor in Tarzan, Al McWhiggin in Toy Story 2, Igor on Toonsylvania, Dojo Kanojo Cho in Xiaolin Showdown and Mr. Blink, Granny, and Blik Robot in Catscratch. Wayne Knight will be on-site at the Suburban Collection Showplace Friday, November 8 – Sunday, November 10 for paid meet & greet experiences with Motor City Comic Con guests.

For more information, visit MotorCityComicCon.com

CONSCRIPT VIDEO GAME COMES TO NINTENDO SWITCH

Team17 Digital and astragon Entertainment have announced a physical Deluxe Edition of the survival horror game CONSCRIPT is now available for Nintendo Switch at Amazon.com. The original release of the video game is also still available digitally for the Switch through Nintendo. The Deluxe Edition contains two additional digital DLC packs. The ‘Golden Gun Pack’ offers an additional weapon skin, a gold-plated Chinese replica of the Mauser C96 pistol. The ‘Trench Raider Pack’ contains the three additional uniforms ‘Elite Trench Raider, ‘Pilot’ and ‘English Tommy’.

CONSCRIPT takes players deep into the trenches of World War 1, offering a survival-horror experience inspired by the classics of the genre. Set in the Battle of Verdun in 1916, they’ll take on the role of a lone French soldier searching for his missing brother, scavenging for supplies, surviving intense combat with enemy soldiers, and solving complex puzzles. The game was created by Australian Catchweight Studio led by solo developer Jordan Mochi.

Features of the video game include:

• Gameplay variation: Classic survival horror gameplay at the time of the Battle of Verdun with high replay value, different difficulty levels and multiple endings.
•  Survival: Fight against enemy soldiers with close combat and firearms from the First World War in an intense, harrowing atmosphere, which is further emphasized by the aesthetics of the pixel art and the oppressive sound design. 
•  Explore: Complex, interconnected WW1 areas, challenging environmental puzzles and advanced resource management.

Visit conscriptgame.com for more information.

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RAILROADS ONLINE VIDEO GAME COMES TO PLAYSTATION AND XBOX

For those of you who share Sheldon Cooper's love of locomotives, you'll be GEEKED to know that the PC railway train simulator RAILROADS ONLINE is coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S video game consoles.  In Railroads Online, developed by Stefan Kelnberger and published by astragon Entertainment, players create the railroad network of their dreams alone or in a multiplayer with up to 16 players. In a large open game world, rails, switches, and stations must be built to transport different goods in authentic locomotives. The game uses the advanced physics systems of the Unreal Engine to create the most authentic railroad simulation possible, rendering collisions and forces dynamically in real time for maximum immersion. Railroads Online will be released digitally this Fall priced at $39.99.

In the game more than 20 authentic locomotives are available for transporting different goods. These locomotives hail from the golden era of steam engines in the United States, spanning from the 1870s — when steam power was rapidly transforming transportation — through to the height of steam locomotive innovation in the early 1900s. 

Among the collection are legendary models like the Montezuma, renowned Baldwin steam engines, the powerful Class 125, and the iconic "Betsy". Many of the steam locomotives featured in Railroads Online no longer exist or a very limited number are still around. The development team used specialist magazines, preserved documents, and surviving models in North American museums to recreate these locomotives as faithfully as possible in the game.

Game features include:

• Open sandbox game world to explore;
•  Online multiplayer mode with up to 16 players; 
• Build your own railroad infrastructure, including tracks, switches, stations and more;
•  Authentic, detailed locomotives and equipment;
•  Realistic railroad physics system and operation of locomotive controls, valves, brakes and equipment;
•  Earn money by transporting goods to develop your own business and buy more locomotives, cars and equipment;
•  Customizable locomotives

For more information, please visit: railroads-online.xsollasitebuilder.com

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

Nickelodeon relaunched the ‘90s kids’ cult classic, Are You Afraid of the Dark? in 2019 with three more seasons of the show featuring all - new Midnight Society groups of kids who tell terrifying tales that lead to spooky and shocking revelations. Available beginning October 15, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon will be a three disc DVD collection containing 2019's Are You Afraid of the Dark?, 2021's Are You Afraid of the Dark? Curse of the Shadows and 2022's Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island. Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Limited Series Three-Season Collection on DVD can be purchased from Amazon.com.

The reimagined “Are You Afraid of the Dark? ” premiered in October 2019 as a limited series and introduced a new Midnight Society as they tell a scary story only to have the events of the story come to life. Season two Are You Afraid of the Dark? Curse of the Shadows, premiered in February 2021 and followed a new group of kids, who learn of a terrifying curse cast over their small town and are haunted by a mysterious creature. The third chapter, Are You Afraid of the Dark? Ghost Island, premiered in July

2022 and features another Midnight Society as they go on vacation on a resort island, until they learn about something sinister haunting the guests. Enjoy hauntingly good scary stories with The Limited Series Three-Season Collection, just in time for spooky - season and Halloween!

[Disc 1] Are You Afraid of the Dark? Returns in this nightmarish three - part limited series event filled with scorpions, eyeless men, disappearing children and the creepiest carnival of all time! Rachel has a chance to join the secret Midnight Society. All she has to do is tell a truly terrif ying story. But when the chilling events of her “Tale of Mr. Tophat” and the “Carnival of Doom” start to actually come true and her friends’ lives are at stake, Rachel must face her fears and end Mr. Tophat’s reign of terror.

[Disc 2] Curse of the Shadows – An all - new Midnight Society location brings fresh scares when the group’s leader suddenly vanishes. The remaining members must follow the clues, confront dark forces, and ultimately uncover the truth behind their town’s terrifying curse. Will they break the curse of the shadows...before it’s too late?

[Disc 3] Ghost Island – Four best friends and members of a Midnight Society get more than they bargained for when what they think is a fun summer vacation on a resort island turns into something sinister. They encounter genuine terror locked away in one of the rooms after checking into their hotel, and as the kids try to enjoy their vacation, they are pulled back into the mystery of the island’s ghosts, ultimately leading them to a terrifying and shocking revelation: many guests check into room 13, but they never check out.

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HALLOWEEN COMIC BOOKS

Lurking on comic book shop shelves leading up to Halloween will be what promise to be some terror-ific holiday themed issues. If you are geeked about the Halloween season then keep your eyes out for these issues meant to provide some holiday spirit to this fun time of year:

ARCHIE'S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Halloween is here again and Archie and all his friends in Riverdale are ready to have a spooky good time! From trick or treating to bobbing for apples and costumes galore, you're in for some frighteningly fun adventures! Archie Comics $9.99

RICK AND MORTY: RICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Rick is hard at work in the garage, but Morty just won't stop yapping, so he opens up a portal and brings in a weird, gothy-looking girl named Lil Wigsley. Rick explains that Lil Wigsley will tell Morty stories if he’ll shut up and listen—but these aren’t just any old stories. They’re horrifically banal, but it soon becomes clear that Rick and Sister Lil Wigsley’s intent to distract Morty is more terrifying than the tepid tales they’ve been spinning! Oni Press $9.99

HYDE STREET #1

A new epic era in character-centered horror begins as GHOST MACHINE launches HYDE STREET, its newest ongoing series from creators GEOFF JOHNS and IVAN REIS (Blackest Night, Green Lantern, Aquaman)! In every city and town, off every country road and metropolis avenue, if you make a wrong turn…you might find yourself on Hyde Street. But be careful who you talk to and what you do because the consequences make death itself seem like the easy way out. Introducing MR. X-RAY! PRANKY, THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS SCOUT! MISS GOODBODY! AND MANY MORE…out to delight, fright, and say good night. What is their secret and that of Hyde Street? Only they know. For now. Image Comics $3.99

DC HOROR PRESENTS: CREATURE COMMANDOS #1

A VAMPIRE, A WEREWOLF, A GORGON, AND AN UNDEAD SOLDIER WALK INTO A GROCERY STORE...AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! This is the Creature Unit, a team of misfits assembled by a mad...ly talented scientist for a dangerous military mission. In this brand-new era of Creature Commandos penned by Count Crowley creator David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad and Late Night with the Devil), the claws are out, fangs are bared, and blood is spilled--lots of it! DC Comics $4.99

ARCHIE HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR 

A Halloween party at Lodge Manor turns into a real battle of good vs. evil thanks to Amber Nightstone! Archie Comics $3.99

BATMAN: FULL MOON

An ancient and supernatural force stalks the streets of Gotham City — a Lycan so powerful it'll defy Batman's most trusted resources: his brilliant mind and extensive gadgetry. But are Batman's physical strength and resilience alone enough to put the creature down for good? Or will this fight strip him down to his very bones? Even powerful magical allies like Zatanna caution that Bruce might not walk away from this one unscathed... Eisner-nominated writer Rodney Barnes (KILLADELPHIA) and breakout artist Stevan Subic (THE RIDDLER: YEAR ONE) tear into a horrific tale of pain and redemption as Batman meets his match: the werewolf of Gotham City! Each issue of this series will boast striking glow-in-the-dark main covers! DC Comics $5.99

MONSTER HIGH: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

In the words of some famous old manster, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Well, no offense to that boo, but... I disagree. I mean, each Hallow's Eve normies wrap themselves in toilet paper and bedsheets and call themselves monsters? As if their flannel rags could touch our Clawdeen Wolf booriginal designs... Ghouls, there is nothing scarier than a bad costume. 

 Luckily, Headmaster Frankenstein and Draculaura are throwing a carnival for the real monsters guaranteed to genuinely send chills down their spines. Monster High is packed with booths: whack-a-molar, pin the wing on the dragon, spiderweb candy, and even a maze of frightmares. Halloween may be a boring normie howliday, but you never know what, or who, might be lurking around the coroner. Happy Halloween, ghouls! IDW Publishing $5.99

CRYPT OF SHADOWS

CRACKING OPEN THE CRYPT! As All Hallows' Eve approaches, the heroes of the Marvel Universe find themselves once again facing the terrors that lie in the dark! From creatures that lurk in the deep to sinister sorcery, don't miss out as your favorite heroes get put through the wringer and are forced to face down the malevolent forces of the Marvel Universe! Pick up this terrifying tome at your own peril, True Believers! Marvel $4.99

FASTER THAN LIGHT 3D

The world’s first 3D Treasury-sized edition features two brand-new horrifying stories of the FTL crew! Glorious 10 x 13 pages in full color 3D and a special "Wink" B cover! (Two different images on the same cover, one per glasses color!) Image Comics $14.99

DC HORROR PRESENTS ...

Bones crunching, worms munching, blood spattering...these are a few of our favorite things! From some of the most dark and cunning minds in horror comes DC Horror Presents... a new collection of gruesome tales set in the DCU. With stories penned by some of our favorite names in horror, this anthology will have die-hard horror fans quaking with fear! DC Comics $3.99

THE HORIZON EXPERIMENT: THE SACRED DAMNED 

Celebrated TV writer SABIR PIRZADA (MS. MARVEL, MOON KNIGHT, DANDELION) and Eisner-winning creator MICHAEL WALSH (THE SILVER COIN) present INAYAH JIBRIL, a “Muslim John Constantine” — a new type of exorcist re-examining modern horror for fans of THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH and KILLADELPHIA. Image Comics $3.99

HEADLESS HORSEMAN: HALLOWEEN ANNUAL 

Like the urban legends and folklore frights of yore, the Headless Horseman is coming back to haunt you once more! Ignore the creaking footsteps, don't mind the whistling wind, pull your eyes away from the shifting shadows, and tiptoe through these spine-tingling stories. The Headless Horseman returns... and this year, he's coming for you! Dark Horse Comics $7.99

THE FEEDING

In this extra-length horror one-shot, Nolan Ward has done everything to forget his disturbing past. Drinking. Drugs. Day-trading. Sex. And still, that past has caught up with him in the form of a twisted painting called The Feeding… which eats people. And it’s hungry. Can Nolan stop this demon, or will he be devoured like so many others before him? Image Comics $4.99

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

With spooky season kicking off in the city of Townsville, Buttercup has set her sights on winning the Townsville Gazette's contest for the best Halloween horror comic - and what better place to find inspiration than a big, old, possibly haunted hotel? But even though it also has a cool hedge maze, there's one problem with spending Halloween at the Townsville Hotel - there's nowhere to trick-or-treat! And Bubbles and Blossom are determined to show off their costumes and get some candy - if only they can convince Buttercup that all work and no play will make her a dull Powerpuff Girl! Of course, Townsville being Townsville, there's also no shortage of nefarious malefactors prowling around, just waiting for the chance to catch the girls off guard. Will their Halloween bickering keep the Petite Powerhouses from thwarting their villains? Dynamite $5.99

HOUR OF THE WOLF

When Owen Blackwood is called across time to a seemingly normal home to destroy a haunted painting, it didn't feel like anything out of the ordinary to this agent of Wolvenheart. Upon arrival, however, Owen finds himself trapped in the very painting he was called to destroy. With only a one hour window of time in which to operate, will Owen be able to save the family from certain death and destroy the painting? Or will he get lost in time and become a cross-dimensional walking ghost? Madcave Studios $4.99

VISION QUEST WRESTLER MAKES MICHIGAN APPEARANCE

Frank Jasper, the actor who played the wrestling antagonist Shute to Matthew Modine's character Louden Swain in the cult classis athletic drama VISION QUEST (1985), will be appearing for a special screening of the film at Emagine Saline that will include a pre-movie Q&A session and post-movie Meet & Greet opportunity on Friday, September 13, 2024. Jasper was a high school wrestler and athletic trainer at Eastern Washington University when he was approached about the role by a friend. The friend told him that the movie was looking for someone who was six feet tall and knew how to wrestle. Jasper thought he might be a good fit, and he ended up cutting weight for the role.

WHEN: 

 Friday, September 13, 2024 

7:00 PM - Q&A Session with Frank Jasper Begins 

7:30 PM – VISION QUEST Screening Begins 

9:15 PM – Meet & Greet with Frank Jasper Begins 

WHERE: 

Emagine Saline 1335 E Michigan Ave. Saline, MI 48176 

COST: 

Screening with Q&A - $20 per person; the price of the ticket includes access into the movie with a special Q&A with Frank Jasper. 

Screening with Q&A PLUS Meet & Greet (with Autograph & Picture) - $45 per person.

Tickets can be purchased online at Emagine-Entertainment.com, through the Emagine App, or at Emagine Saline’s Guest Services Desk.

Meet & Greet only (excludes movie) includes Autograph & Picture - $30 each per person. Guests will be able to meet Frank Jasper and receive his autograph and a picture with him. Meet & Greet will take place at 9:15 p.m. Tickets for the Meet & Greet only session, excluding the movie, are only available for purchase at Emagine Saline’s Guest Services Desk.

In Vision Quest, high school wrestler Louden Swain (Matthew Modine) feels he must do something significant in his life shortly after turning 18. Despite vehement advice against it from his father (Ronny Cox) and coach (Charles Hallahan), Swain decides to try to lose over 20 pounds in a very short time to take on the defending state champion of a lower weight class (Frank Jasper). Meanwhile, he falls for the edgy, older Carla (Linda Fiorentino), who provides further distraction for the young wrestler. The film is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America.

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT GIVEAWAY

Have yourself a fun family movie night courtesy of the Geek Daddy and Paramount Pictures. The movie IF is being released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD on August 13, 2024 and to hype it being available to add to your home entertainment video library this blog has a Digital Code for the film to giveaway. The perfect movie to enjoy with the whole family, IF received an A CinemaScore and 88% Fresh Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes®. The film stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Krasinski, and Fiona Shaw along with a cavalcade of top-tier voice talent, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell, who bring a delightful array of imaginary friends to life. IF is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for thematic elements and mild language.

Complete the Rafflecopter entries below by 11:59pm ET on Sunday, August 18, 2024 for to toss your name in the hat to be the lucky winner of this movie giveaway. One randomly selected person from the eligible entries will be selected to get a digital code for IF. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IF is a heartwarming and hilarious tale about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends, known as IFs. She embarks on a magical journey to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids, before they disappear. An adventure you'll need to believe to see, IF is perfect for the whole family. The film is written and directed by one of my favorite Hollywood talents, John Krasinski, and reunited him with Office castmate Steve Carell.

AUGIE HAAS LIVE AT THE SPEAKEASY

Do you have an appreciation for live performances of jazz music? If so, you'll want to check out the upcoming album from jazz trumpeter Augie Haas set for release on August 16, 2024. Each of the ten tracks on his new album, Augie Haas +8 Live At The Speakeasy, was recorded in one take before a live audience on a single night. Haas has created with his band an album where listeners can close their eyes and feel transported to a basement speakeasy in NYC, hearing great jazz and having an amazing time basking in the environment of what jazz is all about – the players, the listeners, and the moment. Augie Haas +8 Live At The Speakeasy will be available on all major online digital music platforms.

The album hits the ground running with “Jamo Rocks,” a high-octane blues original by Haas. Dick Sarpola, who gives us “four to the bar” with elegant, ear-popping acoustic bass clarity and Swiss watch rhythm, is soon joined by Gary Kerkezou’s drum set and Count Basie-style comments from Rick Germanson on piano. As the band comes in, it boils over with saxes and brass tossing off bits of hot dialogue – a perfect set-up for Troy Roberts’ powerful tenor sax solo that evokes memories of the “Texas tenors,” Arnett Cobb and Illinois Jacquet – punctuated by a wild stop-time episode and a joyous profusion of unstoppable trumpet shakes. Kerkezou launches a virtuosic solo passage followed by an ending that can only be described as the epitome of “hot jazz.”

“Fly Me To The Moon” offers a tip of the hat to the classic Sinatra version while conjuring a totally different groove. A jazz singer of formidable talent and creativity, Major Attaway polishes each lyric with a shimmering clarity reminiscent of Joe Williams. An Augie Haas original, “Keep On Keeping On,” is a groove-based tune featuring Todd Groves on alto sax. This track is a true joy ride that reflects the spirit of the jazz ensembles of the great Cannonball Adderley in the late 1960s.

“What you hear is what actually happened that night, in real time,” Augie Haas told ageekdaddy.com. “We did one take and recorded it live in front of an audience at The Speakeasy on the Upper West Side. Our goal with this album is to immerse the listener in the highest quality music, set within an ambience of authentic sounds of people enjoying themselves. We wanted this record to be fun, real, and raw, and I think we’ve achieved that.”

Augie Haas lives in New York City where he is a professional trumpeter, composer, and teacher. Haas has worked with artists including Harry Connick, Jr., The Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Gil Evans Project, Birdland Big Band, The Radio City Orchestra, and on various Broadway shows. He is currently a regular member of the orchestra for Aladdin on Broadway.

EXPERIENCE A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE IN IMAX

This sci-fi fan is geeked that a new addition to the QUIET PLACE movies is coming to theaters this summer. This prequel to the prior two movies takes us back to when the alien invasion of Earth started. Experience the day the world went quiet in an IMAX theater.

Rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for terror, bloody images and violent content, this sci-fi / horror flick invades movie theaters on June 28, 2024. STAY QUIET. STAY ALIVE.

MARVEL ZOMBIES EASTER EGG HUNT

Normally in a game of Zombicide players work together to cooperatively overcome challenges as one united team. It is players versus zombies. Over the Easter weekend though, game maker CMON released a free add-on scenario for the Marvel Zombies edition of the game. In "Good Egg Hunting" players are divided into two teams of heroes competing against one another to gather the most Easter Eggs hidden within a zombie infested mansion that once housed Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. 

This new Easter Egg themed scenario utilizes the components and rules of the X-Men Resistance hero box for Marvel Zombies gameplay. Two to four players divide into two teams of X-Men to see who can come out on top in this Marvel Zombies challenge. Race around the mansion trying to pick up as many of the objective cards that Professor Xavier hid throughout it. Don't linger because whichever teams scores the most points in 8 rounds is the winner.

Watch out for the zombies, but also the players on the other team! This Marvel Zombies add-on scenario allows players on the other team to steal your Easter Eggs from you. Earn one point for each red egg collected, two points for the rare blue egg and three points for the green one. Plus earn bonus points for rescuing bystanders and eliminating zombies. Whichever team has the most cumulative points after 8 rounds wins the game and gets Zombicide bragging rights.

My daughter and I battled it out in this Marvel Zombies Easter Egg Hunt. I selected Colossus and Wolverine to be my heroes. She selected Rogue and Storm. 

There are four types of zombie enemies to battle in Marvel Zombies: X-Men Resistance. James Madrox, the Multiple Man, became infected by the zombie virus and now keeps replicating creating an ever growing herd of walkers. The Hellfire Club's cybernetically enhanced tank-like Reavers now are lumbering brutes of zombies.  And with the zombies in the Marvel universe retaining some semblance of intelligence, the Hellfire Club assassins are more dangerous then ever now they have turned into monsters that are running all over the place. 

If those three types of zombies weren't bad enough, also lurking around are heroes and villains that have turned into zombies overwhelmed with hunger. Players potentially have to face off against Cyclops, Dark Phoenix, Iceman, Juggernaut, Pyslocke and Sabretooth who are roaming the X-Men mansion grounds as zombies. All these zombies have their own special abilities and traits to strike fear in even the most powerful of the Avengers or X-Men. Don't let the fact they are zombies now have you let your guard down. These zombies are uncannily dangerous! 

So how did we fare in our "Good Egg Hunting" challenge? It was a close contest, but Colossus and Wolverine prevailed over Rogue and Storm ... by 2 points. My grabbing both the blue and green eggs plus stealing a red one from my daughter were what put me over the top in the points total. All in all though we both won because it was a fun family game night playing CMON Zombicide Marvel Zombies edition.

The Marvel Zombies corebox and X-Men Resistance gameplay box are available to purchase at Amazon.com. Download a pdf of the "Good Egg Hunting" for FREE from this post or by visiting zombicide.com. Happy hunting! 

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FREE SHAKES AT LIVONIA'S CHICKEN GUY RESTAURANT

In celebration of the one-year anniversary of Guy Fieri's Chicken Guy! in Livonia Michigan, guests dining in the restaurant will receive a complimentary shake, with a purchase of a combo, on April 1, 2024.  At Chicken Guy! guests experience an array of Fieri's fan favorites, including signature sandwiches, chicken tenders and hot tender combos, salad bowls, and all the special sauces. The menu features fresh chicken tenders, hand-pounded to maximize crunch and paired with a wide selection of signature delicious sauces to complement any menu item. 

The restaurant is also known for its hand-spun shakes. Try one of their FLAVORTOWN SHAKES for FREE with the purchase of any combo when dining in at the Livonia location on April 1st:

• Triple Double Mint -- hand-spun mint chocolate soft serve, crushed OREO® cookies, chocolate mints, chocolate syrup, topped with fresh whipped cream; 
•  Apple Cinnamon Cereal -- hand-spun vanilla soft serve, Cinnamon Toast Crunch™ & Apple Jacks© cereal, topped with fresh whipped cream 
•  Vanilla -- hand-spun vanilla soft serve, topped with fresh whipped cream 
•  Chocolate -- hand-spun chocolate soft serve, topped with fresh whipped cream 
•  Strawberry -- hand-spun strawberry soft serve, topped with fresh whipped cream 
•  OREO® -- hand-spun vanilla soft serve, crushed OREO® cookies & topped with fresh whipped cream 
•  Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake Shake -- hand-spun vanilla soft serve, cheesecake, strawberries, crushed OREO®cookies , topped with fresh whipped cream, crushed OREO®cookies & strawberry syrup 

 

Chicken Guy! is located at 30130 Plymouth Road.

GHOSTBUSTERS BACK IN TOWN COMIC BOOKS

There are a couple of new Ghostbusters adventures debuting this month with the March release of the movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and a comic book series Ghostbusters: Back in Town from Dark Horse Comics. In the movie that premiered this weekend at theaters, Winston Zeddemore, one of the original Ghostbusters team, bankrolls Spengler's daughter Callie and her two children Trevor (and Phoebe to reinitiate the Ghostbusters business in New York City. They bring along with them the kids former science teacher and Callie's now husband, Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), as part of the Spengler family making up the new Ghostbusters team. There is a two year time jump though between the events in Frozen Empire and what transpired during the last film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

What did we miss during that timespan? Well a new four-issue comic book series from Dark Horse Comics is going to provide some of those missing details. An all-new ghostbusting adventure arrives on March 27th with the release of the first issue of Ghostbusters: Back in Town. This limited series bridges the gap between the Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire movies. 

A year and a half after the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the Ghostbusters are officially back in business and headed to where it all began: New York City! Callie, Gary, Trevor, and Phoebe are moving into the Firehouse and ready to take on the Spengler family business…or are they? Ghostbusting on top of changing family dynamics has a way of going awry––and that's exactly what one paranormal force is counting on.

Featuring writing by David Booher (Canto, Killer Queens), art by Blue Delliquanti (Adversary, Across a Field of Starlight), colors by Mildred Louis (Rick and Morty), and letters by Jimmy Betancourt of Comicraft, Ghostbusters: Back in Town expands upon the movie experience. The first issue's cover will be illustrated by Kyle Lambert, with a variant cover by Steve Morris.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire producer, Jason Reitman, commented to ageekdaddy.com, "Our friends at Dark Horse have picked up the Spengler family and hand delivered them to Manhattan where they will begin their journey back into Ghostbusting! It has been a personal thrill to collaborate with this incredible group of artists and storytellers on new chapters in the proton jungle."

Ghostbusters: Back in Town will be available to purchase from local comic book retailers. Each issue will be 32 pages priced at $3.99. Recommended reading age is 12+. For more information, visit darkhorse.com

Click here to read my Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire movie geek review. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is rated PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references.