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Did you see Dark Shadows last weekend? I’m sure the answer is “no” for many of you, given the fact that The Avengers slayed the competition by over $70 million at the box office. While I wasn’t familiar with the original gothic soap series, I am quite a fan of any Tim Burton/Johnny Depp collaboration. Joining them for the ride was the usual cast of Burton characters like Helena Bohnam Carter (a quirky favorite of mine), composer Danny Elfman, and costume designer Colleen Atwood. How could you miss? Well, they did.
Here are my top 3 thoughts about the film:
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Captain America isn't gay...but his brother is.
Hot on the heels of seeing The Avengers, with the adrenaline pumping in my veins, I did what any good queen would do...and went to Target. Like any geek, I had to check out the toy aisle and see all of The Avengers swag. I'll have you know I had no trouble whatsoever picking up Thor's hammer, Mjolnar, and I am no God. (Maybe a Demi-god.) Granted it was an 11 ounce light up plastic toy, but I felt mighty nonetheless. That is until I overheard a girl telling her boyfriend, "I'm sorry but Captain America is so gay." That made me gayngry, and trust me, Mr. McGee, you won't like me when I'm angry. I did not Hulk out, however. As much as I wanted to do a Black Widow spin kick and knock the glasses off her pointed little face, I still believe in educating over fisticuffs. So, I simply informed the ignoramus that being gay wasn't a bad thing, and that Captain America wasn't gay, but Chris Evans the actor who plays Captain America indeed has an identical twin brother that was gay. Not just every gay man's fantasy but, in fact, the truth. Her boyfriend said they didn't mean it like that, and I explained to them that it perpetuated a negative stereotype and using gay as a derogatory term was just as bad as the "N" word. Drama Queen? Maybe, but I would be remiss in my duties as a gay man if I walked away and didn't say anything. And, maybe little missy and her boyfriend will think twice before using such hateful terms at the highly homosexually patronized Target in West Hollywood no less. Who do I think I am spouting off my uninvited "opinion?" A superhero? Not really. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would never sit idly by and let homosexuality be used negatively. That I would do my part. Some battles are worth fighting. This is one of them. I still believe in the good of man, I just want a better showing.
Ever since I visited Club 33 in February 2010 and wrote about it, it has been one of my most popular posts on Red Carpet Closet, and it has been my top viewed video on YouTube. Well, the day has come and Disney has revealed some insider secrets about membership, because they are opening the waiting list for the first time in a decade. The Orange County Register divulged the details last week, and I am here to give you all of the highlights:
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge Wonder Woman fan. I was wonderfully surprised to discover the latest in WW merchandise that would be creating a further deficit in my bank account...(Drum roll required!)...Mrs. Potato Head in a Wonder Woman costume! I honestly did not think I could find anything cooler than my Wonder Woman Snugee. I don't really have to tell you why this is the coolest thing on the planet, but I will tell you that they are doing a Superman one too...I may have peed my pants. Just a little. The Wonder Woman and Super Spuds will be in specialty and comic stores this August. Holla!
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
It would be easy to knock Marvel for its shameless summer promotion, pitting its old money horse against its new champion stallion, but it's much more fun to jump on the zombie bandwagon and make mine Marvel.
Continuing my fantasy scenario possibility outcomes from this summer's mega crossover, I ponder Rogue permanently reasoning Ms. Marvel - adding the powers of Binary to her own leaching, God-given mutant ability.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
When I first heard the title Mind the Gap, I was immediately taken back to my tenure as a "Gap Girl" one holiday season. The longest 3 days of my life. What? It was difficult being rude and indifferent to customers all the time. No? So, I did it for the employee discount and then bailed. It may have been a short tour of duty, yet I still line up my sweaters, so the top button faces out on the shelf. (Maybe Pavlov's pooch shoulda' been a Gap girl!)
On Tuesday, the Paley Center for Media honored a breakout CBS show from this past television season, Person of Interest. The show came out of the gate as one of the highest rated pilots of the season by critics and one of the highest testing pilots for CBS in the last fifteen years. Person of Interest quickly received a full first season pickup order of twenty-two episodes, and then received a Season 2 pickup order in March of this year. It's a show that the network has confidence in, and the fans have spoken by awarding it the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama in January. With a strong cast and crew behind the show and names like J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan, Jim Caveziel, and Michael Emerson leading the way, Person of Interest stands to become a legacy show for CBS.
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
The last time I checked, Nightcrawler bit the teleportation dust in Uncanny X-Men, so imagine my delight when I found him alive and well in Uncanny X-Force. I don't know why or when he came back, as I am merely a visitor to the X-Verse these days and not a resident, but who am I to look a gift elf in the pie hole?
By Michael Fitzgerald Troy
Let me begin this by saying that I am a contrarian and often disagree with what satiates most of the spoon-fed populace. Imagine my horror when I discovered the latest sensation to terrorize the country in the form of a 3-part novel series, Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James. What started as Twilight fanfic and was later reworked into the smut d'jour has exploded into viral popularity in the age of mediocrity. With titillating bondage and other cornball fantasies to roll your bean to, it is evidently "revolutionizing" life in the bedroom for women everywhere, igniting dormant flames of fire left and right. Even Dr. Oz (that big hornball!) and 20/20 are on the Shades tip.
Dear Fanboy Comics Readers:
The FBC Staff sends its congratulations to artist/writer Michael Fitzgerald Troy for the release of his new bio comic, Female Force: RuPaul, from Bluewater Productions! A man of many talents, Mr. Troy lends his writing skills to Bluewater's biography comic series, highlighting the full career of entertainer RuPaul from struggling musician and dancer to world-famous drag performer.
Don't miss your chance to purchase a copy of Female Force: RuPaul, as these issues tend to go fast! Pre-order your copy today by clicking here.
For further details regarding the bio comic, its release, and Michael Fitzgerald Troy's involvement, please see Bluewater's full press release, below.