The Death of Superman was an important time in my youth for so many reasons. It was at the time one of the most epic storylines that I had ever laid eyes upon and while it taught me a thing or two about writing a compelling story, it was the first real reminder of why our local comic book shops are so extremely important.

After all, the day that issue came out I walked straight from school to my nearest comic shop to buy it because that store was a beacon to me. It was a place where countless stories awaited me and I was always in awe when I stepped through those doors. It's an experience that has faded over time. But once in a great while the magic of a comic book store returns, like it did for me yesterday at All C's Collectibles in Aurora.

It wasn't just the store, with its rows of endless action figures and statues and comics as far as the eye could see. That was what sparked the joy. But what set it free was the fact that All C's was host to an Artist Appreciation Day. Just off to the side of the store was a room filled to the brim with local artists, with their wonderful work on display for all to see and the smiles on their faces and on the faces of the families that were coming through the doors in waves allowed the wonder of the day to sink in. This was all a reminder that this is the kind of place where the imagination is ignited and stories come to life and there was a fair chance every artist there was influenced by the books on the other side of the wall.

That thought was reinforced by a couple of artists that I met, one of whom was eight years old. Young Bruce Wayne, yes that is his name, was happily creating art of the vigilante he shares his namesake with and he intensity with which he worked demonstrated his passion to make his art as iconic as the characters that inspired him. I also had the pleasure of meeting Alex Miller, a talented artist who specializes in Manga but appreciates the magic of comic books since she put together a Captain America motif that was so amazing, I picked up a print of it simply because of the care and detail that went into it, and her work is so top notch, I highly recommend you check out more of what she has to offer at: www.smudgeandfrank.com.

In the end today was a wonderful reminder that much of our love of pop culture stems from our local comic book shops. They serve as a celebration of art and a place to share in the wonder of stories and our community since Aurora Rise was also on site taking donations for their incredible cause and I thank All C's for making me feel like a kid again and reminding me of why comics and the art within, matters.

​As a Colorado native, there's a lot to be proud of when it comes to my home state. The Broncos just won another Super Bowl. The economy here is booming. People want to live here from all over the country because holy cow our state is gorgeous. The list just goes on and on. But as someone who arranges his Sundays around The Walking Dead so I can watch it live, there's one thing I think I love about this state over anything else...the fact that it is so incredibly Nerdy. 

Think about it. We have conventions upon conventions to attend. There are plenty of events that pop up throughout the year or the month where we can geek out amongst friends, it's just a wonderful time to be a geek and in all honesty I'm not sure there's another state out there can compete with Colorado's level of geekiness and that's just fine by me. But of all of the events we get to enjoy in our lovely state, there's one coming up this weekend that's extra special...Nerd Prom.

Yes, you read that right. Come this Saturday March, 5, the Summit Music Hall will be host to a prom for nerds, by nerds and filled to the brim with geeky events to provide everyone with an incredible time. You'll get plenty of live entertainment with Andy Rok and the Real Deal, Skylaw, One Flew West and DJ Hollow taking the stage and if you're a fan of KTCL, Rick and Alf will be your hosts for the evening but the night goes beyond just the concert aspect of it all, because I did mention nerdy events. There will be a photo booth filled to the brim with awesome props to preserve the memory of this magical night. A video game contest featuring some awesome prizes, plus the opportunity to make yourself into an action figure with a 3D body scanner and so much more, but most importantly everyone has a chance to enter a couple of awesome contests.

For starters one of you reading this could be the King or Queen of Nerd Prom 2016 and for your chance to be crowned, with a Lego Crown I might add, as Nerd Royalty all you need to do is head HERE to submit your geekiest photograph, the top three guys and three gals will advance to the next round, where the next round of judging at the event will lead to this year's King and Queen. If you're not feeling up to ruling over a nerdy kingdom, but you want to dress to impress with some kickass cosplay, good news, there's a contest for that too.

Now is your chance to show off your incredible cosplay skills and wow the crowd with your creations and win an awesome cash prize of $250 in the process. In fact the costumes will be judged by the top authorities in the state on quality cosplay, the Denver Comic Con Cosplay Team, and to enter that contest click HERE.  Either way, I've had the chance to attend this event before and let me tell you, it's a blast. It's just a wonderful night where you can make new friends, reunite with old ones and just flat out have a wonderful time. So get your tickets HERE and I look forward to seeing all of you at Nerd Prom 2016.

The city of Denver has always managed to surprise me with how many various fandoms it plays hosts to, but as of late it seems that everyone in the Mile High City simply cannot get enough of horror. Every single day I keep meeting new people who are all about some scares and new horror themed events seem to be popping up left and right.

I make mention of that, because a special event for this weekend was recently brought to my attention and well, let's be honest, horror fans know that there's no better way to spend Valentine's Day then with blood and guts on display, or a zombie literally eating someone's heart out...so it pleases me to no end to know that a pair of horror icons will be in town Friday and Saturday to meet their fans before screening the two films they are most famous for.

With that in mind, if you're a fan of Friday the 13th, or a fan of Child's Play, you now have the chance to meet and hang with Ari Lehman, the man who played Jason in the first Friday film and Alex Vincent, the man who played Andy Barclay in the Child's Play series. Both of these iconic stars will be at Buffalo Rose on Friday at 7 p.m. to do a meet and greet with their fans before Ari takes the stage at 9 p.m. to put on a little show for all of us with his band.

But the fun doesn't end there, since I promised a screening of both of those films and that's exactly what's happening Saturday night at the Alamo Drafthouse theater, a Bloody Valentine double feature of Friday the 13th and Child's Play. Now if you've never had a chance to attend an event like this at the Alamo before, you're in for a treat. Because the Drafthouse is all about respecting film and its fans and if you can't make the Friday night event, there will be a meet and greet before both screenings, a panel later on in the evening where both men will discuss their experiences as child horror stars and a chance to win prizes via a raffle. 

So how does one get in on these two awesome events? Just follow these links. If you're interested in the Friday night event, swing by here to pick up your tickets (cost is $20 online, $25 at the door), and by the way the Friday event has the option for a VIP package for $40 where you can get a signed T Shirt, signed photograph, a drink with Ari and reserved seating for the band's performance. If the Saturday event has caught your eye instead, swing by the Drafthouse's website and grab your tickets there. Either way, you can't go wrong hanging out with a couple of horror legends and hopefully you have a blast at one, or both of these events on this Bloody Valentine weekend. 

We've covered quite a few unique events on this site, and it always makes me happy to know that many of the Kickstarters we've highlighted over the years have managed to find full funding and find their way to the masses and today, I have the pleasure of following up on an awesome one. 

Back at Denver Comic Con this year Shae had the pleasure of interviewing local band The Stubby Shillelaghs, to learn more about their Kickstarter for their new album, "Critical Fail". The campaign was a total success and the album is completed at last and it just so happens the album will be released at the end of the month on October 27th. 

The album is a celebration of nerdiness, featuring 17 brand new tracks that pay tribute to the many fandoms out there in our world. In this album you'll find an RPG themed track that shares the title of the album, a Simpsons inspired reggae track entitled "Everything's Coming Up Milhouse", a tribute to James Bond, the list goes on and on. In fact it looks like for their fourth album the band basically unleashed their nerd fueled fury, bringing forth tracks that will please everyone from every fandom and it doesn't end there.

The band has decided to do something incredibly unique to promote the album. They will of course be touring around Denver at various locations to get the word out, but tomorrow they are doing something I've never seen before...they are hosting a live streaming event that includes a question and answer session tomorrow from 2:00p-5:00p MST. This is quite frankly a super cool idea that allows them to reach their loyal fans and anyone and everyone they can. 

So if you have a couple of hours free tomorrow, hop on the web and meet the band, learn more about them and their work and their upcoming album and have a good time because having met these guys in person I can tell you they're a lot of fun and so is their music. To get all the details and web address for tomorrow's live stream go to their main site here, or their Facebook page here and stay tuned to us since we will be bringing you a review of "Critical Fail" on the 27th.

Last night saw something truly astounding. Once a year Breckenridge Brewery teams up with Denver Comic Con to bring to life a unique beer specially brewed just for the occasion. The beer is limited addition, but can be found at DCC, Hard Rock Cafe, Hyatt, 1Up, Breckenridge Colorado Craft, Marlowe’s, Paramount Cafe, Pizza Republica, Tarantula Billiards, The Tilted Kilt, and World of Beer! 

The event is fan driven, like a lot of things! Various people offer names for the beer, and they’re then voted upon. It’s a name that helps bring to life the flavor of the beer. Amongst the contenders, this year Hulk's Mash won. It turns out that this year's winning name led to the creation of a pale ale, with mango puree and mosaic hops.

While I don’t drink beer on a normal basis, I make it a priority to try the latest DCC inspired concoctions. This year’s launch party of the beer took place at 1Up in Denver, off of Colfax. You can still find the drink there, which is a bonus for anyone unable to attend the party last night. The beer is a true experience of the tastebuds, let me just say so personally. I find mango to always be a bit over powering, however, Hulk's Mash has a subtle hint of mango, and a deep hoppy flavor. For any beer lover, these events are a treat, and a great chance for us nerds to get together and discuss the and compare the beers we like to the newest creation. The event also gives special incentives. The first 200 people to line up, got a limited addition Hulk's Mash glass. Its a one of a kind collectors item, and a great memory for what goes into a convention here in the Mile High City.

Glasses can be purchased at Denver Comic Con, and even in smaller sizes! It’s a fun reminder of a great event that kick starts the count down to the convention we Coloradans look forward to most. After all, it wasn’t until the first year DCC announced the beer launch party that I had heard of a convention doing anything like this. I mean sure you see other conventions offer up their special memento, but a Beer? And a glass? That’s not something I have ever seen and it only adds to the experience. With just a few short weeks left, DCC is rapidly approaching and I couldn’t be more excited if I tried! Single day tickets are still available online, as well as certain retailers. With an amazing list of guests, a brand new beer, and the excitement of coming together to help benefit Pop Culture Classroom, it’s a wonder that we’re waiting as patiently as we are…

Denver Comic Con has truly brought forth some amazing yearly traditions in addition to the convention itself. One such tradition, one that always manages to signal just how close the convention really is to kicking off, is the annual creation of the official beer for the convention.

Every single year, Denver Comic Con and the Breckenridge Brewery team up to bring us an exciting and delicious beer that is served only before and during the convention and the best part is...the fans get the chance to name it. This year there were 700 entries to name this beer that were narrowed down to five for the fans to vote upon and we can all thank Jonathan Cooper for coming up with the inventive moniker for this year's beer...Hulk's Mash. 

So what kind of treat are we in for when comes to Hulk's Mash? Well, according to the press release it is a..."delightful pale ale made with mango puree and Mosaic hops. It sounds mild-mannered, but don’t be fooled. Mosaic hops produce an aromatic punch of mango, lemon, citrus, and earthy pine scents. Loads of pulverized mangos heroically balance the hoppy aroma and flavor."

But creating the beer is simply not enough, something that delicious needs to be shared by the fans and to add to the tradition of its creation, comes a grand Beer release party which just so happens to be around the corner as well. Yes on May 1st, at 7:30 p.m. at 1Up Colfax, DCC and Breckenridge Brewery will debut this amazing brew in exciting fashion.  For starters the first 200 people that make it to the party get their hands on a limited edition pint glass that features artwork from Trevor Plaza and the fun doesn't end there.  

There will be a final performance by the awesome band Total Ghost, the 90's Cover Band the Gin Doctors and DJ N810 and DJ Carmello will be hand to entertain everyone in attendance as well. But most importantly, it's going to be a blast, simple as that. This is a great opportunity to enjoy another delicious creation from Breckenridge Brewery and have a great time with your friends. I know we will see all of you there, until then fellow Comiconians! 

One thing that I am finding is quickly becoming a new tradition in the Mile High City of Denver, is that film fans are quickly coming out of the woodwork and beginning to celebrate their love of motion pictures in new and exciting ways. It simply isn't enough now to sit on the couch and enjoy one's favorite movies at home, not when there are opportunities to celebrate them in person and at our local theater. 

Enter the Alamo Drafthouse, a place that is truly a mecca for motion pictures and the wonders they create in our mind. Ever since this theater opened a few years ago, film buffs have been treated to one incredible celebration of motion pictures after another and there are two new monthly film series being hosted there that deserve our time, Fantastique and Science Friction.

Hosted by Frank Romero, one of the co founders of Denver Comic Con and Jason Heller, a senior writer for The A.V. Club and a Hugo Award winning editor, these two series celebrate both the fantasy and science fiction genre, with the awesome kinds of twists and turns that would only be acceptable at the Drafthouse. 

After all, film is meant to be an experience and Frank and Jason take that experience to the next level, with trivia and prizes, concerts before some shows and plenty of surprise guests and even special menus served just for the screening.  Take tonight's screening of Highlander for Fantastique. Not only will author Carrie Vaughn be on hand, giving away signed copies of her latest novel, but the kitchen will be serving up the classic Scottish dish...Haggis. It really doesn't get much more immersive than that when it comes to celebrating a film.  

Either way, it's a pair of film series worth checking out. Not only will you be spending time with a pair of hosts that clearly love and adore the wonder of film, but you'll be with friends and fans in a place that celebrates every little detail about the movies we love.  But what matters most, is that if some of these films were before your time, or you simply never had the chance to see them in a theater, the time has come to settle in and let the lights go low as you settle in with your popcorn to enjoy them the way cinema was always meant to be enjoyed...on the big screen.

It's funny when you come to realize how many amazing places there are to go and see in your own hometown that you have undoubtedly missed out on for one reason or another. I honestly feel that way every single day when it comes to the incredible art scene out here and thankfully First Friday helps showcase so much of what we are missing. 

Recently, I had the chance to check out one of those incredible places that I never knew existed when I stepped through the doors of the Lowbrow, a place dedicated to well...everything and anything that has to do with creativity and art in every possible way. 

This hybrid art gallery/retail store is a unique and special concept in so many ways. For example, if you're in need of supplies to get your idea going, you'll find the supplies here to do it. Or if you're just looking for fun ways to pass the time and be creative while doing so, there's plenty to purchase that will allow you to do that as well.  But the best part of traveling to the Lowbrow is the fact that they celebrate emerging artists.  

Every month you'll find the work of a talented artist on display inside their store. In fact there's a section within these walls that allows you to see their work in traditional fashion, but it doesn't end there. To truly celebrate the work of the artist, to truly understand how unique and powerful their work actually is, the Lowbrow goes above and beyond, allowing for a giant mural to be put up at the front of their store, one that changes when the next artist arrives to showcase their work.

In essence, it's a one of a kind piece of artwork that will never come again, making it a priority for any art lover to get down there and see it before it changes.  That's the kind of awesome appreciation the Lowbrow offers, and it makes it worth your time to swing by and visit this wonderful mecca for art.  You can find directions to the Lowbrow here, make sure you check it out, especially on First Friday. I've really never seen anything quite like it, and my thanks to the owners, Lauren and Tymla, for giving me the chance to check out something so refreshing and exciting. 

Music can be such an uplifting experience when it comes to motion pictures.  It can help your heart soar and it can bring forth tears as you watch the story unfold. But there are some musicians out there who have a freakish talent when it comes to composing a score for film.  These are the artists who not only evoke an emotion out of you while you watch, but their music sticks with you and infects your mind for days on end. 

These are scores you find yourself humming on a regular basis simply to remind yourself of that perfect moment in film where everything came to life.  This is the kind of music that Danny Elfman puts together on a regular basis. This long time collaborator with director Tim Burton has created some of the most memorable scores in film and the good news is, a celebration of his work is coming to Denver next Friday, February 6, 2015 at 7:30 p.m., courtesy of the Colorado Symphony.

Yes, the Symphony is once again playing host to incredible childhood memories as they bring Elfman's work to life on stage at the Boettcher Concert Hall, and to sweeten the pot, the event will feature the music Danny has composed for Tim Burton's captivating motion pictures, allowing the memories of these emotions to surge forth.  The thrills we felt when Batman took to the sky in the Batwing will shiver down our spines once again. The sadness we felt for the Penguin at first will return and of course the fun and adventure of traveling through Beetlejuice's world will bring back that sense of childhood wonder.

Having enjoyed the Symphony's last two tributes to Comic Con I can say without a doubt that this will be a incredible event. This is an orchestra that understands the beauty of music, the importance of it moving you and that is the foundation for a good show. The fact that it happens to be the music of one of America's finest composers just sweetens the deal if you ask me.  So of course, the big question on your mind is likely, where do I get tickets? 

That's easy, just follow the link here and snag your tickets to this concert before they sell out. Either way we will be there to cover this wonderful show and we look forward to sharing this experience with all of you! 

At some point over the years, we were all told that magic simply doesn't exist. That all the tricks we have witnessed so many times during our youth were nothing more than illusions.  The dove was in his hat all along, that never ending ribbon was hidden inside of his suit coat, the disappointment went on and on. 

But I've come to realize that that kind of magic, is the kind we should have never worried about, because real magic, the kind that leaves you full of wonder and awe is all around us and last Saturday I was privy to it myself when the Colorado Symphony put on its second tribute to Denver Comic Con. 

Yes, this new fall tradition has quickly become one of the premier events in town when it comes to live performances, and it is an event that manages to get better every single year.  The first Tribute to Comic Con was mind blowing enough and this year the Symphony figured out how to actually top it.  This go round the Symphony added a choir to accompany this performance and they actually managed to involve the audience along the way.  

In fact, the symphony even brought out special guests if you will.  We had Ghostbusters on stage, Darth Vader himself and we even enjoyed a live lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and Obi Wan Kenobi during an epic performance of "Duel of the Fates".  Actually, it was during that particular piece that I came to realize that this whole evening was something truly magical. Because shortly after that performance, I took some time to break away from the experience and watch the audience closely and every person that I saw, from every age group had a glimmer in their eye, and a smile on their face. 

The Symphony managed to transport our imagination and our spirits to the first time we ever heard that particular piece of music.  By asking everyone there to participate, by having special guests on stage and letting us enjoy that lightsaber battle, they managed to recreate everything that made that moment so perfect in our minds.  That my friends, is real magic.  The ability to allow us to forget about everything but that perfect moment of music, where nothing else mattered but sounds that sent chills down our spine.  

It was truly a shared experience, whether you were singing along, dancing in your seat or simply soaking in the moment, we all shared in the wonder and the awe of this incredible performance.  It's a shame it had to end, but at least we have next year to look forward to.  Until then.