If being a fan of Star Wars and comic books alone isn’t nerdy enough for you, then you’ll be happy to know that Scottish illustrator Matt Cowan has put together a series of mathematical equations that explain the origins of some of your favorite pop-culture characters, from Darth Vader to Captain Jack Sparrow. Check them out after the jump, and be sure to take a look at Cowan’s T-shirt store if you have a powerful urge to put one of these cool designs on your body.
Is your relationship comparable to that of Mario and Princess Peach? Richie and Margot Tenenbaum? Ron Swanson and a plate of ribs? If you answered “yes” to any of these unstoppable duos, then this Valentine’s Day gift guide is for you! Sure, candy and flowers are great, but the quirky pop-culture nerd in your life might prefer something a little more fitting to their film and TV tastes. How about a snuggle-worthy pair of Barney Stinson suitjamas? Or a lovey-dovey print of the film you watched on your first date? Check out ten offbeat gift ideas for your sweetheart after the jump, and hit the comments to let us know of the other pop-culture presents you’ve found whilst prepping for good ol’ February 14th.
When you look at art, you see what you want to see. And some people, as Irene Gallo, the art director for Tor Books, points out, see science fiction. BoingBoing pointed us towards the Tor blog, where Gallo has collected a great series of sci-fi-themed artworks inspired by classic paintings. Whether translating modern painting to hyper-modern painting or just swapping out a traditional angel’s wings for something a little more nerdy, these works are playful studies that were probably as much fun to make as they are to look at. Click through to see some of our favorites, and then be sure to check out even more over at Tor!
Combining 19th century cabinet card portraiture with superheroes, movie monsters, and other idols, artist Alex Gross has created an army of whimsical trading cards with a vintage feel. Stoic figures from the past have been reincarnated as the stars of Superman, Star Trek, Star Wars, and other cult faves. Gross doesn’t just slap a painted costume on each individual, though. He transforms them into lively characters by creating new landscapes for them to dwell in, complete with props and other quirky touches. Delight in Gross’ geeky menagerie past the break.
Luke vs. Darth Vader. James Bond vs. Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Ronald McDonald vs. the Burger King. These are some of pop culture’s most legendary rivalries. But what if these warring icons suddenly put aside their differences and cuddled up for a big, sweet, wholesome hug? That’s the concept behind this adorable series by Berlin-based designer and illustrator Ingrid Aspöck. Maybe our brains have been turned to mush by too much thinking about Lana Del Rey, but we’re not ashamed to say that these sugary drawings are exactly what we feel like looking at as this long Thursday afternoon draws to a close.
In 2009, Casey Pugh divided Star Wars into 472 15-second segments, and asked the internet at large to choose a piece and remake it as they saw fit. In 2010, the project won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media – Fiction. Now, he has finally stitched together the best remade segments to form Star Wars Uncut: The Director’s Cut, a crowd-sourced feature-length film that somewhat resembles the original. If like us, you can’t think of anything better to occupy those nerdy brains of yours on a snowy Sunday afternoon, click through to watch, and let us know what you think of the film in the comments!
Let’s set aside the fact that we live in a world where the hype machine surrounding certain things — apparently even Super Bowl commercials — has become so intense that we’re about to post a teaser for a Volkswagen ad. Why? Because it’s seriously that awesome. We want to dislike it for being this weird viral Frankenstein of things that people on the Internet love to love, and yet we can’t — we’re only human, and adorable dogs dressed up as Ewoks and AT-ATs are impossible to resist. Click through, and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree that this spot will easily top that cute Darth Vader kid from last year.
Have you ever wondered if the guy in the Chewbacca suit is just as hairy as the character he plays? Or if there’s occasionally a person inside ALF? We certainly have, and usually we’re too lazy to pause and consult the Internet. But not today, folks! Today we’re solving the mystery of costumed characters once and for all — or at least for ten of film’s and TV’s favorite masked mortals. We’ve compiled some kids’ characters, a couple sci-fi villains, and a handful of cuddly creatures paired with the suit actors within. Check ‘em out after the jump, and let us know of any other costumed characters that have piqued your pop-culture curiosity.
The worlds of geek culture and high fashion collide in He Wears It, a recent series of acrylic paintings by Hong Kong-based designer and illustrator John Woo that replaces the familiar outfits worn by Star Wars characters with designs by cult fashion favorites like Comme des Garçons and APC. While we never figured Darth Vader for the kind of preppy pretty boy who’d feel comfortable rocking Band of Outsiders, we do have to admit that Jar Jar Binks looks might cozy in that getup by Maison Martin Margiela.
Not a Star Wars fan? Woo also has additional fashion-themed prints featuring The Joker, Edward Scissorhands, Rambo, and The T-1000 available for perusal and purchase in his Etsy shop.
Before Comic-Con expanded to become a mecca of geek culture (and advertising) in recent years, there were events like Westercon at the Hyatt International in 1980. Dik Daniels shot photos of cosplayers at the convention, which the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society recently shared on their website. It’s an interesting snapshot of sci-culture that reminds you how much things have changed since the advent of the Internet. Some of the more fantasy-driven costumes recall when sci-fi was often lumped together with the genre, despite being a different animal. While the Star Wars influence is evident in Daniels’ images, it’s cool to see some lesser-known titles represented like Saturn 3 (slide eight), and Karen Kuykendall’s The Outer Regions (slide ten — an image of Karen herself). Check out Yoda, Ripley, and company past the break.
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