Daddy Mojo

Contest of Champions, in my backyard-with scaled down Hulk and Thor

Because Sakaar is too far away to get to in a timely manner, we had our own Contest of Champions in the backyard. In a perfect world the Grandmaster would be there to emcee and/or pardon some in the crowd. However, until that’s an option we had the kids play in the back yard while I organized the Backyard Games Contest. The best part for parents is that these games are all but free and can be done using things that you’ve already got, or will soon receive like boxes in the mail.

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In Real Life, where avatars meet real-world consequences

Video games when I was a kid were simple on so many levels. It was just me and a friend, at his house, because he had an Atari and my parents wouldn’t let me have one. It’s a whole new world now and In Real Life is a graphic novel by Cory Doctorow with art by Jen Wang that examines the relationships and economics that takes place in-and out of video games. It’s the trinkets, jobs or vehicles that players can purchase with real money whilst playing the game. In Real Life takes a look at the sub-culture of those that sell things in games who are usually in impoverished conditions in emerging markets; as well as the different levels of players who take part in the game.

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All ages comics for March 7

Picky reader? Slow reader? A non-reader who you want to catch the passion for reading? A leisure reader? Whatever level reader you are (or have) there is something in the all ages comics rack to be read and enjoyed. In the podcast and YouTube version we’ll chat about Star Wars, Bodie Troll and two ‘life’ comics that will engage tween readers. For now, let’s take a look at three all ages comics for ages 7 and up that will make kids laugh, be curious and scare them (age appropriately of course), just a little bit.

Bart Simpson Bust Up

We love The Simpsons. Simpsons Comics is one of the go-to all ages comics that ages 6 and older can pick up any issue and be thoroughly entertained. Bart Simpson Bust Up is a graphic novel of previously published stories that are centered around Springfield’s spiky headed bad boy. ‘Bad’ is relative and this graphic novel is appropriate for ages 6 and up. I understand that some parents don’t want that age watching the television show. However, the printed version of Springfield doesn’t have the elements that parents don’t want their kids emulating.

Chimichanga: The Sorrow of the World’s Worst Face

A bearded girl, sideshow circus and a misfit little boy who grows his hair long so nobody can see him. This is Chimichanga and it’s one of the most satisfying all ages comics that was a mini-series from 2017. It’s not ‘scary’ per se, just very mysterious-in an all age way, with art and story to make young readers know that they’re reading something special. It’s from Eric Powell, whom older comic fans might know from The Goon. This comic though is squarely aimed at kids 8 and up.

Ghoul Scouts Tweenage Werewolf

Another great mini-series from 2017 that’s returning with new stories is Ghoul Scouts Tweenage Werewolf. From Action Lab Entertainment this mini-series is genuinely scary, but in a fun way in the same way that The Goonies was scary. Ask your parents about The Goonies kids. This is diverse group of kids who fight monsters and zombies in a real way. They have to work together in order to drive stakes and avoid danger, but real strife in their friendship’s occur and they’re tweens, so growing up is happening also.

Humor

Superhero

Action/Science-fiction

Coco is animated brilliance that any age will enjoy

Coco is one of the rare animated films that my family saw before I did. When they got back from the sneak preview everyone was raving about Coco and how it was the best film they’d seen in a long time. That was high praise coming from my family, but at the time I was only concerned about me, being stuck in bed due to the flu. Now that Coco is on Blu-ray DVD I finally got up to speed on what my family was talking about and I agree with them on all fronts.

In many ways Coco is the perfect film. It has all of the technical and production qualities that make Disney -PIXAR films great, but also has that extra something. For one, as much as I love and appreciate most Disney-PIXAR films they have a familiar rhythm to them. In Coco, the only familiar element to the film was Miguel’s dad, who looks suspiciously like the father in Inside Out.

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Rot is contest book of a different color that kids will love

For us, Rot, The Cutest In The World, reminds us of one of our favorite children’s books. You see, Rot is a mutant potato. I didn’t know that a mutant potato was an actual named thing. My inner monologue automatically called them mutant potatoes, but never really paid them any mind. And Rot fits the description, he’s speckled, with one pupil that’s three times as large as the other one, has scraggly hair, can’t sing and is a bit socially unkempt. Lucky for him there’s a contest that will decide the cutest in the world about to start and he’s eager to enter.

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All ages comics for February 28

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It’s new comic book day and it really is a great week for some new all ages comics. Over in the podcast and YouTube version we’ll talk about a great monthly comic book from Marvel Comics that’s just bee approved for a new Disney animated television series, Stinky Cecil, Bunny Vs. Monkey, a one-shot special from The Pink Panther and The Inspector and more. For now though, let’s look at three all ages comics that will appeal to different audiences, but can also thoroughly entertain anybody who is open to them.

Pink Panther vs. the Inspector

When I was a kid I enjoyed reading Pink Panther comics. It’s comfort food that our oldest has enjoyed reading the new all ages comics with new stories from American Mythology Productions. Now, Pink Panther vs. The Inspector gives this cat and mouse duo their own one-shot special to celebrate clever pink cats and inept detectives.

Sparks

Princess is a baby, who is actually an alien from another world is intent on taking over the world. August and Charlie are two cats who are thought of as lazy and beneath everything else. The two cats are tasked with defeating her and do it via a mechanical dog costume that they build. What’s not to love about this description? Sparks is an original graphic novel that ages 7 and up will howl with laughter over.

Steven Universe Ongoing

The Steven Universe comic book is as soft, warm, weird and funny as its television counterpart. Greg is doing a comeback concert and things probably won’t go according to plan. Think of this as a thoughtful- smarter than it looks comic book that will make ages 9 and up smile and laugh.

Humor

Superhero

Science-fiction/Action

Win a pair of ticket to the Death Wish sneak preview in Atlanta

To some, Bruce Willis is finally playing the character that they have been waiting for him to portray. Paul Kersey, the titular character in the classic movie series Death Wish is back, with a shaven head and more of a grin than you last saw the character in Death Wish 4: The Crackdown. When that film came out in 1987 it was a creaky franchise that had countless puns about its aging character. The year after that a little film called Die Hard came out that changed the landscape of action films. The sneak preview is Wednesday, February 28 in Atlanta at Atlantic Station. The giveaway ends Tuesday, February 27 at 9 PM. We’ll email the tickets to the winners that night. To enter just leave a comment on this post or on the YouTube video.

It was also about that time of year that the vengeance sub-genre of films faded away. Clint Eastwood owned that genre for years and the Paul Kersey character is indeed Dirty Harry’s kindred, non-law enforcement kindred spirit. When you see Death Wish you will see lots of violence, bad guys getting their cumupins and several well placed puns.

Death Wish is back with Eli Roth taking control of the camera and Chicago acting as the template for Willis to enact revenge. This film is rated R for bloody violence and language. The sneak preview for Death Wish in Atlanta is Wednesday, February 28 and we’re giving away three pairs of passes. To enter this Death Wish giveaway, just leave a comment below or in the YouTube video.

A conversation with AMA Supercross rider Weston Peick

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Have you or your family ever been to Supercross? It’s madness, controlled chaos and looks like scenes that were too dangerous to put in Mad Mad: Fury Road. AMA Supercross can also be a little confusing for those first timers. Admittedly, I had no idea what structure the race had or how the racers knew exactly what to do. Even for those that know nothing about the sport, this fact is clear: Supercross is an event that the whole family will enjoy.

To get me up to speed on exactly how a Supercross race works I spoke with nine year veteran of the circuit, Weston Peick. Peick races for Joe Gibbs Racing, has 8 career top-five finishes (450XS) and many other career highlights. Our interview with Weston Peick provides a general overview of Supercross, his non-traditional path to the sport and what it takes to succeed.