Critical Hits Cocktails Takes Over Geek & Sundry Vlogs To Make Your Geek Drinking Dreams Come True...

Geek and Sundry Vlogs has a stable of great geek related videos over at their Youtube page. That is a given... but some are definitely more appealing to my particular geek sensibilities than others. Critical Hit Cocktails does just that, with host Mitch Hutts, takes nerd friendly characters and properties and comes up with awesome drink recipes to satisfy your geeky palate. They make both alcoholic and non alcoholic recipes, and the best part is that if you take some of their non alcoholic drinks and just add a spirit of your choice you can still get a buzz out of it! These are great, and Hutts minds the classics for his inspiration. TMNT, Harry Potter... hell, the newest video is a Star Lord inspired drink, which is fitting since Guardians of the Galaxy is killing it right now. The best part is the instructions are easy to follow and the ingredients are simple and easy to obtain. So in just a few minutes you can turn yourself into the Nerdiest Mixologist of all time! All of them are fun, so make sure you check em all out... I will be making some of these behind the bar this weekend, so I will let you know how they shake out!

A Usagi Yojimbo Film Is On The Way... Watch The Short That Got The Filmmakers Permission From Stan Sakai To Make It!

My earliest memories of Usagi Yojimbo come from the TMNT cartoon series of the early 90s. I loved that show, and Stan Sakai's samurai bunny rabbit was always a highlight for me. He is so serious, and such an absolute badass... so when I was able to read some of the Yojimbo comic stories later in life I found them amazing! Sakai's art is also spectacular, and the stories are true samurai epics even though they feature talking animals. So when my buddy Tommy Lombardozzi (who is a huge Usagi  fan) sent me a new short film that was created in order to secure the confidence of Sakai in making a full length feature. Lintika Films presents Usagi Yojimbo: The Last Request. It is really well done, and Sakai was so blown away that he gave his blessing for them to move forward with a full length feature. Keep track of the films progress by following their Facebook page, and watch the embedded short film after the jump for a taste of things to come!!!

Teenage Mutant Ninja X-Men by M7781

I came across artists m7781 (Marco D'Alfonso) over on Reddit due to his awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-men mashup that is making the rounds on the Internet. When I moseyed on over to his Deviant Art page I found an incredible collection of art mashups of pop culture characters that will make your head spin. There are a bunch of good ones, but I still find myself rotating back to the TMNT/X-Men one the most. What a great piece. Leo as Cyclops (the leader), Donatello as Beast (the scientist), Mikey as Iceman (the funny guy) and Raphael as Wolverine (the maniac). We also get April as Jubilee (they did rock the same colors!), Casey Jones as Cable, and my personal favorite side character Metalhead as Colossus. Pretty amazing. Lets hope m7781 decides to do a Brotherhood of Evil Mutants/Footclan mashup.... Shredder as Magneto? Kang as The Blob? Rocksteady & Bebop as Pyro & Avalanche? Yup... that would be great! Check out the full size pic after the jump...

You See... Michael Bay Isn't So Bad, He Is A Perfectionist !!!

You gotta love The Onion. Those guys know how to exploit a situation. When the 2014 SD Comic Con rolled around people from every news outlet, both reputable and unreasonable, flocked to Cali to cover it. But while all of these people were trying to gets scoops, attend panels, and  be the first ones with some sort of "news"... The Onion just does what it does best: Make shit up that sounds good enough to fool people to be true!!! First they leaked a great story about a new "Green Goblin" that would be left handed... and people all thought it was true. Then they outdid even themselves... they created this amazing behind the scenes documentary that captures the in depth nature that Michael Bay goes to in ensuring that everything is factually correct in any films he is associated with. Everything... down to the turtle cocks in his newly produced TMNT film!!!! Hol-y SHIT, this is amazing!!! And they even had to CGI the fake dongs in order for the footage for the faux behind the scenes feature... which means the footage is in fact REAL (if you follow my logic anyway...). Yup, this is great. The Onion, never stop being the best at what you do....

Gallery Nucleus Presents: Heroes In A Half Shell - A Tribute To The 30th Anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I am always on the lookout for cool pop culture art shows that are held around the country... after all, other than Bottleneck Galleries in Brooklyn we have very few places in NYC that conduct shows of that nature. But through the magic of the Internet we not only get to view the pieces of these shows, but we have access to PURCHASE prints and original pieces of all this great stuff! Gallery Nucleus is located in Alhambra, California and is currently executing one hell of a show. It is called 'Heroes In A Half Shell' and is meant to pay tribute to the 30th Anniversary of our favorite crime fighting reptiles (yup, turtles are reptiles... why don't you go to science class!). On the cusp of the release of the new live action TMNT film, this show highlights all the classic characters as well as some of the rarer ones from the many iterations the property has been through (Fish Face seems abundantly more popular than he should be as a subject). There are over 30 artists in the show, and it also features sponsorship tie ins to the cartoon and IDW comics. There are giveaways, door prizes and the best part is that anyone that shows up in costume gets in free!!! The pieces vary in style and execution, and there are even some non-print pieces (a skate deck, stuffed animals, and scultures) to spice things up. Now that is one show I wish I lived on the Left Coast for!!! The show runs until August 3rd, but if you can't make it in then make sure you pop by the Gallery Nucleus webpage to peruse the art and maybe make some Turtle-Tastic purchases. Enjoy my faves after the jump....

Eastman & Laird Both Coming Back To IDW's 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' For A 30th Anniversary Issue ??? YES PLEASE !!!!

One of my favorite NY Comic Con experiences happened about 5 years ago with my good friend Sam James. Sam and I were walking the floor and he is a huge TMNT guy. So he sees Peter Laird of TMNT fame and starts going bonkers. He runs over to the table and buys a lithograph from Mr. Laird, which he is super happy about. As we started around the floor again, Sam mentioned that he wanted to meet Kevin Eastman, the other man responsible for TMNT... who was also somewhere at the show. As we sought him out I wondered out loud why he wasn't near Laird's table, considering how their creations were so related. Sam explained that they had a huge falling out and that they didn't really like each other much. That made the situation funnier and much more understandable. When we found Eastman, Sam asked him to sign the same lithograph... he explained to Eastman it would be an honor to have both guys signatures on one piece. Eastman promptly said "This is the shitty pieces Laird is selling at his table? I ain't signing that...". But he wasn't a complete dick, he did one better... he turned over the lithograph and did a full on Leonardo sketch right there on the spot. When he finished, he looked up at our shocked faces and said something to the effect of "Fuck Laird... now you got your very own TMNT original, not some generic piece of shit". He signed it, and so Sam was faced with the dilemma of getting both signatures on a piece, albeit one on each side... lol. This was first hand proof that these guys despised each other. So imagine my surprise when I opened my email and see that both Eastman & Laird will be working together on a 30th anniversary one shot issue that will feature a bunch of one off stories about the green foursome. I for one couldn't be any happier...

Click after the jump for more info on the release....

New York Comic Con 2013 - Great Pictures from the Show Floor

The show floor at the 2013 NY Comic Con was epic... all the construction on the Javits Convention Center is done, and the flow of the floor was at an all time high. The new badge system and spreading of the Comic Con event throughout the WHOLE building made the floor much more manageable to navigate. Once again, the displays didn't disappoint and there was a lot to see. All of us amateur photogs affiliated with CCD decided to share our floor pics with you guys that couldn't be there to see what was hot. what we enjoyed and what you missed out on. Hope you enjoy the pics...

'Ninja Turtles: An Animated Tribute' by Malcolm S

I love me some Ninja Turtles, and it seems that animator Malcolm S loves them too. How do I know? Because he created a bad ass animated tribute to the 4 green machines and their rat mentor Splinter that gets back to the roots of the characters (for one thing there are no face bandannas... like the first comic book). All in all a fun little piece of well done animation. Check it out after the jump...

A CCD Rant by Mike D: Hey Fanboys & Fellow Internet Blowhards: Leave Michael Bay Alone!!!

Hehehehe... I know that the title of my upcoming rant ALONE is enough to make nerds everywhere spill their Red Bull all over their wireless keyboards as they gasp in horror. Plus, I think I just heard Jeff Bond drop dead of a heart attack at his job, and possibly an earthquake from the explosion of anger from Kristen Grillo out on the West Coast!!! But before I get into my latest rant, let me preface this by saying something right off the bat: 


I, Michael DeVito, am not a Bay apologist and could give a fuck less what he does as a professional. 

I am simply writing this rant because while most internet Fan boys & self proclaimed 'GEEKS' who should be more intelligent than they appear to be need to shut the fuck up. Stop blaming Michael Bay for all the problems that happen in the adaptions he is a part of. Transformers may not be your cup of tea, but it certainly wasn't made by Bay himself. Now there is this flap about what Bay said about the new TMNT movie that will contain Turtles that are of an "alien" origin. Hey gang, I got news for you: If this is true, it PROBABLY WASN'T BAY'S IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE , NOR IS IT HIS IDEA ALONE!!!! What the fuck is wrong with you people?

Click after the jump for the rest of this rant...

The TMNT Cartoon Opening Credits Get A Stop Motion Makeover... Cowabunga!!!

Kyle Roberts is a talented director who wanted to shoot something that would remind him of his childhood. Nathan Poppe is an artist that was down to help out... so he hand drew 60 images to help create a stop motion version of the 1987 TMNT cartoon. Add in a decent cover of the title song by The Boom Bang and you got one hell of a 2 minute video. I know I would be proud of it. Roberts is talented, and the video is filled with tons of little winks and cliches that make it totally awesome.  Plus they got to use the newer Mecca TMNT figures, which are completely bad ass and look so much like the original comic book designs. Awesome dude. You can see the video as well as a cool "making of" vignette after the jump...

Lego Characters by Jung Von Matt

I came across these cool minimalist recreations of animated/children characters composed of Lego bricks by artist Jung Von Matt over at SuperPunch. I thought that the simpleness of them was very cool, and that they are easily identifiable despite the fact that they lack detail. You got the Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Bert & Ernie, and the cast of South Park. Check out all four of the pics after the jump...

Artin' It Up With Tommy Lombardozzi: Turtle Power Edition

Hey folks. It's been awhile since I've shared any art with good ol' CCD, but here I am! Back again and ready to... dosomething!

So, a few days ago, I came across a new comic shop in my neighborhood. EXCALIBUR COMICS, on 20th Avenue and 74th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Exciting! There hasn't been a comic store around here in YEARS! Anyway... 


The place is in its infancy; not too much back stock, some toys and do-dads (cool Ghostbusters shit that if I had the money I'd buy), etc. Anyway, I picked up a few comics. The latest issue of the newest ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series by IDW Publishing, a TMNT Donatello one-shot, the latest issues of one of my favorite comics of all time, USAGI YOJIMBO, and a Ghostbusters comic. Fun stuff!


Click after the jump for the rest of the story...

Polygon Superheroes by James Reid

There is no love lost here at CCD for superheroes... heck, we post something comics related almost every day! There is definitely no superhero hangover occurring on this site. Need more proof that we love superheor themed art? Check out these awesome polygon art creations from New Zealand based artist James Reid that take on both Marvel & DC Comics characters. These are just wonderful. Click here to buy prints and other items with these awesome pieces, and click after the jump to see my faves...

'I'd Buy That...As a Tee!' Vol 28

Always on the look out for inspiring art... emblazoned across the chest of humanity. Here's some of the t-shirts I have my eye on to do just the trick but, there's only one problem....they aren't for sale yet! Please click the links below to the Threadless.com voting pages for each and give these beauties '5' ratings so I can throw 'em on my charge card one day.

**Please click READ MORE below..for Mo' Tees...Mo' Tees....Mo' Tees!**

Mario Learns The Meaning Of Karma by JP Zilla

While it's easy to call Mario & the rest of his crew "Heroes",  lets not forget all the collateral damage that these guys do to innocent creatures and surrounding buildings. One turtle has had enough... and that turtle is everyone's favorite TMNT hothead Raphael. This would definitely a fight that I would like to see worked out!!! Check out more of JP's artwork by clicking here and click after the jump to see this piece in full view...

2011 NY Comic Con Interviews: Tommy Talks To Artist David Rapoza

Hey hey! Mr. Mike D. featured some of this artists's work awhile back; some very grown-up portraits of some favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters! Dave Rapoza, a young and talented illustrator, is doing some really great work. You should check out our NYCC interview with the dude to learn more about him and where you can see more of his art online. Get in there! Click after the jump for the interview...

This Casey Jones/TMNT Fan Film Is Spectacular!!!

My boy Dave over at Exophrine posted a trailer to a fan made short film based on Casey Jones & the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and I was completely blown away by how good it looks. The action is crisp, the costumes look great... this is exactly what a fan film should be!!! Click after the jump for the trailer...

Christina Connelly Remixes The TMNT Fam, Pixel Art Style

This is how you remix something old and give it a fresh spin. Artist Christina Connelly puts a new spin on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles using a pixel art style. This is so great. You can check out more of her work by clicking here. Thanks to Rampage Reality for the tip.

'I'd Buy That...As a Tee!' Vol 12 by Jeff Bond

Feels like Summer..... and I could use a few new unique t-shirts to really make a statement without saying a word. A statement like "I'm a geek that doesn't take much of anything seriously...I'm approachable and easily abused."

Here's some of the t-shirts I have my eye on to do just the trick but, there's only one problem....they aren't for sale yet! Please click the links below to the Threadless.com (my favoritest and most user friendly t-shirt contribution site) voting pages for each and give these beauties '5' ratings so I can throw 'em on my charge card one day.

Our favorite Italian plumber is in the midst of a siting of mythological proportions in this clever tee design entitled 'Loch Nes'

'Klimt in Space' imagines Sigourney Weaver's extraterrestrial nemesis as a Gusatv Klimt design. Me likey!

'Ups' coold probably be translated a few different ways...but either way it spells disaster at THIS young kiddie party

**Click READ MORE below for more tantalizing Tees!**

'I'd Buy That...As a Tee!' Vol 11 by Jeff Bond

Feels like Summer..... and I could use a few new unique t-shirts to really make a statement without saying a word. A statement like "I'm a geek that doesn't take much of anything seriously...I'm approachable and easily abused."

Here's some of the t-shirts I have my eye on to do just the trick but, there's only one problem....they aren't for sale yet! Please click the links below to the Threadless.com (my favoritest and most user friendly t-shirt contribution site) voting pages for each and give these beauties '5' ratings so I can throw 'em on my charge card one day.

It looks like Threadless just closed it's Summer Challenge but, there's quite a few unique designs with some time left on their voting clocks.


'Super Maui O' covers all the bases on a vacation themed plumber's holiday. Check out Starman's one-piece bathing suit...and Bullet Bill hanging ten.

I'm pretty sure there's no plausible science behind 'Surf to the Future'...but I like the design.

The evil Shredder has gotten into the warm weather fun in 'Turtle Trap'...."get 'em while they're young," I always say. ;)

...and speaking of traps, 'Captured' has the reds right where the green troops want 'em! I MUST have this T-Shirt. I MUST!!!

'Summer War' stirs up the nostalgia of a time inwhich all things could be settled with a full water pistol.

I'd most likely NEVER where these next two designs but, I LOVE their concepts and they gave me a chuckle.

First up, 'Bloodnade' serves up some human for a change.

...and 'Summer Surprise' draws back the trenchcoat to reveal the sun's naughty truth.

'Siren's Song' feels like summer with this delicious take on a famous 'Little Mermaid' or one bearing it's teeth in the latest installment of 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Sexy-ass Fish!

Finally, who says Sith have no fun? 'Darth Summer' got Vader all decked out for the heatwave.