Search Results

Photo: Marielle Bokor Just off the heels of Lolla, with Riot Fest on the horizon, it’s time to roll out the nerd carpet in Rosemont for Fan Expo Chicago! Back when the Wiz was in town, we’d already be on the floor, but tonight we’re hard at work crafting our traditional Choose Your Own Adventure preview so you can craft your own unique con experience based on your personal preferences. And, if you’re new to conventions, or just want a little sage advice, we’re here for you. After all, we’ve been covering conventions for over a decade! You’ll need comfy shoes, charged phones (pack a charger!) snacks, and water. Especially for summer cons, water’s important, and while it is usually available outside the panel rooms, packing your own can really help in a pinch. A few more pieces of advice?  Carry some cash (not all artists/booths take cards),  Interact with other congoers who share your interests, and try something new. Some of our favorite con moments have come when we’ve participated in improv DnD, went to a comedy show, done arts and crafts and attended sing-a-longs or drink and draws. Compliment cosplayers, catch a cosplay meetup, or even attend after hours events. Find people who enjoy your favorite fandoms and maybe explore a few more.  Oh yeah, and don’t miss Artist’s Alley! While all the merch is enticing, what you’ll find on artist’s alley is often one of a kind and made by the very same person sitting in front of you. Now that you’re properly prepped, let’s see what’s on the menu for this year’s Fan Expo. 2025’s convention brings a ridiculously star-studded list of celebrities and while that’s gonna mean packed panel rooms and long autograph lines, it’s also going to be a hell of a lot of fun - IF you’re prepared and know where to be when based on your interests - which is where this preview comes in. This is the way: Photo: Julian Ramirez FRIDAY, AUGUST 15TH Welcome to Fan Expo 2025! Doors open at the Donald E Stephenson Convention Center at 4, but traffic in Rosemont and its surrounds are consistently chaotic, so if you’re planning not to miss anything on the schedule in its first few hours (yes, really) then plan on pulling into parking at least by 3, if not earlier. Here’s what to explore on Friday at 4: Comic fans  may want to head to THEATER #4 for the Spotlight on Comic Writers with Kyle Higgins and Melissa Flores BUT Hazbin-verse fans  may be headed from the parking lot to the MAIN THEATER at 4:15 PM for a great big panel featuring Morgana Inis, Alex Brightman, Vivian Nixon Williams, Bryce Pinkham, Richard Horvitz OR If you’re a theater nerd, tabletop geek or some combination therein , the Twenty Sided Tavern  returns with a whole new campaign, two years after we got our last fix. If you’re new to on stage DnD, it’s amazing in every form we’ve ever seen it in - an unforgettable, immersive, hilarious adventure that hypes you up for your home campaign or encourages you to create a brand new one. Photo: Aaron Cynic Roundabout 5 PM , when it’s quitting time for the Muggles and they’re getting on the road to do whatever you do when you don’t go out and do amazing nerdy things, you’ve got other choices to make: If,  high off the Twenty Sided Tavern, you’d like to stay in the game , whether bedecked or not, head over to check out the Dungeons and Dragons Cosplay Meetup in the Cosplay Photo Park at 5:15 PM If you’re a gamer who’s been waiting to drop in on some tournaments , hang out with Texas Gaming Empire in the GAMING ZONE AT 5:15 PM  for a  Strive tourney . BUT If you’re a cartoon lover who adores meeting the voices behind your favorite characters?  Your first shot at iconic behind the scenes stories from even more iconic voice actors comes at 5:15   PM in THEATER #3 If you’ve got nostalgia for HALO , you’ll need to head over to the MAIN THEATER AT 5:30 PM for a voice acting panel  featuring Master Chief (Steve Downes), Cortana (Jen Taylor) and Spark (Tim Dadabo) MEANWHILE Naruto fans might want to run (normally or, you know, not) over to THEATER #2 , for the Believe It! The Naruto Voice Actor Q&A at 5:45 PM Wayward sons might want to carry on  to PROGRAMMING ROOM C at 6:15 PM  to talk Supernatural  and all related things. This is a trivia panel so see if you can reign supreme with your team. Another fantastic idea, especially if you’re bringing the nerdlings along , is to get your sparkle on and get thee to the KIDS ZONE AT 6:30 PM for a Classic Princess Ball  - there’s singing, dancing and games to play WHILE wearing tiaras and twirling. Get magical. Here’s the realest, most agonizing choice for Friday night though. Voice acting/animation fans - get ready to learn the art of the half and half, because you’ve got The Voices Behind  Your Pixel Crushes - Nick Apostolides, Nadjji Jeter, Todd Haberkorn, Sam Roukin, Chris Wehkamp and Kyle Hebert at 6:45 PM in THEATER 3  which represents fine IP like Resident Evil, Spiderman and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare BUT ALSO AT 6:45 PM  you’ve got Mastering the Elements with the Cast of Avatar: Zacy Tyler Eisen, Jack De Sena, Greg Baldwin, Dante Basco, Michaela Jill Murphy and Mae Whitman in the MAIN THEATER.  We’re not gonna tell you what to do, because we don’t know ourselves. 😀 At 7 PM IN THEATER #2  things finally heat up for Horror fans AND Film nerds alike  with the Bursting Into the Scene With The Cast of Aliens featuring William Hope, Ricco Ross, Mark Rolston, Jenette Goldstein, and Paul Reiser.  If you’re into Aliens, this is your panel.  OR We can throw you a wild card  and suggest the  Entertainment to Die For: Media in North Korea panel at 7:15 PM in PROGRAMMING ROOM B .  It’s one thing to risk looking like a dork for something you like and an entire other thing to actually run the risk of jail or worse and still stanning  your favorite fandoms. In North Korea, it’s hard to be a fan and even harder to get a glimpse of North Korean culture.  At 7:45 PM Anime fans can talk Fruits Basket with the That S Isn’t a Typo: Fruits Basket Q&A with Jad Saxton in THEATER #3. OR Hit up  THEATER #2   for  some time with the cast of Reno 911!  Get some great stories from both  Cedric Yarbrough and Thomas Lennon.  AND If you stay up late , get to PROGRAMMING ROOM A for Heroes, Villains and Vixens Drag Show and leave on a high note! Whatever you do, get at least some sleep, because as big as Saturday was, that was just half a day, and you’ve got a LOT on your plate for tomorrow.  Better eat your Wheaties. SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th Rise and shine, dweebs! Time to wipe the sand from your eyes, hit the showers, and then put on your Saturday finest. IYKYK, Saturday’s the day for cosplayers to be seen at Fan Expo, and we want to see all your helmets, capes, crowns, tails and giant props. (Look for us on the floor and we might even have a prize for ya!) GET HERE EARLY.  Unless you prefer to park clear across the entertainment complex and hoof it through all those garages first thing in the morning AND when you’re tired, sweaty and laden with merch at the end of a long day.  Trust us. Don’t wait. And don’t park illegally, cuz you will get a ticket, and that money could at least go towards a big slice of pizza when you finally have time to eat. ;) Let’s begin: 10 AM is when you can get back in - if you’re already in the convention center and have your badges ready. If you’ve got autographs early, or if you’ve got early panels, let us tell you from experience - be here really early. The glut of the big name celebs have signings, panels and the like today, and it sometimes gets so bad that people are backed up in the skyway trying to gain access from the garage when big names are here. And, well, they really are, despite the cancellations (As of publication time, cancellations are: Jodie Whittaker, Peter Facinelli, Keith David) If you DID make the choice to skip Avatar on Friday or just couldn’t make it to the con until now , there IS an opportunity  to see the cast again with the Team Avatar Unfiltered: Zach Tyler Eisen, Jack De Sena, Greg Baldwin, Dante Basco, Michaela Jill Murphy and Mae Whitman panel at 11 AM in the MAIN THEATER. BUT This happens to coincide with the Zany to the Max! Meet the Animaniacs panel featuring the cast of the series at 11 AM in THEATER #3 , so you’ll have to figure out which way your heart truly leans, because again, we’re not deciding this one for ya. At noon, decide between spiders and stormchasers.   On the one hand, you’ve got  Mad About Helen Hunt in THEATER #2 at NOON.  On the other hand, The Voices of Spiderman: Nadji Jeter and Hudson Thames which will be at NOON in THEATER #3. But RED ALERT! If you’re a comic fan , you’ve got another tough choice, because at 12:15 PM in the MAIN THEATER you can ALSO Enter the Speed Force with the cast of The Flash: Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanagh What you should do if you’re a Whovian  is wibble wobble your way to a good timey wimey at the Doctor Who? Let’s talk the Doctor with two fantastic companions, Mandip Gill and Catherine Tate at 1 PM IN THEATER #2.  Today’s wild card is also at 1 PM in PROGRAMMING ROOM A  and it’s for anyone who likes to deep dive and discuss. The Childhood Classics & Grown-Up Glasses: Taking a Closer Look at the Furniture of our Mids  features p odcasters Tracie Guy-Decker and Emily Guy Birken, hosts of “Deep Thoughts about Stupid Sh*t”  as they talk about the complicated relationships we have with IPs that have had some controversy and how we can accept them with their flaws and with respect to all. The more you know, the better you do, and we can all do better. AT 1:30 PM IN THE MAIN THEATER,   Marvel fans  should be heading to see Hooked on a Feeling with the Cast of Guardians of the Galaxy which will feature Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn and Michael Rooker OR  If you’re really forking excited about The Good Place or The Acolyte , why not drop in to see From the Good Place to Up in Space: Manny Jacinto at 2 PM in THEATER #2 Gamers, if you’re not otherwise entwined, go get yourself in the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament in the Gaming Zone at 2 PM . Do it if you’re great, do it if you suck - or just cheer for your favorites. You don’t often get to experience a tournament full of fans of the same games you play. Don’t squander the chance to get in on it live. BUT There’s also a chance for Sailor Moon Fans  to ask their burning questions in the Moon Crystal Power! Q&A with Sailor Moon’s Stephanie Sheh to consider at 2 PM in THEATER # 3. WHAT IF though, your thing is Legos? Then head over to PROGRAMMING ROOM C AT 2:30 PM for AFOL? What’s an AFOL?  To hang out with your fellow brick buddies. THEN At 2:45 PM in the MAIN THEATER , cheer on a man who neither needs encouragement or introduction, with the You Can Do It, Rob Schneider panel. Once the clock strikes 4 PM  you’ve got a few more choices Go Over 9000 in THEATER #3 with a Dragon Ball Z voice actors panel that features Kyle Hebert, Dameon Clarke, and Josh Martin  OR Take a peek in the pages of The Book of Jennifer Beals over in THEATER #2 at 4 PM . BUT If wrestling and having good grammar are more your thing , why not hit up the MAIN THEATER at 4:15 PM for And His Name Is John Cena , featuring, well, definitely John Cena. OR If you’re one of the Spiders-Men webbing your way across the con , swing over to the COSPLAY PHOTO PARK for the Into the Spiderverse Cosplay Meetup at 4:15 PM Get Raccoon City ready at 5 PM  with Nick Apostolides appearing in THEATER #3  to talk all things Resident Evil (among other things…like Warframe, Deadspace, Life is Strange, and more…) But you can also go full Office fan  and catch the Rainn Wilson panel at 5:30 PM in THE MAIN THEATER.  (Yes, we know, he’s been in a few other things too…) Horror folk, your ship hasn’t sailed yet, so get in a good seat in THEATER #3 at 6 PM for Aliens: Screams, Scenes and Shenanigans  which features the whole cast from Friday’s panel except for Paul Reiser. If you’re all about the One Ring (or the fellowship, or a pirate ship, we suppose),  be in the MAIN THEATER AT 6:45 PM (and IN LINE FOR THIS PANEL AT LEAST AN HOUR EARLY) because we expect that the To the Edge: A Journey with Orlando Bloom! Panel will in fact blow out the doors of the panel room and overflow both. BUT If you simp for classic sitcoms , sit down in THEATER  #4 at 7 PM for a Mad About You Screening with Helen Hunt & Paul Reiser  (so that’s where he was off to…) OR If live art with iconic artists is your thing, check out Comics Xplosion in the Main Entrance Lobby and perhaps even purchase something you see being drawn live! Then, round out your night and make sure you  DO NOT MISS the Cosmic Celebration at 8 PM in THEATER #2 . It’s free with your badge, features Galactic Empire, cocktails and dancing , and honestly? It’s about time you get a little silly. Go for it. Hydrate, get some food, hit the pillow and get ready for ONE.MORE. DAY. SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH There’s a common misCONception about Sunday at conventions that most of the fun is over and everything’s getting packed up for next year.  This is far from true, and lately both Chicago cons have given fans plenty of reasons to take their Sunday fun day time to the show floor. The show floor is open at 10 AM once again , and here’s the first choice you’ll have to make: DO YOU Meet Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, AND Tiny Toons Adventures creator Tom Ruegger in his 11 AM panel in THEATER # 4  OR DO YOU Make sure your family road trip to the convention gets you here in time for We’re Gonna Have the Hap-Hap-Happiest Fan Expo: Get to Know The Cast of Classic Comedy National Lampoon  with Chevy Chase, Juliette Lewis, Dana Barron, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, and Anthony Michael Hall which is at 11 AM IN THE MAIN THEATER NOTE: LINE UP EARLY FOR THIS ONE, TOO. For real.  We expect this might draw crowds like we saw with   Breakfast Club over at C2E2 , in which case, if you didn’t leave before the con opened, you’re not getting in. OF COURSE What you could also do is head over to see Michael Rooker , who’ll have his panel, Michael Rooker: Off the Rails at 11 AM in THEATER # 2.  Card gamers, have you hit the FRIENDIVERSE LOUNGE yet?  If not, there’s Pokemon Card Trading to do at 11:30 AM. Keep an eye on the time though because  we’re sure you’ve been a fan of Ming-Na Wen at some point in your life, whether that’s from Mulan, The Mandalorian or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She’ll be there at NOON in THEATER # 2.  OR For another bit of nostalgia and some more fantastic actors, check out 12:15 PM’s The Mummy Returns! Meet Brendan Fraser, Patricia Velasquez, John Hannah and Oded Fehr which is in the MAIN THEATER for maximum fan action. Cobra Kai folks , don’t miss Strike First, Strike Hard with Martin Kove, Patrick Luwis and Oona O’Brien in THEATER #2 at 1 PM. BUT Twilight obsessed folks need to get to the MAIN THEATER by 1:30 PM for Meet the Cullens: Peter Facinelli, Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone. Meanwhile, at 2 PM it’s time for DC Unleashed with Sean Gunn over in THEATER # 3 Take any of a number of interesting pathways for the rest of the afternoon and then round it out with two more big panels: There’s Mason Thames talking live-action How to Train Your Dragon in THEATER #2 AT 4 PM.  AND In a convention center not too far away from the Loop, we sensed…well, a really big panel to end out the convention.  It’s  a science fiction double feature for real, with Jedi Double Feature: Meet Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor at 5 PM in the MAIN THEATER. Ok. That’s a lot of typing, which means we hope you actually bookmark this guide to use it to your advantage instead of having to scroll through every event on every day just to figure out what’s gonna take priority for you. Keep in mind, cancellations are a part of any con, as are schedule changes , so you WILL need to keep the official schedule handy and keep track of the con happenings on social media.  This includes SOME of the programming but there’s plenty more things to do from foam sword battling to make and take crafts, competitions, dating and of course, lots and lots and lots of cool things to spend all your money on.  And, Culture Combine will be there too! If we find you on the floor we might even have some surprises in store! Stay tuned here all weekend to see your beautiful faces in our cosplay galleries and catch up on any panels you missed while you were at others/eating overpriced pizza/sleeping it off/adjusting your cosplay.  Meanwhile we'll be all over Insta, BlueSky and Tiktok with updates from the show floor! We’ll see you out there, NERDS!

It’s the 34th year of Chicago’s very own Lollapalooza, a four day music festival that hits every summer with some of the biggest names in music. This year was no different with some of the noteworthy headliners being Tyler the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, Korn, and Twice. Even better still, for those like me who want to avoid the crowds, Lollapalooza now streams its main stages on two separate channels exclusively on Hulu, and the results were mixed to say the least.  Originally streaming on Red Bull TV, Hulu now has exclusive rights, but has struggled to organize its streaming process in the past. This year it seems like they’ve finally hit their stride with a single banner for Lollapalooza on the platform that directs you to the two separate channels for their two main stages, as well as a really solid set schedule of performers, dozens of cameras and drones, and a large crowd to cheer them all on. The schedule allowed for a single performer every hour, with about 15 minutes of set up time in between. Everything seemed to run smoothly, and if you paid attention to the schedule, you could watch some of the biggest acts around while sitting on your own couch.  This is where I come in, as someone who goes to shows but steers away from some of the more massive crowds. I thrive in this environment. I can easily pick and choose from the published schedule and even have the concerts running as background noise around my house. It’s a perfect scenario, to sit down for my favorite artists but switch it up when there was a lull. My highlights included Thursdays’ Magdalena Bay and Tyler the Creator, Fridays’ Olivia Rodrigo and Korn, Saturdays’ Clairo and Doechii and Sundays’ Sabrina Carpenter and Katseye. All had stand out moments, like Olivia Rodrigo bringing out Weezer to join them for Say It Ain't So and Buddy Holly, or Sabrina Carpenter bringing out Earth, Wind, and Fire for September.   But the stream wasn’t all good. Bigger name performances were rife with camera issues, stuttering as Hulu struggled to handle the bandwidth, and in the instance of A$AP Rocky, his performance starting late and then getting cut early due to time, leaving fans furious on social media about only getting to see ten minutes of a presumably hour long set. Since the streaming service purchased the exclusive rights in 2022, it’s obvious that Hulu still has room to grow with how it handles live events such as these. Still, I enjoyed much of what I saw and this is still my ideal way to participate in what is one of the biggest festivals in the Chicagoland area. I look forward to the Lollapalooza streams every year, if only to capture a little bit of that magic from the comfort of my home, but it still needs a little shoring up on the part of Hulu.

The Re-Strandening Or Beach’s Revenge Straight out of the brain of Hideo Kojima comes the sequel to 2015's first ever “Strand” game. In it, we play as Sam Porter Bridges, (Norman Reedus), walking from place to place uniting the country by connecting them to the “chiral network.” This chiral network is essentially the internet, providing a way for people to spread information to one another. It’s a dystopian world where everyone is separated into bunkers, and to say the first game was prophetic in the way that it was pre-COVID 19 is an understatement. Now in the sequel, we are back in the shoes of Sam, continuing our expansion into other countries such as Mexico and Australia. Some would say everything that needed to be said was said with Kojima's first story of humanity’s need for connection, but our protagonist Sam is all too quick to quit his quiet life with his Bridge Baby, now regular growing child Lou, and start his journey once again. It’s here that we’re dropped back into our familiar walking simulator, and for those who aren’t aware, that’s exactly what this game is. Traversing difficult terrain while balancing a mini skyscraper of packages on your back again brings back a mix of wonder, scope and even comedy. Kojima has a real eye for creating serene views and moments during regular gameplay. So many times I'd be walking over a particularly rough area, cresting a ridge when suddenly the camera would pan out to a bird's eye view. Suddenly a swell of indie rock by Woodkid kicks in, and boom! We have this  breathtaking cinematic moment. On the other hand, watching Sam carry a comedically large amount of cargo, only to trip over every single tiny rock and collapse in a spray of packages like a buffoonish Mr Magoo is hilarious every single time.  While these things were all also part of the first game, the moments are expanded, as well as pretty much everything in the game. Before, combat was clunky and the fights were few, but now there’s a bigger focus on combat with a lot of new mechanics in play. If you know your Death Stranding lore, you are aware that killing someone can result in a voidout: a massive crater-inducing explosion that can wipe out an entire city. But now, there’s the ridiculous explanation that the world has developed rubber bullet technology that's been developed to such a point that you can eventually acquire a rubber bullet bazooka. Not since Batman Arkham Knight has there been such a ridiculous non-lethal MacGuffin created. Still, combat was always a sticking point for me in the first game and it’s been vastly improved with the rough edges smoothed off -- mostly. The control scheme is still awkward , and missing a quick select still gets punished like a criminal offense. Having to pull up the weapon wheel and click into three menus to get to your weapon is an avoidable chore, but here we are.  It’s a small transgression considering how much combat is de-emphasized, but it's still more of an issue than it was in the first game. What also has been expanded is the traversal. You could obtain trucks and bikes in the previous game but now it's trucks, the tricycle bike and even a monorail system for those sickos who really want to expand the Chiral network. You also get a ridiculous coffin surfboard to travel faster. There’s so many bizarre choices made in the game, like meeting a character named Dollman, a character whose soul or Ka is trapped in a doll. He can be thrown into the air to mark enemies on the map. He’s a ludicrous character in his own right, but giving him combat functionality is just out of this world.  Play It Again, Sam That shows the real highlight in the series: insane character work, and the second hits the same highs as the first. On our travels to unite Mexico and Australia, we amass a cavalcade of characters onboard our roaming base, the Magellan. We have, of course, Fragile played by Lea Seadoux who is doing her very best with the direction given, Tarman, modeled after George Miller but not voice acted, Rainy, and so many more characters, each with interesting backstories. After every mission, I would come back and just go person by person discovering new conversations and world building details. Troy Baker is back as our villainous Higgs, and he is absolutely chewing up the scenery every single time he’s on camera. Kojima really has combined an outlandish collection of stars and personalities. Whatever he’s done I’m eating up every single interaction. I believe in the principle there’s a point in which the wilder and more out of control media is, can increase my overall fun value and when there’s a character that has constant aging rain on her, or a soul inside a wooden doll like what are we even doing? I love all of it. I do wish it was a little more evenly distributed, as the plot really ramps up at the end, with a lot of the first half having very little as far as story. There’s a lot of info dumps happening in the game and people tend to talk at you rather than with you.  That does go into a lot of my feelings on the game as a whole. I am enraptured with the world of Death Stranding 2 and its very particular type of bullshit. You want to explain to me the difference between a Ha and a Ka and how they pertain to the Beach afterlife? Sure! On board.  You want to insert a certain beloved franchise character from a previous series in your game? Go right ahead!  You want to create a work-like walking simulator? I have been known to LOVE work-like games as a means to relax, and boy is this game relaxing. Have you curated and improved on the combat to make everything smoother? Sure did! But in that vein, I’m not so sure it needed to be safer. The particular jank with the combat was because this was a new dev team cutting their teeth, and the game originally didn’t have combat. It was something shoehorned in at the last second. Now it’s an integral part, but some of the charm is gone. Death Stranding 1 was a lovable underdog that tried so hard to be different, but now everything runs so smoothly together that it feels like less of a wacky experiment and more of a ho-hum average B game.  A Walk To Remember Despite all of this, I’m still in love with the world of Death Stranding 2. Delivering packages you find in the environment, or via missions is still inherently fun! Finding the most ideal routes, planning your monorail expansions and working towards that 5 star ranking for perfect package delivery hasn’t lost its luster for me. Maybe I’m Kojima pilled but there’s still so much fun to be found in just the simple act of walking. Hell, half the time the most fun I had were those unscripted organic moments where I was forced to improvise, create my own solution and figure out how to get somewhere while avoiding enemies or massive rivers that had formed during a torrential downpour. The stealth spooky moments are genuinely unsettling and effective, but the voice acting probably needed a touch more direction. Nevertheless, at the end the arduous journey that is Death Stranding 2, I had my loved ones to greet me on the Magellan, and that's all I could ever ask for. Death Stranding 2 is available now.

It feels like an eternity ago that I last saw Phil Elverum's Mount Eerie  perform live. It was back in 2019, only a few months before the pandemic would shut things down for a while . It was also at Thalia Hall , the same venue I saw the band perform at earlier this month. I've been listening to Mount Eerie for what the calendar tells me is decades now, so when I saw them back in 2019 I wasn't surprised that it was a seated show or that the crowd skewed older. At that time he was coming off Lost Wisdom pt. 2 , his second collaborative album with Julie Doiron and his third album detailing his life after the death of his wife. That album alongside A Crow Looked at Me  and Now Only  are heartbreaking works and the mood for that December show was understandably somber. This time things were a little bit different. Immediately I was struck by how it was not a seated show and the crowd skewed much, much younger. But some things thankfully remained the same like the seemingly never-ending line pouring out of Thaila Hal l's merch room where Elverum sat as his own merch guy, talking with the fans as they purchased their albums, shirts and posters; and Mount Eerie's penchant for incredible songwriting finding another peak in Night Palace . The night started off with a pair of incredible sets from Precious Bane (who later performed as part of Mount Eerie) and Hana Stretton . Precious Bane's set started things off with a slow ambient vibe as their beautiful voice peaked through the dense fog of the droning guitar. Stretton followed up with a meditative set of her own, evoking her home life in Australia where she tends to an idyllic little society of cows. Her songs were underscored by the sounds of nature and people quietly living their lives, blending with her fantastic songwriting. These two sets were honestly the most peaceful I've felt in a long while. Elverum is touring in support of his longest album to date, Night Palace, which sees him resetting a bit after the aforementioned run of melancholic works. At just over 80 minutes, Night Palace has Elverum embracing every facet of his nearly 30 years of musicianship. The songs range from absurd ("I Spoke to a Fish") to haunting ("I Hear Whales") to politically charged ("Non-Metaphorical Decolonization") to calmly self-aware of the absurdity of existence ("Co-Owner of Trees"). His music is as beautiful as ever, maintaining an equilibrium between the gentle sparseness of his voice and the varied instrumentation that imbues this collection of songs with more complexity than most other musicians could only hope for. The night's setlist focused almost entirely on Night Palace , save for the Ella Langley cover "weren't for the wind". However with 26 tracks, not every track got its moment of glory. We didn't get to lose our minds to the short, monstrous, and sonically dissonant rage of "Swallowed Alive". Rather we were treated to the more straightforward cuts for the album, if that is something that can even be said of Elverum's work. I mean we got to bask in the vastness of the 12-minute-long spoken word "Demolition". The evening flow was carefully assembled, vacillating between the idealized indie rock gem "Broom of Wind" and softer tracks like "I Need New Eyes". There was a beautiful balance as the free and raw instrumentation of "Huge Fire" ran into the folkiness of "November Rain" very well. There is a general freedom of genre in his work—and especially on Night Palace —that the evening was determined to uphold and did so quite elegantly. The night came to a close with "Stone Woman Gives Birth to a Child at Night", the song on the album that sees Elverum lament the state of the world. "I never meant to pretend there's another world apart from this one we're in, but I was briefly adrift in a night sky before being re-immersed in this endless et cetera" he sings knowing that we can't ignore the harshness of our current climate. But for those brief hours that the crowd was at Thalia Hall, we were thankfully far away from that endless et cetera, but ready to eventually go back and try our best to make it better.

Ozzy Osbourne in front of his own artwork. The "Prince of Darkness" was auctioning the art for charity earlier this month. Image via Osbourne's FB page. To some of our parents, he was some shocking, Satanic figure. A guy who bit heads off on stage. There was blood and theatrics and dark imagery and angry sounding riffs and screaming. They didn’t like it, they didn’t get it, but we did. We understood the music as catharsis and metaphor and the stage show as good theater. But Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away today at the age of 76, was so much more than what he put on stage, though certainly he will forever be known as the grandfather of metal… He’s a person countless other performers came to learn from, be mentored by, and encouraged by as they went on to make their own marks on the metal world and the music industry at large. He also became a pop culture icon known for his nigh-unintelligible rants and heart of gold. He loved his family, he loved his wife, and though the Osbournes was a crazy reality show circus, you could see the love. And that love was mutual. It’s the same love fans and fellow musicians are pouring out onto social media as they learn of the loss of an icon, so soon after the farewell concert that returned this legend to his hometown of Birmingham. Among the tributes were some very heartfelt condolences from the likes of Aerosmith, Metallica and Pantera: But perhaps the most poignant was this one from his bandmates in Black Sabbath, having just come off what by all accounts was an amazing reunion for the recent farewell tour: Ozzy Forever, indeed.

It's 10pm and something doesn't smell right but I can't put my finger on what. I take a big, deep breath through my nose, REALLY inhaling. "You really don't smell that," I say to my partner. I sit down on the couch next to her and for the first time feel how sore my legs, feet, and arms are. After another minute the familiarity of the odor washes over me and I realize - that's the all too familiar smell of spilled beer and sweat drying on fabric.  I'm typing this with aching bones over coffee. I'm a middle aged guy, well into my mosh retirement years, and everything still feels sore. But it's the good kind of sore. The kind burned so deep into my muscle memory it's in my bones.  "We fuck with you, Chicago," vocalist/guitarist Coco Kinnon told a packed, sweaty, and beer soaked sold out crowd at Subterranean.  The Chicago love was all over the menu on one of Winona Fighter's last stops on their "Yes, Chef" tour, which Kinnon told the crowd it felt like their millionth day on. But despite being on tour for months, this isn't a band that shows fatigue. From the opening chords of "You Look Like a Drunk Phoebe Bridges" to the last notes of "HAMMS IN A GLASS," the Nashville punks shredded their way through the entirety of  My Apologies to the Chef , along with a newly released song, "(Don't Get) Close," from their upcoming deluxe edition of the album, and an incredible cover of the Beastie Boy's "Sabotage."  The sheer force they bring to the stage is complimented by a genuine down to Earth nature that feels downright midwestern. In between ping-ponging between the stage and the shoulders of the crowd, Kinnon and company made sure we all felt loved by a band who absolutely loves what they do, even when they tell us to hit somebody on the dance floor.  Along their tour, Winona Fighter has been helping to spread love for local acts, and at Subterranean we were treated to an opening set by Chicago's Pure Intention, a ferocious trio who blasted out songs that were equal parts punk and thrash run through a blender with the best and loudest parts of the 80s, 90s, and early aught's.  I don't get out to see as many shows as I'd like to these days, and I've shot even fewer as of late. But Winona Fighter was too incredible to see just once, so my partner and I packed up and jumped on an Amtrak to see them the very next night at the Vivarium in Milwaukee. This band is so good I immediately needed a second course. And while the Yes, Chef tour might've ended over the weekend, I expect there will be more opportunities once the deluxe version of  My Apologies to the Chef drops in early September. Don't sleep on it. All photos by Aaron Cynic

It feels a little crazy to say that I've been listening to Basia Bulat  for over half my life, but after doing the quick math it turns out to be true. Since her debut self-titled EP, I've been enamored with her gorgeous songwriting and that attention has only grown with each passing album. Despite that fandom, I have seemingly always missed my opportunity to see her perform live, but when she was announced for the  Old Town School' s Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, I knew this would be the perfect setting for her incredible sounds. Turns out, I was 100% right. Opening up the night was Maia Friedman , who quickly grabbed everyone's attention with her quiet and tender songs. The set was short and quiet enough that you could here a pin drop, but I assure you this is a compliment of the highest order for both Friedman and the crowd. Performing tracks almost entirely from her upcoming album Goodbye Long Winter Shadow , Friedman gently lead the the respectful crowd through songs about her recently deceased cat (" Russian Blue ") and a song written about a friend who also recently died (" On Passing "). "There's a bit of a theme here" she softly remarked, getting a solemn giggle from the crowd. "In A Dream It Could Happen" may have been the biggest highlight of her set as its lyrics have been swirling around in my head since the show. When it came time for Basia Bulat  and her full band, which includes her husband Andy Woods, the reverent crowd couldn't have been more ready, but I'm sure that "Heart of My Own" caught everyone off guard coming so early in the setlist. It's one of the songs that feels synonymous kind of strong and rare folk strings that lead into Bulat's singing at her most full and vibrant. Live, the song retains all the vulnerability in both the lyrics and her voice and the slight vibrato in her voice filled the venue. It's a song near and dear to my heart, and hearing it performed by Bulat and her full band was breathtaking. That seemed to be a constant throughout Bulat  's set as she has a way of completely enthralling a crowd with her songs. Right in the middle of the set, the band exited the stage to allow for a brief solo performance from Bulat. She opened up the setlist to the crowd, asking for requests, which immediately poured in. After the instant shouts of "Little Waltz" were satiated with a fantastic rendition, "Five, Four" was shouted out by an eager fan. "That was said with such conviction I have to play it now," she joked before diving in. But it was "In the Night" where everything fell into place. On her debut album Oh My Darling , the song is jangly and uplifting despite its melancholic lyrics; live it hit with a little more emotional weight as her fingers strolled across her strings and her voice rang out "I can tell you are a long way from the one you love". It honestly brought a tear to my eyes hearing her put every ounce of herself into that song. The second portion of the night saw Bulat  at her utmost comfortable, laughing and joking with the crowd in betwen songs as if we were all old friends. As the band returned she finally introduced herself "My name is Basia Bulat", pronouncing her name like many first time listeners likely did (Bah-See-ah Boo-Lay), before quickly saying "no it's not" as the crowd laughed. "If you get to hear my deep cuts you get to hear all my jokes too. She would double down on the joke later on between "The Last Time" and "Baby", giving an ironic nod to Chicago's history: "I get asked a lot about my name. It's a Polish name. I'm sure you don't get a lot of Polish here in Chicago." She flashed a knowing smile that was reciprocated with a hearty guffaw from the crowd. The rest of the show felt like a beautiful blur. Newer songs of   Basia's Palace   like the aforementioned "Baby", a song that she felt she couldn't get right until she was older, to "Disco Polo" and its connections to her father felt like welcome additions to her varied repertoire. "It Can't Be You", a tried and true favorite came at the end of the set but it wasn't all said and done until Bulat  found herself perform alone again for a second time during the encore. She eventually found herself in the crowd and bringing every one to harmonize in a communal moment fitting of Old Town School of Folk Music. This review originally appeared over at Third Coast Review

Well, it’s finally here for everyone to see: Superman . Editor's Note: This review contains spoilers for the film!  James Gunn always had an uphill battle ahead of him. Not only did the DCEU die with a whimper, but at the same time, the MCU appeared to be alienating its fans and pushing out content in quantity over quality. While this reviewer might go against the grain a bit (I liked She-Hulk and thought Daredevil: Born Again  was a decent start at a new thing) the MCU definitely lost its footing and appeared to be making a huge stumble. It’s ironic, then, that Superman is coming out at a time that the MCU is starting to pick up steam again.  Superman doesn’t start off well. It’s never good for a movie to go straight into an info dump. This thankfully spares us from another vision of the planet Krypton exploding. But it’s a little bit too much. Even Star Wars’ famous scrolling text didn’t attempt to set up 300 years of backstory. It does a whole lot of telling, and not a lot of showing. But, I get it: we all know Superman, so let’s just dive right into it. Superman feels like you’re starting to watch a TV show for its second season, without even a visual recap. If it would have started with Superman’s actions in Boravia only to show its real world consequences, we could have been spared what felt like the titular super hero being lectured to about how “doing the right thing” doesn’t always result in the best outcome.  It might sound like I hated Superman , but despite its weak beginning, it does ultimately deliver on showing its message that doing the right thing is the right thing to do. Superman shows its titular hero making mistakes in very human ways. He means well, and tries his best to do what he thinks the “right thing” is, based on his midwest rural upbringing and bolstered by a fragmented message his Kryptonian parents left him. ut the messaging is muddled when it turns out Superman was manipulated into doing that “right thing” so it can serve the best interests of the nefarious. Superman wins in the end, but only because he’s Superman–not because his morality wins out. Ultimately, though, it's because the villain was just so villainous he foiled his own plans.  While the film shows Superman preaching better practices–like when he suggests more humane ways of dealing with a massive monster threatening Metropolis–it falls on deaf ears as the other metahumans around him dispense justice in their own way. There’s even a scene at the end of the film where Hawkgirl commits a political assassination that is very much extra judicial, and while it’s in line with Hawkgirl’s character, it definitely flies in the face of the film’s center message. Gunn might insist this is a Superman film, but it’s definitely an ensemble movie. Something Gunn does a great job of with Superman is creating a cogent world full of monsters and heroes, if you’re willing to accept it all at face value. Despite what little screen time you get with each of the major players, you get a good sense of what each one of them is about. Again, Despite Gunn insisting that Superman will be a film about Superman, its very much an ensemble film that takes place in an established universe Lex Luthor is portrayed by Nicholas Hoult who does a great job showcasing Lex Luthor’s evil nature as well as his ultimately pathetic hubris. This version of Lex Luthor isn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty, either, as he literally shoots a man in the head in cold blood while trying to get information from Superman. It's a Lex Luthor who has had years to hate Superman, even going so far as to clone him to create this universe’s version of Ultraman. This Ultraman is hardly a character at all, and more like an automaton that responds to shorthand commands that coincide with predetermined attacks. This is corny and clumsy, and falls apart logically the more I think about it. Sure, Lex Luthor is a genius and obsessed with Superman to the point where he cloned a version of Superman that can respond instantly to a huge library of predetermined attacks, but he doesn’t even seem to understand too much of what’s happening around him. It’s just too unwieldy to accept. David Corenswet does a good job of portraying the man in the trunks. He’s not naive, but he’s definitely trusting. This is also a Superman that doesn’t appear to be at the height of his powers. He’s portrayed as fallible, and able to be beaten–and a Superman that can actually lose a fight is a little more interesting than a Superman that would be at his full comic powers. Corenswet is also great opposite Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, who plays the part perfectly. It’s also great to see some characters like Guy Gardner, Mister Terrific, Metamorpho and Hawk Girl get some live action screen time. Nathan Fillion does a great job as Guy Gardner, and I can’t wait to see more of him in the upcoming Lanterns TV show. And Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific plays a central role in the film’s plot. Superman is definitely a product of James Gunn–for good or for worse. The first live action film in this new DC Universe can finally be scrutinized by fans, and I don’t think it’s going to be converting any of those in the Snyderverse enclave. And don’t expect Superman to be the mold for DC films going forward. If you didn’t like its ambitious tone, James Gunn himself said that each DC film will be tonally different. Overall, Superman is a fun moviegoing experience. It’s just not the tightest film. With the new Fantastic Four film coming out in the next few weeks, it appears as though comic book films could be entering a renaissance period. Either that, or it’s the last shot of adrenaline before they crash out and leave our cultural zeitgeist for good.

It's always a treat to see bands that ushered me into a completely new world of music at a young age. Both Cursive and Bright Eyes  released some of their most beloved albums during my high school years ( The Ugly Organ and I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning / Digital Ash in a Digital Urn  respectively), undeniably establishing themselves as bands that would become staples not just in my life but for a huge chunk of my generation. And judging by the packed Salt Shed earlier this month, that assessment was an understatement. Normally you'd expect a smaller crowd for an opener but that certainly was not the case. Especially when that opener is Cursive, you simply can't help but feel like it's more of a double headliner sort of show. Tim Kasher embodied the duality of that perfectly, giving his props to Conor Oberst (his friend, former classmate, and occasional bandmate) throughout the set and even commenting on the vastness of the venue: "This isn’t Bottom Lounge. This isn’t Empty Bottle." But Kasher also commanded the stage like it was all his own, feeding off the devoted crowd's energy. Having seen him just last year at Riot Fest, I was expecting nothing short of greatness and Kasher delivered. The setlist was a great dive into Cursive 's catalog with plenty of old favorites like "The Martyr" and "Art Is Hard" meshing well with tracks like "Bloodbather" and "Dark Star" from the band's latest album Devourer . But of course "The Recluse" got the most attention in the set as it's that one track that transcends Kasher and Cursive and is as iconic as iconic gets. Even the most deep-cut fans cannot deny its power. Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes had a pretty high bar to meet after that set and it was no surprise that they came to the stage ready to meet it. Much like Cursive, Bright Eyes' setlist was a great journey though the highest highs of their discography. Starting off with a one-two punch off last year's Five Dice, All Threes , "Bells and Whistles" and "El Captain" got the crowd hooked before Oberst pulled out "We Are Nowhere and It's Now." The I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning  track exudes a strained optimism in a time when personal turmoil that feels all the more relatable as time moves along. The highlight of the night was the back-to-back pairing of "First Day of My Life" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)". The songs are implicitly tied together as the appeared on simultaneously released I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning & Digital Ash in a Digital Urn  and seemingly speaking of the same day. A rainy day turned sunny seems to be the fork in the road where "First Day of My Life" leads to a a new and mutually loving relationship while "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" goes down a path of one night stands and emotionless hookups. The set featured a nice addition as Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff performed along side Oberst for "Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed), the intimate and tender "lua", and later one in the encore a cover of Blondie's "Dreaming". The pair played off one another beautifully, especially on "lua" as they traded off verses and embodied the song perfectly. While the night certainly hearkened back to my youth, it made me incredibly happy that these acts are as strong and impressive as ever. All photos by Julian Ramirez. This review originally appeared over at Third Coast Review

Ah yes, it's that time of year that physical media fans relish and their wallets fear. Twice a year Barnes and Noble have a month long sale that puts the often lauded, occasionally sneered, Criterion Collection on sale! The typically $40-$50 releases (and much more if boxsets are your jam) get slashed in half and end up in a much more manageable $20-25 range ( 50% off for those who didn't catch that ), letting watchers of fine films watch them in amazing quality with a bevy of features to boot. Criterion Collection aims to curate an ever growing list of titles that they deem worthy (and available to license for physical release). There is always a conversation going on about whether their selections are diverse enough, if their encoding of the films and disc mastering is up to par with other big boutique labels. The answers here are complicated and often vary between releases. But like every company there are pros and cons and I tend to think that Criterion ends up come out ahead more often then not. Below are a few recommendations from my collection mixed in with some releases that I am looking forward to possibly getting during the sale. While it's always best o buy from the label directly (they have multiple one day sales throughout the year), B&N is you next best bet! (no matter how low the Amazon and Walmart algorithms go...and they do go low.) Sorcerer 4K A reimagining of The Wages of Fear directed by master filmmaker William Friedken, scored by the fantastic Tangerine Dream, starring Roy Scheider, and honestly what more could you ask for?! This is one of those releases that best exemplifies Criterion's releases in practically every way. The film has been restored in 4K and in a different aspect ratio (1:85, formally 1:78), but apparently has some typical teal leaning color grading that has been running rampant in recent memory (although the previous Blu-ray had similar color timing). It comes with a Blu-ray copy for those still waiting to upgrade to 4K and an additional disc of special features including a full length documentary Friedkin Uncut and a handful of interviews likely including this conversation from 2015 between Friedkin and filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn that is as informative as it is uncomfortably entertaining. Punch Drunk Love 4K This is a big one for me. In a career that is constantly getting masterpiece after masterpiece add to it, Punch Drunk Love is an interestingly high watermark for Paul Thomas Anderson. PDL is an beautiful film that is strange, funny, alien, loving, and above all else expertly made. The Blu-Ray is gorgeous as is and recommends that you watch the film at high brightness and extreme saturation, which I would be interested in seeing if it translates to a 4K Dobly Vision version of the film. Mulholland Drive 4K David Lynch's TV pilot turned early 21st century masterpiece is a must for film fans. It's a wonderful distillation of Lynch's most constant themes (women in trouble, duality, complex narrative structure, emotional extremes, guys in unique outfits says mysterious things, etc) sent through the most complex filter that, to Lynch, couldn't have been more simple. The film's logic relies on emotional resonance over direct narrative logic, making for a intense experience. Confusing as well, but only if you let it be. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Realistically, you should get any or all of Perdo Almodovar's films in the collection, but there is something special about his final movie of the 80s. I think a lot of analysis of the film's themes lose something in the translation, but this suicidal turned murderous portrayal of a woman scorned and all the speed bumps along the way is hilariously fun and looks utterly fabulous. The movie just screams 80s via Spain and is just marvelous to look at. Something Wild Jonathon Demme's wild ride is far more than it seems. Mild mannered Charlie Driggs (portrayed by Jeff Daniels) gets whisked away from his by the number life by Lulu (an amazing Melanie Griffith) and careens in to a sex filled journey into the south. As the film peels back layer after layer to expose more and more complexities, Something Wild becomes essential viewing. It's a journey of self discovery well past the point one ever thinks of having something new to discover. This is also Ray Liotta's second film and is so fully formed as his character it's honestly scary. Let's not forget the stellar soundtrack which is massive and eclectic as all get out. I could go on and on but I'll leave you with a rap[id fire list of other titles you should be on the look out this Barnes and Noble 50% Criterion Collection Sale season! Before Trilogy - Richard Linkater's first go at in-real-time film-making that eventually won him an Academy Award with Boyhood . Blood Simple - The Coen Brothers' first film and by sheer coincidence, their first masterpiece. Brazil 4K - Terry Gilliam's bureaucratic nightmare in 4K is a must! Broadcast News - Prescient and a realistic look at complex adult relationships and the new industry by the incredible James L Brooks. Crash - Cars, sex, and Cronenberg. Need i say more? Godzilla vs. Biollante 4K - Easily one of the best Godzilla Movies Le samouraï - The ultrimate cool, silent protaganist movie! The Tree of Life - Terence Malick at the height of his "find the movie in the edit" film-making. Thief 4K - A neo noir set in Chicago filmed by a young Michael Mann? Yes please.

Millions of people in cities and states across America hit the streets on Saturday for one of the nation’s largest mass mobilizations in years. Dubbed “No Kings” by organizers, the protests were the latest escalation of people organizing against President Donald Trump, and the raids and kidnappings being carried out in his name by ICE, as well as fascism at large. The front of the "No Kings" march in Chicago on Saturday, June 14th. All photos by Aaron Cynic. More than 75,000 people marched in the Chicago Loop, according to organizers. Here's a little of what we saw. "No Kings" demonstrators marching south on Michigan Avenue in Chicago as throngs of other demonstrators can be seen marching north on several streets west. For more about the No Kings march and future events, click here.

We are closing out on the second of three Steam Next Fests of the year.  This is the magical time when we are blessed with a festival of demos for games that are coming out this year. It’s always a treasure trove of indies and unheard of gems you'll only uncover if you are willing to dig through them. Fortunately for you, we've done some digging for you. Here's what we loved from June's Steam Next Fest.  Baby Steps Screenshot: Baby Steps. Via Steam. From the twisted minds of Bennet Foddy  and Devolver Digital comes Baby Steps . It's the story of a man who just hasn’t walked in a long time because he spends all his time watching TV. You wake up in a cave and you have to take your first steps in some time. You'll do that by moving the sticks and controlling one foot at a time with the triggers, using the game's ridiculous physics to take your baby steps and make your way back home. It’s fun and absurd in all the best ways. Even the very minimal dialogue had me cracking up at how little our protagonist cares for really anything. It’s fantastic.  Possessor(s) Screenshot: Posessor(s). Via Steam. When the world is invaded by demons, your character is stuck without any choice but to be possessed by a demon or die. In this case, his demon is a charismatic one with an agenda to figure out why the mysterious lab in town’s experiment led to the invasion in the first place. Mechanically it’s a 2D metroidvania with a massive map to explore, but it also features beautifully animated cut scenes and art, with fantastic voice acting that when put together leads to a fully realized package. It's an intriguing premise that's animated so well we’d watch a whole series based on this story and its characters. Possessor(s)  definitely stands out.  Dispatch Screenshot: Dispatch. Via Steam. In the vein of the TellTale series, there's Dispatch , a story driven narrative adventure about a former hero who was forced into retirement early. Now all that’s left is to work the dispatch and send out different heroes for different emergencies in hopes he can one day become the hero he once was again. What makes this stand out is the hilarious work place comedy that exists within the game, with top notch voice acting from tons of big names but notably Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad  voicing the protagonist. This one will definitely break into the mainstream.  Hotel Barcelona Screenshot: Hotel Barcelona. Via Steam For those not in the know, one of the many prolific names in game directors is Hidetaka Suehiro, AKA SWERY. He is responsible for some of the most ridiculous and out there games to the point that he is in the Guinness World Records for the “Most Critically Polarizing Survival Horror Game” with Deadly Premonition . Now he has brought us Hotel Barcelona , a 2D Side Scrolling combat rogue like, but set in a mysterious hotel. Your job is to explore the hotel, but when ready, jump into movie posters and take on the enemies and bosses that live within. All the while finding new temporary upgrades and bonuses for the run. It’s got a lot of depth but the mystery of the  hotel is so creepy that I didn’t even care much about the levels and just wanted to dig deeper into finding clues as to why I was there. This one grabbed my detective brain and didn’t let go.  Space Adventure Cobra- The Awakening Screenshot: Space Adventure Cobra- The Awakening. Via Steam. If you were ever a fan of 80s anime, Space Adventure Cobra-The Awakening  is perfect for you. A 2D platformer and shooter, it’s also intrinsically an '80s anime, with long cut scenes and action, complete with City Pop  interludes that really make this game bang. The gameplay is secondary to what I was there for though. I just wanted full episodes of this show, and since that became my motivator, I didn’t want to stop playing it! Beautifully voice acted and fully realized as a perfect addition to the '80s anime oeuvre, I can’t get enough of this one.  What did you guys think of Steam Next Fest? What were your stand outs? Leave a comment and let us know below!