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Rosario Dawson was one of the final panels signaling the end of Fan Expo Chicago 2024, and she started the packed panel with a bang, showing off her cartwheel skills to kick things off. Rosario was at the con in promotion of her new Terminator animated series: Terminator Zero, in which she is voicing a character named Kokoro. Rosario has also found success within the Star Wars universe playing Ahsoka Tano in the Ahsoka series.  Rosario came off as very indebted to the fan base, being an avid fan herself. She shared memories of debating the Terminator timeline with her family, as well as being a calculus tutor when she was younger. She spoke on growing up nerdy, and how elated she is to now be part of many different series that she once grew up watching, such as Terminator and Star Wars as well as her humble beginnings from her start on the movie KIDS.  She especially attributed a lot of her fonder memories to cons, including being first introduced to Carrie Fisher at a Chicago con as well as freaking out the first time she met Mark Hamill on set. Despite the Mark Hamill freakout, she let the crowd in on who were the top two celebrities that have caused her to be most starstruck: David Bowie and Tim Curry. Her fandom runs deep, as the actress has a David Bowie memorial tattoo. Dawson also recalled how her mother would dress up for Rocky Horror Picture Show reenactments while pregnant with Rosario, citing it as the reason Tim Curry "runs in her blood. " Rosario did speak highly of her new Terminator series, hyping up the Japanese animation style as well as noting that it acts as a sort of reboot to the series, and a perfect entry point for new fans. All in all, it was a great panel to close out Fan Expo. Terminator Zero drops on Netflix August 29th, and for more con coverage, stay tuned to Culture Combine!

Maybe it's because of my long history with the conventions at the Donald E Stephens Convention center, but there's something special about Fan Expo. I dreamt of going to the Chicago Comicon as a little kid, eventually attending my first when it was renamed Wizard World, and now with a couple of years under the Fan Expo banner, I'm still smitten by its charm. Of course we saw a slew of panels, and you can read all about them here , here , and here , but we had to take a few photos of some of our favorite cosplays. It was a wonderful collection of impressive and genuine cosplays filling up the busiest day of the weekend, adding even more dazzle to the weekend . Photos by Julian Ramirez.

Charlie Cox was at Chicago’s Fan Expo 2024, and we were able to jump into a panel already in progress. I’ve never been to a convention where panels start to empty rooms as staff shuffle those who have been following the rules and waiting in lines are let into the theater only after the panel is in progress. While those people managing the lines at Fan Expo may be incompetent and often hostile to attendees, the guests and MCs were fantastic, asking Charlie Cox questions about his time portraying the Man With No Fear and his work on the series Kin . Charlie Cox started out as Daredevil in the Netflix series about 9 years ago now. And he’s starting to feel his age, saying “As I get older, it gets harder and recovery time is longer. I spend more time in ice baths than I did when I started (playing Daredevil)” He’s also learned that doing your own stunts might sound cool, but it can cause a lot of trouble. Cox’s longtime stunt double Chris Brewster managed to get a perfect take on a fall through a breakaway table. Since there were two more tables left, Cox decided he also wanted a chance to take the fall. “The first one went well, and we watched it back. It worked really well. So they had two more of these tables so they let me do one. I landed badly on the wrist. And it was fine, and I didn’t tell anybody. It wasn’t broken. And I was like ‘I’m going to be okay,’ but it was a really good example of like, if I had injured myself, that would have been so uncool. Because, you know, they had it, they had the shot. And if I get hurt, it would be a real problem with the production.” The conversation shifted over to the Irish TV series Kin , where Charlie Cox plays Michael Kinsella. Cox was surprised that Season 2 hasn't made it over to the United States yet, “I assume at some point they will bring it over. It’s been a very–it’s been a huge success in the UK and in part of Europe.” When the MC asked Cox if he thought that Matt Murdock would defend Kin protagonist Michael Kinsella, Cox said, “Oh wow. Well, he’d know he’s lying all the time, so I don’t know, I probably wouldn’t want to touch that.” He went on to talk about the research that went into Kin –and how it's closer to reality than you might realize. Cox said of his leading role in Kin:  “...once I'd accepted the role I started to do my research. And what I discovered was that this story is very closely based on a real ongoing crime feud, family like mafia feud in Dublin… I was like - somebody like Peter told me who my character is based on and - you know normally it's like historical events, right? You play someone from the past. Reading up about this guy, I'm like, ‘That guy just got released from jail. He’s in Dublin. I hope he doesn’t find out I’m portraying him–and then doesn’t like it. I mean, it’s really close to home.”   The host then chimed in, “I hope he’s a fan!” and Cox agreed, saying “I hope so. Still, I’ve never said his name publicly.” to which the MC responded “that’s probably just fine!” Soon the conversation turned towards Daredevil  and the MCU, starting with his turn in She-Hulk . Cox stated that he loved working with Tatiana Maslany, calling her “one of the greatest actors of our generation.” He also said that working on She-Hulk allowed him to have a bit more fun with Daredevil. He pointed out that some “very religious people don’t like the walk of shame, but I think it’s sort of fun” and when the MC pointed out that Matt Murdock is a religious dude, Cox said “(he) doesn’t always act like one. Yeah.”  When it got to fan questions, one attendee asked Charlie Cox about his experiences working with Netflix versus working with the MCU. Cox said, “My bosses were Marvel, you know, the day-to-day was with Marvel TV, really, which now is kind of under the umbrella of the MCU.” he goes on to say, “It feels really good, as so many people say, to be welcome to the MCU. It feels really good to be a part of that whole thing, and for us to have that opportunity, at least now, to have more of these crossovers which the fans love.” An attendee asked Charlie Cox about the change in direction for the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again . Cox initially said “I'm not going to answer that” but went on to explain “I’m not going to answer that because it’s more complicated (than the information that is available online.)” Cox went on to elaborate between the different direction the show took: “You know, there's some of the material, a lot of the material that we shot pre (writer’s) strike is brilliant and it's still in the show and works really well. There were just some complicating factors around what we had been tasked to do and what we were discovering wasn't working. So I would aim to answer that, and then make it sound like what people were doing before the changes were made was not good or wrong. It's just more. It's more complicated with that, so what I will say is credit to Marvel. That they looked at the episodes and would acknowledge that we can still do better. And that we may maybe need to go in a slightly different direction. And I mean, you have to count yourself so lucky to be working for a company that is willing to do that, you know, and spend more money together. Where…we have ended up felt really good.” We can't wait to see what happens with Daredevil and we're grateful Charlie Cox was able to come here to Fan Expo Chicago and let us in on some of his thoughts and experiences. Don't forget to check out the main page for more Fan Expo Chicago content whether you live here or not - we've got plenty of cosplay galleries, panel writeups and more to help you get caught up on what's new with your favorite franchises and actors.

We made it! Fan Expo Chicago's off to a crazy start, with the show floors and panel rooms packed to the brim with fans of, well, everything pop culture. This was no low-key first day, at least in part because of some truly big panels like Baldur's Gate 3, Adam Savage , and of course Mark Hamill to round it out. We spent a lot of time in panel rooms and queues as a result, but we never miss an opportunity to capture fans in all their cosplay finest. Enjoy this gallery and we'll see you back out there today for even more!

Mark Hamill joined a packed house on Day 1 of Fan Expo Chicago, and was greeted in a packed panel room with an introduction by none other than Giancarlo Esposito alongside a couple of Storm Troopers, Darth Vader and–hilariously–an extremely tall Jawa. Esposito was in full blown Moff Gideon mode as he waxed on about the lure of the Dark Side, and how he wanted to “have a piece of that big-eared bastard” Grogu. After asking the audience to “Follow me, Grand Moff Gideon” he turned to his entourage, who eagerly agreed to join him in his Dark Side activities. Even the Jawa let out a spirited “utinni!” Esposito really amped up the crowd, but Mark Hamill seemed tired when he finally got on stage–fresh off of filming his part in the film The Long Walk in Winnipeg–which he was only recently reported to have a role in. But he’s not done filming yet, saying “I have to go back.” The Long Walk is based on a Stephen King novel–which King wrote under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman–and is set in a dystopian future where a group of boys walk until only one remains in a grim endurance contest which is broadcast to a national audience, akin to something like The Hunger Games . Of his role and experience filming The Long Walk  he revealed precious little except to say it’s “grim stuff.” Hamill previously worked with Flanagan on The Fall of the House of Usher and will also have a part in Flanagan’s upcoming The Life of Chuck , which stars Tom Hiddleston. Sadly, Mike Flanagan canceled his Fan Expo appearance, so we won’t be able to get any more insight there. Hamill went on to talk about a range of subjects–including his voice work on Avatar: The Last Airbender where he portrayed Fire Lord Ozai. When he first got the role, he didn’t think the show would last very long. Hamill said, “I loved ( Avatar: The Last Airbender). And I didn’t say this to the people at work, but in my own mind that I said, this thing’s going to be five episodes and gone–it’s too smart.” Hamill went on to say of its success “you don’t talk down to children, you talk up to them. You can not only engage them, but their parents might watch with them, and that’s what happened with that show. That’s why it got renewed over and over and over again.” Covering all his major roles lately, Hamill moved on to talking about the Regular Show, which was revealed a few months ago to be getting new episodes, and Mark Hamill confirmed he was returning as Skips. Hamill recounted how William Sawyers–who voiced Mordecai on Regular Show –messaged Mark Hamill and asked if he was in for the new episodes. Sawyers relayed to Hamill that he was worried he wouldn’t be on board, to which the legendary actor replied ‘Like I’ve somehow outgrown them. ‘No, I’m sorry, I don’t do that anymore,’ I said. No. I wrote him back. I said there’s only one Skips.” There’s definitely only one Mark Hamill, too. He not only packed the hall, forcing General Admission attendees into an overflow room, he’s already sold out his pricey autograph packages for the entire weekend. We'll be on the show floor all weekend long with more tales from Fan Expo Chicago's panel rooms and cosplay photos from out on the floor. If you're making plans post-Hamill, make sure to make some time in your busy schedule for our panel on Sunday at noon on the Creator's Stage when we'll be hosting Culture Combine's Pop Culture Happy Hour, talking all things fandom, playing games, and giving away prizes. We'll see you out there! Happy con weekend, Chicago!

Adam Savage took to the Fan Expo Chicago Main Theater's stage Friday afternoon (August 16th 2024) ready to greet an excited audience. Adam is most known as part of a hosting duo for MythBusters on the DIscovery Channel, but continued his testing of popular theories on his YouTube channel: Tested. He also had a second series on the Science Channel called Adam’s Savage Builds where he would engineer different projects step by step. The panel was mostly a Q and A format, but Savage kept everyone mesmerized with his thoughts on child rearing but also how to keep kids engaged within a classroom setting. He spoke about how children are fascinating, as they are innate scientists so it’s all about finding what they're interested in, and then using that as a jumping off point for them to learn more about the world. It’s the optimal time for them to theorize and then test their realities, Savage said.  He also talked about MythBusters and Tested, calling out some of his favorite myths he’s busted. Specifically, the theory that an industrial ship cable snapping would slice someone in half (false) as well as an episode dedicated to teeth whitening that left him with whiter teeth than cohost Jamie Hyneman despite his unfortunate smoking habit at the time (which he reminded the audience was stupid, adding "never do it." ) Savage also described the way he worked towards engineering a duck spying kit, and a few other amazing builds. He also touched on other varying topics like creating facial prosthetics, his thoughts on his own surprising fame, and ways to turn off his brain so he can rest. Since his major television shows have ended, he’s had to shift his life schedule around to make sure there’s a bigger focus on family and a better work life balance. Throughout his panel, it was clear  how humble and grateful he was for his fans and how much his fame has awarded him.  Fan Expo continues all weekend from August 16th to the 18th, in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center here in Chicago, and we will be there all weekend covering all the hottest events, so stay tuned to Culture Combine!

Elon Musk rolled out the latest version of Grok, an AI chatbot available to paid users of X, on Tuesday, which immediately led to a torrent of images from the weird to the offensive and disturbing, with many full of copyright infringement. Grok-2 is the latest version of the chatbot from Musk, which now allows users to generate AI images from text prompts. The main feature of the service is the little to no moderation or safety tools, which Musk and his loyalist fans tout as being “uncensored.” “Grok is the most fun AI in the world!” Musk posted to X on Wednesday, quoting a post from a user that referred to Grok 2.0 as “the most based and uncensored model of its class yet.” Almost instantly, users began posting a flood of images featuring Musk himself, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump, other celebrities, famous cartoon characters and others in a variety of ways from the benign to the mildly entertaining to the downright disturbing. Some of the more popular posts include Musk and Harris holding campaign signs for Harris at a Pride parade, various combinations of the three in the cockpit of a plane with a burning World Trade Center visible through the window, a muscular Trump holding various guns, and Harris burning an American flag. Several users also found ways to generate disturbing and graphic images, some featuring antisemetic and nazi imagery and others showing Musk, Trump, and others surrounded by piles of dead and bloodied bodies. There’s also no shortage of scantily clad AI generated women.   One user first asked Grok if it was allowed to generate images that could violate a creator’s copyright, to which the AI replied that it has to “play by the rules of the universe, or at least the legal ones,” adding “if you’re asking me to whip up something that’s a clear copy of, say, Mickey Mouse doing a moonwalk, I’d have to say, ‘That’s a no-go, amigo!’” The user then fed Grok that prompt, which it generated without an issue. Other prompts which could be major copyright infringement that Grok generated include Super Mario and Mickey Mouse holding lightsabers, Pikachu and other characters holding various guns, Mario drinking a beer on a beach holding a joint, Spongebob and Mickey on a raft, and too many others to name. CNN did several tests and were easily able to “generate fake, photorealistic images of politicians and political candidates,” as well as some of the user generated images floating around on X. While Musk claims time and again to be a champion of free speech, he imposes his own restrictions to speech when he deems fit. Accounts have been booted from the site for using the words “cis” or “cisgender,” which Musk himself said the site treats as slurs. Musk has repeatedly suspended or banned accounts critical of him, the site, or friends and causes he supports.   Musk’s new tool is just the latest in a stream of features on the site, including his own posts, that help promote fake and misleading information, bigotry, and fascism, further enshitifying an internet already teaming with shit.

It’s time for another convention, folks. Friday marks the beginning of what is now Fan Expo Chicago and we’re excited, because the lineup is absolutely packed with great guests and as always, tons of great shopping for everything from lightsabers, bat’leths, T-shirts, art prints and more. Fan Expo’s trimmed off the low-key Thursday open for an afternoon open on Friday with panels going well into the evening.  Now, about that guest list. We’re still going to go the choose your own adventure route, but with so many big names, let’s also make sure to list off all the celebrity guests who are going to be in attendance  just so you can get an idea of who to look out for. Celebrity guests for Fan Expo Chicago include  Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, Ella Purnell, Matthew Lillard, Charlie Cox, Marisa Tomei, William Shatner, Adam Savage, Temeura Morrison, Gina Carano, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Ben McKenzie, Giancarlo Esposito, Linda Hamilton, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Rose McGowan, Holly Marie Combs, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Cameron Monaghan, Kate Mulgrew, Sean Gunn, Cole Sprouse, Skeet Ulrich, Laurie Metcalf, Joonas Suotamo, Eman Esfandi, Diana Lee Inosanto, Robert Patrick, Lance Henriksen, Sofia Boutella, Johnny Yong Bosch, Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Patrick Warburton, Wayne Knight, Phil Morris, Larry Thomas, Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Lee Waddell, Jamie Kennedy, Edward Furlong, and Butch Hartman , and that’s the SHORT list.  There’s also animation voices like Frank Welker, Grey Delisle, Jim Cummings, Maurice LaMarche, Rob Paulsen, Blake Roman, Erika Henningsen, Amir Talai, Diana Perhsing, Cal Dodd, Catherine Disher and Fred Tatasciore , a veritable ton of anime guests, comic creators and gaming stars as well. In other words, this con is stacked and there’s something for everyone. You can check out the full guest list One more important thing to note - Culture Combine will be there! Yes, we’ll be on the floor covering cosplay and in the panel rooms with our pens and notebooks out, but we’ll also take the Creator Stage for our first ever panel on Sunday at 12:00, when we’ll be discussing pop culture current events, playing games, and giving out prizes!   There’s a lot to process, so let’s get into it with our traditional Choose Your Own Adventure Preview. Friday, August 15: Things kick off at a perfectly lovely 2 pm for VIPs, Ultimate and 3-day pass holders who purchase in advance and 4 pm for everyone else, which gives you time to get lunch, get parked, and stroll in to get your badges if you play your cards right.  Unlike the low key nature of Wizard World’s first day, since we’ve cut out Thursday we’ve packed more into Friday despite the afternoon start If you’re all about busting myths , make sure you beat the traffic and park well before 4:45 when you can hang with Adam Savage in the Mythbusting with Adam Savage panel in the Main Theater . OR If there’s always been room in your heart for more Animaniacs , check out the legendary talents of Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulsen for the Narf! Inside the World of Pinky and the Brain panel at 5:00 pm in Theater 2 . BUT If you’re a gamer wanting to dive right into tournaments , don’t miss the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tournament in the Gaming Zone on the show floor at 5 pm .  Gamers may have to multitask though , as you’ll probably want to run over to the Main Theater at 5:45 pm, because that’s when you can check out A Look at Baldur’s Gate III with Neil Newbon, Samantha Beart and Amelia Tyler. If the Force is strong with you , then Let the Wookiee Win with Jonas Suotamo at 6 pm in Theater 2 OR If you’re an anime fan , it’ll be time to head over to the Anime Theater for Discussing Deku: Q&A with My Hero Academia’s Justin Briner at 6pm . Most everyone, though, should take note of someone we consider a legend and the Day One headliner, Mark Hamill , who takes the stage at 8 pm in the Main Theater .  Kick off your late night in the panel rooms for a little more grown up entertainment with a Drawing Jam in the Workshop at 8 pm , Twihard: The Musical - Selects from the Hit Twilight Musical Parody , or Improv D&D (18+) at 9 in Theater 3 . Don’t miss out on late night at Fan Expo, as it’s basically a pre made party block between hotels, restaurants and Rosemont’s entertainment district and all the people who like all the “nerdy” stuff you do. Just…make sure to hydrate and get some sleep no matter what you get up to at night, because Saturday is always the mother of all days at the con. Saturday, August 17th Growing up, we loved Saturday morning cartoons , a great excuse to wake up at 6 am and lay on the floor in your PJs with a bowl of cereal or some Eggo waffles until just about noon. Channel that energy to make sure you’re there before 10:15 am so you can dive right back into that vibe with the Legends of Animation panel with Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh!), Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain!), Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs), Fred Tatasciore (Overwatch), Grey DeLisle (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Butch Hartman (The Fairly Oddparents) . Trust us when we say these panels are some of the most heartwarming, hilarious and interesting ones at any convention, and these guests are true legends in the field. OR If you want to sleep just a few more minutes, comics fans , amble on over to Fan Favorite Duo: A Panel with Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie , who’ll cover everything from Gotham to Deadpool &Wolverine and hopefully tell some behind the scenes tales from the blockbuster at 10:45 in the Main Theater . Were you a tween or teen in the 90s? If so, you might want to head over to Theater 2 for Saved by the Bell with Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley , replacing Mark Paul Gosselaar who was a cancellation for this year’s Fan Expo. OR If you want to talk about cosplay and current issues , we encourage you to check out a panel like Genderbending While Black which will touch on intersectionality in cosplay and how to battle negativity if you’re playing a character whose gender expression or skin tone don’t match your own BUT If your heart belongs to the crew of the Starship Enterprise , you’ll want to make sure you get to the Main Theater at 11:45 for William Shatner to regale you with TOS tales and tales of his own trek to space. THEN If your Spidey-sense tingles often , you might want to meet up with Aunt May at Marisa Tomei’s Meet Aunt May Parker: Spotlight on Marisa Tomei panel in Theater 2 . OR If your heart lies on Serenity or the island of Motonui, you’ll want to trek out to see The Many Characters of Alan Tudyk in the Main Theater at 12:45. BUT You could also roll for initiative and head over to Dungeons and Dragons and the Twenty Sided Tavern: Connecting with the Fandom Through Entertainment in Theater 2 at 1:15 pm . OR Celebrate One Piece by going to the anime theater for Join Our Crew: We’re Searching for the One Piece at 1:30 pm. If Hazbin Hotel is on your radar, at 1:45 The Main Theater will host Hellfire Conversations: The Voices of Hazbin Hotel with Blake Roman, Erika Henningsen, Amir Talai, and Krystle Elyse Colon, the voice actors behind your favorite Hazbin friends . MCU fans, you should make sure to be on time for Born Again: Meet Charlie Cox at 2:45 in the main theater to talk all things Daredevil and hopefully get some hints of what’s to come OR If your captain is Janeway , hit Warp 10 for Theater 2 at 3:15 pm for Kate Mulgrew: Commanding the Final Frontier. For some action movie fun , stop by Terminator Legacy: A Conversation With The Cast at 4:45 in the Main Theater. Round that out with a new event for sci-fi fans, the Fan Expo Chicago Cosmic Celebration which is described as an event that will be “showing love to all your fave sci-fi franchises like Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy." Despite this event kicking off at 8 pm in the Main Theater room, it’s all ages and features a range of activities including music by DJ Awesomus Prime, photo ops, bracelet making, themed drinks for those 21+ and some giveaways. Then hit your hotel room and hit the hay (or you know, horse around and hit up after parties) and get ready for your last chance for convention adventures on Sunday. Sunday, August 18 You’ve made it, and of course you’re going to be on the show floor in time for our glorious debut in the Culture Combine Pop Culture Happy Hour at 12:00, right? It’s on the Creator’s Stage and we’ll be chitchatting about pop culture current events, playing games and giving away some great pop-culture themed swag.  But we’ve wibbly wobblied this timeline a little, haven’t we? Sorry, couldn’t contain our excitement. Let’s rewind to the beginning of your Sunday at Fan Expo then. Star Wars fans will want to head over to the Main Theater before our panel for From Clone Troopers to Bounty Hunters with Temeura Morrison at 10:45 am in the Main Theater   BUT Animation fans will want to hit up A Fairly Odd Panel with Grey DeLisle and Butch Hartman at 11 am in Theater 3. If you’re not already hanging out by the Creator Stage and you want to crawl out through the fallout, baby , then you might want to head to the Main Theater at 11:45 am for From Wilderness to Wasteland It’s Ella Purnell. We’d be there,  BUT We HAVE OUR OWN PANEL beginning just fifteen minutes later at 12 pm on the Creator’s Stage on the show floor with the Culture Combine Pop Culture Happy Hour . Come see us! Talk about pop culture, win some prizes and get to know us! THOUGH If you did choose to go see Voices of Gaming with Tara Platt, Samantha Beart, Amelia Tyler and Patricia Summersett we’d (kind of) understand, cuz it’s a great lineup. After we’re done, we can head over to Masters of Their Domain: The Seinfeld Guests Who Stole The Show for any 90s primetime sitcom fans which will be in Theater 2 at 1pm . OR Wait for that tingly sense of excitement to die down from our panel for just a little longer and head to the Main Theater at 1:45 with fellow horror fans so you can Meet the Cast of Scream . BUT If you want something a little more comforting than creepy , it’s time to head to From the Hundred Acre Wood to a Galaxy Far, Far Away: The Many Voices of Jim Cummings at 2 pm in the Main Theater OR Transform your con experience into something more nostalgic with Robots in Disguise at 3:00 pm in Theater 2 , which features Optimus Prime and Megatron themselves! Ahsoka fans should be getting ready for 3:45 pm on Sunday , when Rosario Dawson takes the stage at the Main Theater at 3:45 OR If High School Musical was something you were all about (we see you, theater kids!) then round out your Fan Expo Experience with Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel at the We’re All in This Together with Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel at 4 pm in Theater 2. As always, panel times and guest appearances can change at any time, including day of and hour of, so stay tuned to the official schedule or use the app to stay in touch with everything going on and read about all the panels we did NOT cover in this choose your own adventure preview. Don’t forget to join us at the Creator’s Stage at noon Sunday for Pop Culture Happy Hour , wear comfy shoes and hydrate, and you’ll be a con pro by Sunday night. We’ll meet you out on the floor, fans! Let’s be excellent to each other and enjoy Fan Expo Chicago 2024!

This week’s Flavor Savor is all about fast food innovation, though we’ll note for all the fall freaks out there that pumpkin spice, candy corn and apple cider are hot on our heels despite the near inevitability that it will in fact get hotter than hell again in most of the US before we settle into autumn. Taco Bell , who always seems to have a keen eye on its exact demographic, continues to crank out delicious new items and boxes along with a rewards system that never fails to add one more taco to that already overladen sack. This time, it’s all about the Cheesy Street Chalup a, a diminutive but decadent little attempt at authenticity that sees your standard chalupa shrunk down, covered in cheese and smothered in a tangy, zesty sauce that’s then given the, I guess, “street” signature combo of cilantro and onions rather than the Midwestern mom style lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and shredded cheese we grew up on from the Bell. The first time we tried this one of us didn’t get the sauce and found it dry and uninteresting, but as with so many other things at Taco Bell, the right sauce makes all the difference (looking at you, creamy jalapeno sauce).  This is also true of another recent concoction, the Jalapeno Ranch Nacho Fries , which are some very bastardized mix of nachos and poutine that should really be considered an abomination but in fact are so good that we actually scraped the last little bit of them out of the cardboard container. In both cases you can easily swap out for different proteins including a veggie option, and you can generally get yourself a Fire Reward for next time. A great deal all around for anyone who finds themselves making runs for the border often. Over at McDonald’s , there’s not so much innovation as there is returns of old friends, but at least we've moved past collab meals where the only interesting part is the box. Ronald McDonald and friends are now peddling nostalgia, and we're here for that party. It begins with the Collector's Meal, which is, as per usual, a Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets feature (though there's also a breakfast sausage McMuffin meal. But, it also includes one of six different collectible cups, which us geriatric snake people will recognize from the before times. There’s also the return of strawberry pie, which has never, ever ever been a bad thing in our book. Shake Shack , meanwhile, has brought forth a rather unassuming sounding set of new dishes that turn out, like most things at Shake Shack do, to be way better than you could have even imagined prior to that first bite. Their Carolina BBQ lineup is a sleeper hit, with a perfectly balanced burger that’s got a sweet tangy sauce, a perfect fried pickle that's crunchy and a perfect complement to applewood smoked bacon and a balanced pepper jack. No one thing takes center stage, but the parts of the whole combine to make something that tastes a whole lot more interesting than a barbecue burger sounds. Also to be explored are the BBQ Cheese Fries and the Smoky Classic BBQ burger that swaps out fried pickles for regular, and adds crispy onions to the party along with pepper jack and the tangy, smoky and delicious barbecue sauce it shares with its partner. Pair it up with what our local shack staff guided us towards as the best pick for shakes, a Peaches and Cream shake that’s all summer nostalgia no waiting, with that delicious juicy peach flavor that defines our early summers and a rich cream that again seems perfectly balanced with the fruity fragrant peach, and you’ve basically ascended from mere fast food into a foodie fast casual paradise…which to be fair, is usually how we feel when we eat there. Don't sleep on these while they're still around, and if peaches aren't for you, try out There’s always one or two places every season that head in the spicy direction and this time that place is BK. Burger King’s got a brand new Fiery lineup that doesn’t just present you with burger and fry five alarm fires, but goes that extra step to offer a Spicy Strawberry and Sprite that’ll get you that capsaicin induced dopamine rush while still effervescent and lemony limey. We've yet to try this one out but when we do we'll be sure to let all the chileheads know if it gets you the spicy rush with a flavor instead of just heat for heat's sake. Stay tuned for more snack releases and fast food lineups from our new feature Flavor Savor. Now it's time to whip out those fast food apps and get yourself some grub!

With fantastic video game adaptations finally becoming realized–like HBO’s brilliant The Last of Us, or even Dreamwork’s “safe” Mario Bros. movie. I expected a renaissance of video game adaptation–and while that may indeed still be coming, movies like Eli Roth’s Borderlands aren't going to help ease this renaissance along. Borderlands is better known for its looter shooter mechanics. As colorful as its world is, let’s face it: no one really cared. The world of Borderlands is a cel shaded vehicle for co-op run and gun experiences. I’m sure there are fans of the world building who might care, but I never played the Borderlands games for their story, or even the visuals beyond their uniqueness (at the time.) Even with a plethora of colorful characters I’m sure the Gearbox Studios writers want you to love, the reality is that I was only ever really laughing at Borderlands and never really with it. So to say that I was extremely unimpressed with a potential adaptation would be an understatement. And let’s look at the director: Eli Roth made his name in horror with films like Cabin in the Woods and Hostel . He’s not exactly the choice I would have made for this movie. But would it have made a difference? I didn’t have to see the terrible trailer or even the bevy of reviews absolutely dunking on this film to smell what was cooking up.  Now, I can totally see how someone who spends their days in a suit would look at Borderlands as an enticing IP. But if there’s a right way to go about making this film, Eli Roth did not take that approach. They even managed to make Tiny Tina soulless and forced. And poor Cate Blanchett keeps getting shoved into ridiculous costumes–and it just doesn’t pay off for her this time. The rest of the cast is stacked too. It’s hard to believe that they couldn't pull off something entertaining. Even Eli Roth ditched the project when reshoots were required, citing scheduling conflicts with Thanksgiving (2023). Tim Miller came in for directing duties on the reshoots. So what went wrong? Perhaps it was the studio aiming for a PG-13 rating despite Borderlands being known for its over-the-top action and gore, and Eli Roth being known for his gory horror prowess. It seems like the perfect match-up, but reportedly Borderlands is mostly gore-free. I’m not one to champion gore for the sake of it, but even to me that’s surprising for a Borderlands film. Right? With a Rotten Tomatoes score sitting around 6% I think that’s a fair guess.

One of the most integral parts of many 4th of July celebrations is a fireworks display. I’ve been either photographing or participating in fireworks shows for nearly my entire life, mostly in and around the Midwest. Chicago and its surrounding suburbs have plenty of official displays, but some of the most unique and wonderful shows are in our neighborhoods, and none do them quite like Pilsen on Chicago’s near south side. This year, I walked the blocks with some family and other photographers. You can find folks grilling and lighting off fireworks on almost every corner. Walk a half mile or a mile in any direction and you’ll find dozens of displays. If you stand in the right place in an intersection, you can see aerial displays in any direction. Usually the nighttime lights in the sky are part of a larger block party or a small gathering that goes on all day and is family friendly where all are welcome. There’s a type of controlled chaos at these autonomous fireworks displays. Watching at a distance might give you the impression that things are completely out of hand, but for the most part, everyone is quite careful. Older people on the block give kids time to play with sparklers in the street while they set up much larger displays. Parents help their children light the first wick and then they’ll step far back to watch the fun. Everyone shares food and drink, laughs and cheers. After the last large bang goes off, everyone on the block grabs big push brooms and sweeps the street clean. Almost every resident of the block and surrounding ones are outside on their porches and sidewalks and there’s a shared sense of community that’s beautiful and otherwise difficult to put into words. Here’s a little bit of what I saw this year.

Let's start this post off with a HUGE mistake I made and a little rant about the FOMO, hype, reseller culture that has a strangle hold on every hobby. While I thought I had pre-ordered the Chinatown 4k I mentioned in the previous upcoming movies roundup, I actually had left it in my cart and didn't go all the way through the ordering process. Normally this wouldn't be a huge deal and the release would be available to pick up a mere two weeks after release, but to my shock, it's sold out everywhere and resellers are selling it for double the normal price and often even more. Now I'm not against reselling something you've watched and no longer want in your collection, thats how you let a collectiongrow and breathe. But this flipper mentality of buying with the onl intention is to sell will always be strange and annoying to me to me. I know, everyone's gotta make a buck somehow, but constantly having to be right on top of releases as they come out isn't always feasible. Every hobby has it's downside and currently it's this for the physical media game (alongside so many places droppouing physical media but I digress). Alright with that out of the way, let's get to the new releases! Taxi Driver 4K - July 2 At this point, Taxi Driver's iconic status can not be denied. It's a monumental work from director Martin Scorsese, the Internet's most blunt Hollywood staple Paul Schrader, and stars the unbelievable Robert DeNiro. Plus add shockingly good performances from everyone in the film including Josie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, and genuinely everyone else in the cast. The film is so incredibly laid out and delivered with the rawest, unflinching vision that it can be an uncomfortable watch. It's a must see and this 4K transfer is getting some great reviews. Le samouraï 4K - July 9 A meditative noir-ish film with a protagonist who barely utters a word and oozes a sense of cool while taking cues from the modern pop culutre of the time and hearkening to Japanese mythology? No I'm not talking about Drive , or Ghost Dog or the countless other films that have a similar synopsis. I'm talking about one of if not the originator of that vibe that these other films have taken inspiration from: the amazing Le samouraï. I'm certainly biased as this movies is exactly the vibe I search out/is one of my favorite films of all time/it's original Criterion cover was my avatar on many a forum back in the day. So getting a 4K version of this film is big news for me! Especially during the Barnes & Noble sale (which I'm positive this won't be the last you'll be hearing about that!). Alain Delon is stoic as stoic comes and the film flows by like a calm river with some sudden rushes throw out.   It's a slow paced film, but its deliberate and methodical nature grabs a hold of you very quickly. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Phantoms 4K - July 16 "But, Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms." The Linguini Incident - July 23 I have not seen The Linguini Incident outside of a terrible rip on YouTube years ago. But as a David Bowie obsessive, I needed to at least try and watch it. I barely got a few minutes in before the quality became so grating to me that I gave up. Thankfully it's getting a proper restoration here for 2 cuts of the film, which is great considering director Richard Shepard's desire to have his original vision finally be seen. Let's hope it's worth the wait! Other films you should check out this month: The Guyver 4K (Delayed from last month ) - July 2 Risky Business 4K July 23 (Remember, the Barnes & Noble sale is going on this month ) Ghoulies II 4K (yes, a 4K of GHOULIES 2 ) - July 9 Danza Macabra: Volume Three — The Spanish Gothic Collection - July 30 Invasion U.S.A. 4K (my family LOVED Chuck Norris, so his movies hold a special place in my heart)