Don’t talk about “Puck Man’

Geeks and Valentines Day are two things that have never really gone together in most peoples’ eyes, kind of like geeks and anything that has to do with an athletic activity. But the truth is that a lot of us do date.

But what if you are in the extremely rare situation of dating a non-geek? What if the person you are going to spend Valentines Day with doesn’t know the X-Men from Mad Men? What if they couldn’t tell you the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek, neither of which they have seen because they just don’t “get it”?

This was the very situation I found myself in when I began dating the woman who would eventually become my wife. She is about as much of a non-geek as I am a geek, which if you have read my writing on Geekadelphia should tell you something.

I thought that with Valentines Day upon us I would share a few tips if you happen to find yourself dating a non-geek.

Your personal soundtrack t-shirt is a no go.

Tip 1: No ‘Geek Articles of Clothing

Yes, I know you are very proud of your Think Geek t-shirt collection and your G.I. Joe Destro tie and your Nintendo controller belt buckle. But Valentines Day is not the time for it. Leave that stuff in the closet and dress like you have no idea how many Gears of War games have been released.

Tip 2: Take Your Date to a Place that Does Not Have a Napkin Dispenser!

Listen, I know being a geek is a ridiculously expensive hobby. Most comic books are over $4 each, a new video game costs over $60 and anime Blu-rays are not much less. But Valentines Day is not the time to be cheap. A non-geek will simply not understand that you need to save money because you have to have the Final Fantasy XIII-2 limited edition that is coming out soon.

Make a reservation and take your date someplace nice that has, you know, plates and stuff. And whatever you do, DO NOT use a coupon! Nothing says “cheap bastard” like whipping out a 10% off coupon on a date.

Nope, sorry Brave New Worlds

Tip 3: A Trip to the Comic Book Store is Not a Date!

Like many of you, I am a comic book fan. I can think of nothing better than spending a few hours at the local comic shop, picking up some new releases and chatting with my fellow fanboys. However, if you are dating a non-geek, this is not, and should never be, a date.

My wife and I were dating at least a year before I took her for her first trip to the comic book store, and that was just as a trial. If you take a non-geek to a comic book store as a date and expect them to have a good time, you are on a one way road to Aloneville, population you. And this goes for video game stores, anime conventions and the like.

Tip 4: Let Them Pick the Movie!

Picking a movie to go see or to rent can be a tricky situation even for geek couples, but it becomes next to impossible if one of the parties is a non-geek, especially on Valentines Day. You may think the romance between Han Solo and Princess Leia is romantic as hell, but you would be wrong. And the Aragorn/Arwen relationship does not mean that it’s a perfect time for a Lord of the Rings marathon. Play it safe and let the non-geek pick the movie, you can suffer for two hours. I mean, you watched Green Lantern, didn’t you?

No!

Tip 5: A Magic: The Gathering Starter Deck is Not a Good Valentines Day Gift!

You are looking for a gift for your sweetie for Valentines Day. You think to yourself “Hey! I know! I’ll get him/her a Magic starter deck and teach him/her how to play. That way we can have fun together and she’ll understand why I spend every Tuesday and Friday night at the game store playing.” Yeah, nice thought but doomed from the start. I tried this idea with my wife, thinking it would bring us closer. Instead we didn’t speak for four days and now just refer to it as “The Magic Incident”. This also applies to Dungeons & Dragons, Halo, Fullmetal Alchemist DVDs and anything else having to do with your geek lifestyle. Sharing is great, just not on Valentines Day.

And there you have it; 5 tips to help you get through Valentines Day with your non-geek partner. Dating a non-geek can be rough and filled with pitfalls. It is not easy. And remember, dealing with a geek like yourself as a boyfriend/girlfriend has a set of issues all its own. But if you care about the person, it will be worth it in the end. Even if you do have to sit through season after season of The Bachelor and Private Practice because “I like it when we watch TV together”. Not that I know anyone like that…

Today we talk to Cory Anotado, a good friend of mine and a graduate of La Salle University’s Digital Art and Multimedia Design program. Sadly, since we did this interview, he’s moved down to Baltimore to be an Interactive Production Developer at GKV Communications. However, we’re being nice and posting it anyway.

Of all the geeks I know, Cory is hands-down the biggest game geek, and I’m not talking video games.

How did you get into loving game shows so much?

I blame my grandmother for keeping the TV on while she watched me when I was a kid. Family Feud was at 10, and then the Price is Right was at 11. Various cable game shows, like Press Your Luck, Debt and some USA originals were in the afternoon. Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune came on at 7. I suppose saturation breeds obsession.

Tell me about your favorite game show and why.

Narrowing my favorite game show down to one is an oft-requested, futile task. If it’s based on current consumption, then it would be the British game show QI: Quite Interesting. It’s a panel show flanked at the help by Stephen Fry. They ask seemingly simple questions like, “Who was the first President of the United States? And give the seemingly complex (and quite interesting) answer of “Peyton Randolph.” Other shows I enjoy are Pointless (a British game show best described as ‘Backwards Family Feud’), Jeopardy!, Press Your Luck and Family Feud.

What’s something obscure about game shows that most people don’t know about?

I think the most obscure face about game shows is the amount of minutiae that people commit to memory. Although the fan base of game shows online is small, it’s fervent and as nerdy as any other fandom online. You can read more about it in Ken Jennings’ book Brainiac.

How many game shows have you been a guest on?

I appeared on Jep!, the children’s version of Jeopardy! airing on GSN, in 1998. I was a contestant on the grown-up version of Wheel of Fortune in 2004, when they taped a Teen Best Friends Week here in Philly. While in the Philippines in 2006, I snuck into a taping of a Filipino game show called “Wowowee” at ABS-CBN studios in Quezon City. I won the P10,000 (equivalent to $200 USD), not bad at all!

What kind of games do you enjoy designing?

I enjoy making intellectual online games that don’t rely on twitch mechanics to succeed. I also enjoy making physical board games based on topics you wouldn’t normally see as a board game. I’ve already crafted a game based on baseball (PDSN Diceman Baseball) and pitching television shows (Pitch Machine). Down the pipeline, I’ve got a name based on running a restaurant. All of my board games can be purchased at The Game Crafter.

This Wednesday, February 8th, Nerd Nite Philadelphia returns to Frankford Hall with (as always) a handful of awesome speakers. From a talk about using chemistry to “blow sh*t* up” (with demonstrations!) to a lecture on skydiving, this is easily the best line up I’ve seen Nerd Nite produce yet.

There are some great happy hour specials as well, including $5 half-liter drafts ($10 for a full liter), $6 for a beer and pretzel, or $8 to substitute that pretzel with a sausage. Nom!

Check out the list of the speakers and what they’re talking about, below.

Nerd Nite Philadelphia
Wednesday, February 8th, 7:30pm
philadelphia.nerdnite.com/updates

Robert Kurzban: Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind

Do you wonder why people are so inconsistent? Why people often seem to contradict themselves? Why they believe things they know aren’t true? Why they say “don’t do X” and then do that very thing? In this presentation, I’ll show how the fact that the human mind is made up of many different parts answers all these questions.

Mike Zdilla: Chemistry & Energy. From Alternative Fuel to Blowing Sh*t Up

Chemistry was once about mixing substances and changing them into other things, but this is not the case today. Perhaps with the exception of drug discovery, most every facet of chemistry today is concerned with energy. From food to fuel to batteries to bombs, chemists are concerned with storing and using energy. A talk highlighting usage and transformations of chemical energy will be presented, with a focus on the oft overlooked role of the inorganic elements. The talk will include chemical demonstrations, and a live musical performance.

Alex Mandel: Jumping Out of Planes, the Art & Sport of Skydiving

Skydiving is on the top of most people’s bucket list. It is one of the most exciting and exhilarating extreme sports around but there’s much more to it than strapping on a parachute and diving out of a plane. In this presentation, I’ll explore the techniques and finer points of skydiving.

Robert Drake is a prominent figure in Philadelphia. He DJ’s at several places around Philly such as Club Fluid and The Bike Stop in addition to opening up for almost every 80’s act that breezes through town (think OMD or the B-52’s). He has a monthly DJ’ing gig on WXPN radio entitled “Land of the Lost” where he shares is New Wave gems.

He is a co-founder of the Zombie Crawl, Zombie Prom and Zombie Beach Party. Amidst all this awesome, he finds time to be on the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District where he is a member as well as serving as Vice-Chair through 2011.

How long have you been DJ’ing? Have you always been most interested in the 80′s music scene?

Robert Drake: I started my DJ stint back in the early 80s with occasional gigs at some of Philly’s underground clubs of the day; Hot Club, Kennel Club and even a guest stint at NYC’s Danceteria. As with most people, you always have a soft spot for the soundtrack of your youth – so do I. Plus, I always felt the 80s got a bum rap in the look-back machine and I made it my mission to celebrate New Wave for those that loved it and those that never really got to explore it before.

How did the Zombie Crawl movement get started here in Philly?

Robert Drake: The Philly Zombie Crawl began over beer at Tattooed Mom several years ago. We were discussing the idea of hosting a party on Easter to celebrate the world’s most-famous zombie on His big day. One thing led to another and the birth of the first Philly Zombie Crawl had happened! It was held Easter 2006 along South Street. After a couple years, the zombies groaned for more – so the Philly Zombie Prom was created to start the Halloween Season in Philadelphia.

Held the final Saturday of September at The Trocadero, the Zombie Prom has become THE event of the Halloween season with over 1,100 zombies gathering in full prom or costume attire. We’ve also created the Zombie Beach Party to start off the summer season – and we are always exploring other creative ways to celebrate the undead all year long.

Awesome! The Zombie Invasion at Dorney Park was also a great success this summer! What are some of your regular Philly haunts?

Robert Drake: Well, I mentioned one – my home away from home, Tattooed Mom on South Street. I also am a huge fan of one of the best dive bars in Center City – but uncharted by many – The Bike Stop. Located on Quince Street; an alley behind The Forrest Theatre; the Bike Stop started as a gay leather bar, which it still proudly is – - however, they have grown to welcome people from all walks of life; especially

Friday happy hours (which I DJ along with my partner John Stanley) … it’s a mix of retro rock and new wave nuggets, cheap drinks and a great cross-section of Philly.

For food – I’m always satisfied at The Latest Dish on 4th Street between South and Bainbridge; also The Perch Pub at the corner of Broad and Locust (overlooking Avenue of the Arts) – a great gastropub; and recently John and I have fallen in love with Circles Newbold – great Asian cuisine.

Geekadelphia loves Tattooed Mom – AGREED! What else do you geek out to?

Robert Drake: Easy: FRINGE.

Who’s your favorite character on Fringe?

Robert Drake: Although I am fond of Dr. Walter Bishop and his quirks, my partner John seems to have the hots for Agent Olivia Dunham. I think it’s her ‘tomboy nature’ that attracts him – HA! The show is just wonderfully written and reminds me of the excitement I had when I first watched such classics as Twin Peaks or X-Files back in the day.

One of the best looking and most entertaining new webcomics to hit the net in the last few months has been Ace Kilroy. It follows the escapades of the title character as he lives a life of mystery and adventure in the early part of the 20th century.

Created, written and drawn by friends Rob Kelly and Dan O’Connor (both local guys), Rob was kind enough to answer a few questions about the comic, themselves and whether Ace will ever make it to Philadelphia.

How do the two of you know each other?

Dan and I attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art (located in Dover, NJ) together. At the time, it was the only school that specialized in teaching the art of comic book illustration. Dan and I were in adjoining rooms in one of the houses the school had available for students. As soon as I saw his work, I knew I had a lot of catching up to do, in terms of pure drawing talent, especially when it came to drawing for comic books. I remember being so jealous, and I still am!

Where did the idea for a character like Ace Kilroy come from? What influences went into his creation?

After losing touch for a few years, Dan and I ran into each other at the 2010 New York Comic Con. Since going to school, we both maintained careers as artists, but each of us doing work other than strict comic book stuff. Dan’s art had only gotten better, and I was really horrified that he had so many horror stories to tell me (clients cheating him out of money, not treating his work with any respect, etc.), so on the way home I started thinking of a project that he and I could collaborate on that we’d both enjoy on a creative level. And if we somehow found a way to make it profitable, that would be all the better.

We’re both big fans of the classic newspaper adventure strips of the mid-20th Century (stuff like Steve Canyon, Dick Tracy, Secret Agent X-9, Terry and The Pirates), so I thought doing that kind of strip would be fun for me to write and fun for Dan to draw. I pitched the idea to him as, basically, “FDR hires Steve Canyon to fight the Universal Monsters” and he took to that immediately.

I figured we could work in those newspaper character influences, plus classic monster movies, as well as indulge in our mutual passion for 1930s and 1940s Americana. It’s basically the kind of strip we’d like to read, so we created it ourselves.

Why a webcomic? Ace seems like the kind of character that could support an actual comic book series.

First off, thank you!

Second, I envisioned it as a newspaper strip from the beginning, and to a certain extent form dictated content. I liked the idea of the story being told in brief little chunks, building the narrative bit by bit. The whole idea of replicating the form of the daily adventure strip was one of the most exciting parts of it. Also, but keeping it black and white six days a week, it ensured that we could stay on deadline and never miss a day, which to me is vitally important when building an audience—and it makes having a “color Sunday” so much more special.

That said, we’ve already had so much fun coming up with Ace’s adventures that we’ve discussed branching out into other mediums, like an online radio show and longer-form stories, like you’d see in a comic book. We have so many story ideas that we’d love to try it all!

The Kickstarter campaign so you can just focus working on the comic is brilliant. Where did you get the idea for it?

I’ve seen lots of other comic book projects try the same thing, and it seemed the easiest, most elegant way of turning Ace Kilroy from a fun side project to an actual, sustainable creative venture. Back in the days of Steve Canyon, Dick Tracy, etc., working on those strips was a full-time job for the writers and artists. Dan and I both have illustration careers going, and I knew that the best way to make sure we could keep cranking the strips out was to not be losing money in the process. So hopefully via Kickstarter we’ll take in enough money to pay for our time and effort for a while, and that will give the strip a chance to establish itself and build an audience.

Via the AK website and blog, also have a way for fans to “subscribe” to the strip, for a very low monthly amount (the same amount a daily newspaper would have cost in 1937, when Ace Kilroy begins). We figure between subscriptions and Kickstarter, people who like the strip and want to help ensure it keeps going can do so easily and securely.

There are number of web comics that have managed to build a loyal, paying audience for themselves, so the economic model is already in place—we just have to get Ace out there enough that we can follow In those footsteps, but hopefully bringing something a little new to the table, as well. At this point, I cannot imagine anything better than being able to say, if asked what I do, is “I write and color the comic strip Ace Kilroy.”

Do you think Ace will ever visit Philadelphia?

We have plans for Ace to travel the world, and since I was born in Philadelphia, I can definitely see him getting involved in some adventure involving my hometown! Dan and I love weaving in historical details in Ace’s adventures, and what city is more steeped in American history than Philly?

What can fans expect as Ace Kilroy goes forward?

We’ve been telling people Ace Kilroy will feature adventure, horror, thrills, humor, political intrigue, and even romance, and we have plans for all those things. We have a whole world we want to build, and as the strip goes on we think Ace Kilroy will only get more interesting, more fun, more captivating a read. Our plan is to make the strip an essential part of your day, because you just can’t wait to see what happens next.

There will be more monsters, more details into Ace’s past, new characters, and more adventures involving American and world history. Ace is just getting started!

Ace Kilroy updates daily at www.acekilroy.com

For this week’s Geek of the Week, we talk to Matt Campana, local musician and composer. His work includes an arrangement for the Video Games Live orchestral show, and music cues for Drexel University.

I hope the name of this Drexel U and Berklee College of Music alum sounds familiar to you, as we posted about him back in September.

You’re known for your work in music, how did you get into it?

I started piano lessons in Kindergarten and I took them until 4th grade when we could no longer afford them. That hardship was actually a blessing in disguise. I didn’t play piano for a little because of this, but that’s when I began to develop my “ear” for music.

I started taking lessons again in high school. Due to my ear training any my lessons, I can hear music and play it almost verbatim as to what’s in my head. So, when I hear music it is easy to record it out on the keyboard, edit it, and eventually create a score from it.

At this point, how many instruments can you play?

I play the piano as my primary instrument. I realized that this would be my instrument when someone showed me you could digitally play other instruments using computer software. That’s how I achieve such epic sounds in my music.

However, I also love playing the guitar. I used to carry my guitar around campus so that my friends and I could jam. I was in the Filipino Intercultural Society at Drexel University (FISDU) for all four years of college. Guitar is a staple of FISDU hangouts. It helped me make friends.

I also know enough violin and drums to compose for it and enough drum technique to program for it when recording my music.

Tell me more about your work with Video Games Live. What did you do? I went to VGL once in Anaheim, CA at BlizzCon. Do you know any sweet Blizzard tracks?

I have worked with Video Games Live for 40+ shows. For the show, I have done everything from running a pre-show Guitar Hero competition, managing volunteers to actually intro MC-ing the show in front of 3,200+ people on Broadway. The largest credit I received was for my stage production work with them on their PBS national broadcast Blu-ray release. I helped in the setup and flow of the live event, ensuring on-stage events happened on time. It went beautifully and it’s available on iTunes!

Speaking of Blizzard, I was once backstage when three-time Emmy award-winning composer, Russel Brower (WoW/SC composer) walked over. He had his laptop with him and proceeded to show my boss, Tommy Tallarico, the then-unreleased theme of StarCraft II. I almost died, I was so glad I brought a change of pants. It was the “Wings of Liberty” title track; it’s incredibly intricate. That was definitely a highlight.

What do you currently do aside from composing music?

I’m heavily involved in Philadelphia outreach through my church that just launched a campus at the Prince Theater on Sunday nights. We feed people in Love Park, work with nonprofit organizations to help end human trafficking in the city and we’re beginning to work with the police to see how we can help by purchasing equipment for the officers.

Aside from that, I enjoy having fun with friends. I love going out on the town, whether it be for First Friday or finding new places to eat (I’m a huge fan of Starr Restaurants).

Ultimately, I’m going to stay local. I want to build a life around this city and help bring the gaming industry here in a big way. One day, I will open a game development studio. Until then, I’ll keep making music.

New Year’s Eve photo stolen from VisitPhilly

Well, it’s been a great year geeks.

Between the first annual Philadelphia Geek Awards with the Academy of Natural Sciences and the number of other events we threw over the year, like our Halloween bash at Tattooed Mom with Indyhall, Tim and I’s Show & Tell at PhilaMade, Lebowski Fest Philadelphia, the hilarious Broetry Slam at National Mechanics, judging a special Geek edition of ComedySportz, and more… Geekadelphia has had a pretty stellar year on and off the blog.

Tim and I welcomed on a number of new contributors, launched our Weekly Kickstarter column (thanks Rob) and relaunched our Geek of the Week feature, and come 2012, we’ll have a podcast thanks to Dan and Jo.

And of course, we owe all the blog’s success to you guys and gals that continue visit the site, retweet our tweets (especially our jabs at Technically Philly), and email us your suggestions and tips.

With the holidays upon us, Geekadelphia is shutting down now through the New Year, returning on January 2nd. Me and Tim are looking forward to another awesome year with all of you.

While we’re gone, be sure to visit Technically Philly, Philebrity, DrinkPhilly, and Keypulp for sweet events and local news. We’ll miss you, be good.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year,

Eric, Tim, & the Geekadelphia Crew

Today we talk to Tyler R. Westnedge, Film major turned Web/Interactive guy. He’s currently the Director of At Media, a full-service branding agency in Old City.

Tyler, you seem to be a pretty well-rounded creative guy. What advice do you have for anyone looking to make the move from something like theater or film to web design and development?

I went to Temple University for Film and Media Arts, and one of the most important parts of Film to me was composition. Composition plays a major role in design, layout and usability. The transition is not easy, since the web industry is rapidly changing with new trends and technologies. It takes constant attention and research to stay on top of web design and development.

A majority of my training came from lynda.com (a site with video tutorials on just about any program, software or programming language). I still use it on a monthly basis to expand my skill-set, but now I’m taking on more leadership and entrepreneurial responsibilities (project management, employee management, business development, etc.). My advice would be to do your research, take online classes and training to expand your abilities and put your knowledge to work with real projects.

So what kind of geek are you?

I’m a tech and gadget geek, and have always been. I have a deep appreciation for Apple products and pretty much anything digital. My admiration for Apple products stems from the fact that I appreciate the use of quality design in coordination with technology. Hence the At Media name standing for Art & Technology among other things.

Photography has been a passion of mine for a long time as well. Lately, I’ve been really intrigued by mobile photography, and feel it will continue to gain more and more substance. There’s something about mobile photography, the happenstance of the photos and the moment of realness that fascinate me. For fun, I rehab furniture, so you may find me out on trash night looking for free finds.

As a fellow web designer, I’m 100% on your side regarding “Flash is Dead.” I’ve been saying that for years. (We need to high-five over some beers the day it finally dies.) Do you have any remarks about Adobe’s announcement that they’re throwing in the towel on Flash for mobile?

It’s kind of funny, because subconsciously I think I knew that Flash was dead for a long time. Well before the Adobe/Apple fall out, I refused to put any significant amount of time into learning Flash development. It was inevitable that the death of it would finally happen and I’m happy to say the least. Now if Internet Explorer could do the same, my life would be much easier.

Are you working on any cool projects (in or out of At Media) right now that you can talk about?
We are working on a few websites with really clean & timeless designs – Philadelphia Dietetic Association, Disability Law Advocates, and Chabaa Thai Bistro. We are also teaching a few Skillshare classes on brand presence. We have other projects in the works, that I’m not able to talk about yet, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted on Twitter: @twestnedge.

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Be sure to check out Tyler’s personal website: TWestnedge.com and keep up with the cool folks over at At Media: AtMediaDesign.com

Today’s Geek of the Week is Greg Lobanov, a student at Drexel University.

He’s roughly a decade younger than the average Geekadelphia writer and already cranking out multiple video games, effectively making us oldheads look bad.

Are you currently in school? Where do you go and what for?

I attend Drexel University, studying Digital Media. I’m currently in my second year, and it’s been quite a learning experience thus far. It’s been my first time working with 3D modeling and animation, I must say it’s been quite a challenge.

How did you get into game design?

I can’t pin it to a single moment or reason—from a very young age I enjoyed making games, though back then it was with paper, cardboard and markers. Something about it felt very natural to me, defining rules of play and making the pieces. I also loved drawing comics and writing stories to go with them. When I started to get into computers and the internet, all those things got tangled up, until some point I was making computer games.

What kind of games or people inspire you?

I think the best (and most inspiring) games are the ones that give the best “feel.” You might be thinking that’s very vague, but I stand by it. I find a lot of games very interesting and effective for all very unique reasons. The qualities that make a good game are far from universal; they’re hard to define in strict germs. Generally, I think that you can realize a game is great from the point of being able to nearly feel the passion that the artists and designers put into it. That passion transfers into my own work.

I liken myself to director Quentin Tarantino and musician James Murphy in the respect that my inspirations are often shown very clearly through my work and combining them in unique ways.

I see you’re also quite the illustrator. Do you do more of the development side of things or design? Which do you prefer?

In most of my projects to date, I did just about everything. I’ll have to call it a 50/50. I honestly love both sides of making games, though I also would say that I’m not particularly the best at either. As I’ve brought on more talented people to help work on my projects, I’ve been gradually phasing out of the artistic end of things. That’s more-so because being “capable” as a programmer is is good enough whereas merely being “capable” at illustration and art starts to be detrimental when you start competing with truly talented visual artists.

I see a very strong separation from the visual art in games and the more literal “design” art in the layout, gameplay, controls, mechanics, levels, story. Etc. That particular aspect of games seems to be both creative yet logical. Those are the parts of the game-making process to which I’m most attached.

So what are you currently working on?

I’m making a role-playing game for the PC called Phantasmaburbia. It’s set in a suburban neighborhood, that’s most-obviously the Philadelphia region. Its plot revolves around teenagers who team up with ghosts of their ancestors or former residents of their homes. Players will protect their hometown from an invasion of ghosts and a particularly powerful and evil trans-dimensional demon.

You can check out my progress at Phantasmaburbia.com

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Thanks for chatting with us, Greg. Keep up the good work! It’s awesome to have passionate game designers like yourself in our city. To keep up with Greg’s game-making progress and other things, you can visit his blog: http://banov.blogspot.com

Photo by Michael S. Zolomij

Illustrator Scott Derby has charmed the heart of TeeFury.com fans with his old school tattoo inspired T-shirt designs, so much so that his most recent design was featured on G4 TV’s segment about cult t-shirts! But he charmed me years ago as a patron of my old comic book shop, Comics and More at King of Prussia mall.

His superhero portraits (Chris Giarusso-esque “mini” portraits) have also been a mainstay of the comic scene here in Philadelphia. Geekadelphia sat down with this hometown hero to get the full story on his love of illustration, comics, and Olde City.

When did you start illustrating? Is it your full time job?

Scott Derby: I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a crayon or pencil, and pursued a fine arts degree in college, which led to adding media communications and technology as a second degree. I started off doing graphic design right out of college, but I always had more of a focus on the illustration aspect of design. Illustration and graphic design is my full-time gig, as well as my hobby and passion (that also happens to throw a little bit of coin into my pockets)…

What are your geek obsessions?

Scott Derby: I geek out mostly to comics and toys, followed by movies and TV, with games being a distant 3rd. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy video games, I just have such limited time to enjoy my already unlimited hobbies…

I hear ya man. So much awesome, so little time. What’s currently in your comics buy pile?

Scott Derby: I’m in a little bit of a transition period lately, comics-wise. Having been primarily
a DC fanatic for most of my 30+ years of reading comics, the recent DCnU revamp has left me feeling a bit unsure and discouraged, choosing to wait until certain specific titles are compiled into trade paperbacks. In fact, most of my comic reading has transitioned to trade paperbacks, due to both lack of funds and being unable to get to the comic shop on a regular basis.

Do I lose geek cred for that, reading trades instead of monthlies? With that being said, Walking Dead and Invincible are still at the top of my reading list. I am looking forward to trades of a few of the DCnU titles, such as Justice League, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash, Action Comics, Swamp Thing and Animal Man. I may even take a few chances with titles like Batwing and Stormwatch. I also find myself intrigued enough to get back into the Marvel Universe with some of the newly revamped X-men titles such as Wolverine and the X-Men and Uncanny X-Men.

Name some of your fave places in Philly.

Scott Derby: Brave New Worlds comics for all of your pop culture needs (Brian is the man…),
Sugar Mom’s (Bowman and Chad; old friends and great bartenders) in Olde City, For dining; Vietnam in Chinatown, Pod in University city, and Buddakan on Chestnut are a few of many great places to visit in the city of Brotherly Love… Alma de Cuba is another great place to eat…

Love Brave New Worlds and Sugar Mom’s as well! What projects do you have coming up?

Scott Derby: As far as upcoming projects; things are starting to wind down right now with the holidays coming up. Just exhibited in a Bill Murray tribute show with Gallery 1988 in Los Angeles, as well as had my 6th t-shirt design offered on Teefury.com. I’ve got a few side projects to finish up, such as a tattoo design and a few commissions then back to the drawing board for more group shows with G1988 in 2012, and hopefully some more shirt designs with Teefury.