Where You Can Nab Those Freebies on FCBD 2015!

FCBD (Free Comic Book Day) is a day away!!!

This year, participating shops have been a little late in their respective announcements, plus there aren't any special overseas guests heading to Red Dot Island for the weekend. However, Red Dot Diva has a rundown of who's giving out what (other than FREE comics, of course!) this coming Saturday, 2 May.

One will also notice a strong Star Wars theme featured in this Saturday's activities. That is because the island will also be celebrating Star Wars Day, i.e. May the 4th slightly early over the weekend! (More on that later in a separate article!)

Comic book geekdom has been getting more and more mainstream, thanks to popularity of superhero movies and TV shows. Red Dot Diva has noticed that the number of people participating in FCBD has grown significantly with each passing year.

The free comics given out on FCBD are not unlimited in supply, so they do run out in some places quicker than one can imagine. Therefore, if one is intending to set aside Saturday especially for an island-wide FCBD fun-run, DO plan your schedule carefully!

Here's a list of hot spots where one can head to to get your free comics:

USS' new ride Puss In Boots' Giant Journey is Good Fun for the Family!

There's a new ride at Universal Studios Singapore (USS) that might end up being a new favfurrite with both the young and old.

Set in the whimsical fairy-tale land of Far Far Away, is the new outdoor ride called Puss in Boots' Giant Journey. The ride was launched on April 8th in conjunction with USS' 5th anniversary.

The suspended anti-gravity rollercoaster ride takes the legendary swashbuckling Puss in Boots and his lady accomplice Kitty Soft Paws to a wild goose chase within a giant's castle. There are 12 scenes in the ride, as the adventurers try to escape from angry Mama Goose after stealing the golden egg in order to save St Richardo's Orphanage!

SRT's Shakespeare In The Park 2015 is "The Tempest"

The Shakespeare in the Park at Fort Canning is becoming a mid-year outdoor tradition for most local drama fans.

The annual production has been successfully presented to theatre goers by leading company Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) for the last number of years. The lavishly produced Shakespearean plays performed have included "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Hamlet", "Much Ado About Nothing", "Macbeth", "The Twelfth Night", "Othello" and "The Merchant of Venice".

This year, "The Tempest" (the 8th Shakespeare in the Park production by SRT) will take centrestage at Fort Canning. "The Tempest" is said to be Shakespeare's last play and one of two plays where the plot is entirely original.

Red Dot Diva and GnB Comics FCBD 2015 Online Contest!

FCBD is creeping up closer and closer.

The yearly event falls on 2 May, Saturday this year and fans as well as the public can collect free comics at some hot spots in Red Dot Island. One of these venues is GnB Comics.

For the second year, Red Dot Diva and GnB is running an online contest, where 1 randomly selected winner with the correct entry will get to win some very nice swag.

The contest will run on Red Dot Diva's Facebook page from today, 22 April to 29 April 2015 (9 PM Singapore time).

What's up for grabs in the prize pack are:

Assemble with Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Interactive Event at Vivocity

Don't just watch the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" movie when it premieres in theatres islandwide on 23 April.

Grab your family and a friend or two, and head to Vivocity's Central Court (Level 1) for some fun with the "Avengers: Age of Ultron" interactive displays! The Avengers themed area will be available from now till 3 May 2015, 10 AM to 10 PM. The special event is free of charge.

Red Dot Diva dropped by the mall last Saturday morning to take a peek at the interactive area, and she spent a good enjoyable 15 minutes there doing the following!

1. Ogle at the Life-Sized 3D Superhero Figurines!

One may not have the real-life opportunity to meet a real Avenger, but this is the next best experience one could possible have.

10 Times Diva Squee-ed at the Star Wars Celebration Live Simulcast!

As a passionate Star Wars fans, it's a fantastic feeling to be part of an international fan community and to join in the celebration even when one is not able to be at Anaheim Convention Center for Star Wars Celebration 2015 weekend!

It was as if everyone's positive excited vibes merged and flowed through a powerful geek digital network all around the globe. Even if one is feeling a lack of the zzz's due to a mega 15-hour time difference between California and Red Dot Island!

At the special Live Simulcast held at Shaw Lido on 16/ 17 April, over 400 lucky fans converged at the atrium to have some fun and bond with fellow Star Wars fans!

Here are 10 Times When Diva Squee-ed at the Special Event:

International Community to Join in Star Wars Celebration Anaheim via Live Simultcast!

The Star Wars Celebration event is an official Lucasfilm fan festival that will be unfolding in full geek-out proportions, from today through the weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Even right now at Anaheim, hardcore Star Wars fans are already camping out at the venue so that they can be assured to getting through the doors at opening time!

Here are a couple of photos of fans camping out at the convention center. These pics are courtesy of comic creators Tony Fleecs and Yehudi Mercado!

I'm in a big ol' nerd line with my nerd wife. #StarWarsCelebration @ymercado @thepiemaker pic.twitter.com/IdLBJ8pWFY
— TonyFleecs (@TonyFleecs) April 16, 2015

3:30am still in line. There had better be a TON of Jar Jar in this trailer. #StarWars #starwarscelebration2015

A photo posted by Yehudi Mercado (@supermercadocomics) on Apr 16, 2015 at 3:34am PDT

Netflix's "Daredevil" - Don't Miss This Wonderful Adaptation! - A Review by Wayne Rée

Daredevil fans have been nervously wringing their hands for many months ever since the Netflix web series was greenlighted and set for production.

From the announcement of the series creator/ writer Drew Goddard and Steven S. DeKnight as showrunner, to Charlie Cox joining the cast as titular character Matt Murdoch/ Daredevil, the geek community simply couldn't wait for the series to premiere! Added to this was the rousing fan approval when Vincent D'onofrio was confirmed to be Daredevil's main nemesis, Kingpin.

When the series finally aired on 10 April, Red Dot Diva saw that most fans couldn't help but binge-watch all 13 episodes!

Red Dot Diva has only finished watching the first episode of "Daredevil" a few minutes ago and found the series to be dark, intense, visceral, entertaining and very promising. Naturally, much of the promises laid in those gorgeous biceps and abs of Matt Murdoch (Charlie Cox). She really didn't expect the visuals to be that beautiful.

W00t! Case in point. 'Nuff said

Although, she really enjoyed (Truth, okay!) Charlie Cox's portrayal of the charming but inwardly seething-angry persona that inhabits Hell Kitchen's vigilante, Daredevil.

Now, Red Dot Diva's geek pal and writer Wayne Rée, who is a ardent Daredevil fan, has watched the entire series. Here is his mainly spoiler-free review of Netflix's "Daredevil":

Red Dot Diva Chats With Will Simpson - Game of Thrones' Storyboard Artist!

Last year, Red Dot Diva had the rare opportunity to be able to sit down for a casual lunch chit-chat with Will Simpson. The talented storyboard artist of HBO's epic-ly popular TV series "Game of Thrones" was an invited guest speaker for Screen Singapore 2014.

Will Simpson has worked on the elaborate fantasy series since the beginning. He is also internationally known as a comic artist who have worked on titles like "Batman", "Transformers" and "Judge Dredd". About more than 10 years ago, Will entered into the foray of storyboarding and concept art, with his work appearing in movies like "City of Ember" and "Reign of Fire".

With an easy smile and amiable personality that would put anyone at ease almost immediately, Will Simpson began the session by talking about other stuff that he had been doing recently. In his musical Irish accent, he revealed that in between shows, he has been working on a 6-part vampire story comic strip.

Marvel and Subway Singapore Present "The Earth's Mightiest Combo" for "Avengers: Age of Ultron"!

Subway Singapore's follow-up promotional collaboration with Marvel for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" must be one of the most fun marketing collaborations Red Dot Diva has seen in awhile! The fast food sandwich franchise had first worked with Marvel to promote "Guardians of the Galaxy" last year.

All fans need to do is to join a simple contest at Subway's Facebook page, and 200 lucky winners would have the opportunity to be amongst the first to watch the long awaited sequel on April 21, 8 PM at Shaw Lido.! All you need to do is tell Subway in the page link above, what you would do if you are an Avenger, and hashtag your answer with #IfIWereAnAvenger.

Also, everyone knows that being a superhero is a tough job, which can make any meta human/ deity/ alien/ mutant very very hungry. Or in the Hulk's case - hangry. And you won't like him with his hangry!

Westeros is Coming to Singapore! Game of Thrones S5 Premieres on HBO Asia, April 13!

It has been a long long wait for Game of Thrones Season 5, the epic, crazy-popular fantasy series based on the books by George R. R. Martin. But soon, dear GOT fans, you will get to watch the premiere episode from the new season on HBO Asia. The date to mark your calendars ---- April 13!

The last time viewers left Westeros, there had been many shocking twists and turns. For one thing, Tyrion finally gave Papa his just desserts, usually naive Sansa Stark went dark (literally) and sultry - thanks to the creepy urgings of Littlefinger, Arya went off on her own after leaving the Hound to die, Jon makes a pact with Mance Rayder, Daenerys was not having a fun time learning How to Chain your Dragon, while Bran & Co battled ice zombies and finally spot the mysterious Children of the Forest.

All of these which left many fans dying for more revelations about our favourite Game of Thrones characters. It won't be long before we will be transported once again to the Land of Westeros, and this will be the first time we will be taken to the opulent Kingdom of Dorne - the domain of the House of Martell and the deadly Sand Snakes.

Naturally, this means that new cast members have been added to the show's latest season. The new actors include Jonathan Pryce (the High Sparrow), Alexander Siddig (Doran Martell), DeObia Oparei (Areo Hotah), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Obara Sand), Rosabell Laurenti Sellers (Tyene Sand), Jessica Henwick (Nym Sand), Nell Tiger Free (Myrcella Baratheon) and Toby Sebastian (Trystane Martell).

Countdown to BooksActually's Comic Week, FCBD and STGCC 2015!

Craving for more geeky bonding time with local creators and comic book readers?
Or are you just waiting for another excuse to amass more books for your growing graphic novel collection?

Red Dot Diva recommends that you mark your calendars for these three upcoming events this year!

1. Comic Week at BooksActually - April 10th

Local independent book store BooksActually will be holding Comic Week next Friday, April 10th, 7 PM at their 9 Yong Siak Street premises.