Tag: Geeks OUT

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GEEKS OUT BOARD INTERVIEW #6: Jayson Bennett

We here at Geeks OUT want you, the reader, to know more about who we are. To help with that, we’ve started interviewing members of our board so you know what makes us tick. Here’s our sixth interview!

Who are you and what do you do for Geeks OUT?

I’m Jayson Bennett and I’m the Outreach Committee Chair for the board. 

How did you first get involved?

I attended the first Flame Con with my roommate who was volunteering. I’ve been volunteering since NYCC that year and haven’t looked back. 

What makes you geek out? 

Well I’m a veterinary medical professional so I regularly geek out about science and animals. But in the Lands of Fandom I geek out for Marvel Comics (Xmen specifically), Science Fiction movies/TV, MMORPGs and Fantasy novels. 

What book/tv show/comic/etc are you enjoying now?

I’m currently reading the Nate Temple fantasy series and the Schooled in Magic series. 

Who do you ship? 

I ship Wiccan and Hulking. Their story is one of the better representations of young adult queer love in main stream comics. 

What was your introduction to geekdom?

I’d say my introduction to geekdom was probably watching late night TV with my dad and Saturday morning cartoons. We’d watch things like reruns of Elvira’s Movie Macabre, Star Trek (original and TNG), Batman and numerous “so bad they’re good” scifi movies from the 50’s-80’s. And I was obsessed with the He-man, Thundercats and Silverhawks tv shows. 

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GEEKS OUT BOARD INTERVIEW #5: Bethany Gonzalez-Velez

We here at Geeks OUT want you, the reader, to know more about who we are. To help with that, we’ve started interviewing members of our board so you know what makes us tick. Here’s our fifth interview!

Who are you and what do you do for Geeks OUT?

I am Bethany Gonzalez-Velez and I am the Treasurer of Geeks OUT. I keep Geeks OUT accountable to their promise to serve the community by monitoring their financial situation. 

How did you first get involved?

My former coworker was the previous Treasurer of Geeks OUT and offered me as a Bookkeeper in 2018. When the opportunity of a financial position rose again, I jumped on the chance.

What makes you geek out?

Games. I am an old fashioned gaming geek who becomes completely absorbed in board games, role playing, and strategy. My PS4 is my second therapist.

What book/tv show/comic/etc are you enjoying now?

I am far too invested in the “Lore Olympus”, “Lost in Translation”, and “True Beauty” series on Webtoons

What’s Something underrated you think could use a shout out?

Common games like Dominoes are underrated by the gaming community and every other game is underrated by everyone else. Games have personalities that do best in specific situations. They are what you make it, so the more investment you give to the platform, the more you will get out of it.

What was your introduction to geekdom?

I watched my brother play the original North American release of Metal Gear Solid in the late 1990s. My first aspiration was to train my reflexes enough to finish the game on my own. 

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Geeks OUT Board Interview #2 – Kevin Gilligan

We here at Geeks OUT want you, the reader, to know more about who we are. To help with that, we’ve started interviewing members of our board so you know what makes us tick. Here’s our second interview!

Who are you and what do you do for Geeks OUT?
My name is Kevin Gilligan, I’ve been a board member of Geeks OUT since 2011. I oversee our presence at conventions across the country as the Head of Conventions, and I’m in charge of Experiences (Performance Stage, Cosplay Corner, and Gaymer Lounge) at Flame Con. I also co-host the weekly Geeks OUT Podcast. 

How did you first get involved?
I saw a call for volunteers for the Geeks OUT booth at NYCC, and then I kept asking what more I could do to get involved. 

What makes you geek out?
I’m huge into comics, comic book movies, sci-fi, and horror. I’ve loved horror movies ever since I saw my first double feature of Nightmare on Elm Street & Children of the Corn, when I was 5 years old. I got into comics, thanks to a friend I had growing up. And I got into sci-fi thanks to the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his brave crew. 

What book/tv show/comic/etc are you enjoying now?
I just finished watching the final season of Jessica Jones, the new season of Veronica Mars, and just started the new season of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. And I’m almost done re-watching the series Hannibal. 

What’s something underrated you think could use a shout out?
Being a slave to trends, a lot of indy books fall under my radar at times, but there are some that I’ve found that aren’t necessarily underrated, but I think more people should discover are: Dodge City by Josh Trujillo and art by Cara McGee & Misfit City by Kirsten (Kiwi) Smith & Kurt Lustgarten and art by Naomi Franquiz (both from BoomBox). And The Closet of Secrets from Geeks OUT’s John Jennison (available here).

What fictional setting would you most want to live in?
I would like to live on a Starfleet ship, either Enterprise or Discovery

We hope you dug this interview and hope to see a bunch of you at NYCC October 3rd-6th!

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Geeks OUT Board Interview #1 – Steve Gianaca

We here at Geeks OUT want you, the reader, to know more about who we are. To help with that, we’ve started interviewing members of our board so you know what makes us tick. Here’s our first interview!

Who are you and what do you do for Geeks OUT?
I’m Steve Gianaca. I’m the Vice President of Geeks OUT and current chair of Flame Con.
How did you first get involved?
I found Geeks OUT while visiting PAX East in Boston almost 6 years ago. I found out they were local to NYC and emailed to get involved. I had a “small world” moment when my coworker emailed me at home shortly afterward. I thought there was a work emergency, but it turned out my coworker of two years in NYC was actually the founder of the non-profit I found in Boston, Geeks OUT. I’ve been involved ever since.
What makes you geek out?
So much! I love comics, fantasy and sci-fi of course, but my biggest nerd-hobby is gaming. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, Pokemon, Pikmin, Mortal Kombat, Katamari… the list goes on and on and on.
What fictional character had the most inspirational story arc to you and why?
Tohru Honda from Fruits Baskets comes to mind. In a world where others may intimidate you, the strength to compete can be found in kindness, compassion and growth.
What book/tv show/comic/etc are you enjoying now?
I’m currently diving down the rabbit hole and playing the original Dragon Quest games before 11 comes out on Switch.
What are your favorite geeky past times?
My yearly sojourn to PAX East is one of my favorite palette-cleansers from the stresses of life.
What’s Something underrated you think could use a shout out?
Local gamer meetups! I personally love the low-key atmosphere at Rockbar in NYC every Saturday from 3-9.
Who do you ship?
Axel and Roxas from Kingdom Hearts. Or Luxord and anyone Luxord is currently talking to, from Kingdom Hearts. He’s too swarthy for his own good.
What fictional setting would you most want to live in?
Send me to the Pokemon world please!
Who would your bff be?
In the pokemon world? I’d love a clique with Cynthia and Wallace.
What was your introduction to geekdom?
When I was in preschool, my older brother would sometimes setup my dad’s ancient and barely-working Intellivision. It was my first exposure to video games, quickly followed by the NES and Gameboy.

We hope you dug this interview and hope to see a bunch of you at Flame Con this weekend!