This past weekend at the San Jose Convention Center, Big Wow! ComicFest took place for comic book fans and cosplayers. The Ramen & a Half team of Eddie and Ramon recall their highlights of this 2-day comic book festival.
The 2014 Big Wow! ComicFest Recap
May 21, 2014 by 3 Comments
Big Wow! ComicFest 2014
May 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’m still recovering from this past weekend’s Big Wow! ComicFest convention at the San Jose Convention Center. The Ramen and a Half guys went hunting for autographs, but also grab interviews with artists, cosplayers and fans.
Big Wow! ComicFest May 17-18, 2014 San Jose
May 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
This upcoming weekend here in the SF/Bay Area is one cool geek-fest – the Big Wow! ComicFest. The two-day convention kicks-off May 17-18, 2014 weekend at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, CA. Unlike other comic-book conventions I won’t name that have gone super Hollywood, Big Wow! remains the same as the headliner is all about comic books, the artists and writers in the industry. Many notable artists will be there like Frank Cho, Neal Adams, Mike Mignola, Greg Rucka, just to name a few.
It’s safe to say Retrenders will be at Big Wow! ComicFest! Our Ramen & A Half team Eddie Ballar and Ramon Angel will grab interviews and highlights from the event. Look for our videos on the Retrenders YouTube channel.
Here our some of our videos we did last year from Big Wow! ComicFest 2013:
Luxury Food Packaging
April 24, 2014 by 3 Comments
Eggs by Versace
Around the world over, many consumers like to buy “luxury brands” and it says many things about our consumer buying culture. Artist/Designer Peddy Mergui takes at look at trend with his “Wheat is Wheat is Wheat” exhibition at the Museum of Craft & Design San Francisco. The art series focuses on “What If” high-end companies made regular food item packaging.
Flour by Prada
Kidrobot x Snoop Dogg
April 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Iconic hip/hop rapper and leader of the G-funk movement Snoop Dogg is now “Dunnified” with this Kidrobot 7″ vinyl figure. Our Ramen host “The Eddie” takes an in-depth look at this Snoop Dogg figure.
The Art of Rio 1 & 2
March 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A long time ago, I remember watching Pixar’s Toy Story in the theater and I was blown away by the CG animation and storytelling. Over the years, many animation houses were looking to do the same and one is Blue Sky Studios (Epic, Ice Age). The CG animated film Rio was a 2011 hit and surpassed the $400 million mark in box-office receipts, so obviously there is a sequel with Rio 2 arriving into US multiplexes on April 11, 2014. Along the way, Titan Books has just released: The Art of Rio – Featuring a Carnival of Art from Rio and Rio 2.
Tomica Toyota Crown Comfort Taxi
March 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
When you think of Hong Kong what comes to mind? The high-rise skyline and Victoria Harbour, HK gangster films, Dim Sum, Mong Kok shopping district, etc. Well how about the iconic Hong Kong taxi? This Hong Kong taxi gets the full Tomica diecast car treatment.
Hong Kong: Hot Toys Secret Base
February 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What makes a great “Brick and Mortar” store? Of course the brand, cool products, location and customer service, but also style and creating a cool atmosphere like Apple stores. Hong Kong toy company Hot Toys known for making incredible realistic 1/6 scale action figures also has a retail store, the Hot Toys Secret Base. One part collectible museum and part retail shop.
The Art of Titanfall
February 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Who doesn’t like piloting big bad mecha-robots? It brings back memories of playing Virtual On on Sega Saturn or Gundam Side Story 0079 on the Sega Dreamcast! This FPS shooter Titanfall isn’t even out yet, but has over 80-plus awards from critics already. The game launches March 11, 2014 on the Xbox One and PC and Titan Books releases – The Art of Titanfall.
Huck Gee x Kidrobot: Penelope McStompsalot
February 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The 3″ Dunny Penelope McStompsalot pilots her 8″ mecha-inspired Blowback Industries DUNN-7™.
Geeky Graphic Tees for a Fight against Breast Cancer
January 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
When our team was at New York Comic-Con 2013, we passed by a neat little booth selling cool graphic tees, but we also discovered it’s more than selling nerdy t-shirts. Shirts For A Cure was started by punk-rock photographer Mark Beemer in 2002. The various shirts and accessories sold by The Shirts For A Cure Project go to fight against breast cancer. It helps underprivileged women with financial assistant in the fight against breast cancer.
The Tour de Force Street Fighter Tournament: Capcom Cup 2013
December 26, 2013 by 1 Comment
Capcom’s iconic 2D fighting video game Street Fighter II cost me a lot of quarters in middle school and now there are pro-Street Fighter button-mashing gamers. This year’s Capcom Cup took place at the Hyatt SFO in the SF Bay Area on December 14th, 2013. The Ramen crew interviews Street Fighter gamers and check out the announcements for Ultra Street Fighter IV.
Kidrobot S.F. VIP Party 2013
December 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
image via Kidrobot SF Facebook
There always cool things happening in San Francisco’s Haight/Ashbury District and one neat event is the Kidrobot SF V.I.P. Party. Of course the Ramen crew was there to enjoy the festivities and our host Eddie also grabbed a sit-down interview with local Dunny artist Big C and as they talked about his charity Dunny fundraiser for Bad Rap and 2013 Designer-Con.
Welcome to NINJA NEW YORK
November 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
While we enjoyed NYCC by day we ended up dining at NINJA NEW YORK by night.
Our host of Ramen’s other Half, Jonelle Marie, shares her first impression of fine dining in Tribeca’s one-of-a-kind Ninja New York Restaurant!
While there, we were looking for that secret door – you know, the one you would open and discover the artistry of Ninja acrobatic sword fighting and trickery like a James Bond flick, but it was impossible. The place was a maze and when we asked to take us to your leader, they sent us numerous of Ninja PR henchmen to divert us from straight answers about what laid behind the echoing walls of their zigzagging cave-like paths that only Batman would appreciate. Though mystified by their stories, we had one of the most entertaining dining night outs I’ve had in a long time.
I would have to say Ninja New York is one of the most entertaining and delightful places to dine if you’re looking for fun and hearty authentic Japanese cuisine food. And you’re almost guaranteed not to have a dull moment from your first step in and out of this place!
SPOTLIGHT: Central Valley Lowrider Car Show in Lindsay CA
October 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Central Valley is well known for putting on the best of Lowrider Car shows and this one took place in Lindsay, California. Here you can meet the pioneer and founder of Lowrider Magazine himself, Sonny Madrid, and actor Danny De La Paz, who starred in films American Me and Boulevard Nights. His most recent film is “Kill Kapone“. I was only able to catch Danny as he was having a conversation with Lindsay’s Lowrider Car Show Promoter, Ruben Gonzalez.
The Lowrider Car Show proudly brought together a floor full of classic to modern Lowrider vehicles showcased at McDermont Field House & Sports Center in Lindsay, California. We talked to Sal Sierra about his 1936 Pick-up Truck along with a few other Lowrider and aficionados themselves: Roy Tolentino, Alfred & Mary Torrez, and Yoli Preciado. Even the Mayor of Lindsay, Ramona Padilla, had a few words to say about the car show.
Some of the car clubs that could be found at the show were: Lindsay’s Finest, Nuestro Pride, Nuestro Estilo, Rollerz Only, and Brown Effects.
FILMED: Short Doc / Magazine Style (Shot on the Fly)
Produced & Edited by Johnny Moreno.
I apologize for those that I was unable to film and interview. Telling everything about Lowriders definitely needs an in depth – present to historical visit about Lowrider culture and the people that are involved and making a difference. This video is simply a taste about the Lowrider world.
Sirens: The Pin-Up Art of David Wright
October 2, 2013 by 3 Comments
What comes to mind, when you think pin-up art from of the 1940s-1960s? Maybe model Bettie Page might pop in your head or paintings like the “Vargas Girls” by artist Alberto Vargas. How about David Wright? And NO, he’s not the Third Baseman from New York Mets baseball team! In the 20th Century, British artist Dave Wright was also right-up there with his American peers like Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren. World War II sparked the pin-up girl craze as David Wright created his “Lovelies.” Dave Wright’s pin-up girls was all over Britain, “a standard fixture on the walls of barrack rooms, officers’ messes, pubs and clubs” (Terry Parker, Sirens: The Pin-Up Art of David Wright).
Automobile Drawings by Makoto Komori
October 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Japanese artist Makoto Komori is well known for his children’s illustration books and his Datto-san series is popular with kids in Japan. It’s kinda of like Pixar’s Cars, but with Komori’s own sense of style and flair.
Ramen Crew @ the Slide Your Ride’s 86 Festival 2013
September 26, 2013 by 3 Comments
Sugar Series by Emily Blincoe
September 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It’s Friday and I want some darn sweets! Austin-based photographer Emily Blincoe arranges her sweets through the theme of rainbow colors. Her candy galore photographs are from her “Sugar Series.”
Interview with Voice Actor – Darrel Guilbeau
September 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Ramen Crew caught up with Darrel Guilbeau at FanimeCon for a one on one interview on voice acting for Anime. 
He has been a voice actor for several anime series such as Durarara!, Nura, and even video games, and continues to take on new projects. The Ramen crew completely sees Darrel doing just about anything – not just anime, but television comedy to film. He’s completely down to earth and has a kid-around personality.
Recorded May 25th 2013 at FanimeCon.
Host, The “Eddie” Ballar with Co-host, Reyson Sioson.
Produced by Johnny Moreno.
The Highlights from Japan Expo 1st Impact 2013!
September 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The anime convention imported from France, Japan Expo (JX) landed into Santa Clara, CA on August 23-25th, 2013 and our Ramen crew recapped the highlights from the 3-day event.
For more info, go to: Japan Expo.
Elysium: The Art of the Film
August 14, 2013 by 1 Comment
I had the pleasure of watching Elysium on the big IMAX screen this past weekend and it was a blast to watch. Director-writer Neill Blomkamp created his first intellectual sci-fi hit with District 9 on the cheap and now with a Hollywood budget, he’s able to create visual science-fiction tour de force.
“The idea of Elysium was born out of growing up in a country where wealth discrepancy is a huge issue,” says Blomkamp – Elysium: The Art of the Film.
The year is 2159 and the Earth is overpopulated with scarce resources, rampant crime and poverty. The wealthy class escaped to space and built a heavenly space colony called Elysium. Our anti-hero Max played by Matt Damon clinging to life takes on mission to not only save himself but for the people of Earth. But before I get to the down and gritty of this art book I had some minor complaints: 1) Is it just me or Jodie Foster accent really annoying? 2) When the rebel ships try to land into Elysium, bad guy Kruger uses a shoulder-mounted missile launcher with missiles that are able to go all the way up to space and knock-down the rebel ships? 3) And this leads to my next rant, if this space colony has magic healing machines that can cure cancer and is a technical marvel, Elysium doesn’t have self-defensive weapons like in Star Trek’s Deep Space Nine or Babylon 5 – what is up with that? 4) My last rant – I wished we could see more of the people living in the futuristic space colony. But other than that, it was a wonderful summer movie.
ANIME EXPO 2013 : Simul TV – The Next Generation of the Social Television Experience is Here!
August 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’ve sat in front of the television with my laptop and literally chatted via skpe, twitter, and even shot a facebook comment while watching a FIFA world cup soccer game. In some cases I made a long distant call to rub a score into my best friend’s face! Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an available platform with the game on screen with updated twitter & facebook comments, and Skyping with friends or family joining in on the game to have the ultimate social game experience! Well look no further – Steven Turner has developed the platfom and it’s called Simul TV. “The Eddie” gets the scoop!
This segment opens up with the Ramen crew’s “The Eddie” finally getting Alodia Gosiengfiao to give our Ramen and a Half show a shout out.
Thor Dark World & Captain America Winter Soldier Artist Ron Lim
August 8, 2013 by 2 Comments
Day One of Stockton-Con 2013, wait a minute … the ‘con is only ONE day, anyways, our Ramen crew is in Artist Alley and we grab an interview with comic book artist Ron Lim. Ron has been drawing various Marvel Universe characters for many years now and has worked on iconic projects like Marvel’s big crossover series Infinity Gauntlet with writer Jim Starlin and fellow artist George Pérez. Ron also talks about his other Marvel movie comic book tie-in projects and his special Jollibee Avengers issue.
For more info and projects by Ron check out his site at Ron Lim Art.
Ramen and a Half @ Jpop Summit 2013 SF
August 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Jpop Summit 2013 was held in San Francisco’s Japantown and Union Square districts simultaneously on July 27-28, 2013. The Ramen crew was there to check out this thriving event. We also see Eddie hyped up for Jpop superstar singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Ramon tasting some drinks and having a frightening fun interview with “The Killer Wolf.”
Johnny Moreno
Edward Ballar
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kellyannbrooke
Ramon Angel
Al Woo
Stephen Jang
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