The event promises to be bigger and badder than ever, and if you have been to previous shows, it starts with a terrifying haunted maze that then takes you to a unique variety show with dark and twisted humor. Speaking of Midsummer Scream, Urban Death will have a sneak peek show on August 7-9.

DETAILS:
WHEN: October 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 & Nov 1
7:00p (Sat & Sunday only)
8:00p, 9:00p, 10:00p, 10:45p, 11:30p (Fri, Sat, & Sunday)

WHERE: 4850 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA

TICKET LINK: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/zombiejoes/4552

PRICE : $24.00 ($28.00 at the door)

Urban Death: Tour of Terror Ultra is directed by Denise Devin and produced by Zombie Joe with performances at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group.

The show is 17+ for dark humor and nudity. Wheelchair accessible.

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Nerd Reactor spoke with Lazlow and Bond about the comic’s absurd humor, world-building, and why American Caper is shaking up the comic book world.

“One of the things Dan and I love doing is fake ads,” Lazlow tells Nerd Reactor. “We did a lot of that for the in-game radio and TV in all the GTAs. As part of this comic book, we have fake ads. There are no real ads inside, they’re all fake, and they’re tied into story content.”

The fake ads make the world feel alive, and it’s one of the charms of the Grand Theft Auto games and American Caper comics.

“It’s world building, and so you have to do all the same things,” he added. “What does the town look like? What are the advertisements? What are the billboards? What are the brands? What’s the soda pop? What’s the beer? It’s been fun because it’s a different kind of world-building.”

Bond helps bring Houser and Lazlow up to speed in the comic book world, including bringing in talented artists.

“When Dan and Lazlow pitched me the series, it really felt like something that was gonna shake the comic book industry to its core,” Bond said. “And it doesn’t let up. I promise you, issue 12… the double-sized issue… you are gonna be gobsmacked. The idea was so big it demanded a 48-page issue.”

About American Caper

Synopsis: Verona, Wyoming. A small town like any other. A land of hunter and hunted. Apex predators… and regulations just waiting to be broken. Culture has become a war, everyone has everything they need yet are miserable, and American life is still dominated by real estate, violence and snake oil. From the tax-avoiders in the manicured wilderness of Wyoming, to the thought police of Brooklyn, to the confused political battlegrounds of Florida, one thing is certain: This tragedy is someone else’s fault.

The crime-fiction comic book series was created and written by Dan Houser, produced and with additional writing by Lazlow, and edited by Shelly Bond and Daniel Chabon. Artists include David Lapham (story layouts and pencils), Chris Anderson (finishes), Lee Loughridge (colors), Nate Piekos (lettering), Tyler Boss (series covers), and variant covers by Simon Bisley, Martin Simmonds, Joe Quinones, Marguerite Sauvage, and more.

Issues #1-9 are now available, with issue #10 coming on August 19, 2026. Trade paperback collection volume 1 is now available, with volume 2 releasing on October 27th and volume 3 on March 2, 2027.

The post GTA Veteran Lazlow and Fables Editor Shelly Bond on How American Caper Pushes Comics to the Edge appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The UGREEN x Honkai Star Rail Yao Guang Collector’s Box includes a 65W USB-C charger, a 10000mAh magnetic power bank, a 3.3ft retractable USB-C cable, and a FineTrack Mini2 tracker. For the Yao Guang collectibles, they include the tin badge, chibi acrylic stand, power bank pouch, and holographic ticket.

Check out our unboxing video below to get a taste of what’s inside the collector’s box.

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The UGREEN x Honkai Star Rail Yao Guang Collector’s Box is now available on UGREEN and Amazon.

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For those who want to experience the world of Evil Dead Burn in real life, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is creating new haunted houses based on the sixth film in the franchise. The scares begin on September 3rd at Universal Studios Hollywood and August 28th at Universal Orlando Resort.

Tickets are now on sale for Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort.

Check out the teaser below:

The original film was released in 1981 and spawned a series and other films, making it one of the most terrifying horror properties today. It catapulted Bruce Campbell’s career, who would star in many Evil Dead projects and appear in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.

The Evil Dead Burn haunted houses will feature the Price family’s secluded vacation home in the woods, with the Deadites scaring guests throughout.

Merchandise for the film will be available at both parks and will include t-shirts, hats, acrylic figures, and more.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights will run from Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, November 1. Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights runs from Friday, August 28 through Sunday, November 1.

For ticket information, please visit http://www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

The post Evil Dead Burn Heads to Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Topics included their favorite anime, who would win in a battle royale, and the mystery behind the Prism Devices in their music videos.

Check out our video interview with cosmosy below!

cosmosy has been busy releasing a lot of new music this year, including “Paradise ~ I need you ~”, a super catchy song that features the members trying to get the Prism ring. They even channeled the music video’s aesthetic with some of their outfits in the interview.

cosmosy will be performing in Los Angeles at KCON LA 2026, which will take place at the Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center from August 14 to August 16, 2026.

The post cosmosy Talks Anime, Music, and the Mystery Behind the Prism Devices at Anime Expo 2026 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

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The case features artwork by Ina’nis and Rosuuri, with an exclusive Royal Purple colorway. It is also interactive thanks to the integrated touchscreen with Ina’nis as the centerpiece, and you can move the camera around and zoom in and out. She also comes with idle animations.

Fans can also get the Ninomae Ina’nis Keycap and Desk Pad Bundle as part of the collaboration. The Keycap set include 155 keys and is compatible with ANSI/JIS keyboards while also featuring the Royal Purple colorway and Takodachi iconography. The 900mm x 400mm Desk Pad is included and has artwork by Rosuuri.

The HYTE Y70 Touch Infinite Ninomae Ina’nis Case is now available for pre-order at HYTE.com and retails for $499.99.

The HYTE Ninomae Ina’nis Keycap and Desk Pad Bundle is now available for pre-order at HYTE.com and retails for $134.99.

The post Hololive’s Ninomae Ina’nis and HYTE Team Up for Stylish, Interactive PC Case appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Alexandria Neonakis (The Last of Us, Uncharted 4), a professional character designer and concept artist, will be teaching the weekly class on Wednesdays from July 8 to 29, from 3 pm to 5 pm PDT.

You can register for the classes via the Wacom site.

Here is the schedule for the classes:

Session 1: July 8th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm PDT / 6:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
What makes a great character design? Mixing and matching simple shapes

Session 2: July 15th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm PDT / 6:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Finding our own style: bringing inspiration and references together

Session 3: July 22nd from 3:00 – 5:00 pm PDT / 6:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Costumes, settings, and accessories: getting the details of our character down

Session 4: July 29th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm PDT / 6:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Final details, high-level professional feedback, and Q&A

The post Create Your Own Anime, Comic, or Game Character With Wacom Creativity Camp appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

We had the chance to chat with Juliette M. Ojeda, who portrays Sophie in the Mamma Mia! national tour. You can check out the video interview above.

“Mama Mia was actually the first musical I ever watched live in person,” Ojeda tells Nerd Reactor. “It was on Royal Caribbean. I was 13, so it was about 10 years ago. This has just always been my dream role. I mean, this was the musical that inspired me to pursue musical theater, to pursue acting and singing.

“That’s just kind of been my journey. I’ve been auditioning for this specific tour for nearly three years. And after going in as the understudy and as an ensemble, I was auditioning for that part. The last thing I expected was for me to land the lead. So it’s been quite the journey, and it’s been really awesome. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

About Mamma Mia!

Synopsis: Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago.

The musical stars Jessica Crouch as Donna Sheridan, Juliette M. Ojeda as Sophie Sheridan, Carly Sakolove as Rosie, Jalynne Steele as Tanya, Leland Burnett as Bill Austin, Rob Hancock and Rob Marnell as Harry Bright, Victor Wallace as Sam Carmichael, and more.

Mamma Mia! tickets are available until July 19th at the Center Theatre Group site. The Ahmanson Theatre is located at 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

The post Mamma Mia’s Juliette M. Ojeda Says the Musical That Inspired Her Career Is Now Her Dream Role appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

It was, “Really? Another one?”

After seven films in the Despicable Me universe, it’s fair to wonder whether these little yellow troublemakers still have anything new to offer. They’ve become some of the most recognizable animated characters in the world, but they’ve also become impossible to escape. At some point, you have to ask whether audiences are laughing because the jokes are still fresh or simply because they’re familiar.

Then Minions & Monsters surprised me.

Directed by Pierre Coffin, who once again lends his unmistakable voice to every Minion on screen, the film serves as the third chapter in the Minions prequel series. Set in 1920, nearly five decades before the events of Minions (2015), the story follows the lovable yet misunderstood blue-and-yellow gang as they find themselves caught up in the early days of Hollywood with one ambitious goal: to make a monster movie worthy of the silver screen.

If you’re expecting another simple slapstick adventure, you’re only getting part of the picture.

The real star of Minions & Monsters is classic cinema.

Every frame feels packed with affection for the golden age of filmmaking. Silent films. Universal Monsters. Massive studio backlots. Elaborate practical effects. Famous movie posters. Early cameras. Even blink-and-you’ll-miss-them visual gags reference legendary actors, directors, and iconic moments from film history. I honestly started looking at the backgrounds almost as much as I was watching the Minions because there was always another little tribute waiting to be discovered.

As someone who genuinely loves movies and the history behind them, I found this to be the biggest surprise of the entire experience.

The voice cast helps sell that celebration. Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, and Phil LaMarr all bring plenty of personality to their characters. Nobody feels like they’re simply collecting a paycheck. Everyone seems to understand exactly what kind of movie they’re making, and that playful energy spreads across the entire cast.

The biggest weakness, unfortunately, is the main story itself.

It’s perfectly enjoyable, but it never reaches the emotional highs that some earlier entries in the franchise managed to find. There were moments where I felt the narrative leaning on familiar Minion antics instead of pushing toward something new, and I can understand why some audiences may feel a bit of Minion fatigue after all these years.

Oddly enough, it was the smaller stories that won me over.

Characters in the background receive funny little arcs. Relationships quietly develop without demanding attention. Running jokes pay off in clever ways. The world itself becomes just as entertaining as the central plot. I found myself smiling at details that had nothing to do with the main adventure because they reflected such genuine admiration for filmmaking as an art form.

That’s what kept pulling me back in.

This doesn’t feel like a movie trying to convince audiences that Minions are still popular. It feels like a group of filmmakers using the Minions to celebrate the people who built cinema into what it is today. Every old movie reference, every lovingly recreated set, every affectionate wink toward Hollywood history comes across as sincere.

By the time the credits rolled, I realized I had spent less time thinking about whether the franchise still worked and more time appreciating why this particular story existed. Minions & Monsters may not be the strongest film in the series, but it carries enough charm, humor, and genuine love for movies to earn its place.

It also left me with one lingering question.

Maybe this was the perfect direction for the Minions because it gave them something new to celebrate. But after seven films, it’s fair to wonder where they go from here. This franchise has given audiences plenty of laughs over the years, and Minions & Monsters proves there is still some creative fuel left in the tank. At the same time, I couldn’t help asking myself whether this might be the right moment to let these little yellow icons take a well-earned bow before their magic becomes too familiar.

If this does end up being one of their last great adventures, it’s a pretty wonderful note to leave on.

Rating: 3.5/5 Atoms

Minions & Monsters storms its way into theaters this Wednesday, July 1st.

The post Minions & Monsters Review – Bananas, Monsters, and Movie Magic appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Fans in Southern California who want to meet them will get a chance at this week’s Fan Expo Anaheim at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that was the template for the popular characters fans see today including Ahsoka Tano.

“When we first were announced and people found out about our project, they were not excited,” Taber tells Nerd Reactor. “Star Wars animation was not something that had been around. So there was a lot of skepticism, especially with the character of Ahsoka. We talk about this all the time. So, in general, people were like, ‘I don’t know about this.’ I always tell this joke that some of my friends, they didn’t even watch the show. They were like, ‘Oh, a cartoon,’ and then a couple of years later they watched Clone Wars, and they were like, ‘Dude, your show’s so good!'”

Fans will get to meet Catherine Taber this weekend at Fan Expo Anaheim, and she talks about her appreciation for them.

“I am meeting people who love what we do and are so grateful, and how can I not feel grateful for that?” she said. “So it’s like a mutual love fest, and then I meet the coolest young people. And sometimes they’re going through things in their life that are difficult. And I feel like I get to have a moment with them where I could be encouraging, and that’s been the greatest gift.”

James Arnold Taylor on Obi-Wan Kenobi

James Arnold Taylor’s credits include Magneto in Marvel Rivals and Tidus in Final Fantasy X, just to name a few. His most well-known role is Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars universe.

“I’ve actually, and I never say this with a bloated ego, but I’ve played more Obi-Wan than even Ewan McGregor and Sir Alec Guinness combined,” the actor said.

Taylor loves meeting people who love the world the actors were a part of.

“I have just felt like at every convention, I am meeting people that love what we do and are so grateful.”

Brendan Wayne, the Mandalorian

The Mandalorian series is a huge hit on Disney+ that spawned a live-action feature film, The Mandalorian and Grogu. Pedro Pascal is known as the voice of the titular character, but the actor underneath inside the suit is mainly portrayed by Brendan Wayne. Star Wars fans will instantly recognize that walk.

“I mean, honestly, it’s incredible,” Wayne said. “Like I could sit, come over and grab some tissue, I guess, and whine about something, but at the end of the day, dude, I really do have the best of both worlds.

There are positives to being an actor in a Star Wars project in a helmet.

“I get to be a part of my kids’ lives without interruption at dinners and things like that,” he explained. “I mean, I watch Pedro; I’ve been out with him. It’s rough, dude.”

Fans will also get to meet Wayne at Fan Expo Anaheim, and like everyone else, he’ll be excited to see Mark Hamill.

“But as far as going to cons, I’m gonna do Fan Expo Anaheim, and I’m doing it because Mark Hamill’s gonna be there.”

Fan Expo Anaheim is running from June 26 to 28, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Celebrity guests include Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), The Lord of the Rings‘ Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, John Rhys-Davies, and many more.

The post ‘A Mutual Love Fest’: Star Wars Actors Reflect on Fan Connection Ahead of Fan Expo Anaheim appeared first on Nerd Reactor.