Chicago Film Office Director Richard Moskal confirmed with Crain's that filming on the Zack Snyder-directed Superman film will begin in Chicago August 7. more ›

The hype over last summer's filming Transformers in Chicago has faded away, but new video of professional thrillseekers jumping off the top of the Sears Tower in wingsuits (yes, they're really flying through downtown Chicago) has just come out. more ›

Ever since spotting his first book, Clumsy, at Quimby's, we've been under the spell of Jeffrey Brown. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Brown moved to Chicago to pursue an MFA at the School of the Art Institute. Clumsy was his thesis project. Since then he's created dozens of mini-comics, "graphic memoirs," and other books. He even directed an animated video of the Death Cab for Cutie song "Your Heart is an Empty Room." more ›

So the commercial for the new "Transformers" movie left us feeling "meh," especially once you consider this town has seen worse damage from just a cow and a lantern (depending on your point of view). But this video? Pretty cool. more ›

Sometimes a smorgasbord is the best way to consume information, so ... more ›

We still maintain the Transformers movies would suck much less with humans as Autobots/Decepticons instead of some weird insect-looking CGI crap. more ›

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen opens today in theaters everywhere. We already know what Roger Ebert thinks of it. And right now, it reminds us that the only real Transformers movie we need is the animated movie from 1986 (watch the whole thing YouTube clips beginning here). And all we need right now on this stormy, humid day is this clip featuring Stan Bush's "The Touch." Behold the 80's in all their glory. more ›

Anyone remember last summer when you could send your friends a weird phone message from Samuel L. Jackson about Snakes On A Plane? The company behind that promotion, Chicago-based Varitalk, is back with a similar take on the upcoming Transformers DVD release that lets you send a call from Optimus Prime. Check it out for Monday's biggest (and most awesome-est) time suck.... more ›

When Gary Huswit's documentary Helvetica screened earlier this year at the Siskel, it certainly brought all the typeheads out of the woodwork — it broke box-office records at the Siskel and is now the theater's highest-grossing film. Now you get another chance to see it if you missed it the first time around, but tonight and tomorrow is your your last chance. It's a fascinating examination of what it means to be modern (and post-modern),... more ›

This week ended with the launch of the seventh and final Harry Potter installation. But while the world was consumed with Pottermania, it's important to remember that there were more serious things going on in the world, too – two of them in -Ist cities. Sampaist was shocked when a passenger jet crashed into the center of Sao Paulo, killing at least 200 people. The airplane, an Airbus A320, skidded off the runway at the... more ›

Now that Spidey 3 and Transformers have opened and iPhone mania is starting to subside, it’s time to find a new place to direct all that geek-out energy. Enter Chicago Tap Theatre’s latest storybook show, The Hourglass in the Stop-Time Chronicles, a CTT collaboration with comic-book artist Andrew Pepoy. Fans of the genre don’t need to be reminded that local boy and Loyola grad Pepoy has inked Spiderman, Superman, Batman, and The Simpsons comix, among... more ›

Having stayed up last night to watch the midnight showing of with all the other nerds, we enjoyed ourselves but came away feeling more than a little nostalgic for the good ole days of paper comics. more ›

What Happened to Bozo? more ›

Your carpet is stained so badly you can't remember its original color. People cross the street when they see you coming. Your furniture is gnawed, pillows shredded, and trash cans constantly disemboweled. You have a bad dog. Sure, he was cute and cuddly when you brought him home from the shelter, but as soon as he got comfortable he started playing you like a fiddle. "No!" and "Bad dog!" mean nothing to your pooch;... more ›

Chicagoist will be heading over to Rotofugi tonight for the reception for their latest exhibit, “Transfigured Transformers.” Artist Jefrey Lacson is a Chicago native and recent graduate of the School of the Art Institute, and his work deals with some of our favorite toys from ages past, Transformers. If we recall correctly, they're more than meets the eye. more ›