Fans of the hit AMC television adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead were surprised to hear showrunner Frank Darabont would be exiting the series. Apparently, so were the cast and crew.

The Hollywood Reporter gathered this information from an insider on the show, writing:

“In hot, sticky Atlanta, where production on the second season had been under way since June, the cast was summoned to a lunch meeting with AMC vp scripted programming Ben Davis, who confirmed that Darabont was out. The crew was briefed separately. One insider says those gathered were stunned at “the duplicity of AMC” for having used Darabont to promote the show at Comic-Con before firing him. And they were angry about the lack of explanation; they were simply told, cryptically, “This isn’t working.” Above all, they were disheartened. “It’s a crushing blow,” says the insider. “Even when you have a hit, they can still destroy you.”

Yikes. “Insiders” always seem to dramatize any situation under the condition of anonymity but it seems at least that the firing of Darabont was an unpopular decision all around. THR reports that Darabont returned to Los Angeles after the news to finish some notes and send out cordial goodbye emails but that he and his representatives are maintaining a “steady silence” on the topic.

“There also have been no public comments from the cast,” writes THR, “and a source with knowledge of the situation says AMC has been ‘terrorizing’ them and their representatives to discourage them from speaking out on Darabont’s behalf. ‘They’re scared,’ confirms another insider. ‘They’re on a zombie show. They are all really easy to kill off.’”

Again, very dramatic but whatever the case, not even AMC is opening up about the decision. “AMC issued a statement after Darabont was dismissed, expressing gratitude for his ‘innumerable’ contributions to the show,” writes THR. “Asked to comment on criticism for the handling of his departure, a spokesperson said, ‘We have nothing further to add.’”

However, it has previously been reported that Glen Mazzara, Darabont’s former second-in-command, will be taking over as showrunner of The Walking Dead. Season 2 is currently in production.

Once a week I sift through the millions of Etsy listings to find the best in geek chic for Blog@ readers. Last week it was geeky jewelry by starbrightsilver, this week, it’s the cat’s meow. I’m talking of course about Catwoman. She’s been buzzing the last week thanks to the reveal of Anne Hathaway’s costume in The Dark Knight Rises so I thought I’d take a look around Etsy and see what Selina was up to. Catwoman has inspired a lot of people through the years and Etsy sellers were no different. I decided to focus squarely on art inspired by the character this time around.

The current Catwoman costume gets some love from user TimmyK. Titled “The CatWoman,” you can get this print for $12. He’s got some other great Gotham characters in his store too.

Lots of people have played Catwoman through the years but this lady is a favorite of a lot of fans. The Julie Newmar as Catwoman print is by user LauraGuzzo and sells for just $5. This artist also contributed a fantastic piece for Wonder Woman Day last year which she’s also selling as a print.

You probably know that Adam Hughes took a lot of inspiration from actress Audrey Hepburn while illustrating Catwoman through the years, well he’s not the only one. User Nude Squid (who admits inspiration from Hughes) created this Audrey Hepburn styled Catwoman print selling for $40.

User SilviaHKitty15 titles this one simply, “Catwoman,” but it’s of course a rendition of the animated Selina Kyle. This one is the actual original painting and is going for $75.

And finally, my favorite of the bunch, “Toxic Love.” By user ToxicAppleStudios, the print comes on gator board, ready to hang. $41.

As always, bear in mind, since Etsy is a craft website and not a commercial, mass-market dealer, items are almost always one-of-a-kind or in very limited availability. When you see something you like, buy it. It may not be there the next time you surf round. (Yes, it’s a very dangerous site for your wallet.) Also, since most items are created individually, many sellers are willing to customize something specifically to suit your needs. Just ask!

I’m usually one to avoid spoilers if I can help it but for some reason I click on anything and everything The Dark Knight Rises related lately. This video is a behind-the-scenes look at a fight between Christian Bale’s Batman and Tom Hardy’s Bane, rehearsal and shooting, so if want to go into the film fresh, don’t watch.  (more…)

GK Films has picked up the rights to Image Comics’ The Vault by Sam Sarkar and Garrie Gastony, the first issue of which, just hit stores last week.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The underwater sci-fi story centers on a group of divers who, off the coast of Nov Scotia, uncover a sarcophagus with unusual remains and inadvertently unleash an ancient evil.” They also mention that Sarkar and Gastonny previously created the supernatural Western graphic novel Calberfor Radical Publishing.

Johnny Depp and his production company, Infinite Nihil’s, president Christi Dembrowski will produce the adaptation along with GK’s Graham King and Tim Headington.

Anyone pick this up last week? It’s apparently only a three issue series so it will be interested to see how it’s adapted.

Now that the first image of British actor Henry Cavill as Superman has been released (and dissected by the internet), the star can share his own thoughts on the famous costume and the work it involves.

“They just put it on, I turned around and look in the mirror and you can’t really play it cool – you sort of guffaw and laugh. I thought ‘OK, holy hell, this is real, it’s not a joke anymore. This is it…you’re doing it, you’re right in the middle of it,’” Cavill told TotalFilm.com. He also said wearing the costume is “extremely cool” and, “There’s no other feeling like it.”

Being in the iconic suit requires a certain degree of physical fitness to say the least and the actor, who also stars in the upcoming Immortals, has had to stay quite toned for a while thanks to the back-to-back roles. Speaking to Newsarama a few months ago, Cavill said, “Biggest challenge on [Immortals] was maintaining the physical shape because it was extraordinary difficult with the hours we had and like I said, fourteen hours minimum with a half hour lunch and you can’t eat that much and you’re in every day. There’s no time to sit back and relax and settle and then have your recovery day and have to go back in. It was nonstop brutal.”

Since this was before filming started on Man of Steel, he also looked to the future, “I think on Superman it will be slightly different because I’ve approached it with the experience of Immortals and I’ve said, ‘Look, guys, I’m going to need recovery time and I’m going to need this, I’m going to need that, if possible, please, please.’”

For his role as Superman, Cavill told TotalFilm, “I’m on 5000 calories a day… You’ve got to eat protein first, then a little bit of carbs…you’ve gotta keep your hunger levels going. I’m training two and a half hours a day, pushing my body beyond its normal limits, putting on a lot of muscle mass and just making myself look like Superman.”

When speaking to Newsarama about taking on such a famous character Cavill said, “I think the most difficult thing with Superman is going to be making everyone…doing a true justice to the role while reimagining it.” The actor couldn’t give any plot details at that time or now to TotalFilm but did say that he’s focusing on “being as true as I can be to the original character and who the character is.”

The fact that a British man was going to play an American superhero ruffled a few feathers but Cavill told TotalFilm, “I’m very proud to be British and playing an iconic American superhero…it means I’m doing something right somewhere.” When speaking to Newsarama he said, “Superman is, I think these days he’s such a universal idea. And yes, he was raised in America as a character but I don’t think the Brits see it any different, they see him as the coolest, biggest and best superhero out there.”

Man Of Steel is set to hit theaters in June 14, 2013.

Once a week I sift through the millions of Etsy listings to find the best in geek chic for Blog@ readers. Last week I harkened back to my childhood with the Princess of Power herself, She-Ra. This time I’ve decided to focus on one particular Etsy user, as I’ve done in the past, starbrightsilver (Megan).

Never before did I think to myself, “You know what I need? I need a Bat’leth necklace.” I can’t say that any longer. Starbrightsilver has recreated the famous Klingon weapon in tiny form for $37.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love Jurassic Park. I thought I was a total weirdo until I became friends with a girl that was equally obsessed with the dinosaur film. Needless to say, we share a special bond and I know she’ll love this “Clever Girl” necklace as much as I do. In Jurassic Park font of course, $20.

Two words. My. Precious. $50

As soon as I looked at this A-Team pin I got the television theme song stuck in my head. And now, so do you. Starbrightsilver has this one for $12.

And last but not least, prove to everyone you’re a Goonie by wearing their motto for everyone to see. This “Goonies never say die!” pendant is made from black perspex/acrylic and sells for $19.

As always, bear in mind, since Etsy is a craft website and not a commercial, mass-market dealer, items are almost always one-of-a-kind or in very limited availability. When you see something you like, buy it. It may not be there the next time you surf round. (Yes, it’s a very dangerous site for your wallet.) Also, since most items are created individually, many sellers are willing to customize something specifically to suit your needs. Just ask!

Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive, actor Laurence Fishburne has been cast as Perry White in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

Needless to say, this is going to be a hot button topic. “White has traditionally been a hard-charging, old fashioned newspaperman, who relies on his ace reporters, Clark and Lois, to get the big scoop,” said EW. The news comes less than a day after Marvel announced their new, non-traditional casting for Ultimate Spider-Man in the comics (Read that spoiler here).

EW writes, “The casting resolves the question of what Laurence would be up to following his departure this May from CBS’ long-running CSI after just over two seasons.” White has previously been played by Jackie Cooper, Frank Langella and Lane Smith just to name a few. Fishburne joins actors Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe and Julia Ormond already cast in the new Superman film, Man of Steel, which starts shooting in the fall and is scheduled for a June 14, 2013 release.

So Superman fans, how does this casting sit with you? Can you see Perry White as anything but a graying, white man? I’m kind of liking this idea.

Marvel Studios are on a speeding bullet train it seems. Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger have done well at the box office and footage from The Avengers seems to indicate the trend will last. Now it looks as if Marvel is turning their gaze to the Sorcerer Supreme – Doctor Strange.

According to the website Twitch, the writing team of Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Donnelly have turned in a Doctor Strange script and Marvel is going forward with the property. “Marvel has drafted a short list of directors to approach on the title and is forwarding the current script to each to try and sign someone up to ‘oversee continued development,’” writes Twitch.

Oppenheimer and Donnelly previously worked on the Conan reboot, soon to hit theaters, Dylan Dog and Cowboys and Aliens. A good chunk of Marvel’s main hero properties have been utilized at this point and while there’s been a great deal of science-fiction involved with those properties, fantasy for the most part has been steered clear of. Was Doctor Strange really the next natural choice or would it have been a bolder move for Marvel to give one of their heroines a solo shot?

This early in the game nothing is certain but there is one bit of information that may lead us to believe this Doctor Strange movie will happen, Strange’s Orb of Agamotto was one of the artifacts seen in Odin’s vault in Thor. With Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 scheduled for release in 2013 it seems unlikely we’d see this one for a while.

New Jersey native Patrick McDonnell’s Mutts comic strip has been picked up by 20th Century Fox to be made into a feature film.

The Hollywood Reporter says McDonnell and his brother Robert will write the script with Patrick also serving as executive producer. If you aren’t familiar, Mutts is a daily syndicated comic strip that began in 1994 and runs in newspapers across the country. It’s about a dog and cat duo, Earl and Mooch, and their daily adventures that occasionally feature their elderly owners or other animals (plus Little Pink Socks!). McDonnell also champions many animal-related welfare causes like adoption and endangered species. There’s even Animal Friendly license plates with the Mutts characters here in NJ.

“Fox has had success in the comics-to-movie genre before,” writes THR, “The studio made two films based on the popular Garfield comic strip that grossed nearly $350 million combined worldwide. The Mutts project was brought in by Fox Animation executive Ralph Millero.”

Here’s  hoping the film is made with classic animation, which would better compliment McDonnell’s style, rather than the Garfield CGI route. Regardless, this is awesome news for me, I love Mutts and it’s nice to see a fellow New Jersyite get the attention he so deserves.

With Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel full steam ahead, most Superman fans are trying to forget about 2006′s Superman Returns but a deleted scene released this week is making that a bit difficult.

I don’t…it’s…hmm. Not sure what to make of this. What are your thoughts?

It’s a deleted scene from the forthcoming Superman Anthology Blu-ray and according to The Hollywood Reporter cost $10 million to produce and would have been the opening to the Bryan Singer directed film. Whatever the case, I think it’s safe to say they made the right decision not including this in the theatrical release. It’s a well-done piece of film but way too long and terribly dull in my opinion.

Blog@Newsarama reported yesterday that The Walking Dead showrunner, Frank Darabont, was leaving that coveted position. Today his number two, Glen Mazzara, has been announced as his replacement.

Deadline writes “Mazzara, who joined the show at the beginning of Season 2 as No. 2 to Darabont, will now indeed be the series’ new showrunner. He remains an executive producer alongside Robert Kirkman, on whose comic the series is based, and Gale Anne Hurd.” The news of Darabont’s departure, although we don’t know if it’s from the show completely, was a huge shock considering he sat on The Walking Dead panel at San Diego Comic-Con last Friday.

Yesterday, Deadline had this to say, “Darabont, who spent five years trying to get a TV version of the zombie saga off the ground and wrote and directed the AMC pilot, hails from the feature world, and I hear that he never quite adjusted to the daily grind of producing a TV series.”

“Production on Season 2 of Walking Dead has not been interrupted by the showrunner change, and the series remains on target for an Oct. 16 premiere,” writes Deadline, “Mazzara has been part of The Walking Dead since Season 1 when he wrote one of the six episodes as a freelancer.” The writer/producers has previously worked on Starz’s Crash, The Shield and Hawthorne.

Once a week I sift through the millions of Etsy listings to find the best in geek chic for Blog@ readers. Last week I found items pertaining to the First Avenger, Captain America. This week I’m going with one of my childhood favorites. That’s right kids, I’m talking about the Princess of Power herself, She-Ra.

Well we’ve got Lego Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, etc. I say it’s about time we get a Lego She-Ra. Until then there’s these custom made She-Ra and Swift Wing Legos! User littleRaccoonMama created this one and is selling the set for $40.

Just the other day a girl friend of mine needed a flask. Too bad this one isn’t sold in stores. It’s the She-Ra Princess of Power Flask from user stellarcustominages. This one features most of the cast and something tells me you’ll think you’re the Princess of Power after drinking from it. There’s also one available with just She-Ra’s face, both $32 each.

I still own all my She-Ra dolls and for obvious reasons the redheads were always my favorite. That’s why I’m in love with this Castaspella Light Switch Plate. User goblinhut is selling it as well as a Catra, She-Ra and a Entrapta one for $6 each!

Catra comes from Hordak’s Evil Horde, that doesn’t mean she can’t be associated with hearts. Check out this Catra hologram necklace from user HeadlessTessDIY. $16.99 for this one or $8.99 for a simpler version sans heart.

Created from an old comic book, these She-Ra earrings are simply delightful. From user ZacharyPryor, these go for $35 and there’s also a matching cuff available for $29.

As always, bear in mind, since Etsy is a craft website and not a commercial, mass-market dealer, items are almost always one-of-a-kind or in very limited availability. When you see something you like, buy it. It may not be there the next time you surf round. (Yes, it’s a very dangerous site for your wallet.) Also, since most items are created individually, many sellers are willing to customize something specifically to suit your needs. Just ask!

Announced last week at San Diego Comic-Con, Castle star Stana Katic will voice Batman’s long-time love interest in the Batman: Arkham City video game.

According to USA Today, the game has gained the classic Batman villain for its roster. Paul Crocker of Rocksteady Studios said, “We can’t really say why she is in the game because it would spoil an awesome part of it.”

“She’s a good girl who has naughty habits. We’re not sure if their tryst is over yet,” said Stana Katic, “She’s an ambiguous interesting character with a Persian/Greek accent.” The actress told the crowd at the Arkham City panel at SDCC,  ”Talia is such a complex character and it was great to voice her in Batman: Arkham City. I was amazed at all the detail put into the project and it’s great to see how excited the fans are about the game.”

No specific details were given as to Talia’s specific role in the game but Katic said, “She’s just kick-ass, man.” Jim Lee also announced at San Diego Comic-Con that the Arkham City comic mini-series written by Paul Dini will be released as a graphic novel on October 18, the same day the video game is released.

Dark Horse Comics, who recently launched their digital catalog, are holding a tremendous giveaway at San Diego Comic-Con this week for a few lucky fans.

Each day at the convention, Thursday-Sunday, Dark Horse will be giving one lucky winner $500 in digital comics from Dark Horse Digital. At their booth, #2615, from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., raffle tickets will be handed out to fans who will have presumably been lining up as early as possible for their chance to win.  At 10 a.m. sharp, one lucky ticket will be drawn and that fan will walk away $500 richer in digital comics.

Dark Horse titles like The Goon, Solomon Kane, B.P.R.D. and Hellboy are all currently available as well as countless others in single issues or bundles. Digital Store purchases can be read on your laptop, desktop, mobile browser, and Dark Horse Bookshelf app, available on iTunes. Good luck Dark Horse fans!

Once a week I sift through the millions of Etsy listings to find the best in geek chic for Blog@ readers. Last week was a killer for me because I did a special extended edition in honor of the end of Harry Potter (Can you believe I didn’t buy ONE thing?!). Regardless, another big movie event is happening this week and therefore Captain America is getting his time in the spotlight. Here’s a few things you could sport to make you feel like the First Avenger.

If you were watching Captain America on television this week instead of a movie theater I’d suggest this Comic Slate Coaster. Made by user BlameItOnBadLuck, the coaster is waterproof and 4 inches by 4 inches. $6.

Most of the items I found for Cap surrounded around his shield. Go figure. Here’s an awesome set of Captain America Shield Cufflinks from user funkygiftshop for a frugal $1. Or, if you’d prefer to see Cap running out of your sleeve, try these cufflinks from user ivcreations55 for $25.

I know someone who’s going to go absolutely wild for this Captain America Shield Bag. User CreoNodo writes, “Please don’t throw this bag at people (unless absolutely necessary).” Sure, take ALL the fun out of it! A pretty sweet creation, albeit a bit pricey, at $95.

I see these fun voodoo doll type keychains at conventions all the time but I’ve never come across a Captain America String Doll. User Stringdollworld handcrafted this mini-Cap from a single piece of flax rope and says it can be used as a keychain, a mobile phone strap, added to jewelry or any other similar use. $6.99.

Heading to a Renaissance Fair this year? Going LARPing with friends soon? How can you pass up this Captain America Chainmail Shirt?? I may have one reason, user BladeAvenger is selling it for $1,000. But you cannot deny the craftsmanship here. The user says the shirt fits a man who can wear up to a large t-shirt size in the broadness of shoulders and about a 36″ waist and designed it down to a point to be reminiscent of Cap’s original shield.

As always, bear in mind, since Etsy is a craft website and not a commercial, mass-market dealer, items are almost always one-of-a-kind or in very limited availability. When you see something you like, buy it. It may not be there the next time you surf round. (Yes, it’s a very dangerous site for your wallet.) Also, since most items are created individually, many sellers are willing to customize something specifically to suit your needs. Just ask!

The Boy Wizard overtook the Dark Knight over the weekend to become the highest grossing weekend film opening of all time with $168.8 million dollars in ticket sales in the North America alone. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 made a whopping $476 million worldwide.

Deathly Hallows Part 2′s $168.8 million easily overtook the previous record holder, 2008′s The Dark Knight’s $158.4 million, over the weekend. It also beat Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides from earlier this year which at the time held the biggest debut at the international box office when it made $262 million.

Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, Dan Fellman said in a statement, “These numbers are amazing, but they are only part of the story. It is impossible to quantify how thrilled and grateful we all are that both critics and audiences — especially loyal Harry Potter fans — continue to support the film. This is the culmination of an extraordinary decade, and a reflection of the hard work and dedication of many, many people on both sides of the camera, beginning with the brilliant J.K. Rowling, as well as producer David Heyman. We applaud them all.”

President of International Distribution, Veronika Kwan-Rubinek said, “Harry Potter is truly a cultural phenomenon the world over. Whether in German, French, Japanese, Russian, or any language, international audiences have embraced the Harry Potter films over the years, with the powerful finale punctuating just how special the property is.”

The fellow Warner Bros. franchises shared the screen over the weekend as well. The first teaser for The Dark Knight Rises played before Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Archaia’s forthcoming graphic novel, Rust: Visitor in the Field, has been acquired by 20th Century Fox to be adapted into a film.

The book, set to be released this September, was written and illustrated by Royden Lepp. From Archaia: “Rust is a high-octane adventure set in the prairie lands of an unknown time. Life on the Taylor family farm was difficult enough before Jet Jones crashes into the barn, chased by a giant decommissioned war robot! Oldest son Roman Taylor struggles to keep his family’s small farm afloat as the area heals from a devastating world war. While the rest of his family may not trust the mysterious boy with the jetpack, Roman believes the secrets of Jet’s past may be the key to their survival.”

Deadline reports writer Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) will handle script duties while Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class) and Archaia’s own Editor-In-Chief Stephen Christy will produce. Some very nice news for Archaia to walk into San Diego Comic-Con with next week to be sure. Congrats to them!

You’re familiar with J’onn J’onzz of Mars but do you know John Carter? The trailer from Disney’s epic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom series has made it’s way to the internet.

The film stars Taylor Kitsch, formerly of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, in the lead role as well as several other superhero film alums: Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin), Thomas Hayden Church (Sandman) and Mark Strong (Sinestro). Previously referred to as John Carter of Mars (the way the character is often referred to in the book), the film is based on the first book from the Barsoom series, A Princess of Mars, first printed in 1912. Carter is an American Civil War vet, who turns out to be more than that, transported to Barsoom (Mars) which he finds inhabited by large green aliens (not unlike our J’onn).

Studios have attempted to make a John Carter film since 1931 when Looney Tunes director Bob Clampett asked Burroughs to make it into an animated film. It never took off and neither did any other attempt until now. Directed by Pixar’s WALL-E director Andrew Stanton, John Carter hits theaters March 9, 2012.

For all the people you hear blabbing about going to San Diego Comic-Con next week there’s tons more who aren’t. It’s a good thing lots of places are putting together parties and events for those not going to the con. Once such event was organized by Geek Girl On The Street’s Kate Kotler. It’s happening THIS Friday and it’s called “Heroes in Disguise: a San-Diego Comic-Con Pre-Party & Hero Initiative Benefit.” The press release is below.

Heroes in Disguise: a San Diego Comic-Con Pre-Party & Hero Initiative Benefit

Challengers Comics
http://www.challengerscomics.com/
1845 N. Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647

Pop culture webzine Geek Girl on the Street (geekgirlonthestreet.com) and Chicago’s own Challengers Comics (http://www.challengerscomics.com/) will be honoring the Hero Initiative  with a pre-San Diego Comic-Con party and fundraiser on Friday, July 15 at the Western Avenue comic book shop. This event will feature:

• Complimentary cocktails provided by Desiree Vodka from Tipton Spirits
• Complimentary snacks provided by Geek Girl on the Street
• VIP Schwag (click link for complete list of schwag) packaged in reusable tote bags donated by Yelp, schwag items include pieces donated by EdenFantasys, FilmCatcher, Geek Girl on the Street, Luxury Lane Soaps, ThinkGeek and Threadless
• Three Tier Raffle/Auction (click link for current list of raffle items) featuring original artwork by Thom Zahler and Jeffery Brown, autographed books from Lynda Barry, Robert Kirkman and others, a Tauntaun sleeping bag donated by ThinkGeek (valued at $100) and a publishers package of books donated by Oni Press + among other great items.
• ALL PROCEEDS GO TO BENEFIT THE HERO INITIATIVE.

“When you give whatever you can spare to HERO, you must not think of it as just a donation. Think of it, instead, as a small payback to talented and deserving comicbook creators, now down on their luck, who have brought all of us so much reading pleasure for so many years. It’s far more than charity. Its a way for all of us to say — ‘Thanks.’”

—Stan Lee, former president and chairman of Marvel Comics and creator of Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and many other notable comic series

Most comic book writers and illustrators would agree that it’s a labor of love that drives them to create, not a goldmine, and for every new creator who signs a deal with DC or Marvel, there are exponentially more who can barely cover the cost of a booth at their local comic convention. The Hero Initiative (http://www.heroinitiative.org/) began in 2000 to create a “financial safety net” for comic book writers and artists to aid in covering basic needs and cost of living: A not-for-profit lead by gracious benefactors from within the comic industry, The Hero Initiative offers a chance to give back to the people who have given comic book lovers so much enjoyment over the years, and even provides an avenue back into paying work for unemployed comic creators.

Updates on this event will be posted to Geekgirlonthestreet.com as they come in.

Once a week I sift through the millions of Etsy listings to find the best in geek chic for Blog@ readers. Last week I gave you a Grab Bag assortment of geeky items from the crafting website but this week is something closer to my heart – Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling’s über-successful book series has already come to a close but this week sees the final installment of the film franchise. And boy am I bringing tissues with me to the theater. Even though the end will be sad, Harry Potter will remain awesome in my eyes forever. Here is a special extended edition of Etsy Made Me Do It. Accio crafts!

One of the biggest parts of going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry is getting sorted into one of the four Houses. User TheTrendySparrow lets you choose for yourself! (Something Harry was able to do) Here is a Slytherin Keepsake Trinket box measuring 6 1/4″ x 3″ x 3 1/2″ with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff also available for $17 each. A larger Gryffindor box is also for sale for $27 or a Golden Snitch box for $22.

The crazy words Rowling created for her magical spells have become imbedded in my brain. Why not wear them? These Harry Potter Custom Word or Charm Necklace Silver or Gold are certainly one way to do it! User chloe24k will send you one of your choice for $24.

Although each House has their own crest, Hogwarts itself has one that combines all four. You can show your school pride with this Harry Potter Antiqued Looking Crest Wall Art Print. User pixturethis created a collage of 8.5″ x 11″ prints, 9 of them making a minimum size of 25.5″ x 33″ wall hanging overall. The collection comes framed, $45.

The films have spawned countless amounts of fan art through the years but some of my favorites have been fan-made posters. These Vintage Harry Potter Movie Poster Collection are some of the best I’ve seen. But then again, I’m a sucker for the minimalist approach. The posters are 11×17 and user balancedpersonality has a set of 7 for $90. He also has them each sold separately in his shop for $15.  (more…)