Spring has sprung! The flowers are blooming, and we kick off the month with the Easter celebration! And what an Easter egg we have for our readers this month, as we introduce to you our latest cosplay master.

And with Easter on everybody's mind, what better and cuter way to hop right into things than with Judy Hopps, the feisty police bunny from Disney's ZOOTOPIA? Sure, it's not Peter Cottontail, but nobody among our peeps have been complaining.

Gentle readers, it is with great pleasure and delight that we introduce to you our...

Critical Blast Bombshell, April 2018

RavenGlitch

Judy Hopps (ZOOTOPIA)
photographer: Roberto Fioravanti

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Reviews

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Critical Blast Bombshell, March 2018 - Cosplay Kitti

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Critical Blast Bombshell, March 2018 - Cosplay Kitti

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Critical Blast Bombshell, March 2018 - Cosplay Kitti

Of the many things that are still visible in the rear view mirror of last weekend's Oscars, one of the items still being discussed is Frances McDormand's acceptance speech, where she closed with the following:

"I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: Inclusion Rider."

Is it the name of her next film? Is it the name of the next Kardashian baby?

Actually, an inclusion rider is a term applied to an actor's contract, as applied by the actor. When signing on to a movie and finalizing their contract for same, an inclusion contract is something added by the actor that forces the production company to hire cast and crew that reflects the demographics of the world. It stipulates there will be x percentage of men, y percentage of women, z percentage of this race and that race, and lgtbq percentage of LGBTQ.

We used to call this practice a "quota system."

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Critical Blast Bombshell, March 2018 - Cosplay Kitti

Having attended my share of conventions, I can attest to the fact that cosplay is an intergenerational thing. From toddler Captain Americas to nonagenarian Harley Quinns, cosplay is something that everyone can get into.

I've also seen it become a family activity, with one of my favorite cosplays evern being a mom and dad with two kids play out a simple-yet-magnificent group of LEGO Batman characters.

This month's Critical Blast Bombshell is still barely getting started in the field, and is already gaining a skill level that will have her competing with some of the top talent in the hobby. With an assist from her mother, this high school student is bringing to life characters from manga and anime with her elaborate costumes and wigs. 

We could tell you more about her--but why, when she has already so eloqently done so? Continue on, gentle readers, as we are pleased and privileged to present to you the...

photo by Flickr, Peter Pham

From music to film to TV to literature, poker is not just defined by the table, it resonates throughout popular culture. As fans of poker, we are always pleased to see our favorite strategic game referenced so often. Here we explore the many defining moments in pop culture where poker has been showcased.

It feels a little odd in these last few days of February to say that a long year has come to a close. But that's how it feels, now that all the votes, all the announcements, and all the awards are finally out of the way. And, of course, we like to top off our Best Of awards with a very special one to all of us here at Critical Blast, the Bombshell of the Year.

Each month, Critical Blast focuses on a cosplayer and highlights what makes him or her special, a focus that goes beyond how great he or she looks in a costume. Then, at the end of the year, you the readers determine which of that year's cosplayers are to be the esteemed Bombshell of the Year. And with your help, we can now announce the latest to hold that title.

It is with great pride that Critical Blast introduces to you our 2017 Bombshell of the Year...Jennifer of Themyscira!

Take it away, Jennifer!

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Bombshell of the Month Sofy Frezer

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Bombshell of the Month Sofy Frezer

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Bombshell of the Month Sofy Frezer

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Bombshell of the Month Sofy Frezer

February is the shortest month of the year. So to balance that out, we've made the farthest reach we can to find this month's Critical Blast Bombshell -- halfway around the world to Russia!

This month's Bombshell has been making a name for herself in the cosplay community through her Instagram photos of recognizable characters in natural, casual poses. She's also an object lesson in time management, as she has to juggle her considerable cosplay skills with the busy life of a full-time college student.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Дамы и господа, we are pleased and proud to present at this time...

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

VOTE FOR THE BEST OF 2017!!!

Click the link above to vote on your choices for the best of film, television and comics for 2017!

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

Disclaimer: We don't actually have any articles about Norm MacDonald this week, but I am a fan so he got the cover image this week.

What did we talk about on Critical Blast this week?

VOTE FOR THE BEST OF 2017!!!

Jon Del Arroz is a serious science fiction author. And by serious, I mean he's taken the time and trouble to join the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America guild, something I've bothered to do, and now probably never will.

Del Arroz, an Hispanic, was planning to attend Worldcon 76, when he received notice that they were disallowing his attendance, stating he had intended to break their code of conduct. "Worldcon 76 strives to be an inclusive place in fandom, as difficult as that can be, and racist and bullying behavior is not acceptable at our Worldcon."

Because nothing says inclusivity and anti-racism like banning an Hispanic author from your event.

What triggered this reaction? What was it that Del Arroz had done to merit sucha response? Had he published a political manifesto? Posted with a frillion AK-47s on Facebook? Publicly burned a picture of Ray Bradbury?

January. The first. First day of the first month, and a whole new year laid out ahead of all of us. Many of you may be thinking about what you'll do differently this year, what you'll change from last year. And many of you may have already resigned yourself to the notion that you'll probably fail at it, but what the heck, it's a tradition, right? Think about the gym, the work, the sacrifice, and figure that'll last until February and your first box of chocolates, if you're lucky.

Lucky for you, our January 2018 Critical Blast Bombshell has inspiration to spare! Sure, we love to check out cosplayers and get inspired by their costume designing, their prop-making skills, their ability to pull a character off of a page our out of a game and drop them right into our convention center or special event. But this month, we give you a cosplayer who's a little bit more than that.