Harry Potter and the Legion of Fanboys

Hogwarts is a mystery to me. And that’s okay. I was a fully functioning adult when J.K. Rowling hit pay dirt with her first book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. My intern, Ben, however was a pup in ’97 and cannot recall with any clarity a Voldemort free world. So it was no surprise when he donned a robe and a pair of over-sized glasses to tailgate at the googleplex before the midnight show of Deathly Hollows Part 2 last night.  He claims that Harry Potter is his Star Wars.

It’s not a bad analogy; one that’s been brought up before – Luke/Harry, Voldemort/Vader, Han and Leia/Ron and Hermione. Most other awesomely-awesome fantastic fantasy movies from the ’70s and ’80s were mostly not meant for kids, but we watched the hell out of freakin’ Blade Runner and Heavy Metal any time they were on HBO anyway! Fantasy for children were usually one-offs, never requiring to a sequel (Booooo, Neverending Story 2!). Potter and the wiz kids have had 7 books and 8 movies.  Time Bandits, Legend, Labyrinth, and Willow still have their place in our collective memory, but it isn’t like Star Wars or this Potter thing.  When these dorks are in their thirties they’ll be doing Quidditch jokes faster than Han can shoot Greedo. They’ll be going to dorky conventions and inviting their buddies over to watch Prisoner of Azkaban the way we watch Empire Strikes Back.

Ben will most likely be late for work today, he’ll be smiling, hungover, and probably still have a lightning bolt Sharpied onto his forehead.  I will understand, then send him out for coffee insisting that he wear a Darth Vader helmet. You know… because Vader kicks ass and respect must be paid to the original Dark Lord.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 10:29 am.
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My So-Called Zombie Life

• I wrote this Q & A for the November 2009 issue of Geek Monthly, where it was published in a slightly different format as “Ask a Zombie.”

  
  
  

• When I was alive I’d fight a zombie, but never wonder, “How’s this guy spending the rest of his time?” Die and learn I guess.  I will now attempt to answer just a few questions that I’d wish someone had taken the time from stalking and eating to answer for me when I was first [...]

  
  
  

• Question from Megan currently trapped inside the Old Navy in Forest Springs Mall, NJ

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• Question from Candice, hiding upstairs in your house

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• Question from Professor Janice Warburton at Reanimation Laboratories, Gillette, Louisiana

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• Question from Brian seat-belted in the back of a burned out school bus, OH

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• Question from Colonel Samuel Doyle, stationed where Denver used to be

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• Question from Karl, lurking somewhere in the woods

  “Hoo? Glurgggg?  Hooooooooooo?  Hoo? What about animal zombies, you ask?  I can’t tell you how many times newbies ask me this one.  My advice is always the same, if you can actually catch an animal and bite it while resisting the urge to eat the whole thing, more power to you.  Wildlife is both tasty [...]

  
  
  

• Question from “Anonymous,” drinking the last 7-11 Slurpees on freaking Earth in Pawtucket, RI

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Staff writers for thedailyjim can be contacted regarding freelance assignments, project consultations, and ego boosts. Your hair looks great, by the way. All content on this page is creator owned unless otherwise noted.

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