THINGS TO DO

10 ways to nerd out in Indy — just in time for Gen Con!

Channing King
channing.king@indystar.com
Joseph Trueblood (left) played Zachary Hageman in a game of Dropzone Commander at Gen Con last year.

August. The dog days of geekdom have begun. Most of the major Hollywood blockbusters have come and gone, and we’re still a month away from the flood of video games arriving for the holidays.

But in Indy, we’re lucky as we get Gen Con, “the best four days in gaming,” which offers all the board games and cosplaying one can hope for. Don’t want to game? How about learning an art from a galaxy far, far away, or seeing one of the best Marvel movies for free?

1. Trace Beaulieu

For its first Guest of Honor for its Puppet Program, Gen Con is honoring the original hand and voice behind Crow T. Robot of “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” Over more than 150 episodes and a feature film, he assumed an uncomfortable puppeting position to make fun of some of the worst films ever. He also appeared on-screen as Dr. Clayton Forrester, the mad scientist tormenter of Joel, Mike and the Bots. In 2010, he published “Silly Rhymes for Belligerent Children,” a book of Shel Silverstein-esque poetry for kids. He can currently be heard voicing Art the Robot alongside MST3K’s Joel Hodgson on Paul Feig’s “Other Space” on Yahoo! Screen.

Q&A with Trace Beaulieu: 10 a.m. July 31, Westin Grand Ballroom V.

Autograph book signings: 5 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1, Exhibit Hall.

2. Summer Glau

With starring roles on “Firefly” and “Sarah Conner Chronicles” and recurring roles on “Arrow” and “Dollhouse,” Summer Glau has replaced Kevin Bacon as the nexus of the “Six Degrees” game for fans of science fiction. She’s flirted with the mainstream on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Hawaii Five-0” and last year’s “Sequestered” on Crackle.

Autographs: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1, Exhibit Hall.

3. Marina Sirtis

From Stardate 41153.7 to 56844.9 — OK, 1987 to 2002 — Marina Sirtis starred as Deanna Troi, counselor of the USS Enterprise on seven seasons of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and four movies. Since then, she has segued into animated voice acting with roles on “Adventure Time,” “The Cleveland Show” and “Young Justice.”

Autographs: Exhibit Hall, Saturday, Aug. 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 2, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.; Mayfair Games booth, Saturday, Aug. 1, 3 to 6 p.m.

4. Terry Brooks

Combining the fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien with the prodigious output of Stephen King, Brooks’s “Shannara” series is poised to be The Next Big Thing in sci-fi/fantasy thanks to the MTV adaptation set for January.

Set in a far-future version of the Pacific Northwest after civilization has collapsed and begun reforming in new, magical ways, the series now includes nearly 30 books with a variety of prequel and sequel sub-series.

A comparison to George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Fire and Ice/Game of Thrones” series is natural, but as Brooks recently told EW.com, showrunners Miles Millar and Al Gough (who previously did “Smallville”) are looking to be much more family-friendly. (Brooks also wrote the novelization of “Star Wars: Ep. I,” but that’s not his fault.)

5. Concert Against Humanity

If you’ve been to a casual social gathering the past few years, you’re familiar with Cards Against Humanity, the party game that mixes humor, Mad Libs and humanity’s love of bodily functions. Always wanting to reach out to its fans, CAH is throwing its inaugural Concert Against Humanity at Gen Con, with music by Molly Lewis, The Doubleclicks and Paul and Storm and readings by authors John Scalzi (”Old Man’s War”) and Patrick Rothfuss (”The Wise Man's Fear”). Kumail Nanjiani (”Silicon Valley”) and Cameron Esposito (”Comedy Bang Bang”) will provide comedy.

7 p.m. July 31, Murat Theater at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.; $53 to $64; thingstodo.indystar.com/events/99328033.

6. “Guardians of the Galaxy” at Garfield Park

The Marvel Cinematic Universe dabbled in sci-fi with the “Thor” movies, but went full “Star Wars” with last year’s mega-hit featuring a green love interest, a talking raccoon and a tree with a five-word vocabulary. Powered by a star-making turn by Chris Pratt as Star-lord, it bears up to repeat viewings much more than any of the “Iron Man” or “Avengers” flicks.

9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Dr.; free.

7. “Fantastic Four”

Marvel’s “first family” may not be so first any more in the world of comics — FF doesn’t even have an on-going monthly book anymore — but that’s not stopping Fox and director Josh Trank from trying to keep the films alive. This reboot takes the “Ultimate” path of making everyone younger than before: Miles Teller (”Whiplash”) leads as Reed Richards, with Jamie Bell making you forget about “Billy Elliot” as The Thing. The main subject of Internet ire is the casting of the white Kate Mara and black Michael B. Jordan as siblings Sue and Johnny Storm; apparently many haven’t heard of “adoption.”

Opens Aug. 7

8. ‘Hitman: Agent 47’

No, you’re not crazy: there has already been a “Hitman” movie based on the long-running video game series. Rupert Friend takes over for Timothy Olyphant as the bald, bar-coded assassin. Zachary Quinto (Spock in the new “Star Trek” flicks) and Thomas Kretschmann (Baron von Strucker in various Marvel movies) play villains. If it’s good, it’s good; if it’s bad, it’s better.

Opens Aug. 21

9. Indy Lightsaber Academy

Who didn’t immediately fall in love with the light saber after seeing “Star Wars” for the first time? That “more elegant weapon for a more civilized age” caused me to break far more of my mom’s yardsticks than I care to admit. Indy Lightsaber Academy offers instruction for all skill levels, from novice to Jedi. Even if you never need to deflect laser blasts, the classes can help you get closer to your family (assuming your father hasn’t turned to the Dark Side and is more machine than man).

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each Thursday in August, The Hall, 202 N. Alabama St.; $15 at the door, $5 for first-timers, $50 for 5-week pass; http://indylightsaber.co.nf/.

10. “The Shining”

This year’s penultimate entry in the IMA Summer Nights Film Series is director Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. With Jack Nicholson as the obviously well-balanced author/hotel caretaker, the movie has gotten grief from King fans over the years for being both unfaithful to and better than the book. (If you really want to have some fun, watch the documentary “Room 237” before you go. It will forever change how you see the movie.)

7 p.m. Aug. 21, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 N. Michigan Road; $12 public, $6 members; thingstodo.indystar.com/events/98869804.

GEN CON

• Where: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.

• When: July 30-Aug. 2.

• Tickets: $90/four-day pass, $55/daily for Thursday-Saturday, $35/Sunday.

• Info: gencon.comthingstodo.indystar.com/events/98602648

Call Star online editor Channing King at (317) 444-8073. Follow him @ChanningKing.