This Week in Nerd History | June 12 – 18

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred from June 12th to June 18th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Shortlist

June 12, 1981: Indiana Jones Whips Up Fanfare

In 1981, Raiders of the Lost Ark was released. The first installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, it was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Harrison Ford as the adventurous archaeologist.

Nerdy Fact: During filming in Tunisia, nearly everyone in the cast and crew got sick except director Steven Spielberg. It is thought that he avoided illness by eating only the food he’d brought with him: a lot of cans of Spaghetti-O’s.

Photo Credit: Roger Ebert

June 12, 2015: Life Finds a Way… Again

In 2015, Jurassic World was released. The fourth film in the Jurassic Park series, it was directed by Colin Trevorrow and starred Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as park employees who have to deal with a genetically-engineered dinosaur on the loose.

Nerdy Fact: According to the filmmakers, the T-Rex in the film is the same T-Rex that appeared in the original Jurassic Park. She bears visible scars from the climactic fight with the Velociraptors in the first film.

Photo Credit: Popverse

June 14, 2013: Into the Snyder-verse

In 2013, Man of Steel was released. The reboot of the Superman film series, directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Christopher Nolan, starred Henry Cavill as the titular hero who has to face his alien nemesis General Zod (Michael Shannon).

Nerdy Fact: The film released in the same month as the 75th Anniversary of the Superman character.

Photo Credit: Radio Times

June 14, 2013: Worse than COVID

Also in 2013, The Last of Us was released. The survival horror game, developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony, followed Joel and Ellie, two survivors of a fungal pandemic that turned most of humanity into zombie-like creatures. It was praised for its story, characters, and gameplay.

Nerdy Fact: The eye charts in the hospital near the end of the game read “RUN YOU R NEARLY THERE DON’T QUIT!!”

Photo Credit: Screen Rant

June 15, 1966: Humanity Had it’s Chance

In 1966, Batman #181 was released. The comic book, written by Robert Kanigher and illustrated by Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella, featured the first appearance of Poison Ivy, one of Batman’s most iconic villains and love interests.

Nerdy Fact: An interview with her co-creator Carmine Infantino revealed that her existence owes a debt to the 1966 Batman live-action series. Catwoman’s popularity in the series led to a desire for more female villains in the comics.

Photo Credit: IGN

June 17, 2016: This Game Hy-Rules!

In 2016, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was revealed. The action-adventure game, developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo, was the first open world Zelda game and featured a vast Hyrule to explore. It was released in 2017 as a launch game for the Switch and the final Nintendo game for the Wii U.

Nerdy Fact: Breath of the Wild was first planned for release in 2015 as a Wii U exclusive.

Photo Credit: The Independent

June 18, 2010: Andy is All Grown Up

In 2010, Toy Story 3 was released. The third film in the Toy Story saga (that most believed would be the end of the story), produced by Pixar, followed Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz (voiced by Tim Allen), and the other toys as they deal with their owner Andy’s departure for college and their new home at a daycare center.

Nerdy Fact: Tom Hanks and Tim Allen insisted that they record their lines together, which they had previously done for one day during the making of the original Toy Story (1995), but which is rarely done with animated films. They loved the chemistry their characters shared on-screen.