Today in Nerd History | November 11

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 on November 11th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Marvel

WHAT IF…?

In 1976, Marvel published it’s first “What If…?” comic book. It explored the scenario of Spider-Man joining the Fantastic Four instead of rejecting their offer. It was the first of a series of stories that imagined how the Marvel Universe would be different if key events had changed.

Nerdy Fact: Some of the stories and characters created for the series later became part of the official Marvel canon, such as Spider-Girl, the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. The series also foreshadowed some major developments in later comic books and movies, such as Jane Foster becoming Thor, Captain America becoming a Hydra agent, and Doctor Strange becoming a villain.

Photo Credit: The Conway Daily Sun

HO HO HO, VERN!

In 1988, Ernest Saves Christmas released in theaters. This comedy film is about a taxi driver who helps an old man who claims to be Santa Claus find his successor and save the magic of Christmas.

Nerdy Fact: This is the only Ernest film not to have a villain.

Photo Credit: IMDb

THE SANTA CLAUSE

In 1994, The Santa Clause released in theaters. This is a movie about a man who becomes the new Santa Claus after accidentally killing the previous one on Christmas Eve.

Nerdy Fact: The role of Scott Calvin/Santa Claus was originally written for Bill Murray, but he turned it down. Chevy Chase was also offered the role, but he had scheduling conflicts. Tim Allen was eventually cast after his success on the TV show Home Improvement.

Photo Credit: GamesRadar

PS3

In 2006, the PlayStation 3 released. It was the first console to use Blu-ray discs as its primary storage medium and also supported online gaming, streaming services, and motion controllers.

Nerdy Fact: The PlayStation 3 was sold for less than its production cost. The basic PS3 version, which had a 20GB hard drive, sold at a loss of $US300, with the 60GB version selling for an additional loss of US$240. Sony hoped to make up the loss through games and additional hardware sales.

Photo Credit: People

GOOD AFTERNOON!

In 2022, Spirited premiered on Apple TV+. This musical comedy film satirizes the classic story of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, starring Will Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ryan Reynolds as the miserly Clint Briggs. The film follows Present’s attempt to redeem Clint and his own past.

Nerdy Fact: The film is directed by Sean Anders, who is best known for his comedy films like Daddy’s Home, Horrible Bosses 2, and Instant Family. Anders said that he wanted to make a film that was both funny and heartwarming, and that he was inspired by his own love for Christmas movies. He also said that he wanted to make a film that was different from the typical holiday fare, and that he hoped to create a new classic for audiences to enjoy.