The brainchild of journalists Jayson Peters and Scott Kirchhofer, Nerdvana has been covering the Phoenix-area pop culture scene and its many fan communities since August 2007. But Nerdvana’s domain extends far beyond the sun-drenched Valley to report and comment on all the things those local fanboys and -girls obsess over: “Sci-fi, fantasy, TV, film, comics and games: All the keys to your inner geekdom” — that was Nerdvana’s original tagline, and it’s still an accurate description of who we are and what we do.
Nerdvana began as one of many staff blogs hosted by the Pulitzer Prize-winning East Valley Tribune. After nearly nine years of Tribune affiliation, Nerdvana was spun off as an independent venture in early 2016.
Story ideas are always welcome, and unsolicited submissions of content will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
“Geek” and “nerd” used to be negative terms. After all, the former once referred to carnival performers who decapitated live chickens with their teeth, and the latter was the subject of a revenge campaign that began in the mid-’80s and stretched into the ’90s.
But these labels have evolved over time to be badges of honor among those who renounce conformity, as well as anyone who is passionate about a hobby. You can be a computer geek or a comic book nerd or even a Board Game Geek and still stand tall with the jocks. You can even be a sports geek! (I like to refer to fantasy sports as “Dungeons & Dragons” for jocks.) Everybody geeks out sometime.
Welcome to Nerdvana. I’m Jayson Peters, your guide to all things geeky. This blog is meant to be a spotlight on the newest and greatest things in geekdom, from comics and gaming to cult classics and TV obsessions.
Nerdvana is about all these things, and more. Except the chicken thing. That’s where I draw the line.
A little about me: I’m a page designer for the print editions of the East Valley and Scottsdale Tribune. I’ve lived in the Valley all my life and worked at the Trib in various roles since 1998. I also compile the daily TV highlights (Channel Surfing) for the and serve as a copy editor when needed. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism from ASU and an associate’s degree in classical studies (history, mythology, Latin) from Phoenix College.
That sounds nerdy, doesn’t it?
But I also love television and I have a huge movie collection, plus video games from the NES to the Wii. And more than a few “Star Wars” action figures and PEZ dispensers, I’ll admit.
You’ll also find Tribune graphics guru Scott Kirchhofer chiming in when he feels the urge. He’s a thrill seeker with a passion for comics and gaming that is positively infectious.
