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Minh Nguyen

@smilingidiot

782

followers

1973

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Self professed nerd. Voracious reader. Music enthusiast. Unapologetic food lover. Collector of 'stuff'.

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Nerd Post of the Day: Went to the Laughing Bee music launch event, which showcased vinyl releases by NAKED RAYGUN and ELEVENTH DREAM DAY! Hosted by Smashed Plastic Record Pressing, this event included a panel discussion with members of both bands, a signing, and musical performance by Eleventh Day Dream!
I picked up the special event-only edition of Naked Raygun's 'This Place Used To Be A Strip Joint' LP on hand-poured color vinyl (limited to 100 copies). I was also able to get it signed by NR members Jeff Pezzati and Eric Spicer!
Thanks to the organizers and band members for a great event!
#nerdlife @nakedraygunofficial @weareeleventhdreamday @laughingbeemusic @smashedplastic #thisplaceusedtobeastripjoint #colorvinyl #collectingaddict #recordnerd taken in Smashed Plastic Record Pressing by @smilingidiot

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6 days ago

Got to see one of my favorite bands play live this evening! CAVITY played Chicago for the first time in decades, so I couldn't miss it! They are currently on tour with EYEHATEGOD, BL'AST, LUICIDAL, and EVIL ARMY, and their Chicago stop was at Reggie's.
Had to leave the show early, but at least got to see 3 of the 5 bands play. Great show and glad to finally meet Dan Cavity @hookorcrookunlimited in person, after corresponding for a few years.
@thebandcavity @evilarmy_band @luicidalvenicepunks @reggieslive taken in Reggie's Rock Club by @smilingidiot

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7 days ago

Nerd Post of the Day: Alex Ross, one of the best comic creators in the business, dropped a new original graphic novel, titled MARVEL DIMENSIONS! Released by Abrams ComicArts and Marvel Comics, this beautiful hardcover is next on my reading list!
Thanks to Chicago Comics, who posted that Ross stopped by the shop to sign their copies! Really happy to be able to grab an autographed copy!
#nerdlife @thealexrossart #marveldimensions @chicagocomics by @smilingidiot

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a month ago

Nerd Post of the Day: Got my preorders of writer/artist Ethan Young's DEMON RUN in the mail today! These are the first two issues of his new self-published series, and they were a great read!
I spurged a bit and got a original sketch done on the opening page of issue 1! Looking forward to more issues (and hopefully more sketches 🤓).
#nerdlife @popmyth #demonrun #comicnerd #creatorownedcomics by @smilingidiot

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2 months ago

Nerd Post of the Day: Stopped by Challengers Comics this evening for another great event: the FORT PSYCHO signing with creators Matt Kindt and Brian Hurtt! Got some books signed, some sketchcovers drawn on, and chatted with two of the nicest and most creative comic pros in the business. Even got a free signed poster! Definitely a winning Friday!
#nerdlife @challengerscomicsconversation @matt.kindt.for.real @brihurtt @onipress #fortpsycho #collectingaddict by @smilingidiot

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2 months ago

Nerd Post of the Day: I'm not exaggerating when I say Frank Miller is the main catalyst for my obsession with comic books.
When I was a little kid I saw my older sister @images_by_anh bawling her eyes out while reading a comic book. This confused me, since my experiences with the medium were solely based on cartoons like Archie and Scooby Doo. The comics she was reading were DAREDEVIL 181 and 182, the 'Death of Elektra' storyline. Sneaking a reading of the books while she wasn't looking, it opened up in my brain what comics could be, and planted a seed that would make me dive headfirst into comic collecting a few years later!
Frank Miller, the writer and artist of those Daredevil issues, continues his legendary (and sometimes controversial) career in the comic industry to this day. I received a signed hardcover copy of his newly released memoir, PUSH THE WALL, in the mail today, and looking forward to reading it!
Thank you to Frank Miller for making my sister cry all those years ago, leading me to become a massive comic nerd, for better or worse. 😆
#nerdlife #frankmiller #pushthewall #signedbooks #collectingaddict by @smilingidiot

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3 months ago

Nerd Post of the Day: A massive box arrived yesterday, containing my G.I.JOE: OPERATION COBRA game! Released by OC Games, this game series was initially offered and funded through a recent Gamefound campaign.
Of course, I went a little overboard and picked up all the expansion sets, a set of playmats, and even a Cobra dice tray. All in all, this package comes with a total of 147 highly detailed 35mm PVC character miniatures. Looking forward to giving this game a whirl!
#nerdlife #gijoe #operationcobra #collectingaddict by @smilingidiot

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3 months ago

Nerd Post of the Day: "Send more cops..."
#iykyk by @smilingidiot

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3 months ago

Today's weather was digustingly hot and humid, but it didn't stop me from attending another Cubs game, this time against the San Diego Padres!
Game was an all out slugfest, with 9 total home runs between the two teams! Luckily, the Cubs came out on top for a final score of Cubs 9 - Padres 7!
Thanks again to Patty for being my baseball buddy, always a fun time hanging out and talking trash against the opposing teams!
#chicagocubs #wrigleyfield #flythew taken in Wrigley Field by @smilingidiot

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4 months ago

'Weird Al' Yankovic brought his Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour to Chicago this evening, playing the United Center!
Opening the show was Puddles Pity Party... Great singer, but my intense aversion to clowns hampers my enjoyment of his set. 😆
Weird Al is always fun to see live, so if you get a chance to see him and his great group of musicians, do it!
@alfredyankovic @puddlespityparty #biggerandweirdertour @unitedcenter taken in United Center by @smilingidiot

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4 months ago

Nerd Post of the Day: Challengers Comics + Conversation held a great event this evening, hosting writer Dan Watters (MASK, Destro) and artist Marz Jr (Transformers: Worst Bot Ever)! Both creators were exceptionally nice, and the comic shop is the best in Chicago, so it was a great way to spend a Friday evening!
Have a great weekend everyone!
#nerdlife @challengerscomicsconversation #danwatters #marzjr #MASK #Transformers taken in CHALLENGERS Comics + Conversation by @smilingidiot

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4 months ago

Nerd Post of the Day - HeroesCon 2026! (Part 2): More pictures from HeroesCon this past weekend, focusing on my haul from the con, some of the great artists who created the art, as well fun cosplayers I saw!
Pic 1: The original art I picked up!
Pic 2: The books I picked up!
Pic 3: The prints I picked up!
Pic 4: The signed slabbed comics I got done at the show! Shout out to CGC for their onsite grading option!
Pic 5: Andy Bennett showing off my annual Universal Monsters cover commission!
Pic 6: Robbi Rodriguez with my Scarlett commission!
Pic 7: Pete Smith with his recent Baroness cover!
Pic 8: Jim Rugg actually had one of his rare variant GI Joe covers! So happy to add this to my collection!
Pic 9: Black Cat and Spider-Man cosplayers!
Pic 10: The legend, Al Milgrom, posing with his great inking work over John Romita Jr penciled art!
Pic 11: Typhoid Mary cosplay!
Pic 12: Tula Lotay with a beautiful SIKTC art piece!
Pic 13: Kibar showcasing his newly completed Vampirella sketchcover! It was definitely worth the wait!
Pic 14: Paul Pelleteir's sketchcover captures one of my favorite scenes in GI Joe 21! Scarlett not waiting around to be rescued!
Pic 15: Poison Ivy cosplayer!
Pic 16: Added another GI Joe commission from Eric Canete! Definitely won't be the last!
Pic 17: Batman and Robin cosplayers!
Pic 18: Family cosplayers Deadpool and Wonder Woman!
Looking forward to next year's show!

#nerdlife #heroescon2026 #collectingaddict taken in Charlotte Convention Center by @smilingidiot

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4 months ago