Amerykah has turned a corner and we should all turn with it. I have thoughts ideas and suggestions but I also have patience and desire for us to be whole and one. I have been speaking a lot lately of the human condition and the generations of Black Americans. i will entertain any and all conversation as long as we can be respectful and grown up. Let the healing begin......
Marvel has put out some really interesting projects lately in their further attempt to shake up the status quo of their universe but I have to admit this one I did not see coming.
"Marvel Divas" follow four D list female heroes from different walks of the Marvel Universe. Patsy Walker (Hellcat) and Monica Rambeau (Currently no code name) both former Avengers have formed a out of costume friendship with former Spider Man girlfriend Felicia Hardy (Black Cat) and former New Warrior Angelica Jones (Firestar)*.
While I have only read the preview it came off as one of those internal windows tot he super world that happens between the big battles that we don't get to see. The things that put the human in Super Human.
And though I am not a huge fan of "Sex in the City" which this book has clearly taken part of it's inspiration from, there is a self depreciating humor that exist in this book which I will enjoy.
*V I know she was an Avenger but she never really fit there hence the NW reference.
Wow been introducing a few new segments here at the window this week. Well I got the idea to do this one from a blog posted by Uglyblackjohn. While it was not the intent of his blog to talk about superheroes he said some things that made me realize a lot of people are unaware of the strides comicdom has made to bring more (pardon the pun) color into comics. So I bring you the first of weekly entires of ...
DUST
Real Name: Sooraya Qadir
Universe: Marvel
Nationality: Afghan
Team: Young X-Men
Book: Young X-Men
First Appearance: New X-Men #133
History: Sold into slavery in her native Afghanistan at a young age, Sooraya Qadir was liberated by Wolverine of the X-Men. Subsequently enrolled as a student at the Xavier Institute, Sooraya was originally placed in the Special Class to allow her time to acclimatize to her new environment. When the Class' instructor, Xorn, was manipulated into believing he was Magneto, Sooraya joined the X-Men in opposing him.
Powers: Dust can transform herself into an explosive cloud of sand-like silicon particles and maintain control of her sand form (for instance scouring the flesh from her enemies' bones like a sandstorm, shredding steel or forming a human-shaped body), before reforming at will.
Cultural Note: After some of their other attempts in the past, it seems Marvel did not just take what they had seen on television and just create an Islamic character, they actually did research. Dust is observed at all times wearing her Abaya though occasionally some artist tighten it at the waist to show off her curves which defeats the purpose of the garment.
Well honestly they have not been "just for kids" in many years but I digress. The NY Times Art Beat released the list of top 10 Graphic trade paperbacks as of March 21st. They are....
1 WATCHMEN, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. (DC Comics, $19.99.) This epic tale from 1986 signaled a new maturity in comic books.
2 LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE, by Alan Moore and Felipe Massafera. (Avatar Press, $17.99.) This adaptation of a short story by Mr. Moore tackles the magic and misery of television.
3 SQUADRON SUPREME: THE PRE-WAR YEARS, by J. Michael Straczynski and Gary Frank. (Marvel Comics, $16.99.) The American government wants super-operatives to crush its enemies, both local and global, but Hyperion has other plans.
4 SQUADRON SUPREME: POWER TO THE PEOPLE, by Howard Chaykin and Marco Turini. (Marvel Comics, $16.99.) New heroes appear to fill the vacuum left by the missing Squadron.
5 ASTONISHING X-MEN, Vol. 1, by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. (Marvel Comics, $14.99.) A possible cure for genetic mutations, and the alien, villainous Ord, threaten to tear the team apart.
6 BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, by Frank Miller. (DC Comics, $14.99.) Another classic from 1986: The caped crusader comes out of retirement to save GothamCity from a depraved street gang that are more monsters than man.
7 HACK/SLASH, Vol. 5, by Tim Seeley and Emily Stone. (Devil’s Due Publishing, $18.99.) Cassandra Hack and her partner, Vlad, continue their hunt for “slashers,” monsters and killers up to no good.
8 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE UNIVERSE, by Bryan Lee O’Malley. (Oni Press, $11.95.) Can Ramona’s twin ex-boyfriends be defeated? Sounds like a job for… Scott Pilgrim.
9 SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE, Vol. 2, by Stephen E. de Souza and Rebekah Isaacs. (Devil’s Due Publishing, $18.99.) The jungle queen uncovers deadly Nazi secrets in ValVerdeCity.
10 WALKING DEAD, Vol. 9, by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. (Image Comics, $14.99.) The gripping story of the human survivors in a world overrun by zombies continues.
A couple of things that I think should be pointed out, especially to editors at Marvel and DC. The two DC books on the list are both from the 80's which means those stories are still reaching out to folks ,maybe more so than the summer flash bang storylines you have been churning out lately. For Marvel entertainment who has 3 books on the list, 2 are alternate universe books both of which where written by J. Michael Straczynsky and the other by Joss Wheadon who has his finger on the pulse. I'm just saying!
Word has gotten out that Samuel Jackson, the actor you can’t quite pin down, is in negotiations for a nine picture deal with Marvel Entertainment, the company responsible for bringing long time superheroes Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, and The X-Men to the big screen with multi-million dollar payoffs.
Samuel Jackson is no stranger to the multi millions at the box office either with hits including The Star Wars prequels, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and JurassicPark , to name just a few. Jackson has already made a brief appearance for Marvel in the first Iron Man movie, as Col. Nick Fury, and is scheduled to appear with star Robert Downey Jr., in the sequel to be released in 2010.
If this deal goes through, Samuel will be reprising the role of Col. Fury in nine more Marvel pictures including Thor, Captain America , The Avengers, and perhaps even a Col. Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. stand alone.
For comic book geeks like myself, who have lived with a majority of all-white heroes for the last 30 years, this is great news. The Nick Fury character has always been Marvel’s eye-patch-wearing answer to James Bond, and dates back forty plus years, first appearing in “Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos,” during World War II.
In 2000, Marvel created a separate line of books under the imprint, “The Ultimate Universe.” Set in a separate reality from the 50-plus year old standard Marvel universe, it re-imagined popular characters with more contemporary themes and origins. They also took the opportunity to create a more diverse universe of heroes to reflect a more realistic modern age. One of those changes was in making Nick Fury black. As the character gained in popularity, Samuel Jackson was approached by Marvel, asking if his likeness could be used for the character, and he consented.
A true example of life imitating art…imitating life!
Anyone who has read comics on the Semi-regular basis over the last few years has come to recognize that the big two, Marvel and DC, are addressing the severe lack of diversity that the silver age clearly lacked.
The two most recent changes over at DC are the introduction of Super Woman and the Graduation of Bat Woman to her own book.
Batwoman was reintroduced almost two years ago during the “Infinite Crisis” company wide storyline. She made some appearances after a huge hype machine but never really found a home. Well with the current Batman RIP storyline Batman has disappeared from Gotham and is supposedly dead. So Kath Kane, wealth socialite by day and high heeled crime buster by night, will be starring in Detective comics for at least 12 issues.
Over in Superman the earth just fought of an invasion of Kryptonians (don’t ask) and all these super survivors have taken up residence on a planet in opposite orbit of Earth on the dark side of the moon (I told you don’t ask). One of the Kryptonians has decided t that is to turn traitor against her people and work with the governments of Earth to develop plans to fight off a Kryptonian invasion (I keep saying don’t ask!!). We know it’s not Super girl but that is pretty much all we know about her at this point.
Regardless of how I feel about the storylines it is good to see actually “Women” being thrown into the spotlight and not just “girls”.
"I don’t feel I have done anything that is idol worthy but I learned a long time ago that it is the little everyday things you do that people notice, so be the best you you can be." DJ
"If you don't tell your story someone else might, and they may not tell it as well" The Monkey
"Let he who is without dogshit on his sneaker, take the first step on the white rug!" Whoopi Goldberg
