deerstalker

Here’s the new story trailer for Occupy Me, the first fictional narrative audio drama from The Nerds of Color’s family of podcasts. Episode 1 will premiere on October 14. (Give or take a day to accommodate another highly-anticipated science-fiction adventure thing which MIGHT drop a new trailer next week.) You can subscribe, rate, and review […]

From New York Comic Con 2019, the announcements are coming fast. This one caught my eye yesterday: Penguin Random House is opening an imprint for YA graphic novels. Random House Graphic will feature a wide range of writers and styles, with a goal of producing unforgettable books parents and kids can enjoy. The line debuts next year, but we got a sneak at the first 4 titles. Look for these online and in your favorite shop.

Aster and the Accidental Magic

Aster is a girl moved away from her life one summer so her parents can study the mountains. Bored when she’s banished outside, what she finds is more than she expected. The art reminds me of Boom! Comics. Aster and the Accidental Magic is written by Thom Pico with art by Karensac. You can meet Aster March 3rd.

Bug Boys

A stag beetle and a rhinoceros beetle go on adventures through their neighborhood. The world is huge, how do they take it on? Sweet but also thoughtful, this hopes to entertain both children and adults. Laura Knetzger, writer and artist, is a storyboard artist for Adventure Time, this is her first solo novel. It will be available February 11th.

The Runaway Princess

Exactly as advertised. Robin is a princess that breaks princess rules — facing pirates, crossing swamps, and living at her own speed. Targeted right at the adventurous princess in your life. Written and illustrated by French artist Johan Troianowski, the book will be on sale January 21st.

Witchlight

Lelek and Sanja strike up an unusual friendship as the journey to discover the secrets of Lelek’s witchcraft. By Chicago-based artist, Jessi Zabarsky, Witchlight has a Power and Magic Press vibe to it, targeted for younger readers. It will be available April 14th.

Hey #NYCC today’s graphic hour features not 1… but 2 ARCs! Don’t miss out at 1pm ? pic.twitter.com/QPFGYSAuOC

— Random House Graphic @ NYCC! #2205 (@RHKidsGraphic) October 6, 2019

Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The post New and Noteworthy Graphic Novels coming from Random House Graphic appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

X-Men Origin Story

Most of my fellow 20- and 30-something year old nerds should be able to relate to the beginning of my love for comic books. It didn’t start with the oversized guns and muscles of the 90’s comic books but with the litany of superhero cartoons. I was born predisposed to loving superheroes. My dad collected comics in the 70’s and amassed a massive collection of Bronze Age Marvel books. Your boy did not have the attention span or appreciation for art to give these books due justice. I was enticed by Tony Stark slamming a hammer on a forge to the beat, “I. AM. IROOON MAAAN!”. The raging guitar solo while Peter Parker dodges Lizard’s tail. The silhouette of the God Damn Batman dropping down on criminals. And of course, I lived for sitting in my underwear engorging myself on bowl after bowl of Lucky Charms watching Rogue punch the absolute crap out of a Sentinel.

X-Men: The Animated Series planted the seeds of my undying love for the team of oppressed mutants. There are certain truths that were understood about the characters in this show.

Wolverine and Gambit were cool. Cyclops and Jubilee were not. At 10 years old, who was I going to gravitate towards? The badass rebel and the suave ladies’ man or the teacher’s pet and the chick with the fireworks? (By the way, it would be an interesting exercise unpacking the ingrained toxic masculinity that underlines a lot of our idolizing Gambit and Wolverine.) Cyclops was almost designed to be hated by us. I heard a hilarious response on a podcast where someone said their favorite character was Cyclops. “Oh, you’re the kind of person that likes Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Superman”. It got a laugh, even from me, but there’s a truth to it.  Characters that follow a straightforward code of conduct, especially one set by an authority figure (In Cyke’s case, Professor X. In Leo’s, Master Splinter) were not exciting for kids being told constantly that we need to listen to parents and teachers because they know better.

Another factor is that these characters were often written as a contrast to the “cool rebel” (Wolverine and Raphael). The rebel image channeled our conviction that we knew better than adults. They played into the fantasy of being strong or slick enough to reject their authority and damning the consequences. It was definitely a fantasy because try quoting Wolverine to Black parents — “I go where I wanna go”. As a teenager, this trend continues in the 2000’s with X-Men: Evolution and the beginning of the X-Men movie franchise.

To Me, My X-Men

Around the end of 2004 I started buying comic books. The first book I bought was X-Men #157. The team was Rogue, Gambit, Iceman, Polaris, Juggernaut and Havok as leader. Noticeably different from the animated series and the movies, though, was that the headmaster of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters was Cyclops. It would still take three more years for the seed to take hold when I read Astonishing X-Men #23. This story featured my favorite X-Men team to date: Cyclops, Wolverine, Emma Frost, Colossus, Shadowcat, Beast, and Armor on an alien world. Cyclops has lost his powers due to a mental block. In an insane plan, Cyclops takes advantage of the alien resurrection technology and commits suicide pretending to sacrifice himself to save the team.

The aliens revive him for interrogation, at which point awakened Cyke smirks, blasts the alien through the roof with his returned and temporarily controlled optic blasts and telepathically calls out, “To Me, My X-Men”. This display of utter badassery made me wonder if I had misjudged this character. Curious, I back tracked to find what Cyclops had been up to in recent years. I landed on the 2001 New X-Men run by Grant Morrison and took it from there. This is where I truly started to understand why Cyclops is an amazing character, especially for a comic reader coming into adulthood.

Who Do You Want On Your Project?

An easy mistake to fall into is thinking that the iteration closer to the animated series and movies doesn’t hold value. That’s bullshit. Summers’ reserve and control reflect his power. He has a nuke behind his eyes that will destroy almost anything he looks at.

Early Cyclops understands power and responsibility better than Spider-Man. Plus, when you get older, responsibility becomes more and more important. As a kid growing up the idea of the rebel was cool but once you grow the hell up Cyclops starts looking a lot more attractive. Those late teens when we start getting jobs and doing intensive group projects, that’s when the perils of teamwork become apparent. Suddenly the teammate who won’t listen to anyone or is nonchalantly flirting with everyone becomes a liability. Imagine a group project with Wolverine’s berserker raging ass, goofy Iceman, bougie Emma Frost, and a genius like Beast. The ability to command the respect of strong-willed personalities is a superpower.

From Boy Scout to Malcolm

Cyclops’ early demeanor serves as a launching point for true character development over the decades. Cyclops was an early ship for Charles Xavier’s dream of peace between humans and mutants; “Feared and hated by the world they swore to protect”. Thing is, Professor Xavier proved time and time again that he was shady as hell and Cyclops got disillusioned. The classic understanding of X-Men mythos is that Xavier represented Martin Luther King and Magneto represented Malcolm X. As far as I know Malcolm X never suggested orchestrating a terrorist attack or calling for Black supremacy and white suppression. Cyclops was the true Malcolm X allegory in the X-Men. “Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts their hand on you send them to the cemetery.” Malcolm X’s words were encapsulated when Cyclops led the X-Men to a sanctuary off the coast of San Francisco and then again when he put on the X-mask. Cyclops said, “screw that non-violence nonsense” when he sanctioned a team of mutant-kind’s most badass trackers and killers to preemptively hunt down threats to mutant kind. Also, don’t forget what caused the infamous Schism between Cyke and Wolverine.

When the Hellfire club threatened the incapacitated X-Men, leaving only young Idie Okonkwo (the original Todoroki, btw), Cyclops told her to do what needed to be done and she murdered the lot. He backs off and softens his stance later but only to a point. When he dons the X-mask in the aftermath of AvX, his X-Men have no patience for racist police terrorizing new mutants. Cyclops even articulates the best example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s criticism of the “white moderate” in X-Men I can think of. When the Avengers confront the X-Men as they’re trying to help young mutants.

Cyclops: “Rogers, I am sure you’d like to think we’ve come far . . . but I’m telling you firsthand, we have not”.

The Captain even tries to pull a “why can’t you be like one of the good ones” referencing Wolverine and Havok’s more pacifist, accommodating activities. Cyclops is the most relatable X-Men because he embodies the natural evolution almost everyone goes through; from a naïve optimist to a determined pragmatist. I observed Cyclops’ transformation during a pivotal point in my education. My knowledge of the Civil Rights struggle was centered on a common version of American History taught in even mostly Black schools that was very superficial and generous to the country. It wasn’t until later that I learned the more complicated truths about Dr. King’s radicalism and the federal government’s efforts to subvert and sabotage the fight for equality. My journey to truth mirrored Cyclops’. I naturally feel a kinship.

The Love Triangle (Not That One)

My last exhibit in the case for Cyclops’ awesomeness is his tumultuous relationships. There are three major players in Summers’ orbit: Jean Grey, Emma Frost, and Wolverine. We underestimate how iconic the romance between Cyclops and Jean Grey is in the Marvel Universe. It was in the works from Uncanny X-Men #1 in 1963 and comes second only to Reed Richards and Sue Storm in the Marvel Universe.

It’s tempting to talk about the love triangle between Scott, Jean, and Wolverine but I actually don’t find it to be the most interesting aspect of Cyclops’ relationship with either of the two. Instead, I love how the foundational love between Scott and Jean tragically falters. Starting with the time Cyclops spent fused with Apocalypse, the relationship with Jean was too juvenile to last. Emma Frost is Cyclops’ true love and I’ll defend that ship to the figurative death. First let’s appreciate how messy this love triangle is. It isn’t unlike how I learned that love and lust are complicated.

The reason that Cyke works with Emma and not Jean can be illustrated by the two women’s difference in psychic ethic. Jean Grey refuses to violate people’s minds unless they’re a combatant. In her relationship with Scott she gave him his space to work his shit out. Because he’s still the repressed kid that fell in love with her in the first place, he couldn’t communicate effectively with her. That’s when he reached out to Emma Frost.

I’m not endorsing infidelity, but Emma was exactly what Scott needed. She has no qualms digging into Cyclops’ head and in turn, she chose to be open and honest with him. Cyclops and Jean Grey feel like the high school sweethearts that end up getting married too young. Cyclops and Emma Frost feel like grown-ass adults in love.

Behold! The Conclusion

I polled some friends on their feelings on Cyclops — as iconic as he is, people are very hot or cold on him. A sampling of the responses:

“The Boy-Scout, The Pit of Many a Joke, Only started becoming cool to me in recent years. Bless his Glow-Up.” — Carrie
“Cyclops is unequivocally sound in all of his decision making and tactical planning. With ocular nukes hiding behind that charming smile, Scott Summers is an incredible character and one of the most endearing leaders to ever do it.” — Ja-Quan
“I wasn’t a fan for years, but after House of X #4, how can I not be?” — Leslie
“An analogy, Cyclops is to the X-Men what LaCroix is to flavored beverages.” — Joseph
“He was better in Westworld. Heh”. — Anonymous

Cyclops is a complicated character with a long development arc covering both heroic, and less heroic, deeds. That’s what makes him engaging. That’s why when he calls for his X-Men, they show up for him. That’s why he’s the leader to the end. There are few characters that illicit such strong responses both negative and positive. But when it comes to Scott Summers, my Black ass is in love.

Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The post How My Black Ass Fell In Love With The X-Men’s Most Underrated W.A.S.P: An Ode to Cyclops appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

New York Comic Con season is upon us, and with the gift of NYCC taking over Manhattan comes thousands flocking to the Javits center in cosplay. Some folks drive up north to see the foliage change for autumn, I prefer watching cosplayers flood the city to let me know fall has come. Cosplay is one of the many things New York Comic Con has to offer, but the main thing it brings? Panels. There are all types of panels every year in Comic Con, and I’m here to talk about one I was recently part of: HBO’s It’s Time: A Conversation on Representation in the Comic Genre and What’s Next for The Culture. HBO’s “It’s Time” panel took place in the Watchmen lounge (and I just wanna state how great that lounge was; the lighting was immaculate and the playlist went mad hard in the sensual).

Moderated by DJ BenHaMeen (of For All Nerds), the fellow panelists were Cheyenne Ewulu (of Pretty, Brown, And Nerdy), Jourdan Barnett (of Blerd Vision Podcast), and myself (y’all know who the hell I rep). We got together to talk across the board about representation not only in comics, movies, and television, but also behind the scenes as well. Naturally, there are a lot of questions that arise when diversity comes into the conversation: Is there enough? Is it a trend/ploy now? How about the process of getting our stories right? Who should be the ones to tell these stories of people of color? When touching these topics I love to have a panel of people from different portions of the nerd spectrum.

Hiiiighliiiiiiiiights

DJ BenHaMeen was making them questions rain down o’er us, and one question was what can be done about diversity offline. Cheyenne’s answer was not to sleep on how powerful the internet can be.

Had a great time talking representation in Hollywood and comics today with my fellow Blerd fam. Thank you @Watchmen for the opportunity. I’m ready to see my girl Regina King KILL IT in Watchmen! Y’all just wait. #HBOPartner #WatchmenHBO

pic.twitter.com/fQp461Rnim

— Cheyenne Ewulu ✈️ NYCC (@CheyenneYoutube) October 5, 2019

On the topic of white characters being the default for heroes, Jourdan expressed the success of Miles Morales’ Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse (Yeah, I said Miles Morales. In my eyes he owns it, not Sony) as a clear example of the success and acclaim that can occur with a hero of color as the centerpiece and not a white male, as is usually the case. I should also mention that I am forever indebted to Jourdan for catching the large cardboard cut out on the stage that I tipped over. (I told him before we got on stage that I would. He looked at me and said, “You did call it.”) Listen, I make things interesting alright. This is me.

The Q&A segment went by oh-so-smoothly, as I’m happy to report that no one got up and said, “this is more of a statement than a question.” My favorite question brought up Craig of the Creek: I had mentioned how they had a kid of color always in the background as well as front and center. The question was (not said in any malicious manner at all, ’cause they love the show, too), how do you feel about that when the two creators are white? To which I responded with an earlier point about putting your people on, especially if you know they won’t get the chance because they are a bunch of storyboard artists that are people of color. Craig of the Creek was inclusive in their hiring, which is what the game needs more of.

This was a fun panel to be part of and a great group of nerds to party with. As we went to the Watchmen afterparty, I walked in and saw a DJ set on top of Owl Man’s ship. The big owl lights on the ship were on, too. I… don’t even know what to say after that, man. There ain’t nothing left to say, really. Except ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE (especially diversity, representation, and inclusivity of all orientations across the board in all major media).

Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram 

The post ICYMI: HBO’s “It’s Time” Panel on Diversity Is the Fun I Come to Cons For appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.