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https://www.essence.com/festival/2018-essence-festival/fantasia-performance-brother-essence-festival

Fantasia's mesmerizing performance at the 2018 ESSENCE Festival was one those who witnessed it will never forget for more reasons that one. [brightcove id=5781508624001] A favorite among ESSENCE Festival fans, the powerhouse soul music diva was in true form from beginning to end as she took to the Superdome stage to run through a mix of the classics that helped propel her to stardom and new music from her latest album, The Definition Of. Whether she was belting out songs like "Free Yourself" or dancing her heart out to the sounds of "Hood Boy," "Without Me" and "When I See You," the 32-year-old songstress left everything on the stage. Every Fantasia performance is one full of emotion and raw talent, but there was one moment in particular during her ESSENCE Fest set that had many Festival-goers shedding tears of joy right along with her. Towards the end of her showstopping mainstage moment, which came just before headliner Janet Jackson closed the weekend out with a spectacular show of her own, Fantasia opened up to the crowd about a recent motorcycle accident that nearly claimed the life of her younger brother. While sharing her brother's tragic story with the audience, she displayed pictures of his hard-fought journey to recovery in the hospital just before transitioning to a heartfelt performance of her hit, "Lose To Win."  As the song neared its' end, the audience erupted in cheers when a sudden break in the music was followed by Fantasia's brother making his way to the stage in a wheelchair, smiling from ear to ear and singing along to his big sister's song. Fantasia broke down in tears as she kneeled at her brother's side to share an embrace that was undoubtedly felt by everyone in the room. A truly magical moment to close out a phenomenal performance. For more on every unforgettable moment you missed at the 2018 ESSENCE Festival, visit ESSENCE.com

https://www.essence.com/festival/2018-essence-festival/idris-elba-performs-essence-festival

By: Okla Jones In the Good Vibes SuperLounge at the 2018 ESSENCE Festival, Idris Elba delivered a DJ set filled with classic tunes. Primarily known for his stellar acting abilities, the 45-year-old Hollywood entertainer has also been active on the music scene for well over 10 years. A DJ who's main focus is Hip-Hop, the anthems of African-American love, pride and empowerment that blossomed in the '70s were a clear influence as he hit the stage for his ESSENCE Fest debut on Saturday night. He also has plenty of experience when it comes to performing on the big stage. In 2007, Elba DJed for many of the NBA’s All-Star festivities, as well as BET’s "Rising Icon" series in 2009; so, he felt right at home during his set at ESSENCE Festival this year. His remix of McFadden & Whitehead’s timeless hit, "Ain’t No Stopping Us Now" was the highlight of the night. That track has maintained relevance for decades, and it resonated with the diverse Festival audience in attendance. Elba's attention to detail and his ability to cater to everyone’s musical taste is a credit to his veteran status as not only a DJ, but as an entertainer. This summer has been a busy one for Idris Elba, and he’ll be back in London for the entire month of August; DJing at multiple venues throughout the UK.

http://www.thenerdelement.com/2018/07/08/dark-horse-comic-signing-and-panel-schedule-for-sdcc/

Dark Horse Comics is back at Comic-Con in booth #2615.  As in previous years, fans can purchase comics, get free swag, and signings!  Below is the signing schedule and panels the company will bring to the con!

Please be aware that all events are subject to change.  Here are some of the deets about the signings:

• Signings requiring a wristband will be noted below.
• Drawings will be at the booth.  They occur both the day before and the actual day of the signing (while supplies last).
• All signings are free. You can either bring or purchase items to be signed.  However, there will be free items available like comics, posters, etc just in case (while supplies last).  Also depending on the guests there will be either a limited number or type of of item.  That will also be noted on the schedule.

There are two signing stages that feature art.  One is Hellboy by Mike Mignola and the other is Stranger Things by Aleksi Bricolt, Kyle Lambert, and Rafael Albuquerque.

If there are any additional questions, be sure to check with staff at the Dark Horse booth!

Signings

HB = Hellboy Signing Stage  ST = Stranger Things Signing Stage

THURSDAY, JULY 19

11:00-11:45 AM:     HB      FEMINA AND FAUNA, HELMETGIRLS: Camilla d’Errico

12:00-12:45 PM:    HB      FINAL FANTASY, VAMPIRE HUNTER D, THE SKY: Yoshitaka Amano

*WRISTBAND REQUIRED

*LIMIT ONE PRINT, ONE OTHER ITEM PER PERSON

*OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY — SEE STAFF FOR INFO

12:00-12:45 PM:    ST      ROME WEST: Justin Giampaoli, Matthew Taylor

2:00-2:45 PM:        HB      BLACKWOOD: Veronica Fish, Andy Fish

2:00-2:45 PM:        ST       STRANGER THINGS, STARCRAFT: SCAVENGERS: Jody Houser

3:00-3:45 PM:        HB      THE SHAOLIN COWBOY, LEAD POISONING, THE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT: Geof Darrow

3:00-3:45 PM:        ST       CALL OF DUTY: Jason Blundell, Craig Houston, E.M. Gist

4:00-4:45 PM:        HB       LADY KILLER: Joëlle Jones

5:00-5:45 PM:        HB       ELFQUEST: Wendy Pini, Richard Pini

5:00-5:45 PM:        ST       SOUPY LEAVES HOME: Cecil Castellucci

6:00-6:45 PM:        HB      MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: Todd Nauck, Felicia Day, Michael Heisler

*WRISTBAND REQUIRED                                       

*NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY

*LIMIT ONE PRINT, ONE PREVIEW COMIC, ONE OTHER ITEM PER PERSON 

*OTHER RESTRICTIONS APPLY—SEE STAFF FOR INFO

6:00-6:45 PM:        ST       EMILY AND THE STRANGERS: Rob Reger, Buzz Parker

FRIDAY, JULY 20

10:00-10:45 AM:     HB       USAGI YOJIMBO: Stan Sakai

11:00-11:45 AM:      ST       BANDETTE, COLDER, THE WITCHER, PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES: Paul Tobin

BANDETTE: Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover

12:00-1:30 PM:       HB       DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG REUNION: Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon,  Maurissa Tancharoen, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day

*WRISTBAND REQUIRED

*NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY

*LIMIT ONE PRINT, ONE OTHER ITEM PER PERSON

*OTHER RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY—SEE STAFF FOR INFO

*WRISTBANDS DISTRIBUTED AT OPENING WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

12:00-12:45 PM:      ST       EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS: Jim Sullos

2:00-2:45 PM:          HB       DISNEY / PIXAR THE INCREDIBLES 2 #1:  CRISIS IN MID-LIFE! & OTHER STORIES: Landry Q. Walker

2:00-2:45 PM:          ST       BLACK HAMMER: Jeff Lemire

3:00-3:45 PM:          ST       HALO: Alex Irvine, Tyler Jeffers, Jody Houser, Jonathan Wayshak

3:30-4:30 PM:          HB       BERGER BOOKS: Karen Berger, Richard Bruning, Ann Nocenti, Christopher Cantwell, Dave Gibbons, Dean Haspiel, G. Willow Wilson

4:00-4:45 PM:          ST        AMERICAN GODS: MY AINSEL: Scott Hampton, David Mack, Jennifer T. Lange

4:30-5:15 PM:          HB        HELLBOY: Mike Mignola

5:00-5:45 PM:          ST        BIOWARE: Matthew Goldman (Creative Director, Dragon Age), Mike Gamble (Lead Producer, Anthem)

6:00-6:45 PM:          HB        GOD OF WAR: Tony Parker, E.M. Gist, Corey Barlog

SATURDAY, JULY 21

10:00-10:45 AM:       HB        PROJECT TBA: G. Willow Wilson

11:00-11:45 AM:        HB       THE SEEDS: Ann Nocenti

12:00-12:45 PM:       ST        STRANGER THINGS, STARCRAFT: SCAVENGERS: Jody Houser

1:00-1:45 PM:           HB        THE ALCOHOLIC: Dean Haspiel

1:00-1:45 PM:           ST         NEIL GAIMAN’S A STUDY IN EMERALD: Rafael Albuquerque, Rafael Scavone

2:00-2:45 PM:           HB        SHE COULD FLY: Christopher Cantwell

3:00-3:45 PM:           ST         GO TEAM VENTURE! THE ART AND MAKING OF THE VENTURE BROS.:  Doc Hammer, Jackson Publick, Ken Plume

*WRISTBAND REQUIRED

*NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY

*OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY — SEE STAFF FOR INFO

4:00-4:45 PM:           ST         HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE SERPENT’S HEIR: Richard Hamilton

4:30-6:00 PM:           HB         XERXES: THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF DARIUS AND THE RISE OF ALEXANDER, SIN CITY, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTHA WASHINGTON IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: Frank Miller

XERXES: THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF DARIUS AND THE RISE OF ALEXANDER: Alex Sinclair

*WRISTBAND REQUIRED

*NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY

*LIMIT ONE PRINT, ONE OTHER ITEM PER PERSON

*OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY—SEE STAFF FOR INFO

5:00-5:45 PM:           ST         BEDTIME GAMES: Nick Keller

6:00-6:45 PM:           HB         THE ORIGINALS, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARTHA WASHINGTON IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: Dave Gibbons

SUNDAY, JULY 22

11:00-11:45 AM:          HB        ELFQUEST: Wendy Pini, Richard Pini

11:00-11:45 AM:          ST        EMPOWERED: Adam Warren

12:00-12:45 PM:         ST         TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN: Shannon Wheeler

12:30-1:15 PM:           HB        THE SECRET LOVES OF GEEKS: Hope Nicholson, Maia Kobabe, Dylan Edwards, Megan Kearney

2:00-2:45 PM:             ST         BIOWARE: Matthew Goldman (Creative Director, Dragon Age), Mike Gamble (Lead Producer, Anthem)

2:00-3:30 PM:             HB         FINAL FANTASY, VAMPIRE HUNTER D, THE SKY: Yoshitaka Amano

*WRISTBAND REQUIRED

*LIMIT ONE PRINT, ONE OTHER ITEM PER PERSON

*OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY — SEE STAFF FOR INFO

DARK HORSE SDCC PANEL SCHEDULE

Please join us at the panels below, brought to you by Dark Horse Comics and friends! Please visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/programming-schedule for more panels featuring Dark Horse creators and guidelines for attending panels.

THURSDAY, JULY 19

11:00 AM-12:00 PM: Growing Up with Comics: Introducing Younger Readers to Graphic Storytelling (Room: 23ABC)

Comics are a great way to get kids interested in art, reading, and storytelling—and, well, they’re fun! Join Sergio Aragonés (Groo), Cecil Castellucci (Soupy Leaves Home), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), and Landry Q. Walker (Disney / Pixar The Incredibles 2: Crisis in Mid-Life! & Other Stories) to discover and discuss the ever-growing library of incredible all-ages comics!

3:00-4:00 PM: Spotlight on Jeff Lemire (Room: 25ABC)

Comic-Con special guest Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer, Descender, Gideon Falls) and veteran comic book editor Will Dennis discuss Lemire’s various creator-owned projects and for the first time preview both the upcoming Family Tree and Ascender! Panel will feature Dustin Nguyen (Batman, Descender) and a Q&A session.

5:00-6:00 PM: Across the Editor’s Desk: A Day in the Life of Comics Unsung Heroes (Room: 23ABC)

Have you always wondered what a comic book editor does? Do you think you have what it takes to become a comics industry professional? Dark Horses want to give you insight on breaking into the industry and working with a powerhouse publisher! Join Dark Horse editors for a rare behind the panels look at the secrets to breaking into the industry and building successful comic and graphic novel programs.

FRIDAY, JULY 20

10:00-11:00 AM: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Reunion (Room: Hall H)

In 2008, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog became a beloved web-series. The show tells the story of Dr. Horrible (played by Neil Patrick Harris), an aspiring supervillain; Moist (Simon Helberg), Dr. Horrible’s minion; Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), his nemesis; and Penny (Felicia Day), their shared love interest. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this popular show by joining creator Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, and Maurissa Tancharoen for a lively discussion and celebration!

11:00 AM-12:00 PM: Thirty Years of Dark Horse Manga (Room: 23ABC)

Come celebrate Dark Horse’s 30 years of manga with special panel guest Yoshitaka Amano! One of the most honored Japanese fantasy, science fiction, and video game illustrators, Dark Horse has released more works in English by Amano than any other publisher. We’ll have previews of our forthcoming illustrated biography of Yoshitaka Amano—and of course, a discussion of his life and career with the book’s subject, the artist himself!

2:30-3:30 PM: Spotlight on Mike Mignola (Room: 24ABC)

Comic-Con special guest Mike Mignola discusses Hellboy and anything else the audience wants to talk about regarding his career.

5:00-6:00 PM: Berger Books: The Second Wave (Room: 25ABC)

Berger Books keeps great comics coming in its second wave of new and unusual genre-bending series! Editor Karen Berger (Vertigo founder) is joined by Christopher Cantwell, co-creator of AMC’s acclaimed Halt and Catch Fire (She Could Fly), Dean Haspiel, Emmy Award-winning artist of HBO’s Bored to Death (The Alcoholic), legendary comics writer Ann Nocenti (The Seeds), art director Richard Bruning, and the one and only Dave Gibbons (The Originals) plus a special surprise guest and announcement!

SATURDAY, JULY 21

2:30-3:30 PM: Spotlight on Yoshitaka Amano

Join Comic-Con International in honoring one of the most recognized Japanese artists of the last half-century, Yoshitaka Amano. Amano’s storied career spans decades with thousands of works including Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D, and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: The Dream Hunters. Amano will delight fans by live drawing some of his original characters and will participate in a brief Q&A.

3:00-4:00 PM: Artists Who Write: The Craft and Creation of Comics (Room: 7AB)

Whether it’s a superhero adventure, a colorful fantasy world, an ultra-violent crime noir, or a new take on an old classic, creators put a lot of thought into the sequential art that drives stories told in comics. Join an all-star lineup of Dark Horse creators including Frank Miller (Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander, Sin City), Dave Gibbons (The Originals, The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the Twenty-First Century), Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer), Wendy Pini (ElfQuest), and Rafael Albuquerque (EI8HT) as they discuss turning an idea into a full-fledged story and how they continue to keep their writing fresh.

SUNDAY, JULY 22

11:00 AM-12:00 PM: The Secret Loves of Geeks (Room: 32AB)

Vita Ayala (comics writer, The Wilds), Ivan Salazar (PR, comiXology), Maia Kobabe (cartoonist, Genderqueer), Hope Nicholson (editor, The Secret Loves of Geeks) and Dylan Edwards (cartoonist, Transposes) discuss the genesis behind The Secret Loves of Geeks anthology, how vulnerable writing and comics are needed, and the new projects they are working on next. Moderated by Dustin Nelson.

10:00-11:00 AM:              Spotlight on Rafael Albuquerque (Room: 24 ABC)

3:00-4:00 PM:                  Spotlight on Ann Nocenti (Room: 4)

What are you most interested in? Sound off below in the comments!

 

The post Dark Horse Comic Signing and Panel Schedule for SDCC! appeared first on The Nerd Element.

https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2018/07/05/ant-man-and-the-wasp-spoiler-free-review/

Let’s be real. After the heartbreaking events of Avengers: Infinity War, we needed some sort of relief from the pain. Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp was just that — a tiny [pun intended] relief. Set two years after Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is placed under house arrest and had three more […]