https://blacknerdproblems.com/lupina-book-one-wax-review/
Writter: James F. Wright / Illustrator: Li Buszka / Colors: Bex Glendining / Ink: Ariana Maher / Legendary Comics YA
In Lupina, a young girl battles both the grief of a family lost to seemingly senseless violence and real-life monsters. All while traveling across the land with her wolf guardian. Lupina is a tale of self-discovery and vengeance that transcends both the mystical and the corporeal worlds that our protagonist inhabits.
I have mentioned in previous articles that graphic novels helped ignite my love of reading. They allow for a different kind of digestion of narrative fiction. As I’ve gotten older, I am aware that my attention span has greatly decreased. However, graphic novels allow me to remain immersed in a story from cover to cover. From Legendary Comics YA, a four-person creative team brings a new fantasy comic to life that adds a magical twist to the run-of-the-mill coming-of-age story in Lupina.
The artwork in Lupina is gorgeous. The beginning is endearing enough; a mother comforting, protecting, and later sacrificing her life to defend her youngest will pull the heartstrings of any reader. I enjoy how the fauna play such a large role in the story. The large wolf, Coras, is super cute and provides ample amounts of comfort to the protagonist. This comfort feels like a necessity, considering how tragic the opening of the story is. I love how protective she is over Lupa. This trope never gets old (think Avatar: TLA‘s Appa and Legend of Korra‘s Naga) and the dynamic is heart-warming as the reader leans on this duo in order to wade through the constant fear and darkness that permeates Lupina. Personally, I need some emotional anchor to get through any kind of nitty-gritty dark shit, so the sweet wolfie was much appreciated. Coras is not as engaging as Appa or Naga, but has the makings of being one of the best fictional animal companions in her own right.
The pacing is too quick for my taste and a bit convoluted. Mixing reality and dreams and the perspectives of the deities watching over Lupa… It’s just a lot to take in with not enough of a solid foundation to jump off of. Another major point of contention for me was how the goddesses were woven into the story. Initially, they are seen as beings of myth and awe. Later in the story, we see they have an active role to play in Lupa’s destiny, which felt overwhelming for the story.
Overall, Lupina was a fun read that suffers from having too much to say in too short a time. So many fantastical plot points are introduced without some needed exposition. There just was not enough background information given for Lupa, her family, or her hometown to have a real compassionate connection with her or her story. Her mother’s fighting and protecting her, then later, dying was the most emotion I felt during the story. Meeting Coras was a close second, but other than that, I felt very disconnected from the overall story. There is a lot of promise in this comic, and to reiterate, the art is beautiful. Hopefully in future volumes, there is more time given to fleshing out the backstory of the politics and society in the world Lupa and Coras inhabit.
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The post ‘Lupina Book One: Wax’ Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writter: James F. Wright / Illustrator: Li Buszka / Colors: Bex Glendining / Ink: Ariana Maher / Legendary Comics YA
In Lupina, a young girl battles both the grief of a family lost to seemingly senseless violence and real-life monsters. All while traveling across the land with her wolf guardian. Lupina is a tale of self-discovery and vengeance that transcends both the mystical and the corporeal worlds that our protagonist inhabits.
I have mentioned in previous articles that graphic novels helped ignite my love of reading. They allow for a different kind of digestion of narrative fiction. As I’ve gotten older, I am aware that my attention span has greatly decreased. However, graphic novels allow me to remain immersed in a story from cover to cover. From Legendary Comics YA, a four-person creative team brings a new fantasy comic to life that adds a magical twist to the run-of-the-mill coming-of-age story in Lupina.
The artwork in Lupina is gorgeous. The beginning is endearing enough; a mother comforting, protecting, and later sacrificing her life to defend her youngest will pull the heartstrings of any reader. I enjoy how the fauna play such a large role in the story. The large wolf, Coras, is super cute and provides ample amounts of comfort to the protagonist. This comfort feels like a necessity, considering how tragic the opening of the story is. I love how protective she is over Lupa. This trope never gets old (think Avatar: TLA‘s Appa and Legend of Korra‘s Naga) and the dynamic is heart-warming as the reader leans on this duo in order to wade through the constant fear and darkness that permeates Lupina. Personally, I need some emotional anchor to get through any kind of nitty-gritty dark shit, so the sweet wolfie was much appreciated. Coras is not as engaging as Appa or Naga, but has the makings of being one of the best fictional animal companions in her own right.
The pacing is too quick for my taste and a bit convoluted. Mixing reality and dreams and the perspectives of the deities watching over Lupa… It’s just a lot to take in with not enough of a solid foundation to jump off of. Another major point of contention for me was how the goddesses were woven into the story. Initially, they are seen as beings of myth and awe. Later in the story, we see they have an active role to play in Lupa’s destiny, which felt overwhelming for the story.
Overall, Lupina was a fun read that suffers from having too much to say in too short a time. So many fantastical plot points are introduced without some needed exposition. There just was not enough background information given for Lupa, her family, or her hometown to have a real compassionate connection with her or her story. Her mother’s fighting and protecting her, then later, dying was the most emotion I felt during the story. Meeting Coras was a close second, but other than that, I felt very disconnected from the overall story. There is a lot of promise in this comic, and to reiterate, the art is beautiful. Hopefully in future volumes, there is more time given to fleshing out the backstory of the politics and society in the world Lupa and Coras inhabit.
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The post ‘Lupina Book One: Wax’ Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
Ok, folks...let's get b(l)ack into it! Welcome to another stellar edition of Afronerd Radio's The Grindhouse show airing each and every Sunday at 6 p.m. eastern on the BTalk 100 internet broadcasting platform. Listen to the latest musings of your genetically (Wakandan, probably) engineered AFROnerdist hosts, as they decipher the following topical puzzles: Black-owned comic book company, Black Sands Entertainment garnered a "cherry" deal when pitching their company to celebrity investors during a recent appearance on ABC-TV's Shark Tank....we have our thoughts:
Lastly, speaking of Star Trek lore, why can't the rumors of legendary filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino being involved in a Trek property go away (unless they're true, of course)?
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
While we’re apologizing to the women who’ve been torn apart in the media for years — Britney Spears, Megan Fox, Janet Jackson, Marcia Clark — let’s add Pamela Anderson to the list. Though there have been documentaries, articles, and books written about her life, Hulu’s Pam & Tommy shines an even brighter light on the cruelty and rampant misogyny she endured. Written by co-showrunners Rob Siegel (The Wrestler) and DV DeVincentis (The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story) and directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), the eight-episode limited series goes beyond the tabloids and pulls back the curtain on the first viral celebrity sex tape scandal.
Pam & Tommy chronicles the relationship between the actor and Playboy model Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and former Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan), including the first time they met, Tommy’s public proposal, and their immediate beach wedding, all of which occurred in less than a week. But it’s not just about their romance. We get a look at their individual struggles, like Anderson’s frustrations with not being taken seriously on Baywatch, and Lee’s music career post-Mötley Crüe.
The series is an adaptation of Amanda Chicago Lewis’ 2014 Rolling Stone article about construction worker Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogen) and the events leading up to the break-in (aka “Operation Karma”). The first episode focuses on Gauthier’s tense interactions with Tommy Lee during renovations. Lee’s constantly evolving ideas were more than frustrating for Gauthier and crew, meaning undoing previously finished work and redoing it.
Lee fired the crew and refused to pay for the work already done. When Gauthier returned to collect his tools, Lee threatened him with a gun. Hellbent on revenge, Gauthier later stole a massive safe full of firearms, jewelry, and cash, but it was a home video that would lead to the big bucks. That’s the setup for the series, which then follows all the characters as they handle the outcome of Anderson and Lee’s sex tape distribution.
Pam & Tommy has a similar tone to Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya (also starring Sebastian Stan), which follows all of the absurdity that surrounds high-profile crimes. However, Gillespie doesn’t make light of the crimes. Both the series and I, Tonya have genuinely heartbreaking moments, particularly for Pam and Tonya. The tracking shots and close-ups are a lot alike as well, giving it a documentary-like style without the shakiness.
Another similarity to Gillespie’s previous film is the series’ examination of misogyny in the media and society in general. Paparazzi culture hasn’t gotten any better, and now there’s the internet to make it even easier to violate anyone in or out of the spotlight. In the series, Pam repeatedly tells Tommy that this is a significantly different experience for her as a woman. There’s also the narrative that being a sex symbol means giving the world unlimited access to your body.
Lily James may not be the first actor who comes to mind to play Pamela Anderson. The hair and makeup department(s) did award-worthy work, but James took it to the next level by capturing Anderson’s essence, which is arguably more important than anything when playing a real person. The British actor delivers a brilliantly nuanced performance, completely embodying Pamela from the distinct voice down to the way she chews her gum. It’s the element of the series that will likely be most talked about and praised, and rightfully so. James told Variety, “I wanted to get that energy and that impulsiveness and that spirit that she has when she’s in front of the camera.” She succeeded.
Sebastian Stan is always incredible in every role no matter the genre. He may not have as much in terms of hair and makeup, but Stan has a natural ability to fully transform into a character. As Siegel says, he’s a “straight-up chameleon.” Like James, the actor clearly studied Lee’s mannerisms and inflections, truly becoming the drumstick-twirling, life of the party rock star Tommy Lee. Stan also kills it on the drums, a skill that takes great commitment to learn.
Since the series is set in the mid-to-late 1990s, I fully expected a banger soundtrack and the series delivered. Throwback jams of various genres play throughout the series, and with the music comes the ’90s-era fashion. Tommy is often walking around in a thong and boots, covered in a sheen of sweat, and sometimes wearing a gorgeous silk robe. It’s definitely a look.
Pam & Tommy is a lot of things. It’s a fascinating look into one of Hollywood’s biggest scandals and the wild romance at its center. It’s a tale of revenge, fame, love, and greed, falling into multiple genres including black comedy, biographical drama, and true crime. I laughed, I gasped, I shed a few tears. It’s honestly one of the best miniseries I’ve seen in the last few years. Plus, Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth) voices Tommy Lee’s penis, which is something I fully support and greatly appreciate.
Pam & Tommy stars Lily James (Rebecca) as Pamela Anderson, Sebastian Stan (Fresh) as Tommy Lee, Seth Rogen (This Is The End) as Rand Gauthier, Nick Offerman (Devs) as Uncle Miltie, Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black) as Erica Gauthier, Pepi Sonuga (Queens) as Melanie, Andrew Dice Clay (Hap and Leonard) as Butchie, Spenser Granese (Fear the Walking Dead) as Steve Fasanella, Mozhan Marnò (The Blacklist) as Gail Chwatsky, Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus) as Seth Warshavsky, and Mike Seely (Dark Waters) as Hugh Hefner.
The series is produced by Craig Gillespie, Robert Siegel, and DV DeVincentis, along with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee for Point Grey, as well as Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle, and Ali Krug for Annapurna.
Pam & Tommy begins streaming February 2 on Hulu.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
Greetings, people! Let's get into it! Check out the latest Mid Week in Review episode as curated by the Afronerd Radio "steam engine." Showtime starts this Wednesday at 8 p.m. eastern on the BTalk 100 cyber-broadcasting platform. Your AFROnerdist hosts will be tackling the following issues: and yet again, notable British actor, Idris Elba is getting talked about for the James Bond franchise but this time, allegedly, more seriously; another actor of note, Peter Dinklage, had some pretty stern words for the folks at Disney who are considering a live-action Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; The Batman director, Matt Reeves might be under consideration for an unnamed "dark" Marvel property; multi-hyphenate actor/View host, Whoopi Goldberg had a few choice words for fellow talker, comedian, Bill Maher for his recent post-COVID-19 views which he espoused during his Real Time show:
And lastly our thoughts about Boba Fett episode ,5, Demon Slayer, the Eternals sequel, the return of SYFY's Resident Alien and our impressions of a forthcoming cosplay doc entitled, Shades of Cosplay:
Oh, if time constraints permit, perhaps we can talk about filmmaker, Rick Famuyiwa trending because DCEU fans are theorizing what would have happened if he had never been dropped from the Flash film.
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!