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https://www.blackenterprise.com/understanding-medicare-part-c-and-what-it-covers/
What is Medicare Part C?
To understand Medicare Part C, commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage, it is important to know that it is an alternative to Original Medicare and is run by private insurance companies. Medicare Part C provides everything Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) do, in addition to offering coverage for things like vision, dental, hearing, and prescription drugs. Medicare Part C is optional and there is no penalty for not signing up.
As long as you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, you can enroll in Medicare Part C. Just like enrolling in Parts A and B, signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan and/or a Medicare prescription drug plan can occur during a seven-month period that:
- Starts three months before the month you turn 65
- Includes the month you turn 65
- Ends three months after the month you turn 65
| If you join | Your coverage begins |
| During one of the 3 months before you turn 65 | The first day of the month you turn 65 |
| During the month you turn 65 | The first day of the month after you ask to join the plan |
| During one of the 3 months after you turn 65 | The first day of the month after you ask to join the plan |
Each year, you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There’s a fall Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or drop your plan and return to Medicare Part A and Part B. This period is called the Annual Election Period (AEP), and it runs from October 15 – December 7.
On the other hand, you may have waited to sign up for Medicare Part C if you were working for an employer when you turned 65 and had healthcare coverage through your job or union, or through your spouse’s job. This would allow you to enroll in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which is 63 days after the loss of employer healthcare coverage.
Who is Eligible for Medicare Part C?
Any Medicare beneficiary, regardless of age, can purchase Medicare Part C. However, you must be already enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B in order to be eligible for Medicare Part C. Additionally, you must reside within the service area of the Medicare Advantage plan you want.
Here are the criteria for Medicare Part C eligibility:
- You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and B. Many people think they can drop Part B if they enroll in a Medicare Part C plan; however, this is wrong. If you drop Part B, you will immediately be kicked out of your Part C plan.
- You need to live in the plan’s service area. This Medicare Part C eligibility will be based on the address that you have on file with Social Security. You must choose a plan that operates in that same county. Some plans will be specific to only one or two counties, while others might span the whole state.
- You must not have end-stage renal disease. This is the only medical question on the Part C application.
Note that Medicare Advantage plans have election periods. This means that you can enroll in the plan during your Initial Enrollment Period or during the Annual Election Period in the fall. There are also certain Special Election Periods for certain circumstances like moving out of state and losing your plan. In this scenario, you would be granted a SEP to enroll in a plan mid-year in your new state.
Types of Medicare Part C Plans
There are three plans associated with Medicare Advantage. They are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans.
With HMOs, a primary care doctor in a network is chosen by you. That doctor will be responsible for your care and give you referrals to see a specialist.
PPOs have network and out-of-network doctors that you can see and facilities you can use, often without a referral.
A PFFS plan determines whether it will accept Medicare insurance, how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers and hospitals, as well as how much you must pay when you get care. This plan does not require you to choose a primary care physician and you do not need a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist.
| HMO | PPO | PFFS | |
| Primary doctor | All of the doctors are in a network and your primary doctor is chosen by you. Doctor referral to a specialist is required. | Network and out-of-network doctors you can use without a referral | No requirement to choose a primary doctor. No referral needed to see a specialist. |
| Out-of-pocket costs | Minimal as you are using doctors in a specific network. | Higher as you have more choices of providers. You can see a doctor inside or outside your network, but if you stay inside your network, you will pay less. | Depends on whether the provider accepts your insurance. As a result, you will need to get written acceptance before each service or risk paying the bill in full. |
| Emergency coverage outside the U.S. | Yes, limited coverage | Yes, limited coverage | Yes, limited coverage |
Medicare Part C Costs
The extra coverage provided by Medicare Part C is good, but it does come with extra costs. You can’t opt out of Medicare Part A and Part B, so keep in mind that if you decide to enroll in Medicare Part C, you must pay for it and continue paying the Part B premium.
Medicare Part C premiums vary depending on the type of plan and the state you live in. The average monthly premiums are usually lower than what you would pay for Medicare Part B. However, you still have to pay your annual deductible, copayments, and coinsurance for your Part C plan.
Each year, plans establish the amounts they charge for premiums, deductibles, and services. Only some Medicare Advantage plans have an annual deductible, in addition to the standard Part B deductible. Plans that include prescription drug coverage may charge another deductible for drug coverage.
Copayments are for specific services such as doctor visits. Usually copays are a flat dollar fee. Some types of plans charge higher copays to see providers out of your network.
Each Part C plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services including whether you need a referral to see a specialist or have to go to only doctors that belong to the plan for non-emergency or non-urgent care.
Keep in mind that these rules can change each year. However, what you pay may change only once a year – on January 1. To learn more about Medicare, head over to Medicare.gov. To learn about Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Prescription Drug plans, request a free quote.
What is Medicare Part C?
To understand Medicare Part C, commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage, it is important to know that it is an alternative to Original Medicare and is run by private insurance companies. Medicare Part C provides everything Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) do, in addition to offering coverage for things like vision, dental, hearing, and prescription drugs. Medicare Part C is optional and there is no penalty for not signing up.
As long as you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, you can enroll in Medicare Part C. Just like enrolling in Parts A and B, signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan and/or a Medicare prescription drug plan can occur during a seven-month period that:
- Starts three months before the month you turn 65
- Includes the month you turn 65
- Ends three months after the month you turn 65
| If you join | Your coverage begins |
| During one of the 3 months before you turn 65 | The first day of the month you turn 65 |
| During the month you turn 65 | The first day of the month after you ask to join the plan |
| During one of the 3 months after you turn 65 | The first day of the month after you ask to join the plan |
Each year, you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. There’s a fall Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or drop your plan and return to Medicare Part A and Part B. This period is called the Annual Election Period (AEP), and it runs from October 15 – December 7.
On the other hand, you may have waited to sign up for Medicare Part C if you were working for an employer when you turned 65 and had healthcare coverage through your job or union, or through your spouse’s job. This would allow you to enroll in a Part C Medicare Advantage plan during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which is 63 days after the loss of employer healthcare coverage.
Who is Eligible for Medicare Part C?
Any Medicare beneficiary, regardless of age, can purchase Medicare Part C. However, you must be already enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B in order to be eligible for Medicare Part C. Additionally, you must reside within the service area of the Medicare Advantage plan you want.
Here are the criteria for Medicare Part C eligibility:
- You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and B. Many people think they can drop Part B if they enroll in a Medicare Part C plan; however, this is wrong. If you drop Part B, you will immediately be kicked out of your Part C plan.
- You need to live in the plan’s service area. This Medicare Part C eligibility will be based on the address that you have on file with Social Security. You must choose a plan that operates in that same county. Some plans will be specific to only one or two counties, while others might span the whole state.
- You must not have end-stage renal disease. This is the only medical question on the Part C application.
Note that Medicare Advantage plans have election periods. This means that you can enroll in the plan during your Initial Enrollment Period or during the Annual Election Period in the fall. There are also certain Special Election Periods for certain circumstances like moving out of state and losing your plan. In this scenario, you would be granted a SEP to enroll in a plan mid-year in your new state.
Types of Medicare Part C Plans
There are three plans associated with Medicare Advantage. They are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans.
With HMOs, a primary care doctor in a network is chosen by you. That doctor will be responsible for your care and give you referrals to see a specialist.
PPOs have network and out-of-network doctors that you can see and facilities you can use, often without a referral.
A PFFS plan determines whether it will accept Medicare insurance, how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers and hospitals, as well as how much you must pay when you get care. This plan does not require you to choose a primary care physician and you do not need a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist.
| HMO | PPO | PFFS | |
| Primary doctor | All of the doctors are in a network and your primary doctor is chosen by you. Doctor referral to a specialist is required. | Network and out-of-network doctors you can use without a referral | No requirement to choose a primary doctor. No referral needed to see a specialist. |
| Out-of-pocket costs | Minimal as you are using doctors in a specific network. | Higher as you have more choices of providers. You can see a doctor inside or outside your network, but if you stay inside your network, you will pay less. | Depends on whether the provider accepts your insurance. As a result, you will need to get written acceptance before each service or risk paying the bill in full. |
| Emergency coverage outside the U.S. | Yes, limited coverage | Yes, limited coverage | Yes, limited coverage |
Medicare Part C Costs
The extra coverage provided by Medicare Part C is good, but it does come with extra costs. You can’t opt out of Medicare Part A and Part B, so keep in mind that if you decide to enroll in Medicare Part C, you must pay for it and continue paying the Part B premium.
Medicare Part C premiums vary depending on the type of plan and the state you live in. The average monthly premiums are usually lower than what you would pay for Medicare Part B. However, you still have to pay your annual deductible, copayments, and coinsurance for your Part C plan.
Each year, plans establish the amounts they charge for premiums, deductibles, and services. Only some Medicare Advantage plans have an annual deductible, in addition to the standard Part B deductible. Plans that include prescription drug coverage may charge another deductible for drug coverage.
Copayments are for specific services such as doctor visits. Usually copays are a flat dollar fee. Some types of plans charge higher copays to see providers out of your network.
Each Part C plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services including whether you need a referral to see a specialist or have to go to only doctors that belong to the plan for non-emergency or non-urgent care.
Keep in mind that these rules can change each year. However, what you pay may change only once a year – on January 1. To learn more about Medicare, head over to Medicare.gov. To learn about Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Prescription Drug plans, request a free quote.
Happy National Hugging Day! This completely made-up holiday (aren’t they all made up anyway?) is all about wrapping your arms around someone to spread joy, give comfort, show support, or celebrate something incredible. When it comes to TV and film, hugs are a powerful medium to convey strong emotions and signal to the audience that two or more characters have a profound connection with each other.
This method works for pretty much any story, even those in genre that sometimes feature sci-fi or fantasy elements. A well-placed and needed hug is a grounding force that is relatable for pretty much every viewer because we have all benefited from a wonderful hug. It’s hard to not feel something in the pit of your stomach when these embraces happen – even if you aren’t personally into hugs.
There are countless TV and film hugs in existence, but there’s something about these hugs that will really give you an array of feels:
Carol & Daryl
The Walking Dead may miss the mark on some things but the show’s emotionally-charged reunion hugs are always on point. The zombie apocalypse series ushered in its fifth season with Carol’s destruction of Terminus. The previously banished group member revealed herself near the end of the episode, causing a surprising wave of emotion to come over her close friend Daryl.
He ran over and quickly scooped Carol into his arms for a warm embrace. Daryl briefly breaks away to reveal teary eyes before laying his head softly on her shoulder. Ahhh, the feels! Years later, it’s still one of the most memorable Walking Dead scenes.
Sansa & Jon
In Game of Thrones, Ygritte told Jon Snow that he knows nothing, but that’s not true. The guy knows how to give some excellent hugs. One of his best hugs was with Sansa Stark, the not-really-half-sister whom he didn’t get along with at the beginning of the series.
Sansa and Jon’s years of separation, trauma, and betrayal along with a fear that every Stark was dead pushed all previous feelings aside when they saw each other. There was only happiness and relief to see another family member.
Tenth Doctor & Sarah Jane
The Tenth Doctor is the most hugging and feels-having incarnation ever. So, it’s no surprise that he is one half of one of the best Doctor Who hugs. He’s reunited with the incomparable Sarah Jane, who hadn’t seen in him half a dozen regenerations.After finishing a mission together, The Doctor says goodbye to his Sarah Jane and gives her a big hug before taking off in the TARDIS. David Tennant and Elisabeth Sladen deliver the moment with absolute perfection. It’s a lovely bridge between the Classic and Modern eras of the enduring series and hits even harder considering that Sladen died in 2011.
Rocky & Adonis
Rocky’s quiet existence changed unexpectedly when Apollo Creed’s son Adonis appeared in his life. The pair built not only a working relationship, but a father-son bond along the way. So, when Adonis and Rocky embrace each other right after the final round bell rings during the Conlan fight, it’s clear that this moment is so much bigger than who wins the title.
It’s about Rocky finding life again in the boxing world and beyond as he guides his deceased best friend’s son towards greatness. And Adonis comes into his destiny as a legit fighter worthy of carrying on the Creed legacy on top of taking care of Rocky during his treatment. They not only complete the fight but they also complete each other.
The Stranger Things crew
The final minutes of Stranger Things 3 are some of saddest scenes in the entire series so far. The show shocked fans by revealing that Will’s family and Eleven were leaving Hawkins, Indiana to start a new life.Watching the kids all hug and say their goodbyes is sad for so many reasons. There are a lot of relationships being shifted in this moment—Will and his buddies, Mike and El, Max and El (really, Eleven with everyone), and Nancy and Jonathan—and its going to change these kids in major ways.
It’s a bittersweet reminder of our own childhoods and how we didn’t realize that there would be a final day to us going outside to ride bikes with friends, playing at the park, kissing our first love, or hanging out at arcade on Saturday. And Hopper’s voice reading his letter to El makes it even more emotional.
Rocky & Creed
Who doesn’t love to see Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed go in for an awkward hug during a training montage? This Rocky 3 moment is funny, cheesy, and shows how their relationship progressed from being rivals to the two best friends in the boxing world.
The franchise didn’t know it but this scene parallels perfectly with Rocky training Apollo’s son Adonis, especially when they hit the punching bag together.
Bellamy & Clarke
Does anyone on TV hug more than Bellamy and Clarke? The 100‘s loyal fandom has shipped this pair for many years and it’s easy to see why they love Bellarke.Clarke and Bellamy have more than a handful of loving embraces over six seasons and will likely hug (and maybe kiss) at least once more during the show’s upcoming final season. Until then, a throwback hug from season two can be everyone’s happy fuel.
E.T. & Elliott
We all knew that E.T. would have to go home, but we didn’t know it would be such a sad goodbye. The friendly alien and Elliott bid each other a tearful farewell before E.T. wraps him up in a warm (and kinda long) hug.The hug is sweet enough but the sweeping music is what really hits you in the face with all the feelings. Thank you John Williams for destroying us all.
Iceman & Maverick
It’s always awesome when competitors become comrades. Maverick and Iceman’s final fight was filled with uncertainty because of the former’s lack of confidence but they stick together and come out on top of a dangerous situation.
The pair touch back down and give each other the most triumphant of hugs before Iceman says his classic line to Maverick—“You can be my wingman anytime!” The best part is, this duo is reuniting onscreen again in Top Gun: Maverick this year.
Buffy & Angel
Why does this scene still hurt in 2020? Buffy had to make one of the worst decisions ever when she had to kill her love Angel. She gives him a hug, kiss, and some final loving words before stabbing him through the chest.It’s certainly not a hug that anyone wants but it was effective and made sense in the story. Love hurts.
Samwise & Frodo
What do you need right before your impending demise? How about a hug and kind words? Lord of the Rings besties Frodo and Sam hold each in an exhausted and melancholy way as they wait for what they believe are their final moments.Everything about this scene is perfection: Sam’s emotions over Rosie, Frodo saying he’s glad to be in the midst of fire with Sam, and a happy ending with Gandalf sweeping in to save the hobbit pals.
Han, Luke & Leia
This joyous Star Wars hug from A New Hope should be played on a loop. Luke runs to hug Leia, Han runs up to hug Luke, Han kinda smacks Luke in the face, and then Leia gets in between them for a group snuggle.
There may always be some kind of star war going on, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for a happy hug!
Tony & Peter
Tony finally reciprocated the hug that Peter Parker awkwardly thought he was going to get in the car that one time, and its the best. It was Tony’s first time seeing Peter after he got dusted in Infinity War and his love for the kid couldn’t be contained. Peter’s talking 1,000 words per minute but Tony reels him in for a hug anyway. You can feel all five years of Tony’s pain and emotion and suddenly there is dust in your eye.Jenny & Forrest Gump
Jenny’s life was tumultuous but one thing was always good to her: Forrest’s unconditional love. His unexpected reunion with Jenny at the “March on the Pentagon” rally is one of the most wonderful moments in Forrest Gump.Watching Forrest dive into Washington D.C.’s Reflecting Pool in full uniform to meet a hippie Jenny almost erases all the times she broke his heart.
Dion, Mark & Nicole
Raising a curious kid with super powers is no easy task. It’s even harder when you discover deeper truths about your presumably deceased spouse Mark and his best friend. Raising Dion took fans on a twisty trip through the eyes of the young titular hero and his mom Nicole with an engaging story leading to one sentimental moment.They are briefly “reunited” with Mark for a family hug. It’s emotional, yet hopeful as Dion vows to find a way to bring his father back before his image disappears.
Lito & Hernando
Sense8‘s time was far too short but it gave fans so many rich relationships. There are a ton of fabulous hugs in this series but one of the best is Lito & Hernando’s passionate hug and kiss during PRIDE.It was touching to watch Lito, an actor who finally felt free to publicly declare that is is a gay man, bring his partner Hernando onstage in front on thousands of people and openly show him affection.
The moment is so freeing and validating for the character but surely for many fans watching who may not be famous actors but were not comfortable or didn’t feel safe enough to be their full selves in front of the world.
Dean & Sam
The Winchester brothers are big-time huggers. Supernatural in is the final stretch of its epic 15 season run so there are far too many great Dean & Sam hugs to pick just one.Thankfully, YouTube channel Wayward One has complied a great list of the creature hunters best hugs. The order is up for anyone’s interpretation but its always touching to see guys subvert stupid stereotypes about it being “unmanly” to hug. Hugs are for everyone!
Hermione & Harry
Hermione and Ron may have made the eventual romantic connection but her friendship with Harry is just as awesome. They have hugged quite a bit over the years but there’s no hug quite like Hermione running to greet her bestie in The Philosopher’s Stone.
It’s joyous, adorable, and a reminder of how much these magical kids have grown since this movie dropped nearly 20 years ago.
Lila, Ruth & Bo
Fast Color is a unique story about three generations of super-powered Black women and girls. There is a lot of action, heart, and, yes, a couple of hugs in the mix.
The best one comes in the final scene when Bo offers herself to the scientists who were after her and her daughter Ruth and holding her granddaughter Lila hostage.
Lila’s tearful embrace towards Bo before running into the arms of her mom caps off this brilliant saga of power, reconciliation, love, and sacrifice.
Red & Andy
The Shawshank Redemption is one of the greatest friendship films of all-time. It’s not an overly sentimental story but rather the natural progression of a bond over time between a framed man and someone who offered him friendship during the most dire season of his life.Red and Andy’s reunion and hug in the final moments is the perfect happy ending after years of abuse, pain, and hard times in prison. The camera is actually moving away from them as they embrace, but fans don’t need to see their faces to feel the impact of this scene. It’s clear that they are happy and ready to spend the rest of their lives in paradise…together.
Mulan & Fa Zhou
Mulan certainly brought honor to her family by taking her father’s place in war. She brought gifts back to Fa Zhou in hopes that he would be proud of her accomplishments. He places them aside and bends down to give her a hug.
Her father says the greatest gift and honor of all is having her as his daughter. Awwww.
Spock & Uhura
Spock and Uhura’s romantic relationship was a welcome element to the 2009 Star Trek film. Uhura brings him in for a tender hug after he loses his mother and his home planet.Spock initially has a stoic expression when Uhura puts her hands on him but he briefly melts into her hug before asking her to make sure his comrades continue to perform admirably. If there was ever a time to be “emotionally compromised,” it is during this moment.
Tyrone & Tandy
The Cloak & Dagger duo gave fans two layered and complex teen superheroes. Tyrone and Tandy were infamous for arguing and making mistakes as they tried to figure out their complicated regular and hero lives but they were undoubtedly each other’s anchors.
They initially couldn’t come in close proximity without their powers repelling, which made it even more sweet when they were finally able to hug. That means every single time they embrace each other is the greatest Ty and Tandy moment.
Honorable Mention: Will & Uncle Phil
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air doesn’t fall into the geek/nerd/sci-fi realm but it’s impossible to have a National Hugging Day list and not include this gem of a hug. It is perhaps the greatest TV embrace of all-time and will make every human cry.Will’s feigned indifference over his father leaving him once again quickly flows to anger, confusion, and eventually pain as he parses through his heartbreak in front of Uncle Phil.
The “Why don’t he want me, ,man? ” line followed by Uncle Phil’s fatherly embrace is the most memorable moment from the show and still touches the hearts of fans over 25 years later.
Honorable Mention: Blanca & Damon
The groundbreaking FX series Pose has picked up where documentaries like Paris is Burning left off by exploring ’80s and ’90s ball culture. As Blanca expertly explains to Damon, balls are a gathering and celebration of those (specifically LGBTQ people of color) who are not welcomed nor celebrated anywhere else.
The people in the community formed houses aka chosen families dress up and walk in different categories in hopes of snagging trophies and securing legacy. Damon, a gay teen discarded by his parents, is taken in by Blanca, a trans woman whose HIV diagnosis pushed her towards building a legendary house.
She pushes him to his dance dreams and he eventually travels the world. But, when Blanca is hospitalized, her baby boy wastes no time surprising her at the hospital with a big hug.
Hugs are an essential part of the human experience. They give us hope in the shadow of fear, love in the midst of heartache, and an additional boost of joy and confidence. A hug is a greeting, a goodbye, a sermon, and a love letter depending on when they happen. This is why they are so prevalent in pop culture pieces. Today is a great day to ask a loved one for a hug or dish one out to someone you adore (just make sure you ask first!).
If you haven’t passed out from the overflow of feelings, let us know your favorite TV and film hugs in genre.
Featured Image: Gene Page/AMC
The post 26 Pop Culture Hugs to Celebrate National Hugging Day appeared first on Nerdist.
When you’re correcting a mistake, you should be as loud as (if not louder than) you were when you made it. This is why, when I found out about the controversy about the novel American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings, a book I recommended for the Mary Sue Book Club, I knew I had to make a full editorial correction.
I try to read most, if not all, of the books I recommend for the Book Club because I truly do love reading, and I want to make sure that if I suggest someone grab something, it’s something I can say I liked. When I was looking up two books to fill out the list, one of them was American Dirt. I saw that it had received a lot of positive press from Stephen King, Rumaan Alam, Don Winslow, Sandra Cisneros, and other literary news outlets including Oprah’s Book Club. It seemed like the type of literary fiction that’s always good for a book club read. I was mistaken.
For The Blue Nib, David Schmidt wrote “A Poor Imitation: ‘American Dirt’ And Misrepresentations Of Mexico,” breaking down that this story, praised for being “authentic” by so many, lacked any true understanding of the realities of living on the border or what it means to be a Mexican person.
Cummins fails to understand the racial dynamics of Mexico, and of human genetics in general. When Mexican authorities detain Lydia and two fellow migrants, Cummins explains that the agents know the migrants cannot possibly be Lydia’s relatives, as their skin is darker than hers. This contradicts the reality of many Mexican families, where with blond-haired and dark-skinned cousins often share the same grandparents.
Mexico is depicted as a one-dimensional nation, irredeemably corrupt and violent, while the United States of American Dirt is a fantasy land: a country free of gun violence, hate groups and organized crime. While the book ostensibly pushes a progressive message, it drives home a very Trumpist myth: “crime and violence are Mexican problems.”
The failures of the book to properly understand Mexican culture is jarring, especially in light of all the praise it has received. I was so shocked to read how it was dripping in stereotypes, on top of having a white author. You’d think that, considering the subject matter, the more book-focused writers and outlets would be more aware of this stuff.
Another powerful review was written by Myriam Gurba, who said the book ended up perfectly writing a “Trumpian agenda.” Gurba claims that she was given a copy of the book to review for a feminist magazine and was told that her review was too negative.
After a few days, an editor responded. She wrote that though my takedown of Dirt was “spectacular,” I lacked the fame to pen something so “negative.” She offered to reconsider if I changed my wording, if I wrote “something redeeming.”
Because the nicest thing I can say about Dirt is that its pages ought to be upcycled as toilet paper, the editors hauled out the guillotine. I was notified that I’d be paid a kill fee: 30% of the $650 I was initially offered for my services.
As someone who severely lacks fame and is very negative when it’s warranted, I resent the idea that you need to have literary clout to have a literary opinion.
What has happened with American Dirt is truly a mess, and the kind of mess I thought we’d moved past. As someone who loves books and recommends them, this is just a reminder of the vigilance we need to have in order to make sure that the things we recommend align with our values. I’ll make sure to do my part.
(via The Blue Nib, image: Flatiron Books)
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—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
The Valiant Universe is about to be thrown into crisis as a new superhero hunts down a vicious superpowered killer on the loose. That’s the intriguing premise behind Ray Fawkes’ (Gotham By Midnight), Jeremy Haun’s (The Red Mother), Nick Filardi’s (The Umbrella Academy), and Clayton Cowles’ (The Wicked + The Divine) The Final Witness, which we’re happy to exclusively reveal right here. It’s a brand new addition to the sprawling Valiant canon!
Valiant Comics
Here’s a the plot for the murder mystery superhero mashup:
“The Valiant Universe has a serial killer on the loose, and their methods are…terrifying. Enter Detective Hannah Grey, Investigative Journalist David Parson, and Nick Miller — San Francisco’s newest unidentified superpowered guardian — on the case to solve one of the most chilling cases ever to cross their paths. Debuting a cast of all-new heroes — and perhaps the most frightening villain yet — Ray Fawkes and Jeremy Haun have woven a thrilling new crime noir corner of the Valiant Universe.”
Writer Ray Fawkes gave us his insight into his and artist Jeremy Haun’s new creation. “It’s the story of a brand-new superhero coming to grips with his incredible power while trying to help solve a serial killer case that just might be too much for him to handle… a white-knuckle crime book in a universe where superheroes are real!”
Haun agreed, “The Valiant universe is a big, action-packed, exciting place. The Final Witness takes a street level look at that world and the emergence of an all-new hero.”
The pair’s editor Heather Antos added, “It’s like Zodiac–you’ve got an investigative journalist, a detective, and a civilian whose paths all come together as they try and solve a horrifying serial killer case. Except instead of Jake Gyllenhaal, this civilian also happens to be San Francisco’s newest superhero.”
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
Fawkes can’t wait for fans to experience the noir-tinged take on cape comics. “I’m thrilled to bring a crime-thriller twist to the Valiant superhero universe, and I’m excited to see the fans react to this book! It’s a real ride, with a lot of twists and turns and some good, horrifying crime thrown into the mix. People who read my work know I love the darker side of things, and this book is one where I truly get to cut loose. I’m really looking forward to watching fans try to unravel the mystery!”
For Haun, it’s all about how the unexpected story fits into the wider Valiant world. “The Final Witness is a perfect companion to so many of the huge things going on across the Valiant universe,” he explained. “It’s a different perspective. And then once things get big, they get really, really big.”
Valiant Comics
Valiant Comics
So what was it like creating an entirely new property within the Valiant Universe, “It’s always very exciting to have an opportunity to flesh out a new corner of any established universe,” said Antos. “It’s also terribly nerve-wracking as well. Will we live up to expectations? Will we totally miss the mark? What’s so great about exploring new reaches of the Valiant Universe with The Final Witness is that I’m doing so with one of the strongest teams in comics today. Ray is no stranger to psychological crime thrillers, and Jeremy & Nick are some of the industries best and brightest at gritty and grounded realities.”
Fawkes said he couldn’t pass up the unique opportunity. “It’s the kind of opportunity every writer loves: to open up a new direction in an established universe, and to create a character who will have a real presence and real impact. I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
“It’s never easy,” said Haun. “So much has come before. You want everything to fit– to feel cohesive, but at the same time, give it a new twist. And twist we do.”
So what can fans look forward to when they pick up The Final Witness?” So many things. We’ve got three characters chasing this killer: a journalist, a police detective, and a superhero. Guess which one of them is going to find the first victim’s body… and which one is going to find the first body’s head? “Each correct answer is different,” Fawkes teased.
Haun added, “You have no idea where this story is going. And you just might not be ready for it.”
“It’s really, really good. Like really good,” Antos added.”
Readers don’t have to wait long to see all of the surprises that await them. The Final Witness hits shelves on April 29.
Header Image: Valiant Comics
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