My man waltzed up to the Tower on a small freighter ship carrying a chunk of ice and set up shop in a back alley and started flipping jade coins. And you know what? We flocked to him in droves. We willingly flew to his ship and were told: “Kill every enemy of humanity and then kill your fellow Guardian and you’ll get paid,” and listen, we chose to get paid. Or at least almost 75% of us decided to buck the Vanguard for a character we’d known for months.

Dude jury-rigged something straight out of a mad scientist’s laboratory, put these “banks” in various location as beacons to all of our foes, and called it a game. Called it research to see how we’d handle the dark. And we went willingly and happily because my man was upfront about his whole operation even if we knew it would have consequences.

As his season winds down, let me pay respects to the man who started out with no name, before taking up Wu Ming and Eli and Dredgen Hope, before he took the moniker that we know him by: DRIFTER, and why he’s on my Top 5, dead or alive.

1) Here we go, yo, here we go, yo
So what, so what, so what’s the scenario?

–A Tribe Called Quest

All the Drifter ever asked us, was if we wanted to a play a little game he liked to call Gambit. And Gambit was a godsend for Guardians. Two fire teams of four tasked with killing Cabal, Vex, Hive, Fallen, and Scorn to summon a Primeval, with the added twist of being able to disrupt progress by embracing the dark and taking an invasion portal to the other side to wreak a little havoc. This brought the strikers and raiders together with those who spent hours in the Crucible. This was a unified sandbox where all sorts of Guardians got a chance to show off their skills.

And when Gambit wasn’t enough, the Drifter crafted up Gambit Prime. Put a name to the different devastation each Guardian caused. Reapers, for those who slayed enemies with a brutal efficiency. Sentries, for those who protected their team by any means necessary. Collectors, for those who wanted to carry even more motes of darkness. And Invaders, for those who wanted to prove themselves as a true Army of One. Made us earn the gear to prove our title on a chunk of ice in an activity he called the Reckoning.

And he made sure we got paid…

2) I’m lookin’ into space like, “Is anybody there?
And if aliens are here, please tell me how near.
Do you come in peace or should everybody fear?
I’ll wait your reply with a blunt and a beer.”

–Run the Jewels

Now, Guardians like armor, but they love their guns, and the Drifter is the Dark Age arms dealers. His armory is stocked to the brim with some of the best firearms around. The Drifter rose up during the age of Warlords, and his wares are simple but get the job done.

The first wave he shared with us: Bad Omens, the definitive cluster bomb rocket launcher. Bygones, one of the banes of the Crucible. Trust, a well-rounded hand cannon.

And then he started sharing the really good stuff. Breakneck, one of the most devastating primary weapons in the Destiny Universe. 21% Delirium, the first rapid-frame machine gun that just hoses bullets.

Spare Rations, an upgraded version of the fan favorite Midnight Coup if you’re lucky. And Arbalest, a kinetic linear fusion rifle a.k.a. Railgun that defies all sorts of physics. Not sure how Eva Levante got a hold of that last one, but the point stands, the Drifter has that good loot, and you can’t deny that.

3) Judge me now but I’m just like you
But a little more hot and a little more cool
Maybe I’m to blame
a little jacked up inside the brain…

–Bryce Vine

So, we talked about the Drifter’s game and the Drifter’s gear, so it’s we acknowledge the Drifter’s con. Dude is clearly on the wrong side of right, and the right side of wrong: running Gambit in the background. Vanguard gave him a spot in the Annex, Shaxx lends his Redjacks to clear the arena, and the Hidden Aunor is not happy that a rogue light-bearer was summoned and is now somehow creating them with the power of a mysterious gift from the Emissary of the Nine.

Yet despite knowing all of this, we still engage with him, and it’s because he’s charismatic and maybe a little right where he says that the Light isn’t enough for what extinction level event is coming up next. It’s the way he calls us brother and sister, and we transmat down onto the battlefield. It’s the cute coin tricks with the crooked smile. It’s the swagger of someone who’s seen some shit and wants to make sure that he lives through more. You gotta respect the hustle if nothing else.

4) The gift of freedom wrapped in days of rapping to himself
Until his vocal cords collapse, he’s in the galley screaming
He shouts at the dark, stands back
counting the seconds before his voice returns…

–clipping.

Like all Risen, the Drifter didn’t start out as the Drifter. He started out nameless, resurrected by a Ghost that rammed through the skull of another human. Kept dying from starvation only to be resurrected with a gnawing hunger in his stomach. Adopted the moniker Wu Ming, literally meaning “Nameless” back in the Dark Ages when Warlords ruled with their new-found power. Eventually found a village only to see it burned to the ground and went to Lord Felwinter and asked for vengeance.

Disappeared for a bit before running with the Dregdens of Yor in order to survive and picked up enough tricks to help the Guardians recreate a functional version of Thorn. Got sent to an icy planet where he saw shadows monsters nullify light and watch his fireteam succumb to madness. And the Drifter wasn’t immune to this. The whispers of pyramid ships whisper slowly working their way towards Earth, a great darkness to consume the light. Constant taunting from the visage of the woman he loved or loved as much as a vagabond could.

5) It’s feast or famine
I honestly kinda hate both
I’m drowning in this optional
Tell me what’s impossible
And I’ll tell you…

–P.O.S.

Through the Invitations of the Nine, we learned about a time where Drifter went by Eli. Became friends with an Awoken Pilgrim Guard called Orin, one of Queen Mara’s trusted friends. Orin would eventually become unsatisfied with her Light knowing that the sentient gaiaforms that were the Nine were out there with more answers about the universe.

“She was a snake,” the Drifter claims. He’s still haunted by her tattoo which he uses as the insignia for Gambit. He still remembers their first dance and their friendship, only to never see her again… at least not as she was. There is tragedy to the Drifter. Everything “all right, all right, all right” masking a fear of eventual doom and the memory of the past. He’s haunted by it, driven by it.

We’ve known the Drifter for less than a year, but every Guardian has felt his presence change the universe. And as a Dredgen and proud Invader myself, it’s easy for me to add the Drifter to my Top 5, (un)dead or alive.

Read some of our other BNP staff Top 5 Dead or Alive here.

Where are our POC gamers that are excited for #Destiny2 Season of Opulence dropping on Tuesday? The BNP crew will be streaming from reset to Raid on June 4th. You can remedy that with the Black Nerd Problems crew. Hit us in the DMs! https://t.co/NbFmiTxRHr pic.twitter.com/UWUyvSnGdq

— Black Nerd Problems (@BlkNrdProblems) June 2, 2019

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

The post Top 5 Dead or Alive: The Drifter appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

DC Zoom and Ink has been one of the most exciting lines in Big Two comics since its announcement early last year. So far the young readers’ books have reimagined Catwoman, Black Canary, Mera, and even Damien Wayne. And this weekend at Book Con, DC unleashed the next wave of books which include some vibrantly exciting new characters and artist announcements.

Though story details are scarce we do have the gorgeous covers for you to pour over here.

Michael Moreci (Archie Comics, Star Wars) and Sas Milledge (Labrynth 2017 Special: The Wrong Toby) have teamed up for this lovely looking art deco inspired Dick Grayson story, which looks like a mashup of Night at the Circus and Batman 1989.

The first of two Batgirl-character comics heading to Zoom and Ink this title focuses on Barbara Gordon and her heroic mantle of Oracle. This one is brought to life by the previously announced New York Times Bestselling writer Marieke Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends) alongside relative newcomer Manuel Preitano.

Fan favorite author of Heroine Complex, Sarah Kuhn, has teamed up with indie artist extraordinaire Nicole Goux (F*ck Off Squad, Jem, Star Trek) for their debut big two work, which reimagines Cass Cain as Batgirl. This one is particularly interesting as it is set to debut in spring next year, which will see its release alongside the Cass Cain-starring Birds of Prey movie.

As they prepare to release their first Teen Titans title Raven, bestselling author Kami Garcia and massively popular artist Gabriel Picolo have announced a follow up featuring Beast Boy. If Picolo’s art looks familiar, it’s probably because his gorgeous Teen Titans fan art often goes viral and led to him getting the gig as the artist on this rad new series of original graphic novels.

Last but certainly not least is this super exciting cover for Gotham High. From another bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Archie Comics cover artist Thomas Pitilli, this OGN will feature teenage Bruce, Selina, and the Joker himself. Excitingly, it seems that the story will be leaning into Selina’s canonical heritage as a Latinx woman.

We’re totally obsessed with these new covers and are excited that for the most part, DC appears to be listening to critiques about crediting the artist and writers at a similar size and prominence. We can’t wait til Spring 2020 when these books hit shelves!

Images: DC Comics

The post DC Unveils Gorgeous New ZOOM AND INK Titles at Book Con appeared first on Nerdist.

Whether it is the folks you meet standing in line to enter in the morning, to the hungry folks in line for a twelve dollar personal pan pizza, or the folks standing on the hard concrete waiting for a photo opportunity, one of the joys of comic conventions is the people that you meet. 

Over the last few years, I have been fortunate to meet folks with such excellent personality, that your whole convention experience is informed by that interaction.   This happened last year when I ran into Tony Isabella, the creator of Black Lightning and Ken Lashley, comic artist extraordinaire.   So there I was in artists’ alley at Galaxycon in Richmond, Virginia and I am summoned over by an artist, with a drawing of a bovine.  Not unusual you say?  Normally no, but fortunately for me, I met Paris Cullins.  Cullins is an artist and writer, best known for co-creating the character Blue Devil.  His work, however, spans decades and dots through some of the best (i.e. Wonder Woman, Superman, New Gods) and for me the strangest (Clive Barker’s Hyperkind among others).  BGN sat down for a moment with Paris Cullins.

You’ve been in the industry since the early 80s, I think it is.

I’ve been in the industry since ’78.

’78, excellent. What is this first superhero book that you worked on?

Superhero? Actually, the first thing I worked on was horror stories for DC Comics, House of Mystery and stuff like that. We graduated, so to speak, for backup of superheroes. So I think the first superhero book I did was Green Lantern Corps.

You’re one of the creators of Blue Devil. How did that character come about?

The [origin] for Blue Devil was a little story in House of Mystery that was supposed to be, and here’s the truth for that, it was originally designed a short story for Steve Ditko and it was supposed to be like a superhero story, but a monster superhero story, but a short one. He said, “No.” He didn’t want to do it and then they asked me.

With the resurgence of the Justice League, Blue Beetle has been placed up front. Do you think that the Ted Kord Blue Beetle may make an appearance?

He’s making an appearance in the movies. There’s going to be a movie called The Blue and the Gold. Ted Kord Blue Beetle’s going to be in that. I think, because of the return of a DC’s, not daily, but they’re weekly animations versus the specials that go straight to video, if I understand correctly, something’s going to happen with that.

I think that though they got rid of Ted Kord in one way, he’s made a greater impact by being…what’s the word for it? A perennial of DC’s.

You’ve been in the industry for almost 40 years. What do you account for your longevity?

I kind of look at myself like the Ricardo Montalbán of comic books. Ricardo Montalbán did everything. Sometimes he did a cowboy movie and he didn’t claim. He didn’t worry about being the head. He didn’t worry about being the main character. He just got on, put on a Native American outfit or put on a cowboys outfit, rode in and rode out.

I’m more interested in working than being number one. Number one actually kind of comes to all of us at some given moment. Somewhere you do your job and somebody’s going to love you because they wouldn’t have hired you otherwise.  I worked for Nintendo, I worked for Atari, I work for Larami toys. I worked for Larami toys before I worked for DC comics.

You have a good working relationship with Gary Cohn. What is your next project?

We have several next projects, one of the main ones is called the New Devil. The New Devil is all the things that we liked about the Blue Devil, which was, it was energetic, it was kinetic, it was fun. Mixed scenarios, mixed ideas about what it’s about. The plot of the New Devil is a character who got stuck in a video game in his avatar and the video game itself is wrapped around New York. So he’s got to stop this game for going on, but he’s loving the game so much he can’t face the fact, he really does have to cut it off and nobody’s going to be able to…

It’s going to be published by whom?

The company’s called Red Anvil. We’re going to go in every direction that that’s possible.

Do you have a Kickstarter or something where people could go find it?

We’re going to start a Kickstarter. We’re not done yet. We want all the books before we print one…it will be out in March.

Second is the one and only Bodacious Bovine and the creator of it is a member of the Richmond population. He’s a farmer, an agriculturalist. 

He says, “Do you ever do anything like a trade?” And I don’t know why we both got it…and I told him yes. We started talking …and he says to me, “Well, I have this idea about cows.” And I want this picture of…as a matter of fact, I want to do a calendar about cows and I went, to myself, “Yeah, I always thought cows were sexy.”

No, you didn’t.

Yes, I did.

So Bodacious Bovines, the basis of it is what? What’s the story?

It’s a farmer who likes this cow a little too much. It’s a cow that likes the farmer a little too much and the wife who’s kind of upset about the whole thing. Doesn’t find this whole situation suspicious. It goes from there because of tragic cow enemies, like the cow mafia, the cattle mafia, which does exist.  They’re called The Intolerant, but what they are, are lactose intolerant and just lots of crazy things. Real cow girlfriends, which are bulls, and all different kinds of cows and other animals make it. We even have a set of good guys called Guardians of the Pasture and just a whole bunch of things. But the main feature is this one cow.

So this is not going to be PG-13?

Actually, it is PG-13, closer to Family Guy, in terms of humor and stuff like that. But it goes right about there. There’s no cussing. We’ll say cow patties and we’ll say words that apply but we’re never going to say something that’s so rude, that you think we’re trying to upset you. It’s just everything’s a look. Everything’s a thing. I got a scene with a cow making faces and then she looks at you and says, “He got milk.”

Oh, that’s wrong.

So it’s like, it’s that relationship.

All right.

We even got cow tipping.

Oh Lord, help us.

And the #Mootoo Movement.

Paris Cullins is the creator of one and a character unto himself. If you’re shaking your head, join the club. The sketches are hilarious. Bodacious Bovines aside, as a comic collector, my focus was just on the titles and characters within my comics and not those who made it. His energy is contagious and seems to bring joy to all those around, so it’s easy to forget that individuals like him, through their day-to-day, year-to-year, decade-by-decade experiences, helped open up the comic industry for the current generation of Black and brown artists and writers.  Taking the opportunity to meet them and hear their challenges and triumphs can be a joy comparable to their work, and a lesson to help us be our best self. 

On the movie front, DC Comics just announced that Ava DuVernay will be directing the New Gods movie, which will be written by Batman writer Tom King.  Also, DC announced late last year the Swamp Thing television show was announced with Blue Devil being a part of the series.

E.Angel is an engineer and holds a BS in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University.  In her spare time, she works at her comic book store – Brainstorm Comics and Gaming – when she is not writing.  She’s a real nerd who loves all things Star Wars and Star Trek and is an avid gamer. E.Angel can be reached at e9of10@gmail.com or on either game platform as Bunnehs Sister.

The post Interview: From Blue Devil to New Devil, Paris Cullins on the World of Comics appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

A white fawn was rescued by a truck driver in northern California after the rare animal was found sitting in the middle of the road and almost hit by two trucks. The truck […]

The post Truck Driver Rescues Rare Albino Fawn After It Was Almost Hit By Two Trucks in California appeared first on Geek.com.