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https://blacknerdproblems.com/surprising-romance-manga-for-valentines-day-and-beyond/

For the month of February, a month recognized and celebrated for love, I wanted to make a short manga list of manga series serving up the romance that has taken me by surprise! From a shorter series that challenges gender roles in a more positive light to a series that manages to be both an game changer via romance and also be thriller, here’s manga that I’m hoping you’ll want to read past Valentine’s day and beyond.

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My Androgynous Boyfriend

Creator: Tamekou

Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment

Age Rating: 16+

Available Formats: Digital & Physical

Ongoing or Completed: Ongoing (Three volumes)

Localization Team: Jocelyne Allen (Translator), Laura Heo (Letterer) Lora Gray (Adaptation)

All the important manga folks that I follow online were reading and talking about this series, so I eventually bought the first volume and wanted more. My Androgynous Boyfriend‘s premise is simple: the manga follows the lives of Wako, who works in publishing and Meguru her gorgeous boyfriend who expertly knows much about fashion and makeup—all with the goal of making himself beautiful just for her. I adore the day to day of the life of these two all while seeing their work ethnic when it comes to their careers, their hopes, and dreams and how they love on each other. Add in social media, other people’s expectations, and how to navigate them, this romantic slice-of-life story one is a gem! While the second volume focuses more on Meguru and his recent career change, and less on their relationship as a whole, I loved seeing how the two met originally.

It’s silly and relatable to watch this couple do everything from meet each other’s friends to the more challenging: couch buying for their place! Wako is a character I loved reading as she works in publishing and deals with manga as well! She adds necessary commentary on women and emotional labor in the workforce as an interview she was looking forward to bombs, and she’s basically used as a free therapist. Meguru is equally an interesting character who loves self-expression and helping others look and feel their best. His approach to love and life is definitely a focus in this series. Take the first volume of My Androgynous Boyfriend out on a date if you are looking for an offbeat romance that is about genuinely loving someone, the many relationships we have in our lives, breaking with tradition, and subverting outdated rules that society has about gender! 

Recommended for: Fans of the slice of life genre, readers who want short manga series to read, fans of manga that include LGBT+ topics

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I’m A Single Mother In A Fake Marriage

Creator: KURAKO WATANABE

Publisher: Shusuisha inc.

Age Rating: 16+

Available Formats: Digital

Ongoing or Completed: Ongoing? (Three volumes)

I read the first volume of I’m A Single Mother In A Fake Marriage on a whim and devoured the rest of the series the very same week. Thirty-one-year-old single mother Yuki is doing her best and her daughter Hono is the light of her life. She’s come a long way from escaping a terrible past with an ex-husband who wanted nothing to do with their daughter. Thankfully, Yuki has a small but wonderful support system that includes the principal of her daughter’s pre-school and…her daughter’s handsome kindergarten teacher who happens to be younger than Yuki.

Due to unfortunate circumstances because of the reappearance of her ex, Yuki and Hono end up living with Mr. Ryu, the kind and protective man who stands up for the two. Whew. There’s a great balance of silly moments mixed with the serious and heartwarming ones. I love that Yuki is being developed as more than just a mother, she’s a woman who is falling in love again and trust people again. Also, there’s a lovable drag queen who is one of the best characters, although I’d love to hear from other readers if she’s mostly joke fodder or not. Take the first volume of I’m A Single Mother In A Fake Marriage out on a date if you are looking to be head over heads for a wholesome story about found family and second chances at love!

Recommended for: Fans of the Josei manga genre, readers who love wholesome stories about family, folks who enjoy hidden gems via manga

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Love After Domination

Creators: Art by Takahiro Wakamatsu, Story by Hiroshi Noda

Publisher: Kodansha

Age Rating: 16+

Available Formats: Digital & Physical

Ongoing or Completed: Ongoing (5 volumes as of February 2023)

Localization Team: Steven LeCroy (Translator), Kyle Ziolko (Letterer), Sarah Tilson (Editing)

Fudo and Desumi could be what you could call star crossed lovers because of who they are and what profession they both hold. No, they aren’t from feuding families, but Fudo Aikawa, A.K.A. Red Gelato of the Gelato Five and hero has fallen for the Reaper Princess. She’s a villianess and member of the shadow organization Gekko by the name of Desumi Magahara! She feels the same! These two idiots are in love yet have no idea how to date and what couples do. Love After Domination is romance with a Shonen vibe, and it’s hilarious to boot! It’s giving forbidden love; however, with two earnest folks who have never been in a relationship before, the story gets more ridiculous and endearing with each chapter. Add in your heroes, shadow organizations with lots of heart, and fun side characters and you have a fun premise that doesn’t disappoint.

The world-building in the series is elaborated on: readers will get to see some of the inner working of the bases of both the heroes and the villains and some of the minor heroes and baddies too. This series is just so much fun for those who like their comedy in manga on the Ecchi side. Oftentimes when love is involved, we are used to hearing that “opposites attract,” and these two go through several obstacles for their love. It is comical to see one of them infiltrate a heavily guarded base of the enemy just to exchange phone numbers cause they haven’t seen each other for a week. It is entertaining to see them change into disguise in the middle of a date while their comrades are fighting around them at a popular location for couples. This is a charming read about two people who think they aren’t cut out for romance and the lengths they’ll go for the one they love, after falling in love for the first time. Take the first volume of Love After Domination out on a date if you are looking to laugh a lot while enjoying an absurd love and romance story with lots of action!

Recommended for: Fans of the comedy, romance and science fiction genres in manga, readers interested in manga adapted into anime, folks who enjoy Shonen flavored stories

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Something’s Wrong With Us

Creator:  Natsumi Ando

Publisher: Kodansha

Age Rating: 16+

Available Formats: Digital and Print

Ongoing or Completed: Ongoing (13 volumes as of February 2023)

Localization Team:  Sara Matsueda Savage (Translator), Sara Linsley (Letterer), Haruko Hashimoto (Editor)

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Nao has become a traditional Japanese sweets maker, and at 21, she’s about to make waves in the industry. Upon taking a job at a company that will take her far, she meets someone from her past who doesn’t recognize her: the young, handsome owner is Tsubaki, her childhood friend and first crush. He’s also the child who framed Nao’s mother for the murder of his father years ago when the two were children. Soon after he proposes to her, unaware that she’s his childhood friend and the daughter of the woman who brought much tragedy to his life and family. Nao believes him to be the only witness that night and wants answers, revenge, and for vindication of a life lived without her mother. Since Tsubaki has no clue who she is, she seizes her chance to get close to him and perhaps bring him down while finding out clues of what happened that fated night.

Something’s Wrong With Us is simply a game changer in the Shojosei (Shojo-blurring Josei genre) arena. Each volume has thrown me for a loop as the story involves a complicated one with family legacies, deception, and miscommunication…all while falling in love. Take the first volume of Something’s Wrong With Us out on a date if you are looking for a steamy and intriguing love and romance story that is also a thrilling murder mystery that will keep you on your toes.

Recommended for: Fans of the Shojo and Josei manga genres, readers who love thrillers and stories with a psychological lean to them, fans of manga that also revolve around food, traditional Japanese sweets in particular

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The post Surprising Romance Manga for Valentine’s Day and Beyond appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/former-nba-players-keyon-dooling-and-alan-anderson-sentenced-to-prison/

Former NBA ballers Keyon Dooling and Alan Anderson have been sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding the NBA out of millions of dollars in a multimillion dollar healthcare fraud scheme

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that Dooling, who once served as Vice President of the NBA Players Association, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. And, on Feb. 10, Anderson was sentenced to 24 months.

Dooling was accused of receiving $363,000 in fraudulent claims as well as helping other players file false claims from the National Basketball Association Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.

Anderson was arrested in 2021 and accused of receiving $121,000 in fake claims, and helping players file fake claims of an additional $700,000.

​​“These former players recruited others to take part in this widespread fraud scheme and went to great lengths to keep the scheme running smoothly, facilitating hundreds of thousands of dollars of fraudulent claims,” U.S. attorney Damian Williams said in the release. “This Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those engaged in health care fraud schemes, no matter what their profession. Those considering submitting false claims to health care plans should recognize that they will be subject to serious penalties.”

The statement also read: “DOOLING participated in the scheme from at least in or about 2017 through in or about 2019. DOOLING traded on his reputation among current and former NBA players to refer other former NBA players to co-defendant KHAZIRAN and WAHAB.  DOOLING also recruited and attempted to recruit additional Plan-participants and medical professionals into the fraud scheme. DOOLING himself submitted fraudulent invoices to the Plan, relating to services purportedly performed by co-defendants KHAZIRAN and WAHAB. DOOLING received approximately $363,000 in fraudulent reimbursements, and he is responsible for facilitating the fraudulent claims filed by other defendants, who received approximately $194,295 in fraudulent proceeds from the plan.”

Dooling was the 10th player selected in the first round of the 2000 draft. He finished his career avering 7 ppg. Anderson, who was undrafted, finished his NBA career averaging 7.3 ppg.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/new-trailer-for-back-on-the-strip-starring-tiffany-haddish-kevin-hart-wesley-snipes-and-more/

After losing the woman of his dreams, Merlin moves to Las Vegas to pursue work as a magician, only to  get hired as the frontman in a revival of the notorious Black male stripper crew, The Chocolate Chips.  Led by Luther – now broke and broken – the older, out-of-shape Chips put aside former  conflicts and reunite to save the hotel they used to perform in while helping Merlin win back his girl.  

Cast: Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Wesley Snipes, Gary Owen, JB Smoove, Faizon Love, Spence Moore, Bill Bellamy, Raigan Harris, and Colleen Camp.

Back On The Strip is in theaters April 21st.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/liithos-ceo-michael-mumbauer-experiments-with-tiktok-launching-ashfall-video-game/

Michael Mumbauer is the founder and CEO of Liithos, which has partnered with a who’s who of comic book artists — including Paul Pelletier (Aquaman, Guardians of the Galaxy, et al.), Brett Booth (Backlash, Gunslinger), and Eisner Award winner Tony Harris (Starman, Ex Machina) — to launch an all-new comic book series of the same name that will be written by Garvin. Launching this March, fans can visit Liithos.com to get physical, digital, or NFT versions of the new comic book.  

BGN chatted with Mumbauer over Zoom to discuss the use of social media, his action goals with Liithos, and creating new methods to launch comic book projects and video games.

Share with us what Liithos is doing for the entertainment industry, and what you’re setting out to achieve with the studio.

I want to continue the journey that I was on at PlayStation but be a little bit more experimental. Being in a big, big, big company, it’s harder to do quirky things. So I’m doing this TikTok series. I’m not sure that that would have been an easy path to deliver at any big major company because it’s a very strange platform. And the way I’m using it is very odd.

Liithos is about me being able to take the risks that I want to take in terms of the opportunities, experimental areas, and new markets. TikTok is one of the biggest platforms in the world. I think that is not entirely understood. I don’t think it’s good or bad. I just think it’s not entirely understood. And I think it is a platform that we can leverage and create new kinds of storytelling opportunities.

It’s not that I want to make a company to make TikTok videos or games, but the idea was to be able to have the freedom to experiment on these platforms and drive them back to the game. The game is our core focus, but what I want to do on the periphery of the games are in the areas of experimentation and storytelling. So those kinds of experimentations in storytelling led to The Last of Us. 

You have a project called Ashfall, which is a comic right?

It’s a game and a comic! And now it’s a TikTok series. I would say, it’s a transmedia IP, which now The Last of Us is. The Last of Us was a comic series at its release of the first game as well. I think anything that’s more than just the game ultimately can sit in a bucket called transmedia. Rather than wait for the release of the game, let’s explore the IP while working. That also means we’ll look at the difference in the variations of the character, which we released in June. We released some images of a character in June as the protagonist for the series in the game, and it’s evolved.

Are you doing short narrative pieces in TikTok form to do this long lead launch into the game?

Yes, some almost think of it. It’s something totally different, like the Batman: The Animated Series. If they’re making a Batman game, it doesn’t necessarily lead to the game. But this is about the spirit of the IP being explored in a space that’s very, very new. I love short-form. I love episodic content. Are you a comic strip fan? Are you a comic strip nerd? 

Absolutely. 

Not comic books. I’m talking comics strips.

Oh yeah, Garfield, The Family Circus, and Curtis are just some I remember reading back in the day.

When was the last time you watched or read a Sunday comic?

It’s been years. I don’t even get the paper anymore.

So what you just described is what happened to Sunday comics, which is a bit tragic, right? We don’t read the newspaper in that format anymore. I’m not sure who you know who goes to see Sunday comics.

But as a child, to be honest, I was obsessed with Sunday comics. I would get the paper and cut all of the comics out and make my own books of the comics. They had to tell stories in six to eight panels. How do you tell a story weekly in that? Comics, they give you eight panels, and you come back next week to find out what happened.

The whole medium was completely different. What if we were going to take a Sunday comics format and apply that to TikTok as live action? Has anybody even done that? Comics for an entire new generation, if that makes sense.

I don’t know if we’ll be successful. But narratives that are kind of exciting and fun and I want to know what happens because there’s a cliffhanger. That’s the key. Every one of these TikTok episodes has a cliffhanger. That’s what we did in Sunday comics. That’s what we’re trying to do. It’s just a fun experiment in a new IP. 

Have you found that because of social media and how users are engaging with these platforms that TikTok influencers have far more reach than, say, partnering up with a TV or movie celebrity?

I think that’s the experiment. We’re gonna find out. Michael Le is doing this experimental series, and he has 53 million followers. If we try to visualize what 53 million followers look like, that’s the state of California, the state of Oregon, and the state of Washington combined. If we can capture 1% of that audience, it’s an amazing achievement, just on a social platform of engagement. If we can get 10%, that’s 5 million people. And if it grows beyond that, it’s amazing.

So that’s the experiment. Will people resonate with this? I don’t know. I think celebrity means a very different thing today. I think that Mr. Beast and Michael Le are just as powerful as any film or music celebrity I can think of.

To stay up to date on this and all things Liithos: visit https://liithos.com, or follow them on Twitter at @liithosent, or join their Discord at https://discord.gg/liithos.