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Acclaimed actor and director Mykelti Williamson (Fences) first worked with producer Dick Wolf on Chicago P.D. as an actor and director and is now a part of the Law & Order tribe. Law & Order: Organized Crime takes on a fictional crime syndicate plaguing New York City, and Mykelti Williamson plays crime boss Preston Webb with some serious swagger. BGN spoke with Williamson on the phone last week about his compelling new role.
Does it feel good to be working with Dick Wolf again?
It does. I love the Dick Wolf world. One of my dear friends, Terry Miller, is over here producing. He came from Chicago P.D., then he came here to help get this show launched. I’m working with Chris Meloni [Detective Elliott Stabler] and Danielle Truitt [Sargent Ayana Bell], and I’m here I’m surrounded by giants and having a ball. I’m having a fantastic time being creative with other people who challenge each other, just to see who can elevate the show to the highest level while embracing it all and having fun. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Preston Webb is a nuanced character who the audience is torn to root for. What’s your favorite aspect of playing this role?
Preston’s relationships with powerful people like Congressman Kilbride [Ron Cephas Jones, This is Us] put him in a room of powerful opportunities. I get to live out Preston’s truth. No one is all good. No one is all bad. Good people sometimes do bad things, and bad people sometimes do good things. I want the audience to walk that fine line and ride on this journey with us. They can see themselves conflicted because they see characters who are genuinely and sincerely conflicted as good people who have made some really difficult decisions to temporarily delve into the world of organized crime until they can get out of it and build the next Walmart or Amazon. Preston is a man who’s unafraid and willing to do anything, and he will make the transition and would do well running a boardroom or running a corporation because he knows how to do it.
But Preston’s past is messy. It’s possible that even if he makes it to that point of running his businesses legally, his past is the kind of past that never completely goes away. If he does legitimize all of his and his wife Cassandra’s efforts, their past may find them. Chickens always come home to roost. That’s an interesting dynamic that also makes him fun to play. But I would like to see the web of the character, for the sake of the audience, navigate and get to that place where he can make that transition and cross over. And then let’s see what happens. So we’re having a conversation about that today, on the heels of this interview. I’m looking forward to figuring out how that’s going to happen.
How do you like filming in NYC?
I love working here. It’s the most famous city in the world. Everything is here, people from all walks of life, from all lifestyles. All cultures, all flavors keep it interesting. It’s exhilarating.
You’re such a skilled actor. Do you face any challenges playing this role at this point in your career or is it easy for you to embody?
There’s constant navigation. I understand that the origin of the word “entertain” is to enter and hold captive. If you contain something, you hold it captive. For me as a responsible artist, I’m thinking, what do you program people with once you’ve held them captive? What is your responsibility to audiences? And for me, it’s not just a bad guy, a Black guy who’s going around shooting other Black guys and killing other Black people. It’s like, no, there are other layers to consider. So we’re navigating things that could potentially have social fallout all the time because ultimately all of us want to live in a better world. We don’t want to forget that our utmost responsibility is to not make the world a worse place than it has to be.
Are there Black writers in the writer’s room now?
Yes, you’ve experienced some of the language of Kimberly A. Harrison and Eric Haywood. It does make a difference, and you can thank Dick Wolf for that.
Jennifer Beales plays your wife Cassandra in the series. What is your favorite part about the dynamic between Preston and Cassandra?
It’s that real love. At heart, these are good people, but they’ve made tough decisions to do bad things temporarily to get to a good breakthrough, to get to a good place. But is that possible? And those are the things that we’re navigating. But what I love about this relationship is that our two characters are madly in love with one another, but is what they’re expecting realistic? I just love it because they mean well, but they’re willing to sacrifice and do horrible things temporarily to make right later. They’re building churches; they’re building schools. They’re building mental health care facilities and clinics and communities. That’s the kind of work they want to do ultimately. They want to build the next Walmart, Amazon, and do it legitimately. That’s why they’re here for a year or so. The life of crime is beginning to weigh heavily on Preston and the audience will see more of that conflict. You’ll see how Preston and Nova [Nona Parker Johnson] come together to talk about their journey.
What right now is bringing you the most joy?
Doing good in the world. Just doing good in the world. No matter what I’m doing, anything, anytime I’m blessed, I know it’s not just for me — it is to be shared. I just follow my heart as my spirit is led because I’m a praying person. So my wife and all my daughters, we just are willing to sow into soil where it’s needed. For me probably the most exhilarating thing about life is that it’s not all about you.
Law & Order: Organized Crime airs Thursdays at 10:00 pm EST on NBC.
Mykelti Williamson of ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ Discusses the Complexities of Playing a Kingpin
Acclaimed actor and director Mykelti Williamson (Fences) first worked with producer Dick Wolf on Chicago P.D. as an actor and director and is now a part of the Law & Order tribe. Law & Order: Organized Crime takes on a fictional crime syndicate plaguing New York City, and Mykelti Williamson plays crime boss Preston Webb with some serious swagger. BGN spoke with Williamson on the phone last week about his compelling new role.
Does it feel good to be working with Dick Wolf again?
It does. I love the Dick Wolf world. One of my dear friends, Terry Miller, is over here producing. He came from Chicago P.D., then he came here to help get this show launched. I’m working with Chris Meloni [Detective Elliott Stabler] and Danielle Truitt [Sargent Ayana Bell], and I’m here I’m surrounded by giants and having a ball. I’m having a fantastic time being creative with other people who challenge each other, just to see who can elevate the show to the highest level while embracing it all and having fun. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Preston Webb is a nuanced character who the audience is torn to root for. What’s your favorite aspect of playing this role?
Preston’s relationships with powerful people like Congressman Kilbride [Ron Cephas Jones, This is Us] put him in a room of powerful opportunities. I get to live out Preston’s truth. No one is all good. No one is all bad. Good people sometimes do bad things, and bad people sometimes do good things. I want the audience to walk that fine line and ride on this journey with us. They can see themselves conflicted because they see characters who are genuinely and sincerely conflicted as good people who have made some really difficult decisions to temporarily delve into the world of organized crime until they can get out of it and build the next Walmart or Amazon. Preston is a man who’s unafraid and willing to do anything, and he will make the transition and would do well running a boardroom or running a corporation because he knows how to do it.
But Preston’s past is messy. It’s possible that even if he makes it to that point of running his businesses legally, his past is the kind of past that never completely goes away. If he does legitimize all of his and his wife Cassandra’s efforts, their past may find them. Chickens always come home to roost. That’s an interesting dynamic that also makes him fun to play. But I would like to see the web of the character, for the sake of the audience, navigate and get to that place where he can make that transition and cross over. And then let’s see what happens. So we’re having a conversation about that today, on the heels of this interview. I’m looking forward to figuring out how that’s going to happen.
How do you like filming in NYC?
I love working here. It’s the most famous city in the world. Everything is here, people from all walks of life, from all lifestyles. All cultures, all flavors keep it interesting. It’s exhilarating.
You’re such a skilled actor. Do you face any challenges playing this role at this point in your career or is it easy for you to embody?
There’s constant navigation. I understand that the origin of the word “entertain” is to enter and hold captive. If you contain something, you hold it captive. For me as a responsible artist, I’m thinking, what do you program people with once you’ve held them captive? What is your responsibility to audiences? And for me, it’s not just a bad guy, a Black guy who’s going around shooting other Black guys and killing other Black people. It’s like, no, there are other layers to consider. So we’re navigating things that could potentially have social fallout all the time because ultimately all of us want to live in a better world. We don’t want to forget that our utmost responsibility is to not make the world a worse place than it has to be.
Are there Black writers in the writer’s room now?
Yes, you’ve experienced some of the language of Kimberly A. Harrison and Eric Haywood. It does make a difference, and you can thank Dick Wolf for that.
Jennifer Beales plays your wife Cassandra in the series. What is your favorite part about the dynamic between Preston and Cassandra?
It’s that real love. At heart, these are good people, but they’ve made tough decisions to do bad things temporarily to get to a good breakthrough, to get to a good place. But is that possible? And those are the things that we’re navigating. But what I love about this relationship is that our two characters are madly in love with one another, but is what they’re expecting realistic? I just love it because they mean well, but they’re willing to sacrifice and do horrible things temporarily to make right later. They’re building churches; they’re building schools. They’re building mental health care facilities and clinics and communities. That’s the kind of work they want to do ultimately. They want to build the next Walmart, Amazon, and do it legitimately. That’s why they’re here for a year or so. The life of crime is beginning to weigh heavily on Preston and the audience will see more of that conflict. You’ll see how Preston and Nova [Nona Parker Johnson] come together to talk about their journey.
What right now is bringing you the most joy?
Doing good in the world. Just doing good in the world. No matter what I’m doing, anything, anytime I’m blessed, I know it’s not just for me — it is to be shared. I just follow my heart as my spirit is led because I’m a praying person. So my wife and all my daughters, we just are willing to sow into soil where it’s needed. For me probably the most exhilarating thing about life is that it’s not all about you.
Law & Order: Organized Crime airs Thursdays at 10:00 pm EST on NBC.
Writer: Al Ewing / Artist: Stefano Caselli / Marvel Comics
Round of applause to Al Ewing for skyrocketing out the post-Hickman era gate with much style and grace. X-Men: Red #1 contains a balanced mix of dope action, well written dialogue, impressive visuals, and a nicely paced storyline. Off the rip, Ewing is doing our girl Storm justice in the way that she represents herself and handles the position she was destined for. Far too often does Storm baffle writers because of her Omega level powers, on top of artists being unable to properly draw and color the hair texture, skin tone, and overall badass royalty of Ororo.
Not the case here. She is fierce when needed (which is constantly, with the number of challenges she receives from those who think she’s soft) and level headed always. From the Circle Perilous to the Great Ring of Arakko, and everywhere in between, Storm is presented with every ounce of dignity she has earned as The voice of Sol and Regent of Planet Arakko.
She also looks incredible in every..single..panel! Stefano Caselli is doin the lawd’s work and there’s nary a criticism to be found in this man’s work. From Marauders and S.W.O.R.D. to Inferno and Red, Caselli is blessing the world with gorgeous works of art spanning the depths of space, the illustrious terrains of Earth, and now the untapped potential of Mars.
X-Men: Red #1 centers around a vote, a decision. We never actually see the decision get made, but we are able to marvel at Al Ewing’s usage of the Hickman data page, that he is absolutely running with! The breakdown of the 9 votes for war or peace, with a little bio on each council member is just a thing of beauty. Juicy, funny, and insightful. These pages really provide that added layer of insight you crave while diving into this entirely new culture and planet of mutants.
There are so many intriguing storylines that are set up in X-Men: Red #1, but that classic X-Men theme of a web, group mentality, and interconnectivity kept coming back for me. Vulcan on a maniacal rampage and being recruited to finally serve a purpose again; exciting and worrisome, considering who’s giving him the job. Cable and Thunderbird got me feeling X-Men TAS nostalgic in their interactions. I love the way Magneto finds solace, while also finding the most unexpected companion one could anticipate in a remote place on Arakko. Watching them become fast friends as their truths come tumbling out was a welcome vulnerable moment.
Sidebar: Here at BNP, we have this running joke that mutants never fight 1v1, and why would they? It’s squad over everything for mutants. It’s kind of their thing, you know? Being a marginalized group and having to band together for safety, survival, and community. Sound familiar?
Adding Sunspot into that dynamic created the perfect amount of chaos before the cliffhanger was dropped on us, undoubtedly sending readers into a frenzy. It all comes together quite smoothly and a new X-Team is birthed right before our eyes. If I wasn’t already hype for this series, I certainly would be after that final panel!
9 Failed Dreams of Something Perfect out of 10
Enjoying all things X-Men? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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The post ‘X-Men: Red #1’ Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Hi, I’m back to spam you with more Persona content. Welcome back to my lair. We’ve got heaps of Sojiro’s curry. Listen, if you are a heavy Persona fan like moi, then you might know about the sauce that is Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. If you ain’t know, you’re in for one of the most amazing crossovers in Persona history. Imagine old school street fighter but instead of hadouken everybody got external myths popping out from their body to deck your opponent in the face. Yes, yes this is the Persona game that you can rage out with your friends. The Persona game you can settle beef with. This game is for the fans of the Kirijo mink who couldn’t get enough from the shadows and now wants blood on the blade.
I haven’t played this since it dropped on the PS3 almost a decade ago. Playing it now opened my eyes to interesting things like: “Is it me or was there romantic tension between robots that were supposedly sisters?” And wait “these descriptions are actually funny, y’all don’t be roasting each other like this on the regular?” Persona 4 Arena Ultimax brings the spiciness of Persona 3, and the adoring friendship of Persona 4 into a fighting game with an in-depth story line just like the RPGs that came before them. A general critique that I have with a lot of mainstream fighting games is that their story modes be “cute” at best.
These Hands Come with a Story
These Hands Travel Mid-Range Distances
If you’re a long-range/mid-range fighter, this game is great for you because Persona attacks project more than the fighter’s weapon. The attacks are flashy and because of movement issues some characters take more effort to parry than others. The battles are pretty quick, since the game feels like an arcade style side scroller. The fighting style of each character varies according to their personality. Teddie and the different prop weapons to Akihiko “These Hands or Nothing” Sanada. I am a Yukiko/Chie fan for Yukiko’s mid-range flame fan combo and Chie’s quick kick close-combat dream.
Overall if you’re looking for a quick rage, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a fun ride. It brings an in-depth fun story-line filled with quips and heart from the viewpoint of each playable character. It’s fan-play to the max and most importantly you can wap people with a chair. Step into the arena with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax now available on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam!
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The post ‘Persona 4 Arena Ultimax:’ Read Novels, Throw Hands appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Superman might be the strongest superhero in the DC universe (he actually isn’t), but Batman is by far the most loved by DC fandom. The character’s lore and background are interesting, to say the least. The character himself is truly great and unique in many ways — and certainly very different from other mainstream heroes. That’s part of what makes Batman so great; unlike most DC superheroes, Batman is human and has no superpowers. Nothing but his training, wits, and iron will. Well, all of those things AND Lucius Fox.
According to comic book history, Lucius Fox is a supporting character appearing in Batman comics. He acts as Bruce Wayne’s business manager and apparently unknowingly runs the business interests that supply Batman’s endless supply of Batarangs, other equipment, and financials. However, as we’ve seen in Cristopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy starring Morgan Freeman, Fox’s genius didn’t take long to put the pieces together and discover Bruce’s real identity.
Lucius is actually the unsung hero of Batman lore. He is one of the most vital yet underrated characters that play a crucial role in allowing Batman to do what he does best — fight crime. Besides being the Bat’s armorer and weapons supplier (and perhaps even a father figure at certain points) it’s evident that the genius of Lucius Fox is the greatest weapon in Batman’s arsenal. Here are six times Lucius Fox was Batman’s best-kept secret:
Fox Keeps The Wheels Running
After the death of Bruce’s parents, but before Bruce officially became Batman, Fox climbed the corporate ladder. He held a few key roles in the company during his rise to the top of Wayne Enterprises. After he found out about Bruce’s nighttime “extracurriculars”, his in-depth knowledge of corporate policy helped him create a loophole so the company could officially support Batman’s anti-crime campaign.
This partnership was made public, and it served as a clever way of dispelling potential theories about Bruce Wayne being Batman. However, as the company’s CEO, Lucius also demonstrated enormous commitment to the Wayne legacy. This is also depicted in The Dark Knight trilogy.
Fox Is A Tactical Genius
For those who aren’t really acquainted with Batman comics, you might be surprised to know that Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s butler, had a very successful career as a member of Britain’s MI5 intelligence agency. On the other hand, Lucious Fox served as a member of the Office of Strategic Services, which later evolved into the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
This tactical expertise allows him to craft better gear and equipment for the Bat. He also has some knowledge of working in highly-dangerous field operations. Additionally, Batman needed someone who knew who he was and wasn’t afraid of getting involved in vigilantism.
Batman’s Master Tailor
Everything about Fox screams ingenuity, as he used both his intellect and the vast resources that Wayne Enterprises provided him to create better suits for the Caped Crusader. One of those suits even had a retractable cape, a “second skin” that monitors Batman’s vitals, and even boasts some minor medical repair capabilities. That certainly comes in handy for someone who subjects themselves to the rigorous amount of punishment that Batman endures each and every night.
If the wearer breaks his arm during combat, the suit hardens around that area, providing support for the bone, and administers a shot of painkillers. Lucius’ greatest creation, the Batsuit Version 8.03, actually debuted in 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight as a technological marvel. The suit was composed of a titanium-dipped tri-weave fiber mech around the proprietary WayneTech Smart MR-fluid that is incredibly flexible but hardens in response to impact. Apparently, Tony Stark still has a lot to learn.
Continuity Changes — Lucius Doesn’t
The character was rebooted several times throughout the series. Despite the number of changes introduced in Batman’s life, Lucius Fox and Alfred Pennyworth always hold the same roles. Sure, certain aspects might change, like Lucius’ family. However, Fox is always Batman’s partner and a technological genius, no matter the Earth or the continuity.
On Earth 3, for example, Fox is a genius crime lord who works alongside Owlman — Batman’s evil counterpart. Besides this, the New 52 continuity follows some of the old trends associated with Fox but brings plenty of new elements to the character.
Lucius’ Children
Lucius has been depicted with various children throughout the years and continuities, and some of them even became superheroes. For example, Lucius has four children in the New 52 continuity: Tiffany, Tamara, Lucas, and Timothy “Jace” Fox. Lucas became the second Batwing, while Jace became Batman.
Not What He Appears To Be
The latest issue of Batman: Detective Comics #1037, a backup story titled 3 Minutes, reveals the real reason why Lucius Fox joined Batman’s crusade, and it wasn’t for the sake of Bruce Wayne himself. During the story, Fox voices his concerns about Batman involving Dick Grayson’s Robin in crime-fighting, putting him in harm’s way at a very young age.
Alfred assures Fox that Batman knows what he’s doing and would give his life to protect Robin. Lucius still voices his concerns, stating that he never stayed for Bruce but to prevent others from becoming collateral damage in Batman’s crusade. This certainly sheds new light on the relationship Fox has with Batman, especially considering that both his sons become Batman (Batwing is the Batman of Africa).
In conclusion, Batman probably wouldn’t be what he is without Lucius Fox. Sure, with the resources and determination, Bruce has no measurable limit, and he could easily source his equipment elsewhere. But how would Wayne Enterprise justify their sponsorship of the Caped Crusader without Fox? Ultimately, the character is somewhat of a distant but cool-to-be-around fatherly figure and another compliment to Bruce’s steadfast nature and an opposite to Alfred’s quiet but caring role.
Lucius Fox is a shrewd and very skilled businessman, who enjoys a warm, and depending on what day it is, a shaky relationship with the Bat. But as the new continuity revealed, he’s neither a friend nor a foe but the Bat’s ally responsible for keeping the gears turning.