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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of larger-than-life figures doing the impossible. The fate of entire worlds often depend on the Avengers. And sometimes the entire universe does. But Earth’s greatest heroes aren’t just mighty, they’re also really freaking funny. From the very first MCU movie, the franchise has made us laugh. But which one stands as the most hilarious? Here’s every film ranked, from the unfunniest to the most hysterical.
25. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
You’re already mad, but you shouldn’t be! While this might be a fan favorite, that’s not because it makes you laugh. The most humorous moment comes at the very beginning of the movie, when Cap repeatedly passes Sam during a run together. It’s a great first meeting between the two characters, and it’s definitely a great bit. But when that’s your funniest scene, your movie isn’t exactly a laugh riot. If anything, the fact it doesn’t need a ton of comic relief is a testament to how good the movie is.
24. The Incredible Hulk
Maybe I’m a bad person for saying this, but I laugh every time Hulk kicks Tim Roth around that tree. The bigger problem than my own sense of humor though is that qualifies as one of the few times the movie manages to conjure any chuckles. Bruce Banner jumping out of the plane and not immediately transforming into the Hulk is a great sight gag. But even that is improved upon in the Thor: Ragnarok callback. Of the many issues this film has, one of its biggest is how unfunny it is. Which is weird since its main character is a giant green rage monster. (At least they eventually figured that out.)
23. Captain America: The First Avenger
Between tiny Steve Rogers, young Howard Stark, Peggy Carter, and confusion over fondue, this might be the most charming movie in the MCU. It’s not what you would describe as funny though. Even Cap’s unfortunate pageant montage isn’t great comic relief, because it’s pathetic the Army turned their greatest soldier into a propaganda tool.
22. Thor: The Dark World
The second Thor movie, often listed near the bottom of MCU movie rankings, is definitely funnier than people remember. As always, Thor has some good lines, Darcy is still around, and an unhinged Dr. Selvig running through Stonehenge naked is an obvious winner. But overall, this film, with its super serious and super lame villain, isn’t exactly a howler. Way too often, it veers—no pun intended—too dark. Okay, maybe a little pun intended.
21. Captain Marvel
A young, more trusting Nick Fury interacting with a “cat” deserves special recognition. As does Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos, one of the funniest characters in the entire franchise. And we’ll always enjoy watching Carol Danvers destroy everyone to a great ’90s soundtrack. But while Captain Marvel has plenty of charm, comparatively speaking it’s just not as funny as most MCU movies.
20. Iron Man 2
It’s impossible to have Iron Man around and not laugh some of the time. Plus, Sam Rockwell is hilarious in all of his scenes. And we always love having Happy on board. That said, most of this film is about Tony Stark being a raging a-hole because he’s dying. No other MCU movie makes us dislike its hero more, which limits how much we can enjoy him when he’s attempting to be humorous. Whiplash’s obsession with his bird always makes us laugh though.
19. Black Widow
One of the MCU’s more intimate and inherently sad (it’s Natasha’s post-Endgame farewell) installments still has its funny moments. The franchise really knows how to get laughs from bickering siblings. Even in the midst of a high-speed chase. It’s Florence Pugh’s Yelena and David Harbour’s Red Guardian who do most of the heavy comedic lifting here though. And they carry it well. But on the whole the film is more somber than most Marvel movies, so it can’t rank that high.
18. Doctor Strange
Surprised by this low ranking considering Stephen Strange is basically magic’s answer to House? Don’t be. The movie is pretty light on laugh-out-loud moments. Most of the humor comes from clever quips and misunderstandings. Mads Mikkelsen gets the biggest laugh when he gets Strange’s name wrong. Not exactly vintage Chris Rock, you know? Meanwhile, Dr. Strange’s hilarious second MCU appearance in Infinity War shows just how much funnier he could have been here.
17. Thor
Old-school dumb Thor is always funny. And he was never dumber than in his first film, when he got to play an oblivious stranger in a foreign world. One of the movie’s strengths is how it embraces its inherently ridiculous nature, which is based on an actual god showing up on Earth. As a result there are plenty of funny moments throughout. None better than the diner scene where Thor discovers coffee. Plenty of characters get to shine as well, including Darcy. (I’m #TeamDarcy. Always have been and always will be. WandaVision showed why.) As well as Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster and the always great Dr. Selvig. (Note: No bonus points for Chris Hemsworth’s blonde eyebrows. Only intentionally funny things count for this list.)
16. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel cast James Spader as a sarcastic, mad genius robot who hates Tony Stark. We should really appreciate that much more than we do. The second Avengers movie might not have matched its predecessor overall, but it was still full of humorous lines and scenes, including one of the most memorable in the entire franchise: when everyone tried picking up Thor’s hammer. The God of Thunder’s fear as Captain America gave it a go is still one of the funniest moments of the MCU. Plus, this movie gave us the classic “language” bit.
15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
A dead mom, a sad dad, and estranged siblings caught in a tragic family drama that could destroy not one but two worlds is not necessarily the best setup for comedy. But Shang-Chi does what the best Marvel movies do by finding humor even amid heartbreak and giant dragon fights. It also helps that Awkafina’s Katy is one of the funniest sidekicks in the franchise. And Sir Ben Kingsley’s Trevor is back for more ridiculous fun. (This time without any disappointed Mandarin fans.) Plus the always hilarious Wong pops in for some scene-stealing moments, especially the best karaoke performance ever.
14. The Avengers
Marvel’s first big team-up still ranks as one of the studio’s very best. Not because it’s especially funny though. Cap’s “I understood that reference” is a highlight. As is Hulk’s “fight” with Loki. And with so many funny characters, many interactions are imbued with a lightheartedness that helps maintain the movie’s energy throughout. It’s consistently clever and full of great one-liners. But it’s not loaded with as much pure laugh-out-loud comedy the way many later films in the franchise are.
13. Iron Man 3
Unlike in Iron Man 2, Tony is once again likable in Iron Man 3. As a result he’s inherently much funnier. His interactions with his unlikely kid partner are all great. Plus, Happy’s new job as head of security lets him be extra ridiculous at the start. And the payoff to the Mandarin is among the most humorous surprises in the MCU. (Well, at least to non-comic readers.) This might be War Machine’s most comical performance too, which is really saying something since he’s always funny.
12. Black Panther
The delightful Shuri steals the comedy spotlight, with her new “sneaker” invention ranking as the most hilarious line. But she’s not the only funny part of the movie. M’Baku and the Jabari Tribe barking at Everett Ross is genuinely amazing. The jokes about T’Challa “freezing” all land perfectly. And every scene with Andy Serkis’ madman Klaw makes us smile. No one would say this movie is funnier than it is dramatic, but that’s a testament to how well it pulled off both elements.
11. Captain America: Civil War
This might be the only movie in the entire MCU that qualifies as a tragedy, but it has so much comic relief you laugh just as often as you feel terrible. Why is the big fight at the airport arguably the single best sequence in the franchise? Because in addition to being an amazing action set piece, it has more than a dozen genuinely hilarious moments. Spider-Man and Ant-Man alone would be enough to make this film one of the funniest. And yet our favorite interactions might be the animosity Sam has for Bucky. We love hearing “I hate you.”
10. Ant-Man
Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang is as sharp and funny as Tony Stark, while also being as charming and lovable as Steve Rogers. That combo makes him one of the most endearing heroes in the franchise. When you combine him with the great visuals of epic battles taking place on a wooden toy train set, sincere interactions with ants, and the kookiest sidekicks around—led by the long-winded Luis—it’s hard to believe this doesn’t rank higher.
9. Iron Man
The MCU’s first movie really set the template for the entire franchise. It gave us a hero who manages to be hilarious while also kicking ass. This original Iron Man balances its very serious dramatic elements, which includes the beginning of Tony’s PTSD, without sacrificing humor. Happy and Tony are still one of Marvel’s funniest twosomes. And Gwyneth Paltrow never gets enough credit for how consistently hilarious Pepper Potts is too.
8. Spider-Man: Far from Home
Peter Parker’s second solo MCU movie dealt with some pretty heavy issues about grief and responsibility. That didn’t stop the film from being hysterical though. It features Ned’s brief vacation fling, Peter’s awkward attempts at romance (and accidental attempt at a drone strike), literally everything Zendaya’s MJ does or says, and Happy becoming an overwhelmed de facto dad. Not to mention all of the humor of dusted teenagers returned from the Snap, or the two teachers who took them to Europe a few months later. I mean, this movie has J.B. Smoove, and he’s maybe the fifth or sixth funniest character. And we didn’t even mention Samuel L. Jackson playing Talos pretending to be Nick Fury.
7. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Even funnier than the first Ant-Man, this sequel boasts even better visuals that maximize the potential silliness of Hank Pym’s technology. And any film that stars Paul Rudd as a charming hero is going to make us laugh. But let’s be honest, Michael Peña’s Luis alone is enough to get into the top 10. We’d watch an entire movie of him recapping all the other movies.
6. Avengers: Infinity War
You’d think watching half of the MCU’s heroes fade to literal dust would be too much of a downer to land Infinity War so high on a funny list, but when you start considering how often you laughed during the most ambitious crossover ever, it’s impossible to deny it’s genuinely hysterical. The Guardians are at their funniest interacting with Thor, while Doctor Strange, Tony Stark, and Peter Parker form the best improv group in the universe, and Bruce Banner has the worst case of performance anxiety ever. Plus, in the midst of the biggest fight in MCU history, we get Captain America and Groot exchanging pleasantries.
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming
One complaint about previous live-action Spider-Man movies is that they didn’t really capture how freaking funny Peter Parker really is. But that’s not a problem in Homecoming. Tom Holland’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is hilarious, as is his friend Ned, Zendaya’s Michelle, his debate team coach, Hannibal Buress’ gym coach, and, of course, Happy Hogan and Tony Stark. Plus the school PSAs from that familiar “war criminal” are truly amazing. (Oh, so you forgot about Captain America’s cameo, did you?)
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
As weird as it sounds, there might be too much comedy in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. That’s about as nit-picky as you can get, we know. Especially because if you think about what you might cut it’s some of the funniest scenes in the film. There are so many great bits and characters here, including the naïve newcomer Mantis and Baby Groot that this would rank in the top five if we only judged it based on Drax.
3. Avengers: Endgame
Endgame is intense, hopeful, epic, and sad. But the movie also packs an incredible comedic punch. There’s “Lebowski” Thor. Professor Hulk and his tacos, selfies, and dispirited fake smashing. Scott Lang’s confusion over how time travel works in movies is meta perfection. As is all of the inherent comedy of the time heist. You doesn’t love seeing that “idiot” Peter Quill dancing without hearing his music? “That is America’s ass” will always make us laugh. As will hearing Cap whisper, “Hail Hydra.”
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
Try to list the five funniest moments from Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s impossible. So is attempting to list the 10 funniest. In fact, you probably need 30 spots before you’d feel okay leaving something off the list, that’s how many great gags, jokes, and scenes it packs. This is one of the funniest action or superhero movies ever made, and in many ways it reset the standard for just how hilarious an MCU film can be.
1. Thor: Ragnarok
Korg, Miek, Hulk acting like a big baby, Valkyrie, and Jeff Goldblum as the demented Grandmaster are just some of the many reasons the movie is relentlessly and absolutely hysterical from start to finish. Thor: Ragnarok isn’t just the funniest Marvel movie; it’s one of the funniest films of the 21st century. It will take one truly hysterical MCU film to knock it out of the top spot.
Well, unless they give Darryl his own movie.
Featured Image: Marvel
This post originally published July 9, 2018.
The post Which Is the Funniest MCU Movie? All 25 Films Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of larger-than-life figures doing the impossible. The fate of entire worlds often depend on the Avengers. And sometimes the entire universe does. But Earth’s greatest heroes aren’t just mighty, they’re also really freaking funny. From the very first MCU movie, the franchise has made us laugh. But which one stands as the most hilarious? Here’s every film ranked, from the unfunniest to the most hysterical.
25. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
You’re already mad, but you shouldn’t be! While this might be a fan favorite, that’s not because it makes you laugh. The most humorous moment comes at the very beginning of the movie, when Cap repeatedly passes Sam during a run together. It’s a great first meeting between the two characters, and it’s definitely a great bit. But when that’s your funniest scene, your movie isn’t exactly a laugh riot. If anything, the fact it doesn’t need a ton of comic relief is a testament to how good the movie is.
24. The Incredible Hulk
Maybe I’m a bad person for saying this, but I laugh every time Hulk kicks Tim Roth around that tree. The bigger problem than my own sense of humor though is that qualifies as one of the few times the movie manages to conjure any chuckles. Bruce Banner jumping out of the plane and not immediately transforming into the Hulk is a great sight gag. But even that is improved upon in the Thor: Ragnarok callback. Of the many issues this film has, one of its biggest is how unfunny it is. Which is weird since its main character is a giant green rage monster. (At least they eventually figured that out.)
23. Captain America: The First Avenger
Between tiny Steve Rogers, young Howard Stark, Peggy Carter, and confusion over fondue, this might be the most charming movie in the MCU. It’s not what you would describe as funny though. Even Cap’s unfortunate pageant montage isn’t great comic relief, because it’s pathetic the Army turned their greatest soldier into a propaganda tool.
22. Thor: The Dark World
The second Thor movie, often listed near the bottom of MCU movie rankings, is definitely funnier than people remember. As always, Thor has some good lines, Darcy is still around, and an unhinged Dr. Selvig running through Stonehenge naked is an obvious winner. But overall, this film, with its super serious and super lame villain, isn’t exactly a howler. Way too often, it veers—no pun intended—too dark. Okay, maybe a little pun intended.
21. Captain Marvel
A young, more trusting Nick Fury interacting with a “cat” deserves special recognition. As does Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos, one of the funniest characters in the entire franchise. And we’ll always enjoy watching Carol Danvers destroy everyone to a great ’90s soundtrack. But while Captain Marvel has plenty of charm, comparatively speaking it’s just not as funny as most MCU movies.
20. Iron Man 2
It’s impossible to have Iron Man around and not laugh some of the time. Plus, Sam Rockwell is hilarious in all of his scenes. And we always love having Happy on board. That said, most of this film is about Tony Stark being a raging a-hole because he’s dying. No other MCU movie makes us dislike its hero more, which limits how much we can enjoy him when he’s attempting to be humorous. Whiplash’s obsession with his bird always makes us laugh though.
19. Black Widow
One of the MCU’s more intimate and inherently sad (it’s Natasha’s post-Endgame farewell) installments still has its funny moments. The franchise really knows how to get laughs from bickering siblings. Even in the midst of a high-speed chase. It’s Florence Pugh’s Yelena and David Harbour’s Red Guardian who do most of the heavy comedic lifting here though. And they carry it well. But on the whole the film is more somber than most Marvel movies, so it can’t rank that high.
18. Doctor Strange
Surprised by this low ranking considering Stephen Strange is basically magic’s answer to House? Don’t be. The movie is pretty light on laugh-out-loud moments. Most of the humor comes from clever quips and misunderstandings. Mads Mikkelsen gets the biggest laugh when he gets Strange’s name wrong. Not exactly vintage Chris Rock, you know? Meanwhile, Dr. Strange’s hilarious second MCU appearance in Infinity War shows just how much funnier he could have been here.
17. Thor
Old-school dumb Thor is always funny. And he was never dumber than in his first film, when he got to play an oblivious stranger in a foreign world. One of the movie’s strengths is how it embraces its inherently ridiculous nature, which is based on an actual god showing up on Earth. As a result there are plenty of funny moments throughout. None better than the diner scene where Thor discovers coffee. Plenty of characters get to shine as well, including Darcy. (I’m #TeamDarcy. Always have been and always will be. WandaVision showed why.) As well as Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster and the always great Dr. Selvig. (Note: No bonus points for Chris Hemsworth’s blonde eyebrows. Only intentionally funny things count for this list.)
16. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel cast James Spader as a sarcastic, mad genius robot who hates Tony Stark. We should really appreciate that much more than we do. The second Avengers movie might not have matched its predecessor overall, but it was still full of humorous lines and scenes, including one of the most memorable in the entire franchise: when everyone tried picking up Thor’s hammer. The God of Thunder’s fear as Captain America gave it a go is still one of the funniest moments of the MCU. Plus, this movie gave us the classic “language” bit.
15. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
A dead mom, a sad dad, and estranged siblings caught in a tragic family drama that could destroy not one but two worlds is not necessarily the best setup for comedy. But Shang-Chi does what the best Marvel movies do by finding humor even amid heartbreak and giant dragon fights. It also helps that Awkafina’s Katy is one of the funniest sidekicks in the franchise. And Sir Ben Kingsley’s Trevor is back for more ridiculous fun. (This time without any disappointed Mandarin fans.) Plus the always hilarious Wong pops in for some scene-stealing moments, especially the best karaoke performance ever.
14. The Avengers
Marvel’s first big team-up still ranks as one of the studio’s very best. Not because it’s especially funny though. Cap’s “I understood that reference” is a highlight. As is Hulk’s “fight” with Loki. And with so many funny characters, many interactions are imbued with a lightheartedness that helps maintain the movie’s energy throughout. It’s consistently clever and full of great one-liners. But it’s not loaded with as much pure laugh-out-loud comedy the way many later films in the franchise are.
13. Iron Man 3
Unlike in Iron Man 2, Tony is once again likable in Iron Man 3. As a result he’s inherently much funnier. His interactions with his unlikely kid partner are all great. Plus, Happy’s new job as head of security lets him be extra ridiculous at the start. And the payoff to the Mandarin is among the most humorous surprises in the MCU. (Well, at least to non-comic readers.) This might be War Machine’s most comical performance too, which is really saying something since he’s always funny.
12. Black Panther
The delightful Shuri steals the comedy spotlight, with her new “sneaker” invention ranking as the most hilarious line. But she’s not the only funny part of the movie. M’Baku and the Jabari Tribe barking at Everett Ross is genuinely amazing. The jokes about T’Challa “freezing” all land perfectly. And every scene with Andy Serkis’ madman Klaw makes us smile. No one would say this movie is funnier than it is dramatic, but that’s a testament to how well it pulled off both elements.
11. Captain America: Civil War
This might be the only movie in the entire MCU that qualifies as a tragedy, but it has so much comic relief you laugh just as often as you feel terrible. Why is the big fight at the airport arguably the single best sequence in the franchise? Because in addition to being an amazing action set piece, it has more than a dozen genuinely hilarious moments. Spider-Man and Ant-Man alone would be enough to make this film one of the funniest. And yet our favorite interactions might be the animosity Sam has for Bucky. We love hearing “I hate you.”
10. Ant-Man
Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang is as sharp and funny as Tony Stark, while also being as charming and lovable as Steve Rogers. That combo makes him one of the most endearing heroes in the franchise. When you combine him with the great visuals of epic battles taking place on a wooden toy train set, sincere interactions with ants, and the kookiest sidekicks around—led by the long-winded Luis—it’s hard to believe this doesn’t rank higher.
9. Iron Man
The MCU’s first movie really set the template for the entire franchise. It gave us a hero who manages to be hilarious while also kicking ass. This original Iron Man balances its very serious dramatic elements, which includes the beginning of Tony’s PTSD, without sacrificing humor. Happy and Tony are still one of Marvel’s funniest twosomes. And Gwyneth Paltrow never gets enough credit for how consistently hilarious Pepper Potts is too.
8. Spider-Man: Far from Home
Peter Parker’s second solo MCU movie dealt with some pretty heavy issues about grief and responsibility. That didn’t stop the film from being hysterical though. It features Ned’s brief vacation fling, Peter’s awkward attempts at romance (and accidental attempt at a drone strike), literally everything Zendaya’s MJ does or says, and Happy becoming an overwhelmed de facto dad. Not to mention all of the humor of dusted teenagers returned from the Snap, or the two teachers who took them to Europe a few months later. I mean, this movie has J.B. Smoove, and he’s maybe the fifth or sixth funniest character. And we didn’t even mention Samuel L. Jackson playing Talos pretending to be Nick Fury.
7. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Even funnier than the first Ant-Man, this sequel boasts even better visuals that maximize the potential silliness of Hank Pym’s technology. And any film that stars Paul Rudd as a charming hero is going to make us laugh. But let’s be honest, Michael Peña’s Luis alone is enough to get into the top 10. We’d watch an entire movie of him recapping all the other movies.
6. Avengers: Infinity War
You’d think watching half of the MCU’s heroes fade to literal dust would be too much of a downer to land Infinity War so high on a funny list, but when you start considering how often you laughed during the most ambitious crossover ever, it’s impossible to deny it’s genuinely hysterical. The Guardians are at their funniest interacting with Thor, while Doctor Strange, Tony Stark, and Peter Parker form the best improv group in the universe, and Bruce Banner has the worst case of performance anxiety ever. Plus, in the midst of the biggest fight in MCU history, we get Captain America and Groot exchanging pleasantries.
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming
One complaint about previous live-action Spider-Man movies is that they didn’t really capture how freaking funny Peter Parker really is. But that’s not a problem in Homecoming. Tom Holland’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is hilarious, as is his friend Ned, Zendaya’s Michelle, his debate team coach, Hannibal Buress’ gym coach, and, of course, Happy Hogan and Tony Stark. Plus the school PSAs from that familiar “war criminal” are truly amazing. (Oh, so you forgot about Captain America’s cameo, did you?)
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
As weird as it sounds, there might be too much comedy in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. That’s about as nit-picky as you can get, we know. Especially because if you think about what you might cut it’s some of the funniest scenes in the film. There are so many great bits and characters here, including the naïve newcomer Mantis and Baby Groot that this would rank in the top five if we only judged it based on Drax.
3. Avengers: Endgame
Endgame is intense, hopeful, epic, and sad. But the movie also packs an incredible comedic punch. There’s “Lebowski” Thor. Professor Hulk and his tacos, selfies, and dispirited fake smashing. Scott Lang’s confusion over how time travel works in movies is meta perfection. As is all of the inherent comedy of the time heist. You doesn’t love seeing that “idiot” Peter Quill dancing without hearing his music? “That is America’s ass” will always make us laugh. As will hearing Cap whisper, “Hail Hydra.”
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
Try to list the five funniest moments from Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s impossible. So is attempting to list the 10 funniest. In fact, you probably need 30 spots before you’d feel okay leaving something off the list, that’s how many great gags, jokes, and scenes it packs. This is one of the funniest action or superhero movies ever made, and in many ways it reset the standard for just how hilarious an MCU film can be.
1. Thor: Ragnarok
Korg, Miek, Hulk acting like a big baby, Valkyrie, and Jeff Goldblum as the demented Grandmaster are just some of the many reasons the movie is relentlessly and absolutely hysterical from start to finish. Thor: Ragnarok isn’t just the funniest Marvel movie; it’s one of the funniest films of the 21st century. It will take one truly hysterical MCU film to knock it out of the top spot.
Well, unless they give Darryl his own movie.
Featured Image: Marvel
This post originally published July 9, 2018.
The post Which Is the Funniest MCU Movie? All 25 Films Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.
Photo Courtesy of Sephora By Emerald Elitou ·September 29, 2021 Updated
Let’s face it, Black Beauty is behind many of the trends, products, and styles we love. However, we rarely get the credit or recognition we deserve—especially online.
When you Google search Black Beauty, you are met with pages upon pages of search results, highlighting a black horse. Although the horse is both beautiful and mystical, the lack of diversity in the search results definitely warrants the question: Where are the images of Black women and men that showcase our beauty? Where is the wealth of information and stories about our many rich shades of melanin? We deserve better representation.
Starting today, Sephora is starting the initiative to change the way we see, discover, and learn about our beauty. As an extension of Sephora’s successful “Black Beauty is Beauty” campaign— which launched earlier this month— R/GA Media is embarking on a project to bring real Black Beauty to the top of the search results on Google.
Currently, when you search “K Beauty,” “French Beauty,” or “J Beauty” online, you will get images of people and products that represent these cultures, but when you search “Black Beauty,” you will get content about a fictional horse, which is strange especially since Black people spend a whopping $1.1 billion on beauty products annually. And that doesn’t even include the boatloads spent on weaves, extensions, etc.
To bring Black Beauty to the top of the algorithms, R/GA’s team devised a strategy to own the search experience on Google and YouTube in order to push our beauty content higher to the top and improve discoverability. The partnership is also calling on people to tag their content with #BlackBeauty to help bring real content to the top of search results.
“With this effort, we set out to change the search experience, and correct an overlooked error via a simple, but smart search hack,” said Ellie Bamford, SVP, Global Head of Media and Connections at R/GA. “Media has the ability to change people’s experiences, and this idea, in particular, will help shed bias and shine a light on the bias that does exist in the everyday search experience today. Because when you search for Black Beauty, you shouldn’t see a horse.”
Now that you are informed, what are you willing to do to help change the narrative? To learn more about The Black Beauty is Beauty campaign, visit Sephora.com
TOPICS: black beauty Sephora
The post Sephora Initiates Campaign To Bring Black Beauty To The Top Of Google Search Engines appeared first on Essence.
Boldly go to strange new worlds with this list of the best science fiction books for kids.
One of the best parts of being a nerdy parent is sharing the geeky worlds you love with your kids. I still get a thrill when my kids name some obscure superhero they learned about from me. And I hold out hope that one of my kids will enjoy Star Trek as much as I do.
But there’s another, deeper type of thrill when kids find their own nerdy worlds that they are passionate about. Sure, it might not be a type of fandom that you share (my kids all love anime and manga, art forms that I don’t enjoy at all), but those are theirs, and that passion can be inspiring.
A great way to encourage kids to develop their love for science fiction is to introduce them to the world of books. Even for young, first-time readers, sci-fi books bring to readers all-new universes and adventures. Because readers use their imagination to bring to life the words on the page, your kids become co-creators, designing the characters and settings in their heads.
There are, of course, hundreds of science fiction books for children published every year. And part of the fun for kids is going to the library or bookstore and finding their own discoveries. But for those looking for a start, here are some of the best sci-fi books of the recent few years. We’ve even broken them up by age, so you can launch your kids on reading adventures. With any luck, they’ll come back with some recommendations for you!
Looking for other ways to build a lifelong interest in reading with your kiddos? Check out our list of the best Star Wars Books for Kids That Dream of Far Away Galaxies, or, for something a little more magical, head over to Books Like Harry Potter for your Whole Family!
Ages 5 – 7
Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
There’s a reason that stories like Star Wars and Harry Potter are about normal kids who discover a grand destiny. Kids love to imagine that they’re on the verge of something special, that any day can put them on a grand adventure.
Writer and artist Judd Winnick offers a fresh take on that model for Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth, the story of two regular, everyday children named D.J. and Gina and their alien buddy Hilo. Winnick’s charming and energetic drawings bring to mind the best Calvin and Hobbes comics, and his story mixes fish-out-of-water humor with a genuinely moving story of friendship and identity.
Albert Hopper, Science Hero
Sci-Fi books love their scientist heroes, do-gooders who save the galaxy through their intellect and inventiveness. While science heroes tend to be handsome men and women, John Himmelman gives us a different type of adventurer. Albert Hopper is a frog who teaches Junior Science Heroes Polly and Tad the power of STEM studies.
Funny and exciting, Himmelman’s book is sure to make a STEM enthusiast out of your child, thanks to its amazing and understandable science facts.
Are your kids fans of STEM concepts? Check out our article What is Science for Kids for even more ways to learn while having fun!
CatStronauts: Mission Moon
If there’s one thing kids like more than astronauts, it’s cats. Author and illustrator Drew Brockington gives readers the best of both worlds with CatStronauts: Mission Moon. Set in a world populated by cats, CatStronauts follows the adventures of Major Meowser and his crew, on a mission to save the world from a global energy shortage.
With a solid mix of adventure, laughs, and energetic illustrations, CatStronauts will expose children to the limitless possibilities of science-fiction.
Ages 8 – 10
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
After raw chicken ends up inside her best friend’s locker, ace reporter (of the school newspaper) Gabi Real decides it’s time to investigate Sal Vidon, the school’s resident magician. The search for answers takes Gabi and Sal on an adventure across time and space in Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, by Carlos Hernandez.
Infusing Cuban flavor into a sci-fi romp, Hernandez tells an exciting tale about two normal kids dealing with unusual power—and the emotional stakes of having the ability to do anything.
We’re Not from Here
First contact encounters are a staple of science fiction stories, in which people need to readjust their reality when they meet an alien lifeform. New in town stories are a staple of children’s fiction, in which characters learn how to acclimate to a new home.
In We’re Not From Here, bestselling author Geoff Rodkey puts those genres together. The book follows a human kid who just got used to his life on Mars when his family moves to Planet Choom, where the native Zhuri don’t like his type. From those high stakes, Rodkey tells a kid-friendly story about overcoming differences and the power of friendship.
Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor
More than any other genre, sci-fi stories have the potential to teach. Properties such as Star Trek and Doctor Who introduce audiences to scientific concepts and historical facts, mixing education with an exciting adventure.
With their bestselling book Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor, Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs tell an exciting story filled with STEM facts. Specifically, the book follows kid-genius Frank Einstein, whose household experiments teach him about the concept of matter. When an accident brings to life his robots Klink and Klank, Frank finds himself at odds with his arch-rival, the evil T. Edison.
With striking illustrations and a lively plot, Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor is so much fun, your kids won’t realize that they are learning.
Ages 11 – 13
The Fourteenth Goldfish
While we parents like to believe that we’re our kids’ favorite adults, most children have a special place for their grandparents. In her novel The Fourteenth Goldfish, three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm builds on that connection with her story of 11-year-old Ellie and the new kid who might be her Grandpa Melvin. The old scientist has always been obsessed with defeating old age. Has he finally figured it out?
With a twisty story full of humor and emotional beats, The Fourteenth Goldfish addresses a question every kid has asked: “What were my grandparents like as a kid?” As Holm shows with her thoughtful prose, the answer may be more than they bargained for.
Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox
While science fiction can introduce kids to amazing new worlds and faraway galaxies, some of the best stories in the genre make the mundane fantastic. That’s the case in Finn and the Intergalactic Lunchbox, which brings aliens invaders and robot warriors to the school lunchroom.
Finn Foley looks like your average kid, right down to the tin lunchbox he carries to school. But when he opens that lunchbox, everything changes. Because where most kids have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their lunchbox, Finn carries around wormholes that take him across the galaxy!
York: The Shadow Cipher
One of the most exciting subgenres of sci-fi is alternate histories, stories about what the world would be like if a certain invention or battle went a different way. In her book York: The Shadow Cipher, Laura Ruby imagines a world where the strange Morningstarr twins brought futuristic technology to New York in the late 18th century. After the twins’ disappearance nearly 60 years later, a trio of heroes must find the mysterious Old York Cipher.
Ruby’s relatable characters and imaginative worlds make for an exciting version of New York. Readers can not only picture themselves as heroes saving the world but also living in a world almost like our own.
Ages 14+
Akata Witch
Whether she’s writing comic books, stories for children, or novels for adult readers, Nnedi Okorafor has established herself as a master of science fiction. Her Africanfuturist and Africanjujuist stories, which put African characters into sci-fi and fantasy worlds respectively, have won her numerous accolades, including Eisner, Hugo, and Nebula awards.
With her YA book Akata Witch, Okorafor brings her approach to the magic child genre. The novel follows American-born Nigerian Sunny, whose athletic talent is soon revealed to be magical powers. To hone her abilities, Sunny joins a group of other magic students and quickly finds that she has a lot of learning to do.
The Infinity Courts
As a father of two teenagers, I can say this with some authority: teens treat every setback like it’s the end of the world. But for 18-year-old Nami Miyamoto, the protagonist of Akemi Dawn Bowman’s The Infinity Courts, it really is the end of the world. When she’s murdered on the way to her graduation party, Nami finds herself in Infinity, the afterlife of human consciousnesses.
From that striking premise, Bowman crafts a story of rebellion and self-discovery, as Nami joins a group of freedom fighters against Ophelia, the Siri-like virtual assistant who has become the queen of Infinity. As Nami tries to reconcile with her new normal, she discovers that she still has much to offer, even as her plans go wildly awry.
This Mortal Coil
When I was a teen in the 90s, hacker stories were all the rage. We all read William Gibson and his followers, our heads filled with the wild unknowns of the internet. Today, the internet is as mundane as the grocery store or the mail service, but hacker stories still capture the imaginations of readers. In her debut novel This Mortal Coil, Emily Suvada tells the tale of hacker Catarina Agatta, who can do everything, from taking control of street lights to altering people’s physical bodies, all thanks to gene implants.
Suvada’s gripping tale takes Cat from this place of immense power to one of desperation, as she finds herself caught in a plot that might finally cure the plague that has gripped humanity for decades. When her famous scientist father is killed, Cat must go on the run to protect the cure and save the galaxy, all while trying to hold on to her identity in a world where everything is hackable.
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