https://blacknerdproblems.com/aquaman-the-becoming-6-finale-review/
Writer: Brandon Thomas / Artists: Serg Acuna, Diego Olortegui, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
It’s the final issue of Aquaman: The Becoming, which means that this is the issue that Aquaman… wait for it… becomes.
This book has followed Jackson Hyde, commonly known as Aqualad in some circles, but it’s also partly been about Jackson becoming Aquaman. So from this point forward, that’s who I’m talking about when I say that name. And when I mention the original one I’ll just say Arthur. It is a bit confusing, as they are both currently named Aquaman, but we’ll make do with what we get.
In Aquaman: The Becoming #6, Aquaman has to stop a terrorist attack in Xebel that attempts to assassinate Mera before she gives a speech on getting rid of youthful conscription, a practice that Xebel has partaken in the past.
But things aren’t that easy of course. Especially since this is the final issue of the series. Aquaman isn’t going to be able to save the day without a few obstacles in his way. The first one is that Xebel themselves are the ones trying to take out Mera, in an attempt to use her as a martyr for their cause, since she is technically one of them. Aquaman has to stop them from succeeding while also confronting how far they’ve fallen, willing to do the same things that they swear only Atlanteans do.
What I really liked about Aquaman: The Becoming #6, is that while it sets up Jackson to become Aquaman, it makes him overcome an insurmountable loss on his way to do so. I don’t want to get into too much spoiler territory, but someone close to Aquaman gets in grave danger, propelling him to dig deep within himself to muster up the courage and power that it will take to save the day. In doing so, however, Aquaman’s emotional state is fractured. He may now know that he has what it takes from a physical standpoint to do what needs to get done, but the sweet young man that we’ve all come to know and love is gone, or at the very least, buried.
I love that Thomas left this problem with Aquaman unresolved at the end of the series. When we see him next in Aquamen, he’ll still be dealing with this heavy emotional toll, and his journey in that book will likely in part be related to healing that part of himself.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. With this and the Black Manta series finale, we have been in a renaissance of new and nuanced Aquaman-centric stories. I can’t believe I’ve loved it as much as I have, but here we are. I’ll see you all when Aquamen drops, because you best believe I’ll be reading that series.
10 Underwater Maces out of 10
Enjoying Aquaman: The Becoming? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
The post Aquaman: The Becoming #6 Finale Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Brandon Thomas / Artists: Serg Acuna, Diego Olortegui, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
It’s the final issue of Aquaman: The Becoming, which means that this is the issue that Aquaman… wait for it… becomes.
This book has followed Jackson Hyde, commonly known as Aqualad in some circles, but it’s also partly been about Jackson becoming Aquaman. So from this point forward, that’s who I’m talking about when I say that name. And when I mention the original one I’ll just say Arthur. It is a bit confusing, as they are both currently named Aquaman, but we’ll make do with what we get.
In Aquaman: The Becoming #6, Aquaman has to stop a terrorist attack in Xebel that attempts to assassinate Mera before she gives a speech on getting rid of youthful conscription, a practice that Xebel has partaken in the past.
But things aren’t that easy of course. Especially since this is the final issue of the series. Aquaman isn’t going to be able to save the day without a few obstacles in his way. The first one is that Xebel themselves are the ones trying to take out Mera, in an attempt to use her as a martyr for their cause, since she is technically one of them. Aquaman has to stop them from succeeding while also confronting how far they’ve fallen, willing to do the same things that they swear only Atlanteans do.
What I really liked about Aquaman: The Becoming #6, is that while it sets up Jackson to become Aquaman, it makes him overcome an insurmountable loss on his way to do so. I don’t want to get into too much spoiler territory, but someone close to Aquaman gets in grave danger, propelling him to dig deep within himself to muster up the courage and power that it will take to save the day. In doing so, however, Aquaman’s emotional state is fractured. He may now know that he has what it takes from a physical standpoint to do what needs to get done, but the sweet young man that we’ve all come to know and love is gone, or at the very least, buried.
I love that Thomas left this problem with Aquaman unresolved at the end of the series. When we see him next in Aquamen, he’ll still be dealing with this heavy emotional toll, and his journey in that book will likely in part be related to healing that part of himself.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait. With this and the Black Manta series finale, we have been in a renaissance of new and nuanced Aquaman-centric stories. I can’t believe I’ve loved it as much as I have, but here we are. I’ll see you all when Aquamen drops, because you best believe I’ll be reading that series.
10 Underwater Maces out of 10
Enjoying Aquaman: The Becoming? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
The post Aquaman: The Becoming #6 Finale Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
And so another Super Bowl ends! Let's talk about that among other topics this week on Afronerd Radio's The Grindhouse! Showtime starts this Sunday at 6 p.m. eastern on the mighty BTalk 100 internet broadcasting network. Join your "friendly neighborhood" AFROnerdist hosts as they analyze the following scheduled topics: well....the aforementioned Super Bowl LVI definitely didn't disappoint with a turnaround win for the LA Rams and higher viewer ratings-we give our impressions; and then, of course, there were the highly-anticipated commercials and half-time performances. Let's talk about it!; The standout commercials or trailers, specifically were a fuller Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Jordan Peele's Nope, and Disney+'s upcoming Moon Knight streaming series:
Our newly anointed NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, has some interesting thoughts concerning drill music, its social media influence, and how the music might be tantamount to a threat to public safety;
“We pulled Trump off Twitter … yet we are allowing music displaying of guns, violence.”
— The Recount (@therecount) February 11, 2022
— NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D), after his son sent him drill rap videos, says he will try to get the videos banned from social media. pic.twitter.com/ATGmhpi4Bo
Dburt has been following HBO's The Gilded Age series and has some interesting insights about the period drama unveiling the infrequently discussed chapter of Black History concerning 19th-century NYC Black elite:
And lastly, our thoughts about the Tina Knowles produced documentary, Profiled: The Black Man and Showtime's Everything's Gonna Be All White docuseries.
One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF
Call us LIVE at 508-645-0100. AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!!
Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
We’ve seen her play the brilliant Rachel on the CBS legal drama All Rise and dedicated ex-attorney Ari Montgomery on First Wives Club for BET+. Now, Ryan Michelle Bathé is front and center as Agent Val Turner on NBC’s new thriller drama The Endgame.
The series co-stars Morena Baccarin as Elena Federova, an international arms dealer who has just been captured. Elena is always two steps ahead of everyone. The only person who can go toe-to-toe with her is Bathé’s character FBI Agent Val Turner. Val is smart and plays everything by the book. Viewers will quickly realize that these two have more going on than meets the eye. Seeing two women at the forefront of a show where we usually see men is hopeful and refreshing.
BGN had the opportunity to speak with Bathé via Zoom to discuss her new role, what we can expect from her character, and how she manages the pressures of Hollywood.
The Endgame is action-packed and such an exciting show. You play Agent Val Turner. Can you tell us more about this character and how you prepared to play her?
We have a fantastic woman on our show who is our FBI consultant, and she’s incredible. So, just very specifically, I worked with her, we spoke on the phone, we still speak on the phone, and she’s on set. She went with me when I did my weapons training and was there to help me out. So, those are much more tactical or tactile things that I did. Again, the situation that we find ourselves in is incredibly heightened. So, there’s only so much that she can help with, because it’s an impossible situation that we find ourselves in. It’s not based on anything real that she’s found herself doing in her career. Between her and working with the weapons, those are two things that pop out.
Right now, the writers haven’t necessarily developed Val in any way. Because what is needed right now is Val, the FBI agent, to show up and solve. When people watch the show, it’s moments very much happening in real time. So, we’re not dropping in on Val after a traumatic event or during a traumatic event. We’re dropping in on her at a very heightened time in her life, in a short amount of time in her life. She has a job to do. She has to continue to focus on the job because lives are in danger. It’s a little bit like Jack Bauer, in a sense.
There are two women at the forefront of this show — Agent Val Turner and Elena “The Queen.” Even being on opposite sides, would you agree they both have something to prove, while actually having a lot in common?
It’s interesting that you say that. Justin Lin who directed our pilot said something really interesting to me: “I see this as an example of the American Olympic and athletic system versus the Russian Olympic and athletic system.” Where Russia basically scours the countryside and the cities of their country, if they see a three-year-old do a flip they get picked. Whereas in the United States, we have a much more American idea of things. The movie Rocky is a classic example. He’s down and out, he doesn’t have much, he’s got a little grit. We as Americans feel like it’s our grit and our gravy, and that we do have something to prove. The American way of doing things is that we have to prove ourselves. The Eastern European way of doing things is that they don’t have anything to prove because they’ve been doing it all their lives. But Agent Val does have something to prove.
There are so many pressures in Hollywood, particularly for Black creatives. How do you keep yourself mindful and grounded?
To continue my Rocky metaphor, when I got this job, the recurring phrase was “You’ve worked so hard!” By the hundredth time, I’m like, “What have I been presenting to the world?” Yes, I’ve worked hard and I am proud of my hard work. I’ve been knocked down a lot. I think what helps me stay grounded is almost the reverse. I’ve never been handed anything. I’ve never been given anything. I’ve never looked the way you’re supposed to look in Hollywood. I’ve never been in the right place at the right time in Hollywood. I’ve never impressed the right people when I’ve gotten in front of them — they’ve been completely and totally unimpressed. What keeps me grounded is that there is nothing that’s ever inflated my ego. I’m grateful to God that all of my experiences haven’t made me bitter because it can also go the other way. I feel like I’ve had so many moments that have grounded me in deep wells of compassion for myself and other people.
The Endgame premieres Monday, February 21, 2022, on NBC.