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https://blacknerdproblems.com/die-16-review/
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Artist: Stephanie Hans / Image
I have reviewed every single issue of Die that has come out. I can’t say that about a lot of series, especially the longer running chronicles, but Die is just the pinnacle of multi-genre speculative fiction. Die is one of the best horrors, best fantasies, best psychological thrillers, best isekai, best literary fanfiction, best game-based piece of media ever. Not just comic, any piece of media. And as Die enters its final arc, the epic conclusion to the emotionally devastating game that has been unfolding for nearly three years, I’m going down with the ship. Which is an apt phrase considering where the party finds themselves.
In the aftermath of the “The Great Games” arc, the party has made it to yet another pocket world in the pocket world and their journey is far from over. Hans is just aggressively good with her artwork, making the full-page spreads sing and the multi-paneled pages a visually engrossing tour de force. Her sense of scale, impeccable. Her characters, expressive and iconic. Her fantasy vision of Gillen’s nightmare hellscape, a match made in the aforementioned hellscape which is exactly what you want.
Gillen is a master of exposition and dialog. This issue, he flexes how much he loves seafaring tales and pirates, and I love him for it. And then he also explains all of the intervening geopolitical drama that happened before getting back to the #$@%’ed up interpersonal relationships of the party without missing a beat.
Die #16 manages to retain all of the twisted darkness that the series in known for and still manages to pull surprises out of the back pocket that just make perfect sense within the context of the world. Gillen’s a brilliant writer and gamemaster who has very carefully planted seeds through the narrative, and now they’re not only growing, they’re exploding into sprawling kudzu that complicates and enthralls you. It’s one of my favorite comics because of its sheer ambitions and continually high bar of execution.
Die is coming to an end, and all of the signs point to it being a spectacularly devastating finish. And if I were to say that I’m ready, I’d be lying. But what I can say truthfully under the Dictator’s command, is that I’m so excited to see what Gillen and Hans have in store for us.
9.5 “Ships” out of 10
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The post Die #16 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Artist: Stephanie Hans / Image
I have reviewed every single issue of Die that has come out. I can’t say that about a lot of series, especially the longer running chronicles, but Die is just the pinnacle of multi-genre speculative fiction. Die is one of the best horrors, best fantasies, best psychological thrillers, best isekai, best literary fanfiction, best game-based piece of media ever. Not just comic, any piece of media. And as Die enters its final arc, the epic conclusion to the emotionally devastating game that has been unfolding for nearly three years, I’m going down with the ship. Which is an apt phrase considering where the party finds themselves.
In the aftermath of the “The Great Games” arc, the party has made it to yet another pocket world in the pocket world and their journey is far from over. Hans is just aggressively good with her artwork, making the full-page spreads sing and the multi-paneled pages a visually engrossing tour de force. Her sense of scale, impeccable. Her characters, expressive and iconic. Her fantasy vision of Gillen’s nightmare hellscape, a match made in the aforementioned hellscape which is exactly what you want.
Gillen is a master of exposition and dialog. This issue, he flexes how much he loves seafaring tales and pirates, and I love him for it. And then he also explains all of the intervening geopolitical drama that happened before getting back to the #$@%’ed up interpersonal relationships of the party without missing a beat.
Die #16 manages to retain all of the twisted darkness that the series in known for and still manages to pull surprises out of the back pocket that just make perfect sense within the context of the world. Gillen’s a brilliant writer and gamemaster who has very carefully planted seeds through the narrative, and now they’re not only growing, they’re exploding into sprawling kudzu that complicates and enthralls you. It’s one of my favorite comics because of its sheer ambitions and continually high bar of execution.
Die is coming to an end, and all of the signs point to it being a spectacularly devastating finish. And if I were to say that I’m ready, I’d be lying. But what I can say truthfully under the Dictator’s command, is that I’m so excited to see what Gillen and Hans have in store for us.
9.5 “Ships” out of 10
Enjoying Die? 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 and Instagram!
The post Die #16 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Introducing superhero movies to your kids doesn’t have to end when the credits roll. We’ve paired them with activities that are incredibly fun for the whole family.
When I was a boy, every Saturday morning began with Stan Lee. His voice-over introductions to the cartoon series The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man and His Amazing Spider-Friends ushered me into a world of superhero wonder. That wonder had already started to build, thanks to syndicated reruns of the old Superfriends cartoon show, featuring the Justice League.
Those shows instilled in me a love of superheroes, even when superheroes didn’t love me back. For every triumph like Spider-Man 2 and X-2, or Superman: The Movie and Batman (1989) before them, there was the 1990 straight-to-video Captain America movie, in which Steve Rogers wears rubber ears on the side of his mask and spends his time stealing cars, or the Nick Fury: Agent of Shield tv movie, starring David Hasselhoff as the eye-patch wearing special agent. But not even these missteps could keep me from my favorite heroes’ monthly comic book adventures, from watching The Shadow in theaters, and from rocking out to the theme music to the X-Men and Spider-Man animated series.
Fortunately, by the time I became a father, superhero media had improved significantly. The comics were always good, but my kids have grown up not only watching the best shows from my youth (the Bruce Timm-created DC shows, such as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and Justice League Unlimited) but also great modern superhero entertainment. If you get tuckered out of superhero movies make sure you check out our silent films for kids.
The most obvious of these are, of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Both of these franchises bring comic book greats Captain America, Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman to the big screen in a way that appeals to mainstream audiences. These movies make millions of dollars and are enjoyed by people of all ages, to say nothing of the merchandising they inspire.
With all of those options, families have lots of options when it comes to superhero entertainment. But these wider options also mean that not everything is appropriate for every type of kid. Teens will likely be bored by the goofy adventure of StarDog and TurboCat, while young children will be traumatized by Zack Snyder’s moody four-hour Justice League epic.
Overwhelmed? Well, have no fear, nerdy parent! For I am here, to help you become your kids’ favorite superhero.
For Ages 2 – 5
Scooby-Doo! and Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Not Rated) 
They may be based on 1960s hippie vibes, but the groovy gang from Scooby-Doo remains a hit among young kids, and with good reason. Not only does it star a snack-loving talking dog, but Scooby-Doo teaches kids an important lesson: with a little bravery and critical thinking, even the scariest monster can be revealed to be an easily defeated grump.
In this 2018 animated movie, Shaggy, Scooby, and the gang team up with Batman and the DC Universe heroes featured in the short-lived Batman: Brave and the Bold cartoon series. Where most Batman stories imagine the caped crusader as a brooding creature of the night, Brave and the Bold features a sillier version of the world’s greatest detective, voiced with gusto by Diedrich Bader. Guest-starring a bevy of lesser-known DC characters, including Plastic Man and The Question, Scooby-Doo! And Batman: The Brave and the Bold tells an appropriately zany mystery that will engage your youngest superhero fans while making sure everyone else is entertained.
Make a Day of It!
In The Brave and the Bold, Batman and Velma combine their detective powers to solve a mystery involving villains such as the Riddler and Clayface. Let your kid indulge their inner crime-buster by setting up a mystery. Leave little clues around the house that point to a villain they saw in the movie, such as pieces of playdough to indicate Clayface and puzzles potentially from the Riddler. Take photographs of the next clue’s location to help your child solve the mystery, leading them to a celebratory party, complete with Scooby-Snacks (or maybe graham crackers and goldfish crackers instead).
For Ages 6 – 12
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies! (Rated PG) 
As much fun as superhero stories might be, they don’t always teach kids the best lessons. Not only do most superheroes solve their problems with their fists, but some take themselves way too seriously, stripping out the inherent fun of adventures involving characters in brightly colored costumes.
That’s not the case for the Cartoon Network series Teen Titans Go!, which reimagines DC Comics’ premier team of teen sidekicks into a more relatable set of goofballs. When faced with a supervillain, these Titans worry more about their new theme song or pizza order than they do fighting the bad guy.
This irreverent 2018 film focuses on team-leader Robin (Scott Menville) as he deals with his jealousy that even the most obscure comic character gets a movie before him, including Batman’s loyal butler Alfred. As his quest for fame tears him away from his teammates, they must also deal with the new villain Deathstroke (Will Arnett), who has his shady plans for the world’s heroes.
With genuinely clever gags, catchy songs, and great animation, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies reminds kids that superheroes should be fun.
Make a Day of It!
Behind all the jokes and tunes, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is a superhero movie about superhero movies. It deals with the genre’s craziest excesses while celebrating the joy of being a fan. Your family can do the same by making your own goofy superhero movie. As the Teen Titans show, you don’t need a deep plot: just put some good guys and bad guys together and embrace the silliness that ensues. Your kids can either dress up as their favorite heroes from the Marvel and DC universes or they can create their own. Record the movies on your phone and use simple editing apps to put it all together and host your movie night. (And if you need inspiration, check out the delightful SuperHeroKids YouTube videos to see how it’s done). We’ve also listed the best TV shows for 7-year-olds that will be entertaining for the whole family.
For Ages 13 – 15
The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Rated PG-13) 
In many ways, this is the definitive age for superhero movies. Not only are most of the entries in the genre rated PG-13, but they tend to suit early teen sensibilities, with straightforward morality and captivating action scenes.
The immensely successful Marvel Cinematic Universe offers a wide variety of choices for the parents of teens, but the best bet may be The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, directed by James Gunn. In this 2017 sequel, the titular team of space-faring heroes runs from the clutches of arrogant aliens called the Sovereign and meets the all-powerful Celestial Ego (Kurt Russell), who claims to be the long-lost father of Guardian Star-Lord (Chris Pratt).
With some of the most vibrant visuals in the MCU, and unquestionably the best soundtrack, Guardians 2 is a wild and irreverent adventure. Parents may want to watch this movie in the dark so their kids don’t have to catch them blushing at a few off-color jokes.
But for all its punk rock attitude, Guardians 2 is a story about family and maturity, as the team comes to realize the power of unconditional love and the ties that bind us together.
Make a Day of It!
Like its 2014 predecessor, The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 features a killer soundtrack of 70s AM radio hits. More than just a glossy detail, these songs serve a plot and theme purpose, as the songs come from a series of tapes that Star-Lord’s late mother recorded for him. These “Awesome Mix” tapes give the movies a rocking backdrop and an emotional core.
Your family can recreate these tapes by making their own Awesome Mixes for one another. Using a service like Spotify, your family members can create playlists for one another, collecting the songs with meaning or with messages you’d like to share. Or, if you want to follow the movie’s old-school spirit, consider getting a tape recorder and recording your mixtapes.
For Ages 16-18
Black Panther (2018, Rated PG-13)
Even as a life-long superhero fan, I can admit that most superhero movies are pretty silly. For all the fun they offer, most have pretty simplistic morality and do not seem interested in larger social questions.
Black Panther breaks that mold. Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring the late, great Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther is 100% an MCU film. Not only does it connect to previous Marvel films, especially Captain America: Civil War, but it also offers grand action sequences involving superspies, spaceships, and an armored rhino army.
But Black Panther has much more on its mind than just superhero intrigue. Set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, a country whose vast supply of the super-metal Vibranium makes it the most advanced culture in the world, the movie takes seriously issues such as global racism. In a blistering performance, Michael B. Jordan plays the villain Erik Stevens aka Killmonger, the cousin of Boseman’s King T’Challa, who was abandoned by Wakanda to become a violent operative in the U.S. special forces.
In Jordan’s hands, Killmonger is the rare supervillain who not only has an understandable motivation but raises good points, despite his destructive ways. In Boseman’s hands, Black Panther is the even more rare good guy who learns from his predecessor’s mistakes and joins with the people around him to be the best hero he can be.
A film both challenging and entertaining, Black Panther will give your family an evening of both spectacle and thought.
Make a Day of It!
Black Panther uses superhero tropes to tell a story about the costs of racism and the importance of learning from mistakes. It also introduces the world to a range of exciting characters from the comics, such as Winston Duke’s delightful leader M’Baku.
Your family can continue the hard conversations Black Panther raises by taking a hard look at the stories from which superhero movies were born. Sign up for a comic book service such as DC Universe Infinite, Marvel Unlimited, or Comixology Unlimited and read some classic stories together. As you read, look for examples of positive role models found in these stories or occasional missteps made by creators. This activity can teach your children to be critical thinkers about the stories they love.
The post Superhero Movies For Kids By Age That Make For A Day of Fun appeared first on Nerdy With Children.
Howdy and Hundalasiliah, to our loyal Afronerd Radio listenership! Listen to a new installment of the infamous Mid-Week in Review broadcast airing every Wednesday at 8 p. m. eastern on BTalk 100. Your "immortal" AFROnerdist hosts will be unpacking the following (mid) weekly topics: MCU fans got a treat this week when Marvel dropped a special trailer depicting a "Phase 3" retrospective along with a sneak-peak of the future slate of upcoming movies going into 2022:
It seems that the Black Panther comic is gaining a capable writing successor after Ta-Nehisi Coates' tenure...enter screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave); noted filmmaker, Barry Jenkins' upcoming Amazon alt-history fantasy series, The Underground Railroad is garnering critical acclaim; it seems like the buildup for a Black Superman is in full effect with DC's Infinity Frontier #1....oh and then there's Black Supes' hairline controversy. It's always about the edges..... The battle of the 'wokest" continues with cries of political incorrectness found on the revamped Disneyland Snow White amusement ride; we never did discuss Bill Maher's remarks concerning bitcoin and Twitch; Lastly, if time permits, we must make an assessment of the Black "manosphere"/men's media movement that's gaining ground and notoriety on social media.
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!!!
or This link below.....
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Also, Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via BTalk 100 Pandora, Spotify and, IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!
Written By: April Prince
One thing has rung true about the One Piece fandom since the series published its first issue: there are always debates about who is the best character. While many things go into what makes a character great, such as design, backstory, motivation, and where the character ends their time, it’s a rather tricky field when you’re factoring in fan reception and the subjectivity of how each fan will connect with a particular character. But Shueisha has found a way to narrow it down, and they finally have the results.
So, in honor for One Piece’s 1,000th issue, the team at Shueisha put together a global popularity poll to involve fans in the celebration and to show some love to all the characters that the fandom has been introduced to over the years. The poll ran from January 3rd until February 28th, and the results are finally in. These results have been hyped up on the official One Piece Twitter for a while now and the excitement is not unwarranted.
The global popularity contest was just one puzzle piece to an entire celebration that fans got to take part in. In addition to the popularity contest, fans were also treated to a New York Times full page color ad, WT100 Commemorative PV, One Piece 1000 Logs teaser, Weekly Shonen Jump poster and cover art, collabs with Shueisha Imprint Magazines, and — this is the biggest — One Piece Chapters 1–71 for free on the Shonen Jump and Zebrack mobile apps. So fans can enjoy the story from the beginning and get a good taste of the action to decide if the series is for them. Not to mention the beginning of the anime is on Netflix in both sub and dub form, so there’s another avenue to get into the series.
If you took part in the festivities as they were going on, you definitely came across the slogan, “We Are One,” This slogan perfectly exemplified the series and the fans as a whole. After all, what are the Straw Hats if not a found family? Shueisha wanted each fan to be able to choose their Ichiban, their number one. Whether that be from a cola-loving cyborg, a loving father made puppet, or one determined pirate made of rubber, fans from around the world voted for the character that matched up with their values and beliefs.
The event to announce the top 100 final character ranking began on May 4th at 7pm PST/10pm EST and ran until the next day on May 5th at 5am PST/8am EST on the official One Piece Youtube channel. There was a special guest appearances by Kamataichi (popular comedy duo), Greg Turner (well known commentator and One Piece superfan with an amazing knowledge of the series), and other fans to offer perspective on region specific fan opinion.
There was also an appearance by Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece and mastermind of the wondrous adventure that fans have been on since Luffy first set sail. Though he doesn’t appear in person, he does offer his appreciation to the fans through a letter that expresses why he wanted to open the poll up to fans around the world and not just fans in Japan, as it would usually be.
But before we get into the actual results, it’s important to make sure everyone knows how steep the competition is when it comes to One Piece characters. Over the course of 1,000 issues and all the stories told, fans are dealing with a whopping total of over 1,000 characters to match that outstanding 1,000 issues. Adding in the depth of emotion and quality that goes into each character, it’s no wonder it took four months to tally the votes.
It’s no surprise that Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat pirates, the rubber pirate himself, was voted number one in character popularity poll. To commemorate Luffy’s number one spot, fans are treated to a video where they get to hear from each of Luffy’s voice actors from around the world, eleven countries to be exact, express appreciation for the fans and show love to the series by speaking some of Luffy’s quotes in their native tongue. It’s a wonder to hear some of Luffy’s most famous quotes spoken by his different voice actors.
If you want to go back and relive the journey it’s taken to get to the final results, you can do so on One Piece’s Youtube channel where they’ve been documenting the poll as results come in and change as the weeks go on. So, if you want to know how we got here, it’s all there for you in One Piece’s series, “One Piece Times.” In addition to updating fans on the poll, there’s also conversations with fans about interesting findings about the series.