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Little known fact. The late Michael Turner was one of my personal heroes. He was also one the catalysts who inspired me to go to art school and get my BFA in computer animation. It was on the path of getting my BFA that of course eventually led me to becoming a published author and a comic book nerd seraph that you’ve all come to know and feel morally ambivalent about.

And to think none of that might’ve happened had a chance meeting not occurred.

He was a phenom. His unique artistic style took the comic book industry by storm. Michael Turner was one of the most gifted writers/artists in the game.

I had the pleasure of meeting Turner several years ago when I was living in the bowels of hell known as Chattanooga, TN. He was on a signing tour and he stopped in at the local comic book store. I was irked because I was scheduled to work and I would miss meeting him.

Obsessed with his art, I followed Turner’s career pretty closely. I was surprised to learn that he was a fellow Tennessee boy. I can’t tell you how many days and nights I spent sketching away in my tablets, trying to emulate his penciling style. And on top of that… well… he was hot. Smoking hawt.

Suffice it to say I wasn’t going to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity; job or no job. Given how abusive and thankless that job was, let’s just say my decision was a no-brainer.

I went on my “lunch break” and headed out to the comic book store to meet one of my heroes. I stood in line and waited for Turner to sign issue 12 of Fathom which was the big crossover featuring Tomb Raider, Witchblade and the titular heroine herself.

He greeted me with a warm grin and signed my copy. As he signed, I flipped through his portfolio and saw his various pieces.

“Did you have any formal training?” I asked.
“Nah,” he said. “I took one art class one time and I got a C-.”
“Do you have any advice for novice artists?”
“My only advice would be to just to keep at it and keep working on it.”

I thanked him and we shook hands. You could tell his warmth was genuine and he couldn’t have possibly been a nicer guy.

I must’ve been gone from work on my “extended lunch break” for a couple of hours. I never did get caught or get in any trouble. After work, I returned to the comic book store and imagine my shock to learn that Turner (who was supposed to have been gone at that point) was still around greeting fans and signing autographs.

The store manager stated that Turner stuck around of his own volition, was one of the friendliest people he ever met and an all-around class act.

A few weeks after the signing, I learned that Turner had been diagnosed with cancer. What was even more inspiring was not only did he beat it, but he came back with a vengeance.

He launched his own company, produced his own titles, and was still sought after by Marvel and DC alike to do cover art and story arcs. And when the cancer returned, he didn’t let it stop him. Giving credence to the notion that Turner was every bit the superhero that he made his living drawing.

When things got rocky in art schoool or when pissy professors were lining up eager to tell me that I would never finish school, let alone work in the field, he was one of my inspirations to keep me persevering. Persevering to the point that I graduated with honors with received the departmental award for outstanding contribution to the media arts and animation department. Persevering to the point that two novels, several short stories, and hundreds of articles later, I’m just getting started as a pro author.

While our only meeting was brief, Turner shaped me in a profound way. To this day I imagine his other fans still echo that sentiment.

To Michael Turner,

Your time on this world was far too brief but that didn’t stop you from making a monumental impact. You created new worlds for us to explore and you showed us a glimpse of the beauty that was in your soul. Your work and character inspired countless lives and for that all I will be forever grateful.

Take a bow, and thank you.

 

Buckle up for some high-octane action! Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released a more in-depth look at the action packed gameplay of Cars 3: Driven to Win, the upcoming competitive racing game inspired by Disney Pixar’s Cars 3. The deep dive gameplay trailer shows off beloved characters such as Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez, and new rival racer Jackson Storm battling to become the Ultimate Champions.

The post Cars 3: Driven to Win gameplay trailer debuts appeared first on The Nerd Element.

As is customary whenever a new Star Wars film is about to come out, Vanity Fair runs a special edition with gorgeous photographs by the renowned Annie Liebovitz. The Last Jedi is no exception since the magazine just released four special variant covers to this year’s Star Wars issue. They’re all great, but one photo definitely stands out the most for us nerds of color:

Who could have imagined when the franchise debuted forty years ago that one day, we’d get a Vanity Fair cover featuring three people of color as the leads of Star Wars? Look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!

Go to Vanity Fair to see the other covers, and go here to listen to me geek out about Star Wars with the Desi Geek Girls, Preeti and Swapna! It’s also proof we came up with the “May the 40th Be With You” tagline first. Just sayin’.

I have a girlfriend who is preparing for a marathon. She’s been working hard, both inside of the kitchen and inside of the gym, to get in her best shape. Every day she wakes up early or waits until she has returned from work and gets moving. But one place she hasn’t moved towards is the weight room in the gym. It’s a shame because strength training is something that could really help her when it comes to training and conditioning.

Her critique of that section of the gym is a common one: There are too many men who she worries will either make her feel like a piece of meat when picks up a weight, or worse, will make her feel as though she doesn’t belong there. What she says doesn’t shock me considering many women and even men feel that way when it comes to the weight room. To be honest, it can feel like you entered the wrong place and that you’re in the way, but when you’re on a fitness journey, pretty much every stage feels like that. If you want to get into a new cardio class, you tend to overcritique yourself and think everyone is staring at the missteps you make. If you want to try running, you assume that your form is terrible and you’re moving in slow motion when compared to everyone else. And yes, if you want to pick up some weights and do some strength training, you’re concerned that your weights are measly and that you’re not cut out for the weight room.

It can all be overwhelming, indeed. But here’s some advice to keep in mind so you don’t let all of that hold you back.

Go in With a Plan

Don’t just walk into a weight room or section, pick up a set of dumbbells and start standing around dumbfounded about what to do with them. I’m a big fan of going into the gym, in general, with a plan so that I don’t waste too much time. So before you go, do yourself a favor and figure out what you want to work on specifically, and look up at least three to five moves you can do in sets with those weights. When you have a game plan, you will be less likely to worry about other people.

Get Out of Your Head

If you spend a lot of time thinking that everyone is talking sh-t about the way you’re doing your moves or the fact that you even entered the weight room, the more you are going to psych yourself out. Next thing you know, you’ll be telling people you don’t weight train because of how everyone treated you that “one time,” when you know good and well no one said a word to you. With all things new there is the worry that we are making fools of ourselves. But if we let those thoughts hinder us from getting in our workouts, the less progress we’ll make and the more time we’ll waste.

Pump Your Jams

Allow your music to be your hype man. Put on your headphones, turn up the bass and get into a zone. I often like to do certain moves to a beat, as it can be a challenge. But whatever you listen to while weight training, whether trap or house music, let it get you pumped up and focused on the task at hand — not the people around you.

Don’t Let People Intimidate You

If you find a spot in the section where you can see yourself in the mirror and you feel good, don’t let someone step right in front of you. Don’t let someone take your weights when you step away to get wet wipes. What I’m saying is, don’t let people make you uncomfortable. That doesn’t mean you have to curse anyone out, but it does mean that you need to find a way to politely speak up if you feel your space is being invaded or if someone has accidentally gotten in your way.

Have Fun

Exercise shouldn’t always feel like a chore. The more fun you have with it, the more likely you are to miss the gym when you can’t make it on certain days. If you go into your workout pumped at the gains you know you will obtain from your strength training workout, you won’t feel like you’re entering such a serious space that you don’t fit into. Pat yourself on the back when you get through with that increased number of reps or those deadlifts. Get some enjoyment out of your gym activities — strength training included.

Image via Bigstock

The post Are You Intimidated By The Weight Room? Here Are 5 Ways To Overcome That appeared first on MadameNoire.