https://blacknerdproblems.com/radiant-black-wants-to-be-the-irreverent-voice-of-a-generation/
Seriously, y’all…we should really be paying attention to Radiant Black. Image Comics has been making the rounds in the past decade or so, rebranding as a mainstream launching pad for indie titles, many of which have gone on to become new classics or get optioned for movie/tv deals. So, it was really only a matter of time before they wanted to stake their claim again in the superhero genre as it has become a cornerstone in modern day Hollywood.
We’ve seen superheroes team up, inspire and even break the fourth wall a la Bugs Bunny. And for the most part, it’s been a lucrative venture. But it’s time for heroes to start breaking the molds again and subverting the status quo. The Invincible animated series is a pretty good retelling of Robert Kirkman’s epic comic saga, but certain parts are clearly dated and can’t get around the Walking Dead writer’s storytelling flaws. Watchmen’s resurgence on and off screen has been welcome, but the various retcons and time jumps are a reminder that Alan Moore’s work hasn’t all aged well in terms of race and gender politics. All of this isn’t necessarily to imply that Radiant Black has taken the throne as Invincible’s successor in a mere ten issues, but it’s been long enough since a comic of its ilk came along that it deserves to be watched.
In fact, Radiant Black reads more like Invincible‘s descendant, breaking Kirkman’s generational curses, improving upon the predecessor through risky narratives. Instead of the “son improving upon the father” trope, Kyle Higgins rips apart the “chosen one” narrative with his tale of a down on his luck writer discovering a mysterious power source that allows him to access a suit of great, otherworldly power. Now, I’m supposed to explain to you how this guy uses his unique imagination and boundless optimism to master his powers and ascend to greatness, but he gets his ass kicked and ends up comatose. And with the power passing onto his equally unlucky but ambitious-to-a-fault best friend Marshall, our hero (whether we like it or not) discovers that he’s not the only one out there and that his world is about to get bigger than he’d imagined.
Radiant Black takes the “irreverent superhero” genre and delivers a swift, much-needed kick to its nethers with a hero that is hard to like even at his most relatable. And make no mistake, his frustrations are understandable at times. Whereas Mark, the main character in Invincible, starts out searching for his own greatness instead of settling for the shadow of his father’s….Marshall is a Millennial just searching for some sense of purpose and dignity. He’s very aware he’s not living up to his potential, but he’s just as aware of that partially being because of the way the world is. As the story goes on and we learn more about this guy, Higgins (perhaps unknowingly) taps into a frustration shared by many real people left in the pandemic’s wake. And yet, though he isn’t exactly giving us T’Challa levels of virtue, he ultimately seems driven by his need to do right by his friend’s good name when he could be using his newfound secret identity to run up the price of Bitcoin or sell Pop dolls.
The book’s total worth is yet to be seen, but from what we’ve been given to work with in a mere ten issues, it’s setting itself up to be the standard bearer of this generation’s “hero’s burden.” Superhero comics are the modern-day fables and myths of the western world, the funhouse mirror image of what our world would look like guided by unlimited hope and imagination….and so far, Radiant Black is a fable speaking up for its time.
Cover image via comicsbeat.com
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The post Not Even A Year Old, ‘Radiant Black’ Wants to Be the Irreverent Voice of a Generation So Bad appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Seriously, y’all…we should really be paying attention to Radiant Black. Image Comics has been making the rounds in the past decade or so, rebranding as a mainstream launching pad for indie titles, many of which have gone on to become new classics or get optioned for movie/tv deals. So, it was really only a matter of time before they wanted to stake their claim again in the superhero genre as it has become a cornerstone in modern day Hollywood.
We’ve seen superheroes team up, inspire and even break the fourth wall a la Bugs Bunny. And for the most part, it’s been a lucrative venture. But it’s time for heroes to start breaking the molds again and subverting the status quo. The Invincible animated series is a pretty good retelling of Robert Kirkman’s epic comic saga, but certain parts are clearly dated and can’t get around the Walking Dead writer’s storytelling flaws. Watchmen’s resurgence on and off screen has been welcome, but the various retcons and time jumps are a reminder that Alan Moore’s work hasn’t all aged well in terms of race and gender politics. All of this isn’t necessarily to imply that Radiant Black has taken the throne as Invincible’s successor in a mere ten issues, but it’s been long enough since a comic of its ilk came along that it deserves to be watched.
In fact, Radiant Black reads more like Invincible‘s descendant, breaking Kirkman’s generational curses, improving upon the predecessor through risky narratives. Instead of the “son improving upon the father” trope, Kyle Higgins rips apart the “chosen one” narrative with his tale of a down on his luck writer discovering a mysterious power source that allows him to access a suit of great, otherworldly power. Now, I’m supposed to explain to you how this guy uses his unique imagination and boundless optimism to master his powers and ascend to greatness, but he gets his ass kicked and ends up comatose. And with the power passing onto his equally unlucky but ambitious-to-a-fault best friend Marshall, our hero (whether we like it or not) discovers that he’s not the only one out there and that his world is about to get bigger than he’d imagined.
Radiant Black takes the “irreverent superhero” genre and delivers a swift, much-needed kick to its nethers with a hero that is hard to like even at his most relatable. And make no mistake, his frustrations are understandable at times. Whereas Mark, the main character in Invincible, starts out searching for his own greatness instead of settling for the shadow of his father’s….Marshall is a Millennial just searching for some sense of purpose and dignity. He’s very aware he’s not living up to his potential, but he’s just as aware of that partially being because of the way the world is. As the story goes on and we learn more about this guy, Higgins (perhaps unknowingly) taps into a frustration shared by many real people left in the pandemic’s wake. And yet, though he isn’t exactly giving us T’Challa levels of virtue, he ultimately seems driven by his need to do right by his friend’s good name when he could be using his newfound secret identity to run up the price of Bitcoin or sell Pop dolls.
The book’s total worth is yet to be seen, but from what we’ve been given to work with in a mere ten issues, it’s setting itself up to be the standard bearer of this generation’s “hero’s burden.” Superhero comics are the modern-day fables and myths of the western world, the funhouse mirror image of what our world would look like guided by unlimited hope and imagination….and so far, Radiant Black is a fable speaking up for its time.
Cover image via comicsbeat.com
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The post Not Even A Year Old, ‘Radiant Black’ Wants to Be the Irreverent Voice of a Generation So Bad appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writers: Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala / Artists: Alitha Martinez, Mark Morales, and Emilio Lopez / DC Comics
Nubia & The Amazons #2 continues to bring the heat to Themyscira!
When some inhabitants of the island doubt the validity of Nubia’s fast rise to Queen, our favorite Amazon has to put it all to rest by showing everyone that she’s got the best hands this side of the Bermuda Triangle, and if anyone wants the smoke, they are more than welcome to come and get some.
Nubia & The Amazons is really about Nubia & The Amazons. I know that sounds silly, but I enjoy that we get to spend time with other characters on Themyscira just as equally as we do with Nubia. This is a book about expansion, and I think just two issues in, it’s doing a really good job of fleshing out the nuances of Amazonian culture, society, and norms.
My favorite part of this issue was without a doubt the Victor’s Circle. It’s another one of the areas/customs of Themysciran life that we are getting a deep lesson on. In issue one, it was The Well of Souls. This time around, it’s the Victor’s Circle.
Basically, the Victor’s Circle is a place that’s known mostly by heresy where Amazons can go to blow off steam or resolve issues by way of physical combat. Someone clown your sandals in front of your crush? Settle it in the Victor’s Circle. Your best friend stole your favorite headband? Settle it in the Victor’s Circle. Basically, it’s where you go to either beat somebody’s ass, or get your ass beat, and then move on from whatever problem there may have been that led you there.
Nubia pays the Victor’s Circle a visit when she hears words of doubt about her rise to Queen. So instead of talking a nice talk to try and convince people of her intent, she walks the walk, going to the Victor’s Circle to prove her worth with her own hands. How can we not stan?
10 Snapped Arms out of 10
Enjoying Nubia & the Amazons? Check out BNP’s other reviews here.
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The post Nubia & the Amazons #2 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Artist: Esad Ribic / Marvel Comics
In the wake of their hit movie, it’s only fitting that the Eternals have such a good run in the comics. Kieron Gillen is crafting a thoughtful, fleshed out Dune-esque mythology around these celestial demigods that, were it promoted better, could rival the audacious world building that Jonathan Hickman delivered with his new X-Men direction.
Eternals #7 begins a bold new story arc that sees the lion’s share of Eternals seeking a new way to live, tired of their never-ending conflict with the Deviants. The road to peace is complicated by the potential price for coexistence with their longtime nemesis. Meanwhile, some Eternals seek answers, others seek forgiveness in the human world, others plot and scheme….and then there’s Thanos. In an era of pop culture when the Mad Titan has basically become a household name, Gillen has given this Big Bad a new lease on life within the pages of Eternals. There’s something so refreshingly fun about how Thanos just shows up, stomps any situation into a meaty paste and moves on about his business like he just checked his email.
Gillen’s greatest accomplishment with this book is how he balances a rather large cast of characters without allowing their voices to get lost. Everyone in this book has a distinct sense of personality that makes them distinctive in every scene. This seems like it shouldn’t be such a big deal but not every comic accomplishes this. Meanwhile, Esad Ribic is the glue that really brings these big ideas and dynamic characters together in epic scenes that just wouldn’t work the same without his attention to detail and ability to make every panel interesting in its own way. The color palette and sense of scope in Eternals #7 make all of these characters look and feel as legendary as they deserve.
Bottom Line: Eternals is getting a run that truly reflect their becoming marquee characters thanks to the film. The diverse, distinctive cast of characters and conflicting motivations make for the kind of fleshed out story longtime fans and new readers will drool over.
8.5 Josh Brolin monologues out of 10
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The post Eternals #7 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes
Welcome to the other Black experience, true believers! Check out the latest episode of Afronerd Radio's Grindhouse broadcast airing this and every Sunday at 6 p.m. eastern on BTalk 100. Join your ever-ready AFROnerdist hosts as they tackle the following weekly subject matter: discussing the widely controversial (but expected) not guilty verdict concerning wannabe vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse; for some reason, the idea of a Black Santa has caused anger and derision for a Black Little Rock homeowner who dares to display a "negro" Santa yard decoration; but on the other hand, Disney is promoting the Black Santa idea for the first time during this Yuletide season (go figure);
The live-action translation of the hit anime series, Cowboy Bebop premiered this weekend on Netflix and we have our first impressions; purportedly movie star, Will Smith is in talks with Marvel to portray some unknown IP, but if the deal were to take place, Smith has some provisions; we never did talk about legendary PBS children's show, Sesame Street's intentional Black cultural roots; And speaking of Will Smith, Oscar talk is in the air for his portrayal of Venus and Serena patriarch, Richard Williams in this weekend's release of King Richard. And lastly, we would be remiss if we didn't muse on the killing of Memphis rapper, Young Dolph.
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!