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Superhero comics are probably the most prominent genre within the broader category of comic books. They have a long history of exploring themes of justice, power, responsibility, etc., that resonate with readers on a deeper level, beyond all the surface action. There has rarely been a comic book imbued with the complexity and the depth of ethical questions as that of the X-Men, which, ever since their inception in 1963, have often served as an allegory for the civil rights movement.
In truth, many of the narrative philosophies of X-Men embody the ideals and struggles of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey. The latter, a Jamaican political activist, believed that Black people needed a separate state and country from their oppressors. Those beliefs mirror the ideology of Magneto —an X-Men supervillain— who advocated for a separate state for mutants. This parallel now invites us to reconsider the ethical foundations of mutant separatism in the Marvel Comics Universe.
Author Andrew Smith said that humans fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t conquer, and history has taught us that this is one of the few less pleasant but universal truths. We tend to judge and fear things we don’t understand. Even when we do understand, we tend to discriminate severely if they’re even remotely different from what we deem acceptable. Our collective treatment of marginalized groups is often a really accurate, albeit sad, historical example of this.
At the core of Magneto’s beliefs is the conviction that mutants won’t find peace and equality among humans. These beliefs, fueled by the horrors of the Holocaust and the fact that humans fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t control, have taught Magneto that those in power will always oppress those who are viewed as different or inferior. So, his push for a separate mutant state is actually rooted in the desire to protect his fellow mutants from hate crimes, prejudice, genocide, and denial of basic human rights.
These issues remain painfully relevant in today’s society and only fuel Magneto’s argument for mutant separatism, which, in this case, is an ethical stance towards self-preservation and dignity. From this perspective, mutants would be allowed to govern themselves and cultivate their own culture without the fear of aggression from the rest of humanity. Sure, it’s a radical solution, but perhaps the only viable one for mutants who live in a world that hates and fears them for merely existing and being different.
However, the idea of a separate mutant state raises other complex ethical questions. Is segregation, even if it’s self-imposed, truly a path to equality? Krakoa, a living mutant island that has become a new home for mutant kind in X-Men, proves that Magneto was right all along. The inhabitants of Krakoa have managed to disrupt all major human industries, especially Big Pharma, and powerful countries all over the world became dependent on Krakoa and its life-saving and life-extending technology.
The unity of mutant-kind allows them to amass power and even conquer death. However, all of these accomplishments don’t result from co-existence and equality between mutants and humans. Quite the contrary, they result from mutant separatism and affirmations of mutant superiority over humans. So, while proving that Magneto was right, Krakoa also proves he was wrong because the separation led to further marginalization and inequality. If you really need an example, just look at our own history and the events that preceded World War II.
Some of the greatest technological and medical advancements humans have made in the shortest amount of time can be credited to the proponents of and the responses to crimes against humanity that took place during WWII. So, no, separatism is never the answer to the question of true equality among the different. The response lies in integration, which emphasizes mutual understanding, empathy, and the belief that our shared humanity can help us overcome fears and prejudice towards the things that we don’t understand.
However, we’ll say this: Magneto isn’t as bad a guy as X-Men make him to be. While his notion of separatism being the only way for mutants to live peacefully is fundamentally wrong, he has been far more tolerant than the X-Men ever were. While he advocates for a separate state, knowing that mutants will always face persecution, Charles Xavier and then X-Men advocate against it. This issue divides mutantkind, and a divided nation is destined to fall. So, all of Magneto’s efforts to create a mutant nation end in catastrophe (apart from Krakoa), which he co-founded with Professor X.
The policy towards humans isn’t the only difference between Magneto and the X-Men. The latter always claim to be supportive of other mutants, but are reluctant to recruit mutants with undisguised mutations until Nightcrawler joined. Magneto is generally much more tolerant of his fellow mutants compared to X-Men, as evident by the fact that he was often accompanied by Mystique and Toad, two mutants whose mutations are very much undisguised in everyday life.
In the end, Magneto’s dream of a mutant state, though radical and filled with moral and ethical complexities, does make one think about the realities of oppression and the lengths to which the oppressed would go to escape it.
Superhero comics are probably the most prominent genre within the broader category of comic books. They have a long history of exploring themes of justice, power, responsibility, etc., that resonate with readers on a deeper level, beyond all the surface action. There has rarely been a comic book imbued with the complexity and the depth of ethical questions as that of the X-Men, which, ever since their inception in 1963, have often served as an allegory for the civil rights movement.
In truth, many of the narrative philosophies of X-Men embody the ideals and struggles of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey. The latter, a Jamaican political activist, believed that Black people needed a separate state and country from their oppressors. Those beliefs mirror the ideology of Magneto —an X-Men supervillain— who advocated for a separate state for mutants. This parallel now invites us to reconsider the ethical foundations of mutant separatism in the Marvel Comics Universe.
Author Andrew Smith said that humans fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t conquer, and history has taught us that this is one of the few less pleasant but universal truths. We tend to judge and fear things we don’t understand. Even when we do understand, we tend to discriminate severely if they’re even remotely different from what we deem acceptable. Our collective treatment of marginalized groups is often a really accurate, albeit sad, historical example of this.
At the core of Magneto’s beliefs is the conviction that mutants won’t find peace and equality among humans. These beliefs, fueled by the horrors of the Holocaust and the fact that humans fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t control, have taught Magneto that those in power will always oppress those who are viewed as different or inferior. So, his push for a separate mutant state is actually rooted in the desire to protect his fellow mutants from hate crimes, prejudice, genocide, and denial of basic human rights.
These issues remain painfully relevant in today’s society and only fuel Magneto’s argument for mutant separatism, which, in this case, is an ethical stance towards self-preservation and dignity. From this perspective, mutants would be allowed to govern themselves and cultivate their own culture without the fear of aggression from the rest of humanity. Sure, it’s a radical solution, but perhaps the only viable one for mutants who live in a world that hates and fears them for merely existing and being different.
However, the idea of a separate mutant state raises other complex ethical questions. Is segregation, even if it’s self-imposed, truly a path to equality? Krakoa, a living mutant island that has become a new home for mutant kind in X-Men, proves that Magneto was right all along. The inhabitants of Krakoa have managed to disrupt all major human industries, especially Big Pharma, and powerful countries all over the world became dependent on Krakoa and its life-saving and life-extending technology.
The unity of mutant-kind allows them to amass power and even conquer death. However, all of these accomplishments don’t result from co-existence and equality between mutants and humans. Quite the contrary, they result from mutant separatism and affirmations of mutant superiority over humans. So, while proving that Magneto was right, Krakoa also proves he was wrong because the separation led to further marginalization and inequality. If you really need an example, just look at our own history and the events that preceded World War II.
Some of the greatest technological and medical advancements humans have made in the shortest amount of time can be credited to the proponents of and the responses to crimes against humanity that took place during WWII. So, no, separatism is never the answer to the question of true equality among the different. The response lies in integration, which emphasizes mutual understanding, empathy, and the belief that our shared humanity can help us overcome fears and prejudice towards the things that we don’t understand.
However, we’ll say this: Magneto isn’t as bad a guy as X-Men make him to be. While his notion of separatism being the only way for mutants to live peacefully is fundamentally wrong, he has been far more tolerant than the X-Men ever were. While he advocates for a separate state, knowing that mutants will always face persecution, Charles Xavier and then X-Men advocate against it. This issue divides mutantkind, and a divided nation is destined to fall. So, all of Magneto’s efforts to create a mutant nation end in catastrophe (apart from Krakoa), which he co-founded with Professor X.
The policy towards humans isn’t the only difference between Magneto and the X-Men. The latter always claim to be supportive of other mutants, but are reluctant to recruit mutants with undisguised mutations until Nightcrawler joined. Magneto is generally much more tolerant of his fellow mutants compared to X-Men, as evident by the fact that he was often accompanied by Mystique and Toad, two mutants whose mutations are very much undisguised in everyday life.
In the end, Magneto’s dream of a mutant state, though radical and filled with moral and ethical complexities, does make one think about the realities of oppression and the lengths to which the oppressed would go to escape it.
Studio Ghibli Fest is back in theaters in its biggest year yet! Now, coming off the triumphant Oscar® win for Hayao Miyazaki’s latest feature The Boy and the Heron, celebrate this iconic studio with an all-new selection of fan favorites and iconic titles alike.
This year’s lineup highlights the works of studio co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, as well as directors Yoshifumi Kondo, Hiroyuki Morita, and Hiromasa Yonebayashi. In celebration of Hayao Miyazaki’s recent Oscar win, Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 kicks off with the acclaimed director’s previous Academy Award-winning feature, Spirited Away, which took home the Oscar in 2001.
The lineup also includes special celebrations for the Howl’s Moving Castle 20th Anniversary, Kiki’s Delivery Service 25th Anniversary, and Pom Poko 30th Anniversary.
Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 Full Schedule
Spirited Away
- Saturday, April 27 at 3:00 PM (SUB)
- Sunday, April 28 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, April 29 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, April 30 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 40th Anniversary
- Sunday, May 19 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Castle in the Sky
- Monday, May 20 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
The Secret World of Arrietty
- Sunday, June 9 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Tuesday, June 11 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
When Marnie Was There 10th Anniversary
- Monday, June 10 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Princess Mononoke
- Saturday, July 13 at 3:00 PM (SUB)
- Sunday, July 14 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, July 15 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Ponyo
- Saturday, August 3 at 3:00 PM (SUB)
- Sunday, August 4 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, August 5 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, August 6 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Whisper of the Heart
- Sunday, August 25 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Tuesday, August 27 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
The Cat Returns
- Monday, August 26 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, August 28 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Howl’s Moving Castle 20th Anniversary
- Thursday, September 26 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Friday, September 27 at 7:00 (DUB)
- Saturday, September 28 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Sunday, September 29 at 3:00 and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, September 30 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, October 1 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, October 2 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Thursday, October 3 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
Kiki’s Delivery Service 35th Anniversary
- Saturday, October 26 at 3:00 PM (SUB)
- Sunday, October 27 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, October 28 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
Pom Poko 30th Anniversary
- Sunday, November 24 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Tuesday, November 26 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
- Monday, November 25 at 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
My Neighbor Totoro
- Saturday, December 7 at 3:00 PM (SUB)
- Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM (DUB)
- Monday, December 9 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
- Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 (DUB)
- Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 PM (SUB)
In related news, The Boy and the Heron will return to North American theatres starting March 22, 2024 and include exclusive bonus content!
This was a film that I reviewed for the site and wrote that “The Boy and the Heron is a film that I want to revisit and rewatch. It is clear that it is from the house of Ghibli, and yet it is uniquely its own creation. I believe that it should be watched by fans of animation and Ghibli purists, alike.”
If you missed watching the film before it won its Oscar, you can catch it this time on the big screen!
See more about Ghibli Fest here on the GKIDS website. Follow the conversation online on Twitter (X), Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok.
Love anime? So do we! See what else we have to offer on the site via anime here!
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The post Studio Ghibli Fest Returns to Theatres 2024 appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
When Ghostbusters: Afterlife came back to give the franchise new life, there’s a worry if a sequel could keep the baton in the running or drop it. It’s safe to say the follow up, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is keeping this franchise in the running. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has a hurricane of easter eggs and nods of nostalgia but the stand out factors of this film are the pacing and the theme of a family’s legacy. More specifically, the Spengler family legacy. We saw Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) in the last film take the reigns to embrace the Ghostbusting life of her grandfather and now we see what it’s like when her mother, Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), brother, Trevor Spengler (Finn Wolfhard) and Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) do the same. However, trouble arises for Phoebe when she’s put on the bench.
The film starts off with a prologue giving us a hint of what lies ahead with the film’s big bad. We then cut to current day New York as the Spenglers and Mr. Grooberson are chasing a sewer dragon ghost through New York. They Spenglers have traded in the cornfields of Summerville, Oklahoma for the concrete Jungle in the Big Apple. We get a good sense of the family dynamic between the Spenglers as well as Mr. Grooberson trying to know his place between being seen as the unofficial step-dad or mom’s “friend”. The team is doing a good job chasing down the ghost but once Phoebe pops out of the gunner seat and starts letting the proton pack unpack that beam, trouble arises. The damage caused in capturing the ghost gets Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton) leeway in getting the Ghostbusters all the way outta here. Since Phoebe is a minor shooting a nuclear powered weapon on the streets of New York, she’s then sidelined by the mayor. Phoebe then has to watch the rest of her family be Ghostbusters even tho she is the one that got them all in the ghost busting game in the first place.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Has A Chilly Villain & Vibe
What I truly enjoyed about this film is the pacing. Kudos to Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan for really setting a story that is allowed to take it’s time on screen. The big bad boss that we are waiting for, Garraka (puppeted by Ian Whyte), has a steady build of terror as we learn more of his story and see his influence taking effect. What I enjoyed most about this villain is the lore behind him. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire truly did a great job of building this character up. Garraka spanning back multiple years and having few sightings added to the mystery and danger of the villain. However, seeing Phoebe dealing with feeling left behind by her family plays just a big a part as the major villain. Here we are seeing how life not being fair can be hard for a young teen to learn. Ghostbusting is what Phoebe excels at but she can’t do it now just because she is a minor. A great juxtaposition to Phoebe’s dilemma is seeing the just how large the next generation of ghostbusters has become.
Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) has been a very busy philanthropist. We see how he is not only keeping the Ghostbusters’ firehouse afloat but expanding the team and the possibilities. I don’t want to spoil what he’s been up to but it’s a great detail to give Winston more stake in the series and a larger role in the lore. We see the familiar faces of Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) becoming apart of the crew as well as newcomers like Lars Pinfield (James Acaster) and Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani). Nadeem plays a very important part in the movie that came as a complete shock to me. Again, I won’t spoil anything but Nadeem part in the movie opens the doors for Ghostbusters to move even deeper into matters of the occult instead of just ghosts.
Cause (Ghost)busting Makes Me Feel Good… to a Degree
While there’s a lot of good the movie does. Introducing a new cast and bringing in the old guard with Peter Venkman (Billy Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Akroyd), and Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) appearing again. There are some things I couldn’t help but think about for the sequel. There may just be little things but… I’m sorry fam, the fact that the Ectomobile hasn’t been updated to at least have power windows is crazy to me. i’m just saying, it’s 2024 and Winston is bankrolling the Ghostbusters, so why the proton backs still looking so DIY? Wires all visible looking like mad usb plugs charing devices. We saw some upgrades but I’m just saying shouldn’t things be a bit less heavy looking and shouldn’t the jumpsuits get an update too?
Visuals aside, there’s a lot of similarities we see between this film and the last in regards to family and everyone coming together. We get more of an index of types of ghosts which is new and exciting but there are certain beats and moments that feel as if we have already done this before. There so much potential for this Ghostbusters as a franchise to take off into different and new territory. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a step in the right direction that leaves us waiting for a leap in that same direction.
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The post ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Keeps the Franchise Warm appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
From many villainous Star Wars excitement to a Dragon Ball theme coming soon, here are some of our favorite odds and ends from the entertainment world.
- Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has Arrived
- A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the Way
- Strange Way of Life Is Heading to Netflix
- Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo
- Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated Series
- D&D Converse Are Coming
- David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology Series
- Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building
Star Wars: Thrawn Collection From Heroes & Villains Has Arrived
Heroes & Villains are always outfitting us in the latest and greatest in nerdy-wear. And their recent Star Wars: Thrawn collection is no different. Star Wars‘ villains are having a huge moment, and the Admiral deserves some love. Check out what’s on offer below, and then head over to Heroes & Villains’ site for more.
Check out some cool watches to go with this Thrawn collection.
A Dragon Ball Theme Park Is On the Way
One of the most beloved anime and manga series ever is now getting a theme park. The official Dragon Ball website announced that the theme park would be coming to Saudi Arabia. A release shares more about the park, noting:
The Dragon Ball theme park will boast a whopping size of over 500,000 square meters and feature seven different areas that recreate various iconic locales from the original series, such as Kame House, Capsule Corporation, and Beerus’s Planet. At the park, visitors will be able to join an adventure with Goku and pals as they enjoy the world of Dragon Ball, from the very beginning of the anime all the way up through Dragon Ball Super!”
This theme park will feature five state-of-the-art rides as part of a lineup of 30+ attractions! And if that wasn’t already exciting enough, construction of a 70 meter-high Shenron is also planned, with this landmark containing a large-scale roller coaster inside!
Dragon Ball‘s legacy is unparalleled.
Strange Way of Life Is Heading to Netflix
Want to see Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawk in their queer, western short directed by Pedro Almodóvar? Well, get excited; it’s coming to Netflix on April 12.
Take a look a the trailer here.
Godzilla Became Police Chief for a day in Tokyo
Godzilla is known for crushing Tokyo, but recently, he recanted his ways and became the protector of Tokyo’s traffic. As Police Chief for a day, Godzilla set out to promote street safety.
It’s a good time to be Godzilla.
Michael Rosenbaum Is Still Thinking About That Smallville Animated Series
The Smallville animated series isn’t dead yet. Michael Rosenbaum recently revealed the following to Screen Rant:
All I could share is that it’s a great idea. We have Al and Miles, the creators of Smallville backing us up. When it’s the right time, we’d like to go and do this; pitch to Warner Bros. It has to be the right time, and right now is not the right time. We had the strike, we had a change of executives at DC — one being one of my best friends in the world, James Gunn. When the time’s right, I think it’s something that’s a no brainer, unless they have other ideas. We’d like to do it — the whole cast would like to do it. They would voice their own character from the show, and we have a concept of what the show is.
Fingers crossed!
Rosenbaum also recently spoke to the DCU’s newest Lex Luthor, Nicholas Hoult.
D&D Converse Are Coming
Get ready to roll for extra cool kicks. Converse is teaming up with Dungeons & Dragons for a line of sneakers and more to celebrate D&D‘s 50th anniversary. The color scheme is pretty cool, and we love the designs. With these on our feet, we’ll have all the initiative we need. Take a look at what’s on offer below. These Dungeons & Dragons Converse will go on sale on April 11.
We’re also big fans of these nerdy One Piece PUMAs.
David Schwimmer Will Star in Season Two of the Goosebumps Anthology Series
The second season of the Goosebumps anthology will see a friendly face arrive (or perhaps not so friendly). David Schwimmer is set to star in the second season of the Disney+ show. According to Deadline, “Schwimmer will portray Anthony, a former botany professor and divorced parent of teenage twins whose world takes a tumultuous turn as he juggles the responsibilities of overseeing an aging parent while having his kids for the summer.”
Check out what the first season looked like:
Star Wars Lit Up the Empire State Building
What’s that, the Empire on the Empire? Star Wars recently lit up the Empire State building with a light show showcasing its many iconic villains. This is a part of its “March to May 4th” initiative. And we’re excited to march along.
Blue Milk is also involved.
The post A DRAGON BALL Theme Park, a STAR WARS Thrawn Collection, D&D Converse, and More News Odds & Ends appeared first on Nerdist.