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Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
Look, I don’t need to tell you how much I love this book. I tell you every month. Who am I kidding, I’m going to tell you. I love this book!
Nightwing #88 follows what might be one of my favorite issues of any comic, all time. In this issue, the story revolves around Nightwing as he announced the plans for Haven, a safe space for the young houseless community in Blüdhaven to lay their heads and feel a sense of security. It’s one program in a long line of programs that Dick has lined up, bankrolled by the money that Alfred left him.
The conflict of this issue is that ever since Dick Grayson announced to the city that he was here to help out, he’s had a target on his head. While Dick makes his speech while construction breaks ground on Haven, he narrowly survives an assassination attempt ordered by Blockbuster when he’s saved by the Titans, his OG buddies from back in the day.
Nightwing #88 was an issue with a lot of heart. It dealt with a man’s oldest friends banning together no matter how much they may have grown apart or whatever their obligations may currently be, all to make sure he’s protected. I ask this question way too often with this book, but why am I tearing up right now?
Aside from that, my favorite part of this book was Nightwing’s conversation in the opening scene with Barbera where he explains that he feels like Nightwing is the secret identity right now, because he can’t be seen in public as Dick Grayson. It’s an interesting inversion, and one that may not be new to comics, but is being told in a really fresh way. I feel for Nightwing. It’s got to be hard when your personal life is compromised solely because you wanted to do some good.
But that’s what we call stakes, baby! It’s why we come back every month, to see how he’ll overcome it all.
10 Super-Powered Best Friends out of 10
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The post Nightwing #88 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Writer: Tom Taylor / Artist: Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas / DC Comics
Look, I don’t need to tell you how much I love this book. I tell you every month. Who am I kidding, I’m going to tell you. I love this book!
Nightwing #88 follows what might be one of my favorite issues of any comic, all time. In this issue, the story revolves around Nightwing as he announced the plans for Haven, a safe space for the young houseless community in Blüdhaven to lay their heads and feel a sense of security. It’s one program in a long line of programs that Dick has lined up, bankrolled by the money that Alfred left him.
The conflict of this issue is that ever since Dick Grayson announced to the city that he was here to help out, he’s had a target on his head. While Dick makes his speech while construction breaks ground on Haven, he narrowly survives an assassination attempt ordered by Blockbuster when he’s saved by the Titans, his OG buddies from back in the day.
Nightwing #88 was an issue with a lot of heart. It dealt with a man’s oldest friends banning together no matter how much they may have grown apart or whatever their obligations may currently be, all to make sure he’s protected. I ask this question way too often with this book, but why am I tearing up right now?
Aside from that, my favorite part of this book was Nightwing’s conversation in the opening scene with Barbera where he explains that he feels like Nightwing is the secret identity right now, because he can’t be seen in public as Dick Grayson. It’s an interesting inversion, and one that may not be new to comics, but is being told in a really fresh way. I feel for Nightwing. It’s got to be hard when your personal life is compromised solely because you wanted to do some good.
But that’s what we call stakes, baby! It’s why we come back every month, to see how he’ll overcome it all.
10 Super-Powered Best Friends out of 10
Enjoying Nightwing? 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 Nightwing #88 Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
As the official selection for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Dramatic Competition, you’d expect Gabriel Martin’s Mars Um (Mars One) to do some heavy lifting, and boy does it ever. Mars Um is an exploration of a Black Brazilian family who clings to family, acceptance, and the concept of reward for hard work, even in the face of challenges that test the way they view themselves.
The Martins (or Martians if you like) are a family who dares to dream. Living in the lower middle class with jobs as domestic and maintenance/security workers for the more fortunate, they manage to find happiness despite life’s obstacles. There are the parents, Tércia (Rejane Faria) and Wellington (Carlos Francisco), and their children, Deivinho/Deivid (Cícero Lucas in his film debut) and Eunice who is affectionately called Nina (Camilla Damião in her first leading role). Both Tércia and Wellington work in a local highrise that houses some of the most influential Brazilians, including soccer star Juan Pablo Sorin and influencer and entertainer Tokinho. Both are loyal and hard workers and don’t have any resentment towards the wealthy residents. Martin does a good job of showing these disparities by showing the Martin home as small and cozy and the highrise penthouse balconies as spacious, modern, and airy. Even in the face of this, the parents appear to be content.
Their children are another story. Nina is studying law in college and eager to graduate and possibly move out of her childhood home to live with her new girlfriend, Joana. Deivid is interested in astrophysics and specifically the Mars One colonization project that the title of the film is based on. His hero is Neil deGrasse Tyson, and he wants to build a telescope, not be a soccer star — at least not just a soccer star — like his dad wants.
Written and directed by Gabriel Martins, this semi-autobiographical and beautiful film hits it out of the park on nearly every swing. The only true flaw oddly has to do with the description of the film. On IMDb, it specifies the election of a right-wing president who represents everything the family is not. This entity is essentially non-existent; however, that doesn’t mean political themes aren’t present.
The Martin family is the core and the heart of Mars Um, and in that vein, Tércia as the mother is truly the soul. She’s the victim of a frankly heinous prank that shakes her to her core. Everyone else makes light of the situation, but Tércia suffers from headaches, insomnia, and disorientation as a result of the incident. Once similar incidents around her become more prevalent, she begins to wonder if she’s the problem. Is she cursed? Faria’s performance is crucial to carrying the tone of the film and it’s a feat she pulls off beautifully. She understands that a little is a lot and she’s able to earn her outbursts as a result.
A recovering alcoholic, Wellington has a lot to be thankful for although he’s a bit too distracted trying to turn his son into the family’s savior through soccer. He’s optimistic to a fault and misses a lot of red flags that come his way. He’s loving and a good man but seems to have era-typical semi-misogynistic blind spots. It would be easy for Francisco to play Wellington as a one-dimensional character, but he chooses the path that gives Wellington a kind of sympathetic pathos. Francisco embodies the character fully and never slacks in making the patriarch palatable.
A tutor and college student by day, Nina spends her night at local queer hip hop clubs in their city. One night she meets a girl with electric blue braids who takes her breath away. Nina is withholding from her parents and only admits to Deivid (in the small room they share) that she’s dating a girl and thinking about moving out with the electric blue plaited Joana (Ana Hilario). For her first feature role, Damião brings beauty and rebellious heart to the role. She’s able to maintain Nina’s stubbornness without it coming off as obnoxious. Though her relationship with Joana seemed a bit rushed, Damião committed completely, delivering a fully realized performance. Nina sets her sights on leaving her parent’s home and their watchful eyes and making sure Deivid has the same independent spirit.
Deivid is a typical kid who has a talent for soccer, but would rather be studying astrophysics and Mars. He’s read extensively about Mars One and seems to be stuck on the fact that it’s a one-way trip only. He’s eager to run away. Though he loves his parents and his sister, he’s beginning to find himself and needs the space to do so. Mars Um is Lucas’ film debut and his performance is understated and not precocious. He’s smart, but still very much a kid. His performance is so matter-of-fact that you come to think of him as your own little brother. He’s real and his acting is very impressive given that this is his first major project.
Although the newly elected president doesn’t seem to have any direct effect on the narrative, it’s interesting to see how political engagement and protest show their face in the film. Nina and Deivid are from a more equitable, better-educated generation. Wellington’s new co-worker speaks openly about occupying the pool at their highrise and protesting. Wellington hears his rants and just laughs, waving them off. For Wellington’s generation the time for protest is past. He’s content to be working hard. Sure he would like a little more money, but it’s just not his time. Martin does a good job of using the storylines and the conflicting opinions of each generation as a metaphor for today’s political divide. In the film, we see Tércia and Wellington at a crossroads where they must decide whether to be left behind or keep moving forward.
Mars Um is a simple yet layered film brimming over with emotion, solid and beautiful performances, and relatable characters. It’s truly worth the title of Official Selection and you’ll treasure every minute you get to spend in Martins’ world.
Mars Um (Mars One) premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
Writers: Hudlin and Leon Chills / Artists: Doug Braithwaite, Andrew Currie, and Brad Anderson / DC Comics
After a little break, Icon & Rocket is back, giving us that entry into the world of Dakota that we all love so much.
Icon & Rocket #5 provides a little downtime for Icon & Rocket as they took out the world’s drug traffickers and were attacked by a killer Manhunter from Mars. They deserve as much breathing room as they can get.
Augustus has moved Raquel and her mother into his estate while they wait for their apartment building to rebuild so they can move back in, and they’ve switched the power belts and capes for jeans and jackets for now as they try to navigate their regular lives in the aftermath of what they’ve done as Icon & Rocket.
Personally, issues like this one are some of my favorites in comics. Don’t get me wrong. I love all the action just as much as the next fan, but when we spend personal time with the characters it only provides context for the stakes of the action. A fistfight isn’t the most opportune time to learn about what a character wants and needs. We find that out during their downtime.
The best part of Icon & Rocket #5, for me, focuses on Raquel as she goes back to school. She’s missed so much time because she’s been out saving the world with Icon. Even though it hasn’t been too long, she clearly feels out of place, almost like she’s outgrown the importance of school, especially when you juxtapose it to the more serious, tangible change she’s enacting in the world.
I loved seeing Raquel in school so much. The story really sunk its teeth into the contrast of her life, heightened by the return of her deadbeat boyfriend, pining for her love again, and Virgil, wanting to protect her as Static. Wanting to escape everything and just relax, she takes a chance on a new student who wants to take her out to a lake house. Yeah, nothing can go wrong in that scenario…
10 Bridge Battles out of 10
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The post Icon & Rocket #5: Season One Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.