Poptic Nerve

Right now, I'm sure most of you heard the news that Disney slash Marvel has filed lawsuits against the heirs of Marvel Writers and Artists i.e., Co-creators" as a preemptive measure to maintain their properties for future media projects, and of course "Merchandising "!! The plaintiffs that are the heirs of Marvel Comics legends Steve Ditko (Who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange), Don Heck (co-creator of Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye), Don Rico (co-creator of Black Widow), and the great Gene Colan (co-creator of Falcon, Captain Marvel, and Blade). Then there's Larry Lieber, the younger brother of Stan Lee who co-created Iron Man, and Thor. You mean to tell me that Stan "The Man" Martin Lieber didn't even look out for his own sibling? He's not thy brother’s keeper. The heirs are seeking to reclaim the copyrights to co-created characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Black Widow, and more, are being represented by intell

I know it’s somewhat late in the game for obits, but there were more important obligations i.e., "work/life balances " and besides, it’s not as if I get paid for blogging, nor do I ask for money as with other sites. It’s mostly about putting my thoughts out here and writing without restrictions is its own reward.  😉 Anyway, we lost another giant within the entertainment industry. Screenwriter, Director, Producer and activist Melvin Van Peebles passed away a week ago. Although he was mostly known for being the Godfather of Blaxploitation films, a subgenre of cinema that primarily entails action, comedy and horror encompassing the perspectives of Black Americans, it was his Do it Yourself work ethic, that gave him the freedom to make the film he wanted without bowing down to the general establishment.  Y'see Mr. Van Peebles' career began when he shot his first 11-minute short film, Pickup Men for Herrick in 1957, after a passenger suggested that he should be a filmmake

"Why wear the uniform of your own oppressors? Fight for them? Die for them?" This episode of Marvel's animated Anthology series has plenty of people talking thanks to its entertaining premise. The idea of Tony Stark being saved by a notorious villain or Antihero, had me intrigued among many viewers! As with several episodes of What If, there's the retconned scenario taken from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, where instead of Stark being injured during an ambush by the "Ten Rings" Terrorists, leading to the origin of Iron Man, former Navy Seal specialist, now turned Mercenary N'Jada/ Erik Stevens aka Killmonger, tosses the Stark Industries shell before it detonates. Stark feeling reciprocal honors Stevens during a press conference where once again Killmonger saves Tony by exposing who was responsible for the ambush. A naive, but very grateful Stark signs Stevens onboard as "COO " but not everyone is "happy", surely not Hogan! (See

Marvel’s animated anthology throws in one bleak surprise after another and the latest is of no exception other than further pushing the envelope! In the latest installment, our ominous host The Watcher proposes, what if “Earth’s Mightiest heroes” became the world’s biggest threat? Marvel Zombies!! What If ……Zombies?! Is reminiscent to that Heavy Metal segment, B-52 which was my second favorite installment from the 1981 animated fantasy film. Not as gory, but very violent for a Disney project. Our revised Infinity War scenario begins with Bruce banner plummets to earth in time to warn his fellow Avengers of the incoming threat from Thanos but unfortunately, his “homecoming reception” is not being well reciprocated by his teammates! But is spared a horrific fate thanks to what's left of Marvel's heroes. But for how long can they survive while searching for a cure to this plague? The dialogue can get too comical at times especially when our heroes are faced against the direst situ

"The depth of my love for this brother, can only be matched by the depth of my pain learning of his loss. An immensely talented man with the ability to give voice to the human condition portraying the lives of those whose humanity is seldom elevated until he sings their truth." -Wendell Pierce  The Wire Costar It came as a shock when I was notified that actor Michael K. Williams has died of a (alleged) drug overdose at the age of 54. Damn, this sobering news was a gut punch because Williams despite not having breakout success outside of the television industry, was a pop culture icon thanks to his role as the notorious Antihero Omar from HBO's Urban Crime drama, The Wire . Unlike many fictional criminals, Omar was complexed but not a contradiction.  Sure, he was on the wrong side of the law, but he had a code of honor, to prey on the dealers not innocent civilians.  His presence was known throughout the projects within Baltimore Maryland, especially whenever pushers would

And now its time for the News, Skews and Reviews of the week ending in 9/3/21, Pop Topix! Director Patty Jenkins lambasted films that are being released via streaming services by calling them “fake.” The “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” Director pulled no punches when voicing her opinions about the future of Cinema during a CinemaCon panel, about her disdain for films originally produced for theatrical release, only to make their way to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon and especially, HBO MAX where Wonder Woman 1984 debuted in December 2020 as opposed to theaters due to the Covid pandemic. “Aren’t you seeing it? All the films that streaming services are putting out, I’m sorry, they look like fake movies to me,” “I don’t hear about them; I don’t read about them. It’s not working as a model for establishing legendary greatness.” Jenkins further elaborated to a reporter: “I don’t think [‘Wonder Woman 1984’] plays the same on streaming, ever,” she continued before adding, “I’m not a fan o

Now here’s a familiar question, how far would one go to bring back a loved one or prevent his or her death? "What if the best of intentions has very strange consequences?" In the fourth episode of Marvel's What if, "Dr. Strange lost his Heart instead of his Hands," is perhaps, the melancholiest. As most of us are aware of how Neurosurgeon Stephen Strange acquired his role as the Sorcerer Supreme after experiencing a near fatal car accident however, in this alternate reality witnessed by our mysterious observer- The Watcher voiced by Jeffrey Wright, things take a more tragic turn. Although Strange has survived the car crash without any serious injuries, his love interest, Dr. Christine Palmer is killed. Years afterwards, Strange unable to cope with his loss, selfishly uses the time stone to alter the timeline in order to prevent Christine from reliving a tragic incident.  Sounds convenient enough, right? Well no. There's a disturbing montage of how Palmer is